Thinking about buying a 3G Kindle, had some questions

[Ziji]

Hi, I had a few questions (and if any break the rules, you don't have to answer them):

1. I looked at quite a few different e-book readers, and the Kindle seemed to be the best for my money; but is the 3G really worth it over the Wi-Fi? Does it have a web browser or is the 3G specifically for going to the Amazon/whatever store(s) and looking for/buying books?

2. Does this have a touch screen, or exclusively buttons (trying to get one without a touch screen)?

3. Does it have a built-in light, for reading in the dark (think Gameboy SP or DS)? I don't think it does, but I wasn't sure.

4. What are the accepted formats for e-books? I think it said it accepts PDFs, but what else?

5. Let's say I happened to have a bunch of e-books already on my PC, do I just connect it to my PC via USB and drag and drop? Or do I have to install software?

6. Are there any types of DRMs on it, that would keep me from putting my own e-books (either gotten from other stores, or by some other means) onto the Kindle?

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I'm just not 100% sure what e-reader to get

Thanks.

[Ann in Arlington]

Hi, I had a few questions (and if any break the rules, you don't have to answer them):

1. I looked at quite a few different e-book readers, and the Kindle seemed to be the best for my money; but is the 3G really worth it over the Wi-Fi? Does it have a web browser or is the 3G specifically for going to the Amazon/whatever store(s) and looking for/buying books?

The only difference between the two is that the cheaper one ONLY has a WiFi receiver whereas the more expensive one has a Cell phone/3G radio as well.  The browser is the same on both.

2. Does this have a touch screen, or exclusively buttons (trying to get one without a touch screen)?

No

3. Does it have a built-in light, for reading in the dark (think Gameboy SP or DS)? I don't think it does, but I wasn't sure.

No.  But there are a lot of 3rd party book lights that work quite well.  And Amazon sells a case designed for the Kindle that has a built in light that is powered by the Kindle.

4. What are the accepted formats for e-books? I think it said it accepts PDFs, but what else?

  Kindle format is a proprietary copy protected version of .mobi.  It also reads .prc, .txt. and a few others.  It displays PDF's but on the 6" screen most people do not find it optimal.

5. Let's say I happened to have a bunch of e-books already on my PC, do I just connect it to my PC via USB and drag and drop? Or do I have to install software?

The Kindle comes with firmware loaded.  If you have non copy protected books in an appropriate format you can connect via USB and drag and drop.  If the files you have are not the right format, you'd have to convert them. . .there are a number of 3rd party programs that will do that.  If they are copy protected you will not be able to view them on Kindle.

6. Are there any types of DRMs on it, that would keep me from putting my own e-books (either gotten from other stores, or by some other means) onto the Kindle?

  Non DRM books from other source in an appropriate format should work just fine.  But the only type of DRM books you can load are those with Amazon DRM purchased from the Amazon store.

Sorry if these are dumb questions, but I'm just not 100% sure what e-reader to get

Thanks.

I suggest you look go to the Kindle Product page and scroll way down. . . .or click Kindle Support . . . .and find the Users Guide.  You can download it as a PDF file.  It will likely answer a lot of your questions. . . . .of course all the info on the product page is quite useful too.

[Ziji]

I'll do that.

I just don't want to sink so much money into it and find out I liked another one better.

I'm mostly worried about it being able to read epub format, since a lot of books I have (from various sites that offer free books) are in epub format, and didn't list the Kindle as one of the readers on the site.

I'll go download the PDF and read it, thanks.

[Ann in Arlington]

Kindle does not use ePub.  But if the file has no DRM it can be converted.

[Ziji]

Mine are DRM free, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I'll check out converters shortly.