Entered CNET Catalog: 02/09/2009
SKU: 892685001072
Manufacturer: Amazon.com
Manufacturer description
Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands. Kindle is as easy to hold and use as a book. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle's page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand from any position. The page-turn buttons now flex inward to prevent any accidental page turns when picking up or handling Kindle. With the text-to-speech feature, Kindle can read every newspaper, magazine, blog and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can choose from both male and female voices which can be sped up or slowed down to suit your preference. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.Product summary
The good: Slimmer and sleeker looking than the original Kindle; large library of tens of thousands of e-books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs via Amazon's familiar online store; built-in free wireless "Whispernet" data network--no PC needed; built-in keyboard for notes and navigation; a faster processor speeds up the device; with 2GB of internal memory, it's capable of storing 1,500 electronic books; font size is adjustable; improved battery life; displays image files and plays MP3 and AAC audio; compatible with Windows and Mac machines; new Text-to-Speech feature allows you to have text read aloud.
The bad: No expansion slot for adding more memory or accessing files; files such as PDFs and Word documents aren't natively supported and need to be converted at 10 cents a pop by Amazon; no protective carrying case included; battery is sealed into the device and isn't removable; hardware and content is still too expensive; lacks the support for electronic library loans and free ePub public-domain books available on competing Sony Reader models.
The bottom line: While it's short of perfection--and remains fairly pricey--the Amazon Kindle 2's improved design, built-in wireless capabilities, and user-friendly interface keep it atop the e-book reader heap in the U.S.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 02/24/2009
Editors' note: As of October 22, 2009, Amazon has discontinued this version of the Kindle and replaced it with the international Kindle model. That new model runs on AT&T's network and can access content on cellular networks inside and outside of the U.S. It's otherwise essentially identical to the Sprint-powered Kindle reviewed here.
Amazon announced on April 20, 2011, that a software update adding the ability to read e-books from participating local libraries will be added by the end of 2011.
With a slicker design, improved performance, and such additional extras as Text-to-Speech audio reading, Amazon has gotten a lot right with the latest version of its much-hyped e-book reader, the Kindle. While it may not be the huge leap forward that some people were hoping for, and it leaves off a couple of key items--most importantly removable memory and a protective carrying case--its easy-to-use interface and wireless connectivity still make it the e-reader to beat in the U.S. And it doesn't hurt that as more competing e-readers have hit the market, Amazon has lowered the price from $349 to $299.
Design
The Kindle 2 is thinner than the original Kindle--it measures a svelte 0.36 inch at its thickest point--and weighs 10.2 ounces. That's basically the same as the 2009 lineup of Sony Reader models.
One thing that hasn't changed much from the original Kindle is the height and width of the device. Some people have complained that the original Kindle should have been shorter and forgone the keyboard, like the Sony Reader did. Whether you're a fan of the keyboard or not, it's worth noting that the Kindle 2 is actually slightly longer than the original, measuring 8 inches from top to bottom.
The keyboard
Part of the reason for the elongation is that Amazon has devoted a bit more space to the keyboard, with some additional room between the keys and a more simplified, streamlined look (the keys are circular and the space bar is longer and better placed). This was a good move, as the keyboard is easier to use.
As with the BlackBerry and other shrunken QWERTY keyboards, you enter text using your thumbs. The Kindle 2's keyboard comes in handy when entering notes and annotations while reading (they're saved), keying in text for searches in the Kindle Store, and typing in URLs when surfing the Web. We also appreciated that the home button is now much more prominently displayed on the side of the device, right in the middle above the "Next page" button. Before, it was tiny and buried at the button of the keyboard.
The screen
In case you haven't heard already, the Kindle 2's screen is technically considered an electrophoretic display, which Wikipedia describes as "an information display that forms visible images by rearranging charged pigment particles using an applied electric field." Like some other electronic paper products, the Kindle 2 uses "e-ink" technology, which serves to make the letters and words on the screen look more printlike in their appearance. A lot of people, when they first see the screen, are genuinely impressed.
As with most of these types of digital readers, there's no backlight (Amazon says it causes eyestrain), so you need some sort of light source to read in the dark. According to the specs, the screen itself is a 6-inch (diagonal) electronic-paper display, with a 600x800-pixel resolution at 167 ppi. This new Kindle offers 16 shades of gray instead of 4, which really doesn't do anything for making standard text pop better, but it does add more detail to images. Visually challenged readers will be happy to note that the Kindle's font size can be adjusted to six different levels.
Whispernet: Free cellular data access
One of the key differentiators of the Kindle 2 is its free, built-in, wireless connection, "Whispernet," which allows you to tap into Amazon's vast online Kindle Store from just about anywhere you can access Sprint's EVDO cellular data network. (Sony's forthcoming Barnes & Noble's future Plastic Logic e-book reader are both said to have free AT&T cellular connections as well.) Travelers and non-U.S. residents should note that the Kindle's wireless connection will only work stateside. While there's no word yet on a European or Asian version of the Kindle, you can "sideload" e-books from a Windows PC to the Kindle via a USB connection when there's no cellular signal available.
For the Kindle 2, Amazon has broadened the device's wireless footprint by allowing it to also access Sprint's slower data 1XRTT network when it can't tap into Sprint's 3G network. (Amazon has posted a Kindle 2 wireless coverage map as well.) In our tests in New York, the connection was impressively fast, with quick downloads of books from the Kindle Store and documents e-mailed to the device in around 10 to 15 seconds. That said, the Web-surfing experience wasn't all that good (there's no Flash or video support), but we were able to access Web sites and read articles, albeit somewhat slowly. Alternatively, you can shop for Kindle books from your computer (or any other browser-enabled device) and have them wirelessly sent to your Kindle 2 by simply hitting the one-click "purchase" button.
Aside from making wireless book purchases in the Kindle Store, you can have periodical subscriptions and blogs automatically delivered to your device over the air. Several Kindle newspapers are available for download, including international papers. Unfortunately, subscriptions are somewhat overpriced. For example, a monthly subscription to The New York Times is $13.99. It should really be less than $10, because the fact is you can access a lot of the same articles for free on your cell phone or the Kindle 2 itself--and the content can be fresher (there's only one morning-Kindle edition of The New York Times). But pricing complaints aside, having the newspaper delivered to your Kindle each morning is a nice option for commuters--and you don't have to worry about getting any ink on your hands.
