Amazon Kindle 3 – Why It Rocks (from my blog)

[CandyTX]

I'm just going to copy and paste this from my blog... fabulous device! Go, Amazon, Go!

This is also up on Amazon, Click Here to read it and say it's helpful, if it is anyway.

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In my previous Kindle (2nd generation) review, I called it the cheddar cheese on my omelet and the whipped cream on top of my frappuccino. Can’t beat that – or can you? Hmmm… my favorite cold frappe is the caramel kind. If you are very lucky, the barista will drizzle a little extra caramel on top of the whipped cream. Yeah, the 3rd generation is kind of like that caramel. When you see it, you cannot believe your luck and you cannot decide if you should dive right in or take your time and savor it… Amazon has outdone themselves with the new generation. Wow. Wow. Wow. I opted for the wifi only version because I’m rarely without a hotspot and I don’t need to use the browser on the go or download a book in a moving car or anything

I think you can read the description for yourself so I’ll concentrate on the differences. But, overall, reading on a Kindle is like nothing you imagine it will be. I always said that I would never get one. I wanted to keep my paper books and couldn’t believe someone would want to read on that computer thing. Now I’m one of the biggest “enablers” of the Kindle. This thing gave my mother back the ability to read all books again (her eyesight is not what it used to be and you can adjust the font from tiny to very large – this is also great for me when I read in bed. I don’t have to wear my glasses!). It also allowed me to clean up some of the stuff in my house. I used to hoard books. I still do, but they all fit in one little bitty Kindle now and not on the shelf, under the bed, in drawers, etc etc. But again… the differences, as I see ‘em….

Changes from the K2 to the K3 include:

   1. Compared with the K2, it feel so tiny and light. The difference is actually small, but it feels so small and light in the hand that I had to lay them side by side to satisfy myself that I didn’t get some super secret new tiny Kindle. Hey, it’s possible that good old Jeff Bezos wanted me to have the K4 here folks!

   2. The next thing I noticed is that I couldn’t figure out how to turn the darn thing on. They moved the slider to the bottom. Okay, not loving that, it feels more awkward, but I’m going with the assumption that I won’t notice after a few days. Also at the bottom, the charger light is brighter, small change

   3. I thought the text was super crisp on my previous Kindle. Nay. Wow. This is SO MUCH darker. I’m actually shocked at the difference, it’s really very significant. I was hemming and hawing over upgrading but this alone makes it work the price of the upgrade. I’d seen photos online, but you simply cannot understand until you see it. It’s a huge difference. Did I mention you can choose between 3 fonts? Yeah baby!

   4. Gone is the HOME button the right side of the Kindle. FINALLY. I cannot tell you how many times, after 18 months of use, I STILL wanted to use that button to go to the previous page. Bye-bye to my button nemesis! WooHoooooo!! It is replaced with slimmer Next and Previous buttons that are just arrows. I’m still getting used to this as I’m used to pushing slightly inward to change the page, but after several pages, I adapted pretty well.

   5. Gone is the joystick. I should say that I didn’t hate the joystick. I always thought it was fine. A little finicky, but just fine. What they have given us now is a little four way pad with the select in the middle. I thought this would be a little difficult to navigate, but nope, I have yet to have it go where I didn’t want it to go. Fabulous! Along with that the Menu, Back and Home keys are now arranged around the little pad. All very well laid out. It is bit of an adjustment, but just taking the time to get my books settled back in was enough for me to get used to it and I don’t even notice it

   6. The keyboard thingy… there has been a little bit of tension in the kindle community about this. Some people are pretty peeved that the number keys are gone. Me? I don’t care, you just press the SYM key now to get to them. I don’t use the keyboard very often and the numbers even less often so perhaps that’s why I don’t care. It also leaves a little space between the screen and the keyboard for me to put a little label about what to do if it’s lost, but that’s my own reasons. I don’t see anything wrong with them being gone myself. BUT the keys are GREAT. Pressing them is much easier than on the K2. Oh, you aren’t going to be typing 50 words per minute (or even 20) but it’s a much more pleasurable experience.

