Daily Marauder

KINDLE 2: E-READING JUST GOT EASIER

Earlier this morning, Amazon announced the Kindle 2, the upgraded version of their popular first edition e-reader. Even though 2008 sales for the original Kindle are unknown, some analysts speculate anywhere from 374K – 500K units sold. In essence, the thing is pretty freakin’ popular.

After watching the demo video and reading the specs for the new E-reader, I think this one will be even more so.

Check out the demo video for yourself:

Here are the highlights for me:

Design

It’s thin, it’s lightweight (10.2 ounces), and it looks pretty spiffy. I already want mine laser-etched. In addition, the pages ‘turn’ faster and the display is clearer with 16 shades of gray. No glare in the sun for beach reading.  Just checked out Techcrunch’s side by side page turn from Kindle1 & Kindle 2 and it looks pretty much the same.

Capacity

Not shockingly, the storage has been increased to accommodate 1,500 titles. Not quite sure who would need that many books packed into one device but then again, I didn’t understand the 80GB iPod either.

Delivery

Once a book is selected over the 3G wireless network, the title can be downloaded in 60 seconds. Browsing and downloading is all done with NO charges to the user. Amazon picks up that cost. All you have to do is pay for the title. If only my iPhone was so sweet…

Battery Life

You get 25% more life from the battery. This translates to 2 weeks on one charge.

Text to Speech

Initially, when I read about this feature in the live blog from Crunchgear, I thought this sounded pretty fab. You can either read on the device or switch to text to speech and have the device read to you. This works especially well when you say, commute to work by driving to a train station and then take the train into the city. Have the Kindle read to you during the car ride to the station, and then continue reading on your own on the train. Ingenious. That said, as someone who is currently listening to Freakonomics in the car, it’s a much different enterprise when listening to a human being read to you rather than the automated robotron voice of the Kindle 2. As much as I like hearing why drug dealers still live with their moms, I’m not as keen to hear it from robotron. Check out the demo video halfway down the page on the product site and you’ll see what I mean.

Price

This new Kindle costs $359 which was the going rate for the Kindle 1. On top of that, NY Times bestsellers cost only $9.99 on the Kindle which is usually less than the book. In checking the Amazon book store, this is not always the case. Plus, to this end, being that there is no printing and manufacturing cost, I’d actually think the title cost could be less. Kindle 1 owners get top priority in ordering the device as an act of Amazon love. In addition, anyone who recently purchased the Kindle 1 but hasn’t received the device yet will receive the Kindle 2. Very nice. Click here to pre-order yours. The device will ship 2/24.