It's also worth highlighting another nice design tweak. The wireless on/off button on the original Kindle was a physical switch on the back of the device that was kind of a pain to access if you had the Kindle in its cover. Now the wireless on/off is a toggle in the menu system, which is better. Also, to wake the device from its sleep mode, you now just slide and release the power button instead of having to press the Alt and Home keys in tandem. That's an improvement, as well.
Kindle devices include a feature called Whispersync. Whispersync gives you the ability to send books you bought on one Kindle to another, as long as both are registered to you (this would enable you to share books between family members). You can also sync two or more Kindle devices and switch back and forth between them while keeping your reading location synchronized. Basically, you can start reading the book on one device and continue where you left off on another.
For those who own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you can download the Kindle app from the iTunes App Store, and read books on either device as well. In fact, if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch, you don't need a Kindle e-reader to download Kindle books. But the Whispersync caveat applies here, too--you can't access books on more than one device simultaneously. By contrast, Sony lets you download the book to up to five Sony Readers that are registered to your account with no other restrictions.
Additional features
What else has Amazon upgraded on the second-gen Kindle? Well, the processor in this model is faster, so the screen refreshes about 20 percent quicker between page turns. All and all, the thing just feels zippier, but it's important to note that while you'd think that a monochrome system would be lightning fast at this point, the Kindle 2 still exhibits some slight lag.
One gripe that Amazon has clearly addressed is the issue with the page-advance button. On the original Kindle, that button was extra long and easy to depress, which meant it was very easy to accidentally turn pages. On the Kindle 2, the page-turn buttons are smaller, and in playing with the device we noticed that it took a bit more effort to actually click the button and advance a page.
In another nod to Apple, Amazon has also sealed the battery into the back of the unit, so you can't replace it yourself (Amazon charges $60 for battery replacement). That's the bad news. The good news is Amazon says the battery now delivers about 25 percent more battery life, which should give you a few days of reading (with the wireless on) and two weeks with it turned off. We found the battery life to be quite good, and confirm that if you keep the wireless access to a minimum, you won't have to recharge for close to two weeks.
If you're a user of the original Kindle, you'll notice a few other design changes. The on/off button and headphone jack have been placed at the top of the device, which makes both easier to access (the volume control is on the top right side of the device). And there are two tiny speaker ports on the back of the Kindle 2 that give you external audio. Because the speakers don't sound great, you probably wouldn't want to listen to music this way, but they do just fine with Text-to-Speech, a new "experimental" feature that allows you to have text read to you. While there's still a pronounced robotic element to it--you can switch between male and female digitized voices--it sounded better than we expected. In short, don't expect to get a true audiobook experience along the lines of what Audible offers (and yes, the Kindle 2, like the original, does support audiobook downloads from Amazon's Audible subsidiary), but it's usable. (Alas, after some authors protested that the inclusion of this feature might eat into audiobook sales, the text-to-speech feature has gone from a universal feature to one that's available on a title-by-title basis; each Kindle title's listing on Amazon should now note whether it's speech-enabled or not.)
In other changes, Amazon has gone with a new charging system. Instead of an AC adapter port, there's a USB port at the bottom of the device. However, it's not your standard Mini-USB port; rather it's the smaller microUSB variety you'll find on some new cell phones and Bluetooth headsets. The power adapter is actually one of the more impressive parts of the package: it's small, not much bigger than a standard plug, and the microUSB cable detaches from it so you can also charge the Kindle by connecting it to a USB port on your Mac or Windows PC. It's a nice improvement over the most recent Apple USB charger, but--annoyingly--it seems incompatible with third-party USB chargers.
Storage and file compatibility
Amazon has upped the amount of onboard memory to 2GB (from 256MB), so you can store up to 1,500 books or assorted newspaper and blog subscriptions, as well as JPEG images. But unfortunately, taking a cue from Apple, it left out an expansion slot for additional memory. Using that same microUSB port, you can transfer files to the spare memory on your Kindle 2 (it shows up as a standard USB storage drive when connected to a computer). Like the earlier model, this one can play back MP3 and AAC files (as well as Audible audio book files), but 2GB is pretty skimpy when you start getting into multiple albums with high bit rates--so think in terms of storing only your favorite songs or albums and not your entire music library. You can drag and drop the music files into the "music" folder when connecting the Kindle to your computer via USB. But the audio support is a convenience, not a fully developed feature. The skimpy storage and lack of playlist support means you won't be getting rid of your
More problematic is the fact that the Kindle can't natively view any text or image files (Word, PDF, TXT, JPEG, GIF, and so on) that you copy over to it. Instead, you'll need to e-mail those files to your special Kindle e-mail address for conversion to Kindle-friendly formats. This is a pain, particularly because you also get charged 10 cents for every document, PDF file, or image you send to the device. Here's what Amazon has to say about the whole thing, which strikes us as weird:
Kindle makes it easy to take your personal documents with you, eliminating the need to print. Each Kindle has a unique and customizable e-mail address. You can set your unique e-mail address on your Manage Your Kindle page. This allows you and your approved contacts to e-mail Word, PDF documents, and pictures wirelessly to your Kindle for a small per document fee--currently only 10 cents per document. Kindle supports wireless delivery of unprotected Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML, TXT, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC, and MOBI files. You can e-mail your PDFs wirelessly to your Kindle. Due to PDF's fixed layout format, some complex PDF files may not format correctly on your Kindle.
The interface
The original Kindle had a little rolling wheel to assist with navigation. The Kindle 2 moves to a five-way rocker button that's more straightforward and helps solve some--but not all--of the quirky navigational issues the device has.
Amazon has made some nice tweaks to the interface and has made it easier to access the embedded dictionary to look up words, but it's far from a total revamp. You're still left with moments when you're not sure whether you should go forward or backward, or which button you should hit to get to where you want to go. In other words, it's not entirely intuitive. Kindle newbies will have to play around with the device for a day or two to really get the hang of it (that's pretty good, all things considered).
In many ways, these types of devices lend themselves to touch-screen interfaces (that way, you can go to a virtual keyboard and shrink the device) and Sony went that route with its PRS-700, PRS-600, and PRS-900 readers. Unfortunately, in going to a touch screen, Sony managed to lose some contrast and has run into some snags with glare issues. So, until the engineers improve the e-ink touch-screen technology, Amazon has made the right choice with its nontouch display, though some CNET readers are waiting for color, especially when it comes to Web surfing. While we're comparing the Kindle 2 to the Sony Readers, we should mention that though the Amazon product has a big advantage with its built-in wireless connection, the Sony does have a couple of advantages. The one thing that the Kindle 2 just doesn't do as well is handle PDF and Word files. With the PRS-600, you can zoom in and out on PDFs, though it can be a rather sluggish process. With the Kindle, a PDF seems to get broken into pages, so you often can't see the document as a whole--just in pieces. All that said, if you're really looking a more PDF-friendly device, you should probably consider a larger e-reader, such as Amazon's pricier Kindle DX, which has native PDF support and a 9.7-inch screen. (The DX has slightly superior features to the Kindle 2, but we prefer this model's smaller form factor).
