Amazon Kindle 2
The Amazon Kindle 2 has arrived (if you can actually get your hands on one) and it is certainly an improvement over the first generation model.
The design of the original Kindle was a little difficult to live with. The button placement was low and awkward, and the strange click wheel was useful for very little more than basic menu navigation.
The Kindle 2 is almost a complete redesign from a visual angle. It is now more like an oversized iPhone in appearance. The keyboard is now laid out in a more usual keyboard layout, and the rectangular pellet keys of the original are replaced with easier to use circular ones on the Kindle 2, and are far more solid, making it difficult to activate the wrong key accidentally, which was a complaint many users had about the original .
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Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) List Price: $259.00 Sale Price: $259.00 Used From: $239.97 Average Rating:   |
Description
Say Hello to the Newest Kindle Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines Lightweight: At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered wirelessly in less than 60 seconds; no PC required 3G Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle; no annual contracts, no monthly fees, and no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots International Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Paper-like Display: Reads like real paper with no glare, even in bright sunlight Carry Your Library: Holds up to 1,500 books Long Battery Life: Read for days without recharging Read-to-Me: With the experimental Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle can read newspapers, magazines, blogs, and books out loud to you, unless the book's rights holder made the feature unavailable Free Book Samples: Download and read the beginning of books for free before you decide to buy Large Selection: Over 350,000 books, including 104 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines, and blogs Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases are $9.99, unless marked otherwise
Features
- Slim and Lightweight: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines. At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
- Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
- Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
- Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
- Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
Reviews
okay, I'm a big fan of books. I never thought I would purchase something like this! Come on, I worked in book store! I love that I can look up any author, or genre that i would like to see. And it is so easy!
I purchased the Kindle for my wife who is an avid reader. It was a Christmas gift and she has been very happy with it. She loves having several books on it that she can read to her hearts content. However, last month she noticed that there was not a recharging unit in the box it came in. I couldn't believe it. Anyway, I called Amazon's customer service department. I spoke to Matt T their CSR. It could not have been a better experience. After a sincere apology he instructed me to order the replacement charging unit with 1 day express delivery and made it very easy via the hyperlinks he provided to me online. He appropriately and almost immediately had my gift and credit card credited for the replacement costs. Next day I promptly received the charger. You can't beat that for service! Great work Matt and Amazon!!! Sincerely, Rich
I spent a considerable amount of time looking at ebooks before I decided on the Kindle, latest generation. I received it already loaded with several books I purchased prior to it being delivered. I'm pleased to say it was the right choice for me. Size and weight were important factors for me as I have arthritis in my hands and wrists. The Kindle isn't too big or heavy for me to use comfortably. I've recommended it to family and friends.
I was quite happy when I bought kindle. The only problem that it broke in 3 months, without any external impact.
I downloaded several books on my new Kindle to take on an overseas trip. I accidently dropped the Kindle while pulling it out of the case. It didn't fall far, and the floor was linoleum, but it was ruined. My laptop is much less fragile.
As previously noted, the strange slider is a thing of the past. The Amazon Kindle 2 boasts a five way “rocker” which is far more helpful when navigating onscreen text. The back of the machine is now flat, and a volume rocker is featured on the side of the device, as well as a mini USB port. A headphone jack is built into the top for easy access.
The viewing screen itself now has a much sharper image quality, thanks in large part to the fact that the Amazon Kindle 2 can show up to sixteen individual shades of grey, as opposed the mere four the original Kindle could handle. Newspaper content looks especially good with this improved color capability, losing the smudged look that it had when viewed on Kindle mark one.
According to the engineers at Amazon the screen on the Amazon Kindle 2 now refreshes 20% faster than before. This is most apparent in cursor movement and text loading. It is not so noticeable in page turning, but the Kindle 2 certainly has a “speedier” feel. Some people were concerned over the fact that the SD slot that was a feature of the original has been omitted, in favor of adding 2G of onboard storage. This really is not too much of a problem though, although having both would have been a nice touch (maybe for the Kindle Amazon guys?) 2G is plenty for most peoples reading needs, and you do still have the option to offload while retaining all your content a la the Ipod.
From a software point of view, there are only a few small changes in the Amazon Kindle 2. The menus however are vastly improved and content is far easier to search and navigate, as well as organize.
One much criticized aspect of the Amazon Kindle 2 is its new “read to me” mode. Many authors have complained that this impinges on their copy rights, as it turns their text works into instant “audio books”. If these guys actually listened to the Amazon Kindle 2 speak though, whether in its “male” or “female” voice, they might realize that their statements are just an insult to the hardworking voice actors who give life to their work in real audio books. You can slow the “voice” up and down but it really still sounds like Klatuu is reciting the prose. This mode might be fine for brief newspaper articles, but would prove far too annoying I fear for use with complete books.
When you take a look at the Amazon Kindle 2 as a whole, you do realize that it is the hardware tweaks that have made all the difference from the original. There is little the new version can do that the first gen model could not.
At $359 the Amazon Kindle 2 is a long way from cheap. But if you like to travel light, are an avid reader and the kind of person that loves new gadgetry of any kinds chances are you are going to end up buying this device. Though its appeal may not be as universal as say the Ipod, I know a lot of people (myself included) that think the Kindle is another breakthrough that will become hard for us to live without in the future.
