March 18th, 2009 
admin 
You know, I refrained from covering the Kindle. I have also resisted posting about Amazon’s Kindle 2. The reason I have done so is because every electronic and gadget outlet has covered it ad nauseum. So, why is the Kindle 2 so special?
Well, I think my first answer will surprise you. That’s because it has nothing to do with the technology. The Kindle 2 is special because of the revenue generation capability of the device. Instead of waiting days for a book, you can have it in 60 seconds. Suddenly, the massive array of the Amazon Kindle book catalogue is open to you (to the tune of 250,000!) – instantly. Also, the books are only $10 a shot. Yeah yeah, people decry the whole DRM thing. I think most people who are bookworms won’t care about this issue. They want something that is easy and works. Granted the device is not cheap – at $350. But for Amazon, this thing has got to be a cash cow.
But the Kindle is not only special for Amazon. Yes, it is a cash cow for them. But it is also special for publishers and writers. Suddenly, time to delivery is cut by unbelievable times. Digital content allows for tremendous speeds from idea conception to content delivery. And it also cuts down on production costs like binding, packaging, etc. I would assume that content distribution will expand with this method as well. I’m sure I am missing a ton of things here, but I think you get the idea. And now, let’s look at why this is special for the end user. Yes, this must be done right, but it’s the overall system that really is special – end to end. Without that, the Kindle wouldn’t have gotten off the ground to begin with.
Having 250,000 books at your disposal is a dream for most readers. I would personally prefer this for a library, so I didn’t have to pay. But that’s me. The fact that the Kindle utilizes e-ink is obviously one of the major things that has helped it succeed. Without e-ink, this thing would have died a quick death. Just try reading pdf’s on your computer for a while and you will know what I mean. It tires the eyes to no end. But e-ink really does read like a book. It holds up in sunlight and is a joy to read.
The Kindle 2 is super thin and light ( 8 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches ; 10.2 ounces). It can hold 1,500 books and the battery can last for days. And because the Kindle uses 3G, books can be downloaded anywhere you can get a signal in 60 seconds. That’s pretty unreal. Also, Kindle 2 utilizes 16 shades of gray as opposed to Kindle 1′s 4. That brings a new level of detail to things like images. They also incorporated a new feature called WhisperSync. It can keep your bookmark across iPhone and/or Kindles. I guess that’s pretty neat if you are a gadget crazed maniac.
Kindle 2′s read to me feature allows you to have your Kindle read to you. Yeah, it’s computerized and sounds hokey, but some people prefer that in different situations. Audio books read by human narrators are still better. Kindle 2 also boasts a 25% increase in battery life. The benefits are obvious.
Yes, there are still some downsides to the Kindle 2, but the Kindle will be around for a long time. Newspapers, magazines, and books are at your fingertips.
But the Kindle 2 is still expensive – $350. And it is a one function device, though it does it well. If they could lower that price point and include free ways to share docs and browse the entire internet, you would have a huge winner. But, all this aside, the Kindle 2 truly is special – and from numerous points of view.
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