Another warning: as we mentioned in the intro, the Kindle 2 doesn't ship with a protective carrying case. The case that was included with the original Kindle was mediocre at best, but it's too bad Amazon has chosen to ship the Kindle 2 completely naked. So, while the price of the Kindle 2 is $299, you can expect to tack on another $20 to $30 for a protective case. On a positive note, Amazon's official Kindle 2 case, which costs $29.99, is nice: the device clips in securely and the whole package looks elegant. (While we haven't experienced any problems with the case for our review unit, some owners have complained that the new case can cause your Kindle to crack where the case clips on to the Kindle's spine). If you don't like the official Kindle case, there are plenty of third-party options as well.
Conclusion
We'll end by saying what we expect a lot of other reviewers will say: the Kindle 2 is clearly better than the original Kindle, particularly if you're willing to forgive the sealed battery and lack of a memory-expansion option. And while it's not without its shortcomings and quirks, the Kindle 2 is a sexier device now, and the overall experience of reading, buying, and even listening to electronic books has taken a nice step forward.
While we applaud Amazon's move to lower the price from $349 to $299, we still think $300 is a lot to pay for an e-book reader. We'd also like to see e-books and subscriptions to Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs cost less. Eventually, of course, natural market forces (read: supply and demand) and the size of the Kindle's overall user base will dictate where prices go--both for the hardware and the software.
But for now, the price of admission to Amazon's electronic book world is what it is, and when you combine the new design and built-in wireless connection with enhanced syncing features for multiple Kindles, and the impressive integration with Amazon's online Kindle Store, the Kindle 2 is still the best e-book reader out there--for people who live in the U.S. anyway. Sorry for that caveat, but for the rest of the world, which can't tap into Sprint's network, it's a harder call, and the door remains wide open to other manufacturers.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95out of 95 user reviews
useless now with dead screen
Pros: I loved my kindle until the screen died a few weeks ago and no way to fix it.
Cons: The screen died after only 1 year of using it. Kindle said they would replace it for $89. Not interested in spending an additional 89 if the screen dies again. Very disappointed!
out of 95 user reviews
The new kindle is only $189 for free 3G unlimited.
Pros: I like the 3G unlimited on the new kindle
Cons: 3G unlimited
long life battery
the dimension size
http://www.kindleweblog.com/2010/09/tv-ads-take-hit-on-ipad.html
out of 95 user reviews
no support for ePub format
Pros: Easy to hold and find appropriate buttons. Very good guide included on the device. Updates delivered automatically when in range. Definitions show up automtically using one button. Many options for creating categories and arranging content.
Cons: No ePub support! Non-replaceable battery. No expansion slot. Amazon website screens are horrendous to navigate through. Very little 3G service in my area (central NH and north).
out of 95 user reviews
Very Good E-book Reader
Pros: Easy-on-the-eyes E-ink display; large memory for book storage; Amazon on-line bookstore; easy to hold and light weight.
Cons: No cons to think of.
out of 95 user reviews
I'm not as impressed as I would like to be
Pros: It is lightweight and easy to carry.
Cons: The 5-way navigation button is hard to use, and the ergonomics of the device is a little odd.
out of 95 user reviews
I love my kindle
Pros: eink pages wispersync battery life
Cons: You have to buy a case separate for 30 but it is a very nice case/cover
out of 95 user reviews
I had no idea how much I'd love my Kindle
Pros: 1,500 books at your fingertips, great easy-to-read display, hardware is easy to use and isn't distracting, syncs with other devices, native PDF support
Cons: doesn't scale images (which sucks if you reading a programming book with code samples that are small images as opposed to text), can't create sub-directories to organize documents which is maddening
out of 95 user reviews
Text to Speech
Pros: Do it speak as clear as the tts that is built in the Kindle Reader? AMZN CEO Jeff Bezos debuted the Amazon Online Reader back in 2007, sense then other handheld ebook readers want to compete but they can't; Why?
Cons: The Kindle Reader has the tts capability built in the Original Kindle, Kindle2, and the latest Generation Kindle DX. It is a shame that we can not all agree that this online ebook reader is helpful for the youth and adults.
All the Best: Reader_Admin
http://www.reader-kindle.com/text_to_speech.html
Updated on Dec 13, 2009Text to Speech, do it speak as clear as the tts that is built in the Kindle Reader? AMZN CEO Jeff Bezos debuted the Amazon Online Reader back in 2007, sense then other handheld ebook readers want to compete but they can't; Why?
The Kindle Reader has the tts capability built in the Original Kindle, Kindle2, and the latest Generation Kindle DX. We all agree that this online ebook reader is helpful for the youth and adults to help them with literacy or to help learning foreign languages.
Most of all, the elderly with not so good sight can enlarge the font size of the Amazon e reader, and use the Text to Speech capability for the handicap or blind.
All the Best: Reader_Admin
http://www.reader-kindle.com/text_to_speech.html
out of 95 user reviews
Cheap Product. Breaks WITHOUT being dropped.
Pros: All my books in one place
Cons: The screen breaks way too easily. You're warranty will expire and you will find you spend $200-$300 PER YEAR for that convenience.
You can't move books to another device.
Amazon CS is terrible.
Do the math and the kindle cost me $450 in 16 Months. An average of about $330 per year, which wipes out any savings from discounted books. After it breaks you are locked into Amazon's shoddy device if you want your library back.
Do check online and you will find more of the same story. Don't buy one until they can prove they built a reliable product, without DRM that precludes you from choosing your device.
Rip Off.
out of 95 user reviews
Great e-reader, easy to use, goes everywhere with me!
Pros: So easy to use, long battery life, nice display, easy to search the store, download books wirelessly in < a min., change font to suit my needs, comfortable to hold and easy on my eyes so I can read for hours without difficulty. I love my Kindle!
