Let's Get Physical
Based on the pictures all over the internet, the Kindle 2 is thinner, a bit wider and slightly longer than its predecessor. No doubt that reading will be a little easier, particularly for people who have eye problems. Weighing just 10.2 ounces, it is also lighter than the first Kindle - and believe me, the original one is already easy to carry around. In fact, I take it with me wherever I go, including the bathroom.
About the color, well, let's just say that there is definitely more room for improvement. Like the first version, Amazon decided to stick with off-white. I had actually hoped that they would offer more colors AND a better design for the second Kindle but no such luck there.
I also noticed that instead of the familiar scroll wheel, the new Kindle has a joystick in its place. Since I haven't had the chance to try it out, I am not sure if this is a change for the better. However, I'm really glad to see that the Next Page and Previous Page buttons are relatively smaller than those of the first-edition Kindle. I actually have the tendency to click them while reading even if I'm not yet done with the page so I think that Kindle fans will greatly appreciate that.
New Features Abound
One of the most talked-about innovative aspects of the latest version of Kindle is the Text-to-Speech or Read-to-Me feature. As its name suggests, the Kindle 2 can convert a written word into something that can be heard. For instance, if you have gotten tired of reading but you are, say, required to read a book for school, you can just listen to it via Kindle. But personally, I don't think that I will be engaged to let Kindle read to me out loud because I find joy in actual reading. It might be a little hard to understand but reading and listening are really different for me. Although, I know that there are a lot of people who would enjoy that.
One thing that I find wonderful about the new Kindle is the PDF Document Conversion. My original Kindle does not support PDF files and that sometimes gets on my nerves. Plus, the Kindle 2 can also play MP3 files so one can now read while some music plays on.
My Judgment
Overall, I can say that the Kindle 2 is somewhat an improvement over the first one. Before, you can only store around 200 books but now, it has space for over 1,500 books! If the original Kindle was a dream that came true for me, this one would simply be heaven. But since I am still enjoying a pretty good relationship with the first Kindle, I don't think that I am ready to trade it yet for the Kindle 2. But if Amazon can come up with a touch-screen and well-designed Kindle the next time around, you bet I'll be the first in line for that.
Patrick Garde is the owner of Smashing Hit which offers reviews/previews of the best selling products on the web today. SmashingHit.com
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