   7. The back is … a little more “grippy” now – not like rubberized or anything, but it’s not slick. Gone is the shiny back. I almost missed this because I always read my kindle in a cover/case so I don’t really have an opinion. I guess it’s good if you read your Kindle naked (which makes me quite… uncomfortable)

Overall this is a GREAT upgrade. I knew I’d like it, but I honestly didn’t think I’d be THIS impressed by it. Seriously, get one. So worth it!

[caseyf6]

Thanks for the review-- I've been debating giving my K2 to my daughter and getting a K3 for myself.  Now I have more info. 

[Cardinal]

Thanks for the review!   

[CandyTX]

do you use any coupon to buy it?

I don't think I've ever seen an Amazon coupon actually. I know they run promotions if you sign up for their credit card. People give me gift cards that I apply to my account, but I'm not sure they have coupons and I didn't use one.

[cherylktardif]

Great review, Candy. You've convinced me that the K3 is my next purchase! 

[CandyTX]

Great review, Candy. You've convinced me that the K3 is my next purchase! 

WooHoo! Glad to hear I could help you along - you have been converted I've managed to 'sell' several of them since they came out. *laughing* 3 of those were brand new Kindlers too. Always happy to help someone's addiction (or give them a new one!)

Absolutely love my K3 - and amazingly enough the cover too. I really wasn't expecting to like it. At all, but my review is here - or at Amazon

[Fireheart223]

Thanks for the review, Candy. I just ordered the K3, since my mom wants my K2 so it gave me an excuse to upgrade. I had noticed that the 5-way controller is different on the K3, looks a lot like the nav button on my Samsung phone actually. This was one thing that caught my eye, since I'd heard that other K2 users have broken their 5-way, and I've always been a bit cautious while using it since it does seem a bit delicate. Plus with it having a better battery life, and twice the storage capacity, all the more reasons to get the new and improved K3.

By the way, I happen to be a barista, so I liked your analogy 

[CandyTX]

Thanks for the review, Candy. I just ordered the K3, since my mom wants my K2 so it gave me an excuse to upgrade. I had noticed that the 5-way controller is different on the K3, looks a lot like the nav button on my Samsung phone actually. This was one thing that caught my eye, since I'd heard that other K2 users have broken their 5-way, and I've always been a bit cautious while using it since it does seem a bit delicate. Plus with it having a better battery life, and twice the storage capacity, all the more reasons to get the new and improved K3.

By the way, I happen to be a barista, so I liked your analogy 

Yes, the 5-way is a lot different but I adapted really easily too it. I feel odd when I have to use my kid's K2 now. You'll love it!

Heh, I bet you'd make sure I had a caramel drizzle I think my husband spends too much time at a local Starbucks here, the ladies there just look at him and say "same?" and make 'em. Gotta love that!

[Kimco]

Thank you - this is brilliant - I am having one for Christmas - the only problem I have is waiting for it!!

[JenniferBecton]

Ok, now I really want a coffee and a K3. LOL I need to go read about the K3 and the DX. I am so uneducated, but I'm liking the idea of being able to read in bed. I assume it has some kind of brightness adjustments, right? Hmmm...will go read product descriptions now.

[CandyTX]

Ok, now I really want a coffee and a K3. LOL I need to go read about the K3 and the DX. I am so uneducated, but I'm liking the idea of being able to read in bed. I assume it has some kind of brightness adjustments, right? Hmmm...will go read product descriptions now.

No, it's e-ink technology, so there's no backlight - which also means no eyestrain for those (myself included) that are affected. I purchased the Amazon case though and it's fabulous - has a pull out light and is very sleek. The light runs off of the power of the Kindle itself so there's no extra charging or batteries involved.

[Rhiathame]

Great review...quick note on the number thing. You can also hold down the alt key and use the top row of letters to quickly key in 1-0. I use that shortcut all the time as I use the number keys almost more than the letter keys to quickly get to locations after purchasing off a sample.

[JenniferBecton]

No, it's e-ink technology, so there's no backlight - which also means no eyestrain for those (myself included) that are affected. I purchased the Amazon case though and it's fabulous - has a pull out light and is very sleek. The light runs off of the power of the Kindle itself so there's no extra charging or batteries involved.

Ahhh... I see... I just looked up the Amazon case, and I love that it comes in red/burgundy, That's my color. Thanks for the info!

