Question about 3G on new Paperwhites.

[Andy_D]

After seeing that the Paperwhite was sale for $100, I noticed that it also comes with 3G (not on sale for $170). I'm tempted to buy the 3G version even though it's much more expensive (maybe wait for a sale), but I don't know what internet is actually accessible on a new Kindle. I know it's not much, if anything. What can one access via 3G other than downloads from Amazon? Can you look-up any Wikipedia article or only those linked from a word, name or term in a document or book? Having unfettered access to Wikipedia might be reason enough to get a 3G Paperwhite. Can you access anything else over 3G?

Also, is the 3G functionality available on an unregistered device? I sideload everything and use the experimental browser with WiFi on my unregistered basic Kindle. I'm wondering if 3G works the same as WiFi.

(For those wondering: I like having the Kindle unregistered, because I lose no functionality that matters to me, I sideload everything, so there's no downside, I don't receive special offers, and I don't send any personal data to Amazon.)

[barryem]

I have a 3G Paperwhite and I just looked and sure enough it is on sale.

The 3G is limited to accessing Amazon's Kindle store to buy books and to accessing Wikipedia and doing translations, which do require 3G or Wifi.

You can't use 3G for other websites. There is a browser that you can use when you're in range of Wifi but it's such a limited and awkward browser you probably won't use it except in rare situations.

I buy the 3G Kindle because I refer to Wikipedia a lot when I encounter something new or something used in new ways while I'm reading. My first Kindles didn't have 3G and when I was reading with no Wifi available I really using Wikipedia.

In those days you could go to any website with the 3G but the browser made that so difficult it was rarely used.

Barry

[Andy_D]

Originally Posted by barryem

I have a 3G Paperwhite and I just looked and sure enough it is on sale.

I only saw on Amazon the WiFi only Paperwhite with a red line through the $119.95 and a sale price of $99.95, but for the 3G model, I only saw the regular price, $169.95. Where do you see the 3G on sale and for what price?

Originally Posted by barryem

I buy the 3G Kindle because I refer to Wikipedia a lot

Via 3G, can you access Wikipedia in the experimental browser or only by tapping a word in a book or doc and viewing its associated article and nothing more?

Originally Posted by barryem

such a limited and awkward browser

I've never read a positive comment about the experimental browser, but I use it all the time and actually love it. I open it on a webpage I've made for myself that has scores of my often visited websites arranged by categories, so I never have to manually enter an address. I then (with javascript and images off) switch to "article mode" and read news articles and long magazine stories as if they were pages in a paper book without any ads, annoying graphics, glare from a tablet etc. I'd be disappointed if Amazon removed the experimental browser which seems like it might happen since they have never worked on it from its inception.