Top 10 Improvements of the Amazon Kindle 2
Submitted by jwhitakr on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 16:18
The next big buzz has become the updated and enhanced version of Amazon’s hugely popular Kindle e-book reader.
After listening to user feedback (a.k.a. complaints) and spending more than 16 months in the lab, Amazon gave birth to a new and improved Kindle 2, weighing in at 10.2 ounces.
What’s to like about Kindle 2 is that the engineers didn't simply move buttons around, change the color, and slap a Version 2.0 sticker on it. They really paid attention to feedback to make significant improvements. Maybe this is why they didn't want to confirm last year's rumors of a Kindle 2 under development because it might have halted sales! But that's another conspiracy for another time … ;-)
Onto the improvements in Top 10 fashion:
10. Improved battery life.
9. Improved dictionary to immediately deliver definitions of words you highlight - also look up words that are not found within the text.
8. Now easier to manage your entire library of books, newspapers and e-zines.
7. More memory - now holds more than 1,500 books.
6. Page loads are faster than the original Kindle.
5. Text-to-Speech function may be useful when on the road or when your hands aren't free. For example, it may come in handy while folding laundry, zoning out while doing your taxes, or with the lights off.
4. 5-way button allows you to select left and right (not only up and down like the original Kindle). It comes in handy when it comes to selecting and highlighting.
3. No more accidental page flips!
2. Sharper 6” screen that is more like reading a newspaper.
1. No more funky curved keyboard design!
Plus, a nice bonus - books are generally marked at lower prices ($9.99 for most NY Times Best Sellers).
All in all, the Amazon Kindle 2 is a great buy for all gadget lovers who also happen to be reading enthusiasts. With conveniences for the busy, compactness for the light traveler, and an accommodating interface for the physically disabled, the Kindle 2 is now THE front-runner in the portable e-book device market.
(2 votes)
