[Closed] Ok, annual wife's birthday pressie Q; To 3g Kindle or not.

so you can download a new book when your on holiday innit.

The 3G gives unlimited world wide access forever to both the Amazon store and the entire internet - for free (ie no data charges). That's worth one off 50 quid to me! It means that you can receive periodicals wherever you are (like newspapers or mags); buy new books when you're bored of what you have or have finished; wherever you happen to be you can look something up on Wiki or search for local information and so on.

Definitely worth the extra imo. Even if you only go on holiday once a year.

Aw shecht, guess that is a new headset put off for a while. Thanks Molgrips (I think)

Don't be so stingy - give her one! 😉

Oh...and buy her a Kindle 3G as well!

Wife and I both have Kindles, we went for the wifi only ones. How often are you going to need to download content when not at home or somewhere with a wifi network? If loads, or if you want to download newspapers or jouirnals regularly it may be worth it, but I just use my Desire as a wifi hotspot if I need to and connect through it. Still only takes a minute or so to download a book. Seems like £50 wasted for most people IMO.

hideous devices, you're better off with a book and an old lcd calculator if you want a similar effect.

Went for the 3g, best thing ever imo.

I've found the free worldwide internet to be genuinely useful, even if it's just trying to find a decent place for lunch in a town you're passing through. Roaming charges on mobiles can be horrific outside the EU if you're accessing data.

not much sitting on the fence with this gadget, is there!

molgrips - Member
The 3G gives unlimited world wide access forever

FOREVER??

I was gonna get my other half one of these for Christmas and was undecided over the 3G or normal.
Found loads of sites saying that 3G access is currently free, but there is no guarantee of it being so in the future or even that it will be available at all.
I think I even posed a similar question to the OP's and some of the responses on here said words to the same effect....

Has this policy changed since Christmas, 'cos she's going on about wanting one again......

How often are you going to need to download content when not at home or somewhere with a wifi network?

Planes, holiday, out and about, trains. Lots 🙂

I'd say go for the offical case too. Lots of money, but worth it, makes it like a book. OR get a zip out neoprene case as its' fairly readable on its own too.

I kind of wish I'd got the one with the light too even though it's 50 notes. Cos I like reading in bed when Mrs Grips is sleeping, and I wouldn't need a light on. There are clip on lights available but they are more faffy and the official one vanishes when not in use.

I kind of wish I'd got the one with the light too even though it's 50 notes. Cos I like reading in bed when Mrs Grips is sleeping, and I wouldn't need a light on. There are clip on lights available but they are more faffy and the official one vanishes when not in use.

I'm pretty ambivalent about this. Lying in bed I could read one handed 🙂 for hours with the kindle, when the lighted cover's on it's a lot heavier, and bulkier, and is, frankly a pain in the wrist.
On the other hand, I'm on my third Kindle, having broken two already, and this does seem to protect it well.

My dearly beloved wants the 3G Kindle as well. Being able to read outside in bright light is a huge plus too.

Can't help thinking that there must be a colour version just around the corner that would be suitable for pics. Then they'll have really cracked it.

Duckman at least your Ms has been subtle .. Mr MC might say otherwise about me and I'm hoping to get one for my birthday in April! I was thinking of getting one of these cases:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-Kindle-Display-Generation-Perfect/dp/B003VPABOG/ref=pd_ys_qtk_wl_img?ie=UTF8&coliid=I1ME2V729DRMMS&colid=E8TPH1TRZIFT&pf_rd_p=217325391&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=home&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=0PYNJJHGTN4TMZKNACZ3

If indeed I get one 😉 I was thinking that I probably don't need a light. If I read in bed I have the bedside light on, on the plane there's the light there. Is it worth an extra £25 for the light? what is the "official" case then?

Think I might jsut e-mail the linky to this thread to Mr MC for comedy value ;-0

PS This may seem really dumb but can you surf internet then on Kindle? I thought you could only log on to get books and that was it? Didn't think you could looke at Wiki or other sites? But then I am special!!

you can surf on them but it's bit clunky

How often are you going to need to download content when not at home or somewhere with a wifi network?

[b]Planes[/b], holiday, out and about, trains. Lots

Yep you never know when you might have to download a 747 flight manual. 🙂

When you're waiting for a plane!

When you're waiting for a plane!

Ah I see, I always spend that time in the lounge drinking the free booze. 🙂

In the lounge drinking free booze! How posh are you when you fly?

How posh are you when you fly

Not even remotely, I've just had the misfortune to spend so much time flying I've got a silver card.

the 3g is invaluable. it was the only networked device we could get working on a train journey through switzerland. And yes, you can surf the internet. It's a bit limited and it's 3g so it's not lightning fast. The interface is very clunky.

you can, ahem, if you know what you're doing, tether it by USB to a laptop so your laptop gets free 3g.

I probably wouldn't use it for the internet as I have a HTC Desire but I didn't realise it's full capability! Thansk though .. fingers crossed I get one for my birthday?

Any other thoughts on teh case with the light versus others?

Interesting, samurai. And if Amazon find out? 🙂

I went for the non-3G and so far have no regrets, but, I only use books rather than periodicals.

Samuri, interested in the tethering too. Wonder if Amazon are likely to pull the plug on the 'free' bit if lots of people start using it tethered...

I kind of wish I'd got the one with the light too even though it's 50 notes

I refuse to believe there's anyone on here who hasn't got a head torch! 😉

Now you're going to need something to put it in 😉
http://emmyjane-design.blogspot.com/

If your after a Colour Kindle then look no further than the Barnes & Noble Nook.

[img] [/img]

Can even be hacked to run Android 3.0(honeycomb) for those that are interested.

Only downside is I'm not sure if its available to buy for UK peeps.

As of today, I can personally confirm that the free 3G works for internet browsing in:

UK
France
Germany
Holland
Sweden
Finland
Portugal
Cyprus
Greece
Denmark
Spain
Bulgaria
Egypt

Have tested it in all of the above. Interestingly, it didn't appear to work in Malta, but I only had 5 minutes to try it.

no idea what amazon would do if they found out. I doubt lots of people will ever do it. There's a risk of bricking your kindle I guess and it's probably only for people comfortable with hacking around in debug functions of handheld devices. 😉

I expect they'll fix it in a later release, it's only there to allow their engineers to carry out testing.

Interestingly, it didn't appear to work in Malta

What does!