Photo by DC Metro People.

Let’s face it, this hasn’t been the best summer for D.C.’s loyal Metro riders. Whether it’s the construction, the fare hikes or the roving melees, it feels like WMATA should be paying you, instead of vice versa. But, hey, how about those shiny new Kindles that Amazon just released? Yes, for the Girl Who Played With Fire crowd, the announcement of two cheaper models of the Kindle couldn’t have come at a better time.

The cheapest Kindle option is the Wi-Fi only version, which retails for $139. For those of us who aren’t going to do much with a Kindle besides toting it back and forth to work, this probably makes the most sense. But for $189, you get a 3G wireless connection included at no additional monthly cost. However, since AT&T is the provider, it’s only going to work about half the time you are on the Metro, an obvious downfall.

Considering that the Wi-Fi-only Kindle is less than a third of the price of an iPad, and but $10 cheaper than an iPod Nano, it doesn’t seem like a bad deal. The only downside is that the new Kindle has been so popular, you have to pre-order one now in order to get it by September 8.

Note: It’s worth mentioning that the Barnes & Noble Nook is roughly the same price at $149. You can also get free e-books and MP3 audiobooks from your local library for either the Nook or an iPod.