Help scarlet pick a second kindle....

[telracs]

I'm hopefully traveling to India in October and don't want to take my DX.  Suggestions for a second kindle appreciated.

[crebel]

I already told you what I thought, but I put in a vote for the $79 kindle to make it official.

[intinst]

No, it won't be like reading on your DX, but just for the convenience traveling, my vote goes to the $79 one.

[tubemonkey]

Get the $79 model and a decent inexpensive cover. Load it with all the books you plan to read, plus lots of extra ones for backup. Then deregister it so no personal info remains. Now if it gets lost or stolen, you're not out very much money and you have no worries about unauthorized access to your Amazon account and credit card.

[patrickt]

It depends. If you actually read, don't get the Fire. If you're responsible enough to load your Kindle with books before you leave home then by all means get the Kindle Basic. If you might have to download load books because you didn't load your Kindle before you left home, you might want 3G which means the Kindle Keyboard.

Me? I have the Kindle Basic with 415 books waiting to be read. That could not only last me for any trip I can imagine but would cover me if I were taken hostage by terrorists for a year.

Whatever you get, don't forget your charging device. I live in a tourist destination and have loaned charging devices to three tourists.

[KindleGirl]

Kind of depends on how long you will be gone and if this is something you'll use when you return. If you won't use it when you return, then I'd definitely go for the $79 kindle. If you will be gone an extended amount of time and/or it is a kindle that you will use when you return, then I'd go with the Touch. That way you'd have 3G while there if you decided there was something you just had to read that you hadn't loaded, and you could use it when you got home as well.

[ProfCrash]

If you can, wait. Amazon might announce something new and you want to make sure that whatever you buy can read the new format that is being released. I would not get a Kindle Keyboard because I am not sure that they will be able to read the new format and I don't know if Amazon is going to sell books formatted for the older Kindles.

If nothing new is released, I would get the touch with 3G. I think you will find that having the 3G in India will be helpful. I am sure that there are areas with WiFi but they will probably be fewer then you think.

I bought the K3 so that I would have something to read on outside the house because I find the DXG a smidge too big. I tend to use it when I go to the Doctors office, into the city, and when I travel. So I got the 3G version because I knew I would use it more then just when I travel. I think you will find the same thing.

[Tip10]

I second the monkey's suggestion.

Since for this trip you'll be going foreign -- 3G doesn't make a lot of sense. 
WIFI only may not help either (not sure about shopping the US store from a foreign IP connection even though its into a US account -- don't know how it works).

Going with a $79 basic and loading it to the gills and de-registering it would give you a bit of peace of mind should it decide to part company with you on this trip. 

As for further use, in the past while traveling domestically, your past experience shows that you've been able to do WIFI places quite regularly and quite well (basing this on your wonderful trip reporting done back here! ).

Having used both a Fire and a Touch on a train -- traveling for any great length of time using a touch device would drive me batty -- as there are shakes and rattles, etc. I found the touch screens harder to hang on to without inadvertently getting into the screen and bouncing pages -- even in cases.

Size matters -- the KK and the fire are much larger and heavier devices -- a basic is a really nice size to tuck into a jacket pocket or, in your case perhaps a purse -- or even a small fanny pack (or travel sling or pack) with your camera and other essentials.

Also, the Fire's battery life would be of a concern.

My vote -- Basic.

[Bethany B.]

I went from a K2 to a touch and I would really say it depends on what you do. For instance, I miss my keyboard. I didn't know I would but I do. The touch is really fun to play with but for efficiency, I find it's just not as easy. Just my thoughts.

[kindlegrl81]

I personally would go with the KK 3G because of the browsing capabilities.  Being able to check my email without having to find a wifi hotspot or paying to use an internet cafe would be highly useful for myself.

However, if internet access is not a big deal for you, I would go with the $79 baby Kindle.

[telracs]

Get the $79 model and a decent inexpensive cover. Load it with all the books you plan to read, plus lots of extra ones for backup. Then deregister it so no personal info remains. Now if it gets lost or stolen, you're not out very much money and you have no worries about unauthorized access to your Amazon account and credit card.

thank you for the deregistering idea!

[Meemo]

I've been surprised at how much I like my K$79 - so light and easy to carry around.  Perfect for travel.  And tubemonkey's deregistering idea is a good one.  If you have a smartphone there's really no need for a 3G Kindle or a Fire for travel.  If you don't have one, and want to access email etc, then you might want to rethink.  Otherwise, just load it up good with books before you go.

