I'm NOT slamming Kindle 3G users . . .

[MichelleR]

. . . but why would a person want a Kindle 3G to connect remotely (other than Wi-Fi) to download media when they could just download via Wi-Fi then take those books/etc. with them?  I realize the Kindle does have an "Experimental" web browser but, in my opinion, the Kindle's web browser is pitiful as a tool to access the internet -- which is why it's still in the experimental stage.  (I'm really looking forward to a more refined browser when it's available.)

If a 3G user travels a lot I'm certain they can still download media via a hotel/motel Wi-Fi -- or the many other places that offer Wi-Fi.

I'm not being on the offensive here, I'm just trying to understand the benefit of the 3G and why someone would want to own it.

Thanks!

Before there was WiFi, there was 3g, and it was reliable. WiFi is the Newish Kid on The Block.

I live in a very cold, snowy, windy place and lose internet fairly often.

I want what I want when I want it and don't want to give a thought to not being able to get a book since one of the beauties of the Kindle is it makes me feel like I have a bookstore at my fingertips even though I live in a remote place. I don't care how the book gets to me as long as it gets to me and 3G is insurance.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I went to a concert and then stayed overnight in a cabin. While the cabin is lovely and actually as well appointed as a home, the lady who runs the place doesn't provide WiFi because her guests are there to get away from it all.

When I bought my nephew one, I went 3G because I wanted it all to be fun and effortless.

I have no issue with people going WiFi only if that's what works best for them, but as long as they offer a 3G model, I'm getting it.

I do rather obsessively read new Kindle reviews and one of the top complaints is WiFi issues. Some people, amazingly enough, don't seem to understand they need a WiFi connection, but other people just have issues with it.  Buying 3G reduces the chance of frustration, from what I see.

[Zell]

I planned to get the WiFi version, but for my b-day my husband got the 3G. I'm glad he did. I don't know that I'll use it a ton, but it's really nice to know that I have access to the Kindle store from anywhere.

I just bought/downloaded your book.  Congratulations from someone living in SLC.

[Belle2Be]

By the way, most hotels/motels these days offer free Wi-Fi.  Interestingly, it's the high-end hotels that charge -- and it's an arm and a leg to get it.

That's a pretty big assumption. I stayed at a hotel in a pretty big resort (but the hotel was on the cheaper side, 80 a night), you had to pay for wifi. It's actually been my experience in every hotel I've been in, I've yet to find free wifi. Even at a bookstore you have to buy a coffee or something for an hour of wifi.

[Zell]

That's a pretty big assumption. I stayed at a hotel in a pretty big resort (but the hotel was on the cheaper side, 80 a night), you had to pay for wifi. It's actually been my experience in every hotel I've been in, I've yet to find free wifi. Even at a bookstore you have to buy a coffee or something for an hour of wifi.

Depends on where you stay, I guess.  I travel a lot in the U.S. and I hardly ever have to pay for Wi-Fi except for places that charge $180+ per night.

[mooshie78]

Internet is almost always pay in the business hotels (Marriott etc.)--places I stay for conferences etc.  I still don't care as I can put it on my expense account and get reimbursed.  That and I just load up with a book or two before leaving, so I seldom used the 3G when traveling back when I had a K1 or K2.  So I opted Wifi only when I got a K3 as I just didn't use the 3G enough to pay $50.

But great that they have both options out there so everyone can get what they need.

[RaggedyMoe]

Well, I for one do not have WiFi. And I don't like it. Been to sister in laws and her WiFi takes to long to open up. Had a computer guy come over and work on it but still slow.
Anyway I like my 3G, it is faster to find a book and load it.
Just Saying....

[mooshie78]

Well, I for one do not have WiFi. And I don't like it. Been to sister in laws and her WiFi takes to long to open up. Had a computer guy come over and work on it but still slow.
Anyway I like my 3G, it is faster to find a book and load it.
Just Saying....

That's just an internet or router problem.  My internet is 10mbps, and using wifi doesn't give any noticeable slow down vs plugging directly into the modem.  So books etc. download to my Kindle a lot faster on WiFi than they did on the 3G on my K2.

Again, the 3G is great.  Just didn't want people thinking WiFi was slower.  As long as the internet is faster than 2.4mbps (the max speed of 3G with full signal etc.), WiFi will be faster than 3G on any device that isn't having connection issues etc.

I'd never go without WiFi given the amount of gadgets I have that need wifi internet access these days with Kindles, game consoles, blu ray players, laptops etc. around the house.

[KathyY]

I got 3G because I was afraid that I might want it. I didn't know if there might be something coming that would make me wish I had it. I don't use it. I usually use my laptop to order books and I have Wi-Fi in my house so they download instantly. I really don't need the 3G. If I want to get on line and am not near my laptop I will use my iPhone--much easier than the Kindle.