Cons: Only con for me is the lack of folders. You can sort your library by title, author or newest, but no way to organize in your own personal way.
out of 95 user reviews
THE VIDEO SAYS IT ALL... http://www.vimeo.com/7897906
Pros: I bought one for my wife and she LOVED it. So we bought one for my Mother-in-law and her reaction says it all. If I wasn't there myself I would have said this was scripted... http://www.vimeo.com/7897906
Cons: The navigation is a little slow for my taste.
out of 95 user reviews
Generates an urge to buy
Pros: +Very portable
+Friendly on the eyes
Cons: - Could be a larger display but that also takes away one of the pros.
out of 95 user reviews
Just perfect!
Pros: Battery, wide range of books, fast, Internet conection, text to speech, music player, kindle store, sleek design
Cons: No support for other formats such as ePub.
out of 95 user reviews
I'll Never Go Back to Paper Books!
Pros: Very easy to use. Was able to pick it out of the box and start using right away! As long as I have my Kindle with me, I always have my book.
Cons: Doesn't have page numbers. Their reason for putting in a location numbers instead of page numbers is dumb! Basically their tech group decided that this was better even though users don't like it.
out of 95 user reviews
Amazing Product
Pros: Looks great
Feels great
Great customer service support
Cons: I knew what I was buying so I don't have any complaints at the moment, maybe that they could at least include a cheap carrying case, but is all about making money so they have one for 29.99. For me is not necessary but it would be nice.
out of 95 user reviews
LOVE IT!!!
Pros: It's a lot more lightweight than the kindle, and it's sleeker.
Cons: It's about the same a kindle in my experience.
out of 95 user reviews
Amazon is like big brother!
Pros: convenient, in principle
Cons: but you lose control over you OWN library
I have spoken now to 3 different customer service reps, and not one of them can give me a good reason why this is not possible. Yes they agree they can do it when I ask to get a refund for a book. But they don't have any explanation for why I shouldn't have control over my own online bookcase. You'd think removing the books is brain surgery. So far all three have earnestly explained that they can't delete the books because I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD them again. THAT IS THE POINT! I don't want to download them again. I want them removed from MY ACCOUNT.
I'm annoyed enough that I am considering getting rid of my kindles. Its very BIG BROTHER to have no control over your own bookcase.
out of 95 user reviews
Very Fragile
Pros: The future of reading
Cons: Glass screen is easily broken
out of 95 user reviews
Unreliable, screen quality so-so, good functionality
Pros: It allows me to carry and download books, newspapers,and magazines, effortlessly.
Cons: In 5 months, I'm now on my 3rd kindle. I'm pretty good with taking care of devices, computers,but these keep breaking and needing to be replaced. Also, I find screen reading quality less than optimal
out of 95 user reviews
Amazon doesn't care about its customers.
Pros: Reading with the Kindle is enjoyable.
Cons: When confronted with problems, Amazon is inflexible and unreasonable.
out of 95 user reviews
JE 100 IS SO MUCH BETTER
Pros: kindle has amazons backing and e-books can be downloaded easily.
Cons: I wonder why people have taken to kindle 2. I persnally think JE100 is much more flexible.
out of 95 user reviews
Easy to download books, cheaper than print editions
Pros: Easy to download books, books high in price but cheaper than print editions
Cons: Amazon now wants to add advertising. Price is high for the unit (kindle 2).
Quoting from the article. ?The company [Amazon] seems to be trying to spin the possibility as a positive one for customers. The applications state that ?a lower price may be offered to a consumer regarding a request for on-demand printed content if the consumer is willing to accept advertising in the printed content.??
They charge a very high price for the Kindle as it is ($350). The price of most e-books is relatively high considering that it consists of little more than downloading a file, a situation in which the publisher and Amazon avoid all costs associated with printing, warehousing, distributing/shipping, damage, overstocks, etc.
They have a profitable and growing niche. By sticking advertising into the e-books they will only be offending many of their customer base, who will be as offended as I am in being forced to pay more to escape ads.
out of 95 user reviews
does what it's supposed to do very well
Pros: very clever design
Cons: subscriptions to periodicals are costly
out of 95 user reviews
The device is great but Amazon is ruining its potential
Pros: Lightweight, easy to use and pleasurable reading experience.
Cons: How can they not include a case? You're going to spend $350 on a device and not care if it gets scratched? Amazon should just charge money money and provide a case. Or, they should include it for free since the cost of electronics are falling.
out of 95 user reviews
I love mine it is well worth the price
Pros: I can have books and work documents sent to my Kindle2 and I can have it read to me. I love that it can hold up to 250,000 books and is not heavy. I also love it because I am dyslexic so I am extremely slow at reading so it helps me so much.
Cons: the only bad thing I can say about it is it doesn't read everything exactly the way a person would but it is close enough for now.
out of 95 user reviews
Great for reading books!
Pros: Super fast downloads. Lots of content. Adjustable font size. Sleek and cool-looking.
Cons: Newspaper subscriptions are expensive.
In addition to books, frequently i download the NYTimes and Wall Street Journal. It took me a while to figure out the best way to navigate using the main cursor button, but once I did, it became second nature. I like being able to quickly scan the paper and then select articles of interest.
This device won't replace my laptop or iPod. I haven't really tried to use the web browser or load MP3s on to it. For pure reading however, it's a pleasure. I travel often and it's great to carry around so many books in such a small, cool, light weight package.
Finally, I think the books on Amazon for the Kindle are pretty reasonably priced. My overall experience is that I've read more books since I bought the Kindle 2 (which came shipped ready to use with my Amazon login already set up) than I did before.
If you're looking for an easy to use, fast-loading e-reader, I highly recommend the Kindle 2.
out of 95 user reviews
I read 5 times as much now
Pros: I actually read a lot more with so many options available at all times. Downloading a chapter before buying is great. The device is simple, light weight, stays charged for days on end.
Cons: Maybe the price, but then again you get what you pay for.
out of 95 user reviews
Carry your books with you. Plus it is VERY VERY GREEN
Pros: Download books at a cheaper price. Take your books with you.
Cons: Right now the price. But that should change over time.
Just the right size. Some publishers do not want to lower there prices, but the market will demand it once this catches on. Can't wait until the price start coming down & more people get one!
out of 95 user reviews
Great Reading Experience
Pros: I love the adjustable font size, readable "paper," easy wireless connection, gorgeous graphics when it "sleeps," portability, number of books it holds, tracking dictionary, navigation, and instructions for use. Bravo!
Cons: Keyboard is silly - too big to text, too small to type. Either make it a true "texting" size, or eliminate it, leaving more room for actual text. Page turning and navigation a bit klunky.
Well, we can dream!
