# Kindle questions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777 "2018-02-28T20:46:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/1 "2018-02-28T20:46:27Z")
I’m having major surgery soon. I expect to be in the hospital about a week and am considering buying a Kindle for use while I’m there. I plan to buy a relatively cheap model since it can easily get broken or stolen. For the hospital and in the long run, I may buy a few books, but intend to mostly read library books. Some questions (please don’t mock my ignorance): - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? I.e., if I buy a book or check a book out from the library, can I read it without being connected? - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? I hate advertising but could probably learn to tolerate it on the lockscreen. - Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? - What can I do to minimize the chances of the Kindle being stolen by hospital personnel? I don’t mind defacing the case. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/2 "2018-02-28T21:02:31Z")
> [@](#): > > - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? No. > [@](#): > > - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? Only if you feel the need to connect to Amazon to buy new books when you are away from Wi-Fi. So probably no. > [@](#): > > - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? YMMV, but I’d say yes. > [@](#): > > - Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? Probably not. You could probably improvise some sort of decent padded case. > [@](#): > > - What can I do to minimize the chances of the Kindle being stolen by hospital personnel? I don’t mind defacing the case. Smear poop on it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/3 "2018-02-28T21:09:43Z")
Use a nail or something sharp and etch your name on it. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/4 "2018-02-28T21:10:38Z")
I didn’t spend for the “no-ads”. I don’t even notice the ads while unlocking the screen. You can read without being connected. That increases the battery life, too. The only accessory I bought was the Kindle [leather cover](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007R5YFS4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)(Paperwhite in my case) that Amazon sells. Pricey but it was my birthday. I’d say it’s worth the money if you’re keeping the Kindle long term. Four years and it still looks brand new. You do want some kind of cover to protect the screen and there’s a ton of aftermarket options. Just make sure the cover fits _your_ Kindle as there are slight variations between models. Unless you’re desperate to buy a book _now_, I wouldn’t bother with the cellular capability. I don’t even use the WiFi on mine. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/5 "2018-02-28T21:12:21Z")
Removing special offers after you buy it is the same price, right? I recommend getting it with the ads and then if you find them obnoxious you can still get them back. But I don’t think you can get a refund if you decide you want ads later. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/6 "2018-02-28T21:12:44Z")
FWIW, Kindles are rather durable - much more than a phone. That said, do not step on it. Personal experience says that a kindle will not survive being stepped on. (but mine has survived multiple falls and drops) > [@ioioio](#): > > - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? I.e., if I buy a book or check a book out from the library, can I read it without being connected? Not while reading. Obviously to download a book from the library (or to buy a book online), it needs to be connected. But as soon as the book is on your kindle you can disconnect (and stay disconnected until you want/need another book) > [@](#): > > - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? Maybe. I have an older version. I can connect to wifi that requires a password, but I can’t connect to wifi the kind of wifi that requires you to go to a page and click a button. > [@](#): > > - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? I hate advertising but could probably learn to tolerate it on the lockscreen. From what I understand it only shows ads during screensaver mode - it will not interrupt your reading with an ad. If that’s worth it to you is a personal question. > [@](#): > > - Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? no. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/7 "2018-02-28T21:15:50Z")
I’d really like to reassure you about the safety of your belongings from theft by hospital personnel, but as sure as poop some exception will come along and make a liar out of me. If you really want to make sure, you could superglue some kind of little ring to the back of the kindle, and use a small-bore chain to loop through the ring and attach it either to your wrist or to the bedside table. As my father used to say, it will keep the honest people from stealing it. On the other hand, it might also offend the honest people to see that you think they are otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/8 "2018-02-28T21:28:47Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? I.e., if I buy a book or check a book out from the library, can I read it without being connected? Obviously you need to be connected to the Internet to download the book to your Kindle. But that’s the only time it needs a connection. > [@](#): > > - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? Only if you want to buy books & download them while you have no WiFi access. It would be useful if your hospital doesn’t have WiFi, but I guess most hospitals do these days? I have it on my Kindle and appreciated it a few times - e.g. when I’m waiting at an airport and suddenly realized that I’m about to finish the