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Amazon Announces New Kindles: $139 Wi-Fi, $189 3G
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While I like the fact the Kindle is now only US$139, it's still in a way too limited a device because it won't support the ePUB format that other e-book readers support. And Amazon needs to exert some its considerable influence so we see just about all the the popular book series available on the Kindle; for example, I'd love to see J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books available on the Kindle, especially the fifth to seventh novels (Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows) are such big and heavy books in hardback format in both the British Bloomsbury and US Scholastic editions; Rowling probably did not want e-book editions due to the high cost of e-book readers in the past but now with the price of the Amazon Kindle at US$139 and Barnes & Noble Nook at US$149, that barrier is now almost gone.
In addition to being more outside friendly, I think that e-Ink helps keep the novelty of books alive. Love it or hate it, I view the blink-and-pause phenomenon you describe as an interesting take on turning a page. And perhaps not everyone experiences this, but I do find a backlit screen to be a bit annoying after a couple hours of reading. Don't get me wrong, the iPad is an amazing device, I just don't believe it can effectively be marketed to individuals who are solely looking for an ereader.
I never thought of myself as someone who would ever quit buying physical books, but after discovering I could purchase most of my textbooks for college onto a Nook, one now accompanies me everyday to class. The only downside I've really experienced thus far is an endless barrage of nook jokes from my friends. Yes, I clean my nook daily. Now what exactly is so funny?
The 3g support only allows you to connect to the Kindle's library to purchase and download content. If you want to use the web browser, you'll need to connect to a wifi hotspot to do so. Although, I'm patiently awaiting a youtube video of a hacked Kindle using it's web browser over 3g..hint..hint..
In addition to being more outside friendly, I think that e-Ink helps keep the novelty of books alive. Love it or hate it, I view the blink-and-pause phenomenon you describe as an interesting take on turning a page. And perhaps not everyone experiences this, but I do find a backlit screen to be a bit annoying after a couple hours of reading. Don't get me wrong, the iPad is an amazing device, I just don't believe it can effectively be marketed to individuals who are solely looking for an ereader.
I never thought of myself as someone who would ever quit buying physical books, but after discovering I could purchase most of my textbooks for college onto a Nook, one now accompanies me everyday to class. The only downside I've really experienced thus far is an endless barrage of nook jokes from my friends. Yes, I clean my nook daily. Now what exactly is so funny?
Sure the "blink & pause" give you more of a real book feel, but if you look at the visual of turning a real paper page, it's a FAR smoother animated effect then what the Kindle/Nook do. I hope they can improve the render so that it doesn't do that flashing effect.
It's hilarious how some people can't just accept the fact that it is more easy on the eyes, even if it's just a minimal difference, reading on a Kindle than in the iPad.
I know that I read a lot in my Mac, but I do it while working/playing/etc. When I want to just sit and enjoy a book, I do find the Kindle a much better device than the iPad. And not only for the screen, but size, weight, the fact that it doesn't presents you with extra distractions that the iPad has (like mail alerts, etc.).
I have a Kindle and I'm probably going to buy an iPad later on, it's an amazing device. But if I want to read, I'll keep using the Kindle. Why? Because I really enjoy reading, and the Kindle gives the user a much more pleasant reading experience.
Strawman. This started based on the assertion that an iPad is useless for reading, and will blind you.
No it didn't. The original argument started that the Kindle is easier on your eyes and better for reading for long periods.
The 3g support only allows you to connect to the Kindle's library to purchase and download content. If you want to use the web browser, you'll need to connect to a wifi hotspot to do so. Although, I'm patiently awaiting a youtube video of a hacked Kindle using it's web browser over 3g..hint..hint..
I don't know about the new Kindle, but the older Kindles with 3G do let you browse the web using 3G. In fact, due to the high cost of EDGE in my country (no 3G here) I never had any data plans in my phones, and the Kindle was the first time I've used mobile browsing, and it was completely free.
I use wifi much more than 3G
I have a Nook with both 3G (only for the B&N store) and wifi. I find myself almost never using 3G. In 10 minutes I can get 4 books from the Nook. Or I can get them in even less time if I buy them on my computer and just use the Nook to download. Typically I can do this on my home network. So I haven't used 3G since the first few days until the novelty wore off.
I haven't tried to do it outside of the US, but I almost always have occassional wifi access somewhere when I travel. I would probably do the same thing there that I do in the US. So the Kindle's 3G access wouldn't be all that important while traveling, either.
Power consumption is much faster on 3G than wifi as well.
So if I had to do it over, I would have saved the $50 and bought wifi only.
