Product: Amazon Kindle 2
Manufacturer: Amazon.com
MSRP: $259.00
Author: Cameron (aliencam)
Date: November 8, 2009

The Amazon Kindle has been known as the premiere ebook reader, but can the hype, the long waiting list, and the price really be worth it?

Packaging

The Kindle 2 comes in a packaging that certainly lives up to the hipster tech icon that the Amazon wants it to be. The brown cardboard case is completely wrapped around the unit, making it difficult to find the opening in the package. The first step involves tearing the box open with a pull-tab on the side, which opens up much like a package of frozen food. Within that box, there is another package that I think would be sufficient on its own, if it were only shrink-wrapped. Inside all the layers, the Kindle is cradled in a sturdy plastic tray, covered by a protective plastic sticker. Underneath the tray are a USB cable with a power outlet adapter, and the quick start guide. The packaging, while being my favorite packaging since the iPod 3G, does have some downsides. You can’t ever put the Kindle 2 all the way back in its box, since you have to tear the first layer, however the “inside box” is more than sufficient to repackage it for display or transport (am I the only one that does this?). My review Kindle came with a new Kindle 2, and a used leather book style case.

Packaging Gallery

Standard Specifications

The Manufacturer’s Technical specifications are: (copied from the product website)

• Display: 6″ diagonal E Ink® electronic paper display, 600 x 800 pixel resolution at 167 ppi, 16-level gray scale.
• Size (in inches): 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″ (203.2mm x 134.6mm x 9.1mm).
• Weight: 10.2 ounces (289.2 grams).
• System Requirements: None, because it’s wireless and doesn’t require a computer. Check wireless coverage.
• Storage: 2GB internal (approximately 1.4GB available for user content).
• Battery Life: Read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to two weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low-coverage areas or in EDGE/GPRS-only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
• Charge Time: Fully charges in approximately 4 hours via the included U.S. power adapter. Also supports charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable.
• Connectivity: HSDPA modem (3G) with a fallback to EDGE/GPRS; utilizes Amazon Whispernet to provide wireless coverage via AT&T’s 3G high-speed data network in the U.S. and partner networks outside of the U.S. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
• USB Port: USB 2.0 (micro-B connector) for connection to the Kindle U.S. power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer.
• Audio: 3.5mm stereo audio jack, rear-mounted stereo speakers.
• Content Formats Supported: Kindle (AZW), TXT, Audible (Audible Enhanced (AA, AAX)), MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion.
• Included Accessories: U.S. power adapter (supports 100V-240V), USB 2.0 cable, rechargeable battery. Book cover sold separately.
• Documentation: Quick Start Guide (included in box) [PDF]; Kindle User’s Guide (pre-installed on device) [PDF]. Additional information in multiple languages available online.
• Warranty and Service: 1-year limited warranty and service included. Optional 2-year Extended Warranty available for U.S. customers sold separately. Use of Kindle is subject to the Kindle License Agreement and Terms of Use.

Basic Operation

The Kindle 2 is an ebook reader, so let me first talk about its capacity in that (superficially) basic area. Reading books on the Kindle is simple. When you turn it on, you are presented with a list of all of the texts on your device at the time, in order of most recent use. From there, reading a book is as easy as using the directional stick to choose which text, then clicking on it to open. Last open page is automatically remembered for everything on the device, even if you are reading multiple books.
Purchasing books from the Kindle Store is as easy as buying music from iTunes or a similar music store (sometimes easier). Since your Amazon account is already linked to your Kindle when it is shipped to you (unless you purchase a gift option–I do not have experience with this), you don’t have to do any logging in or type in any your credit card info (it uses Amazon.com’s stored data). When you first open the kindle store, you are greeted with your account’s “Recommended books for you” list, which, for me, was spot on (I promptly purchased the Kindle version of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies). From there you can select any book, and read a description, reviews, and either purchase or download a preview (usually the first chapter or two) of the book. Download speeds are reasonable, I didn’t wait more than 30 seconds when downloading a book when I was in an area with good signal, and only a minute or two with marginal signal strength. Even if you are expecting the download to take awhile (huge file size maybe?), you are able to switch away from the download bar and continue using your kindle for other things, such as reading a different book.

Extra Features

The extra features of the kindle are not as widely advertised as they should be. The USB cable that is included allows you to transfer correctly formatted files directly to the kindle without using any proprietary software (the kindle reads directly from the filesystem.) There are plenty of programs you can use to convert ebooks to the Kindle (.azw) format, I found one that works cross-platform and is open source, called Calibre. From the home screen menu you can also access the “experimental applications” page, which has a basic web browser, the “read out loud” feature, MP3 player, and a few other apps. Unfortunately right before the kindle release, some of the audiobook recording companies coerced Amazon into disabling the “read out loud” feature for all books unless specifically authorized by the publisher, so this is not available on all books. Frankly though, the “read out loud” voice was still a computer synthesized voice, and I can’t imagine it competing with any skilled voice recording artist.