book, and I don’t have any unread books to read on the plane. One time I was sitting in a cafe in Italy, having just arrived there on a business trip, and realized I really should have brought an Italian-English dictionary - no problem, took me less than a minute to buy one on the Kindle. (Kindle’s cellular connection works in most major countries around the world.) > [@](#): > > - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? I hate advertising but could probably learn to tolerate it on the lockscreen. You don’t have to decide now. You can buy the version with ads, and later pay the $20 to get rid of the ads if you decide you can’t tolerate them after all. > [@](#): > > Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? Not really. The covers with auto wake/sleep feature are very nice though. That means when you open the cover, the Kindle automatically wakes up from sleep. But I think this is only available for Paperwhite and better models. You don’t have to buy Amazon-branded accessories of course, third-party accessories work fine if it’s designed for the correct Kindle model. Speaking of which, the Paperwhite is totally worth the extra cost compared to the base model Kindle. It has a much better screen, and it has built-in illumination. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@MonkeyCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyCat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/9 "2018-02-28T21:32:05Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > I’m having major surgery soon. I expect to be in the hospital about a week and am considering buying a Kindle for use while I’m there. I plan to buy a relatively cheap model since it can easily get broken or stolen. For the hospital and in the long run, I may buy a few books, but intend to mostly read library books. Some questions (please don’t mock my ignorance): > > - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? I.e., if I buy a book or check a book out from the library, can I read it without being connected? > > - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? > > - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? I hate advertising but could probably learn to tolerate it on the lockscreen. > > - Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? > > - What can I do to minimize the chances of the Kindle being stolen by hospital personnel? I don’t mind defacing the case. Buy a cheap model, don’t worry about internet service (your hospital VERY likely offers free WiFi). And the advertising only shows up on the lockscreen, so you’re good. Kindles are great, and reading books is a simple task for a Kindle. You’re smart enough not to go for the overpriced Nooks and such. Thumbs up. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/10 "2018-02-28T21:40:32Z")
I don’t find the ads intrusive. They’re there when I unlock my screen, but as soon as I navigate to the book I’m reading they’re gone. Amazon Prime has free books, but I’m not on Prime so I can’t speak to that. Some public domain books are free, and of course if you have a library card you can borrow books to your Kindle. You have to navigate to Amazon to get them, but once they’re downloaded you’re set. I read my Kindle at work and I’m not connected to the wifi, so that’s not an issue. Can you keep your Kindle under your pillow at the hospital? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/11 "2018-02-28T21:41:39Z")
Pretty much everything’s been covered, but another vote for “you don’t need the ad-free version” because I don’t even notice it on the lock screen. I do get push notifications for things that seem like ads, but that’s a simple matter of pushing the clear button. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/12 "2018-02-28T21:47:26Z")
I have a seven year old Kobo reader that I am very happy with and I didn’t have to pay anything not to see ads. I connect to the internet only when buying books and then disconnect to save the battery. I probably have a couple hundred books on it, a dozen or so that I have never read. There is no cellular capability. My wife has one too, but we share the account so anything I buy she can read too. I can also read anything in my account on my computer. The only accessory I have ever bought was a pouch that was on sale for about $6 at Radio Shack. I think the ones Kobo sells are more like $20. ---
**Author:** ![AirFarce1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airfarce1/32/298_2.png) [@AirFarce1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AirFarce1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/13 "2018-02-28T22:38:19Z")
I was an early adopter, and have replaced my Kindle twice (once my fault, crushed by a combat boot and once the battery failed for some reason. My kids each have one (different “trim models”), so I feel pretty good about the advice below. - Does the Kindle need to be connected to the Internet when being used? I.e., if I buy a book or check a book out from the library, can I read it without being connected? –As answered above, no. - Wifi comes at no extra charge, but cellular connectivity is an extra $70. Do I need this? –I reccommend splurging here if you can afford it; I’ve taken my Kindle around the world (even the Middle East) and their cellular works. While the UI is crap, in an emergency you can navigate the web on it (if you feel like being frustrated). - Is it worth paying an extra $20 for the “no special offers” option? I hate advertising but could probably learn to tolerate it on the lockscreen. –As discussed above, don’t pay for this, they aren’t intrusive at all. - Accessories are expensive. Are there accessories I really need? –You really don’t need any Kindle specific accessories, but if you are going to be mobility-limited for a long period, a USB battery might be a good idea. I know it can be hard to plug things in for charging at hospitals, and that way you can charge it yourself without having to get up. - What can I do to minimize the chances of the Kindle being stolen by hospital personnel? I don’t mind defacing the case. –Like I said above, I’ve carried mine around the world; the “cheap” version has never been stolen. I had a bag rifled through in a VERY poor country, and they left the kindle, but took my USB battery, but YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/14 "2018-02-28T23:13:14Z")
