OK, I'm planning my solo sojourn through Italy as I write.
I am going for 3 weeks and I will be staying in convents and monasteries along the way, taking the train to each city I want to see.
I am thrilled that I am going to be on my own.
Now, since I'll be schlepping from train station to train stations, I will have to travel as light as possible. Maybe just living out of a rollaboard. To keep my load light, instead of taking the normal books and magazines for the flight and winding down at night, I've decided to invest in a Kindle.
I know very little about them. Can anyone enlighten me about the ones with wi-fi/wireless 3G capability and what that means in laymen's terms? /color]
I recommend Kindle Fire. I don't have it -- it won't even be released until Nov. 15 -- but it sounds fantastic. I have a regular Kindle Keyboard 3G, but for an additional $60 (total $199) this has a color screen, many more functions, can do movies and the web and music.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VVOB2/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=7977325568&ref=pd_sl_je9ik9x9d_bBut! I would first call Amazon -- they have good customer tech support -- and ask if it works in Italy. Just in case. Also, I don't know how the Fire's wi-fi functions compared to a regular Kindle.
I'm not sure, but I
think 3G means that you can download stuff from anywhere without having to be connected to a wireless router, like in your home or a coffee shop. I've never had to do that, because I just use my home's wireless, and I don't usually download stuff while I'm actually traveling. But in case you want to, that's good to know. In any case, once you've downloaded something it's a non-issue. It's not like a laptop where you'd need the wireless connection while you read the content.
Did you know that BetterMostian Leslie (MaineWriter) is a Kindle expert? I believe she's written a guidebook on them, is a mod on a Kindle website, and started this thread here:
http://bettermost.net/forum/index.php/topic,21792.0.html You might consider PMing her about this.
Also, as a backup I would suggest you toss in your suitcase one longish paperback that would tide you over should anything go wrong with your Kindle. You don't want to spend time hunting around for a book in English.