[telracs]

I've been surprised at how much I like my K$79 - so light and easy to carry around.  Perfect for travel.  And tubemonkey's deregistering idea is a good one.  If you have a smartphone there's really no need for a 3G Kindle or a Fire for travel.  If you don't have one, and want to access email etc, then you might want to rethink.  Otherwise, just load it up good with books before you go.

i don't have a smartphone.  actually, i don't have a cell phone....

and actually, i'm not all that worried about accesing the net.

[The Hooded Claw]

Tubemonkey has a good point about a cover, you will definitely want one to protect the screen. I prefer a lighted cover for travel, because available lighting in airport lounges and in hotels can be very poor for reading.

Clip on lights work, and I have one. But it is another darn thing to carry, and I try to minimize the number of pieces I can lose or leave behind. In addition to a K4, I would recommend a cover with an integral light.

[Seleya]

I voted for the basic Kindle. I have a Kindle Keyboard and bought a basic as 'secondary, read outside' kindle, but it has soon become my main reading device. It's easy to carry around, fits everywhere even in its cover and works perfectly for doing what I want with it: reading books.

[B-Kay 1325]

I voted for the $79 Kindle, I don't have one personally but after reading this entire thread and finding out that net access is not a concern for you, I think monkey got it right.  Inexpensive, load it up, put a lighted cover on it and de-register it = good to go!!  I envy your ability to travel the way you do, I'm not able to do that so I look forward to your pictures of your adventures (do not forget your camera!!!!).

[meowzart]

i just went from K3 to K4 - and I don't miss the keyboard at all.  I find the keyboard that is with the K4 quite easy to access - easier than the symbols one on the K3.

[Meemo]

i don't have a smartphone.  actually, i don't have a cell phone....

and actually, i'm not all that worried about accesing the net.

There ya go - makes it even easier!  You probably don't need the 3G as long as you load up before you go.

[Ann in Arlington]

Re: the deregistering idea.

With the Fire, deregistering, I believe, will also remove all downloaded content.  It is much more intimately connected to the cloud.

AND there has been at least 1 report of someone who d/l'd some books to a K4 and deregistered and when she registered to a different account for her daughter, the previously downloaded book were removed.  It was like registering it to the new account reset it to factory settings.  SO -- I think it's the REGISTRATION that causes the problem, but you might want to experiment before you leave to be sure you won't be stuck with an empty kindle and no way to get it to talk to your account.

[telracs]

Re: the deregistering idea.

With the Fire, deregistering, I believe, will also remove all downloaded content.  It is much more intimately connected to the cloud.

AND there has been at least 1 report of someone who d/l'd some books to a K4 and deregistered and when she registered to a different account for her daughter, the previously downloaded book were removed.  It was like registering it to the new account reset it to factory settings.  SO -- I think it's the REGISTRATION that causes the problem, but you might want to experiment before you leave to be sure you won't be stuck with an empty kindle and no way to get it to talk to your account.

well, i don't plan on re-registering it until I return home, so i don't think that'll be an issue for me actually, but thanks Ann!

and maybe it was because it was registered to a different account?  i'd be reregistering it to the same account.

[Ann in Arlington]

well, i don't plan on re-registering it until I return home, so i don't think that'll be an issue for me actually, but thanks Ann!

and maybe it was because it was registered to a different account?  i'd be reregistering it to the same account.

Yeah. . . I don't know what the issue is -- just thought I'd mention it for your consideration. . .it was Susan in VA, incidentally, that had the issue with the K4 she got her daughter for Christmas.

[me3boyz]

WIFI only may not help either (not sure about shopping the US store from a foreign IP connection even though its into a US account -- don't know how it works).

I was able to download a couple of free books via wifi when we were in the Dominican with no problem on my Touch. Even was able to update my special offers. I did, however, get an international warning from Amazon when I accidentally turned on 3G.

Since you have a DX, I would say the $79 Kindle.

[telracs]

Yeah. . . I don't know what the issue is -- just thought I'd mention it for your consideration. . .it was Susan in VA, incidentally, that had the issue with the K4 she got her daughter for Christmas.

thanks, i'll pm her...

[Cobbie]

Oh, goody, another trip to enjoy with you! I vote for the Touch because I predict once you use the smaller K for a while you will chose it over the DX for the convenience of size and you will want the latest and greatest one with e-ink.

Oh, wait....maybe that's just me. 

[telracs]

okay, i'm going to lock this, as the decision has been made....