Should I replace my lost K3 with the same thing, or something else?

enn · 05-20-2012, 02:30 PM

Hello,

In 2010 I bought a Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard with 3G. It was at the time the latest model, and I absolutely loved it. Last week, I set it down while scanning my groceries and forgot to pick it back up.

So now I'm cursing my absentmindedness and trying to decide what to get to replace it. The Kindle Keyboard is still the same price, $190 without the ads (I don't want any of the ad-subsidized models). I have no interest in LCD screens and I prefer buttons to touch screens, so I'm trying to choose between the Kindle Keyboard and the considerably-cheaper Kindle Basic.

My questions are:

- The physical design of the Kindle Basic looks more plasticy and generic in online pictures (I haven't seen one in person). Does it also feel more cheaply made? I loved the design of the K3, and especially the rubberized grippy back. What is the texture of the Kindle Basic like?

- My K3 was jailbroken and I had SSH installed, so I could copy files onto it over wifi without having to plug it in. Is it possible to replicate this functionality with the Kindle Basic? (Is it possible to replicate it with a new K3, or have they closed the loopholes that the jailbreaks used since 2010?)

- If I get the older K3, am I getting an inferior e-ink display compared to the Kindle Basic?

I appreciate any and all comments.

dwig · 05-20-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enn

...
My questions are:

- The physical design...
- My K3 was jailbroken and I had SSH installed, ...
- If I get the older K3, am I getting an inferior e-ink display...

Design: I prefer the K3, though I've only held the newer models in the store.

SSH: I can't help there

Display: No, the new models do not have any display improvements; they use the same display as the K3.

Martyd · 05-20-2012, 09:21 PM

In my opinion my K3 has a better screen than my new Kindle NT.

Skydog · 05-20-2012, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martyd

In my opinion my K3 has a better screen than my new Kindle NT.

The screens of my KT, K3 and DXG are identical in quality/sharpness/contrast.

wallcraft · 05-20-2012, 11:32 PM

Don't forget that the basic has half the storage space of the K3. For usable space the K3 wins by an even larger margin, the E-book Reader Matrix says 1.25GB vs 3.3GB. This only matters if you have more than about a thousand ebooks.

BeeTee-Ess · 05-21-2012, 12:22 AM

I have both a K3KB (actually the original K3), and a K4 Basic (K4NT).

Some points to consider...

(I'd not settle for a K3 Touch or Kindle Fire, since neither of them can be organised into collections using Calibre and the Calibre Kindle Collections Add-on.)

The K4NT does have a rubberised back, but to me, the K3KB back 'seems' to be more rubbery. It just feels better. A subjective judgment, I know, but that's how it feels to me.

The K4NT edges seem angular, almost sharp; the K3KB edges are rounded.

I like the extra grab space provided by the K3KB's keyboard.

I cannot detect a difference in the screens.

The K3KB has much greater capacity than the K4NT, but you can work around that using Calibre to administer your library, loading just a subset onto your Kindle.

I have never JB'd my Kindles, so I cannot advise, although a search of the forums here will likely provide advice on the subject.

If you use your keyboard much, the physical keyboard of the K3KB is considerably better than the software version of the K4NT.

On balance, if I had to make the choice, I'd be buying a K3KB. I suspect Amazon are just running out old stock, and when they are gone there will be no more.

Barty · 05-21-2012, 04:38 PM

The kindle basic has no sound capability. No text to speech or mp3. I don't know if you care or not.

The back of the basic feels more slippery. The k3 is bigger and heavier, but thinner, more tapered at the edge.

From my own experience, the basic and k3 screen look the same. The touch has a darker background, quite noticeably to me. Ymmv.

For me, the basic is a downgrade. But it is quite a bit cheaper. The touch is also a downgrade because of the darker screen, but most people will dispute that.

I really hope I don't break my k3

ProfCrash · 05-22-2012, 12:24 PM

The K4NT also has limited memory, it will not hold as many books at the K3 or KT.

