Amazon Kindle 2 Features - Advanced Design - Part 1

In this post, I'll be commenting on the different features presented in the Amazon Kindle 2 site

Here's the excerpt from Amazon:

Image from Amazon.com

Advanced Design

Sleek & Light

At 10.2 ounces, Kindle is lighter than a typical paperback and as thin as most magazines. Barely a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle fits perfectly in your hands.

Simple to Use, No Computer Required

Unlike most electronic devices, we wanted to keep Kindle simple. Kindle is wireless and ready to use right out of the box–no setup, no cables, no software to install, no computer required.

Ergonomic Design

Kindle is easy to hold and read. We designed it with long-form reading in mind. When reading for long periods of time, people naturally shift positions and often like to read with one hand. Kindle's page-turning buttons are located on both sides, allowing you to read and turn pages comfortably with one hand from any position.

Precise 5-Way Controller

Kindle has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.

The Kindle 2 is really very sleek.  See my comparison of the Kindle 2 with the Ipod Classic and Ipod Nano here.

I think it's wireless capability has made it very useful.  Since books you bought from the Kindle Store are sent directly to your Kindle 2, this lets you use it independently from a computer.  This means you can continue reading your favorite books without needing to carry your laptop all the time.

The 5 way joystick is quite useful too.  Others are saying that a trackball type controller like those found in the Blackberry would be more useful.  I would disagree.  Navigating the menus is simply up, down, left or right.  You're not surfing the web here so the 5-way joystick is enough.

Long Battery Life

Long Battery Life—Read for Days Without Recharging

With Kindle's long battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 1 week with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low-coverage areas or in EDGE/GPRS-only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.

Charge Via USB

Kindle ships with a U.S. power adapter and a micro-USB cable for charging your Kindle from a computer USB port. The U.S. power adapter supports voltages 100V-240V.

At first, we were worried that we got a broken Kindle 2 because the battery runs out after just 3 hours from a full charge.  Later on, we learned that you need to turn of the Wireless Access OFF when not in use.  When turned off, the Kindle 2 runs for about a week from a full charge.

Wireless Access With Whispernet


Get Books in as Little as 60 Seconds

Whispernet utilizes Amazon's optimized technology plus a high-speed data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike Wi-Fi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot. Wireless download times can vary based on 3G or EDGE/GPRS coverage, signal strength, and file size. See wireless coverage map for availability.

No Monthly Wireless Bills

No monthly wireless bills or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle's wireless connectivity so you won't see a monthly wireless bill. There is no wireless setup–you are ready to shop, purchase, and read right out of the box. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.

Global Coverage

Uses GSM technology—the most popular mobile wireless standard—with wireless coverage in over 100 countries. See wireless coverage map for availability.

Travel the Globe with Kindle

Travel the globe and still get books in under 60 seconds. Download books wirelessly in over 100 countries around the world, such as Australia, Hong Kong, Germany, Japan, Norway, Spain, South Africa, the United Kingdom (UK), and many others. Stay in touch with news from home by having your newspaper and magazine subscriptions delivered wirelessly while you travel. See wireless coverage map for availability.

For U.S. customers traveling abroad, a $1.99 fee currently applies when downloading books or single issues of periodicals wirelessly from your Archived Items or the Kindle store while traveling internationally. For details on periodicals and personal documents, click here. To avoid any fees, you can always download books, periodicals, and personal documents via your computer and transfer to your Kindle using USB.

I believe this is what's going the Kindle 2 unique from all other electronic book readers.  It's like having the Amazon bookstore always with you.  So as soon as you finish a book, just log on to the Kindle Store to buy a new book!  For other ebook readers, you'd have to download a pdf copy and sync it with your ebook reader.

Unfortunately, not all countries still have the global service.  For such cases, you'll have to download the book via your computer and sync with your Kindle 2.  To check if your country has the Whispernet service, visit the Kindle 2 main site.


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The Kindle 2 is going to give you your money's worth.  This is a must-have devices for bookworms!  Head on to Amazon now to get your Kindle 2