[Zell]

I got 3G because I was afraid that I might want it. I didn't know if there might be something coming that would make me wish I had it.

That's what I was thinking when I was considering it but got the Wi-Fi version anyway.

[Lyndl]

We'll be travelling around Europe for 6 weeks in May/June.  Although many Hotels claim to offer free wi-fi,  reading their reviews tells a different story. It's usually only available in the lobby, and is often weak or non-existent.  No matter how many books I load onto my Kindle I'm sure I'll want something new while I'm away

[BTackitt]

I bought the 3g for my college student son.. the wifi on his campus is.. slow at best, and spotty or worse 90% of the time. we also travel fairly often, and many places charge for wifi access, so the 3g is better. He can get any book he wants at any time he wants, and we don't have to hunt down a wifi connection.

[chuckf410]

I got 3G because I'm a geek. I like that when I want to look something up real quick in most places that I'm at I can go to wikipedia or google to get the answers. Also, I can show the kindle functions off to friends and family.

I know many people who I would recommend the wifi version for simply because I know them well enough that their situations don't need the 3G.

If my aunt decides to get a ebook reader it'll have 3g. She doesn't own a computer (and therefore no internet access at home). For her it won't be a choice.

As for the hotel wifi, I don't trust it. Most of the time the security on them is lacking at best. When I do use them (paid or not) the first connection I make is a secure connection back to my home proxy server, then out from there. On the laptop its easy, the kindle would require extra hardware.

3G security is not perfect, but is better than hotel wifi.

[Luvmy4brats]

That's just an internet or router problem.  My internet is 10mbps, and using wifi doesn't give any noticeable slow down vs plugging directly into the modem.  So books etc. download to my Kindle a lot faster on WiFi than they did on the 3G on my K2.

Again, the 3G is great.  Just didn't want people thinking WiFi was slower.  As long as the internet is faster than 2.4mbps (the max speed of 3G with full signal etc.), WiFi will be faster than 3G on any device that isn't having connection issues etc.

I'd never go without WiFi given the amount of gadgets I have that need wifi internet access these days with Kindles, game consoles, blu ray players, laptops etc. around the house.

Wifi at my place IS slower and it's not a router issue. I live out in the boonies and I swear I have the world's worst internet. For me, 3G is faster.

[Ann in Arlington]

I got the WiFi/3G kindle basically because I'd already budgeted for it. . . it really did occur to me that I only needed WiFi but I thought, hey, I'd already planned to spend that much to upgrade so why not.

And I'm glad I did.  For books, yeah, I download at home with WiFi and I always have many on the device so I'd probably never need to get one in an emergency. But my subscriptions come daily.  As an example, we were traveling last week and, while all three hotels we stayed in had WiFi, only two of them offered it free.  I was glad I had the 3G so that I didn't have to pay $11 to access the WiFi to d/l my newspaper.  Not sure it even would have worked because I don't know that there would have been a way to register payment.

And the ones that did have free WiFi required a log in. . . .I did it at the first one just to prove I could but at the one the next day I just used the 3G because it was easier.

[Chad Winters]

i went wifi only when i upgraded my K1 and I don't miss it at all. I have hundreds of unread books on my Kindle and almost always have wifi access at least once per day. I don't have any books I have to get that fast. I'll just make a note and download it later

[Geoffrey]

I'm with chuckf on this - I'm a geek so of course I got the more gadgety one.   I also travel so it's useful to have it no matter where I happen to be - and as others have mentioned, it's familiar since that's how the K1 and K2 functioned.

I could probably live with a wifi version but I didn't want to limit by ability to get books whenever I pleased.

[kisrita]

I bought the 3G version because I have to travel for work and was expecting to have to travel to Wuhan China a lot which takes 3 connecting flights from CT (minimum) and if a flight is delayed, cancelled, etc, the layover could get extended by hours. I wanted to make sure I would always have access to something to read. Interestingly though I haven't had to use 3G or even wifi yet on a trip. Last November I went to Europe for 5 days and last month to China for 7 days, and in order to preserve battery, I turned off wireless during both trips. I loaded up enough books that I didn't run out of reading materials, even though the China trip included two 15 hour flights, plus 4 shorter flights. And the Kindle battery had no problem with it! So even though I have 3G, I don't actually use it because using it would eat up too much battery, and I don't want to pack the charging wire and a converter for it. But I don't regret buying the 3G, I like knowing that I have a choice.

[mooshie78]

Wifi at my place IS slower and it's not a router issue. I live out in the boonies and I swear I have the world's worst internet. For me, 3G is faster.

I know.  I was just pointing out that it's your internet that's slower so everyone was clear.  As there have been people who post who don't know the difference between WiFi and 3G etc.   The Kindle appeals to a lot of non-techie types, so I try to be preemptively helpful in clarifying the few tech details.

