paralysis by overanalysis

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by soondai

how much did readers go down? Anyone remember specific deals?
does Amazon ever have sales on the Kindle?

I don't think I can hold out for a couple months to just save 20 bucks or so.

Also, don't forget Black Friday. Prices are generally cheaper during the whole holiday time period, but on Black Friday they can be ridiculously cheap. And, as I learned last year, you don't actually have to go to the physical store anymore for many deals - they have them online! The only catch is the good deals usually sell out FAST - sometimes within minutes of going on sale at like 4 or 5 am - but if you want the deals it's not that bad to do. I was up at around 3 am last year, waited not that long, and as soon as what I want went on Black Friday sale (which was well earlier than the 5 am listed time), I had it in my online cart and checked out and that was it! Back to sleep. I saved a LOT of money on a few things.

I wasn't buying an e-reader last year though, so I don't know how their prices are on Black Friday. But I would think they would have some great deals.

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by GA Russell

Not only can we expect devices to go on sale for Christmas, but we may still learn of new models to be introduced for Christmas. If you can wait a couple of months, your selection will probably be wider.

Actually, while there might be some replacements for existing models (The Nook, by and large), I expect that the actual number of different models of readers available will probably begin to decline in the next year or two as the price war between the Kindle and the Nook makes it hard for other sellers in the United States to compete (perhaps they will stick around in Europe and other parts of the world).

--
Bill

[clintbradford]

>> ... Do you all think a 99 dollar quality reader will be a reality by Xmas ...

Sure. But think of the enjoyment and satisfaction you will be missing by NOT having a Kindle3 in your hands ... wirelessly downloading free and paid-for books and magazines and blogs.

But you know what. YOU had better wait 'till Christmas, 2015. Because there might be something else on the market ...

You can either sweat this out 'till your sweat glands are dry, or purchase a Kindle3. OR a Kobo. I bought my Kobo as much for what is does NOT do as for what it does do - mainly, it does NOT have wireless connectivity. That keeps me READING BOOKS. Because to be honest with you, I also have a Kindle3 WiFi, and I spend too much time screwing around with experimental wireless apps and NOT actually reading books.

[TenaciousBadger]

my BIG con against the Nook would be that for most ebooks from Barnes&Noble you get these 7 words

These items ship to U.S. addresses only

so honestly, as a buyer from somewhere else on this big ol' planet, i don't really feel that i have the store behind the device. true you get restrictions on amazon too but not to the same scale as with B&N. even ebooks i've been able to buy from amazon are "unavailable" outside the US at Barnes&Noble.

[CPhill505]

Look back a couple threads and you'll see I had the same problem. My husband solved my indecision. He went to Sears a couple days ago and bought me a Sony 600 on sale for $129. I love it. I'm happy and now i can just read books instead of researching all the time. I don't find any of the problems with the screen that I read about (but I have nothing to compare with). I love..love ..love the touch screen and easy navigation. Oh and all those B&N books that I had, are now stripped to play on my Sony. Plus I bought a new book from Borders and it went right onto my Sony. I don't have wifi and that's fine. I've got a laptop close to me at all times and now I can concentrate on reading instead of checking the forums every few minutes. My advice is to find 2 things that are really important to you and just buy one.

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by CPhill505

Look back a couple threads and you'll see I had the same problem. My husband solved my indecision. He went to Sears a couple days ago and bought me a Sony 600 on sale for $129. I love it. I'm happy and now i can just read books instead of researching all the time. I don't find any of the problems with the screen that I read about (but I have nothing to compare with). I love..love ..love the touch screen and easy navigation. Oh and all those B&N books that I had, are now stripped to play on my Sony. Plus I bought a new book from Borders and it went right onto my Sony. I don't have wifi and that's fine. I've got a laptop close to me at all times and now I can concentrate on reading instead of checking the forums every few minutes. My advice is to find 2 things that are really important to you and just buy one.

Enjoy!

[JeremyR]

IMHO, it's really a shame Amazon didn't make a Kobo-like Kindle 3. Bare bones - no wifi/web, no keyboard, etc. Just an e-reader.

I like my K3, but I really wish it were small (shorter) and the keyboard is basically worthless, since I just plan on using it to read, not play games, not surf the web, not take notes and highlight passages (do people really do this?)

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

IMHO, it's really a shame Amazon didn't make a Kobo-like Kindle 3. Bare bones - no wifi/web, no keyboard, etc. Just an e-reader.

I like my K3, but I really wish it were small (shorter) and the keyboard is basically worthless, since I just plan on using it to read, not play games, not surf the web, not take notes and highlight passages (do people really do this?)

Well, I don't, but when connect to the Kindle store, or many books, or feedbooks or mobileread, it sure does come in handy!

I can look for authors, or specific books by typing in the info.

I can search thru the book by typing in words, or phrases.

And all I do on mine is read also!

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

IMHO, it's really a shame Amazon didn't make a Kobo-like Kindle 3. Bare bones - no wifi/web, no keyboard, etc. Just an e-reader.