Updated on Jun 1, 2009OK, so I figured our I had the Kindle 1 case (D'OH!). Meanwhile, what about virtual "soft" keys instead of that honkin' keyboard? A thought.
out of 95 user reviews
AMAZING!!!!
Pros: I am an avid book reader ? over 200 books still currently in my home and I have to say that this is the best gift I have ever received. Currently I have over 60 books on my Kindle 2 and for anyone that reads multiple books at one time. In love.
Cons: They say that you can read War and Peace on one battery life - not completely accurate.
out of 95 user reviews
Half way there
Pros: Sleeker package, faster downloads, and a lot more storage.
Cons: With the technology that is out there this product could be so much more. I would like to one day use it in the classroom, but it needs to have print capabilities and color display
out of 95 user reviews
Absolutely Amazing!
Pros: - Light / Compact
- Easy on the eyes
- Easy download of new books
- Love the newspaper download (my paperboy is not that reliable)
- Keep notes on passages
Cons: - Would like the next edition to have a color option. Im sure it would make it very expensive though.
out of 95 user reviews
I love it!
Pros: It is light, I have no problem taking it with me anywhere. If i get tired of reading a book, I can switch to other books, magazines and etc. I can look up words in the dictionary, wikipedia and google which is very helpful.
Cons: Some books are not available yet on Kindle 2.
out of 95 user reviews
I use it everyday. It has become indispensable to me
Pros: Easy to use and learn, very easy to read, even in bright sunlight. A great deal of content, such as books, newsletters, magazines, etc. is available for download, some for free. Customer service is excellent!
Cons: It does not come with a case. Many of the books available through Amazon for download seem to be a little bit on the pricey side. Internet is somewhat difficult to use.
out of 95 user reviews
Rekindled my love for the Amazon Kindle
Pros: The product is slim, holds tons of books, has no monthly fee and free books are available. http://www.bookbender.com
Cons: The initial cost is expensive and the cost of books is more than a paperback. I wish the price point would be around 6.99 and not 9.99
out of 95 user reviews
Good start...
Pros: Free 3G wireless connection.
Long battery life.
Thin.
Can hold hundreds of books.
Cons: Not compatible with any of the major file formats without a conversion.
PDF is still in the developmental stage.
Awkward to hold without pressing a botton.
Not good for browsing the web.
Not able to display video media.
Menu is awkward.
Flimsy.
Palm tried many years ago but failed due to its small screen, short battery life, low resolution, and inaccuracy of displaying different formats, especially PDF.
The Kindle has solved many of those problems.
It has a reasonable screen size and a barely adequate resolution.
It has a great battery life.
But it still suffers from accurately being able to directly read popular formats, such as PDF, Word, etc...
Its a great device if the intent is to read text material only.
Novels are fine. A few of the Internet articles Kindle offers is fine.
If I was a avid reader of novels I would certainly want this.
However, as a person who reads mostly PDF articles and text book material including online web sites, its just not accomendating.
It needs a higher resolution screen.
It needs native PDF, MS Office, and HTML combatibility (including javascript).
It needs a MPEG4, H.264, Quicktime, Adobe Flash player.
I'll stick with my tablet PC for now, which does everything but one, it lacks long battery life. So I have to be tethered to a AC outlet.
For on the run... I'll use my iPhone. Which is barely acceptable as a digital pad, but, at least it does a fair job with PDF documents and web pages.
Don't get me wrong, I think this has huge potential.
If Kindle native documents can be compiled in a server and if tests can be given over the 3G network, this would be a terrific pad for students in elementary to high school. Its lack of native PDF and Office files support excludes it from college use.
out of 95 user reviews
Too fragile!
Pros: i liked the Kindle 1, which had many positive features, including the ability to sustain a normal drop - SEE BELOW
Cons: I fell asleep reading in a chair and the Kindle 2 fell, hitting the floor. The screen cracked and I phoned Amazon. They said "too bad", I would have to but a new one. I did not realize that the device should be surrounded constantly by bubble-wrap.
out of 95 user reviews
Terrific product..a market changer
Pros: I love this product. From the immediate download ability, the ergonomics, the weight, and the size.
Cons: Screen could be a bit larger.
out of 95 user reviews
The kindle will keep you reading and then some!
Pros: Holds all your books and it's really easy to use.
Cons: It's a little pricey but it's worth it.
out of 95 user reviews
Angry at Amazon's Policies
Pros: The Kindle2 is a substantial upgrade to the Kindle 1
Cons: Amazon's policies indicate that early adopters will be left behind.
One this is clear, Amazon is not the consumer-centric company it claims to be. They don't care about the people who helped them along in their new business venture. This is what happens when big companies get too much power because of a lack of competition. The consumers always loose. I look forward to when there is some real competition to Amazon's dominance. One can only pray.
out of 95 user reviews
Just what I wanted!
Pros: I love being able to carry a library with me when I travel and have it weigh only a few ounces! It is comfortable to read for long periods, even in the sunlight. The buttons are well-placed. Downloading new material is a breeze!
Cons: The cost, but I got a slight discount that I used as justification to buy. Another $30 for the cover. Then, of course, all the books and other media. $$.
out of 95 user reviews
Great for keeping on your reading!
Pros: Easy on the eyes.
Cons: Expensive.
out of 95 user reviews
The Kindle 2 is Great!
Pros: No subscription costs, better electronic paper technology, fast downloads
Cons: the keyboard is a little big, but so is the screen - it's not big enough to not get it, though
out of 95 user reviews
screen lacks contrast
Pros: Wide selection of books, both free and paid. Free wireless access. User interface is a little clunky, but not nearly as bad as most reviewers make it out to be.
Cons: The display doesn't have enough contrast to make it readable for long periods of time.
out of 95 user reviews
Great Product
Pros: I like the free connection costs and no contracts.
Nice Design.
Best price on E-Books. Cheaper cost than Sony E-Store.
Nice Leather Case
Cons: Sprint Wireless... Not great in this area but still gets 1 to 2 bars.
Need to focus on screen size and not so much attention to keyboard size.
