3G or no 3G? - Page 2

ApK · 10-08-2013, 11:46 AM

Good call, I think.

I happen to be one of those people who does not always have wifi available everywhere I go (despite the fact that some people seem to think it is universally free and available everywhere), and I did not have a smartphone until recently.

So I made very good use of my K3's 3G experimental browser to check email and look things up. The cost difference was well covered by allowing me to delay getting a smartphone and data plan for a year or so.

But now that I HAVE a smart phone and a data plan (including wifi hotspot if I really need to get a new book onto the Kindle) I could not see the value in the added cost for 3G.
Even if the new ones still had the same Internet browsing abilities as my K3, which apparently they don't.

Bookworm_Girl · 10-08-2013, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickyWithNook

I got it and it's wonderful! Love it! I'll get spoiled by the light very quickly, and I'll want a Nook Glow. Nooks are supposed to have new models soon so I'll see how I feel when they come out.
Great product from Kindle. It's really sharp and the light is perfect.

Glad you like it! Enjoy!

montalex · 10-08-2013, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfgrad93

Agreed. The only benefit to 3G is being able to get a book when you are away from home. For my next Kindle, I will skip the 3G.

Or, to have a newspaper delivered when you are away from home. When I am visiting friends or relatives or simply away from home, I like to have the NYTimes delivered via 3G every morning. I've had my newspaper on my Kindle first thing in the morning in 7 or 8 different countries. I love my free 3G!

stickybuns · 10-08-2013, 09:42 PM

Quick question: how do you connect to wifi at places that require you to access a user agreement webpage before officially connecting to the internet? I can't figure out how to access the wifi at Starbucks.

ixtab · 10-09-2013, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickybuns

Quick question: how do you connect to wifi at places that require you to access a user agreement webpage before officially connecting to the internet? I can't figure out how to access the wifi at Starbucks.

On the Kindle Touch or Paperwhite, place a file named WIFI_NO_NET_PROBE in the root directory of the Kindle's USB storage (note: case-sensitive, no file extension. The content of the file doesn't matter, a 0-byte file is enough). On the K3 or other models... no idea.

tomsem · 10-09-2013, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickybuns

Quick question: how do you connect to wifi at places that require you to access a user agreement webpage before officially connecting to the internet? I can't figure out how to access the wifi at Starbucks.

In my experience the Kindle will launch the browser to accept agreement, when required. Occasionally it does not work due to how the authentication is implemented. For example, at a former employer there was a wifi guest network that I could connect to with other wifi devices, but my Kindle was never able to. I think the browser would launch but it would never get to where I could supply the required credentials.

Starbucks used to be serviced by AT&T and Amazon had an arrangement with AT&T so that Kindles would be magically authorized at their hotspots without having to go through a web page. And that was my experience last time I was in range of a Starbucks a few months ago. However, I think Google recently got the Starbucks contract so that may have changed things.

McDonalds and FedEx are still serviced by AT&T and my Kindle can connect there without accepting user agreement. But other wifi devices still require that.

patrickt · 10-09-2013, 03:03 PM

I had the DX which was 3G only and I've had a KK, Kindle Basic, and Paperwhite which were WiFi-only. Obviously, I have no need for 3G for an ereader. I have bought exactly one book on my Kindle. I buy books on my computer because I can browse better, faster, and in color.

Bookworm_Girl · 10-09-2013, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomsem

In my experience the Kindle will launch the browser to accept agreement, when required. Occasionally it does not work due to how the authentication is implemented. For example, at a former employer there was a wifi guest network that I could connect to with other wifi devices, but my Kindle was never able to. I think the browser would launch but it would never get to where I could supply the required credentials.
Starbucks used to be serviced by AT&T and Amazon had an arrangement with AT&T so that Kindles would be magically authorized at their hotspots without having to go through a web page. And that was my experience last time I was in range of a Starbucks a few months ago. However, I think Google recently got the Starbucks contract so that may have changed things.
McDonalds and FedEx are still serviced by AT&T and my Kindle can connect there without accepting user agreement. But other wifi devices still require that.

First connect to Wi-fi. If the browser doesn't launch automatically, then you can open the browser manually. Type something like google.com and then it usually reroutes you to an authentication website.

tomsem · 10-09-2013, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

First connect to Wi-fi. If the browser doesn't launch automatically, then you can open the browser manually. Type something like google.com and then it usually reroutes you to an authentication website.

Yeah, in my case none of that worked with this particular network.

10-08-2013, 11:46 AM	#16
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,389 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	Good call, I think. I happen to be one of those people who does not always have wifi available everywhere I go (despite the fact that some people seem to think it is universally free and available everywhere), and I did not have a smartphone until recently. So I made very good use of my K3's 3G experimental browser to check email and look things up. The cost difference was well covered by allowing me to delay getting a smartphone and data plan for a year or so. But now that I HAVE a smart phone and a data plan (including wifi hotspot if I really need to get a new book onto the Kindle) I could not see the value in the added cost for 3G. Even if the new ones still had the same Internet browsing abilities as my K3, which apparently they don't. Last edited by ApK; 10-08-2013 at 11:48 AM.

10-08-2013, 09:42 PM	#19
stickybuns Evangelist Posts: 405 Karma: 479729 Join Date: Feb 2011 Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Quick question: how do you connect to wifi at places that require you to access a user agreement webpage before officially connecting to the internet? I can't figure out how to access the wifi at Starbucks.

10-09-2013, 03:03 PM	#22
patrickt Wizard Posts: 1,221 Karma: 8381518 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oaxaca, Mexico Device: Paperwhite 4 X 2	I had the DX which was 3G only and I've had a KK, Kindle Basic, and Paperwhite which were WiFi-only. Obviously, I have no need for 3G for an ereader. I have bought exactly one book on my Kindle. I buy books on my computer because I can browse better, faster, and in color.

Advert

Advert