"Strategy" for newbies' Kindles?

[sequin]

Kindle newbie here. I ordered two Kindles -- one with 3G/Wifi and the other Wifi only (ordered on 7/28 & 7/29 so they should arrive in the "first wave"!!). One for me and one for DH. Trouble is, I'm having difficulty deciding who should get which one. Here's our situation:

• We will mostly use Kindles for travel, in order to keep from hauling so many books in our luggage (at home, library books fill most of our needs).
• While traveling, DH finishes reading more books than I do. My defensive nature dictates that I offer the explanation that I'm our "tour director", which means I do not have as much time for leisure reading.
• Therefore, I anticipate that DH will have more need to add new content while traveling than I will. He always underestimates the number of books he will finish reading.
• I'm a little bit concerned as to the dependability and feasibility of the Wifi connection while on the road, especially when outside the US (have never had much luck getting my Wifi smartphones to connect in foreign hotels).
• I sometimes travel without DH (for business) so the 3G connectivity for rudimentary web surfing and email checking would be nice.
• DH & I will be on the same account.

When I placed my order, my thinking was that I would use the 3G Kindle since I sometimes travel without DH. And, then, I reasoned that if DH needs more books while we're on the road, that I could just avoid the potential Wifi issues and use MY 3G Kindle to buy content and then just transfer the content somehow to DH's Kindle. But, the more I read, the more I'm thinking that the second Kindle will have to directly connect to Whispernet via Wifi to get new content. As I understand, there is no way to directly transfer books between Kindles, correct? In other words, is there no way to plug our Kindles together somehow and transfer content?

I'm posting this question in hopes that perhaps there is an option I've not considered. Of course, one option is to return the "Wifi only" Kindle and get a second 3G Kindle. Another option is to be sure DH loads up many extra books on his Kindle before we leave on our travels, but DH is sometimes a bit frugal -- I anticipate that he will be hesitant to load up on extra Kindle books pre-travel.

I've enjoyed very much reading these Kindle Boards and look forward to participating in the future.

P.S. I can hardly wait until August 27th!

[mrscottishman]

Kindle newbie here. I ordered two Kindles -- one with 3G/Wifi and the other Wifi only (ordered on 7/28 & 7/29 so they should arrive in the "first wave"!!). One for me and one for DH. Trouble is, I'm having difficulty deciding who should get which one. Here's our situation:

• We will mostly use Kindles for travel, in order to keep from hauling so many books in our luggage (at home, library books fill most of our needs).
• While traveling, DH finishes reading more books than I do. My defensive nature dictates that I offer the explanation that I'm our "tour director", which means I do not have as much time for leisure reading.
• Therefore, I anticipate that DH will have more need to add new content while traveling than I will. He always underestimates the number of books he will finish reading.
• I'm a little bit concerned as to the dependability and feasibility of the Wifi connection while on the road, especially when outside the US (have never had much luck getting my Wifi smartphones to connect in foreign hotels).
• I sometimes travel without DH (for business) so the 3G connectivity for rudimentary web surfing and email checking would be nice.
• DH & I will be on the same account.

When I placed my order, my thinking was that I would use the 3G Kindle since I sometimes travel without DH. And, then, I reasoned that if DH needs more books while we're on the road, that I could just avoid the potential Wifi issues and use MY 3G Kindle to buy content and then just transfer the content somehow to DH's Kindle. But, the more I read, the more I'm thinking that the second Kindle will have to directly connect to Whispernet via Wifi to get new content. As I understand, there is no way to directly transfer books between Kindles, correct? In other words, is there no way to plug our Kindles together somehow and transfer content?

I'm posting this question in hopes that perhaps there is an option I've not considered. Of course, one option is to return the "Wifi only" Kindle and get a second 3G Kindle. Another option is to be sure DH loads up many extra books on his Kindle before we leave on our travels, but DH is sometimes a bit frugal -- I anticipate that he will be hesitant to load up on extra Kindle books pre-travel.

I've enjoyed very much reading these Kindle Boards and look forward to participating in the future.

P.S. I can hardly wait until August 27th!

That is a tough question.  For myself I would never want a wifi only model.  My wife had an accident and had to have stitches lately.  I went to the place she was hurt and used the Kindle 3G wireless to find a medical center that would quickly see her and do the repair work.  I got the addresses, phone numbers and there was even a map if I had needed that.  I stop for lunch sometimes and get my email, news and the weather and I don't have to pick a restaurant that has wifi to do that.  Everyone's life is different, but I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to spend the extra money and have free (but a little slow) internet and be able to download a book any where they have a cell signal.

Just my 2 cents,
Good luck with your dilemma,
Scott

[BlueReader]

I keep seeing people talk about the convenience of having the internet with them at all times as being a benefit of the 3G.  I suppose that is true, but it seems that so many people have phones that are capable of accessing the internet and providing that same service when in a pinch.  I get the argument in favor of the 3G that you can get a book anywhere at anytime, but I think that for most people (obviously not all) the internet is available on their phones already. 

Not sure why I feel the need to say this, but I keep reading this argument and wanted to point out this other side.

