I do not have a wi-fi connection so can I plug a Kindle Fire HD into my old XP based pc or a wired router. I want to download books and newspapers etc. for my mum, who is 90 and does not have internet. She lives 200yds away, so it would be a case of collecting it each day and downloading the newspaper etc.

It would be a lot easier to get a wifi router!

Does the Kindle have an SD card? You might be able to 'side load' from that.

Hi Stig. All new to me these tablet things. I will check on the Amazon site. I did not want to order one without knowing if it would work or not. Thanks for your reply.

You will need a wireless connection to at least register it. If you don't have a wireless router, then you can use a wireless hotspot such as at McDonald's or your public library. After that you can choose the option to download to your computer then connect the Kindle and transfer them to the Documents folder.
But if that's all your mum will use it for (with no wifi connection) why not just buy her the Kindle E-ink reader, still the best reader around, or so I've been told..and considerably cheaper.

You will really authenticate the newspapers and such like, so that requires a connection,
Just get a cheap wifi USB dongle for the XP machine and use Internet Connection Sharing.

If your mum uses the library then she could get her e books there too.

Many thanks all for the advice. I will buy a cheap wi-fi router.

Before you spend any money, you can turn your current pc into a wireless hotspot...

http://mypublicwifi.com/publicwifi/en/index.html

Job done!!

Your ISP will often give you an upgrade for free.

Don't forget that if you have internet on your phone you can often use that as a wireless hot spot.
Some charge extra for this "tethering" but it does mean you can use your Kindle anywhere . You just activate tethering on your phone and your Kindle will find it . Once its setup it will find it each time without searching.
I use my Blackberry and my wife uses her Sony Xperia .