Overall I feel that the Kindle is just as good if not better than other E-Books such as the Sony E-Reader and iPhone E-Book Apps, as it doesn’t boast hundreds of different features but gets straight on with the job. With a whole month of battery life its an incredible unit, especially for those who like to have a daily read. Not only can you store up to 3500 books, but, they cost as little as 72pence each!
After reviewing the Archos 101, people were coming to me asking to review the Amazon Kindle! This product was an exclusive to the USA but has since been released to the UK. The more expensive model, which includes a free 3G connection to the Kindle store costs £139 and the Wi-Fi only model costs around £109.
What’s in the Box
The box contains:-
- Power Adapter
- USB 2.0 cable
- Rechargeable Battery
- Quick Start Guide
Physically, the device is a little slimmer than its predecessor. Amazon has achieved this by reducing the size and thickness of the bevel and removing the row of number keys from the keyboard. The keyboard itself is a rudimentary affair that is, thankfully, only used during setup and for book searches, other than that I don’t see the need for having it.
The rear mounted speakers are surprisingly effective, though. Page turn buttons are mounted on the left and right, with forward and back replicated on both sides so you can turn pages one handed. This proved to be quite useful, however, after using the iPad and Archos 101, the touchscreen seemed that little bit better, allowing me to slide the page across rather than press the button. The device itself cuts no corners and does exactly what you would expect. The latest Kindle looks almost identical as its predecessor minus the few cosmetic changes.
However, Amazon have tweaked the performance by increasing storage to over 3GB, improving the clarity of the display and increasing the refresh rate for a better experience. The Kindle uses the new E Ink Pearl panel, and it’s just as comfortable on the eyes as words on a page. The Kindle can even be used in direct sunlight without the need to move around for a better/clearer picture. Not that I have used it in direct sunlight as of yet, but I’m sure to be taking it on holiday with me this year!
Specifications
Display Size
6" diagonal
Display Type
E Ink Pearl
Size
7.5" x 4.8" x 0.335"
Weight
8.7 ounces
Storage
3,500 books
Battery Life 1 month
The bottom edge of the device sports a volume control and 3.5mm headphone jack along with a micro USB connector for both charging and data transfer. The latest Kindle does not boast a touchscreen feature, nor do Amazon plan on adding this to future releases. I think the Kindle would benefit from touch screen as I find it easier to just flick the screen to change page.
Battery life is quoted at up to one month with wireless turned off. In the real world, however, Amazon encourages you to keep it switched on so you can store the furthest point reached in a book. However, with internal bookmarks I didn’t see the need for leaving the wireless on. A month of battery life is superb! Considering I charge my iPhone every day!
Amazon has clearly been working hard at improving the book buying process. Order a Kindle and, on delivery, you’ll find it’s been automatically linked to the Amazon account used to buy it. Its simple to buy books and there’s plenty of choice, too, with the UK Kindle store now boasting more than 400,000 titles.
At the time of writing, all of the top ten books were available in Kindle form, many of them at an impressive discount. Stephen Fry’s “The Fry Chronicles”, for example, costs £6.54 in its digital version compared with £9.35 in hardback and this despite the fact that eBooks are subject to VAT. The joy of a device like this is being able to download the entire works of Charles Dickens for 72p and hardly notice the difference in storage available. 72p for that many books will save the user a lot in the long run! The buying process is simple! Find the book, then click Buy! Then automatically the book is saved to the Kindle.
Summary
Overall I feel that the Kindle is just as good if not better than other E-Books such as the Sony E-Reader and iPhone E-Book Apps, as it doesn’t boast hundreds of different features but gets straight on with the job. With a whole month of battery life its an incredible unit, especially for those who like to have a daily read. Not only can you store up to 3500 books, but, they cost as little as 72pence each!
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