Amazon's new Kindle: cheaper & better
This new Kindle. It’s half the price it was a month ago and going by the specs, it’s way better. What can we say except that we’re seriously considering it.
I only wish the exchange rate with the dollar were better so it dipped below £100. The two American versions are priced at $189 (with wifi+mobile internet on 3g) and $139 (just wifi) with the British ones coming in at £149 and £109.
The price drop significantly differentiates it from the iPad, which obviously has more functions but is several price brackets ahead at £429 for the cheapest model. However it’s likely that the new cheap Kindle will hit smaller-name brands hardest, particularly where their main advantage was the price.
It’s now £10 cheaper than the Barnes&Noble Nook for example.
Why’s it better than the old Kindle? With the same screen size, it’s smaller and lighter. Books will download quicker – in 60 seconds and pages turn quicker. The battery lasts longer, Amazon promises up to a month if you keep the wifi receivers off and
There’s now a web-browsing kit onboard too which will let you look at websites on the easy read screen, read articles for example.
Quick specs:
All-New, High-Contrast E-Ink Screen – 50% better contrast than any other e-reader
New Sleek Design – 21% smaller body while keeping the same 6″ size reading area
17% Lighter – Only 241 grams, weighs less than a paperback
Battery Life of One Month – A single charge lasts up to one month with wireless off
Double the Storage – Up to 3,500 books
Built-In Wi-Fi – Connect at home or on the road
Books in 60 Seconds – Download books anytime, anywhere
20% Faster Page Turns – Seamless reading
Enhanced PDF Reader – With dictionary lookup, notes, and highlights
New WebKit-Based Browser – Browse the web over Wi-Fi (experimental)
New Kindle released on 27th August, £139, register on Amazon.co.uk
One thought on “Amazon's new Kindle: cheaper & better”
Actually I’ve been using the browser on my Kindle 2 since I got it in February. Is it fabulous? No. Is it great in a pinch if my GPS is acting up and I need directions? Yes. I’ve used it to look up movie times, restaurant reviews, phone numbers, book reviews, etc. The only advantage I see to the new Kindle is that you can use WiFi (I would still want 3G as well, I download books on the go more often than I thought I would). As for the size and weight – no big deal (and not much of a difference either) – the Kindle is already very light and much more comfortable to hold than a paperback book. It’s very readable and the battery life is fantastic. I am a very avid read – I go through at least 5 books a week and I share my Kindle with my 6 yr old, even with that usage I still get well over 11 days without charging (a week if I have the WiFi on a lot). The Kindle is one of the best purchases I’ve ever made (and I don’t regret spending $260 on mine). I never thought I would give up paper books, but now I can’t imagine ever going back!
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