Should I buy a Kindle 3 in the U.S. or from Europe? - Page 2

ilka · 10-16-2010, 03:02 AM

So does that mean, you can buy books from anywhere on the world if you have a Wi Fi connection or a signal in case you have the 3G device ?
I am still trying to figure out how it works and whether to buy a kindle 3 or a Nook. I am living in Germany
Thanks
Ilka

desertblues · 10-16-2010, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilka

So does that mean, you can buy books from anywhere on the world if you have a Wi Fi connection or a signal in case you have the 3G device ?
I am still trying to figure out how it works and whether to buy a kindle 3 or a Nook. I am living in Germany
Thanks
Ilka

I have 3G and could make an internetconnection when I was abroad and couldn't get a wifi-connection, so I guess I could have bought books also on amazon.com.

cjottawa · 10-16-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilka

So does that mean, you can buy books from anywhere on the world if you have a Wi Fi connection or a signal in case you have the 3G device ?
I am still trying to figure out how it works and whether to buy a kindle 3 or a Nook. I am living in Germany
Thanks
Ilka

A WiFi connection, at the risk of anthropomorphizing, "doesn't care where you are." Starbucks in Tokyo, internet cafe in Rome or hotel in Toronto: you won't be charged for data or roaming use over WiFi as it's just a wireless access point for a hardwired internet connection. (via a WiFi router)

3G comes in handy in places you don't have access to a WiFi network, in countries where Amazon has an agreement with a 3G or GPRS carrier. Provided you set your charge limit to $0.00, you won't be billed for using 3G.

Having owned both a WiFi Kindle and now a 3G+WiFi, I would recommend the 3G+WiFi to give you options if, say, the cafe you're sitting in has an internet problem. You could still connect over 3G/GPRS, without putting down your latte.

Kindle versus Nook is a whole different discussion.

kimichen · 10-20-2010, 05:18 AM

I've just bought a Kindle 3G/WiFi from the UK via a friend there. I do think there is a difference between the US sent within US and the international version and that's in the experimental browser.

A friend recently bought a Kindle via a friend in the US and has full browser access (including GoogleMail) in Europe (tested only in Germany & Poland and about to be tried in UK). The browser on my Kindle has only access to Wiki and of course to the Amazon store via 3G. Full browser access via WiFi of course as that does not cost Amazon anything.

Does anyone have more info on this difference?

I realise that the Kindle is primarily an E-book reader but it's quite a bonus to have internet access in Europe free, particularly when travelling.

So, based on my experience so far, my advice is to buy the US version sent to a US address.

desertblues · 10-20-2010, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimichen

I've just bought a Kindle 3G/WiFi from the UK via a friend there. I do think there is a difference between the US sent within US and the international version and that's in the experimental browser.

A friend recently bought a Kindle via a friend in the US and has full browser access (including GoogleMail) in Europe (tested only in Germany & Poland and about to be tried in UK). The browser on my Kindle has only access to Wiki and of course to the Amazon store via 3G. Full browser access via WiFi of course as that does not cost Amazon anything.

Does anyone have more info on this difference?

I realise that the Kindle is primarily an E-book reader but it's quite a bonus to have internet access in Europe free, particularly when travelling.

So, based on my experience so far, my advice is to buy the US version sent to a US address.

Buy the Kindle wifi+ 3G in the US with a USadress. There's plenty said about the international restrictions for 3G in the forums.
Browsing depends on the adress your Kindle is registred to and nothing else matters: not the version like B00AA, or whatever. The version is important for when you want to update, but that's all.
I made some experiments with it and I, as European (not UK) customer can browse, where I want, with my European version and an USadress. If I want that: that's another question. I primarily want to buy books from Amazon without geo-restrictions.

oecherprinte · 10-20-2010, 08:05 AM

Hi,

I recently ordered the kindle3 via the US store to a friend's address in the US. After I picked it up I opened a US amazon account to the address it was shipped to with a german credit card as payment.

I have no restrictions whatsoever browsing with the experimental browser in germany or buying books in the US kindle store. Browsing for me is just a nice addon, I am mainly into having full access to the kindle store.

