After Amazon had released the second generation of its popular Kindle eBook reader on February 9, reviewers summed up the good and the bad parts of the new device. As Kindle 2 might be considered as a refined and improved version of the first Kindle generation, analysts wonder whether Amazon will manage to get as much hype with its eBook reader as it did back in November 2007.
The new Kindle sports a similar black and white 6-inch screen with electronic ink technology. The screen has a resolution of 600 x 800 and it can display 16 shades of gray, instead of the first generation’s four. The Kindle 2 weighs a little over 10 ounces, as much as its older sibling does, and it measures 8 x 5.3 x 0.36 inches. The eBook reader has a Whispernet 3G connection through Sprint, which allows users to connect to Amazon’s online book catalog at no charge. An important addition is the 2 GB internal memory, which makes up for as much as 1,500 eBooks, according to Amazon.
According to the official press release, the new Kindle generation sports a battery with a higher capacity that will provide 25 percent more power on time. The device is stated to last for about four days with the wireless card enabled and up to two weeks, if the wireless connection is not used.
Other key improvements of the device were made regarding the software. Annotations and online book browsing are smoother now, and so is page turning, which runs 25 percent faster. Still, some reviewers pointed out that the device still runs slow and glitchy at times.
Ergonomically, Kindle 2 comes with an updated array of the buttons, as next/previous buttons will not be so prone to accidental presses. Moreover, the scroll wheel has been replaced with a five-way joystick. This means that browsing looks and feels more natural, but some people reckon that Amazon should have fit the device with a directional pad.
Overall, Kindle 2 is a clear step up from the previous generation. The permanent link between the device and Amazon’s enormous bookstore consisting of 230,000 books is a big plus over its competitors. Still, a reviewer questioned whether the average user would still afford to spend $359 these days in order to get a device that does just one thing. But then again, some may argue that the Kindle does its job very well and bringing books, blogs and Wikipedia into one 1/3 inch thick device is a reason strong enough to put the money down.
Other things that might draw the Kindle back from being a successful eBook reader is the fact that smartphones tend to become the preferred eBook platform, due to their wider accessibility and popularity. Sadly, the Kindle does not have a touchscreen and hence, much of the work on the device is done through the somewhat impractical joystick.
Still, these minor downsides are not deal breakers by any means. The incontestable fact is that Amazon has once again managed to release a commendable eBook reader that may have the chance to bring sought-after popularity to this niche market.