*Highly suggest try both brands and decide which one better fits your preferences.
out of 95 user reviews
Well designed for what it is intended to do
Pros: This device is excellent for reading novels. The E-ink technology cuts down on eye strain you get with computer screens and is like reading off paper and you can easily change the size of the fonts to your liking. Browsing Amazon's kindle store
Cons: Cost is high. would be nice if was color screen but I think low eye strain is definitely more important.
out of 95 user reviews
Not Worth The Price To Me
Pros: Portability
Cons: Non-replaceable battery and astronomical price.
out of 95 user reviews
Check out my review of the kindle2
Pros: New streamlined navigation makes it much easier to use
Cons: Very expensive
out of 95 user reviews
Very Happy - Both Purchases and Free Books are Simple
Pros: Light weight
Easy to use
eInk text is easy on the eyes
Easy to connect to Mac for downloading free books
Cons: screen size
minor non-obvious errors
A couple of things may not be obvious from a quick view of the Kindle description at Amazon. So let me confirm that, if you attach the Kindle to a computer (Mac for me) using the included USB cable (which also doubles as the power charger cable), the Kindle mounts onto the computer just like a USB memory device. You can copy any file the Kindle can read directly into the books' directory. Kindle files, Mobipocket files and plain text (.txt) files can all be directly placed on the Kindle and read.
This means that all of the free e-books in the MobiPocket library (which is supported by Amazon) and all of the text files in Project Gutenberg can be directly copied onto the Kindle. Free. If you like classics (or anything else published before 1923), you can populate a library on the Kindle without additional costs.
The only caveat I found, was that I needed to strip the line-feed characters out of the Project Gutenberg files that I downloaded, to allow the Kindle to break the text as appropriate. I did this pretty quickly with TextWrangler.
Using the Kindle store to buy books, magazines and newspapers was easy, too. I appreciate the fact that the Kindle books are cheaper, and I also like being able to either start a trial subscription (for a newspaper) or download a free chapter (of a book) before having to commit to the purchase. I have a few books on my shelf that I probably wouldn't have bought if this were possible.
I haven't tried any magazines, but the Washington Post's Kindle edition is just about right to me. The quality of the Kindle's graphics is pretty comparable to a traditional B&W newsprint photo, so the photos in the articles on the Kindle looked "normal" to me.
As far as usability goes, I do wish that the screen on the Kindle was slightly larger. I would love it if it were about the size of a traditional paperback book (about 4inx7in). FYI, the screen is close to the same width (3.5in) but a good bit shorter (4.75 in). I don't mind the keyboard area at the bottom - it gives me a good place to hold the Kindle with the screen sticking up above my hands. I like that the text size is very easy to change (two or three button pushes), as I can switch between reading with or without glasses without any trouble.
The one funny thing that I have realized is that the Kindle makes the length of a book deceptive. I occasionally read some fairly long books, but because the Kindle itself is neither thick nor heavy, the large book that I have put on it seems smaller to me.
The only other funny
out of 95 user reviews
Great Device - But Won't Impress Techy Folks
Pros: Free 3G wireless, E-Ink, Thin, Faster, Easy to buy books at a great price. Can have more than one device on a Kindle account, Size
Cons: 5-Way Switch, Really - did they cripple 3G Speed on Non-Amazon sites???? Software weak for text entry. Can't name bookmarks. Stubbornly refuses to support other formats - ePub, but PDF and Office can only get through with conversion
Cloud computing is the principle here - maybe this is why I don't miss the SD slot. Also, you can back up your books on your computer. Really, the whining about this is completely unwarranted.
People who want color - this is a book reader, ok? It is E-Ink, not a LCD screen.
Cover - again, doesn't bother me as I would rather pay for a good one. The standard $29 case is a great value - don't spend more.
Bookmarks are OK, but they don't let you name them. Software upgrade could fix it. Hey, we got a keyboard Amazon! You can write notes and the keyboard is "OK" but some auto capitol letters after a period in a sentence or when you start to write the text entry would be nice. Let's just say these focused more on the hardware side in development than the software distribution.
I grumble here a bit, but I like the device. It isn't "cool" though and not many people will be impressed if you were to show it to a group of nerds. It comes off more like an "80s calculator" to those techy folks than a state of the art ebook reader. Just why would you want it? TO READ BOOKS. I know, it is simple. But, a thought to keep in mind before you click "BUY."
out of 95 user reviews
Amazing device
Pros: Free cellular internet (no monthly fees). Can carry your entire library at all times. The screen looks like paper reducing eye-strain, & the ability to change the text size is a life-saver for those of us avid readers with vision problems.
Cons: No memory expansion though with 500 books on mine, I haven't even reached half-full yet. My only other complaint is that publishers don't seem to understand how to successfully sell digital media yet. Aside from that, I have no complaints.
I would not give up my Kindle for any or even ALL of my other gadgets, including both of my computers, my ipod Touch, and/or my laptop. You'd have to pry it out of my cold dead hands. Is there room for improvement? Of course, but this is such a large step in the right direction that I have absolutely no qualms with giving it a 4.5 out of 5, and I wouldn't rate anything 5 unless it were completely perfect.
out of 95 user reviews
Excellence product.
Pros: Any people in the world will love Kindle2.
Cons: Black and white display should replace by colour display
out of 95 user reviews
We love the Kindle2. It is new to us and fun.
Pros: Clear type, great size and feel, dictionary, fast download. voice reading. Lots of other items which I am sure we will add to the Pro list.
Cons: A little confusing moving about and using a feature such as delete. Again, though we are new at the eReading business.
out of 95 user reviews
Not Impressed
Pros: Feels good in your hands, although the cover adds a bit too much bulk and weight.
Cons: When you change pages the screen flashes black.., this gets annoying.Image Ghosting, You can see ghost images from the text or images from your previous page. The control buttons are a bit too confusing.
White face (hows it going to wear over time),
out of 95 user reviews
Awesome. I'll consider after the recession.
Pros: looks totally awesome. I would give up traditional paper book reading and switch to this format in a second. The size is manageable, the convenience of ordering from Amazon is great and the pricing for new titles seems pretty fair.
Cons: whoa. $359? in this economy? no thanks. Although all this Kindle talk made me go out and get a library card which I am now putting to good use. So, I guess thats a pro.
out of 95 user reviews
Oh wow! I'm impressed.
Pros: It's small, light, & quick to learn and easy to use. I think w/ a little experience, it will let me read faster& easier than ever. I have hand problems & this will be much easier to use than trying to manage a fat paperback or heavy hardback
Cons: I keep trying to turn pages that aren't there. I wish a lamp was built in--or available in Amazon's cover. I am disappointed that they took out the memory slot, even though it has 2 Gs of memory and will hold a ton of material.
out of 95 user reviews
THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER,I LOVE IT
Pros: THE BEST PART IS THE GUY INSIDE THE KINDLE READING THE BOOK TO ME.