Cheers,

fimipiso

desertblues · 10-20-2010, 09:49 AM

For me, I had to wiggle the adresses a bit. I have an iPad for the internet, for browsing on the Kindle is experimental, in 16 greytints and what can one expect? But it does the job and it is an ereader, not a tablet.
For me it is important to have access to all books in the Amazonstore and not only the US-ones. I've been a faithful customer of theirs for almost 8 years and feel I should be able to buy these books.

ProfCrash · 10-20-2010, 09:53 AM

Agreed desertblues. If that was something in Amazons control I would be annoyed with Amazon. Unfortunetly it is in the hands of the Publishers based on how they write contracts.

Toniri · 10-20-2010, 11:10 AM

@ kimichen

That's odd that you can't use the full browser capabilities over 3G. There are lot's of videos on the web of british Kindle users demonstrating web access (Gmail, etc.) over 3G on their devices, so I assume this has nothing to do with the software installed.

I would really like to figure this out so my ideas would be that either:

1. Vodaphone (the 3G provider for the UK devices) doesn't provide international roaming
2. Your Kindle is not registered to a UK address

The second question is one you can answer yourself. For the first one, we need someone, preferably British who can check if he can roam over 3G when outside the UK.

Cheers
Cas

kimichen · 10-22-2010, 07:50 AM

Thank you all for your very helpful comments. My friend's Kindle was re-registered to an Australian address and the browser continued to work on 3G without restriction which lead me to think that my browser non-access was because of having a UK Kindle which is registered to a German address. However 'desertblues' said that it's purely a function of where it is registered. So, as I have an Australian address also, I'll be trying this out and will post the result.

Sure, it's not a great browser and the Kindle is an E-Book reader not a portable computer in the general sense, but it's still a nice plus when travelling. As previously noted, the Amazon Store is available via 3G without problem and that is the main thing.

Yes Cas, I'd also love to hear from a UK user re browser international roaming. Right now, I'd still recommend buying the US model sent to a US address where possible.

kimichen · 10-22-2010, 11:50 AM

I changed to my Australian address and the 3G browser leapt up and worked. Strange but wonderful. You were certainly right 'desertblues'. Interesting though that it wouldn't work with a German address. Perhaps because only the country and not my address had been registered although I have 1-click ordering on.

TeeDee · 09-16-2011, 11:52 AM

Can any one tell me if I buy Kindle 3G in UK can I get full use in New Zealand now, and are the costs and accessability similar?

mikeayers · 09-16-2011, 12:01 PM

If I'm not mistaken the USA Kindle is shipped with a USB cable AND a wall plug for it.
The international Kindle is just shipped with the cable, but no wall plugger.
Without the plug you have to charge with a computer.

HarryT · 09-16-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toniri

1. Vodaphone (the 3G provider for the UK devices) doesn't provide international roaming
2. Your Kindle is not registered to a UK address

Vodafone (spelt with an "f", not a "ph"!) certainly does provide full internet access in the UK with a Kindle 3. I have one myself, and can access any web site on my Kindle. I've also used it, without restriction, in most countries in Western Europe.

As has been said many times, it's the country in which you have your Kindle registered that determines restrictions on web browsing, not where you bought it from.

HarryT · 09-16-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeayers

If I'm not mistaken the USA Kindle is shipped with a USB cable AND a wall plug for it.
The international Kindle is just shipped with the cable, but no wall plugger.

Depends what "international" you're talking about. If you buy a Kindle in the UK, for example, it is supplied with a wall charger.

Not that it really matters; it's just a standard USB wall charger, and they can be picked up for peanuts.

09-16-2011, 11:52 AM	#27
TeeDee Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2011 Device: Kindle 3G	Buy Kindle UK use in NZ Can any one tell me if I buy Kindle 3G in UK can I get full use in New Zealand now, and are the costs and accessability similar?