[blefever]

This won't solve your vacation problem, but my suggestion is that you go to Amazon.com immediately and order another "3G/WiFi" Kindle. Use the "Wifi only" until the 2nd "3G/WiFi" and then return the "WiFi only". End of discussion and turmoil.

[Ann in Arlington]

I keep seeing people talk about the convenience of having the internet with them at all times as being a benefit of the 3G.  I suppose that is true, but it seems that so many people have phones that are capable of accessing the internet and providing that same service when in a pinch.  I get the argument in favor of the 3G that you can get a book anywhere at anytime, but I think that for most people (obviously not all) the internet is available on their phones already. 

Not sure why I feel the need to say this, but I keep reading this argument and wanted to point out this other side.

If you don't have an internet capable phone with you, it's great that the Kindle can do in a pinch.  But if you do have one, the browsing experience. . . even if it's just a quick lookup. . . is probably going to be better on the phone.  Cause 'fast' is not a word one could ever use to describe how well the Kindle browser works.  That said, the k3 has a new browser so it might be rather more responsive than on the existing Kindles.

Really, for me, the browser part is just a small dollop of icing on an already wonderfully moist cake.   But I have heard several stories of folks who were able to use it to 'save the day' to a greater or lesser degree.

[GBear]

I agree with Scott. My thinking is "WiFi at home, 3G on the road (with some exceptions)" and I like the idea of almost always being able to connect when I want.

I often buy or download samples of books while browsing in airport bookstores, for instance, and can't count on WiFi access. The extra money seemed worth it to me for that alone.

And you might start buying those Sudoku puzzles for Kindle where you apparently have to access the Internet to start each one.

So I'd also want the 3G/WiFi model, which is what I have on order. You can certainly make it work, especially if you and DH are willing to share, but it seems easier to start off with both of you having 3G. As blefever states, you can still use the WiFi Kindle until the 3G/WiFi version arrives.

[Tom Diego]

How about this?

Name one "Wi-Fi" and the other one "3G".  Share them between the two of you.  Since they'll be registered to the same account any books can be read on either device.  Whoever is traveling alone can take "3G" and the person staying home can read on "Wi-Fi". 

If you're both traveling together and sitting on a beach or wherever not in range of a Wi-Fi network and one of you needs to buy a new book, use "3G" to buy the book and then read it on "3G".  The other person continues to read their book on "Wi-Fi".  (It would probably be a good idea to make sure that any books that both of you are reading are already downloaded to both Kindles.)

Of course this won't work if either of you have the overwhelming desire to personalize them with a skin, unless you both like the same skin.  Covers can be swapped so they're not a problem.

Of course, you can always just return "Wi-Fi" and get another "3G".

[Gerund]

He always underestimates the number of books he will finish reading.

Something to bear in mind is that a Kindle can fit thousands of books on it. A lot of voracious readers are used to running out of books halfway through the cruise/trip/ride/whatever else, but never have that trouble with a Kindle because of the sheer number of titles that can be crammed onto it. (This is also a major draw: if you tend to read quickly, or you're a picky reader and never quite sure what you'll be in the mood to read, you might be used to trying to jam 10-20 books into your luggage, while the Kindle fits in a large pocket.)

[JSRinUK]

I went for the WiFi-only model because, on the rare occasion I might require 3G, I have a travel router.

I don't know if there is such a thing in the US but it's a little pocket-sized box with rechargeable battery that behaves like a WiFi hotspot.  You plug any USB 3G dongle in the side and any devices that connect to it via WiFi get internet access through the same 3G connection.

I've tested it on dongles from O2, Orange, and Three and it works on all of them.  I have PAYG 3G dongles from O2 and Three so, if I'm in an area with weak 3G connectivity on one network, I can swap dongles and use the other.

I use this travel router to share a 3G connection between my iPod Touch, my netbooks, my wifi-only MID, and I'm hoping it'll also work with my K3.  I don't often need to use my devices where I have no WiFi but, on the rare occasion that I do, one travel router handles all my devices nicely.

In this age when it costs £40 more for 3G on every Kindle 3G and £100 more for 3G on every iPad, having all devices sharing one £50 travel router with interchangeable dongle is certainly worth consideration.  There is a downside, of course, in that you would need to pay something for the 3G connection (PAYG means you only pay for it when you need it) - so it's not the best option if you see yourself using 3G on the Kindle a lot.

If there's no such device in the US then I apologise for raising false hopes.   

[Ann in Arlington]

There are such things in the US. . . . .but my understanding is that the Kindle won't connect to such WiFi networks. . . according to the User Guide it specifically says 'no peer-to-peer' networks. . .but I'm not completely clear as to how it all works. . . .I expect someone who is clear on it will pop in here and 'splain it.

[JSRinUK]

There are such things in the US. . . . .but my understanding is that the Kindle won't connect to such WiFi networks. . . according to the User Guide it specifically says 'no peer-to-peer' networks. . .but I'm not completely clear as to how it all works. . . .I expect someone who is clear on it will pop in here and 'splain it.

