Deciding which Kindle to get...

[C.S. Einfeld]

The Fire!  Get the Fire!!

I so would, but it hasn't been released yet in Canada.   

[GomerBoy]

Sorry, but for someone who just wants to be able to read books (like me), the Fire is not an option. It is more like a tablet than an ereader, which I don't want or need...

[GomerBoy]

I am on the fence on whether I should get the light case for the Touch or just a regular one...how heavy does the light case make the Touch? 

[DreamWeaver]

I can't share an opinion regarding Touch cases since I have a Kindle Keyboard. I can tell you that the Amazon lighted cover for Keyboard does add a lot of weight. I no longer use mine for that reason. It is wonderful to have the built-in light, though. Do any of the local stores (Target, Best Buy, etc.) carry the cases? If so, you might want to compare them there.

Enjoy your new Kindle! It sounds like you made the best choice for your needs.

[zeppo]

I for the Keyboard with 3G because it was a black Friday priced at $85 and I wanted 3G access and I also like the way the dictionary pulls up initially at the top of the page without a pop up window obscuring what I'm reading (although if you need to see more of the definition, then you are in the same boat as the Touch in this respect).  I hope to find the dictionary convenient for reading Spanish as I try to learn it.

That said, I was finally able to demo the Touch's keyboard, and being used to the Ipod touch, I find the keyboard easier on the Touch.   Also, for some time now I have waited on getting a Kindle before I tackle some particularly large books for which footnotes will likely be helpful, including Don Quixote, Les Miserables, and War and Peace.   I ended up getting the book for the Don Quixote edition I want to read, because it has footnotes at the bottom of each page and definitions in the margins that help with archaic jargon, cultural references, etc.  On a kindle, for this book it the margin notes do not appear and presumable would have to be access via selecting a footnote link (along with the actual footnotes), so  an e-ink kindle is really impractical for this particular book whether it be touch or keyboard.   But for the others that have quite a few footnotes, but not all the extra margin stuff, I feel it is probably going to be much easier to read via the Touch.  Certainly if you have a printed book where you would have to turn to the back of the book to read the footnotes, then the Touch would be easier than the physical book I think, and also better than the keyboard.    If instead you have a publication that puts all the footnote information at the bottom of the page, it may be better to stick with print.  But these are wieldy tomes.  So the Touch still might be preferable.  But in terms of lots of footnotes, the touch is bound to be the best e-ink choice.

In regards to the above books, I think the x-ray feature would be great, IF, I can set it to default so that when I pull it up I am not seeing the "whole book" option, because I don't want to know about the presence of the characters in the remainder of the book i have yet to read.  But I can imagine with War and Peace with all those similar and unfamiliar Russian names it would be of help.

For non-fiction, the X-ray should certainly be a bonus to have I think.

So that is something to consider.  I may end up with both a Touch and a Keyboard because I seek the advantages of both.  But I may hold off on the Touch for now and see what improvements lie ahead.

[Ann in Arlington]

Sorry, but for someone who just wants to be able to read books (like me), the Fire is not an option. It is more like a tablet than an ereader, which I don't want or need...

I would argue that it is an option. 

But it might not be the best option if, indeed, you aren't interested in the added tablet features.  If you truly want to read and nothing else -- no music, no audio books, no text-to-speech, minimal notetaking, highlighting, etc. -- the Basic Kindle is the one for you.

[NightGoat]

Sorry, but for someone who just wants to be able to read books (like me), the Fire is not an option. It is more like a tablet than an ereader, which I don't want or need...

Well, with the Kindle App any ole tablet becomes an ereader, that goes for the Nook app, Kobo... I don't get it, but hey. Who am I?

[pitbullandfire]

The Fire is a great e-reader option for those wanting other options to use IMHO. I love reading on my Fire while listening to Pandora or I Heart Radio. That can't be done on my Baby Kindle but she is my take everywhere Kindle though where my Fire isn't.


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[Beatriz]

Hello everyone. I ABSOLUTELY love to read! (My favorite author is Vince Flynn!  ) I think it is time for me to quit reading paperbacks and transfer into the world ereaders! I am very excited, but I can't decide what Kindle is best for me.

