Built in Keyboard

The Amazon Kindle 2 is the second generation of the giant online bookseller’s electronic book-reading device. At just 9mm thick and weighing 0.28kg, it’s certainly a device that won’t weigh you down and won’t be too hard to pack. However, as it has a 6-inch screen and a keyboard it is not going to fit in your pocket. However, the QWERTY keyboard certainly makes things a bit easier, especially when you are writing bookmarks and annotations.

Text more detailed in most lighting conditions

As with most other ebook readers the Kindle 2 has an E-Ink paper-like screen so it doesn’t strain your eyes. E-Ink screens can be read from any angle and in direct sunlight, so have always been the screen of choice for ebook readers. However, what marks the Kindle 2 out (certainly from the original model) is that it has a screen that can display 16 shades of grey (the original Kindle only had four).
The difference this makes to ordinary text is noticeable, but not large, the main benefit of the extra shades is the effect they have on pictures (for example in e-newspapers), which are now much more detailed.

Supported File Formats – Kindle 2

• Amazon Kindle AZW
• TXT, MOBI (Project Guternberg)
• PDF, DOC, HTML, JPEG, GIF, PNG and BMP but only after a conversion
• Audio MP3 and Audible Enhanced AXX

Wireless eBook Downloads

The other feature that the Kindle has over many other ebook readers is the wireless functionality. You don’t need a computer to download ebooks, which are then transferable to the book reader, like with many other devices. You can download new ebooks directly to your Kindle using the built-in wi-fi. There are no subscription fees or charges for this service, other than the cost of the book you are downloading.

The Kindle 2 itself can hold around 1500 ebooks, but if that isn’t enough for you then you don’t have to worry because all your purchased books are backed-up on Amazon, so you can re-download an ebook you have paid for at any time using the wi-fi. Another bonus offered through the wireless connectivity is free access to Wikipedia, the exhaustive online encyclopaedia.

Speak to Me on the Kindle 2

Other new features on the Kindle include Read-to-Me, which will read your book to you using an electronic voice. You can choose from either a male or female voice, but, as electronic voices are never the most charismatic and interesting to listen to, this feature will probably only be used when you simply can’t read from the screen (when driving a car for example). You can also download and play back genuine audio books (read by humans). Although these will take up considerably more space than ebooks, they certainly make for a better listening experience if you are going to listen to books frequently using your Kindle.

Conclusion

Overall, the Amazon Kindle 2 is an excellent ebook reader, with some strong features and friendly user interface. The primary advantage it has over many other ebook readers is its wireless functionality, that means books can be downloaded directly to the Kindle. It certainly appears to be the reader of choice for those that read e-newspapers daily, as it means you can buy a subscription and download the paper directly to the reader every morning, which is very convenient. Also, due to the new screen with 16 shades of grey, the pictures in the newspapers will be sharper and clearer on the Kindle 2.

	Store	Delivery	Price
	Amazon.com		$259.00