[SusieQ]

Ok, here's my question...I'm still using my K1 and love it BUT at almost 800 books it can be tiresome trying to page thru them all. What is your opinion of the "collections" idea? Does it help sort your books? Thanks!

Susie

PS-almost forgot...WiFi vs wifi/3g...at home, I can't connect to whispersync, I dl books to my laptop and then load on my kindle (I have a wireless router for my laptop). I can get whispersync at work. I'm not much of a traveler so...do I need to spend the xtra $5o for 3G?

[CandyTX]

Ok, here's my question...I'm still using my K1 and love it BUT at almost 800 books it can be tiresome trying to page thru them all. What is your opinion of the "collections" idea? Does it help sort your books? Thanks!

Susie

PS-almost forgot...WiFi vs wifi/3g...at home, I can't connect to whispersync, I dl books to my laptop and then load on my kindle (I have a wireless router for my laptop). I can get whispersync at work. I'm not much of a traveler so...do I need to spend the xtra $5o for 3G?

I had the SAME problem with my K2 until they gave us collections. I currently have 300 books on there and about 10 collections. LOVE it. Some of the collections have gotten to be 5 pages or so, but WAY better than then 50 pages or whatever I had before. LOL.

I got the wifi only and it sounds like you don't need the 3g either, you can use the wireless router in your home to download them directly - no more loading from the laptop

[SusieQ]

Thanks so much, Candy! As much as I love my K1, I think the collections issue may be the tipping point for me. Can have as many collections as I want right, by author or genre or whatever?

Susie

[CandyTX]

Thanks so much, Candy! As much as I love my K1, I think the collections issue may be the tipping point for me. Can have as many collections as I want right, by author or genre or whatever?

Susie

Yup, and books can be in more than one category. For instance, my collections are something like:
Memoirs & True Stories
Romance & Smut
Historical Fiction
For Review
Horror & Thrillers
Short Stories

etc
etc

So like I might have something in the For Review collection that is also in the Short Stories collection.

[JenniferBecton]

Boy, do I need to pay better attention. Collections are a new aspect to consider. That's a cool idea. I love filing systems. Yes, I'm a nerd. Or maybe a librarian in a former life.

[Cyanide5000]

Brilliant review, i still cant decide which one to get my wife for xmas tho, she was using a Barnes and Noble one a few weeks ago and she loved it, i was just looking for a good review to try and hopefully push her in the right direction, IE, Kindle

[CandyTX]

Cyn - http://thereadingedge.com/tag/ereader/ is a good comparison... it's from pre-K3 but it's a pretty fair review (albeit long!) If you already have a kindle, it's kind of a no brainer for her to get one too. That way you can share books/freebies/etc.

[jhall124]

The K3 is my first and I really like it. I've wanted a Kindle way back when Amazon first released it but couldn't justify the cost. Now at only $189 for wifi/3G, you can't go wrong.
 

[resipsa13]

Great review! Thank you. I've been deciding if I should upgrade and I think I will.

[CandyTX]

Great review! Thank you. I've been deciding if I should upgrade and I think I will.

I'm REALLY glad that I did, not only is it awesome, but I was able to hand my K2 to my 7 year old who has gotten SO much enjoyment out of it. I made a snap decision to upgrade my mother's for Christmas and she gave her K2 to a dear friend that has rheumatoid arthritis and is loving not having to hold a book open anymore.

I think that's one of the biggest pluses I've gotten out of upgrading, on a personal level

[Phildeeze]

They are definitely getting better with each generation. I just recently got the K3 and I must say I love it. I do agree that it feels like a miniature version but this to me just makes it that much more enjoyable and comfortable. I can only imagine what the next few years will bring.

[SamIam]

Fantastic review! Thanks for sharing

[ellicious]

Thanks for the great review, I think this pushed me over the edge to upgrade!

[Elijah Joon]

They are definitely getting better with each generation. I just recently got the K3 and I must say I love it. I do agree that it feels like a miniature version but this to me just makes it that much more enjoyable and comfortable. I can only imagine what the next few years will bring.

You look so ballin' in ya profile pic, man.  Props

[CandyTX]

Thanks for the great review, I think this pushed me over the edge to upgrade!

My husband says I'm such an enabler

[Shirley M]

Thanks for the review. I'll be picking up a new Kindle in a few months. It's nice to know some of the pros and cons.