At first I was planning on buying the new Kindle Fire. After realizing that it is more like a "tablet" instead of an "ereader" and hearing people say that it hurts their eyes more to read on an LCD screen, I changed my mind. My main purpose is to read books comfortably on a kindle; not watch movies, play apps/games, listen to music, etc. That is what my Ipod Touch is for.

So now, I have been doing research on the other Kindle models. I am really liking the Touch. The Keyboard looks cool too, but I would think having to use the joystick all the time because it is not a touchscreen would be difficult. I have not looked much at the DX because of its rather large size. I would think that it would get tough to hold it when reading for long periods because of its large size.

So, can you guys help me out on my decision? What Kindle do you have? What do you think is the best one?  Thanks!

I bought my kindle for $200 and now it went down in price.  Oh well.  I wouldn't change it for anything though.  I really like it and will use it till it goes caput.  My advice is to get a Kindle you don't have to plug in the computer. 

[John Avery]

Thanks, GomerBoy.

My wife just got a Fire and she LOVE's it. True, she's a pinball fanatic (it looks and plays great on the Fire), but she's reading more than ever since she got it, and she's had no problem with eye strain from the display.

I've been happy with my standard Kindle Wi-Fi for a long time, but the Fire really is a beautiful, compact little machine.

- john

[GomerBoy]

I am definitely getting the Touch for Christmas without a doubt! I am just asking for the Wifi version with SO instead of the 3g version. Almost everywhere I am at has Wifi and my phone can turn into a hotspot if need be, so I'm good!  5 more days to wait...I have to finish the paperback book I am reading now before then LOL!

[Irving]

The Touch. Or Keyboard. It's all down to design and form factor, really.

[GomerBoy]

I bought this case for my coming Kindle Touch. It is one of those rugged leather cases that have 4 straps on the corners inside to make the Touch fit into. http://www.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=561116

Does anyone have it? Does it seem like I made a good decision?

[Brownskins]

I have that cover for my K4 in black... Its very lightweight and when closed, looks like a small planner.  It is very obviously faux... but it serves its purpose.  If I think about looks, I actually like my K4 with a flexiskin case better (by Boxwave) and for transporting, I like it inside a leather sleeve.  The real leather sleeve is a classier look than the Belkin.  But for convenience, I almost always use the one you are thinking of getting.

[Vicki G.]

I just bought a Touch and got the unlit Amazon cover to go with it.  I also have a Baby Kindle that I will probably be selling in the near future because the Touch is just fantastic!!!  Love the absence of the 5-way.   

[sebat]

I also liked the idea of the battery lasting two months instead of only eight hours.

I just want to point out that two month rating is based on reading only a half an hour a day.  If you are a big reader, one to two weeks is probably more accurate. 

[Tim2000]

I am on the fence on whether I should get the light case for the Touch or just a regular one...how heavy does the light case make the Touch? 

I got my new Kindle 4 ($79 WiFi w/ Special Offers), and had it Ghost Armored. Works great! way better than a bulky case!

http://www.ghost-armor.com/

[tubemonkey]

I got my new Kindle 4 ($79 WiFi w/ Special Offers), and had it Ghost Armored. Works great! way better than a bulky case!

http://www.ghost-armor.com/

Thanks for the link. I didn't know they existed. Will check them out.

[lindnet]

I had a K1 and then a K3.  Pre-ordered a Fire and a Touch.  I ended up returning the Fire....I just didn't use the other features much and it was hard on my eyes for reading. 

I had wanted a touchscreen for months and was so excited when the Touch came out.  But last night I ordered a baby kindle to try out.  I am not really liking having to move my finger or thumb over to the screen every time I want to turn a page, I'm not liking the prints on the screen that need to be cleaned often, and I'm not liking the fact that I have to be really careful not to accidentally touch the screen and turn the page(s).  I'm really surprised that I'm not liking it that much, but I guess you just never know until you've played around with it in person.

So, for me, I am leaning more toward the baby k with the page turn buttons.  Hope I get a good screen on mine!

[Museman]

I've tried all the new Kindles and just really really don't like them.  I despise turning the pages with a touchscreen, and the page turn buttons on the K4 are really uncomfortable.  The K3 is the best Kindle ever made, and its about to go away.  Don't miss your change to own one.  

