Amazon Kindle 2 Unboxing
Way, way back in October we broke the news of Amazon’s Kindle 2. Seems like forever ago, doesn’t it? Amazon snubbed us at the launch event, but we’ve taken matters into our own hands and got a Kindle 2 delivered. As we all have come to expect, the Kindle 2 arrived in its very own customized packaging. Occupying the size of a large hardcover book, the inside of the box and the Kindle 2 packaging was matte black with a slightly embossed Kindle logo and swirl of letters that typifies the Kindle brand. The contents of the box are meager — Kindle 2, power adapter, USB sync cable and brief getting started guide. Unlike the original Kindle, the Kindle 2 does not included any type of case or slipcover. All in all, much as you think it would, the unit doesn’t disappoint aesthetically. It has a nice rounded look and is amazingly thin, not clunky and awkward-looking like the original Kindle, and despite its diminutive size, it has a nice heft and feel to it. The only drawback from an appearance point of view is that the screen is eclipsed by the overall size of the reader. Unlike the Sony series of readers which have minimal casing, the Kindle 2 is dominated by the keyboard and large casing, making the screen appear smaller that it actually is. A small trade-off for including a physical QWERTY keyboard. We are waiting for this baby to charge before we dive into our first book but you can enjoy the pictures with us while we wait.
I wonder if my father got his today? I’ll have to check it out next time I visit. It looks pretty cool. I do love the feel of my “real” books though….
Wow, that’s tiny. Does it charge via usb also?
I could almost hear the opening of “2001 A Space Odyssey” playing for some people while scrolling through these pictures.
Looks nice would think about getting one had my newspaper put some e-subscripion/E-Reader deal together to make this a good deal and save some trees(and maybe their industry) but so far they aren’t that smart.
I’m curious to know if it’s slippery holding it with one hand, that’s been my only hesitation given the new backing versus the old rubber. Thinking about my morning subway commute with jerky movements and jerks bumping into me.
I wanna get one of these too but want it to get a better and do more for that price, there are plenty of book reading apps so some tv, radio, mp3 and browsing on a screen that size would be nice
What happened to the Student Version/Edition?
Received my kindle 2 today!
@contempt: The kindle is not slippery when holding it. The back is not like the ipod touch. It is more like the back of the blackberry storm.
It’s so cool!!! I am so excited to have it and I can’t wait to start reading. I have been playing with it and setting up the different things. It took me a while to figure out how to use the internet. If anyone has any questions just ask!!! Or I can send you some pix.
I’m also curious about what happened to the rumored “Student Edition”.
I am currently a student and ordered the Kindle 2 specifically to use for text books (more than likely I will still read novels via paper, as I like to pass them along). I would quickly sell / donate the Kindle 2 I ordered if they do end up revealing a “Student” edition with a larger screen.
does it work in countries outside the us?
I am waiting for the kimble 3. Or at least what I hope the 3rd one will be. Touch screen and no keyboard. Size of a paperback. Like an iphone but with the paper like screen.
It will not be able to do wireless outside of the US right now, but you could still load books manually from your PC or Mac like all the other eBook readers right now. So if you are desperate to have a Kindle 2 right now outside of the US, you could, but without full functionality.
I cannot believe the capabilities of my Kindle. I keep about 10 books on the Kindle that I am constantly refering to and/or reading. For instance I have the Bible, cookbook, 3 novels, and some other reference materials on it at the present time. I sometimes look at the news and other information on the “web,” and find the selection of books available for download (many for free) to be mindboggling. I am a fan!
you can definitely use it in countries outside the states but you wont be able to use the wireless feature. you would have to buy the books from amazon and download them to your computer or go to a website with free books and download them there and then transfer the files to your kindle manually.