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Buying a kindle as a present
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Rebel Stimson
13-07-2011
Want to buy someone a kindle but was wondering which version to buy. Also how much memory does it have and does it come in different memory sizes? Thanks
DJW13
13-07-2011
The 3G version is good if the person you are giving it to does a lot of travelling but the WiFi version is fine for most people I guess.

There is enough memory for approximately 3,500 books and there is no way of expanding it that I know of.
stud u like
13-07-2011
Originally Posted by DJW13:
“The 3G version is good if the person you are giving it to does a lot of travelling but the WiFi version is fine for most people I guess.

There is enough memory for approximately 3,500 books and there is no way of expanding it that I know of.”

Archiving books saves space. You can download them again when needed.
Gormond
13-07-2011
Originally Posted by stud u like:
“Archiving books saves space. You can download them again when needed.”

Indeed but who has over 3500 books, even if you read a book a day on your kindle that's nearly 10 years of space.
c4rv
13-07-2011
Can you use them for playing back music ? Maybe extra storage would be useful then.
JulesandSand
13-07-2011
I bought my OH and myself a 3G version each and tbh could have saved over £100 and just gone for the WiFi only version.

Unless your friend is going to be away from any WiFi for weeks on end, 3G shouldn't be needed.

I'm going away for 4 weeks later in the year and can preload the Kindle with more than enough books to see me through and even at that I will only be without internet access for no more than a few days at a time.

I guess an exception would be for people who subscribe to daily newspapers and the like on the Kindle.
Saishoyw
13-07-2011
I have the 3G version and the free web browsing is brilliant. ok it's very low resolution but it means I can read mobile versions of sites like the BBC for free anywhere in the world. I can use Facebook mobile on it too.

I think the Kindle is an awesome device and recommend them to anyone.

You can play music on them and to be honest it is surprisingly good. the speaker on the device is quite acceptable though I use headphones mainly.

One of the best gadgets I've ever had, and I've had a few.
spiney2
13-07-2011
Yep, the current free (limited) internet access is great for browsing. Wonder how long it'll last .......
c4rv
13-07-2011
Originally Posted by Saishoyw:
“I have the 3G version and the free web browsing is brilliant. ok it's very low resolution but it means I can read mobile versions of sites like the BBC for free anywhere in the world. I can use Facebook mobile on it too.

I think the Kindle is an awesome device and recommend them to anyone.

You can play music on them and to be honest it is surprisingly good. the speaker on the device is quite acceptable though I use headphones mainly.

One of the best gadgets I've ever had, and I've had a few.”

Once you start doing stuff like browsing and playing back music, is it time to move onto a tablet ?
ironjade
13-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Once you start doing stuff like browsing and playing back music, is it time to move onto a tablet ?”

Only if you have more money than sense.
c4rv
13-07-2011
Originally Posted by ironjade:
“Only if you have more money than sense.”

Don't know how much a kindle is but you can pick up a usable tablet for £120
Dai13371
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Don't know how much a kindle is but you can pick up a usable tablet for £120”

Bit of an operative word there

Seriously though, you are right. There are compromises (older version of the O/S, resistive screens etc) but there are some good ones out there.
JulesandSand
14-07-2011
Back on topic, if I was buying one for myself, knowing what I know now, I would by a WiFi only one and spend the £41 saving on books.

That might be an idea OP - the WiFi Kindle plus an Amazon voucher.

Now I have my Kindle it has solved the 'what to get Dad for Christmas/birthday/father's day' conundrum.

It's Amazon vouchers all the way.
Glawster2002
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by JulesandSand:
“I bought my OH and myself a 3G version each and tbh could have saved over £100 and just gone for the WiFi only version.

Unless your friend is going to be away from any WiFi for weeks on end, 3G shouldn't be needed.

I'm going away for 4 weeks later in the year and can preload the Kindle with more than enough books to see me through and even at that I will only be without internet access for no more than a few days at a time.

I guess an exception would be for people who subscribe to daily newspapers and the like on the Kindle.”

My wife & I brought the Wi-Fi version for the same reason. Plus there are so many places where you can get free Wi-Fi access these days in the unlikely event we needed to download more books we thought we'd do it that way. But then I usually have half-a-dozen books loaded ready to read anyway so it isn't a problem for us not having 3G
c4rv
14-07-2011
Does kindle work with hotspots that you can set up with smartphones ? Then you won't need 3g in the kindle itself
JulesandSand
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Does kindle work with hotspots that you can set up with smartphones ? Then you won't need 3g in the kindle itself”

I think that's right.
Gormond
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Does kindle work with hotspots that you can set up with smartphones ? Then you won't need 3g in the kindle itself”

yes it does.
psionic
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Can you use them for playing back music ? Maybe extra storage would be useful then.”

