guess i should clarify my question. Here's the thing..will I be able to go to any web site and download any books I want, free or not. Or will it be restrictive access to the downloads from the web. I have searched all reviews I could find but can't get a clear picture of how the access to the web will work.

Will a FREE book download go straight to the Kindle from say a site like Gutenberg OR through some kind of Kindle screen that will have a pop up saying that the procedure won't work.

I'm trying to find out this stuff so that I find out after I buy it that it won't do what I thought it would.

My husband has had his Kindle for 2+ years and we have never paid for a book, and he reads everyday....a lot.

I am not familiar with what that model will or will not do. You of course will only be able to read the kindle format books not epub. I do not know if you would have to download to your pc then to the kindle or not. Try one of the kindle forums they may be able to tell you more what the various types do and don't do.

What your husband can do on his Kindle you should be able to do on the $79 Kindle. This model is cheaper because it carries small ads...if you pay a little more, you don't get the ads. Wi-fi is wi-fi: Amazon doesn't restrict what you access with it.

The Amazon web site says:

- Built in Wi-Fi - Get books in 60 seconds

- Borrow Kindle books from your public library

Of course, as pointed out previously, you can't download just any format and expect it to work on Kindle. However, you should investigate the free software called Calibre, which is able to convert ebooks across many formats, including the MOBI format which Kindle can read. What you would do is download a book -- say, from Gutenberg -- to your computer, perform the conversion, and then transfer it to your Kindle library.

Here is a link that might be useful: Converting ebooks

You might also want to download Kindle for Pc and register at Amazon...It takes longer/slower doing the book search at Amazon on the Kindle..I look for my books on my laptop at the amazon bookstore...then as my kindle is recognized by amazon, I have the option to "one click" on a book, Amazon then charges my Visa ( if the book is not free) to whatever price I paid and within seconds after turning on the wireless, my book is downloaded to the Kindle and also is in my "Library" on my PC (laptop)..I turn the wireless off after I am finished because it saves on the battery..

I got a kindle touch for Christmas and haven't had much time to play with it but quickly decided that, with the exception of Amazon books, I would download books to my computer and transfer them to the kindle. It's my first touchscreen device and not worth the trouble to try to navigate on it to use the web browser.

As mentioned above Bob..if you download, Kindle for PC, and register at Amazon.com, you can then very easily browse at the Amazon Book Store via the download and it will automatically download any book purchases directly to your kindle once you turn on the wifi..

Here is a link that might be useful: Kindle for PC

Thanks Genes.I've had kindle for pc for a while and have read a couple of books with it. That's why I decided I wanted an ereader that I could carry with me easier than I can carry my laptop. I couldn't make up my mind which one so my kids made it up for me by getting me a kindle for Christmas. I've also downloaded and installed Calibre but haven't tried it out.
The point I meant to make when I posted above is that after a brief trial at using the web browser on the kindle I quickly decided that it wasn't worth the effort when it's so easy to do on a computer.

Yes, I believe that it would only be used in dire emergencies..ie at a hotspot and you just finished your last book...Too hard to navigate

thanks all for the input. That pretty much answers one of my concerns...that is that it will be hard to navigate to download a bunch of books from sites other than Amazon.

Like i said earlier we have never paid for a book in the 2 years we've had the Kindle, I never go through Amazon for any books. My main source of free books right now is "PROJECT GUTENBERG" and my concern was if I could connect right to their web site and do downloads directly on the Kindle wifi, or if it would be too cumbersome and time consuming.

From what i"m reading it will be too time consuming and would be easier to continue what I was doing, that is download free books from GUTENBERG onto my computer then transfer the books to the Kindle.

lottodig,
Just to let you know that Amazon has many, many free books on its site. There are tons of classics included. Free titles vary from week to week.

The free titles are in the right column.

Here is a link that might be useful: Free Kindle Books on Amazon

pfmastin, thanks for the link, I'm sure I'll be going there one of these days. I added that to my places to visit for new books.

One of the things that I like about going to sites like Gutenberg and Mobi is the way that they are catalogued and easy to find the genre that interest you.

They are catalogued in the same way at Amazon...and if you register there (free), then any book you find (free or not free) is automatically downloaded to your kindle if it is hooked up to a wireless net via their Whispernet

Yes, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. :) Enjoy!

thanks guys but thats one of the reasons for wanting a Kindle with wifi, I can't get whispernet where I am, we're in a river valley.

Our family each has their own Kindle. I just got my husband the $79 one for Christmas. I frequently borrow Kindle books from the public library free for a period of 2 weeks. I put 2 Kindle library books on his Kindle on Christmas day. Search the public library for Kindle books. Use your library card and check it out on your computer. But, it does go thru whispernet via the Amazon account. So at some point, your kindle must be able to get the wireless. It works great though. If you have an amazon prime account, Amazon has a free lending library. They allow you to borrow 1 free book/month. I also use Guttenberg.

Hi lotodig,
I just came across a page on Amazon that gives instructions on how to get free ebooks in other places other than Amazon and thought you might like to see it.

Here is a link that might be useful: Free ebooks Collections

pfmastin that's good info,thanks, I'll be using it. I did go ahead and order the Kindle so when it comes in I'll be busy looking for Mysteries and Westerns for my hubby.

I'm excited for him! :)