Comments on: Kindle 2: Hands-on impressions

CNET's David Carnoy shares his first impressions of Amazon's second-generation digital reading device.

[tipoo_]

so no backlight means no bedtime reading (without a lamp), right?

[Seanathome]

Well, Amazon is promoting this as "just like a book, no eye strain". ;)

[tcr071]

It is supposed to be BETTER than a book.

I can't seem to figure out the Kindle. A device trying to search for a problem that doesn't really need fixing.

I can understand heavy readers possibly wanting this device instead of carrying around epic trilogies that could weigh a lot but are you honestly saving money? $359 + tax? How many books could you buy with that amount of money? Are you honestly going to save $360+ from the e-book discounted prices over the 5-6 year lifespan of this Kindle (assuming someone actually keeps their electronics for 5+ years)??? I think not.

I'll stick with my books thanks.

[earthearth]

Why in the world would somebody want a backlight? That's precisely what real books do not have, and why you can read them for hours without the strain of looking into a flourescent/flickering light source. The whole point of a workable ebook reader is that it NOT have a backlight.

[userNoname]

Reader with keyboard. Are you kidding? It's not a e-book reader, it's a swiss-army knife or so. That's why it's pricey and won't revolutionize the newspaper industry.

[dengood25]

No expansion!! I think this is a step back . Granted on my gen1 kindle I haven't filled up the 2 Gig but I am getting close. I am wondering also if I could go past the 2 Gig mark. It says it is not supported but I am unsure if it would work. I like the combining of the charge port and the import port. Before too the MP3 element wouldn't play the songs in order. It was on constant random. Impossibly useless if you have an audio book. I wonder if this has been improved. Would like the processor and the battery life but I am not quite understanding why the nix of the expansion slot. Anyone?

[kc6hur]

Everyone always mentions the "free" 3G wireless, then in the next breath the $359 price tag being a bit high. You think the 3G is free?

[arshield]

Correct. But no back light is part of the point of these devices. The back light is a main cause of eye strain in electronic devices. E-ink devices were created to have as little eye strain as possible, so no eink device will ever have a back light. Maybe a side light as sony 700, but never a back light.

[cfw123]

I got my original Kindle on Dec. 4th, 2007, and I really love it -- I have almost 800 books on it already, and expect to double or triple that number eventually. But by leaving out the expansion slot, there is no way I can go to the Kindle 2. Why would they do that? Selling many ebooks is the way they make money.

Also there needed to be a much better directory structure, but nobody reported whether the new Kindle has that or not. They even left out the category code, even though that is available on the computer site.
Charles Wilkes

[chasper71]

I still have my 10 year old Rocket eBook though I am stuck with public domain content and a rather heavy device compared with the kindle. It has a touch screen and backlight. It doesn't cause more eye-strain than reading a paper book. I really enjoyed being able to read in the dark when the wife is asleep next to me. I'm happy that ebooks are advancing, despite early failures like NuvoMedia's/RCA's, but this does seem like a step backwards without light, touchscreen and expansion slots. Kudos for the wireless, e-ink and form. Some of us like the idea of reading in the dark without a flashlight!

[jpsalerno]

This is a rather absurd comment. A problem that doesn't really need fixing? Tell that to the business traveler who enjoys reading a book... or 10 while on his travels. Tell this to the college student whose primary job (next to supporting the barley industry) is to read textbooks. Sure, they could just take the physical books with them. Just like you could pack a duffel bag of all your CDs instead of carry an ipod. Obviously the Kindle, like any e-book reader, is all about convenience. Of course it's more cost-effective to go take out the book from your local library instead. But come on! Who does that? LOL The real beauty of this product isn't the sleek interface or bevy of features. Nope, it's the devices potential to 'encourage' those who might not normally read A book (let alone dozens) to do so. I don't know about you but... if I'm going to shell out $400 for a gadget... I'm damn well going to use it! This world would be a better place if people put the remote down and picked up a book...err... kindle. Maybe this device can at least play some type of role in that.

[stradavarius]

Add a subscription service and I'm there. Offer expiring rentals. Say you have a 3 at a time subscription. As soon as you finish a book and "return" it, you get access to a new one. I don't want to purchase a book I am only going to read once. I can deal with the high price tag if I am not spending $100 a month on books.

[joshdeboer]

Not sure why we need this at all. I completely agree with tcr07, just read a book people. This is a perfect example of, "just because we can", does not mean we need it. Making everything techie and digital is overrated. How about just reading a book? If you wish to be esoteric, get the hard-copy version.