Now I said earlier that the Kindle file format did not need a DRM to work, which is true, but most books purchased from the Amazon store do have DRM on the files so that they can only be read on Kindle devices (pretty disappointing actually, since I had to send this one back so soon). There are some files in the store that are DRM-free, but these are usually ones that are already in the public domain (one exception to this is O’Reilly books, see http://toc.oreilly.com/2009/04/over-160-oreilly-books-now-in-kindle-store-without-drm-more-on-the-way.html ). Fortunately though, Amazon stores all Kindle ebook purchases in your Amazon account, so if you ever loose/get a new Kindle, or just plain delete the files accidently, you can easily restore them. You are able to download them to your computer, but as I understand it these files are tied to your specific Amazon account, so you can’t just share them (correct me if I am wrong about how this works).

Hardware Commentary

First, the screen– the Kindle family of ebook readers all use e-paper screens, which, if you have not physically seen one in person, you would not believe. While the images produced are slightly pixilated and obviously computer-generated, that is where the similarities to standard display technology ends. Looking at the Kindle s screen is just like looking at a piece of paper, even in direct sunlight.

You don’t have to worry about the backlight not being bright enough, or conserving power (one downside being that it is only visible in the same conditions that paper is visible). The e-paper screen also only consumes power when you change the page, so even if you leave your book open to a page, the screen is not using any power. In fact, when the Kindle is switched off, the screen changes to a static image of a famous author (or a marginally tasteful kindle advertisement).

Now to one of the most often-overlooked markets—left handed users (my personal impression is that the concentration of southpaws is disproportionately high among heavy readers and technophiles). The Kindle 2 is one of the more left-hand compatible devices of its kind, with equal page turning buttons on both sides of the unit. This makes it very nice, as I rarely sit still when reading, and switch reading position and hands often. Unfortunately, the newer Amazon Kindle DX (9.7″ screen) only has page turning buttons on the right side. I hope that Amazon has not forsaken us for future versions of their ebook reader devices.

Limitations/ Problems

The Kindle 2’s hardware was a source of concern for many prospective buyers, including myself, however I was pleasantly surprised with how well the unit worked. However, I did some research on those unhappy with the Kindle 2. It seems to me that most complaints stem from those with visual impairments (some people are unable to read the screen easily due to the contrast), or people migrating from a Kindle 1 to a Kindle 2.
One problem that made itself known more recently is Amazon’s content delivery system. When purchasing content from the Amazon store, you are apparently licensing the content, and not “purchasing” it. There was a case where a copy of George Orwell’s “1984” was removed from kindles where it had been purchased, because of a publisher copyright dispute. The members were compensated, and Amazon ensures that they have taken steps to prevent this from happening, but this is still a frightening prospect. Additionally, people who “loose” their Amazon accounts (I do not know what this entails—perhaps being banned for some reason?), find their kindles to be non-functioning.

Pros

•  Beautiful Design (Apple-inspired perhaps?)
•  Free “Whispernet” Mobile Internet
• Fast content delivery
• Large Title Library (Amazon.com!)
•  E-Ink screen looks like paper!

Cons

•  No Image/PDF Zoom (very bad when reading textbooks)
•  No SD Card Slot (the Kindle 1 had this! Without this, the storage capacity is sorely limited)
• No User-replaceable battery (when the battery dies—too bad (old iPod style))
• Slow “page turning ” (not much slower than turning a physical page, but slower than the computer screen refresh rate we are used to.)

Conclusion

Really, I could find little not to love about the Kindle. There are those features we all wish it had, and this is, of course a new technology, so it is not by any means as fast as a modern computer, neither are the images are as crisp and pretty. Really though, I don’t imagine any additional functionality being necessary. This already does almost everything a real book does, just as well, if not better, and gives you many additional things like web access, storing multiple texts, and mp3 capability. I really liked the Amazon Kindle 2, and hope to see what future generations (past the DX) will bring. I hope that this simple device will not become overcomplicated with apps and strange functions—when I am reading a book, I want to read it simply, and I want it to just work.

Additional Image Gallery

The Kindle 2 standing in its Book Cover

Removing the Kindle 2 from the Book Cover

Nice cool brushed aliminum back

Tags: Amazon, e-ink, Ebook, electronic ink, gallery, Kindle, Kindle 2, Reader, Review, whispernet