Is the touch worth $20 more than the regular Kindle?

[JustinDennis]

Is the touch worth $20 more than the regular Kindle? At $80 the regular Kindle is very affordable, but I'm just wondering if the little control pad becomes tedious to use.

Which would you prefer? Is the Touch worth the extra money?

[VictoriaP]

Really, that's an extremely subjective question, and one only you can answer for yourself.

For me, yes, because I prefer a touchscreen--I didn't mind the joystick on the K2, but the five way touchpad buttons on the K3 were enough to keep me from upgrading to that model. The Touch suits me perfectly as I'm used to reading on the ipad and iphone already.

Others like the new XRay feature. Another group wants the ability to have 3G available (at an additional cost) and download books from anywhere in the world at any time. Still others want to use audio on their Kindles--mp3s, audiobooks, or the text to speech function. None of these things are available on the base model.

But plenty of people who own the K4 love it. They don't need or want or miss any of those things.

You really should go to a store that carries both and try them for yourself. This kind of decision is best made by actually handling the devices.

[JustinDennis]

Others like the new XRay feature. Another group wants the ability to have 3G available (at an additional cost) and download books from anywhere in the world at any time. Still others want to use audio on their Kindles--mp3s, audiobooks, or the text to speech function. None of these things are available on the base model.

What is the XRay feature?

[Betsy the Quilter]

Per Amazon:

Amazon invented X-Ray, a new feature that lets customers explore the “bones of the book.” With a single tap, readers can see all the passages across a book that mention ideas, fictional characters, historical figures, places or topics that interest them, as well as more detailed descriptions from Wikipedia and Shelfari, Amazon’s community-powered encyclopedia for book lovers.

Amazon built X-Ray using its expertise in language processing and machine learning, access to significant storage and computing resources with Amazon S3 and EC2, and a deep library of book and character information. The vision is to have every important phrase in every book.

Betsy

[Sandpiper]

Like VictoriaP, Touch is worth it for me.  I love a touch screen generally.  It is subjective.

[Betsy the Quilter]

The touch screen alone probably wouldn't be worth it for me...it's just a way to get around the device.  Buttons work well, too.  To me, after living with a K-Touch for two days, the only real benefit of the touch screen so far is the on screen keyboard is easier to use than the virtual keyboard on my K4.

That being said, the $20 also gets one the audio capability and the X-ray.  So I think it's a fair price difference if those things and the touch screen are important to you.  They weren't for me; I wouldn't have paid the difference for a Touch. (I got mine for free with points and GCs so I could play with one and will likely give it away once I'm done playing.)

Betsy

[mlewis78]

Is the touch worth $20 more than the regular Kindle? At $80 the regular Kindle is very affordable, but I'm just wondering if the little control pad becomes tedious to use.

Which would you prefer? Is the Touch worth the extra money?

What is the control pad you refer to?  I have a K4 ($80 model).  I think the extra $20 is worth it if you enjoy using touch screen devices.  I'm happy enough with my K4 not to buy the touch one.

[jbcohen]

Perhaps the best thing to do here is to try both a keyboard and touch models and make a judgement yourself.  I believe there are some stores out there that will let you look at a keyboard and a touch and take them both out for a test drive. 

[butchd5]

It is indeed a subjective choice but you asked for opinions so here is mine.  For $20 spread out over the life of the Kindle, I definitely believe it is worth it.  You get audio capability as well as the touch feature.  The touch feature is very handy and you get extra features with it.  For example, I really like how I can look up definitions with just a touch.  X-ray , for me, is still a wait and see feature.  So for basically the cost for a family of 4 to McDonald's, you can have these features for the life of your Kindle.  I think that is a good value.

[pomtroll]

Just expressing my preference, but I think the extra $20 is worth it for the touch screen

[John Bailey Owen]

My girlfriend has a regular Kindle, and I have the Touch, and for me, the $20 is worth it. I like taking notes in my books and find it easier to do with the Touch (not as easy as it was with the Kindle 3, sadly). I also find the page turning more pleasant on the Touch. It's totally seamless, I never think about it while reading, which I can't say for the regular Kindle.

[Ann in Arlington]

Just expressing my preference, but I think the extra $20 is worth it for the touch screen

And I don't.

So we're back to. . .it's really what YOU want. 

As Betsy pointed out, it's more than just the touch screen you get for the $20 -- there's text to speech, audible, background mp3 player, and the much touted xRay.  None of those features are of particular interest to me, so I'd opt to save the $20 (and did, in fact. ).  But if they are important to you. . . .$20 isn't much to pay to get all that.

[kisala9906]

I think that $20 is way more then just worth it, but as others pointed out some don't so just see what you like best. I would personally have everything touch screen if I could! My remote to my TV, DVR, Bluray etc are even touch screen because I use my iPhone as the remote.

[AnitaBartholomew]

I'm accustomed to my plain vanilla Kindle, and don't mind that it doesn't have a touchscreen. But for those who don't have a Kindle yet, here's one way to decide: what sort of computer interface do you prefer--trackpad or mouse? How about your phone interface? Keyboard or touchscreen?