I have a Nook with both 3G (only for the B&N store) and wifi. I find myself almost never using 3G. In 10 minutes I can get 4 books from the Nook. Or I can get them in even less time if I buy them on my computer and just use the Nook to download. Typically I can do this on my home network. So I haven't used 3G since the first few days until the novelty wore off.
I haven't tried to do it outside of the US, but I almost always have occassional wifi access somewhere when I travel. I would probably do the same thing there that I do in the US. So the Kindle's 3G access wouldn't be all that important while traveling, either.
Power consumption is much faster on 3G than wifi as well.
So if I had to do it over, I would have saved the $50 and bought wifi only.
I have the graphite Kindle DX and LOVE it. Upgraded from a K2 (which was upgraded from a K1).
I think its hilarious how the iPad is always compared to the Kindle. They are so different. If you compare the iPad to the Kindle, you should compare the Kindle to your laptop or desktop. Oh, wait...
Anyway, if I was in the market for the K3 (?) Wifi/3G version, I'd absolutely go for the 3G version. There is nothing more satisfying than downloading a book while on the tarmac on a plane just before a 5 hour flight. It's magical!
I think its hilarious how the iPad is always compared to the Kindle. They are so different. If you compare the iPad to the Kindle, you should compare the Kindle to your laptop or desktop. Oh, wait...
Anyway, if I was in the market for the K3 (?) Wifi/3G version, I'd absolutely go for the 3G version. There is nothing more satisfying than downloading a book while on the tarmac on a plane just before a 5 hour flight. It's magical!
I can see what you mean. At this point the only justification I can see is to ensure things sync while I'm away from home, or the occasional web browsing (which I can imagine is not so great). I have a hard time not getting the best model of new technology. But, is it really the best?
See, that's another reason I would consider the 3G model. For those spur of the moment purchases. I think I'm just going to go for it and get the 3G/Wifi model.
greatly said, i swear half of the fanboys on hear don't even read books. I mean many books.
Some people are like "no one in the right mind would buy a kindle" but for a full time reader, the kindle will always be better at ebooks in my eyes.
The ipad is nice but some people dont need the extra features and as you said the distractions.
ANd also to all the people saying ican read in the dark with my ipad, well I can read on my kindle in the dark too! i dont live in the 1800s and have electricity and a lamp on my bed side table. big whop for technolgy!
I dare say I might buy next year's iPad as a general browsing and app sofa toy, but for now what I need is a simple lightweight travel eReader that I can read outside and inside, and not worry about having to charge for a whole trip, and at the new low price point, the wireless Kindle looks to be spot on for my needs. It's not pretty, and it's not multifunctional, but it doesn't need to be. It just needs to replace all the paperbacks I normally take when I travel, and do that one thing well.
I do accept that fact as I have repeatedly stated throughout this long discussion that each person has to decide for him or herself which device is better for them. For me the Kindle is harder on my eyes.
And to me the iPad gives the user a much more pleasant reading experience.
Get the point? You're not right. I'm not right. We're both equally right for ourselves, but quite wrong for the other person. So try both, pick the one that works for YOU. But please do not assume that what looks good to your eyes is what looks good to everyone else's eyes.
The 3g support only allows you to connect to the Kindle's library to purchase and download content. If you want to use the web browser, you'll need to connect to a wifi hotspot to do so. Although, I'm patiently awaiting a youtube video of a hacked Kindle using it's web browser over 3g..hint..hint..
Not true. I have the Kindle 2 which has the experimental browser in it as well, and I have no problem accessing web pages over the 3g connection (although some don't quite render correctly, but that's another story).
Bingo. The Kindle is a purpose built machine, as opposed to iPad's approach, which aims to please on several fronts. As such, a comparison is difficult. I would imagine that the best way would be to compare the things that the two devices actually have in common. I'm not going to add any fuel to the e-ink vs. backlit flame that is ravaging this thread; to each his own there. I will say that I tried the iPad before buying my Kindle, and I found the iPad to be far too heavy to hold for long periods of reading time. I will say that the Kindle's web browser needs more work, but overall, I am very pleased with the device; it has earned its place in my travel bag. With this latest price decrease, I imagine that the market for these devices will take off.
Enjoy
Have a great time with your new reader. For all I know, there will be a day (maybe on an airplane sitting at the gate) when I am grateful that I made the same decision that you have. Good luck, and enjoy.
Have a great time with your new reader. For all I know, there will be a day (maybe on an airplane sitting at the gate) when I am grateful that I made the same decision that you have. Good luck, and enjoy.
If Apple increases titles for their iPad, Amazon might as well rename their offering the Kindling.