Kindle WiFi Review
After a long wait, the Kindle 3 has finally arrived, not only with one but two versions: a Kindle WiFi and a Kindle WiFi + 3G model.
For those who want a sub-$150 eReader or who have no need for 3G accessibility, the WiFi version is just as formidable as its 3G brother. With its thinner form factor, more ergonomic design, improved readability and even bigger storage, the Kindle WiFi is positioned to out-perform every other eReader out there. And with its incredibly low price of $139, the Kindle WiFi is more enticing than ever.
Features – Hardware and Software
Amazon has given the Kindle WiFi a complete redesign. The first thing people will notice is its smaller form factor. Amazon has trimmed the Kindle in all corners, cutting out as much 21% unnecessary spaces. The result is a more streamlined, tighter look. The Kindle 2 measures 8 x 5.3 x 0.36 inches. In contrast, the Kindle WiFi measures 7.5 x 4.8 x 0.34 inches only. That doesn’t sound like much, but when you hold the device, you’ll feel the difference more dramatically: it feels lighter, thinner, and much easier to hold with one hand.
To allow for the smaller form factor, Amazon also removed the row of numbers button and resized the page turn buttons to just 1/3 of an inch wide. The navigation buttons have been re-organized to allow for a more ergonomic arrangement. The Menu, 5-way buttons, Back, and Home buttons are now located under the screen directly next to the QWERTY keyboard.
The keyboard buttons are more rounded and arranged closer next to each other, making typing a lot faster. The slimmer page turn buttons now come in a rocker style, which responds to presses easily without making any annoying noise. Instead of Word labels, the page turn buttons are now labeled with > and < arrows only.
What’s more notable is the way Amazon has made the Kindle WiFi’s readability much better than ever. The screen has 50% better contrast that its predecessor. It is also zippier, offering a 20% faster page turn rate. 4GB onboard storage is double the size of the Kindle 2, and it can hold up to 3500 reading materials. Battery life is also doubled; it can now last up to a month with the wireless turned off.
Amazon has added a lot of new features, too, including the ability to modify line spacing (options include small, medium, and large) and typeface (options include regular, condensed, and sans serif). The device also supports several languages (Japanese, Korean, Cyrillic, Chinese).
The Kindle WiFi has free access to AT&T networks. It is available in Graphite only.
The Bottom Line
The Kindle WiFi is already available for pre-order. It’s a very solid eReader that will be hard to resist. Amazon has really done a great job.
Pros Vision-impaired readers will greatly benefit from the changeable line spacing and resizable fonts. And now that the menus, text descriptions, and home page are text-to-speech enabled, the device offers ever greater accessibility for the vision-impaired. The Kindle WiFi’s built-in PDF reader allows annotation and highlighting of PDF texts and dictionary access– a very useful feature that’s noticeably absent in the Kindle 2. It can display password-protected PDF files. Weighing just 8.7 ounces, the Kindle WiFi is a lot lighter and thinner, and so feels more comfortable to hold even with just one hand. Like the Kobo eReader, the Kindle WiFi also comes now with a rubberized backing, allowing for better and more comfortable grip. Cons Those who have been hoping Amazon would open up the Kindle ecosystem would be disappointed; the device still doesn’t have an ePub support. This means you can’t buy books from other stores or lend ePub books from libraries. To keep the slim size of the Kindle, Amazon didn’t add any SD expansion slot. But given extra large storage, it would be years and years before you’ll need extra memory. The biggest disadvantage, of course, is lack of 3G. Web surfing and book shopping and downloads can only take place if you’re in a WiFi hotspot. Still unknown is how sturdy the device is.
What’s in the box: • Kindle WiFi eReader • US power adapter • USB 2.0 cable
Main Features: • 6-inch eInk screen with Graphite casing • WiFi-enabled • Dimension: 7.5 x 4.8 x 0.34 inches • Lightweight: weighs 8.5 ounces • Extra large onboard storage can hold up to 3500 ebooks • Up to 1 month battery life (with wireless off) • Wireless access to Kindle Store, which now holds over 630,000 paid content and over 1.8 million out-of-copyright books • Whispersync Key Features: • Free WiFi With AT&T Hotspots • Quiet page turn buttons • Book snippet sharing via Facebook and Twitter • Wireless downloads • Automatic online archival of Kindle Books • Built-in PDF reader with dictionary look-ups, notes, and highlights • Text-to-speech and voice guide • Supports portrait and landscape views
Just pre ordered it. thanks for all the info
[...] Kindle WiFi Review [...]
Thanks!
Do you know when this ereader will start shipping? It is not available on Amazon
It is NOT true that the only way to buy books on Kindle 3 Wi-Fi is through a hotspot. One can buy a book(s) via PC and side load them to the Kindle 3.
How much per-book download?