Should I get the Touch 3G?

[pitbullandfire]

Yes, you can, wherever there's a 3G connection available.

Are there a lot or few times where the 3G connection is not available?

[CrystalStarr]

Are there a lot or few times where the 3G connection is not available?

I would imagine that would entirely depend on where you live!  Coverage where I live is excellent!  I've yet to have any issues!  My husband does on occasion in his office for whatever reason.

[Ann in Arlington]

Are there a lot or few times where the 3G connection is not available?

Here's a map of the coverage area that I reached via Amazon: http://client0.cellmaps.com/viewer.html?cov=1

If you're in the white area, coverage is problematic.  But you should be good in the purple area.

Note this is a 'whole country' map for the US only. . .if you're outside the US you'd have to check directly on ATT's site to find coverage.  And even though it shows coverage in your area, it's still possible there are dead zones where the cell tower radii don't quite overlap.

[DYB]

I also got the Touch in addition to the new SO.  I must say I don't like the Touch.  Aside from the fact that everything takes a long time to happen - where you're not even sure if your commands registered - I can't even figure out some of the most basic things (and don't see explanations on Amazon web-site.)  I'm sure there's ways around it, but I find the Touch to be so not intuitive that I've given up figuring things out.  Like for example, how do you navigate to the next page on your home screen?  You're supposed to just tap on the right side of the screen to go to the next page, right?  That's what Amazon tells you to do.  Great.  Except that tapping just takes you into whatever book you're tapping on.  And there's no place on the screen to tap that's not a book.  So after just being stuck on the first page of the home page and not being able to figure out on my own how to proceed - I said: "Forget it."  I'm just keeping the other one.  I guess for me it's one of those: If I need a manual to figure it out - I don't want it.  (I never use manuals to put anything together either.  I used to figure out how to program the VCR on my own!  Surely I should be able to figure out how to turn a page on the darn Kindle!  You would think...  )

[mikeschr]

I also got the Touch in addition to the new SO.  I must say I don't like the Touch.  Aside from the fact that everything takes a long time to happen - where you're not even sure if your commands registered - I can't even figure out some of the most basic things (and don't see explanations on Amazon web-site.)  I'm sure there's ways around it, but I find the Touch to be so not intuitive that I've given up figuring things out.  Like for example, how do you navigate to the next page on your home screen?  You're supposed to just tap on the right side of the screen to go to the next page, right?  That's what Amazon tells you to do.  Great.  Except that tapping just takes you into whatever book you're tapping on.  And there's no place on the screen to tap that's not a book.  So after just being stuck on the first page of the home page and not being able to figure out on my own how to proceed - I said: "Forget it."  I'm just keeping the other one.  I guess for me it's one of those: If I need a manual to figure it out - I don't want it.  (I never use manuals to put anything together either.  I used to figure out how to program the VCR on my own!  Surely I should be able to figure out how to turn a page on the darn Kindle!  You would think...  )

To move to the next screen, you can swipe from right to left, as if you were turning the page of a paper book.  This also works for turning the pages within a book.  On the menu screens, or on web pages, you can also swipe up and down to navigate.

You're absolutely right that Amazon should have made this more clear.  Swiping is barely mentioned in the User's Guide.

[Ann in Arlington]

I also got the Touch in addition to the new SO.  I must say I don't like the Touch.  Aside from the fact that everything takes a long time to happen - where you're not even sure if your commands registered -

Interesting. . . .I don't have a Touch, but I did play with one -- a real one, not the display kind at the stores -- for about 10 minutes and I found it quite responsive and fairly intuitive.  But, you know, they make all different ones because not everything will work best for everybody!

[Leslie]

For the swiping on the home screen, I find it's best if you make a long swipe from the upper right corner to the lower left to move forward one page. To move back one page, swipe from the upper left corner down to the right. Swiping from the bottom up, in the same direction should have the same result, ie, from the lower left up to the upper right should move you forward--but it's not always consistent, in my experience. Maybe it's my swiping technique or the fact that I have only five pages on my home screen

If you swipe down in the middle of the screen (from top to bottom) that moves you back one screen on the home. Swiping up (from bottom to top) moves you forward one screen. Frankly, this seems counter-intuitive to me and is thus confusing.

When I am reading a book, the navigation in the book has been fine, but navigating on the home screen can be wonky.