Bingo! I've been reading reviews of the Kindles by the hundreds (maybe thousands!) and although I have never seen one from a hundred yards to my knowledge (or any other e reader up close) I determined that the K3 was for me. I bought a used Keyboard with 3G off ebay and it was shipped USPS to me yesterday, from TX to CA. Yes, I'm excited! FYI, I read a number of reviews (including pages at Tom's Hardware), claiming that the screen quality of the K4 Keyboard and other 4th generation E-Ink Kindles aren't quite as good as the K3's. I don't know if this is true of all of them, and Amazon claims they are the same, however it's possible that there is some variation. I was going to buy a new one but decided that my best odds of getting the best screen were with a 3rd generation Kindle. Mine was purchased new in July 2011.

I've never used a touch screen device. The concept seems weird for an e reader. It bothers me when my screens show obvious smudges, dirt or even dust, and I often clean them. Therefore a touch screen would be problematical just from the standpoint of it getting greasy from my fingers. Seems just stupid to be swiping the screen.To me, screen quality is issue number one. I see people using touch screen LCD devices and they are obviously convenient, but for an e reader, why?

[Museman]

This isn't really fair and is, actually, rather mean.   I will assume you were trying to be funny.

Here's the thing (addressed to anyone deciding which kindle to buy): if you agree to have the ads on the device, you'll save yourself a few bucks.  If, after you've had it a while, you decide that none of the 'offers' are anything you're interested in and would really prefer NOT to have them, you can easily 'buy out' via the Manage your Kindle page.  The buy out cost is $30 on the Basic Kindle, $40 on the touch and, $50 on the Keyboard model -- essentially the difference between purchasing with or without the special offers in the first place. 

If you're pretty sure you don't want to see them at all, just buy it without ads in the first place.  If you want to give them a try, you can turn them on, though there's no rebate for doing so.  Once you've paid full price, you can turn them on or off at will.  There is at least one thread here where people share what offers have come up.  They usually last a few days.  So if you see one you would like to take advantage of, you can go and turn them on, get the offer(s) you're interested in, and then turn them back off.  As far as we know, Amazon places no restrictions on how often you do this.

The images for the ads are not obnoxious in anyway -- certainly always G rated and often quite artful.  They ONLY appear when the device is 'sleeping' and as a small banner on the home page.  They never 'pop up' in books or anything like that.  They change periodically which I kind of like -- I never had the visceral negative reaction to the images of classic authors that some folks had (not all of the portraits were particularly flattering, I agree) -- but I was kind of getting tired of seeing the same things over and over again, even if only for a second or two at a time.

Ann in Arlington,

This is extremely helpful and a revelation. I had never heard that you could:

1. Opt out of Special Offers and screensavers later by paying the fee after the fact

2. Turn them on and off at will if you already paid the premium

I purchased a used K3 a couple of days ago and the seller's listing didn't specify if it was the Special Offers model, therefore I don't know what I'll get. I'm curious what the Special Offers are about and now I know I'll have the opportunity to check them out regardless. Thank you!

[Ann in Arlington]

Ann in Arlington,

This is extremely helpful and a revelation. I had never heard that you could:

1. Opt out of Special Offers and screensavers later by paying the fee after the fact

2. Turn them on and off at will if you already paid the premium

I purchased a used K3 a couple of days ago and the seller's listing didn't specify if it was the Special Offers model, therefore I don't know what I'll get. I'm curious what the Special Offers are about and now I know I'll have the opportunity to check them out regardless. Thank you!

It's hard to say.  You may not know until you go to register it.  I'm guessing that, as it's purchased second hand, Amazon will register it as 'without' SO's -- but then you can opt in if you wish.

[Museman]

I for the Keyboard with 3G because it was a black Friday priced at $85 and I wanted 3G access and I also like the way the dictionary pulls up initially at the top of the page without a pop up window obscuring what I'm reading (although if you need to see more of the definition, then you are in the same boat as the Touch in this respect).  I hope to find the dictionary convenient for reading Spanish as I try to learn it.

Hmm, can I use my Kindle Keyboard (3rd gen) to read Spanish (or French) and have the benefit of Spanish --> English dictionary?

[wdeen]

Go to Best Buys, or similar electronics store. You can actually put it in your hands and play around with it. Ask questions then decide. Go home and order it from Amazon.