Thoughts on Kindle 2.0?

spec2 · 02-09-2009, 10:46 AM

I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on Kindle 2.0. To me it looks like Kindle 1.0 in a nicer dress, which is saying a lot. It's still kinda inelegant looking though with that massive keyboard. Why not a tiny cellphone like keyboard and a bigger screen? Or even a touch keypad like the iPhone. It's a reader how much do you rely on the keyboard anyway.

The only thing that makes me jealous as a 505 owner is the Wispernet. But that alone is really tempting me to switch now that it's in a less goofy casing. I'm feeling so conflicted now. Thankfully the Kindle is still overpriced so that should stop me right in my tracks.

What's everyone else thinking?

drmathprog · 02-09-2009, 11:11 AM

Still seems overpriced, but it seems a major ergonomic improvement over Kindle 1.0, which I tried for a while last fall and ultimately ditched in favour of the 505. Whispernet doesn't really tempt me, but the Amazon ebook pricing is still nice. Based just on the promotional video sample, the automatic text-to-audio feature brings to mind the "dog dancing" analogy. If version 3.0 uses plastic screen technology rather than glass (which I've heard is in the works and will be available to manufactures in the next year or two), I could see transitioning a Kindle 3.0 as my next ebook reader.

pilotbob · 02-09-2009, 11:14 AM

I have the Kindle 1, and I don't feel the keyboard gets in the way at all. And it makes searching, annotations, web browsing a breeze. A smaller keyboard or some on screen keyboard or other method would be much more frustrating.

BOb

lilac_jive · 02-09-2009, 11:15 AM

The ONLY thing that makes me jealous of the Kindle 2.0 compared to my Sony 505 is the Cole Haan line of covers.

That's it.

Besides being more ergonomic, there is really nothing the Kindle 2 has over the Kindle 1, in my opinion. TTS, ya, cool. Loss of expandable memory= bad. Pay extra for cover = bad. No drop in price (actually, increase, because you will need a cover) = bad.

Gideon · 02-09-2009, 11:18 AM

Looks much nicer, and small is good (thinner than iPhone!)

I'm disappointed in a number of things, however:

No mention of software update for either device
No mention of other mobile devices (timetable, etc.)
no comment on further compatibility

Am happy about battery length, 16 shades of grayscale, new form factor in general.

But most importantly... for all Kindle users - THE NEW YORKER!! WOO!!!

Greg Anos · 02-09-2009, 11:56 AM

Swindle 2....

More seriously, prettier package, less functionality. Underwhelming. Don't like the always visible keyboard. Proper design should have a slide-out keyboard like many cellphones today. Slide it out if you need it, slide it back when you don't. I would trade thicker gadget for smaller dimensions when not using keyboard. And no external memory, which means no flexibility.

As you may gather, I won't be a customer.....

HistoryWes · 02-09-2009, 01:17 PM

I actually don't mind the look of the kindle 1. It's not as cool as my PRS-505, but it has a kind of apple IIe retro look that appeals to me. I think keyboards are great. I would like the next PRS to have one (maybe like the Libri). And the whispernet is way cool, not for book ordering, but for Wikipedia. I don't like the larger size. I think going smaller would have been the way to go. Text to speech is interesting... I wonder how good it is.

RSaunders · 02-09-2009, 01:50 PM

I was thinking seriously about buying one. My PRS-500 is just not as easy to read as a second gen screen. I was disappointed that the Kindle 2 STILL lacks a lock function. You're supposed to leave this thing sitting around that's pre-authorized to spend your money at Amazon without any sort of password/PIN. Even the Sony Reader has had this function since the beginning. After your kids lose your place a couple of times, and you have to trace through the history, I suspect most folks turn the PIN on. It's a deal-breaker for me.

Otherwise, I might trade a inch of keyboard for a new screen. The cover connection also seems much better thought out than the PRS-505 scheme. Of course, I have the very secure PRS-500 leather cover so I have high expectations.

pilotbob · 02-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSaunders

You're supposed to leave this thing sitting around that's pre-authorized to spend your money at Amazon without any sort of password/PIN. After your kids lose your place a couple of times, and you have to trace through the history, I suspect most folks turn the PIN on. It's a deal-breaker for me.

There are a couple of easy fixes for these issues...

Loosing your place:
Use the book mark if you think kids will move your place.

Buying...
1. You can return any Kindle books "accidently" purchased within 5 days I think it is.
2. Turn of 1-Click ordering on your account. Granted that disables your purchase of it also.
3. Unregister the reader. It requires your Amazon credentials to re-register it to your account. Of course, if you get periodicals auto-delivered this isn't the best choice.

Deal breaker fixed. Go forth and buy.

