Kindle3G vs Kindle Fire

[Palimino]

I am seeking information. I have checked-out the Kindle site and the spin is very impressive. That’s the problem. Kindle can hardly be objective about their own product. Hence this post. I realise that it is very recent and that I cannot expect comprehensive revues, but expert opinions (even if wrong) are valuable. We [my family] are not these ‘rich whites’ I hear so much about so if I screw-up it will make a dent in our finances. I have 2 dilemmas.

#1 My wife has a Kindle 3G and I am impressed. I was going to get one but then the Kindle Fire came out and I thought I might get that instead. My wife lusts after it so there is the (not insignificant) aspect of bragging rights and lording it over her.

#2 It has no keyboard. The primitive part of my brain finds this difficult to accept. I am used to rooting around in the software and ‘improving’ it. Am I just being reactionary and fuddy-duddy?

On a related note, is this absence of a means to tinker with the internals (keyboard) a move towards a closed architecture? “You cannot be trusted with the means (like a keyboard) to modify stuff. There are no user serviceable parts inside. But if you mortgage your home, you may be able to afford a technician to look at it.”

 

[j4sk]

If that is your situation I would say wait a while until there is some consumer/reviewer feedback, after all it hasn't been released yet.
The Kindle Fire seems very much to be a tool to distribute Amazon's content. I'm not sure what access we will have to that in SA.
Finally it also depends on what you want it for. A normal Kindle would be better if you only want it for reading ebooks as they have the e-ink technology.

 

[Palimino]

If that is your situation I would say wait a while until there is some consumer/reviewer feedback, after all it hasn't been released yet.
The Kindle Fire seems very much to be a tool to distribute Amazon's content. I'm not sure what access we will have to that in SA.
Finally it also depends on what you want it for. A normal Kindle would be better if you only want it for reading ebooks as they have the e-ink technology.

I think I am coming to that conclusion. A biggish issue is that one of my sons is a comic illustrator. I thought it would be cool if I could get his work (in colour) on my Kindle. However, I am coming to the conclusion that a Kindle Fire purchase would be too financially risky (for me).

 

[ebendl]

We [my family] are not these ‘rich whites’ I hear so much about so if I screw-up it will make a dent in our finances.

Then should you be buying a tablet / e-book reader at all?

It will also be a while until the Fire is available for South Africa, so you'll have plenty of time to read reviews. The Kindle tablet is low cost and should be easy enough for most users to use - but I doubt Amazon will cater for the tinkerer crowd. In terms of keyboards, I don't think it is too much of a problem as most phones these days are without hardware keyboards.

 

[HavocXphere]

Fire:
No eInk afaik.
Serious privacy concerns about their new Silk browser.

I wouldn't worry about the keyboard. As long as the screen is big enough then on screen keyboards are fine.

 

[Palimino]

Then should you be buying a tablet / e-book reader at all?

We are a family of readers and my sons and I are gadgeteers. It is definitely worth it.

 

[Terencek]

There are in fact THREE new Kindles to consider -- although the release date in the US is only November 15 and as with the Kindle 3, the rest of the world will probably be some way behind that. So you have plenty of time to consider -- unless you want to go for the Kindle 3 which is still selling in substantial numbers and is still considered to be the best of the current crop of e-readers.

* The current Kindle 3 will be replaced by a version 4 which is lighter, has the same black-and-white e-ink screen but has done away with the physical keyboard.

* Next model up is the Kindle Touch, slightly bigger, same size screen (6") but with a touchscreen instead of the standard model's physical page-turn buttons.

* The third model, the Kindle Fire, is a COMPLETELY different animal. It is a tablet like the iPad etc., with a TFT colour screen instead of the e-ink (i.e. it's backlit and therefore less easy on the eyes than e-ink, and more power-hungry). It runs Android, and although it will function perfectly well as an e-reader if you don't mind the backlit laptop-type screen and power consumption, it will also do all the other things tablets currently do. It will also be a lot more expensive ($199 in the US) than the Kindle readers (the cheapest model, ad-supported in the US, will be just $79).

So ultimately you need to decide what you want: a superb and unrivalled e-reader which is easy on the eyes and runs forever on a charge, or a colour tablet which includes e-reading as an extra.

 

[HavocXphere]

http://www.beyond-black-friday.com/2011/10/02/the-10-biggest-surprises-about-amazons-new-kindles/

 

[Palimino]

So ultimately you need to decide what you want: a superb and unrivalled e-reader which is easy on the eyes and runs forever on a charge, or a colour tablet which includes e-reading as an extra.

Thank you. I will go for the Kindle3G rather than the Fire. I will give my wife the opportunity to go for the Fire and I will take-over her 3G. I will bad-mouth the Fire because, for our needs, I think the 3G is best.

