Kindle or Kindle Touch?

[manlymatt83]

I've never owned a Kindle before and want to buy one. I notice the new Kindle is only $79 with special offers. I have a 4G "mifi" device with Verizon, so I don't really need the built in 3G, as I can simply use the mifi if I want to download a new book.

So with that in mind, I'm debating between the $79 Kindle and the $99 Kindle Touch. If the Kindle Touch + 3G is really the best option, I'd consider spending the $149.

Any thoughts from current owners or people who know the devices better?

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

I have a second gen Kindle. I'd miss having the keyboard, but a touch keyboard is better than entering everything by arrow keys. I'd say Touch.

 

[rockyct]

I've got the old special offers Kindle and I love it. I think the directional pad works great for navigation but every time I show it to someone they try to touch it like a tablet.

So...while I like the directional pad, people just naturally want to touch it and get a little disappointed when they can't.

 

[manlymatt83]

I've got the old special offers Kindle and I love it. I think the directional pad works great for navigation but every time I show it to someone they try to touch it like a tablet.

So...while I like the directional pad, people just naturally want to touch it and get a little disappointed when they can't.

But for a first Kindle, and $79, not a bad deal right?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I read somewhere (Engadget?) that having to touch to turn pages didn't work as well as the physical buttons. So if I didn't already have an older Kindle 2 I'd get the non-touch version.

That's a great price, $100 less than I paid.

Tip: if you like fantasy or SF, go to baen.com. They have a decent library of free ebooks you can download in Kindle-compatible format, and they also sell newer titles for $6 or less (including ones currently only in hardcover).

Besides, it saves you $20 to give to Child's Play in November

 

[Bateluer]

Keep in mind, Special Offers means Ads. Personally, I'd rather not have ads anywhere on my device while I'm reading.

Go with the Nook Simple Touch, better device, sd card, e-ink touch screen, replaceable battery, no ads.

 

[Tom]

newspapers have ads, magazines have ads. web has ads.

I agreed with you, but then I thought about it and ads are actually sometimes useful.

 

[Bateluer]

newspapers have ads, magazines have ads. web has ads.

I agreed with you, but then I thought about it and ads are actually sometimes useful.

Ads in my magazines are the reasons I no longer subscribe to them. Ads in my newspapers, in combination with news-ink on my fingers, are the reason I no longer subscribe to them. And on the web, Adblock extensions in browsers. Also, the Internet in general pretty much kills most newspapers and magazines.

Don't misunderstand me, I want to get a tablet devices for a few magazines I do like to read, I just want to severely limit the number of ads in my digital content. Ads in books, novels & such are 100% unacceptable.

 

[sygyzy]

Getting the touch to replace my Kindle 3. Huge Kindle fan and user.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Ads don't appear in the middle of your book while you're reading if you get a model with "special offers":

"Your offers display on your Kindle Keyboard's screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen—they don't interrupt reading. You can set your personal Kindle Screensaver Preferences to give us hints on the style and types of sponsored screensavers you'd like to see. "

 

[Bateluer]

Ads don't appear in the middle of your book while you're reading if you get a model with "special offers":

"Your offers display on your Kindle Keyboard's screensaver and on the bottom of the home screen—they don't interrupt reading. You can set your personal Kindle Screensaver Preferences to give us hints on the style and types of sponsored screensavers you'd like to see. "

Slightly better. I'd still rather pay a little more up front and get no ads at all though.

Nook fan here.

 

[manlymatt83]

I read somewhere (Engadget?) that having to touch to turn pages didn't work as well as the physical buttons. So if I didn't already have an older Kindle 2 I'd get the non-touch version.

That's a great price, $100 less than I paid.

Tip: if you like fantasy or SF, go to baen.com. They have a decent library of free ebooks you can download in Kindle-compatible format, and they also sell newer titles for $6 or less (including ones currently only in hardcover).

Besides, it saves you $20 to give to Child's Play in November

I ended up going with the $79 version. Got it today and LOVE it And no worries about Child's Play - I would never forget manlymatching!

 

[Deeko]

Keep in mind, Special Offers means Ads. Personally, I'd rather not have ads anywhere on my device while I'm reading.

Go with the Nook Simple Touch, better device, sd card, e-ink touch screen, replaceable battery, no ads.

A) There are no ads on the screen while you are reading at any time. There is a banner at the bottom of the home screen, and the screensaver. That's it.

B) If you really, really don't want the ads, they do offer it without special offers for more money.

C) I really don't see why people worry about the SD card....how many books do you REALLY need at one time? Considering you can re-download a book as many times as you want, if you actually do fill it up and end up deleting something, you can just download it again. Not a big deal.

 

[Deeko]

I ended up going with the $79 version. Got it today and LOVE it And no worries about Child's Play - I would never forget manlymatching!

I guess it doesn't matter anymore since you already bought one, but its really a matter of preference. I personally picked up the $79 version, and would have even if Kindle Touch was the same price. I'd rather have buttons than the touch screen. I do miss the 3G from my old Kindle 2, but I can always tether my smartphone if I really want to.

 

[Red Storm]

I recently lost my Kindle 3 on a trip (buddy put it down on the plane, forgot it, and didn't remember until we were on another plane thousands of miles away...), and I've been thinking about going with the touch screen Kindle. I would like to try the Kindle Fire, but I absolutely prefer the e-ink display for reading.

 

[rockyct]

I preordered my Kindle special offers so I got all of the original offers and there were some great ones like 50% off any Roku box, 25% any non-dslr digital camera, 20% off any most tvs, countless $1 books, six months of Audible for $6, and other coupons. You can read the list of them here: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2882537

You only notice the ads when you turn off the device or browse the main home screen. It's really not that big of a deal.