I’d intended to upgrade to the Kindle 3 prior to my cruise, but missed out on pre-ordering when Amazon ran out of inventory. What interested me most from the e-reader refresh is the higher contrast screen and the clever lighted cover accessory. Plus, I figured I could get away with a WiFi only model ($139, versus $189).
However, now that the initial excitement (and my cruise) has passed the impulse to purchase has subsided. The fact is, I don’t read many novels in a given year — averaging less than one a month. So my current Kindle (v2) is probably sufficient. Although I may pick up a third party light of some sort and do hope some of the v3 software tweaks make their way down to my hardware.
Having said that, a Kindle 3 will be joining my (extended) household in the near future. As my mom, an avid reader, is ready to go digital. The library is frequently out of the new releases she’s often looking for, which won’t be a problem with Amazon, and the Kindle’s compact form appeals to her. I also suspect she’ll bump up the font size for more comfortable reading. Lastly, she is adamant that her Kindle has 3G. Although she doesn’t really know what 3G is. But she knows that she wants the ability to download books anywhere. As you still can’t easily share digital media, we’ll be slightly abusing the system — I’m purchasing the Kindle for her as a gift, yet we’ll keep it registered under my account… that’ll work out well as we have some overlapping tastes in literature.
Do any of you with an original Kindle or Kindle 2 have upgrade plans?
I bought a refurbished Kindle 2 for $98.00. I am very tempted to get the new Kindle 3, but still deciding. My reading still very light, no time. Very busy.
I might gave the K2 to my wife.
The only thing I noticed on my refurbished unit is the battery life. Less than week with normal use and radion on. Maybe a bad battery?
“Lastly, she is adamant that her Kindle has 3G. Although she doesn’t really know what 3G is. But she knows that she wants the ability to download books anywhere.”
If I were buying my first Kindle today, I’d go for Wi-Fi only.
But if you travel on any kind of regular basis, 50 bucks is actually a pretty good deal for what Whispernet provides – aka a global, worry-free connected Kindle for the device’s lifetime.
I bought a v2 Kindle from target in late July and returned it 5 days later when Amazon announced the v3. I’ve had the v3 with the case and light for two weeks now and I have to say all the changes are very welcome. The screen (contrast and refresh) in the v3 is worth the upgrade alone IMHO. I like the changes to the page forward and back locations as well as the direction button.
My only complaint is the removal of the numbers from the keypad to the sym button. This normally isn’t a problem except when using the browser (which gets 99 of acid3 tests).
“As you still can’t easily share digital media, we’ll be slightly abusing the system — I’m purchasing the Kindle for her as a gift, yet we’ll keep it registered under my account… which will work out OK as we have some overlapping tastes in literature.”
You are not abusing the system here.
Living sanely within DRM legally involves taking full advantage of what that DRM allows.
Amazon chooses to let multiple Kindles be registered to the same account. You are acting sanely and legally within what the DRM allows.
I agree, you are not abusing the system. She is related to you. My wife, our four adult daughters and I all share one account. Sometimes I do have to wait to get reimbursed those. :-)
I have both of them, I mean a Kindle 2 and a Kindle 3. Even though the Kindle 3 is lighter and it has a better contrast the difference is not enough to invest your money in the upgrade. However, if you are good doing budiness maybe you could try to sell your kindle 2 and buy a kindle 3.
You can get about $50 for your Kindle 2 (with all the original stuff you might not have anymore) on gazelle.com, which you could use to reduce the cost of your Kindle 3 slightly. Still probably doesn’t make sense to upgrade though.
I bought the Kindle 2 when it first came out, so I paid the full early adopter price. There is really no reason for me to upgrade to the K3. The K2 does everything my wife and I need, plus I read a lot on my Evo now anyway (with the Kindle app). The only reason I’d upgrade is if I felt my 12 year old son needed it. He’s busy reading my wife’s old fantasy novel paperback collection, so he doesn’t need it yet. Maybe in a year.
The problem with sharing devices like you mentioned is that if multiple readers are reading the same book, Whispersync will sync all readers to the reader who has read furthest in the book. Not a problem if everyone coordinates on what book to [not] read.
Such a great thought. Her should receive credit for it. Thanks
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