Kindle Keyboard

MorganM · 09-05-2012, 08:24 AM

A friend of mine has offered me her Kindle Keyboard which she has pretty much never used.

Are Kindle Keyboards still *good* to use or are the newer versions better? Sorry if my q is silly, I have never used a Kindle so I don't know if the Kindle Keyboard will suffice or if the newer ones are better.

odiakkoh · 09-05-2012, 08:30 AM

I prefer my kindle keyboard to the newer models. I'll be sad when it breaks eventually. It's personal preference.

ixtab · 09-05-2012, 08:33 AM

Just give it a try

There is an almost religious debate here where some people prefer the K3 (Keyboard), some the K4 (non-touch), and some the K5 (Touch). You will essentially only start the 800th discussion about who prefers what, and get subjective comments about how the K5 doesn't have physical buttons, the K4 doesn't have a keyboard, and why the keyboard on the K3 is useless.

Objectively, the K3 is still a good reader if you just want to read books. As far as actual reading is concerned, the only thing that it lacks (which newer models provide) is support for KF8 books (required for RTL languages like arabic or hebrew, and providing better support for complex book layouts, like for technical documents).

Again: just try it. If you don't like it, you can still buy a new one.

ucfgrad93 · 09-05-2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorganM

A friend of mine has offered me her Kindle Keyboard which she has pretty much never used.

Are Kindle Keyboards still *good* to use or are the newer versions better? Sorry if my q is silly, I have never used a Kindle so I don't know if the Kindle Keyboard will suffice or if the newer ones are better.

I love my Kindle Keyboard. It does a great job.

Jessica Lares · 09-05-2012, 09:28 AM

Wouldn't have e-ink any other way. More screen real estate even because of not having the on-screen keyboard.

Atilla · 09-05-2012, 09:29 AM

I like the extra hight of the Kindle Keyboard.
Specially lying in bed reading, I feel less stress on my neck.

jbcohen · 09-05-2012, 10:33 AM

Your kindle keyboard is also known as a kindle model three. The current generaiton is the model four and soon to be announced will be the model five. So at the bare minimum pass up the model four in favor of the newer model five. My policy is to refresh the technology once every four years so since you have a model three the next time you would get a new one would be in time for the model seven, which obviously is several years into the future. So my advice is to use what you have until the model seven is available which should be in time for XMas 2014. In other words "keep your powder dry."

booklover6 · 09-05-2012, 10:40 AM

I have 2 Kindle Keyboards. I never upgraded to the newer ones (unless you count my Fire). I think you should take and enjoy it!

ixtab · 09-05-2012, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Your kindle keyboard is also known as a kindle model three. The current generaiton is the model four and soon to be announced will be the model five.

This is plain wrong. The K4 is the current Kindle non-touch, the K5 is the current Kindle Touch, and the K6 is the current Kindle Fire. Just check the firmware release numbers.

Synamon · 09-05-2012, 11:19 AM

The Kindle Keyboard is a current model, Amazon still sells new ones, and the last firmware update was in the spring. It's a higher end model compared to the newer basic non-Touch Kindle, with double the storage and battery life, a speaker for TTS, music, and audiobooks, and unlimited 3G (if it's the 3G model).

Go for it, unless you have your heart set on a touch screen.

twobob · 09-06-2012, 11:11 AM

Keyboard gets my vote. I love mine.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...f=famstripe_kt

Quote:

Kindle Touch
Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6,173 customer reviews) | Like (3,637)

Currently unavailable.
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.

Decision made for you

paperwhite / NuTouch II Series 6 UberMax (or w/e they label it), FireSuperBlazeII (or w/e) or the Keyboard 3.3.

Your choices are those.

I'm going to get a paperwhite I think. The Fire is NOT for me, I have no idea about the names as you can tell...

I love my keyboard... Did I already say that? well. I do.

kasra5004 · 09-06-2012, 04:28 PM

I love my kindle keyboard and I intentionally avoided touchscreen because It just isn`t necessary. I view a lot of pdf files which are usually bigger than 20mb so It`s larger memory capacity is definitely a plus. The keyboard is quite nice too, especially if you`re using reference books .It also has a better battery life compared to k4.

So yeah,k3 rocks!

Paper white sounds nice, but I wish it had a keyboard model too.

copyrite · 09-06-2012, 04:33 PM

Still using a Kindle Keyboard here, #2. Dropped the first one, one too many times.

twobob · 09-06-2012, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kasra5004

So yeah,k3 rocks!

Paper white sounds nice, but I wish it had a keyboard model too.

Oh yes. this is so true.

abookreader · 09-06-2012, 08:59 PM

Well, if you don't want it send it over here because I'd take a free Kindle Keyboard in a heartbeat.

Kindle keyboard has several pretty nice features .... including the actual keyboard for those of us who prefer them over touch screens. It has physical page turn buttons, plays sound, and it holds more books than the newest model. There's also a Calibre plug-in for managing Collections. In other words, it will more than suffice in terms of reading eBooks.

Mine works just as well as it did the first day although my lighted cover did crap out on me over the summer. Luckily I found an EBAY seller that had a lot of them on clearance for pretty cheap so I got a replacement.

