Back at zero percent. This time, it's effectively permanent. I will not be purchasing a Kindle this year, next year, or very likely ever.

It turns out that Amazon has discontinued the in-house data plan which came with the old model. The $100 cost increase for the 4G version only covers a Kindle which has the ability to connect with a 4G network. All data plans must be purchased separately.

A data plan large enough to stream a movie or two per month can easily be several hundred dollars per month.

www.att.com/shop/wireless/data-plans.html#fbid=hZxTPw2Cjcc

As witness.

I have no wi-fi at home. I can't afford to install it right now (assuming building policies will even let me do so) and I can't ride someone else's connection.

I am not within range of any free hotspots.

I can't go running around every time I want to send an Email.

In short, I would be spending a thousand dollars for a very pretty paperweight which occasionally required electricity.

So I'm out.