 

[cerebus]

The other option of course is to get a Kindle Fire and root it. I have no doubt that it will be rooted within weeks to run AOSP Android, and you can still load up the Kindle app and get the same reading experience. Personally I love the e-ink display but I just want the extra functionality that you can get with LCD, and if I have to have only one device it must be able to do everything I need - watching movies, reading a lot, whatever.

 

[Spizz]

Sure the Fire looks like a great machine and I really fancy one myself when they are available here, but even if I do get one, I'd keep my kindle 3G for reading. eInk is amazing stuff.

I think if you and your wife are both book readers, whoever gets the Fire will be the loser.

 

[Tacet]

I think if you and your wife are both book readers, whoever gets the Fire will be the loser.

+1 - the Fire lose out on the essence of what a Kindle is: e-ink. If you're a reader, then a normal Kindle will outscore the Fire by far. If you want to watch movies and to play games, then you want a Fire. Two devices with two totally different applications.

 

[Palimino]

+1 - the Fire lose out on the essence of what a Kindle is: e-ink. If you're a reader, then a normal Kindle will outscore the Fire by far. If you want to watch movies and to play games, then you want a Fire. Two devices with two totally different applications.

I agree (thanks to posters for all the input). What exercises me about the Fire aside from my keyboard concerns, is the backlighting and the inferior resolution compared to Kindle3G and the, much shortened, battery life. This is aside from the Beta (almost) state of the Fire and the inevitable 1st time bugs.

I want to read on a well-tested & tried device. I do not want to pioneer and Beta test Amazon’s gadgets (and pay for the privilege). Kindle3G it is (with a burgundy cover).

 

[Bobbin]

The one is a tablet like an i-pad and the other is just an e-book reader no? They should not be compared with each other only with your needs as they are different products completely imo.

You should probably only consider Kindle Fire as an alternative to say an i-pad or Galaxy Tab.

Unless you can play angry birds on a Kindle 3G

 

[Tacet]

I want to read on a well-tested & tried device. I do not want to pioneer and Beta test Amazon’s gadgets (and pay for the privilege). Kindle3G it is (with a burgundy cover).

Why not wait a while and get the Kindle Touch once it's available? It is smaller and lighter than the keyboard versions, and isn't much more expensive.

 

[cerebus]

I agree (thanks to posters for all the input). What exercises me about the Fire aside from my keyboard concerns, is the backlighting and the inferior resolution compared to Kindle3G and the, much shortened, battery life. This is aside from the Beta (almost) state of the Fire and the inevitable 1st time bugs.

I want to read on a well-tested & tried device. I do not want to pioneer and Beta test Amazon’s gadgets (and pay for the privilege). Kindle3G it is (with a burgundy cover).

That's fine, I mean it's totally your choice and the e-ink device is probably the best from a pure reader's perspective, but you're making a lot of assumptions here about the Fire.
1) There is no reason to assume it will be buggy and beta-y. The software is based on Android code which should already be stable. The reviews and videos make it look extremely polished and complete. I assume that like the iPad they will get it right out of the door.
2) The resolution is higher than the Kindle 3g - 800x600 vs 1024x600. And the battery life is estimated at 8 hours of continuous reading which is still pretty decent for an LCD (thought not in the same leagues as e-ink, which disables the CPU when it's not turning pages).

Apart from that I actually see no reason why the two devices couldn't coexist. I could see myself carrying them together in my bag and using them at different times. I will however wait to see how the Fire copes with sunlight, which is a major caveat for me.

 

[Zyzzyva]

I agree with Cerebus. The kindle is a wonderful reader, but then it has severe limitations if you attempt anything other than long form reading. Also, why are you going for the kindle 3g when the kindle wifi is just as good. Ive got the kindle wifi and don't miss the 3g, in fact i would consider it a potential liability because you can get charged when pushing stuff to it. If you must get an ereader now go the cheap as chips option, put the extra money aside and get a decent tablet in 6 months. For all the kindle fire's strengths, it also comes with a bunch of glaring weaknesses which may limit its functionality long term, although i'm sure the rooting community will take care of a lot of the issues fairly quickly which will render my point moot.

Personally, i'm waiting for the power and screen of the iPad 3. The retina display will make quite a difference. But if you want a tablet primary for reading, and the occasional multi media stuff then a 7 inch tablet( the kindle fire is the one to get now because of its low price) is the way to go. 10 inches is a bit too heavy for reading.

The kindle 3G + cover is nearly twice the price of a kindle wifi and in the range of a kindle fire.

 

[Palimino]

1) There is no reason to assume it will be buggy and beta-y.

You are right. There is no reason to assume but there is no reason NOT to assume. I am just not taking a chance. I don’t need to; my needs don’t require a Kindle Fire.

The reviews and videos make it look extremely polished and complete.