09-05-2012, 08:24 AM	#1
MorganM Fanatic Posts: 563 Karma: 1089963 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra H2o	Kindle Keyboard A friend of mine has offered me her Kindle Keyboard which she has pretty much never used. Are Kindle Keyboards still good to use or are the newer versions better? Sorry if my q is silly, I have never used a Kindle so I don't know if the Kindle Keyboard will suffice or if the newer ones are better.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
why dont you port kindle keyboard apps to kindle touch	techiemonkey	Kindle Developer's Corner	17	09-23-2012 07:10 AM
Sync furthest read between iOS Kindle v2.9 & Kindle Keyboard v3.3	enduser	Apple Devices	1	02-21-2012 07:38 PM
Trade Roocase Folio case for Kindle 3/Kindle Keyboard	curtw	Flea Market	12	01-02-2012 03:26 PM
Ended Kindle Keyboard + Marware Eco-Vue Kindle Leather Folio	Ron.	Flea Market	0	12-16-2011 03:20 PM
Your vote - keyboard or no keyboard on Kindle	mrzerga	Amazon Kindle	56	03-10-2011 07:22 PM

09-05-2012, 08:30 AM	#2
odiakkoh Guru Posts: 823 Karma: 1818344 Join Date: Apr 2011 Device: iPhone 5s	I prefer my kindle keyboard to the newer models. I'll be sad when it breaks eventually. It's personal preference.

09-05-2012, 08:33 AM	#3
ixtab (offline) Posts: 2,907 Karma: 6736092 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: K3, K4, K5, KPW, KPW2	Just give it a try There is an almost religious debate here where some people prefer the K3 (Keyboard), some the K4 (non-touch), and some the K5 (Touch). You will essentially only start the 800th discussion about who prefers what, and get subjective comments about how the K5 doesn't have physical buttons, the K4 doesn't have a keyboard, and why the keyboard on the K3 is useless. Objectively, the K3 is still a good reader if you just want to read books. As far as actual reading is concerned, the only thing that it lacks (which newer models provide) is support for KF8 books (required for RTL languages like arabic or hebrew, and providing better support for complex book layouts, like for technical documents). Again: just try it. If you don't like it, you can still buy a new one.

09-05-2012, 09:28 AM	#5
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	Wouldn't have e-ink any other way. More screen real estate even because of not having the on-screen keyboard.

09-05-2012, 09:29 AM	#6
Atilla Addict Posts: 224 Karma: 619496 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kindle 3, Kindle 3 3G, Kobo Touch, Playbook, Kobo Clara HD	I like the extra hight of the Kindle Keyboard. Specially lying in bed reading, I feel less stress on my neck.

09-05-2012, 10:33 AM	#7
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,025 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Piper College Device: Samsung A21	Your kindle keyboard is also known as a kindle model three. The current generaiton is the model four and soon to be announced will be the model five. So at the bare minimum pass up the model four in favor of the newer model five. My policy is to refresh the technology once every four years so since you have a model three the next time you would get a new one would be in time for the model seven, which obviously is several years into the future. So my advice is to use what you have until the model seven is available which should be in time for XMas 2014. In other words "keep your powder dry."

09-05-2012, 10:40 AM	#8
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I have 2 Kindle Keyboards. I never upgraded to the newer ones (unless you count my Fire). I think you should take and enjoy it!

09-05-2012, 11:19 AM	#10
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	The Kindle Keyboard is a current model, Amazon still sells new ones, and the last firmware update was in the spring. It's a higher end model compared to the newer basic non-Touch Kindle, with double the storage and battery life, a speaker for TTS, music, and audiobooks, and unlimited 3G (if it's the 3G model). Go for it, unless you have your heart set on a touch screen.

09-06-2012, 04:28 PM	#12
kasra5004 Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: none	I love my kindle keyboard and I intentionally avoided touchscreen because It just isn`t necessary. I view a lot of pdf files which are usually bigger than 20mb so It`s larger memory capacity is definitely a plus. The keyboard is quite nice too, especially if you`re using reference books .It also has a better battery life compared to k4. So yeah,k3 rocks! Paper white sounds nice, but I wish it had a keyboard model too.

09-06-2012, 04:33 PM	#13
copyrite Wizard Posts: 1,814 Karma: 4985051 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Maryland Device: ...lots! ;) mostly reading on a Kindle Voyage	Still using a Kindle Keyboard here, #2. Dropped the first one, one too many times.

09-06-2012, 08:59 PM	#15
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Well, if you don't want it send it over here because I'd take a free Kindle Keyboard in a heartbeat. Kindle keyboard has several pretty nice features .... including the actual keyboard for those of us who prefer them over touch screens. It has physical page turn buttons, plays sound, and it holds more books than the newest model. There's also a Calibre plug-in for managing Collections. In other words, it will more than suffice in terms of reading eBooks. Mine works just as well as it did the first day although my lighted cover did crap out on me over the summer. Luckily I found an EBAY seller that had a lot of them on clearance for pretty cheap so I got a replacement.

Advert

Advert