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8638 of 8801 humans found the following review helpful.
Fantastic device - pick your Kindle!
By FreeSpirit
Having been a little overwhelmed by the selections among all the new Kindles and which one to get, I ordered this new basic $79 Kindle introductory to take for a spin. So far, I like what I see. I also own a Kindle 3 so that's the only device I may in truth compare it to at this time (I think a comparison amid other tablets and this Kindle is meaningless, this device is all when it comes to content and delivery):
1. Form-factor - Compared to the Kindle 3, this Kindle feels more compact, lighter and having little impact to hold. My hands wrap around this better than K3. Reading books for a few hours at a stretch will be requiring little effort on this device equated to the K3. It is the lightest such device I have used equated to all former Kindles and other tablets.
2. Screen - I personally like the fact that there are no keys on the device and that keys come up on the screen when you need them. Delivers a better overall reading experience. However, navigating through the on-screen keyboard with the 5-way controller may be taxing if you need to do a lot of searching, and you might miss the full physical keyboard. I scarcely search on the Kindle itself, I search for books on my laptop so this is a non-issue.
3. Price! - At $79, you can't go wrong. Compared to buying paperback or hardcover editions, you will recover the cost of this in a matter of a few months because most Kindle content is priced for less than print editions (and you get it instantly, and may access it wherever you are). Not to mention all the free Kindle downloads available in the catalog.
4. Display - almost the same E-ink display at the K3. No glare no reflection. You may sit in bright sunlight and read it just like a book. Page turns seem a lot more quickly on this equated to the K3. Screen size of the Kindle 3, this new Kindle, and the Touch is precisely the same in size.
5. Wi-Fi - this may be a pro or a con (no 3G) depending on a user's personal preference. If you travel often times and would like to be capable to download content anyplace without worrying with regards to getting a wi-fi connection, you're better off sticking with the K3 or waiting for the Touch/Fire. For me, 3G is not a major issue.
6. Text to Speech and Audiobooks - These two features are missing out in this device. I personally have never employed these features on my K3. If you listen to audiobooks or TTS or music on your Kindle, again the K3/Touch/Fire might be better options.
7. Storage - this device may store 2GB which they assert is approximately 1400 books. For me, that's a massive storage capacity and it will be years before I get close to that capacity. Again, if you download books now and again and have a moderate Kindle downloaded content on your device, 2GB is plenty. Of course, think in front and see how much you would suppose to download in the coming 2 years (I am assuming the device will be outdated and substituted within this time-frame).
8. Battery life - too early to tell but Kindle battery life have a tendancy to be great. Specs state that the battery life of this device is 1 month equated to 2 months for the Touch or K3. 1 month is a great deal (Android phones need to be charged each hour!). At least I know that if I'm going on a long flight, this device won't need charging if I charge it up in advance.
9. Power adapter - this Kindle does not come with a power adapter, only a USB charging cable. You may either buy it separately for $8-10, or use your existent USB power adapter. Any USB adapter would work with the charging cable (previous Kindle versions, Apple's portable devices, and most HTC phones, come with a general USB power adapter that would work for this device). There are likewise a great deal of $2-3 adapters available here if you search for USB chargers.
Bottom line - the choice amongst this basic Kindle, the K3 Keyboard, the Touch, and the Fire is actually a personal preference. This device itself is meant for the minimalist Kindle user who, like me, reads say a 2-3 books a month, wants a device comfortable to hold, and doesn't need any imagination bells and whistles on the device. I guess it depends on what you use your Kindle for. If it's just the basics, this is the perfective device to get.
In my modest opinion, the choices:
(i) If you have a DX or an old Kindle version, or if you don't have a Kindle yet and are an intermediate book-reader, this is unquestionably the one to get - baseline model that is lowcost and is a pure e-reader.
(ii) If you have Kindle 3 and don't in truth need an upgrade, I commend sticking with the K3, it's a better device than this one in terms of features. If you do need to upgrade, the Touch is probably a better option because of all the further and added features, at a little incremental cost.
(iii) If you're looking for the loaded full-on Amazon content experience with access to all the apps, streaming audio and video, and playing the "strangely therapeutic" Fruit Ninja, wait for the Fire!
I sincerely hope this review helps you determine whether this Kindle is right for you. If you are still unable to make a decision, it may be suitable to wait for the Touch and Fire to be released, and see the reviews on those gimmicks before making a final decision.
3466 of 3559 persons found the following review helpful.
Facts to Consider when Buying This Kindle Instead of Others
By J. Ts
First off, I received my new Kindle this morning. I antecedently owned the Kindle Keyboard, but in truth actually didn't like the keyboard or the way the buttons were pressed together. I'm not a fan of touch screens so I purchased this one.
There are a few things to recognise when it comes to this peculiar Kindle that may aid you determine if it's right for you...
Here is a list of things to know with regards to this Kindle.
1. You'll be using an onscreen keyboard with the 5-Way Controller. This is not a problem for setting up WiFi and a little writing but if you are an avid note-taker or do a lot of writing with your Kindle, you might want to opt for the Kindle Keyboard.
