Kindle 2 doesn't ship with protective cover, memory expansion slot
The Kindle case sells separately for $30.
(Credit: Amazon.com)OK, I have to admit I initially missed these small--but potentially serious--omissions from the Amazon Kindle 2. But I just read the fine print in the specs and the new model doesn't ship with a protective cover or the memory expansion slot found on the original Kindle.
Many Kindle owners have complained about how mediocre the cover that shipped with the original Kindle was, but I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed to learn that the device arrive completely naked this go around. And while 2GB is ample for books and other digital print matter, if you want to use the Kindle 2 as an MP3 player, 2 gigs is a bit skimpy.
As we all know now, the price for the new Kindle is the same as the old one ($359). But when you tack on $30 for the case, the price goes up to $389. Sure, some third-party covers may come in at $15 to $20, but the good ones usually cost $30 or more--and the fancy real leather stuff comes in at more than $50.
Anybody else think this is a bummer?
Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel. E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter. 
Guess I'm buying the Sony PRS-505 after all. I don't care about touch screen, and with my mobile phone, I can still download the books I want at 3G and transfer them to the reader.
I still stick with Amazon for my MP3 needs though. They do that very well.
That being said...at least it does come with 1.4GB USABLE storage. that's enough for say 50 books and around 300 of your favorite songs. Want more books? Try 500 books and around 200 of your favorite songs. (rough estimates of course).
And they did finally throw in a much-needed way to charge via USB. Why oh why was that not originally allowed? A USB that can't charge a device is about as useful as a third nipple really.
I also think the 5-way nav button is a bit of a better way to navigate and make selections (thought I believe the detached side-sliding scroll bar was a great first try!)
All and all, I am stoked about the Kindle2. Ya, I'm disappointed about the lack of a cover and a bit shocked that Amazon has decided to copy Apple's capitalization tactics by not allowing SD (hey, can you blame them? I bet 25% of you buy the Kindle3 when it comes out in 8GB (unconfirmed)).
We need to remember that this is an e-book reader. If you want a do-all machine, buy a netbook. I see great potential (especially college students; when college books go e-book, can you imagine how awesome that would be?)
2. So much for the loss of a memory slot. All your stuff is backed up online, so delete it if you don't need the item on your Kindle 2 and when you need it again, re-download it from Amazon.com
3. This is an ebook reader. More and more cell phones play MP3's, and most people have a cell phone nowadays. So listen to your music with that and enjoy the Kindle for what it is, a cool E-book reader (Color screens exists, saw them at SiGraph last year, but it was on Cell Phones and such. So it is only a matter of time to get color screens, maybe 4th generation).
The beauty of physical books is that once you buy them, you OWN them. You can swap them, lend them, give them, donate them, sell them, etc. -- or even (gasp!) keep and treasure them for 30 years. Can't do any of that with DRMed e-books.
For me, this is THE issue.
Amazon should at least give those who upgrade from 1 to 2 a free case. Getting to the head of what may not really be much of a line doesn't do much for me.
- by stanlipshitz February 28, 2009 8:32 AM PST
- Amazon really made a mistake here. Quite easy offer bundle price and offer discount for ordering kindle and cover at the same time. Now high percentage will seek elsewhere and Amazon looks greedy.
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(10 Comments)Life is a series of missed opportunities - here is a perfect example by Amazon