I like my K3, but I really wish it were small (shorter) and the keyboard is basically worthless, since I just plan on using it to read, not play games, not surf the web, not take notes and highlight passages (do people really do this?)

I highlight and take notes. (shrugs)

I also like the ability to order books at the airport and other places. I don't carry a lap top with me so the 3G is great. I am not a huge fan of touch screens (fingerprints drive me nuts) so the keyboard is nice.

[soondai]

Originally Posted by clintbradford

>>
Sure. But think of the enjoyment and satisfaction you will be missing by NOT having a Kindle3 in your hands ... wirelessly downloading free and paid-for books and magazines and blogs.

But you know what. YOU had better wait 'till Christmas, 2015. Because there might be something else on the market ...

Ha. My wife said something very much along those lines tonight. She's ordering me a K3 for my birthday whenever the ship date hits October 1. So unless B&N announces an irresistible Nook2 before then, I'm going with the Kindle.

Thanks to everyone for their input on this thread and all the great info on the boards.

Now I can just start counting down days.

[AdrianM]

FWIW, the Kindle 3 battery "issue" isn't an issue at all and the only difference between the Nook battery replacement and the K3 is that it's explicitly supported by B&N. In practice the K3 back is only slightly more difficult to get off than the Nook's and they both need a screwdriver to get the battery out. A K3 replacement battery is available to buy on the net.

The chance that most people will need to replace it in either before they break or they are upgraded to the newest, latest and greatest gadget is small.

I received my K3 on the 27th and I still haven't had to charge it more than once. I've been reading it for an hour or so a day since, sometimes with the K3 cover light too. That certainly increases battery longevity.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Oh, Sweetpea, you so didn't use the "U" word for my K1.........

Don't make me get out my stick! (You do remember the stick?)

Nope, sorry... But I did improve, I actually called a Kindle sleek! (and you should really put those two next to each other, even you'll think that the K1 is ugly!)

oh, did I already mention I'd missed you? Nobody to take the bait when I said the K1 and K2 are ugly!

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Well, I don't, but when connect to the Kindle store, or many books, or feedbooks or mobileread, it sure does come in handy!

I can look for authors, or specific books by typing in the info.

I can search thru the book by typing in words, or phrases.

And all I do on mine is read also!

I first thought that that keyboard would be a major hindrance. But, since the K3 is much sleeker than the original Kindle, it's only a vague annoyance. Sometimes. Mostly, it's handy if you're wanting to search for a specific phrase or when you go to the Amazon store (or wikipedia...)

But, if I had the choice between a keyboard and wifi or a touchscreen and wifi-less, I'd go for the second...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JeremyR

I just plan on using it to read, not play games, not surf the web, not take notes and highlight passages (do people really do this?)

Yes, absolutely. I use the Kindle to proof-read the eBooks that I create, and use the notes facility to mark all the errors that I find. When I've finished the book, I go back through my notes and correct the errors.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by soondai

Ha. My wife said something very much along those lines tonight. She's ordering me a K3 for my birthday whenever the ship date hits October 1.

You see, there is never good time to buy an electronics gadget, because every time you buy something, there will be better, cheaper device available in a few months. Sometimes, it is worth to wait a week or two, because some manufacturer is just about to announce price or specs for some new model (like now, when we are waiting for the prices for PocketBook 9.7 inch devices). Or, perhaps, you might wait a month for prices of used devices to fall after the new model starts to sell. But usually you just buy what has the best features/price ratio at the moment, because you would wait indefinitely otherwise.

[soondai]

Originally Posted by AdrianM

FWIW, the Kindle 3 battery "issue" isn't an issue at all and the only difference between the Nook battery replacement and the K3 is that it's explicitly supported by B&N. In practice the K3 back is only slightly more difficult to get off than the Nook's and they both need a screwdriver to get the battery out. A K3 replacement battery is available to buy on the net.

The chance that most people will need to replace it in either before they break or they are upgraded to the newest, latest and greatest gadget is small.

I received my K3 on the 27th and I still haven't had to charge it more than once. I've been reading it for an hour or so a day since, sometimes with the K3 cover light too. That certainly increases battery longevity.

Well, I don't want to continue to take pot shots at the Kindle since I am now one of the converted, but I still find the battery issue baffling and I do think it is an issue.

$140 is well beyond the price range of disposable electronics for me. And I really don't believe that making it inaccessible was for weight or design. I think they realize that most people will upgrade instead of replacing the battery if it is an expensive hassle. I don't think it's a coincidence that the designs have evolved to make it tougher and tougher to change a battery.

My intention is to purchase an electronic reader, not subscribe to the Amazing reading service. I'm not boycotting them, but I don't care for a lot of their practices and they'll be my store of last resort (and more generally, stores will be my source of last resort).

But it is a great machine, all around. You all have convinced me of that. And I cannot wait to get my hands on it and fill 'er up with the "pile" of books already precariously swaying on my desktop!