Review Rating
Rating: 3
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Amazon Kindle 2 Review
[Update: The Kindle 2 is now actually the Kindle 2.5, with added features and capabilities.]
[Update 2: Amazon released a WiFi only version of the Kindle.]
Kindle 2 is a showcase of how serious Amazon is in perfecting ereading experience. Amazon gave the design of the first Kindle an overhaul to give its second generation device a sleeker and slimmer look. The Kindle 2 also shows improved/added features, including better grayscale rendering, longer battery life, better refresh rate, and larger storage.
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It is worth highlighting that Amazon didn’t stop improving the Kindle 2. Long after the device was launched in February 2009, Amazon continued to make changes to the Kindle. One of the most notable is making the device more affordable by dropping the price to $259 from its original retail price of $359.
In less than a year, downloadable reading materials in the Kindle Store increased by over 130,000. As of September 2009, the Kindle Store had approximately 350,000 books available for download. Today, it has over 480,000.
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Amazon has also released an international version of the Kindle 2. The global Kindle can access the Kindle Store over the Sprint network (the US version is powered by AT&T).
However, Whispernet access and experimental browsing features are limited in some countries. The international version also retails at $259.
Taking account all the above features including standard ones such as low book prices ($9.99 for most titles), over the air download via Whispernet, and a display technology that recreates traditional reading experience, it’s not difficult to see why the Kindle 
continues to dominate the eReader market.
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Hardware and Software
The Amazon Kindle was the first to make shopping and purchasing ebooks more convenient than getting real books. The Kindle Store is seamlessly integrated into the eReader. No need to hook up the device to a computer – your Kindle takes care of everything. You simply pick a book and download it. In less than 60 seconds, the book appears in your library.
The Kindle may not have a look as sexy as the Sony Daily eReader, but it is still built for portability and ease of use. With a waistline of 0.36 inches and weighing 10.2 ounces only, it doesn’t tire the wrist even after long use.
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Navigation commands are easy to learn. Even non-techies can quickly figure out how to use the device. Buttons on both sides of the device allow one-handed use with either right or left hand.
While 6-inch screen may not be ideal for broad layouts such as magazines and newspapers, it does allow comfortable reading of books. As it uses eInk screen, the Kindle is readable in various lighting environments. 16 shades of grayscale and 600 x 800 pixel resolution sets the standard in sharpness of texts and images. A common complaint in the past was Kindle’s lack of native PDF support.
The Kindle 2 now has built-in PDF reader, which even supports a variety of languages. You also have the option to convert PDF documents to Kindle format. For a small fee, you can send personal documents and image files to your Kindle wirelessly.
The Kindle’s greatest disadvantage, most experts say, is its lack of support for open source content. Recently, Amazon made a change to its Digital Text Platform. Small publishers and individual authors can now opt out of DRM publishing format.
With Kindle’s Text to Speech feature, you can have the device read out loud stories to you. The TTS feature, however, raised a debate last year over copyright issues. Amazon didn’t remove the feature, but modified the systems by leaving the decision to enable or disable the feature to authors and publishers.
Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, PDF, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
The Bottom Line
The Kindle may have flaws in design, but they don’t impact what Kindle 2 does best: giving you the pleasures of reading.
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Pros Costing only $259 per unit and requires no monthly Internet bills to pay, the Amazon Kindle is simply the best bargain there is. Kindle has also set the standard in affordability of ebooks. Most titles, including New York Times Bestsellers, cost less than $10 at the Amazon store. While Sony and Barnes & Nobles have matched some of Kindle’s technology, particularly the wireless download, they have yet to come up with a store collection as expansive as Amazon’s. In addition to over 480,000 ebooks, the Kindle store offers magazines, US and international newspapers (108 vs Sony’s 18), and 105 of the 112 New York Times Bestsellers. Amazon also spends efforts to bring out-of-copyright books to the readers. It has 1.8 million free pre-1923 books. You can also buy paid audiobooks from the Amazon-owned Audible.com, or get free audiobooks from LibriVox. Amazon has developed Kindle Apps for a number of mobile devices including Blackberry, iPod, iPad, Mac, and PC. Whispersync technology enables synchronization of last page read, annotations, highlights, and bookmarks across compatible devices. Limiting web browser to text-centric sites such as Wikepedia keep you away reading distractions such YouTube videos. Limited Time Offer On The Amazon Kindle 2. Click Now For Details! Cons The Kindle still lacks touch, and spaces between keys have also been widened a bit to provide more rooms for fingers. This move, however, has made the device even wider and longer than the Kindle. Also, while it shares the same 6-inch screen size with Sony Touch Edition Reader, the Kindle sports a bigger chassis. It also lacks color, which means it doesn’t translate magazines, graphic novels, and cookbooks well. Another downside is lack of folders, which makes organizing or searching for books quite difficult. The device also lacks ePub support. Books at the Kindle store are DRM-protected, which means you can’t read them on other eReaders. Limited Time Offer On The Amazon Kindle 2. Click Now For Details!
What’s in the box: • U.S. power adapter (supports 100V-240V) • USB 2.0 cable • Rechargeable battery
Main Features • Slim and lightweight • Dimension: 8.5 x 5.3 x 0.36 inches • Download books wirelessly in less than 60 seconds • Free 3G wireless powered by AT&T in the US and by Sprint in international locations • 6-inch paper like display • 4G storage holds up to 1500 books • Single charge gives a week of reading with wireless on, or two weeks with wireless off • Text to Speech feature • Kindle Store carries over 480,000 ebooks and over 1.8 million out-of-copyright books • Natively supports PDF files • Manual rotation to portrait or landscape orientation Key Features • Preview book samples before purchasing • Works in over 100 countries • Basic web browser accesses text-centric websites such as Wikepedia • Bookmarks and annotations • Automatic syncing across devices Bonus Features: • Built-in dictionary
The best ereader ever, no doubt about it. We’re all waiting for the Kindle 3 launch
[...] Amazon Kindle 2 Review [...]
I have the Kindle 2 and it’s perfect. I’m not a techie guy. All I want my ereader to do is display books in a proper way. And the Kindle does just that.
I think Amazon did an amazing thing with the Kindle. They’ve created a device that brings happiness into reading and makes it a whole new experience. I was having hard time deciding between the Kindle and the Nook but I think I’ve just mad up my mind
Thanks for the review but I’ll wait for the Kindle 3 I think.
[...] Amazon Kindle 2 Review [...]
Thanks
Great device
[...] Amazon Kindle 2 Review [...]