Can't decide between WiFi only or get the 3G - Got it today

[Kathy]

I'm about to buy a Kindle Touch and I just can't decide whether to just get the WiFi model. I have had every model and have always bought 3G, but not sure I really need it. I travel a lot and always worried that I wouldn't be able to buy a book when i have no WiFi. Well I carry so many books on my Kindle and have rarely bought a book anywhere but home. With WiFi everywhere now I really don't think I need to spend the extra money.

For those of you that have gone from 3G to wireless only have you regretted it?  

[MariaESchneider]

I bought the 3g so that I might have connection when in very rural NM.  Turns out there's still no connection.  HOWEVER, there is connection in other odd towns and places on the way here so I wouldn't go without.  There just aren't that many wifi spots in some of these places.  When I took my kindle to show my neighbor in Austin, there was no wifi--but the 3g turned on just fine and I was able to show her things.

If you already have 3g units, you might not miss it in a new one!!!

[jhanel]

I'm about to buy a Kindle Touch and I just can't decide whether to just get the WiFi model. I have had every model and have always bought 3G, but not sure I really need it. I travel a lot and always worried that I wouldn't be able to buy a book when i have no WiFi. Well I carry so many books on my Kindle and have rarely bought a book anywhere but home. With WiFi everywhere now I really don't think I need to spend the extra money.

For those of you that have gone from 3G to wireless only have you regretted it? 

I bought the wifi only. The main reason I use my kindle is at lunch breaks at work, and when I travel around the country, it makes airports a breeze. I thought "I'll save the $30 (at the time) and get wifi only."

It all depends on what you want to use it for, but if you are like me and want to use it in the airports or while away from your house, spend the extra. It would have been far worth it.

[jbcohen]

We'll if you don't think you will use it perhaps the wifi is a better idea youvcan alwayse use one of the others if need the 3G.

[Kathy]

We'll if you don't think you will use it perhaps the wifi is a better idea youvcan alwayse use one of the others if need the 3G.

I sold them to pay for the new one or gave them to my children so when I buy the Touch it will be my only Kindle. I just don't want to get the WiFi only and regret it.

[theaatkinson]

I didn't think I'd need the 3G as i have wifi and figured it would be enough...and it is nearly all the time. but when I was camping this summer, I discovered the 3G worked well and I could get on the internet and download a new book in a series that I wasn't sure I"d like till i read it. so it came handy for then. I'm glad I have it even when I don't 'need' it all the time.

[KayakerNC]

I sold them to pay for the new one or gave them to my children so when I buy the Touch it will be my only Kindle. I just don't want to get the WiFi only and regret it.

Get what you want, which seems to be the 3G.
You've earned it, you deserve it.   Remember, our regrets are usually things we didn't do.

[ChadMck]

I got the wi-fi and slightly regret it. I miss not being able to browse the bookstore whenever I feel like it. Although perhaps it has saved me some money

[Kathy]

I got the wi-fi and slightly regret it. I miss not being able to browse the bookstore whenever I feel like it. Although perhaps it has saved me some money

I have never bought a book from my Kindle. I just hated the keyboard to much when looking for books. I think I will shop more with the touch but really prefer to look for books on my computer or iPad.

[mooshie78]

For those of you that have gone from 3G to wireless only have you regretted it? 

I haven't.  In the couple of years I had 3G (K1 and K2), I had one time I made good use of the 3G.  One time I'd finished a book before traveling, and forgot to download a new book before a flight and thus bought one via 3G at the airport.

So it's just not something I really need.  Even moreso since getting an iPad and iPhone as my Kindle seldom leaves the house even when traveling now.


So it really just comes down to your needs.  If you take your Kindle everywhere, then you're more likely to need 3G than someone like me who seldom takes it out of the house.  Obviously if someone doesn't have wifi at home, then 3G is needed.  Another use--if you download newspapers, blogs etc. daily then 3G is handy.  Less so if you do nothing with the wireless but download books.