BOb

rhadin · 02-09-2009, 02:19 PM

No ePub support -- still a closed system. Still need to send certain files to Amazon for conversion. Still has a keyboard that reminds me of my laptop. All negatives. However, version 2 looks better than version 1, which is a positive.

Ervserver · 02-09-2009, 02:47 PM

I just listened to a text to speech demo on the Amazon Kindle site, what a hoot...sounds EXACTLY like those announcements from the National Weather Service. 2 thumbs down on that feature.

daffy4u · 02-09-2009, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhadin

No ePub support -- still a closed system. Still need to send certain files to Amazon for conversion. Still has a keyboard that reminds me of my laptop. All negatives. However, version 2 looks better than version 1, which is a positive.

Rats! You found something you sort of liked. Somebody screwed up.

Valloric · 02-09-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Buying...
1. You can return any Kindle books "accidently" purchased within 5 days I think it is.
2. Turn of 1-Click ordering on your account. Granted that disables your purchase of it also.
3. Unregister the reader. It requires your Amazon credentials to re-register it to your account. Of course, if you get periodicals auto-delivered this isn't the best choice.

Deal breaker fixed. Go forth and buy.

You're kidding right? These are supposed to be "fixes"?

My thoughts on the 2.0 version of Kindle:

1. No epub, no way. Deal breaker.
2. Ergonomics seem OK now. Would have to hold it to make sure, but I don't see a problem here anymore.
3. Not in the US, so no Whispernet and no Amazon store. But I can't really hold that against it, Amazon isn't targeting the international audience.
4. Extra for the cover? Seems like a dick move, but I wouldn't really mind. I'd buy the cover, curse at Amazon, and then shut up a about it a week later.
5. Not really ugly anymore, but not pretty either. But it crosses the acceptability threshold, and after that point I stop caring.
6. Better screen. Niiiiice.
7. Text-to-speech? Yeah, like I'd ever use it.
8. Larger dimensions: actually, I rather like this. It would probably make it easier to hold, as long as it's light, and it seems it will be.

Possibly a few other things I can't think of right now. Bottom line, an improvement over 1.0. Would still go for the PRS-505 though. If I were living in the States, then we could maybe talk about it, because I doubt Amazon won't be bringing epub support in a subsequent firmware update. Not supporting the industry standard (and Amazon is a founding member of the IDPF) would be a ridiculously stupid thing to do, and Bezos is not stupid.

A dick? Perhaps... But stupid? No.

ahintz · 02-09-2009, 05:01 PM

I just upgraded my PRS-500 to a PRS-505 a month ago, and am surprised to find myself not feeling the usual gadget-lovers remorse that comes when a new gadget comes out! While the Kindle 2 is an improvement in looks over the original, I still don't like having to have a keyboard on the face - though I could probably get over that, just as I'd get over having to buy a cover. The biggest appeal to me with the Kindle/Kindle 2 is the bookstore, but as ePub is coming along, I have a lot of hope that before long we'll see a standardized ebook marketplace. And I have loved being able to check out books from the library - that is going to save me some money in the long run, even if some of the Sony book prices are higher then the Amazon prices.

At this point, I will probably get a Kindle app for my iPhone if they release it, but overall am pretty satisfied with my PRS-505 - and nothing is today's announcement changed that.

mukoan · 02-09-2009, 05:50 PM

Excuse my ignorance... but can you actually connect the Kindle to your PC and transfer files across manually, or are you limited to their whispernet thingy? To me half the fun of ebooks is playing around with format conversion and transferring your own personal documents, etc...

02-09-2009, 10:46 AM	#1
spec2 Enthusiast Posts: 43 Karma: 330 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: PRS-505	Thoughts on Kindle 2.0? I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on Kindle 2.0. To me it looks like Kindle 1.0 in a nicer dress, which is saying a lot. It's still kinda inelegant looking though with that massive keyboard. Why not a tiny cellphone like keyboard and a bigger screen? Or even a touch keypad like the iPhone. It's a reader how much do you rely on the keyboard anyway. The only thing that makes me jealous as a 505 owner is the Wispernet. But that alone is really tempting me to switch now that it's in a less goofy casing. I'm feeling so conflicted now. Thankfully the Kindle is still overpriced so that should stop me right in my tracks. What's everyone else thinking?

02-09-2009, 11:18 AM	#5
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Looks much nicer, and small is good (thinner than iPhone!) I'm disappointed in a number of things, however: No mention of software update for either device No mention of other mobile devices (timetable, etc.) no comment on further compatibility Am happy about battery length, 16 shades of grayscale, new form factor in general. But most importantly... for all Kindle users - THE NEW YORKER!! WOO!!!