I'm trying hard to love the touch but we're not making totally beautiful music together yet...

L

[Betsy the Quilter]

Swiping in a horizontal motion from right to left works fine for me to advance on the home screen.  I do find I like page buttons better.

Betsy

[LauraB]

Mine is very responsive, I don't miss the buttons at all. Although I have loved all my kindles.

[mikeschr]

If you swipe down in the middle of the screen (from top to bottom) that moves you back one screen on the home. Swiping up (from bottom to top) moves you forward one screen. Frankly, this seems counter-intuitive to me and is thus confusing.

When I am reading a book, the navigation in the book has been fine, but navigating on the home screen can be wonky.

I'm trying hard to love the touch but we're not making totally beautiful music together yet...

L

For the up and down swiping, it might help to think of it as a piece of paper under a window, and you have to move the paper to see more of it.

[DYB]

For the swiping on the home screen, I find it's best if you make a long swipe from the upper right corner to the lower left to move forward one page. To move back one page, swipe from the upper left corner down to the right. Swiping from the bottom up, in the same direction should have the same result, ie, from the lower left up to the upper right should move you forward--but it's not always consistent, in my experience. Maybe it's my swiping technique or the fact that I have only five pages on my home screen

If you swipe down in the middle of the screen (from top to bottom) that moves you back one screen on the home. Swiping up (from bottom to top) moves you forward one screen. Frankly, this seems counter-intuitive to me and is thus confusing.

When I am reading a book, the navigation in the book has been fine, but navigating on the home screen can be wonky.

I'm trying hard to love the touch but we're not making totally beautiful music together yet...

L

Too complicated!    I could probably adjust to this over time.  But the delay of a few seconds to every command is not something I could adjust to, I'm afraid!

[Kathy]

I traded from the K3 to the Touch and have no regrets. I'm loving it. Have no problems turning pages, loading books or hooking up to the WiFi. I debated about getting the 3G because I have always had that, but so far I'm not having any regrets not getting it. I have good WiFi at home and I've loaded around 100 books on it in the last few days. It uploaded quickly and I was pleasantly surprised how fast it indexed all of the books. Love the size and love the lighted cover that I bought to go with it.

[LauraB]

Too complicated!    I could probably adjust to this over time.  But the delay of a few seconds to every command is not something I could adjust to, I'm afraid!

From her description it does seem to be, but isn't in practice. I just swipe top toward bottom to scroll down on home screen. Bottom to top to scroll up and tap on the right side to go forward a page on home screen (works same as in a book), and tap on left side of screen to go back a page on home screen.

[luvshihtzu]

My Kindle Touch -WiFi/ SO seems to have many delays.  Turning the page was a problem with the tap, so I switched to the swipe method.  Then all of a sudden, it will only turn a page if I tap.  Also the tap has to be on an open part of the screen with no print otherwise it goes into the book like someone else mentioned.  I am also thinking of returning it.

[Ann in Arlington]

My Kindle Touch -WiFi/ SO seems to have many delays.  Turning the page was a problem with the tap, so I switched to the swipe method.  Then all of a sudden, it will only turn a page if I tap.  Also the tap has to be on an open part of the screen with no print otherwise it goes into the book like someone else mentioned.  I am also thinking of returning it.

I'd suggest a restart first but if it's still not working properly contact Kindle Support.  I expect they'll send you a replacement straight away.

[Kathy]

My Kindle Touch -WiFi/ SO seems to have many delays.  Turning the page was a problem with the tap, so I switched to the swipe method.  Then all of a sudden, it will only turn a page if I tap.  Also the tap has to be on an open part of the screen with no print otherwise it goes into the book like someone else mentioned.  I am also thinking of returning it.

Is this happening inside a book or just the home page. If it is just the home page, you pretty much have to use the swipe method there or use the menu to go to the next page. As soon as you touch anywhere near a book title it will open the book.

[Leslie]

I'd suggest a restart first but if it's still not working properly contact Kindle Support.  I expect they'll send you a replacement straight away.

As I learned yesterday from CS, make sure you do an extra-hard reset to try to fix things. Press and hold the on/off switch for 35 seconds--use a timer or the second hand on your watch to make sure it's a full 35 seconds. This is different from the user's manual which says 20 seconds.

L