[mooshie78]

I have never bought a book from my Kindle. I just hated the keyboard to much when looking for books. I think I will shop more with the touch but really prefer to look for books on my computer or iPad.

And I'm the same in that.  So that's even less reason to pay for the 3G IMO.  Also keep in mind that on the touch the web browser won't work over 3G--only over wifi--so no checking gmail on 3G on the Kindle when out and about etc. like you could on the earlier models.

[PaulGuy]

I switched to the wi-fi only on the K3 and now have the wi-fi only on the touch.
I have never had an occasion to regret not having the 3G and the wifi is actually better and getting your own PDF documents to your Kindle than on a 3G model. I'd save the money. i also went with the special offers model. I mean really, a Kindle Touch for $99 versus a 3G non special offers for $189? It's a great deal my friend. My 2 cents (since you asked.)

[VictoriaP]

I have never bought a book from my Kindle. I just hated the keyboard to much when looking for books. I think I will shop more with the touch but really prefer to look for books on my computer or iPad.

If that's the case, then skip the 3G.

I went from the 3G only K2 US to the wifi only KT. No regrets at all. The K's browser is a joke compared to any smartphone or tablet, so I've never used it regularly for that. Subscriptions, likewise, I'd rather read on the iPad, so I don't have Kindle ones. I tend to keep all my books on my Kindle anyway, and the only time I've actually downloaded books outside the house have been in airports--maybe four times total. I'll need to do a bit more planning ahead now, but not much, and it just wasn't worth the extra $$$ to me to have a service I might use twice a year or so.

[CrystalStarr]

Does anyone subscribe to blogs or newspapers.  I like 3g because my kindle is always up to date no matter where I am.

[Hoosiermama]

If you know you will always have wifi to downloadbooks, I'd say get the wifi only. I had the 3G K2, but got the wifi Touch. The only time I download books is either at home or work, so I couldn't see spending the extra money. I never used the browser and 99.9% of the time I shopped for books via the computer. I keep plenty of books to keep me occupied on vacation.

It just depends on what you think your habits will be.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[Kathy]

And I'm the same in that.  So that's even less reason to pay for the 3G IMO.  Also keep in mind that on the touch the web browser won't work over 3G--only over wifi--so no checking gmail on 3G on the Kindle when out and about etc. like you could on the earlier models.

I always have my iPhone and my iPad with me so I would never use it for email or any other type of browser. I have never done more than just read on my Kindle. That is why I thought why waste the money when I can buy books with the money I save.

I switched to the wi-fi only on the K3 and now have the wi-fi only on the touch.
I have never had an occasion to regret not having the 3G and the wifi is actually better and getting your own PDF documents to your Kindle than on a 3G model. I'd save the money. i also went with the special offers model. I mean really, a Kindle Touch for $99 versus a 3G non special offers for $189? It's a great deal my friend. My 2 cents (since you asked.)

This was my thought completely. I don't even put PDFs on my Kindle. I use the iPad for my magazines and any articles I subscribe to which is so much better with the color.

If you know you will always have wifi to downloadbooks, I'd say get the wifi only. I had the 3G K2, but got the wifi Touch. The only time I download books is either at home or work, so I couldn't see spending the extra money. I never used the browser and 99.9% of the time I shopped for books via the computer. I keep plenty of books to keep me occupied on vacation.

It just depends on what you think your habits will be.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

Because I travel at least 2 weeks a month I always have my Kindle loaded up. I have favorites that I keep on the Kindle to read if I'm tired or waiting for a new book to come out. I also keep tons of free books on it as well.

[MariaESchneider]

If you do any airport traveling, get the 3g.  I can think of two airports I've been in that don't have free wifi and it bugs me every time I'm in those airports.  With the 3g I can at least LOOK at my email and download books.  Of course...I don't think you can do email with the touch, so scratch that last comment.  If you want to download a book in an airport you may very well need 3g.

