K3. Buy now or wait?

timpearson26 · 06-25-2011, 12:34 AM

Do you think Amazon will come out with a Kindle 4 anytime soon? I've been hearing reports that they will be coming out with a new tablet soon, but it sounds like the tablet will not be an eReader, but more like an iPad tablet.

I live abroad and will be coming home for a visit to US from July - August. So I am considering getting one while I am there. Just can't decide if I should wait or not.

I've heard that they might drop the price a bit, but I don't really care about that. I just would prefer not to buy a K3 and then have a K4 come out a few months later.

Also curious, do you think that if and when the K4 comes out, they will do away with the free 3G service? If I'm not mistaken, didn't the older nook have a 3G option, but now the Nook STR is a wi-fi only? Maybe that would be a reason to pick up the K3 now.

OtterBooks · 06-25-2011, 12:47 AM

It may be a while before a K4 is released, and when it is, it may not exactly be a life-changing difference. If you had an e-ink reader already I could see waiting, but otherwise I would just go for it rather than wait months.

HarryT · 06-25-2011, 01:05 AM

There will ALWAYS be something better out in 6 months' time. You can do an awful lot of reading in that time. Carpe diem!

DMB · 06-25-2011, 07:56 AM

K3 is cheap and gives a good reading experience. No-one even knows whether the K4 will really be a reader or something different. I'd go for the K3 now.

dwig · 06-25-2011, 08:55 AM

Waiting for "the next great thing" is rarely a good plan since there's always another new item in the offing.

SteveEisenberg · 06-25-2011, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timpearson26

I've heard that they might drop the price a bit, but I don't really care about that.

That kindda answers the question. While there are some older PDA's whose resale value has held up, in general, the older a computer is, the cheaper it is. But there are limits. Even five years from now, a like-new K3 probably will be at least -- this is quite a rough guess -- $40, because of the seller having to replace the internal battery. A big question in terms of price drops is how long the free near-worldwide 3G internet gravy train (on the current $164/$189 models) will last.

Quote:

Do you think Amazon will come out with a Kindle 4 anytime soon?

The company is secretive, but, as you write, rumor is that the next Kindle (too good a brand name to give up) will be a color tablet. Some on this board may not like to hear it, but past experience is that Amazon starts with customers who read lots of books and then branches out. They did it successfully in the their traditional merchandise business, and so probably will do it in their handheld computer business as well.

Amazon executives may scan some of these posts and see how current customers want to keep the focus on producing the best black and white dedicated long text reader. But they also know about the decline of Palm and Research in Motion (Blackberry). Sticking with the old does not work in the computer biz.

So, yea, if you easily afford it, buy now.

P.S. Reading this again, I see one flaw is that Blackberry IS producing a tablet, and it is reportedly bombing. The computer business is extremely competitive, and not much that is introduced does succeed. However, I still think that Amazon will be more scared of stagnation than of losing existing customers.

chas0039 · 06-25-2011, 01:52 PM

The only rumors I have read deal with the next Kindle being an upgrade of the DX.

jtdolphins · 06-26-2011, 12:01 AM

I have been thinking about waiting too. There is no perfect ereader. I have been changing my mind back and forth driving my wife nuts. Then this week I came home with a stack of books. Now the bookcase I JUST cleared is overflowing again.

As soon as I finish the book that I am currently reading, I will get a KSO. Tubemonkey convinced me. Besides I will want to upgrade to a touch device in a year or maybe 6 months

, so save the 25. The Kindle may not have touch interface, but its great to read on, has most of the features I want and is comfortable to hold.

Besides the lighted case will be very nice and make up for the keyboard.

patrickt · 06-26-2011, 04:14 PM

A friend of mine wanted to buy a computer for his kids but said he was waiting until they were as good as they were going to get and as cheap as they were going to get. Eight years later he broke down and bought a computer when his oldest boy was required to have one when he went to college.

booklover6 · 06-26-2011, 04:21 PM

congrats, JT!

I have a K3...waiting to see if the rumors of a new amazon product will come true or not...I'd consider something new if it had the 3G service.

Harry_Y · 06-26-2011, 04:56 PM

I'd say get one now

I just bought 3 of them over the past two weeks

JSWolf · 06-26-2011, 05:03 PM

You could wait to see what Sony does with a Harry Potter themed Reader. It would be better then a K3. No idea about a K4 though. Amazon may or may not go ePub if forced to by JK Rowling so Amazon can sell readers to people waning the Harry Potter eBooks.

jtdolphins · 06-26-2011, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

A friend of mine wanted to buy a computer for his kids but said he was waiting until they were as good as they were going to get and as cheap as they were going to get. Eight years later he broke down and bought a computer when his oldest boy was required to have one when he went to college.

My wife made a similar comment recently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You could wait to see what Sony does with a Harry Potter themed Reader. It would be better then a K3..

That is why I am waiting till I finish my book. I figure the big Potter announcement would be followed by a Sony ereader announcement. I am hoping they might say something soon. Its been awhile since the 650 has been out of stock and several weeks since the 950 was discontinued. I am beginning to wonder if they are serious about their ereaders since they only have the 350 on the market right now.

