Comments on: Amazon Kindle 2 official photos, pricing and availability leaked

By: Andrys

Andrys — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:26:31 +0000

People should also know that the price includes anytime/anywhere Internet access on Sprint’s fast EVDO wireless network.

That’s access to google etc from wherever you are at any time.

They’ve just expanded the network coverage to include all 50 states and more rural areas.

24/7 – no added monthly or hourly cost. That’s worth quite a bit for me, considering how much it costs a month for cellphone data access.

By: Andrys

Andrys — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:23:53 +0000

D,
Re newspaper/magazine feeds, check out http://kindlefeeder.com

By: Kathryn Sargent

Kathryn Sargent — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:01:03 +0000

I have had my Kindle 1.0 since October and I never leave home without it. I have a huge collection of regular books, and they take up too much space in my home. I am also concerned about the cost to the environment from all these paper books and the publishing process. My Kindle allows me to carry a library with me, look up definitions, search Wikipedia and the Web, make notes on what I’ve read, highlight and save clippings, grab a newspaper or magazine and so much more. I’m glad that the new version has smaller keys on the sides and slightly larger keypads, but otherwise, I am thrilled with my kindle. I love having a keyboard and I hope they never take those away. I wrote this with mine.

By: thegeniusfiles

thegeniusfiles — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:49:45 +0000

When the price comes down to $99 I will buy one. Used books are cheap and durable. It’s a very high price for convenience.

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 13:03:57 +0000

There’s nothing wrong with reading a book instead of using a Kindle, just like there’s nothing wrong with sending a letter instead of sending an email. I think the big advance here, for those who choose to use this medium, is the ability to buy and read books immediately, and the ability to carry 200 of them around with you (admittedly of limited practical use…but carrying three or four is certainly an advantage.)

By: Chris Ross

Chris Ross — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:26:49 +0000

I’ve had my Kindle since June (08). I am currently living abroad and it is a great(!) way to get access to English books at a reasonable price. Whispernet doesn’t work, but I can download to my computer and then to the Kindle and pay $6.99-$9.99 instead of 16-19 euro! I figure I’ve almost saved the purchase price over the last few months, not to mention the convenience, shipping costs, etc. I like the looks of v 2.0 so maybe I will give my v1.0 to my daughter and get a new one for myself.

By: D

Sun, 08 Feb 2009 06:17:10 +0000

The kindle seems so close to exactly what I want in a mobile reading solution, but the pricing model just kills it for me.

I want a well-designed mobile NEWS reading device. Books are good too, but the selection just isn’t there for the science/tech/business/finance and other fairly fast-paced topics that I frequent.

And while Kindle offers most of the feeds I want, and a sort-of-browser, I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay $2+ per feed and $10+ for papers/magazines when I browse dozens of both every day. I’d hit $100/mo in a heartbeat before even buying my first book. Ouch.

Give me a flat monthly fee for data (with the usual 5GB cap, whatever), a real web browser, and I’m sold.

Until then I guess I’m stuck with a netbook?

By: Mimi

Mimi — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:08:04 +0000

Good question, Phyllis…

And, if Kindle content is made available to some cell phones, such as the iPhone, will there be a way to transfer Kindle books we already own to the phones?

Interestingly, for the first time since I bought my Kindle last year, there was an automatic software update today. I didn’t see any difference after it was finished downloading, but I wonder if it will be activated on Monday? And what will it be about? No clue from the onscreen updating notice. It’s all very mysterious.

Many of us have felt that some of the shortcomings we’ve noticed could actually be corrected or improved by simple software updates, such as different ways to organize our books on the home pages.

By: Linda Wright

Linda Wright — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 01:07:22 +0000

Love the kindle. The keyboard is used to type content in input fields or for searches. Easily saves money on newspapers and you can get different whenever you have extra free time. Only complaint is the next page and previous page buttons. These take a little practice. Reading books is easy on eyes with text sizing. I find lots of books and authors and this only keeps growing. Great gadget.

By: Phyllis from CT.

Phyllis from CT. — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 22:23:07 +0000

I have had my Kindle since May 2008 and loved it so much that I bought 2nd one for my sister for her birthday. She loves it too. Yes, there are a few design glitches that need attention. But the keyboard is not one of them. I use it all the time to search specific authors. Will Amazon allow us owners to trade our original Kindles and upgrade for a price?

By: Terry

Terry — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:01:53 +0000

I have had the version 1.0 for maybe 9 months now. I agree with many of the complaints about the original design, but will only give up my old one if I get a new one. That said, it is sometimes a problem reading books that have tables, graphs, or photos imbedded in them. It really works well for all-text books. I subscribe to the Wall Street Journal and Forbes on it, but find I like the online version of those better. Two great things about Amazon: book reviews and free samples on the Kindle.

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:53:35 +0000

@Christopher Cox,

“No large book collection taking up physical shelve space…” – You must have one killer book collection!

Okay okay, I’m not trying to bash, I’m just stating that it’s not for me. If I spend a few hundred dollars on something technological, it needs to do more than let me read a book. It’s all a matter of opinion

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 18:37:02 +0000

Hey BGR, is there any news about whether the new Kindle can read pdf files directly?

