3G is what Cell phones use. I recommend buying the 3G Kindle. There’s no setup to mess with and it works anywhere. You can buy a book in a restaurant, at a bus stop etc. Books we’ve bought dl in under 60 seconds.
I have wi-fi at home, but haven’t bothered setting it up on my 3G/Wi-fi Kindle. I’d have to enter a complicated 40 character wi-fi password. 3G rocks.
The newest Kindle has a touch screen. No buttons to mess with except the home key.
One downside to the Touch Kindle is the simulated touch typewriter keyboard. I hate using that thing to search for books on Amazon. The keys are so tiny. I always search for books and buy on my computer.
Thankfully, You really don’t use the touch typewriter keyboard for anything else. I would have to use it setting up Wi-fi. That would be a major PITA. WPA encryption keys are bitch to enter manually. random mixed case letters and numbers suck to enter.
Keep in mind that the touch screen kindle (the $149 variety) has a 3g model, but the 3g only works for reaching the Amazon store when you’re out and about. You only can browse the web over wifi. For that reason, it just makes more sense to get the wifi version for $99, if you want the touchscreen model.
I have a touchscreen model, and I like it, but there are solid arguments to be made for sticking with the keyboard version.
I created this thread a few months ago about borrowing Kindle Library books. There’s good info on how to do it.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=636260&highlight=kindle+library
Are they separating the two methods now? My Kindle has both Wi-Fi and 3G; it uses Wi-Fi if available and 3G if not. I got mine before this latest batch came out.
I just bought my own Touch last week and it is Wi Fi/ 3G just like the one mom got last Thanksgiving. $149 plus $14 for the USB charger that you need.
The kindle Touch is $99 with ads and wifi only. The Kindle Touch 3G is $149 with ads.
I’m not exactly sure why entering a key is such a dreadful chore - you only have to do it once. I didn’t get 3G because downloading at home is no problem for me. I’m home every night. Since the touch doesn’t browse the internet (except the amazon store) there’s not a lot of need for 3G for me. If you travel a lot it would probably be a nice feature to download on the go.