I think the Kindle and Sony are pretty even. I prefered the Sony, because I like the touch screen and epub. The price was holding me back.

They have about another week and then I am getting a Kindle.

cfrock · 06-26-2011, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtdolphins

My wife made a similar comment recently.

That is why I am waiting till I finish my book. I figure the big Potter announcement would be followed by a Sony ereader announcement. I am hoping they might say something soon. Its been awhile since the 650 has been out of stock and several weeks since the 950 was discontinued. I am beginning to wonder if they are serious about their ereaders since they only have the 350 on the market right now.

I think the Kindle and Sony are pretty even. I prefered the Sony, because I like the touch screen and epub. The price was holding me back.

They have about another week and then I am getting a Kindle.

If you enjoy yhe touch screen and epub, you should probably consider the new Nook Touch. It meet 2 of you reqs in spades.

jtdolphins · 06-26-2011, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrock

If you enjoy yhe touch screen and epub, you should probably consider the new Nook Touch. It meet 2 of you reqs in spades.

The nook has ghosting in sunlight. The text was unreadable in the store, but when I went at night or afternoon it was fine. It only happens on the store model in the morning when the sun hits the display.

I read outside a a good bit. If they would fix it like Kobo then I would consider it. The Kobo lacks dictionary support for epub, which I just don't understand. Not to mention very few text options. The text options will be addressed soon according to a press release from Kobo. I have a few academic books where a dictionary is very helpful while reading.

I like how the Kobo feels in my hands while reading and would probably buy a Kobo Touch if they would include dictionary support.

I love the quilted back of the kobo.

06-25-2011, 12:34 AM	#1
timpearson26 Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 252616 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: ipad	K3. Buy now or wait? Do you think Amazon will come out with a Kindle 4 anytime soon? I've been hearing reports that they will be coming out with a new tablet soon, but it sounds like the tablet will not be an eReader, but more like an iPad tablet. I live abroad and will be coming home for a visit to US from July - August. So I am considering getting one while I am there. Just can't decide if I should wait or not. I've heard that they might drop the price a bit, but I don't really care about that. I just would prefer not to buy a K3 and then have a K4 come out a few months later. Also curious, do you think that if and when the K4 comes out, they will do away with the free 3G service? If I'm not mistaken, didn't the older nook have a 3G option, but now the Nook STR is a wi-fi only? Maybe that would be a reason to pick up the K3 now.

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06-25-2011, 12:47 AM	#2
OtterBooks Wizard Posts: 1,262 Karma: 2979086 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 4, iPad Mini/Retina	It may be a while before a K4 is released, and when it is, it may not exactly be a life-changing difference. If you had an e-ink reader already I could see waiting, but otherwise I would just go for it rather than wait months.

06-25-2011, 01:05 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,560 Karma: 93980341 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	There will ALWAYS be something better out in 6 months' time. You can do an awful lot of reading in that time. Carpe diem!

06-25-2011, 07:56 AM	#4
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	K3 is cheap and gives a good reading experience. No-one even knows whether the K4 will really be a reader or something different. I'd go for the K3 now.

06-25-2011, 08:55 AM	#5
dwig Wizard Posts: 1,613 Karma: 6718541 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Paradise (Key West, FL) Device: Current:Surface Go & Kindle 3 - Retired: DellV8p, Clie UX50, ...	Waiting for "the next great thing" is rarely a good plan since there's always another new item in the offing.

06-25-2011, 01:52 PM	#7
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	The only rumors I have read deal with the next Kindle being an upgrade of the DX.

06-26-2011, 12:01 AM	#8
jtdolphins Zealot Posts: 142 Karma: 248484 Join Date: May 2011 Device: ipod touch, Kindle3	I have been thinking about waiting too. There is no perfect ereader. I have been changing my mind back and forth driving my wife nuts. Then this week I came home with a stack of books. Now the bookcase I JUST cleared is overflowing again. As soon as I finish the book that I am currently reading, I will get a KSO. Tubemonkey convinced me. Besides I will want to upgrade to a touch device in a year or maybe 6 months , so save the 25. The Kindle may not have touch interface, but its great to read on, has most of the features I want and is comfortable to hold. Besides the lighted case will be very nice and make up for the keyboard.

06-26-2011, 04:14 PM	#9
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	A friend of mine wanted to buy a computer for his kids but said he was waiting until they were as good as they were going to get and as cheap as they were going to get. Eight years later he broke down and bought a computer when his oldest boy was required to have one when he went to college.

06-26-2011, 04:21 PM	#10
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,545 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre 1, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle, Kobo Libre Colour	congrats, JT! I have a K3...waiting to see if the rumors of a new amazon product will come true or not...I'd consider something new if it had the 3G service.

06-26-2011, 04:56 PM	#11
Harry_Y Addict Posts: 305 Karma: 704492 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NY Device: Kindle 3, Kindle DX, Galaxy Tab 2	I'd say get one now I just bought 3 of them over the past two weeks

06-26-2011, 05:03 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,746 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	You could wait to see what Sony does with a Harry Potter themed Reader. It would be better then a K3. No idea about a K4 though. Amazon may or may not go ePub if forced to by JK Rowling so Amazon can sell readers to people waning the Harry Potter eBooks.