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10-16-2010, 03:02 AM	#16
ilka Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: NOOK	So does that mean, you can buy books from anywhere on the world if you have a Wi Fi connection or a signal in case you have the 3G device ? I am still trying to figure out how it works and whether to buy a kindle 3 or a Nook. I am living in Germany Thanks Ilka

10-20-2010, 05:18 AM	#19
kimichen Gadget Lover Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle	I've just bought a Kindle 3G/WiFi from the UK via a friend there. I do think there is a difference between the US sent within US and the international version and that's in the experimental browser. A friend recently bought a Kindle via a friend in the US and has full browser access (including GoogleMail) in Europe (tested only in Germany & Poland and about to be tried in UK). The browser on my Kindle has only access to Wiki and of course to the Amazon store via 3G. Full browser access via WiFi of course as that does not cost Amazon anything. Does anyone have more info on this difference? I realise that the Kindle is primarily an E-book reader but it's quite a bonus to have internet access in Europe free, particularly when travelling. So, based on my experience so far, my advice is to buy the US version sent to a US address.

10-20-2010, 08:05 AM	#21
oecherprinte Zealot Posts: 115 Karma: 20 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle3 3G, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Hi, I recently ordered the kindle3 via the US store to a friend's address in the US. After I picked it up I opened a US amazon account to the address it was shipped to with a german credit card as payment. I have no restrictions whatsoever browsing with the experimental browser in germany or buying books in the US kindle store. Browsing for me is just a nice addon, I am mainly into having full access to the kindle store. Cheers, fimipiso

10-20-2010, 09:49 AM	#22
desertblues Home for the moment Posts: 5,127 Karma: 27718936 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: travelling Device: various	For me, I had to wiggle the adresses a bit. I have an iPad for the internet, for browsing on the Kindle is experimental, in 16 greytints and what can one expect? But it does the job and it is an ereader, not a tablet. For me it is important to have access to all books in the Amazonstore and not only the US-ones. I've been a faithful customer of theirs for almost 8 years and feel I should be able to buy these books.

10-20-2010, 09:53 AM	#23
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	Agreed desertblues. If that was something in Amazons control I would be annoyed with Amazon. Unfortunetly it is in the hands of the Publishers based on how they write contracts.

10-20-2010, 11:10 AM	#24
Toniri Member Posts: 12 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2010 Device: Pocketbook 360°	@ kimichen That's odd that you can't use the full browser capabilities over 3G. There are lot's of videos on the web of british Kindle users demonstrating web access (Gmail, etc.) over 3G on their devices, so I assume this has nothing to do with the software installed. I would really like to figure this out so my ideas would be that either: 1. Vodaphone (the 3G provider for the UK devices) doesn't provide international roaming 2. Your Kindle is not registered to a UK address The second question is one you can answer yourself. For the first one, we need someone, preferably British who can check if he can roam over 3G when outside the UK. Cheers Cas

10-22-2010, 07:50 AM	#25
kimichen Gadget Lover Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle	Thank you all for your very helpful comments. My friend's Kindle was re-registered to an Australian address and the browser continued to work on 3G without restriction which lead me to think that my browser non-access was because of having a UK Kindle which is registered to a German address. However 'desertblues' said that it's purely a function of where it is registered. So, as I have an Australian address also, I'll be trying this out and will post the result. Sure, it's not a great browser and the Kindle is an E-Book reader not a portable computer in the general sense, but it's still a nice plus when travelling. As previously noted, the Amazon Store is available via 3G without problem and that is the main thing. Yes Cas, I'd also love to hear from a UK user re browser international roaming. Right now, I'd still recommend buying the US model sent to a US address where possible.

10-22-2010, 11:50 AM	#26
kimichen Gadget Lover Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle	I changed to my Australian address and the 3G browser leapt up and worked. Strange but wonderful. You were certainly right 'desertblues'. Interesting though that it wouldn't work with a German address. Perhaps because only the country and not my address had been registered although I have 1-click ordering on.

09-16-2011, 12:01 PM	#28
mikeayers Zealot Posts: 136 Karma: 432377 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Kindle PW 10thGen, Kobo Clara HD	If I'm not mistaken the USA Kindle is shipped with a USB cable AND a wall plug for it. The international Kindle is just shipped with the cable, but no wall plugger. Without the plug you have to charge with a computer.

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