2. NO AUDIO - If you are planning on listening to audiobooks, Mp3s, or Text to Speech on your Kindle, this is not the device for you. There is not even a headphone jack, so there is utterly no audio support.
3. 2GB! This device has 2GB of storage, which is half of all the others... if you seriously need to keep over 1,400 books or so on your Kindle, you will have to opt for one of the others, all of which have 4GB. I only keep a hundred or so books on mine and the rest are up in the Amazon Cloud waiting for commodious download.
4. There's no 3G version but the WiFi works just fine.
5. There is a shorter battery life. Amazon reports the battery life is only one month of reading, equated with the others that clock in at two months. If you are going to be away from electricity for over a month, introductory of all RESPECT!, second of all, you may want a Kindle that has the 2 month battery life.
6. It's lighter than all the other versions. It weighs in at just underneath 6oz (170g). The nearest contest is the Kindle Touch which is with regards to 7.5oz.
7. It has 5 buttons on the face at the bottom. In the middle is the big 5-Way Controller button as found on other Kindles. There are two little buttons on either side of this. On the left side, from left to right are the "Back" button and the "Keyboard" button. The "Back" button is the same as on other Kindles. The "Keyboard" button calls the onscreen keyboard onto the screen. On the right side of the 5-Way Controller are (again, from left to right) the "Menu" button, and the "Home" button. The "Next Page" and "Previous Page" buttons are the same as on other Kindles.
8. Because of the above 5 buttons, I find it much requiring little effort to use than the Kindle Keyboard. On the Kindle Keyboard, the "Back" button was right beneath the 5-Way Controller, and I without intention hit it on more than one occasion.
9. On the bottom there is only the mini-USB port, the charging light, and the On-Off Button.
10. There are not a whole lot of covers available for this Kindle yet. (Amazon's won't be available until the end of October.)
As for reading, and as a pure reading device. It is awesome... in fact, without the keyboard, audio, and other features I don't need. This is actually the best one for someone like me who just wants to read.
I've already with great success transposed my library, downloaded books over WiFi, and borrowed library books through the Overdrive Library eBooks System. My only little point of dissatisfaction is that there are so few good covers and accessaries right now (though there ARE a heap of available that look beauteous good).
All in all, I believe this is the BEST of all the Kindles presently available. Only consider others if you:
a. Really want the touch screen version.
b. Need audio.
c. Need 4GB
d. Need a huge Kindle DX.
e. Take a lot of notes or do a lot of writing that requires a keyboard.
f. Prefer the design of another version.
g. Need more than a month's battery power.
Hope this helps someone make a good decision!
(Brief update: I love this Kindle, but right now the scarcity of good, inexpensive covers for it is a little troubling. The Amazon made leather one with light won't be available until November or so and there are presently no inexpensive ones to use in the interim. I'll just have to use it gently for a month or so.)
Update on cases:
I noted this in the remarks section, but I'll repeat it here for people who can't yet find a good case -
Checking the specifications for the Kindle, Nook Touch, and Kobo:
Nook Touch
6.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches
Kobo Reader
6.5 X 4.5 inches
Kindle (4th Generation)
6.5 x 4.5 x 0.34 inches
It looks like the Kobo is when it comes to incisively the same size and the Nook Touch is more or less longer. If you need a case but can't find one that you like yet, it may be worth a little hunting to see if a nook or kobo case or cover might fit the bill.
1782 of 1880 persons found the following review helpful.
The most compact Kindle yet. Extremely legible display, snappy performance
By M. Erb
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RWG7OQ5NMGUMW I was thrilled to receive my new Kindle. I ordered it Sep 28, chose during one night shipping and it arrived (Sep 29) just a few minutes ago. Usually I use a device for a while before reviewing it. In this case, I felt it was important to do a quick review right away because if it may help you in your purchasing decision, so much the better.
If you are a little perplexed with all the respective Kindle models and are marveling if this Is the Kindle for you, here are a few questions for you to consider...
1. Do you need text to speech capability or have the desire to listen to mp3's on your Kindle? If you may live without that, then proceed. This Kindle does not have a speaker therefore is not capable of text to speech or playing sounds of any kind including mp3's.
2. Is color primary to you? This is not a color Kindle, it is gray-scale. If you are for the most part wanting to read books then this will work for you exceedingly well. The e-ink screen is gorgeous, sharp and provides the capacity to modify font size, font face and line spacing. It even displays photos rather nicely, but in gray-scale. And you may even zoom in on images.
3. Is a physical keyboard a requirement for you? If you like to make notes and annotations while reading, you may want to look at another model Kindle that has a physical keyboard. Although this Kindle has a screen-based keyboard, it is tedious to type more than a few words or URL's. It works very well for minimal typing but it's not for you if you need more than that.
4. Is compact size indispensable for you? Then this is the one to get. It's thin, light and diminutive in size. Slips effortlessly into a purse, pocket or inside pocket. It is so light which makes keeping and reading with one hand for longer periods of time very easy.
