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Hype Check: Amazon Kindle 2 (Hands-on Review)
We were able to get our hands on an Amazon Kindle 2 a few days before today's ship date. The next-generation e-book reader is lighter and thinner, has a longer battery life, and now includes text-to-speech capability, but for $359, is it worth upgrading from the original? More importantly, is it ready to replace your books? (Possibly, if you plan on reading or buying 72 books in the next year.). Check out our video above to see what's new and what we think of it.
| I prefer printed books. | |
|---|---|
| I prefer e-readers like the Kindle | |
| I like both. | |
| I'm not sure. |
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Comments
5
Subscribe to commentswakoFeb 24th 2009 12:33PM
you suck at reviewing... you couldve SHOWN us something rather than just swinging the device around in the air the whole time.
catherine wienckowskiMar 5th 2009 7:06PM
I have had my kindle 2 for over a week now and i can not begin to describe how wonderful this gadget is. It is easy to use, the
text on it is very easy to read. I love it. It slips into my bag without any bulk or weight. I can read anywhere
shosho5152Sep 13th 2009 11:11AM
Sounds nice where did you buy it at?
NoelMay 12th 2009 3:19PM
This review is definitely lacking. The Kindle is able to play audible audio book files as well as MP3 while you read. It also lets you adjust the font size of any book helping reduce the strain on your eye when reading small text. The Kindle uses the latest in E-Ink which takes no energy to display the text on the screen, the Kindle uses energy to turn the page only, so you can sit on the same page and not worry about draining your battery.
The coolest feature of the Kindle is it's 3G wireless capabilities, it uses Sprints network to wirelessly access Amazon's huge collection of books which you can purchase and download right onto the Kindle without the use of a computer, plus they have an Iphone app that you can also read your Amazon purchases on, then when you return to your Kindle it will automatically be at the same spot you left off on your Iphone. Unlike a cell phone there are no wireless charges or contracts of any kind. You also get web access to Wikipedia and Google right on the Kindle, plus you can subscribe to your favorite blogs and digital versions of popular newspapers and magazines. If you want to save a little more battery you can switch the Kindle's wireless feature off.
Never feel dumb again, the Kindle has a full dictionary built in, just scroll to the word and a definition will automatically be displayed on the bottom of the page, and if that's not enough you can jog down notes on the page for reference later. Each Kindle has its own email address, which allows you to send documents such as word files and PDF to the Kindle wirelessly. Amazon charges you $0.50 per attachment or you can hook it up to your PC. A email account has to be set up on Amazon so that the Kindle can receive the message, this is done to help prevent spam.
The Sony e-book reader has nothing on the Kindle, they tout that you can get a bunch of free public domain books, but guess what so can the Kindle, but unlike the Sony the Kindle can do it completely wirelessly. Check out www.feedbooks.com/mobile right on your Kindle to get access to all kinds of great books. These books are all public domain so expect classic titles like A Christmas Carrol, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Art of War, etc.
To sum up the Kindle will help you free up your book shelves (it stores 1500 books) get you reading faster and also help you discover new books you may have never given a chance before. You can download the first chapter of any book then decide if you like it or not. Plus it can give you a break and read to you, a useful feature when you get in the car and can't put down that thriller. Wireless technology, adjustable font size, built in dictionary, MP3 and audible audio books, you just can't go wrong with the Kindle. Also keep an eye out for the Kindle DX which has basically all the same features but with a bigger screen more aimed for college text books and wireless subscriptions to periodicals.
lshterrySep 13th 2009 1:30PM
When the kindle becomes more affortable i will be mre than happy to help the environment and buy one. Right now its just too much $. my guess is that in about 3-5yrs it will be below 200$. I read a lot! but not enought to offset the heafty price. Remember when flat screen tvs came out. look how much they have dropped in price.