Anita

[Alan Ryker]

By no means am I rich, but I think $20 is negligible when deciding what reader you'll be spending many hours with. The real question is: do you want touch capability? If the answer is yes, then it's probably worth it unless your budget is reeeeeeaaaal tight.

I feel like my kindle is a book, and I don't require any touch functionality out of my books, so I will try to never get a touch e-ink device if possible. But it's not because of the $20.

[Betsy the Quilter]

I'm accustomed to my plain vanilla Kindle, and don't mind that it doesn't have a touchscreen. But for those who don't have a Kindle yet, here's one way to decide: what sort of computer interface do you prefer--trackpad or mouse? How about your phone interface? Keyboard or touchscreen?

Anita

I prefer a touchpad, and love my iPad, but for some reason prefer buttons on my Kindle.

Betsy

[PhillyGuy]

The fact that the non-touch lacks a replaceable battery is a big negative to me. It's reasonable to hope that a Touch will still work in five years, on its second or maybe third battery. But by then every non-Touch bought this month will be junk.

If you wait a few weeks, maybe you can find the Touch, or the Kindle Keyboard, for about the same price as the throw-away non-Touch. Right now, Amazon isn't listing any of their Warehouse Deals on perfectly brand new Kindles with scuffed boxes. Fifteen days from now, that could change.

I would get the Keyboard model, if only because is it the final manufacturing run of last model of the type and thus incorporates improvements. But that's me. Others will want the latest and greatest.

[ElaineOK]

For me getting the Touch was a no-brainer wen I decided to upgrade from my K2, because I am addicted to 3G; and the baby doesn't offer it.  That being said, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer the touch screen for moving up and down the screen, particularly for looking up a word definition or following a footnote.  OTOH, I have also decided that I prefer page turn buttons.  On the other hand, I don't miss the click of the page turn buttons, so that is probably a draw. 

Remember, Amazon has a no-questions 30-day return policy, so you really can't go wrong trying whichever you have a hunch you will prefer. 


Elaine
Norman, OK

[KindleChickie]

Touch has twice the storage capacity and twice the battery life. 

And audio is very nice.  I have both audio books and music on mine.

So for me, you gain a whole lot for just $20.

[NYCKindleFan]

I never thought I would enjoy a touch screen reader but I LOVE the Kindle Touch. Best. ereader. ever.

[Ann in Arlington]

I've not yet had an opportunity to play with the Kindle Touch -- did play with the nook Touch and it was o.k.  But I recently got the basic Kindle.  It's perfect.

[Betsy the Quilter]

It's a great time to want a Kindle.  Something for everyone!  I have both a K4 and a KT.  There are things I like about them both, but I have to admit I like the K4 better.  A bit lighter and I like the page turn buttons.  But I'm trying to use the Touch mostly right now, since I've only had it since Friday, to get a real feel for using it day in and day out.

Betsy

[Andra]

The fact that the non-touch lacks a replaceable battery is a big negative to me. It's reasonable to hope that a Touch will still work in five years, on its second or maybe third battery. But by then every non-Touch bought this month will be junk.

Actually, the original Kindle was the only one that had a user-replaceable battery.  I've had my original one for over three years and the original battery is still going strong.
Personally I did not like response on the Touch and I did not like the awkward way that I had to hold it left-handed to turn the pages.

[Kathy]

I think that you would love any of the Kindles. It is really a personal decision. If you go to one of the stores that sell the Kindle, you can try them all out and make a decision then.

[tinytoy]

Like many before me have said, it depends.  I bought the basic $79 model for DH and it's perfect.  He doesn't listen to audio books.  He doesn't require a longer battery life. He doesn't have a need or desire to do anything fancy; he just wants to read.

I have the Kindle Keyboard and feel pretty much the same way as DH.  I turn it on and there is my book; I read it.  Or I download a new book and I read it. I don't take many notes; I just read.  I do most of my book shopping on Amazon's website from my iMac, not from my Kindle.  This because I sit on front of a computer all day for work.  That said, I really don't use my Kindle for much other than reading books I've already purchased.

The one thing about the Touch that I think I might really enjoy and benefit from, over the non-touch models, is the ability to do a dictionary look-up simply by touching a word.  I wouldn't say that's worth $20, though.

I can completely understand why the Touch might be worth the extra $20 to many others.  

[sciencewhiz]

I tried the regular kindle in the store and could not figure out how to hold it in one hand and press the tiny page turn buttons. It was slightly awkward to hold the touch with one hand and change pages, but doable.

[Betsy the Quilter]

I tried the regular kindle in the store and could not figure out how to hold it in one hand and press the tiny page turn buttons. It was slightly awkward to hold the touch with one hand and change pages, but doable.

I think it's just a matter of getting used to it.  I do it without thinking now...with either hand.

Betsy

[jawnaw2000]

I think I'm going to jump at the Kindle Touch. It's only $99, I don't need 3g, and the Fire is too much at this time for me. And, for my first Kindle, this will be a great beginning.