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Up to this point, Whispernet gets relatively little traffic per-device (initial book download being the biggest bandwidth use). While there is the experimental

Up to this point, Whispernet gets relatively little traffic per-device (initial book download being the biggest bandwidth use). While there is the experimental browser in the Kindle, it had limited functionality and is fairly well hidden. With the introduction of Video on Demand and full web browsing in the Fire, I'm sure Amazon's 3G provider is hesitant to allow lifetime access to their network for a one time fee of $50.

lliiffee 15y ago
Does anyone have much experience with the browser? I've been thinking about buying a kindle 3 3G, with one of the major motivations being the free worldwide web access. I know it is limited and slow, but it would at least allow for email access / chatting / google voice.
- herge 15y ago
  It's an alright browser that will do in a pinch. It's fine for google mail, hacker news and simple sites like that. What's great is that you don't need to recharge it every night with moderate use, so it's great while travelling.
- georgieporgie 15y ago
  I have a Kindle 2 with cellular access. I used it for GMail communication while bicycling down the Pacific Coast last year. Rendering glitches aside, it's tolerable for reading email, though writing takes a ridiculously long time due to screen redraws. Also, it absolutely sucks battery life down if you do much writing. I can't imagine using it for chatting, and I don't know how GVoice could be used at all. Unless the Kindle 3 is radically different, I can't see how it would be a significantly different experience.
  - lliiffee 15y ago
    I was just thinking of using GVoice for sending/receiving SMS messages. The Kindle 3 has a webkit browser that is supposedly better than previous versions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzIlYEp_kDo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzIlYEp_kDo
- notatoad 15y ago
  the kindle3 browser is quite good in and of itself, but it's severely limited by the kindle's slow processor speed and d-pad navigation.
- rorrr 15y ago
  I use it from time to time. It's ok when you need to read something on the go, but it's not pleasant to use, and it renders like crap, often incorrectly. It's ok for reading HN.
- dvdhsu 15y ago
  Chatting and Google Voice don't work well because those are relatively real-time activities, and the Kindle can't handle those well. E-mail, however, will work just fine.
- StavrosK 15y ago
  It's free worldwide whispernet access, not web access. Web access doesn't work in Greece, for example (it can access Wikipedia, though, which is very useful too).
  - lliiffee 15y ago
    From what I can tell, what you get access to depends on where you bought the kindle more than where you are. Did you buy your kindle in Greece?
    - StavrosK 15y ago
      No, the UK. It depends on where you are, as I can access the web in the UK but not in Greece. However, last time I was in the UK, they barred access there too, which was odd. It definitely worked the first time I got it.
    - StavrosK 15y ago
      No, the UK. It depends on where you are, as I can access the web in the UK but not in Greece. However, last time I was in the UK, they barred access there too, which was odd. It definitely worked the first time I got it.

lliiffee 15y ago

Does anyone have much experience with the browser? I've been thinking about buying a kindle 3 3G, with one of the major motivations being the free worldwide web access. I know it is limited and slow, but it would at least allow for email access / chatting / google voice.

herge 15y ago
It's an alright browser that will do in a pinch. It's fine for google mail, hacker news and simple sites like that. What's great is that you don't need to recharge it every night with moderate use, so it's great while travelling.
georgieporgie 15y ago
I have a Kindle 2 with cellular access. I used it for GMail communication while bicycling down the Pacific Coast last year. Rendering glitches aside, it's tolerable for reading email, though writing takes a ridiculously long time due to screen redraws. Also, it absolutely sucks battery life down if you do much writing. I can't imagine using it for chatting, and I don't know how GVoice could be used at all. Unless the Kindle 3 is radically different, I can't see how it would be a significantly different experience.
- lliiffee 15y ago
  I was just thinking of using GVoice for sending/receiving SMS messages. The Kindle 3 has a webkit browser that is supposedly better than previous versions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzIlYEp_kDo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzIlYEp_kDo
notatoad 15y ago
the kindle3 browser is quite good in and of itself, but it's severely limited by the kindle's slow processor speed and d-pad navigation.
rorrr 15y ago
I use it from time to time. It's ok when you need to read something on the go, but it's not pleasant to use, and it renders like crap, often incorrectly. It's ok for reading HN.
dvdhsu 15y ago
Chatting and Google Voice don't work well because those are relatively real-time activities, and the Kindle can't handle those well. E-mail, however, will work just fine.
StavrosK 15y ago
It's free worldwide whispernet access, not web access. Web access doesn't work in Greece, for example (it can access Wikipedia, though, which is very useful too).
- lliiffee 15y ago
  From what I can tell, what you get access to depends on where you bought the kindle more than where you are. Did you buy your kindle in Greece?
  - StavrosK 15y ago
    No, the UK. It depends on where you are, as I can access the web in the UK but not in Greece. However, last time I was in the UK, they barred access there too, which was odd. It definitely worked the first time I got it.
  - StavrosK 15y ago
    No, the UK. It depends on where you are, as I can access the web in the UK but not in Greece. However, last time I was in the UK, they barred access there too, which was odd. It definitely worked the first time I got it.