Kaylee ,'Serenity'
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Talk to me about the Kindle. I'm debating between the touch version and the base model. (I have an iPad so I don't see a need for the Fire, and I'm not a big note taker so I don't think the keyboard option is needed either - but if I'm missing something let me know.
The one advantage I see on the touch is the 3G capability. But from a use standpoint, anyone have strong opinions on the base v. the touch?
I've never used the base, but after using the Touch, I don't understand why anyone would want to push buttons to turn pages. It's so much easier to just tap/swipe the screen. Plus, the Touch has more memory.
I don't have either model, just chiming in on page turning--the button on my Nook is simpler than swiping or tapping in the Nook app on my tablet. Because I can just keep my hand there and it's a really small, regular movement.
I love my 3rd gen Kindle with buttons, but it has Wifi and 3G. Given a choice between buttons and 3G, I'd go with the ability to download books on the beach.
The Kindle Fire is really just a scaled-down iPad locked to the Amazon marketplace. If what you're looking for is primarily an e-reader for text (not graphic novels or comics), I'd go with one of the e-ink Kindles.
The Fire has some glare on the screen, doesn't play well with non-mobi formats, and the battery life is much shorter than an e-ink Kindle, as well.
For a touchpad to check your email or read the board or do some reading on, the Fire is okay except that it doesn't have 3G, so it's only good as a browser if you have wifi access.
I have a 3rd gen Kindle that has 3G. And buttons. (And ads, but, you know, a gift.) It usables fine.
I like my Touch, I've never used one with buttons, so I can't compare that. I have used the 3G part, though. I had disconnected my modem and router trying to fix a problem and then went to bed (and forgot what I did). I'd gotten a bunch of free books on Amazon and wanted to download them so it just switched to 3G and it was fairly fast.
the battery life is much shorter than an e-ink Kindle, as well.
The battery life on the base Kindle (mine is *not* 3G) is extremely long if wifi is turned off. And the e-ink/lack of glare is excellent. Although I don't like that I can't adjust the contrast of the screen, and I wish there were an option for backlighting.
That said, I don't like the buttons to turn the pages. I always think that *both* buttons on the right turn to the next page, and both buttons on the left go back a page. Which is not true. I like the Kindle app on my iPod Touch better, because poking the screen seems more intuitive.
That said, the Kindle was a gift, so I'm not slagging its existence or anything. I'm just apparently less button-intuitive than I thought.
Looks like that Kindle has the same button setup as the Nook, so right hand or left has full access to back and forth. Took me a moment to grok, but it makes sense. I'm glad they did that.
Thanks, all!
It doesn't look like the basic model has a 3G option. I don't know how much I'd use that though (although I consider it indispensible on the iPad). Probably not $70 worth. The battery life seems more of an issue, but again, probably not a $70 issue.