[Kathy]

If you do any airport traveling, get the 3g.  I can think of two airports I've been in that don't have free wifi and it bugs me every time I'm in those airports.  With the 3g I can at least LOOK at my email and download books.  Of course...I don't think you can do email with the touch, so scratch that last comment.  If you want to download a book in an airport you may very well need 3g.

I travel all over the US for work so I keep lots of books on my Kindle all the time. I've never used the web on it. I have my iPhone or iPad for that. I can always download a book on one of those if I need to.

[mooshie78]

I always have my iPhone and my iPad with me so I would never use it for email or any other type of browser. I have never done more than just read on my Kindle. That is why I thought why waste the money when I can buy books with the money I save.

Then definitely go wifi only. 3G isn't needed much when you always have the iphone and ipad with you. As you note, you could always buy and read a book on either of these in a pinch. I don't even take my kindle on the road with me most of the time these days since I personally don't mind reading on the iPad or iPhone.

[Kathy]

Then definitely go wifi only. 3G isn't needed much when you always have the iphone and ipad with you. As you note, you could always buy and read a book on either of these in a pinch. I don't even take my kindle on the road with me most of the time these days since I personally don't mind reading on the iPad or iPhone.

I read on the iPad when I have to, but my eyes get tired faster. Same with the iPhone. I much prefer the Kindle but if I need to use them they work great.

[The Hooded Claw]

The Claw's advice:

If you almost never take your Kindle out of the house, get wifi.

If the forty dollars (think that's right) extra is a major sacrifice for you and you don't feel like you MUST be able to buy or download a book anywhere, get wifi.

Otherwise, get 3G.

PS:  If you like the idea of enabling all your friends, you'll definitely want 3G so you can inflict your Kindle on them in their house!

[mooshie78]

I read on the iPad when I have to, but my eyes get tired faster. Same with the iPhone. I much prefer the Kindle but if I need to use them they work great.

Thankfully LCD screens don't bother my eyes very much. I hardly ever read for more than an hour at a time though, so that probably helps.

[Kathy]

The Claw's advice:

If you almost never take your Kindle out of the house, get wifi.

If the forty dollars (think that's right) extra is a major sacrifice for you and you don't feel like you MUST be able to buy or download a book anywhere, get wifi.

Otherwise, get 3G.

PS:  If you like the idea of enabling all your friends, you'll definitely want 3G so you can inflict your Kindle on them in their house!

I don't think I can enable anymore of my friends, I did that when I got the 1st, 2nd and 3rd one. I've even ran out of kids to pass my K3 down to. My biggest convert was my husband.  The last of my co-workers is probably by my K3. I have a few days to decide.

[craseymae]

I've got a Wi-Fi Keyboard Kindle.
I made this choice, over the 3G version, for 2 main reasons:

1) I will mostly be buying my ebooks at home (or possibly whilst on-campus at uni) : Both places give me Wi-Fi access.

2) My phone can act as a portable WiFi hotspot. So if I'm out and about, or just out of range of WiFi, I can activate my phone as a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, then do what I need to using that connection.

I guess it mostly comes down to how often you'll be using it, how often you have WiFi access, and if you'll be sharing quotes etc using the internet connection.

For me, this is working out great! (I've saved money on the device, and am still pretty much able to get the same amount of function- I'm rarely without my mobile phone!)

Hope this helps

[patrickt]

My first Kindle was a 3G. My next two are WiFi only. I have no need for 3G. I use my Kindle in airports, in the mountains, out on the beach, and I don't understand the problem. I use my Kindle for what it was made for...reading books. Imagine that. I do all of my browsing on my desktop computer and that's where I buy books. My ereader is used to read. Right now I have around 300 books on my Kindle that are waiting to be read so I have trouble imagining a book that just absolutely has to be download right this minute from the checkout line at Sam's Club.

If you live where there is dial-up only, for sure, get 3G. Otherwise, why bother?