Of course they do! It’s Amazon marketing spin or owners who don’t want to admit they’ve made an awful mistake. Very human, but not trustworthy.

The resolution is higher than the Kindle 3g...

Not according to the specs on their site.

An 8 hr battery life (wow) does not even compare to 3 weeks.

Jak3

Also, why are you going for the kindle 3g when the kindle wifi is just as good. Ive got the kindle wifi and don't miss the 3g, in fact i would consider it a potential liability because you can get charged when pushing stuff to it.

The Kindle3G includes the wifi. The 3G is just my gesture towards ‘futureproofing’. 3G might be pathetic in SA but, presumably, that will change.

 

[cerebus]

You are right. There is no reason to assume but there is no reason NOT to assume. I am just not taking a chance. I don’t need to; my needs don’t require a Kindle Fire.

Fine, cool, that's probably the best decision for you.

Of course they do! It’s Amazon marketing spin or owners who don’t want to admit they’ve made an awful mistake. Very human, but not trustworthy.

What are you on about? The videos were taken at the Amazon event by (objective, disinterested) journalists who previewed it hands-on and raved about it. There aren't even any owners yet since it's not out till mid-Nov.

Not according to the specs on their site.

What specs? You're just making random claims...
Kindle 3g: 800x600px @167ppi
Kindle Fire: 1024x600@ (I think) 169ppi

An 8 hr battery life (wow) does not even compare to 3 weeks.

Neither do full colour IPS screens with high refresh rates and backlighting and dual core processors compare to transflective static black and white E-ink screens with 600mhz last-gen processors and terrible refresh rates. It's different technologies.

The Kindle3G includes the wifi. The 3G is just my gesture towards ‘futureproofing’. 3G might be pathetic in SA but, presumably, that will change.

Yeah I wish the Fire also had a 3G option, but meh...

 

[LazyLion]

No 3G Web Browsing Possible With Amazon's New Kindle Touch

http://www.pcworld.com/article/240992/no_3g_web_browsing_possible_with_amazons_new_kindle_touch.html

Amazon confirms that its touchscreen Kindle e-reader--expected to reach consumers next month--won't support Web browsing over its 3G wireless connection.
"Our new Kindle Touch 3G enables you to connect to the Kindle Store, download books and periodicals, and access Wikipedia--all over 3G or Wi-Fi," an Amazon "official" explained in one of its customer forums.
"Experimental web browsing (outside of Wikipedia) on Kindle Touch 3G is only available over Wi-Fi," the official wrote, but added, "Our Kindle Keyboard 3G will continue to offer experimental web browsing over 3G or Wi-Fi."
According to the moderator of a Kindle users forum in the United Kingdom, Amazon recently changed the 3G Touch's product description to state that Web browsing could only be done via the device's Wi-Fi connection. However, when customers called customer support, they received conflicting answers. That made it necessary for the clarification by the Amazon official.
The clarification cost Amazon some orders for the Touch, which will be selling for $149. "No 3G browsing; order canceled...," Curtis Yee declared in the Amazon forum. "Now I have to cancel my Touch 3G for Wi-Fi only version," lamented Emilio L. Maranon III in the forum. "Just found out this...," wrote Jian Fang. "On my way to cancel my Touch 3G..."
Kindles and Web Browsing
Web browsing on the Kindle has been an issue with the device since it was introduced. Surfing the Net with earlier versions of the device was like swimming under water with cement shoes. It wasn't until Amazon incorporated a Webkit browser into the third generation of the e-reader last year that browsing became something to be used rather than something to be avoided.
Amazon announced the touchscreen versions of its Kindle e-reader last week, along with the Fire, a color tablet ($199), and a new button version of the Kindle for $79. While the Fire has garnered much of the limelight from those introductions, the Touch--the Wi-Fi-only version, not the 3G version--could hit a real sweet spot in the market.
While the $79 Kindle is cheaper, the Wi-Fi Touch's more intuitive touchscreen probably will be more attractive to consumers. In addition, moving through an e-book by touching it is also closer to what a reader experiences with a paper book--a bonus when trying to wean dead-tree readers to new-fangled e-readers.
The device's $99 price puts it in impulse-buy territory for some gift-givers. Of course, Amazon isn't doing early gift shoppers any favors by waiting until November 21 to release it.
Battery life should also be a selling point of the Touch. It's rated at two months, twice as much as that of the $79 model, and has twice the storage capacity of its lower-priced brother,--4GB compared to 2GB--or 3000 books versus 1400 books, although it's doubtful that many folks are going to store even 1000 books on an e-reader.
How about the high-end Touch with 3G? At $149, it's getting close to the Fire. That's too expensive for users looking for a basic e-reader. Those who want more functionality will be more likely to cough up the additional $50 and go for the Fire.