3G eReader - why?

[Haggis]

Not the eReader, the 3G. What possible value does the 3G have that could convince me to spend the extra money. I sure haven't been able to figure it out, but I know someone here will know.

[Tirjasdyn]

3g means that you can get internet connection anywhere. So say you want to buy a book and you are not near a wifi hotspot. you can still connect via 3g and buy the book, get the latest newspaper and check the latest blog.

[Haggis]

3g means that you can get internet connection anywhere. So say you want to buy a book and you are not near a wifi hotspot. you can still connect via 3g and buy the book, get the latest newspaper and check the latest blog.
Gotcha. So if I'm at a wifi hotspot, there's really no other difference than, perhaps a faster download?

[thothguard51]

Not to many wifi spots in a doctors office, car repair shop, city parks, beaches, etc. So the 3G allows downloads just about anywhere.

It also helps for extreme downloads, like say a movie, game, or art book loaded with detailed drawings... Or so is my understanding of G networks over wifi...

[BenPanced]

Because you were only going to spend that extra $20 at McDonald's.

[Haggis]

Do you have any idea how many beers $20 can buy?

Besides, it's more like $50. :D

[Haggis]

Not to many wifi spots in a doctors office, car repair shop, city parks, beaches, etc. So the 3G allows downloads just about anywhere.

It also helps for extreme downloads, like say a movie, game, or art book loaded with detailed drawings... Or so is my understanding of G networks over wifi...
I'm guessing then that this is particularly useful for things like newspapers and blogs that you might want to check out at any time, vs. a book which you probably bought ahead anyhow. If so, it's beginning to make sense.

Thanks, folks.

[whacko]

Do you have any idea how many beers $20 can buy?

Besides, it's more like $50. :D

I just bought 45 cans, 440ml per can of the daddy juice, for £20.

Once I've worked my way through but some of them, I doubt I'll be able to spell 3G let alone work out the benefits.:D

In saying that, I've only recently mastered the pedal bin.

What a great invention that is!

Regards

Whacko

[kuwisdelu]

I'm guessing then that this is particularly useful for things like newspapers and blogs that you might want to check out at any time, vs. a book which you probably bought ahead anyhow. If so, it's beginning to make sense.

Thanks, folks.

It's most useful when you're on a vacation and realize there's a certain book you wanted to read that you forgot to download before, and there's no WiFi on the beach or the mountains or wherever.

[jmarkbyrnes]

It's most useful when you're on a vacation and realize there's a certain book you wanted to read that you forgot to download before, and there's no WiFi on the beach or the mountains or wherever.

This. And to impress your family :D

If I had to pay for the 3G access, I wouldn't want it. But since it's free on most eReaders, it's a great thing to have, even if it costs a few extra dollars for the eReader up front. It has come in very handy on my Sony PRS-900 quite a few times.

-papaholmz

[leahzero]

I decided to get the wifi-only Kindle instead of the 3G one. My reasoning was, I only plan to use it to read novels, which I'll download at home--and, for all I know, in another year or two, there'll be some great new e-reader that I'll want to upgrade to.

If you're a big traveler or periodical reader, I can see the use of 3G.

[PEBKAC]

I went ahead and got the 3G because I got it for less than a new wi-fi only reader. Otherwise I would have skipped 3G -- it's not worth an extra $50 to me.

[maestrowork]

3G is nice so you can get on the Internet, download e-Books on the fly, etc. without wifi. But I wouldn't pay for service. The 3G for the Kindle is free. I assume it's the same for the Nook?

But yeah, if you don't need to be on the go or if you always have wifi access (work, home, coffee shops), then you don't need 3G.

[PEBKAC]

The 3G service is free on the Nook, but but there isn't a whole lot of "etc" with the 3G unless you crack it. The service doesn't work if you're web browsing (wifi is required for that). So it's pretty much 3G for book browsing and buying from Borders.

I think Amazon allows 3G browsing right now, but it's not guaranteed to support free browsing forever.

[Lhun]

Of course it also helps Amazon take books away from you they only accidentally sold...