By: Andrys

Andrys — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:44:52 +0000

The Sony E-Readers cost the same but without wireless access.

Amazon has added over 7,000 free Kindle books (no doubt public domain oldies) so they must be preparing an announcement having to do with libraries. In the meantime, with the wireless we also have direct access to manybooks.net and feedbooks.com among many others that have free books that can be read on the Kindle. There is an Amazon thread about the million plus books available and how to access them for the Kindle.

That’s at http://tinyurl.com/freebooksites

In the meantime Amazon hasn’t forbidden use of kindlefeeder.com to access free feeds of your choice pushed to your Kindle daily.

By: Andrys

Andrys — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:39:00 +0000

The keyboard is also used for web browsing.

The Kindle (the original one) comes with 24/7 wireless at no cost.

My Kindle came with web bookmarks in place (on its ‘experimental’ capabilities) which led to BCC News, MSNBC News in mobile format.

But we can browse anywhere we like. And if a web site is not too complex, we can read it wherever we might be.

When out of the house, I often use it on the street to google information about places where I am. Klunky access to webmail is possible too but it’s nothing I want to do very often.

That 24/7 Sprint EVDO fast wireless is no small factor for me. It’s useable anywhere a cellphone will work.

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:37:24 +0000

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!! I have been getting so anxious lately because I ordered my Kindle when it was SOLD OUT on the 27th of November and then when I heard about the Kindle 2 I didn’t want the original version and I kept my order open in hopes that the original one was not in production anymore and they would send me the 2. And it looks like I was right especially since I checked my order and they changed my shipping date to FEB 25th!!! I am getting the kindle 2!!! Thank you Kelly!!!! TO EVERYONE WHO THINKS THE KINDLE IS A WASTE OF MONEY: If you buy books like I do…. for 25-30 a pop and lug these heavy stephanie meyer books around. (currently reading the host, so heavy!!!) the kindle is so worth it! The host was 25 bucks in the store and only 9.99 on the kindle addition. plus things like the entire Jane Austen collection is only $4.27 for all 8!!! The kindle is for avid readers not super techies. (which I also am) Thanks again!!!!!

By: Alexander

Alexander — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:33:06 +0000

Why the keyboard? Why?!

I understand the functionality it can bring, but I would gladly exchange it for a larger screen.

By: Christopher Cox

Christopher Cox — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:04:11 +0000

@Oliver,

The thing about this kind of display is it doesn’t look like a computer screen. E-ink displays look more like you are reading on paper and is easy on the eyes. No large book collection taking up physical shelve space and a display that has a paper look? What is wrong with that?

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).

By: killa killa

killa killa — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:30:08 +0000

dang that thangs fugly!!!

By: DavidB

DavidB — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 13:25:29 +0000

People actually read enough books in 5 years to equal the cost of this thing? Wow. Then again, the first edition only sold what about a 1/2 million units, and as pricey as it is I can see why.

Ditch the keyboard and get the price down the $199 and they’d move MiLLIONS!

By: Mimi

Mimi — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 12:55:23 +0000

I have the Kindle… and while details about the 2.0 aren’t clear, it seems they’ve adressed some of the drawbacks, especially about not having the on/off controls on the back, shrinking the forward/previous page buttons and allowing more holding areas.

Amazon now has over 125,000 books available for download, though some publishers are still reluctant to join the bandwagon. I find plenty of good content to keep me busy reading, but will be happier when all publishers join the bandwagon. There are many “free” books, mostly classics, available from other sources as well.

By: Queen4111

Queen4111 — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 10:35:34 +0000

What happened to the “Student Version”?

By: Oliver

Oliver — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:24:07 +0000

What’s wrong with reading a normal book? $359 to read books on a computer screen? No thanks…

By: levander

levander — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:55:01 +0000

What happened to the rumors of dropping Whispernet (I think that’s what that wireless Sprint access was called) and also being able to drop $100 off the price tag because of it?

I got over being all excited over the Kindle when I started checking out if books I want to buy are available for the Kindle yet. Most were not. If you read a lot of mainstream paperbacks or even classics, Kindle’s probably your thing. Otherwise, it doesn’t seem like the content is there for the Kindle yet.

Amazon is working on it and has the best shop available for an e-Reader. Still, it’s probably gonna take the publishing world a few years to really get behind this thing enough that it makes sense for everyone to have one.

By: Ryan Everhard

Ryan Everhard — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:45:16 +0000

How much do you really even need to use the keyboard on this device? I’m actually surprised at how much space they devote to the keyboard. I know you need it for searching for books, but is that all?

I’ve never seen one in person or used one, so I really don’t know, just curious.

By: Sylvie

Sylvie — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:28:55 +0000

Any word on whether those who’ve ordered a Kindle but haven’t yet received it will have the option of getting version 2?

By: Ricky

Ricky — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:46:35 +0000

It looks good, but the keyboard is still all kinds of FUG.
They need to hire RIM or HTC to make them a pretty keyboard.

By: Evilhomer

Evilhomer — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:44:32 +0000

I want now. Hate the design of the old one but the connection with Amazon is great.

By: Shad Owens

Shad Owens — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 04:18:33 +0000

I’d loved to have one of the these if they expanded a little more on viewing and resource communication.

Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone) at: Chicago IL, 60657