Aug 24 2009
Kindle 2
I have had this item for a number of weeks now and I give it a massive 2 thumbs up. If you enjoy reading and can sometimes find holding massive texts in bed frustrating then you too will enjoy the Kindle 2 from Amazon.
The first feature I like about the device is that you can by new release e-books for only US $9.99 (about A$12.50 on current exchange rates) which when compared to the price of local books is good value. The only downsize to this is that being an Amazon based product you can only get Amazon published e-books on the system but with more than 300,000 titles available as of the 1st of July I am betting you will find something to read.
The unit itself is lightweight and very easy to read. It is not self lit which I don’t think is a problem as most hardcopy books are not self lit to my knowledge.
Another area I like is that it includes a read back function. A computer voice reads the text to you through on board speakers or via 3.5mm output jack. This is where it is gold for me. Sick and tired of almost ALL current radio stations in this country (If I here just one more Hollywood gossip report I will cave someone’s face in!) I have found that the Holden Dunnydores auxiliary audio input works perfectly with the Kindle 2. So driving to work has gone from an annoying soul sapping process to a reasonable session of reading while dodging niff nuffs from all angles. I have only tried with educational text at this stage so I am not sure how the monotone computer voice goes with a John Grisham novel but I like it so far.
So if you fly a lot, weight a lot, drive a lot or just enjoy reading then I can recommend the Kindle 2 to you as a handy e-book reader. It also includes a dictionary which I have also found useful (it is an American dictionary so be careful).
My next book will be Forrest Griffins ‘Got Fight’ which after his last fight should be an interesting insight.
Whoops must be on the wrong site……….feels like an informercial on Kerri-anne…..I hope you were paid well for the review…..Oh and you forgot alot of people on this site can’t read anyway.
Those who can’t read may be interested in the ‘read back’ function, Adobe Reader has a similar function. The only downside here is that there is no expression in the voice, it just reads the text.
My preference – audio books. Why read, when you can have somebody read it to you. I often strap on the ipod and listen to an audiobook while doing other things. Who says men can’t multi-task?
What an interesting little product. I wonder how much it is? I think I would prefer a normal book but I can definately see advantages for the travler.
Just read a normal book you coffee sipping show off
coffee sipping?????? doesn’t 70% of the population drink coffee??? what point are you trying to make?