Amazon Kindle 2: Hands-On First Look

By now, anyone interested in the Kindle 2 is probably familiar with its specs and how it differs from the first-generation Kindle. As a refresher: Version two is thinner and lighter (about one-third of an inch and 10.2 ounces).

The new Kindle can display 16 shades of gray on its 6-inch screen and has a battery life of approximately two weeks with the wireless radio turned off (four days with it on). Unfortunately, this battery isn't user-replaceable, but Amazon's Web site claims that it will be replaced free under warranty within the first year, and will only cost $59 to have the factory change it after that. The internal memory has also been increased up to 2GB (1.4GB available for content). The company claims that this will allow the storage of approximately 1,500 books.

So, does the Kindle 2 live up to its preceding hype?

Well, from what we've seen so far, the answer is yes. With no experience using the first Kindle, reviewers found the e-reader to be everything we expected. Upon turning the device on, a welcome screen appears with a progress bar familiar to anyone who has used a computer. As it was the first time the unit was turned on, it opened directly into the first page of the user's manual. Since we had read the manual online prior to our Kindle's arrival, we exited out and went to the home page where we found that, in the short amount of time it was on, the device had already connected to Whispersync (Amazon's name for Sprint's 3G network, which is used for content delivery) and downloaded the two books that we preordered. (In addition, there was a personalized thank-you note from Jeff Bezos.)

Our first impression of the build quality is good.

Although thin and lightweight, the Kindle 2 has a solid feel to it. Just below center on either side are "Next Page" buttons about 2 inches long each. Directly above the left button is a "Previous Page" button, and above the right is one that takes the user back to the Home page. The design and placement of these keys are a big departure from the previous Kindle, whose keys spanned the entire length of the device. Users complained that they were continuously changing pages by accident whenever they picked up the reader.

While the new version's positioning is a huge improvement, we can still see the problem occurring now and then if the user is not careful. The beveled edge does make it a bit easier to grip, though.

Reading on the Kindle 2 is easy on the eyes, as the e-ink simulates real paper with clean, crisp lettering. Font size is adjustable from six different options, which makes it even easier to read, regardless of your eyesight. Since e-books need to refresh the entire screen on every page "turn," Amazon's claim of a 20 percent speed increase was not overlooked. Although the refresh is noticed, it happens very quickly and is no more distracting than turning the page of an actual book.

Another useful feature of the Kindle 2 is the built-in New Oxford American Dictionary. Using the 5-way controller, the user simply directs the on-screen cursor to the beginning of a word, and its definition appears at the bottom of the page. Clicking on the controller will bring up more details. Although it doesn't sound like much, it's something we can see being sorely missed once growing accustomed to it.

Below the screen is a QWERTY keyboard whose keys are small, round and unobtrusive. We found them a little difficult to press, but not to the point that it became annoying.

Among some of what Amazon is calling "Experimental Features" (which we can only assume will be improved on or removed with future firmware versions), is the interesting Text-To-Speech option. Doing exactly what it claims, when this feature is turned on, the Kindle will actually read to you in a computer-generated voice.

While the voice definitely has a robotic sound to it, we were actually quite impressed with it, especially as its inflection changed based on punctuation. It is definitely not a substitute for an audio book, but it will do in a pinch.

Probably the biggest feature that makes the Kindle stand out from all of its competitors, the wireless Whispersync is a breeze to use. From menu options, users can access the Kindle Storefront, which is basically an Amazon Web page formatted for the device. Pages load as quickly as a Web page on a broadband connection and the 5-way controller easily functions as a stand-in for the mouse. Most books offer a free download of the first chapter before buying and when ready, can be bought using Amazon's one-click shopping (which is required). As promoted, purchased downloads completed in seconds. Amazon offers an equally easy way to return a book should it be purchased by accident.

As we delve deeper into reading with the Kindle 2, more features, thoughts and opinions will come up. After spending just a few hours with it, it is safe to say that it has changed the way we plan to read and buy books from now on. At $359, it is not an impulse buy, but for those who are avid readers, the ease of use, both in reading and making purchases, as well as the lower prices of digital books, make it worth the price.