How useful is the 3G capability of Kindle?

[Harry_Y]

I originally had the Wi-Fi one then upgraded to the 3G

It is a very handy feature and for me well worth the extra money

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by ovaldisk

How useful is the 3G capability of Kindle? (other than downloading books)

Surprisingly useful. You might not need it every day, but every so often it will save your bacon - giving you web internet access when everything else is unavailable or out of power.

[cmargm]

I agree with 'pdurrant'. I have it and don't use it very much but when traveling and if your lodgings charge for Wi-fi, it is extremely useful. I usually just use it to check e-mail from family.

[rcuadro]

Originally Posted by HarryT

This is very-much a "self-selecting" sample. Those people who find 3G useful probably have a 3G Kindle; those who don't, don't.

I would say this is true... I have several kindles with 3G (and iPad) and while I dont really need it, it sure is nice.

[Dallista]

It depends on your situation. If I understand things correctly, and assuming you live in the US, it's probably very useful as you can use it anywhere.

To me, it's a complete waste whenever I'm in mainland Europe. Considering the fact I live there, the 3G is useless (oh, yes, I can visit wikipedia with it, well, hurah).

But on holidays in places like Japan, the UK and the US, it's a lifesaver, as I don't carry a mobile phone that works there.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by HarryT

This is very-much a "self-selecting" sample. Those people who find 3G useful probably have a 3G Kindle; those who don't, don't.

had one (kindle 2), never turned on the wireless. when i replaced it with kindle 3 wifi i saw no reason to pay extra for a feature i had no perceived use for, hence the wifi-only model.

[JD78]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I don't need 3G. I have WiFi at home and at work. If I'm traveling about the area, WiFi is readily available at McDonald's, Starbucks, and libraries.

But then again, I generally have no need to download books on the go and rarely open the browser.

Same with me. I did trade up from my WiFi only to the Wifi+3G w/SO, but only for the SO. My WiFi only was fine for almost a year and even then it was rarely on.

I can see how it CAN be useful for some, but I honestly don't know how someone can use the browser on this thing. It's come a long way, but there is no way I pick the Kindle Browser over my smartphone (Nexus S 4G) browser even with the larger screen of the Kindle. As for using 3G to get books... I usually have my future reading already loaded and if (a big IF), i'm not near a WiFi hot spot, I can always use the one on my phone.

One thing many people forget is that since the 3G is provided by ATT we also get free WiFi access to their HotSpots.

http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=13540

With that said, the $25 difference between the Wifi + SO or 3G + SO makes the decision alot easier. When the K3 first launched the difference was $50. If you think you might use or need the 3G at any point, then go for the $139 w/SO.

[chas0039]

Simple, if you always have WiFi available, ALWAYS, then it is unnecessary. If you don't, then it is the best $25 you will ever spend.

[travfar]

Originally Posted by chas0039

Simple, if you always have WiFi available, ALWAYS, then it is unnecessary. If you don't, then it is the best $25 you will ever spend.

Absolutely. I don't understand why people find it such a hard concept to grasp. On another forum, people keep saying that they use their iphone for internet. Or they bring up that there are these things called laptops now. They just can't grasp the Free Global Internet thing. It's beyond their ability. Even after I post something like it's great to use riding a bus in Brazil. They respond that the browser is so much better on the ipad over 3G. I respond that by asking what ipad has free global internet. And around and around we go.

If it wasn't for the free global internet, I would never have bought 2 Kindles.

[ovaldisk]

Originally Posted by travfar

Absolutely. I don't understand why people find it such a hard concept to grasp. On another forum, people keep saying that they use their iphone for internet. Or they bring up that there are these things called laptops now. They just can't grasp the Free Global Internet thing. It's beyond their ability. Even after I post something like it's great to use riding a bus in Brazil. They respond that the browser is so much better on the ipad over 3G. I respond that by asking what ipad has free global internet. And around and around we go.

If it wasn't for the free global internet, I would never have bought 2 Kindles.

I'm assuming that the Kindle with 3G is capable of letting me send/receive email via Gmail while on a bus in Brazil?(as long as there's decent signal)

Is there a list of all the countries where I can do this with the Kindle 3G?

Thanks!

[Ea]

Originally Posted by travfar

Absolutely. I don't understand why people find it such a hard concept to grasp. On another forum, people keep saying that they use their iphone for internet. Or they bring up that there are these things called laptops now. They just can't grasp the Free Global Internet thing. It's beyond their ability. Even after I post something like it's great to use riding a bus in Brazil. They respond that the browser is so much better on the ipad over 3G. I respond that by asking what ipad has free global internet. And around and around we go.

If it wasn't for the free global internet, I would never have bought 2 Kindles.

Far from all countries have free global Internet on the Kindle - except for Wikipedia. I don't assume you equate Wikipedia access (and ebook shopping at Amazon) with free global Internet? You must be from the USA if you find it so hard to grasp that not everyone with a Kindle 3G have the same opportunities as you do.

[hunnymonster]

I didn't see the point of 3G on the Kindle when I always have a 3G phone in my pocket that can act as a hotspot (and browser in colour, with a proper pointer) and as often as not a 3G wireless router about my person too - but I can imagine I'm reasonably unique in what's in my pockets

[markreidyhp]

Originally Posted by ovaldisk

I'm assuming that the Kindle with 3G is capable of letting me send/receive email via Gmail while on a bus in Brazil?(as long as there's decent signal)

Is there a list of all the countries where I can do this with the Kindle 3G?

Thanks!

Amazon have a map, I'll have to look it find it though. Give me a few minutes...

Edit:http://client0.cellmaps.com/viewer.html?cov=2&view=intl
Thats the coverage map.

[JD78]

Originally Posted by travfar

Absolutely. I don't understand why people find it such a hard concept to grasp. On another forum, people keep saying that they use their iphone for internet. Or they bring up that there are these things called laptops now. They just can't grasp the Free Global Internet thing. It's beyond their ability. Even after I post something like it's great to use riding a bus in Brazil. They respond that the browser is so much better on the ipad over 3G. I respond that by asking what ipad has free global internet. And around and around we go.

If it wasn't for the free global internet, I would never have bought 2 Kindles.

It also seems to be hard to grasp that it isn't for everyone. Plenty of people have stated that they have never used the 3G that they have.

I'll sum it up this way....

Is 3G on the Kindle useful? Yes
Is 3G on the Kindle useful to everyone? It depends on how and where you plan on using it.

IMO, $25 is not a huge difference and 3G is probably worth it at that point if there is even a chance you might find a use for it, but some people don't see it that way.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by travfar

Absolutely. I don't understand why people find it such a hard concept to grasp. On another forum, people keep saying that they use their iphone for internet. Or they bring up that there are these things called laptops now. They just can't grasp the Free Global Internet thing.

My KSO's wifi goes on every 4 days so I can retrieve the latest offers. I then keep it on for a bit to allow it to load future offers while I update my TBR list. Then I turn it off for the next 4 days.

The web browser on the K3 is an extremely painful experience, so I don't use it.