PUTS ME RIGHT TO SLEEP LIKE WHEN MY DAD USE TO READ TO ME AT BEDTIME
Cons: MT CELL MATE IS A CON BUT I WAS NEVER GUILTY OF ANYTHING,HONEST....
out of 95 user reviews
Best invention since the book
Pros: Loaded with features to enrich the reading experience.
Cons: Fairly expensive, but still nearly impossible to live without.
out of 95 user reviews
Virtually NO personal file support
Pros: Whispernet and wiki are awesome features. Sleek design and feel, search function enables searching your entire library, eink is cool looking and easy on the eyes
Cons: To many cons to list. Screen is only 6 inches. Virtually no personal document support (uploading your pdf's doesn't work for scanned pdf's or larger files). Text to speech feature is a joke and not even worth listing in the kindle specifications.
Updated on Mar 1, 2009oh and only 2gigs, and no touch screen...this device uses technology more than 5 years old but still costs almost 400 bucks...
out of 95 user reviews
Love the "classics"? You'll love Kindle!
Pros: Insanely inexpensive to download an amazing collection of classical literature...
Cons: It absolutely REFUSES to do my laundry (but that's no doubt how they'll justify Kindle 3....)
And now, with my books stored on this, I'll have room in my apartment for fancy modern conveniences...like furniture!
out of 95 user reviews
If whispernet does not work Kindle has minimal value
Pros: -exremely light
-readable page
-can carry lots of books in one device
Cons: -whispernet would not work
-recharger failed
if facor in cost of device with cost paid for books not a good deal
out of 95 user reviews
BIG IMPROVEMENT OVER KINDLE i
Pros: NEW TOGGLE IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT I READ IN THE POOL A LOT AND USE A CLEAR WATERPROOF SCUBA BAG TO HOUSE MY KINDLE. WITH KINDLE I I COULD NOT NAVIGATE WITH THE WHEEL. THE CONTROLLER ON KINDLE II ALLOWS ME TO NAVIGATE IN MY WATERPROOF BAG.
Cons: NO MEMORY SLOT OR REMOVEABLE BATTERY. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER NEEDED TO USE MY SPARE KINDLE I BATTERY I STILL THINK A REMOVABLE BATTERY IS IMPORTANT IN AN EXPENSIVE DEVICE.
out of 95 user reviews
No PDF/DOC support = No Gutenberg Project books w/o fee
Pros: Nice display, good battery life, and wireless downloads without having to pay a monthly fee. Very slick... and SO close to being perfect.
Cons: I am still waiting. Without PDF and Word support they will not have me as a customer. Proprietary internal battery. I would rather throw in some rechargeable AA or AAA batteries and be done.
I also do not like proprietary batteries that I cannot change myself. Even my camera uses AA batteries so I know I will be able to get batteries while traveling. My Creative Zen MicroPhoto MP3 has a proprietary battery, but I can take it out and pop in another one in a matter of seconds. Very nice to be able to carry a spare... and not have to pay Apple to put in in for me... not to mention the delays of shipping.
Maybe I am strange... I love the Kindle... I want a Kindle... but I am not going to get one until they resolve the document support and battery issues. Then... it will be perfect.
out of 95 user reviews
? I'm in love ?
Pros: slim and sexy, easy on the eyes, perfect weight
Cons: not much to complain about from my end
To address any cost issue others may bring up, the only other eReader in this class is the iRex Iliad, which depending on the model, would run you anywhere from $600 to $900. 10 cents per document converted? Only if you have it automatically transferred to your Kindle. In all cases, you can still have Amazon convert for you (or do it yourself) and then transfer it from your computer to your Kindle yourself to avoid the 10 cent charge, so that's also a non-issue.
The removal of the SD card like the Kindle 1 had was done for the sake of cutting down on the size, giving this unit it's sleek, sexy look. The 2 GB of internal memory should hold up to 1500 eBooks. The only place where the storage could possibly come into play would be if you have a real lot of images, image-based PDFs, music files, or audio books, as all of those use up more space than the standard eBook. However, the SD card and user replaceable battery would've seriously impacted the size, bringing it back to the thickness of the first model. So it's a trade off, but a worthy one IMO. And really? Who cares about a user replaceable battery? Has that hurt iPod sales?
I am super happy that I was able to justify this purchase, and guilted my other half into it on Valentine's Day LOL. This is one purchase I definitely will never regret! :)
out of 95 user reviews
A pay-me, buy-me USA-only device
Pros: The disadvantages in the Con below wipes all positive features.
Cons: 1) A USA-only device, why should I care? 2) What? Can't freely, immediately and discretely convert my heaps of documents onto this device? Why anyone should buy this knowing he's going to tethered to Amazon for life? 3) Memory dead; terminally.
out of 95 user reviews
Best new (to me) Electronic device! AWESOME
Pros: Sleek, attractive design
Ability to download books quickly and directly
Clear screen
Cons: Need more magazines.
out of 95 user reviews
Good upgrade.
Pros: Great way to carry your library with you. Good selection of books
Cons: See above. Needs different charger from Kindle 1. No battery replacement, no card slot.
out of 95 user reviews
Love this thing! <3
Pros: i love that this Kindle can fit into anywhere because of its sleek design. I was worried i spent soooo much money on it that i wanted to make sure it was protected.
Cons: The slim cases sold are okay,,.... So i got a really great case on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Carrying-Case-Amazon-Kindle/dp/B001TR4D1K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235777657&sr=8-2
out of 95 user reviews
The e-book world accelerating to widespread adoption
Pros: Expansive library, available magazines and newspapers (needs expanding), form factor (feel in my hands), readability, wireless download, refresh speed.
Cons: Going through inverse black/white on page refresh.
out of 95 user reviews
Sleek, crisp, eminently readable
Pros: Sleek, attractive design
Ability to download books quickly and directly
Clear screen
MP3 and basic web access
Cons: Lack of case
out of 95 user reviews
Not worth the cost
Pros: wow factor
Cons: Cost of the device, cost of the books, cost of everything associated with the device. Sony has a better product but does not provide the depth of content.
out of 95 user reviews
best thing since DVR
Pros: The Kindle 1.0 and 2.0 rock. I bought my first one last year and it's been my favorite high tech device since. Is it perfect...no. But it is very very good. Better buttons, weight, display, memory is more than enough.
Cons: color would be nice. expandable memory would be nice too. price is still to steep for mass market penetration. I'm not going to buy my kids one...but they would certainly use it and buy content if they had one.
out of 95 user reviews
I'm in love.
Pros: Display is great
Selection of books is good - getting better fast
Price of books is great - some older/classic books are downright CHEAP
Having ALL my books all the time in a device the size of a desk pad is wonderful.
