I’m a big fan of the Kindle and have purchased every one they have brought out with the exception of the new one. That’s because the last Kindle I purchased is the new Kindle DX and it’s not even 2 months old yet. This most recent Kindle is so hot it sold out within hours of being available and if you want to buy one, you will now have to wait until September to get it. That is pretty amazing for a non-Apple product outside of a holiday buying season.  So what’s so great about the new Kindle?  Well, price does make a difference.

The reason the New Kindle is so darn attractive is that it solidly hits the critical sub-$200 price point that defines where people will take a chance on something new. With this refresh, the Kindle is fresh and new. It comes in two versions – as a $139 Wi-Fi only version and the one you costs $189 (with built in 3G.)  I will get to the why you want it in a moment. In addition, it has an improved higher contrast screen that is vastly better than the early second generation (they updated the screen quietly earlier in the year for the second+ generation), is in a much more attractive black, it is noticeably lighter and it has had some point hardware improvements (so it is less likely you will accidently hit a button and lose your place).

Of the hardware improvements, weight is the most critical, because, in reading, you will find yourself holding the device for hours and a few ounces can make a huge difference. This is one of the biggest complaints about the iPad as a reader, which substantially outweighs the second generation Kindle. As an eBook reader, the iPad is simply too heavy. The second most common complaint on the iPad, as a reader, is that the display sucks for reading in bright light, because, like most TFT screens, it is backlit and bright light washes it out. This is the advantage of ePaper and the new high contrast paper is vastly easier to read in low light and has a much quicker refresh rate. That is important if you are like me and you can get into a power reader mode during an exciting portion of a book.

The white of the earlier models used to fingerprint and look dingy while the new black, while not glossy (to avoid fingerprinting) looks richer and generally better because it doesn’t show the dirt as much than the white versions.

Why 3G?

Before there was a Wi-Fi only choice, the advantage of the Kindle was that you simply had to turn on the wireless radio to go shopping on Amazon from within the Kindle, get a software update, download your latest magazine or newspaper copy, or receive a previously purchased book. With Wi-Fi, you first have to log into a Wi-Fi network and a lot of these come with charges and/or web sites you have to navigate.

Paying $10 to get on a Wi-Fi network to shop for and download a $9 book seems really stupid to me. While the Kindle does have a browser, it is so basic that it would make the very first Netscape Navigator version look advanced. The Kindle is not designed to be a web front end, so unless you only plan to use the Kindle in your home or where there are open Wi-Fi access points providing the service for free and without requiring you to first go through a sign on process, I’d highly recommend spending the extra $50 and getting the 3G capability. You can always turn it off.

The 3G charges are built into the cost of the book, regardless of whether you buy the book using the service. If you’re paying for the transport whether you use it or not you might as well enjoy the service and I’ve got to tell you, to me it’s one of the best parts of the Kindle and well worth the extra $50.

My Favorite Device Ever

The Kindle is my current favorite gadget and it has been that way since I bought my first one. It goes with me every place I go and when I’m not doing something else, I’m reading my Kindle. Currently, I’m burning through the wonderful WebMage by Kelly McCullough, a fantasy-cyberpunk series about a wizard who is kind of magic hacker with an epic naked girlfriend with wings whose day job is being an Olympic Fury (related to Zeus) and a sentient quantum laptop that turns into a webtroll as a best friend.

I started this series last Monday and I’m a third of the way through the fifth book.  The Kindle has turned me back into an avid reader and it is hard to describe how much that has meant to me. Plane trips that never ended now end too soon and I actually miss not having the time to read when I’m not on one.

With most gadgets, they require a lot of training and provide far less enjoyment than I’d been led to believe, the Kindle’s learning experience took minutes and it has provided a level of enjoyment unmatched by anything else I’ve ever purchased. That’s saying a lot and it is the reason I remain a huge Kindle fan.   The new Kindle is the best one yet and while I personally prefer the larger Kindle DX, but the portability and price of the new Kindle 3 is well worth it to someone who enjoys reading as much as I do and values portability and price over a larger reading page.

If you get the new Kindle and like fantasy and technology, check out the WebMage series and let me know what you think of both.

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