You might also consider one of the Fire tablets, just to confuse things even more. They have some that are fairly cheap. I like their screens better, and it will give you the option to web surf, email, watch movies or play games, in addition to reading books. ---
**Author:** ![Mithras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mithras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mithras)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/15 "2018-03-01T00:36:09Z")
Not only don’t you need cellular, wifi isn’t really necessary, either. I transfer all books to my Kindle via USB. Because I’ve never needed it to connect to the internet since I bought it, it’s never out of airplane mode. And because it never connects to the internet it never downloads or displays ads even though I haven’t paid for the ad free version. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/16 "2018-03-01T00:58:49Z")
Thanks everyone. I feel a lot more confident about purchasing a Kindle now. In fact I’m going to buy one tonight. I’m going to go lean and cheap. I can always upgrade later. Stealing is a way of life in Memphis. If something is sitting out where it can be stolen, it will be stolen. Fortunately I was able to schedule my surgery at a hospital in the rich part of town. Still, there are times when I’ll be asleep and times I’ll be out of my room (like during surgery). I’ve got a lockbox for my cell phone, but it’s not big enough for the Kindle – and I can’t stop someone from stealing the lockbox. People here will steal things even if they can’t possibly use them. I’m going to get a lock for my suitcase and keep the lockbox and the Kindle there. Theft is less likely if things are out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/17 "2018-03-01T00:58:52Z")
We have multiple Kindles in the family and I’m on my third one…the first one still works (I guess, it did when I replaced it), the second was a gift, a paperwhite with a physical keyboard - all the lettering wore off, so my third is a paperwhite with touch screen… IMHO: [ul] [li]Paperwhite is great, very low energy use (only uses energy when changing the page) Mine’s alway on WiFi and I get days of usage before I have to charge it.[/li][li]I’ve only had one with wifi and I’ve used it around the world and the US with no issues whatsoever;[/li][li]Don’t pay for the ‘no ads’, as many have mentioned, only on lockscreen and never an issue;[/li][li]I have Prime, so I do take advantage of the monthly Prime books, but Amazon offers many free books and games, granted, most aren’t very good, but if you search “Free” in the Kindle store and are willing to wade through list after list, you can find good free books.[/li][li]A long cord (5 - 6") aftermarket micro USB charger might come in handy depending upon where you can get access to a plug and how restricted you are in movement.[/li][/ul] Best of luck to you in the hospital and speedy recovery! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/18 "2018-03-01T01:15:08Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Speaking of which, the Paperwhite is totally worth the extra cost compared to the base model Kindle. It has a much better screen, and it has built-in illumination. This, this, a thousand times this!! I actually sent back a regular non-Paperwhite Kindle to get the illuminated Paperwhite. The screen is far nicer, at the time I got mine the Paperwhite also had more and nicer font options (like Baskerville), but most important of all, you need the illumination to read in dim light, or anything other than bright light. I couldn’t read in bed without the Paperwhite’s internal illumination. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/19 "2018-03-01T01:39:24Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > Best of luck to you in the hospital and speedy recovery! Amen to this, and happy reading. If there are any classics you’ve always been meaning to read, this might be a good time to load them onto your Kindle (either from Amazon or from someplace like Project Gutenberg). > [@wolfpup](#): > > but most important of all, you need the illumination to read in dim light, or anything other than bright light. Of course, the same is true of reading old-fashioned dead-tree books. But yeah, a Paperwhite is really nice for reading in low light conditions. I’m not sure whether that would be an issue in the hospital or not. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777/20 "2018-03-01T01:48:07Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Of course, the same is true of reading old-fashioned dead-tree books. But yeah, a Paperwhite is really nice for reading in low light conditions. I’m not sure whether that would be an issue in the hospital or not. Which is one reason I actually prefer the Kindle (Paperwhite) when reading in bed – it’s easier to read, smaller, and lighter than an actual physical book. Plus, in my experience the standard non-illuminated Kindle screen needs more light than a paper book. A book is normally printed in black ink on more-or-less white or off-white paper, whereas the non-illuminated Kindle displays its e-ink on a medium-gray background. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kindle-questions/809777.md?page=2)