It can play music, but it's not very good at it IMHO. Managing playlists, sorting artists etc. just don't work like on a dedicated mp3 player.
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Don't know how much a kindle is but you can pick up a usable tablet for £120”

I've got a tablet too. But for reading books especially text/fiction, the screen on the Kindle is unbeatable. Can read in bright sunlight, or for very periods with no eyestrain. The tablet is better though for reading pdfs, or comics or anything with illustrations. The battery life on the Kindle is also far far better then a tablet.
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Does kindle work with hotspots that you can set up with smartphones ? Then you won't need 3g in the kindle itself”

It does work with any WiFi hotspot. The main advantage of the 3G Kindle is that it's free even abroad. But the Web Browser is very basic. You're better off viewing the mobile versions of websites.
c4rv
14-07-2011
Originally Posted by psionic:
“It can play music, but it's not very good at it IMHO. Managing playlists, sorting artists etc. just don't work like on a dedicated mp3 player.”

What I was wondering is can it play music while you are reading ?

Originally Posted by psionic:
“I've got a tablet too. But for reading books especially text/fiction, the screen on the Kindle is unbeatable. Can read in bright sunlight, or for very periods with no eyestrain. The tablet is better though for reading pdfs, or comics or anything with illustrations. The battery life on the Kindle is also far far better then a tablet. ”

I used a kindle outside and no doubt it way better then tablet. I have really viewed comics on there (didn't know it could manage them) but I do on view pdf scans and comics on my tablet without problems. Better on the new hi-resolution ones but even my 1024x600 resolution tablet is pretty readable.

Battery life don't disagree with but then again I doubt many people are reading for 6 or 7 hours without being able to get to a power point.
badcompany3004
15-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“What I was wondering is can it play music while you are reading ?



I used a kindle outside and no doubt it way better then tablet. I have really viewed comics on there (didn't know it could manage them) but I do on view pdf scans and comics on my tablet without problems. Better on the new hi-resolution ones but even my 1024x600 resolution tablet is pretty readable.

Battery life don't disagree with but then again I doubt many people are reading for 6 or 7 hours without being able to get to a power point.”

I am reliably informed it can play music while you read. Which is handy for audiobooks if you like to read along.

If you fancied testing comics on the Kindle you could always try a sample - but as the other poster says it really isn't brilliant at performing this function.

I have stay away before and was unable to charge - I didn't realise I would be there all day and ended up having to get a hotel room for the night - but this is a rare occurrence really
Gormond
15-07-2011
Originally Posted by badcompany3004:
“If you fancied testing comics on the Kindle you could always try a sample - but as the other poster says it really isn't brilliant at performing this function.”

I agree, I have tried reading manga on my kindle but it's a far better experience on the iPad due to the larger high res screen.
Anika Hanson
15-07-2011
Yes comics are not that great on the kindle. I use my iPhone for comics and do my reading on the kindle.
LostFool
15-07-2011
Originally Posted by c4rv:
“Does kindle work with hotspots that you can set up with smartphones ? Then you won't need 3g in the kindle itself”

That's true if you only use your Kindle in the UK but if you travel abroad then the Kindle 3G browsing is totally free - using your mobile as a hotspot would rack up huge data charges.

I'm just back from a week in Spain and used my Kindle for almost as much browsing (keeping up with what Murdoch & Co were doing) as reading books - and it didn't cost me a penny. A week's 3G roaming charges would have been more than the price difference between the WiFi and 3G models.

I honestly don't know how Amazon can afford to provide 3G web browsing for free.
Eater Sundae
21-07-2011
Originally Posted by LostFool:
“That's true if you only use your Kindle in the UK but if you travel abroad then the Kindle 3G browsing is totally free - using your mobile as a hotspot would rack up huge data charges.

I'm just back from a week in Spain and used my Kindle for almost as much browsing (keeping up with what Murdoch & Co were doing) as reading books - and it didn't cost me a penny. A week's 3G roaming charges would have been more than the price difference between the WiFi and 3G models.

I honestly don't know how Amazon can afford to provide 3G web browsing for free.”

Although I've not yet taken my Kindle on holiday, I went for the 3g version for this very reason. Even in this country, its a handy way to browse basic sites when away from home, without having to pay for wifi access.
Andy2
21-07-2011
I use a little Elonex reader for myself. I read lots of PDF's with photos and diagrams and it is backlit so I can read at night.
Question - my wife fancies a Kindle, but I think she'd get browned off by its poor photo reproduction and having to find a light source to read at night. Am I right about these things or is e-ink just as versatile as LCD?
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