Personally, I am holding out on upgrading until my K3 dies or they come out with a KT that has buttons.

zooyuka · 05-22-2012, 05:41 PM

I've had 2 K3s break on my so I would recommend purchasing a newer model. The K3s are highly faulty.

ProfCrash · 05-22-2012, 05:48 PM

How did the K3's break? I have three different Kindles and none have broken. This includes my K3 which has travelled by airplane, train, and car around the US. Heck, my K1 went to Australia and New Zealand with no problem and is still alive and kicking.

RainingLemur · 05-22-2012, 05:58 PM

If you're wanting to stick with Amazon's devices, I'd probably just try to get another K3. But, that's just me. I love having the keyboard and (to a lesser extent) the MP3 capabilities.

JSWolf · 05-22-2012, 11:44 PM

The K3 may never have KF8/AZW3 support. So that could be a factor in your decision.

Casey57 · 05-23-2012, 09:21 AM

The K3 is a great device and I love mine as well. I use it every day. Personally, I would opt for another one in a heartbeat. We currently have five Kindles which also include a Fire, another K3 and two Kindle Touches. Some members of my family much prefer the touch technology. The screen is the same; no difference there. But my advice is to stick with what you love.....I don't think you'd have any regrets about that.

Sydney's Mom · 05-23-2012, 04:42 PM

I love the K4. Cheap ($79 with ads), and easy to hold. Took some getting used to, because I came from a K3, but now I wouldn't go back. Can't wait for the lighted kindle, though.

jbcohen · 05-24-2012, 01:44 PM

I am going to disagree with everyone here. The first thing I would recommend that you do is to look at how you carry your chosen ereader around with you and where you set it down. No reader is going to satisfy you if you are loosing it every other week, not to mention costing you an arm and a leg. A pal of mine has a pocket specially made for his kind put in his main jacket that holds just the kindle and nothing else. He did that because he has lost several kindles. Another pal of mine puts hers in a particularly well padded case and puts it in her purse. Get in the habit of checking on the kindle each any every time you leave a room and/or store so that you don't lose it once again.

05-20-2012, 02:30 PM	#1
enn Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Voyage	Should I replace my lost K3 with the same thing, or something else? Hello, In 2010 I bought a Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard with 3G. It was at the time the latest model, and I absolutely loved it. Last week, I set it down while scanning my groceries and forgot to pick it back up. So now I'm cursing my absentmindedness and trying to decide what to get to replace it. The Kindle Keyboard is still the same price, $190 without the ads (I don't want any of the ad-subsidized models). I have no interest in LCD screens and I prefer buttons to touch screens, so I'm trying to choose between the Kindle Keyboard and the considerably-cheaper Kindle Basic. My questions are: - The physical design of the Kindle Basic looks more plasticy and generic in online pictures (I haven't seen one in person). Does it also feel more cheaply made? I loved the design of the K3, and especially the rubberized grippy back. What is the texture of the Kindle Basic like? - My K3 was jailbroken and I had SSH installed, so I could copy files onto it over wifi without having to plug it in. Is it possible to replicate this functionality with the Kindle Basic? (Is it possible to replicate it with a new K3, or have they closed the loopholes that the jailbreaks used since 2010?) - If I get the older K3, am I getting an inferior e-ink display compared to the Kindle Basic? I appreciate any and all comments.

05-21-2012, 04:38 PM	#7
Barty doofus Posts: 2,555 Karma: 13089041 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kindle Voyage	The kindle basic has no sound capability. No text to speech or mp3. I don't know if you care or not. The back of the basic feels more slippery. The k3 is bigger and heavier, but thinner, more tapered at the edge. From my own experience, the basic and k3 screen look the same. The touch has a darker background, quite noticeably to me. Ymmv. For me, the basic is a downgrade. But it is quite a bit cheaper. The touch is also a downgrade because of the darker screen, but most people will dispute that. I really hope I don't break my k3 Last edited by Barty; 05-21-2012 at 04:49 PM.

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05-20-2012, 09:21 PM	#3
Martyd Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 774868 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Kindle Voyage, Paperwhite	In my opinion my K3 has a better screen than my new Kindle NT.

