Kindle - any difference between US and UK versions

[alismurf]

Hi all,

I am planning to buy a wifi, graphite, Kindle 3 for my dad this weekend. As I am based in Ireland I have to order through the US website. Can anyone tell me if there are any differences between the US and UK versions? Are the keyboard buttons laid out the same way? Also, has anyone had any issues with using an US kindle in Ireland such as connecting to the internet?

I appreciate your help as e-readers are pretty new to me!

Thanks.

[ProfCrash]

The only difference is the 3G chip the one in the US is AT&T and the International one is a different company. Other then that they are the same.

[Ann in Arlington]

Since you're looking at the WiFi only version I would guess there's no difference at all.  Except that the cord will probably NOT come with a mains adapter whereas the UK version does, I believe, come with a UK 'plug'.  But someone from the UK will probably be along soon and be able to verify that.

I think the difference is really only that, for whatever reason, you can only buy Kindle books from the UK site if you are in the UK.  Which Ireland isn't. But Amazon US can sell worldwide, subject to whatever international commerce agreements have been made. 

Anyway, you shouldn't have any trouble connecting as long as you have or can get to a WiFi hotspot.

[Linjeakel]

Yes, my K3 came from the UK store with a UK plug (mains adapter) but other than that the devices are absolutely identical in the wi-fi only version. There are no keyboard differences or anything like that. If you need a mains adapter for your location they're pretty easy to get.

If you're in Ireland I'm not even sure if you can get a Kindle from the UK store though (I presume you're not in Northern Ireland?) so I think you have to have the US one. I had a US K2 and a US DX before the UK store was opened and I had no problems with them at all - I shopped in the US store but availability of books was in accordance with whatever could be sold in the UK and it would be the same for you in Ireland.

[Me and My Kindle]

The biggest issue I've heard about is that "Active Content" (like games) can only be purchased for U.S. devices. 

Even some games for the Kindle which were written in England are unavailable to Kindle owners who live in England!