Gee Wiz!

[winexz]

Travel a lot on airplanes, then talk about lugging books around.

[GeorgeCatlin]

For those who think a Kindle is useless, contemplate this: you can have a 10 ounce, pencil-thin, paper-sized device that will give you numerous newspapers and magazines daily, hold hundreds of books in whatever font you like, allow you to download WORD and PDF documents (letters, notes for speeches, etc.), do limited web surfing, AND can read all of the above to you while you drive your car. If your life involves reading and keeping up with current events, this little device can save you lots of money, time, paper, and hassles. "Just" a book reader?? PLEEEZE!

[Harlan879]

Folks, if you're waiting for color, you'll be waiting for a very long time! The technology that underlies E-Ink simply cannot do color well. It'll require totally new technology for you to get color useable for anything like photos.

[gary85739]

Nice gadget to "read" books with, BUT...I've downloaded many "SPOKEN BOOKS" FREE from the local library, all I need to enjoy them is ...EARPLUGS...

ANY MP3 gadget will work with earplugs...and my iPod Classic 160Gig holds enough spoken books and it fits in my shirt pocket or use a smaller Shuttle or various gadget for a fraction of the cost...

[barbama]

I can handle the price of the Kindle (it is a little high but not unreasonable given the features), but the content prices seem well and truly out of whack. The newspaper and blog prices get into the gouging area of the price scale.

For the people who don't need kindle, more props to you, good luck carrying 10lbs+ of books during every commute, business trip, and cardio running. Popular book like Snowball is almost impossible to be mobile with 900+ pages, have fun fitting that in your brief case/ backpack.

$359 is a tiny amount of $$ for all that convenience and knowledge obtained from Kindle. For people who average 8-10 books a month, Kindle is a steal. (average saving at least $100 per) Not to mention the built in dictionary for us curious minds. Pre-ordered Kindle 2 as a present for my dad's birthday gift. :)

[goosmoo]

10+ pounds of books? Who in the world carries 10+ pounds of books during *any* commute other than postal carriers? And 10+ bounds of books while running?

/confused

[4dthinker]

$359 is of course relative. I can eat for a month on $359. Yet those who love reading books but have never tried a Kindle owe it to yourself to play with one before dismissing it outright. To that end Amazon needs to put the Kindle in book stores where the target audience can hold one and read one and get a full demonstration of it's capablity. The bookstore should get a commission on every one their customers eventually buy. Every library should have a few to "loan out". The Kindle should support "checked out" ebooks from that library, which remind the borrower when they are due. Not because it matters (if another digital copy lives too long), but rather to remind the Kindle owner they have a great book waiting to be read. I own the first Kindle. I've ordered the second. It makes perfect sense to me.

4D

[PhyllisC]

Last night, I was reading about the Kindle2 to a blind relative. Next thing, my cat ran across the keyboard--twice. This morning, I found I had ordered the gadget. I thought about it for 10 seconds (after I stopped laughing) and ordered the case and the insurance coverage. It must be fate, right?

The fact that I can't lift my briefcase made the decision even easier. Now if I can just combine it with my IPod Touch and my smart phone, I'd be all set for under a pound.

[ltomich]

I have a mini-computer and love it for internet access while on the road but I have to say that I have terrible eye problems from the backlit computer screen, I work for an online advertising company and I'm staring in 2 computers all most all day (and night) long. I purchased the Kindle 2 so that I can avoid it during my limited free time. I do travel 3 to 6 times a year for a number of days for work and it may not be all the time but I would love to have something to do on planes, in hotel rooms and I'm older now and any extra luggage is too much for me, espicially books, very heavy. Arthritis in the hands, would be great not to hold or turn the pages in a book. I think even at home where I telecommute for many hours a day it would be more likely that I would read here and there if I had a Kindle. I don't want a phone with multi-functions, I worry too much about the radiation. I want a device that allows me to be away from that. I have been hoping for a Kindle 2 and now that it's here, my order is in!

[PhyllisC]

A few years ago, I lost the use of my dominant hand for over a year and lost most use of my other hand. Even a paperback book was too much to manage. Taking into account not being able to work without use of my hands and no support systems on the same coast, I would have spent almost anything for a Kindle. Even though I can use my hands now, I still eagerly anticipate not having to hold and manage a physical book. As a once-upon-a-time-English major and life-long book lover,I find it surprisingly easy, in theory, to leave paper behind and am eagerly anticipating my new Kindle. I hope the reality is as good as the anticipation. At my age, I'm not sure how many more chances I will have for the "magicians" to get it right.