A travel router isn't "peer-to-peer" (as much as I understand the term).  It behaves just like a regular router - except that (i) it's battery powered, and (ii) it has a USB port for a 3G dongle as well as a cable port for regular broadband.  You treat it just like you would your normal network router - logging in via a web-page to change settings, etc.

If your device will connect to a home network wifi router, it'll connect to this travel router.  At least, that's how mine works for me.   

I'll report back when I get my K3 when I've tested if it'll work or not.  (Ready to get egg on my face...      )

[Gerund]

There are such things in the US. . . . .but my understanding is that the Kindle won't connect to such WiFi networks. . . according to the User Guide it specifically says 'no peer-to-peer' networks. . .but I'm not completely clear as to how it all works. . . .I expect someone who is clear on it will pop in here and 'splain it.

What they mean by "peer-to-peer" is that there are certain devices which communicate with each other wirelessly through technologies like bluetooth, infared (gosh, how retro!) and so on, and that Kindle only connects to "proper" wi-fi connections, which generally implies a central router.

[SusanCassidy]

Kindles do not connect to each other, or to USB sticks, etc.  Just to computers via USB, or to Amazon via Whispernet/WiFi.  You cannot move content from one Kindle to another (if it has DRM, like most current books), so your idea of doing that is out.  Plus, you'd need a laptop to do that, anyway.  You need to be able to contact Amazon's servers (assuming that you buy books from them) to download a books for each individual Kindle.

[Tom Diego]

from Wikipedia:

"A peer-to-peer, commonly abbreviated to P2P, is any distributed network architecture composed of participants that make a portion of their resources (such as processing power, disk storage or network bandwidth) directly available to other network participants, without the need for central coordination instances (such as servers or stable hosts).[1] Peers are both suppliers and consumers of resources, in contrast to the traditional client–server model where only servers supply, and clients consume."

More simply put, a connection from one PC to another, without the use of a central server.  P2P would allow two laptops to connect to each other wirelessly or a laptop to a desktop using a reverse network cable.  Another example would be a group of computers in an office environment connected to each other via a switch, sharing disk space with each other, without the use of a central server.

[Jason in OH]

I tend to think that the additional $50, when considered as a monthly cost over the life of the Kindle is really a no brainer. If you intend to own your K3 for one year, thats $50/12 months = $4.16/ month. Can't beat that with any smart phone data plan.

If you intend to own it for two years, that is $50/24 months = $2.08/ month. If you're at all unsure about which version to get, I think you should err on the side of the 3G. It's not too much more and eliminates the chance of regret or disappointment.

Jason

[Linjeakel]

This won't solve your vacation problem, but my suggestion is that you go to Amazon.com immediately and order another "3G/WiFi" Kindle. Use the "Wifi only" until the 2nd "3G/WiFi" and then return the "WiFi only". End of discussion and turmoil.

Yep, that's what I'd do. End of problem. 

[waynep]

If I were in your shoes I would cancel the Wifi order and get another 3G model. Problem solved.

[HappyGuy]

Keep the WiFi version and save yourself some money. Unless you're planning on a year long journey somewhere, you can probably put more books on either of the Kindles than you read on a vacation or business trip. I've got a K1 with a 4gb card in it and with my entire 900+ library on it, I still have a LOT of room on it for more!

[history_lover]

I keep seeing people talk about the convenience of having the internet with them at all times as being a benefit of the 3G.  I suppose that is true, but it seems that so many people have phones that are capable of accessing the internet and providing that same service when in a pinch.  I get the argument in favor of the 3G that you can get a book anywhere at anytime, but I think that for most people (obviously not all) the internet is available on their phones already. 

Not sure why I feel the need to say this, but I keep reading this argument and wanted to point out this other side.

Yeah, that's the boat I'm in. I have an iPhone so I didn't feel I needed the 3G Kindle, I just got the wifi one. I imagine trying to browse the internet on a non-touch screen would be a major pain compared to my iPhone. I only plan to use Kindle for buying and reading books. If I'm going to be away from home for a while, I'll just stock up on my books before I leave and if I'm really desperate, I'm sure I can find a free wifi spot somewhere.

DH & I will be on the same account.

If you're using the same account, why don't you just swap Kindles when needed? They'll both have access to the same books you'll both buy. So why can't he use the 3G Kindle when you travel together and you can use it when you travel alone?

[sequin]

OP here... thanks for all the great advice! I think we're going to just swap out Kindles as needed, although we might not need to do so all that often, as I now believe DH will have no problem loading up his Kindle with many, many books prior to our travels. Saga: yesterday was DH's birthday and I put a picture of a Kindle in a gift box for him. He's pretty excited at the idea of having a Kindle and exclaimed, "Now I can get all those books I've been wanting to read that our library doesn't have!" Part of the reason he's been using the library so much (aside from the fact he's frugal  ) is that our bookcases are so full -- no more room for DTB's in the house! Having the Kindle will take care of that problem!

As some have suggested, I think I'll load up both Kindles with both of our sets of books before our travels.

Thanks again to everyone who answered. People here are so nice!