It's just cool.
Cons: The more complex navigations take some getting used to
The key markings need a little more contrast
It's not free. :-)
Is it expensive? I guess - but it's a real convenience for the avid reader. Besides, I buy an awful lot of books and end up paying a lot of overlimit fees when I fly with them on vacation. Between all the travel books, language books and books I'm reading, I sometimes carry 20 or more pounds of books. Not anymore.
One thing the reviewer left out: while you do pay $.10 to send yourself a word doc (no matter how big, apparently), you don't have to pay if you want to have it emailed to the address Amazon has for your account'. It will email your doc to your regular email address and you can then put it on your Kindle via the USB port, all for free. I got mine yesterday and read on it for hours last night and for a bit today...I'm loving it.
out of 95 user reviews
Best electronic device of the decade!
Pros: Fast wireless logon with no monthly charges.
Immediate access to most recent books for $9.95. Do not have to wait 4 months for paperbacks.
Low book and individual magazine/newspaper prices.
Cons: Keyboard takes up too much space. A foldup keyboard
would be ideal. Would prefer larger screen to avoid too frequent page turning using larger fonts.
this would be it! I use it every day.
out of 95 user reviews
Great book reader, but magazines...
Pros: I have the Kindle 1.0. It is a great book reader. Books are primarily text.
Cons: For magazine and newspaper reading, imagine taking your Newsweek and pasting it into Notepad. The Kindle can display graphics, but the magazine publishers put very few photos and other graphics in their Kindle editions.
out of 95 user reviews
Great new format - from an early adopter.
Pros: I own both the original Kindle and the Kindle 2 - really like the new form factor - the old Pontiac Aztec form was less than perfect. Some of the new navigation will take time to get used to but increase battery life and improvements are worth it.
Cons: The lack of a case is shameful. I purchased a case but it didn't arrive with the Kindle. For this price point, a case should be included.
out of 95 user reviews
overpriced arrogant design
Pros: legibility, ease of downloading media
Cons: can't read in dark, $60 for a new battery!, no expansion, charges for translating files, overpriced.
The Amazon should share Apple's arrogance and assumption that "cool" will prevail over value is unfortunate.
out of 95 user reviews
How can you be reviewing a product not relased!
Pros: No product to use yet!
Cons: No cons, its not available!
out of 95 user reviews
not going to buy such thing
Pros: thin, light, pretty and cool
Cons: - too expensive
- black/white
- no PDF? needs conversion?? 10cents from Amazon???
- can't put it in a pocket
- "science" books rarely available for Kindle
out of 95 user reviews
A worthy upgrade but not revolutionary
Pros: Does exactly what it says and does it very well. Great speed, easy on the eye's, easy access to many books, etc.
Cons: The price is way to high. Perhaps if they took out the wireless and made a low end model for some people they could mitigate that complaint. For me the wireless is the most valuable feature but it comes at a high cost.
out of 95 user reviews
I prefer books
Pros: if you like gadgets, here's another useless one
Cons: too expensive & ties you into one source of material
out of 95 user reviews
Best in a nascent market of ebook readers.
Pros: Size, battery life, screen, and connectivity.
Cons: Price and cost of magazine and news paper content.
out of 95 user reviews
Great device if you love to read.
Pros: Huge library. Holds a ton of books. Books are cheaper than in the store.
Cons: Still doesnt have Stephen King's It available yet.
out of 95 user reviews
I like it a lot - my wife LOVES it
Pros: Readability is awesome. Internet access is slowish, but OK, built-in bookmarks to sites like Fandango, Google, CNN rock. The Kindle2 handles web content like a pro - Kindle Store is easy to use and navigate, downloading and reading content was easy
Cons: No removable battery? No case? For this much money, it should be a bit more user-serviceable. Also, I am concerned about the toughness of the screen, looks like an easy place for an accident to happen. The keyboard is odd, but I adapted quickly.
out of 95 user reviews
Want Full Size A4
Pros: convence, energy efficiency
Cons: Price, no native document support, need larger display
out of 95 user reviews
One of the worst electronic device ever created
Pros: can be turn on
Cons: other than pros i mention above, the rest is cons
out of 95 user reviews
Technically inept
Pros: The only thing I liked about the Kindle 2 was I didn't buy it (my company wasted their money on it for a review).
Cons: Passed around the office and people feel. No color, no touch screen, you can't zoom in on images, tables are not supported, fonts outside the standard alphabet are not supported (no science texts), portrait only orientation, and proprietary format.
out of 95 user reviews
This Kindle is good. The next iteration will be great.
Pros: Quick Book delivery and great selection. No more running out of stuff to read at 2AM when you can't sleep.
Cons: PDF and other file compatibility weak.
out of 95 user reviews
improvement?
Pros: Kindle is the best product of its kind. Easy to read. Great for portability. The whispernet is excellent.
Cons: Still no light.
No SD card capability.
Still too plastic.
No noticeable speed increase.
The cover sucked anyway.
Kindles are great. I love my older one. I only wish Amazon had listened to what the users wanted instead of making irrelevant changes.
Try to find the original Kindle.
out of 95 user reviews
Cost issues
Pros: connection to whispernet without subscription cost
Cons: screen size to keyboard size ratio. why do you need that big of a keyboard? The focus should be the reading screen.
out of 95 user reviews
YOU HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, THE SONY ONE DOESN'T COMPARE
Pros: It reads to you, and it has internet wherever you go to download books, no computer needed.
Cons: 2gb of memory is kind of limited, but I doubt I will need to carry 1,500 books, c'mon lets be reasonable people.
out of 95 user reviews
Got mine this morning my 1st E book and so far love it!
Pros: So far very light, thin and won't be hitting the page buttons accidentally.
Cons: None as of yet.
out of 95 user reviews
A worthy upgrade to the orig Kindle
Pros: 1/3rd of an inch thick!
built-in dictionary
no eye strain with E-ink
Cons: no internal front/back light for night reading (need to use a booklight)
Amazon should offer all buyers of the physical book a 50% discount on the kindle version, so that you can buy the book and never have to crack the spine.
out of 95 user reviews
horrible item
Pros: u can read stuff on it, books.
Cons: freezes up, and feels really cheap like a toy, for well over 300 it should have alot more memory than only 2 gb... i returned mine, wasn't worth the price....... plus u have to pay for each book......
out of 95 user reviews
the worst product of the century
Pros: Can read books. Yay!
Cons: Many. so Many.
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