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02-09-2009, 11:11 AM	#2
drmathprog Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 22 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Sony PRS-505	Still seems overpriced, but it seems a major ergonomic improvement over Kindle 1.0, which I tried for a while last fall and ultimately ditched in favour of the 505. Whispernet doesn't really tempt me, but the Amazon ebook pricing is still nice. Based just on the promotional video sample, the automatic text-to-audio feature brings to mind the "dog dancing" analogy. If version 3.0 uses plastic screen technology rather than glass (which I've heard is in the works and will be available to manufactures in the next year or two), I could see transitioning a Kindle 3.0 as my next ebook reader.

02-09-2009, 11:14 AM	#3
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	I have the Kindle 1, and I don't feel the keyboard gets in the way at all. And it makes searching, annotations, web browsing a breeze. A smaller keyboard or some on screen keyboard or other method would be much more frustrating. BOb

02-09-2009, 11:15 AM	#4
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	The ONLY thing that makes me jealous of the Kindle 2.0 compared to my Sony 505 is the Cole Haan line of covers. That's it. Besides being more ergonomic, there is really nothing the Kindle 2 has over the Kindle 1, in my opinion. TTS, ya, cool. Loss of expandable memory= bad. Pay extra for cover = bad. No drop in price (actually, increase, because you will need a cover) = bad.

02-09-2009, 11:56 AM	#6
Greg Anos Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,248 Karma: 35000000 Join Date: Jan 2008 Device: Pocketbook	Swindle 2.... More seriously, prettier package, less functionality. Underwhelming. Don't like the always visible keyboard. Proper design should have a slide-out keyboard like many cellphones today. Slide it out if you need it, slide it back when you don't. I would trade thicker gadget for smaller dimensions when not using keyboard. And no external memory, which means no flexibility. As you may gather, I won't be a customer.....

02-09-2009, 01:17 PM	#7
HistoryWes Teacher/Novelist Posts: 632 Karma: 2274466 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Nevada Device: Nook STR, iPad	I actually don't mind the look of the kindle 1. It's not as cool as my PRS-505, but it has a kind of apple IIe retro look that appeals to me. I think keyboards are great. I would like the next PRS to have one (maybe like the Libri). And the whispernet is way cool, not for book ordering, but for Wikipedia. I don't like the larger size. I think going smaller would have been the way to go. Text to speech is interesting... I wonder how good it is.

02-09-2009, 01:50 PM	#8
RSaunders Groupie Posts: 162 Karma: 2054 Join Date: Jan 2007 Device: Sony PRS-500	I was thinking seriously about buying one. My PRS-500 is just not as easy to read as a second gen screen. I was disappointed that the Kindle 2 STILL lacks a lock function. You're supposed to leave this thing sitting around that's pre-authorized to spend your money at Amazon without any sort of password/PIN. Even the Sony Reader has had this function since the beginning. After your kids lose your place a couple of times, and you have to trace through the history, I suspect most folks turn the PIN on. It's a deal-breaker for me. Otherwise, I might trade a inch of keyboard for a new screen. The cover connection also seems much better thought out than the PRS-505 scheme. Of course, I have the very secure PRS-500 leather cover so I have high expectations.

02-09-2009, 02:19 PM	#10
rhadin Literacy = Understanding Posts: 4,833 Karma: 59674358 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: The World of Books Device: Nook, Nook Tablet	No ePub support -- still a closed system. Still need to send certain files to Amazon for conversion. Still has a keyboard that reminds me of my laptop. All negatives. However, version 2 looks better than version 1, which is a positive.

02-09-2009, 02:47 PM	#11
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I just listened to a text to speech demo on the Amazon Kindle site, what a hoot...sounds EXACTLY like those announcements from the National Weather Service. 2 thumbs down on that feature.

02-09-2009, 05:01 PM	#14
ahintz Zealot Posts: 107 Karma: 322 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Device: Kindle PW/iPhone5/iPad (3)/Nook ST	I just upgraded my PRS-500 to a PRS-505 a month ago, and am surprised to find myself *not* feeling the usual gadget-lovers remorse that comes when a new gadget comes out! While the Kindle 2 is an improvement in looks over the original, I still don't like having to have a keyboard on the face - though I could probably get over that, just as I'd get over having to buy a cover. The biggest appeal to me with the Kindle/Kindle 2 is the bookstore, but as ePub is coming along, I have a lot of hope that before long we'll see a standardized ebook marketplace. And I have loved being able to check out books from the library - that is going to save me some money in the long run, even if some of the Sony book prices are higher then the Amazon prices. At this point, I will probably get a Kindle app for my iPhone if they release it, but overall am pretty satisfied with my PRS-505 - and nothing is today's announcement changed that.

02-09-2009, 05:50 PM	#15
mukoan Lord Of All That's Beige Posts: 105 Karma: 86518 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Paperwhite	Excuse my ignorance... but can you actually connect the Kindle to your PC and transfer files across manually, or are you limited to their whispernet thingy? To me half the fun of ebooks is playing around with format conversion and transferring your own personal documents, etc...

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