5. Do you want to be capable to now and then use a web browser to access a web site? Well surprise surprise, you may do that on this Kindle. It's an "experimental" feature but it works rather well. It's been experimental for years, so I'm not rather sure why it's still labeled experimental. But in any case you may visit websites, save bookmarks and it works.
I also own the firstborn Kindle with the SD card slot. Compared to the basi Kindle, this new one is svelte. Thinner, lighter and notably, the e-ink on this new Kindle is vastly improved. In low interior lighting with gray overcast lighting outside, I'm competent to without apparent effort read the Kindle. It is awful how the screen almost glows, as if it were backlit. Of course it is not backlit and in fact will not work in the dark. But if you have a little reading light, that solves that problem. Otherwise in most other situations you will pleased with the splendid sharpness and clarity of the Kindle text.
Page "turning" was very snappy to me specially when equated to my old Kindle. The black page flash that occurs on each page turn on the old Kindle does not take place closely as many times with the new Kindle. It now occurs after each 5 page turns.
The fact that there is no physical keyboard means that this Kindle is perfectly the easiest to carry Kindle ever. Fits nicely in the hand and the somewhat grippy surface makes you feel secure in keeping it... it will not effortlessly slip out of your hand.
Setup was a breeze. The Kindle without delay identified my Wi-Fi network and as soon as I entered my password using the onscreen keyboard, I was good to go. Signal strength conveyed very high on the Kindle and I did not detect any degradation in signal no matter how I handled it.
As worries the onscreen keyboard, it was easy and intuitive to use. I don't suppose to have to use it very often and for me I'd rather have no physical keyboard because that makes the Kindle littler and posing no difficulty to pack and go.
You still get the typical Kindle tools, such as Highlighting, Notes, Annotations, Public Notes and a few others. You may upload PDF and TXT files and view them. You may without apparent effort transfer prior Kindle purchases to your new Kindle. You have the capacity to formulate "collections" Once you've invented a collection, you add items to it and this is a great way to coordinate numerous books.
I have not had this model long sufficient to comment on battery life, but I'm sure that based on my former Kindle and the specifications that it will excel. I believe that reading 1/2 hour a day will let you go a month before requiring a charge if Wi-Fi is off. That's gorgeous awesome. It is charged thru the included USB cable and that may be from your computer or by way of an AC to USB power adapter, or in-car power port USB adapter.
And don't worry that the memory has decreased in this Kindle. There is still more than sufficient memory to hold well over 1000 books. And you archive books too which means they are just a click and a few seconds away from being downloaded back to your Kindle from the Amazon Cloud.
Regarding the ads... they are not objectionable. In fact (don't tell this to the advertisers) I didn't even observe that there was an promotion on the home screen until I on purpose looked for it. It takes up just a little share of the bottom of the screen and is no taller than an inch in height. I don't recognise for sure whether all ads are the same size but the one I'm looking at is very unobtrusive. The screensaver ads are full page and don't bother me at all. And of course, you may just end up getting a good deal on something. I LIKE the ads. Just today I got a couple from an ad that saves me $5 on a $10 Amazon buy in addition to my choice of a chosen list of Mystery/Thriller books for only $1. Love the deals!
I think Amazon has another winner on it is hands with this ad-supported Kindle. You just can't beat it for reading and I'm so glad I got it.
If you have any questions please leave a comment and I'll do my best to answer them.
UPDATE: 10/16/2011 - I had the prospect to compare the display of my new Kindle with that of a friends who had a Kindle with keyboard. I'm not sure how old his is, but his display in truth had a somewhat lighter colored background which made the legibility somewhat better in my opinion. I was rather happy with the clarity, sharpness and contrast of my new Kindle until I equated with him. Now I'm a little conflicted. It's still great, don't get me wrong, But it's not an betterment inevitably over the former generation as far as I may tell. It's likewise possible that there are variations in the e-ink display depending on the luck of the draw. I may question Amazon in regards to this and will report back here if I do. I'd still get this in a heartbeat, but just wanted to let you know with regards to the contrast issue.
UPDATE: 10/17/2011 - There is a new firmware update for the Kindle that addresses the page refresh issue. The new version is 4.0.1 If installed, you will see an further and added option in the Settings panel on page 3 called "Page Refresh." This allows you to have the Kindle refresh the page at each page turn (the screen flashes black briefly.) Otherwise the Kindle will not refresh the page until after each 5 page turns.
UPDATE: 10/19/2011 - I called Amazon Kindle Support to talk about the screen darkness issue I cited above. They said they'd send a substitute which I've just received. I'm happy to say that the screen background is in fact -slightly- lighter in color on the new Kindle I just received. I'm happy and in all probability would have still been happy had I not substituted it. But at least I am psychologically satisfied now. The divergence in background color was exceedingly subtle so I wouldn't worry at all when it comes to it if you are happy with your newly purchased $79 Kindle. However there do seem to be numerous circulating that are more plainly darker and if yours is one of those, then contact Amazon.
UPDATE: 12/6/2011 - Wow, the way these specials offers are going, this Kindle is going to end up being free. I just got another $10 Amazon gift card for $5 the other day. Plus a free Audible Audiobook and 50% off a Kindle cover. Loving the particular offers.
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