So I just wanted to make sure people (who aren't tech inclined) know that WiFi speed is determined by the speed of the internet connection, while 3G is maxed at 2.4mbps.  So for people with decent internet, WiFi is faster and you'll want to use that if you have good internet even if you have the 3G and WiFi model, and just use the 3G when away from home etc.

Also, if you're 3G is faster than whatever internet you have, have you considered ditching the internet you have and getting the 3G home internet form Verizon.  Only downside is it's a bit pricey and has a monthly data limit (2GB I think).  My parents are in the boonies as well, and they use it as the only other options they have is dial up (only get on at 26.4 kbps, no DSL or Cable internet providers in their area yet) or expensive satellite internet.  They don't get 3G signal though, just 1x, but still faster than the dial up they can get.

[Cindy416]

I know.  I was just pointing out that it's your internet that's slower so everyone was clear.  As there have been people who post who don't know the difference between WiFi and 3G etc.   The Kindle appeals to a lot of non-techie types, so I try to be preemptively helpful in clarifying the few tech details.

So I just wanted to make sure people (who aren't tech inclined) know that WiFi speed is determined by the speed of the internet connection, while 3G is maxed at 2.4mbps.  So for people with decent internet, WiFi is faster and you'll want to use that if you have good internet even if you have the 3G and WiFi model, and just use the 3G when away from home etc.

Also, if you're 3G is faster than whatever internet you have, have you considered ditching the internet you have and getting the 3G home internet form Verizon.  Only downside is it's a bit pricey and has a monthly data limit (2GB I think).  My parents are in the boonies as well, and they use it as the only other options they have is dial up (only get on at 26.4 kbps, no DSL or Cable internet providers in their area yet) or expensive satellite internet.  They don't get 3G signal though, just 1x, but still faster than the dial up they can get.

Where I live (in the boondocks), I only have access to a business called NW Communications Co and Hughes Internet (satellite). I use the NW Communications service, but it's pretty pricey @$44.95/mo. for around 1.5 mbps. If I were get Hughes, the prices that I saw are about 4 times what I pay in order to get maximum data allowance. I don't have a limit right now, which is good. I'm sure many people would consider my internet access to be very slow, but it's SO much faster than that dinosaur known as dial-up that you won't hear me complaining in the least.
I don't get 3G here n my area, so I, too, get 1x, but it works. I'm a techie, and would not last long w/o my iPad, Wii, iPhone, laptops, and desktop computers, and I'm just thrilled to finally have (comparatively) hi-speed internet in my very rural home.

As for the Kindle 3 and its wi-fi and 3G varieties, I am enough of a geek that I have to have 3G. I also now have a 64GB iPad w/3G. I never know when I might need it. 

[Luvmy4brats]

Also, if you're 3G is faster than whatever internet you have, have you considered ditching the internet you have and getting the 3G home internet form Verizon.  Only downside is it's a bit pricey and has a monthly data limit (2GB I think).  My parents are in the boonies as well, and they use it as the only other options they have is dial up (only get on at 26.4 kbps, no DSL or Cable internet providers in their area yet) or expensive satellite internet.  They don't get 3G signal though, just 1x, but still faster than the dial up they can get.

That wouldn't for us at all... there are 6 of us in this house.. My oldest and I each usually hit the 2GB a month just on our iPad/iPhone usage..  I can't imagine how much we use when we factor in our laptop use...

I don't mind so much.. It's only when my cable gets cut by lawn mowers in the summer and snow plows in the winter (it runs across the road) that I really get irritated with it. If I need to download a bunch of stuff, I head to the library or Panera Bread in town.

[mlewis78]

I have more books on my kindle than I will ever have time to read!  Can't imagine needing to buy books when I'm out and about.  What did you guys do when you didn't have ebooks and had to wait until you could get to a book store or receive your online book purchases?

[Whidbeyislandgirl]

Restaurants, car, ferry lines, doctors office, dentist office, hair salon, my mothers house, hotel with no WiFi, beach, park... I buy books at places other than my home or work. Why would I NOT want 3G?? I don't always plan ahead.

[Cindy416]

I have more books on my kindle than I will ever have time to read!  Can't imagine needing to buy books when I'm out and about.  What did you guys do when you didn't have ebooks and had to wait until you could get to a book store or receive your online book purchases?

I made lots of trips to libraries, bookstores, and shopped at Amazon.

[racheldeet]

Last time I travelled cross-country, both the hotels and both the airports I went through had no wifi, or had it at a ridiculous cost. I was baffled, to be honest, and glad I had 3G on my K2!

[Luvmy4brats]

I have more books on my kindle than I will ever have time to read!  Can't imagine needing to buy books when I'm out and about.  What did you guys do when you didn't have ebooks and had to wait until you could get to a book store or receive your online book purchases?

 I didn't actually read physical books prior to my Kindle. I only listened to audio books. And I had an iPod with a very large hard drive to keep them all on . My problem is that I never know what I'm going to be in the mood to read.