05-20-2012, 11:32 PM	#5
wallcraft reader Posts: 6,977 Karma: 5183568 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mississippi, USA Device: Kindle 3, Kobo Glo HD	Don't forget that the basic has half the storage space of the K3. For usable space the K3 wins by an even larger margin, the E-book Reader Matrix says 1.25GB vs 3.3GB. This only matters if you have more than about a thousand ebooks.

05-21-2012, 12:22 AM	#6
BeeTee-Ess Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 679580 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Brisbane, Australia Device: K3, K4NT, KPW2, Voyage, iP4, iP6, iPad Mini, HP TouchPad, Kobo Mini	I have both a K3KB (actually the original K3), and a K4 Basic (K4NT). Some points to consider... (I'd not settle for a K3 Touch or Kindle Fire, since neither of them can be organised into collections using Calibre and the Calibre Kindle Collections Add-on.) The K4NT does have a rubberised back, but to me, the K3KB back 'seems' to be more rubbery. It just feels better. A subjective judgment, I know, but that's how it feels to me. The K4NT edges seem angular, almost sharp; the K3KB edges are rounded. I like the extra grab space provided by the K3KB's keyboard. I cannot detect a difference in the screens. The K3KB has much greater capacity than the K4NT, but you can work around that using Calibre to administer your library, loading just a subset onto your Kindle. I have never JB'd my Kindles, so I cannot advise, although a search of the forums here will likely provide advice on the subject. If you use your keyboard much, the physical keyboard of the K3KB is considerably better than the software version of the K4NT. On balance, if I had to make the choice, I'd be buying a K3KB. I suspect Amazon are just running out old stock, and when they are gone there will be no more.

05-22-2012, 12:24 PM	#8
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	The K4NT also has limited memory, it will not hold as many books at the K3 or KT. Personally, I am holding out on upgrading until my K3 dies or they come out with a KT that has buttons.

05-22-2012, 05:41 PM	#9
zooyuka Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2012 Device: PRS-T1 & Kindle 4	I've had 2 K3s break on my so I would recommend purchasing a newer model. The K3s are highly faulty.

05-22-2012, 05:48 PM	#10
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	How did the K3's break? I have three different Kindles and none have broken. This includes my K3 which has travelled by airplane, train, and car around the US. Heck, my K1 went to Australia and New Zealand with no problem and is still alive and kicking.

05-22-2012, 05:58 PM	#11
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	If you're wanting to stick with Amazon's devices, I'd probably just try to get another K3. But, that's just me. I love having the keyboard and (to a lesser extent) the MP3 capabilities.

05-22-2012, 11:44 PM	#12
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 80,782 Karma: 150249619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	The K3 may never have KF8/AZW3 support. So that could be a factor in your decision.

05-23-2012, 09:21 AM	#13
Casey57 Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 1000454 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Philly suburbs Device: Kindle 3/Kindle Fire/Kindle Touch/iPhone/iPod/iPad	The K3 is a great device and I love mine as well. I use it every day. Personally, I would opt for another one in a heartbeat. We currently have five Kindles which also include a Fire, another K3 and two Kindle Touches. Some members of my family much prefer the touch technology. The screen is the same; no difference there. But my advice is to stick with what you love.....I don't think you'd have any regrets about that.

05-23-2012, 04:42 PM	#14
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	I love the K4. Cheap ($79 with ads), and easy to hold. Took some getting used to, because I came from a K3, but now I wouldn't go back. Can't wait for the lighted kindle, though.

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05-24-2012, 01:44 PM	#15
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,033 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	I am going to disagree with everyone here. The first thing I would recommend that you do is to look at how you carry your chosen ereader around with you and where you set it down. No reader is going to satisfy you if you are loosing it every other week, not to mention costing you an arm and a leg. A pal of mine has a pocket specially made for his kind put in his main jacket that holds just the kindle and nothing else. He did that because he has lost several kindles. Another pal of mine puts hers in a particularly well padded case and puts it in her purse. Get in the habit of checking on the kindle each any every time you leave a room and/or store so that you don't lose it once again.