As expected, Amazon.com
Version 2.0 retains most of the popular features of the original Kindle, which Oprah Winfrey gushed about four months ago. It still relies on Sprint Nextel
But alongside those familiar features, there are also plenty of welcome enhancements:
- The new model is more compact than the original. It's as thin as a magazine and weighs less than a paperback.
- With two gigabytes of storage, it offers improved capacity of roughly 1,500 titles (vs. 200 for the previous model).
- Its display screen is improved, now offering 16 shades of gray (versus four) so images appear sharper.
- Battery life is now 25% longer.
- A "text-to-speech" feature allows the Kindle to read aloud any book, magazine, blog, or newspaper.
That last point is huge. Style freaks may love the ergonomic enhancements, but I think the "read-to-me" option will really push the Kindle into the mainstream.
I'm not saying that we're all audiobook junkies who hate physical reading. I also realize that speech synthesizers are a joke compared to rich human voices. However, the real sticking point with many potential Kindle owners is that they don't always have a lot of time to read. A Kindle may work for mass-transit commuters on the bus, trains, or subways, but what about the majority of us who actually drive, bike, or walk to work? We can't afford to stare at a screen.
There's a reason why Sirius XM Radio
It remains to be seen whether Kindle's first wave of early adopters will take to the updated model. Amazon isn't offering rebates or trade-ins -- just allowing original owners a first crack at getting the new Kindles if they order in the next two days.
Either way, Amazon has raised the bar here. Rivals like Sony
The Kindle is now better, with a wider library of available titles, and Winfrey-approved to boot. In short, I think its debut marks another exciting chapter for Amazon.
Other page-turners in the Kindle saga:
- Tim doesn't like Winfrey promoting the Kindle.
- I, on the hand, have no problem with that.
- How to find the stocks that will make you rich.