Amazon Kindle
August, 2010
$190.00
The Kindle is a high-quality e-Book reader developed by Amazon and manufactured by Foxconn that offers a step-down from the larger Kindle DX model. The latest generation of the device (set to release on August 27th, 2010) comprises two standard models - one with WiFi capabilities, and one with both WiFi and 3G.. read more
The Kindle is a high-quality e-Book reader developed by Amazon and manufactured by Foxconn that offers a step-down from the larger Kindle DX model. The latest generation of the device (set to release on August 27th, 2010) comprises two standard models - one with WiFi capabilities, and one with both WiFi and 3G. The addition of such technologies makes the Kindle a clear competitor to other tablet-style e-Book devices such as the Sony Reader Daily Edition and the Apple iPad. Featuring a 6-inch high-contrast "E-Ink Screen" display, the device can be used in extreme lighting conditions due to its anti-glare design. Capable of storing up to 3500 e-Books that can be purchased from Amazon's Kindle Store (over 600,000 titles available), users can now download right to the reader via built-in WiFi or free 3G with global coverage. Users can also highlight and automatically export passages directly to Twitter and Facebook from the device without having to leave the content they are viewing. The Kindle also features up to a month of wireless battery life on a single charge with wireless internet off, and up to 10 days with it on. The PDF reader included in the flag model has been updated for the latest release, with added functions such as dictionary-search, note and highlight capability, and optional password protection. Content purchased through Amazon can be transferred to a host of other devices via "Whispersync" technology, including Mac and PC computers, Apple iPhone and iPad devices, Blackberry smartphones and Android devices. All purchases are backed-up, and can be re-downloaded at any time from Amazon.com.
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Pros & Cons29
Reviews3
Details
Buy It1
Competitors6
Related4
Gallery1
Pros & Cons
Details
Features
- Available with WiFi only or with WiFi and 3G
- Graphite and White colors
- High-contrast 6-inch E-Ink Screen display
- Capable of storing up to 3500 e-Books
- Built-in WiFi
- Free global 3G connectivity in over 100 countries
- Automatic Twitter and Facebook passage export feature
- Up to a month of wireless use per charge
- Content transferable to computers, smartphones and tablets via Whispersync technology
- PDF reader with dictionary lookup, highlighting, note-taking and password-protection
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This report was started
July 30, 2010 at 5:25 pm by
Lefty10
with the last edit occurring
Thursday, 4:30 PM by
sheep
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Buy It
Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, White, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation
• Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" Display, 3G Works Globally - Latest Generation
Competitors
55
Apple iPad
March, 2010
$499.99
Pros
- slim and lightweight
- 9.7-inch IPS multitouch capacitive touchscreen - 1024 x 768px resolution
- 802.11BGN (WiFi)
Cons
- no Adobe Flash support
- no camera
- no multitasking functionality
Amazon Kindle
vs.
Apple iPad
76
Barnes & Noble Nook
October, 2009
$150.00
Pros
- Android operating system
- pdf and epub format support
- multitouch colour control panel
Cons
- no open app development
- WiFi will only work at Barnes & Noble (for now)
- a measurably slower page refresh compared to the Kindle - can get tedious when browsing menus, inputting text
Amazon Kindle
vs.
Barnes & Noble Nook
61
Pandigital Novel
May, 2010
$199.99
Pros
- affordable price point
- runs the open source Android operating system
- 7" 800 x 600px display
Cons
- cheap looking glossy black plastic bezels
- resistive touchscreen makes using your fingers to navigate the device more difficult than it should be
- lack of dedicated back and forward navigation buttons
Amazon Kindle
vs.
Pandigital Novel
50
Kobo eReader
May, 2010
$149.00
Pros
- affordable price point
- compact and lightweight
- easy to use - simple controls
Cons
- no bookmarks
- no wireless connectivity functionality (no WiFi or 3G-like services)
- no notes
Amazon Kindle
vs.
Kobo eReader
62
iRiver Story
December, 2009
$329.99
Pros
- full QWERTY keyboard
- support for Microsoft Office file formats (Word, Excel & Powerpoint)
- 2GB of internal storage
Cons
- no wireless / 3G connectivity
- poor value - way more expensive than the competition, especially considering the features
- not as high-end as the Kindle - no aluminum back, lower build quality, lower quality e-ink display
Amazon Kindle
vs.
iRiver Story
56
Interead COOL-ER
May, 2009
$250.00
Pros
- lighter and more compact than QWERTY-packing eReader devices
- 1GB of internal flash storage
- ~175g - half the weight of a Kindle 2
Cons
- no 3G or WiFi connectivity / distribution deals - can only load the device via USB or SD card
- gaudy aesthetic - looks like a cheap iPod knock-off
- 2.5mm headphone jack (3.5mm adapter included)
Amazon Kindle
vs.
Interead COOL-ER
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Reviews
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Yale
August 6, 2010
approved
reviewer
81
Pros
- available with WiFi and Whispernet or WiFi only (for an additional $50 off)
- most affordable Kindle yet - starting at $140
- improved contrast - 50% better than the previous generation Kindle, blacks are considerably darker
- improved dimensions and weight - 21% smaller and 17% lighter
- 20% faster page turns
- new WebKit based browser
- true eInk design - can be used in direct sunlight, doesn't bother the eyes like a backlit display does
- amazing battery life - up to a month of use without charging it (with WiFi disabled)
- WhisperNet 3G connectivity for downloading books, magazine / newspaper subscriptions and browsing complementary websites for free
- a massive library of books at competitive / affordable prices
- native PDF support - improved over the previous generation: now offers support for password protected PDFs, allows for dictionary lookup, notes,etc...
- books purchased can be re-downloaded free of charge
- easy to use
- Whispersync allows for users to sync their books to other compatible devices for reading in multiple locations - can be used with an iPad, PC, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, etc...
- full QWERTY keyboard for easy searching, writing notes, etc..
- free and human-like text-to-speech functionality
- quieter page-turning buttons
- now available in graphite (as well as the original white) - improves perceived contrast
- the same great, well designed Kindle interface
- available in many countries other than the USA around the world
- large internal storage (4GB) capable of storing up to 3,500 books on the device
- large selection of free out-of-copyright literature
Cons
- no external storage expansion
- grayscale screen is extremely limiting, particularly when it comes to textbooks
- locked into a proprietary system provided by Amazon
- sold out for a month soon after it was announced / released
- cannot compete with more expensive dedicated tablet devices (not that it needs to, but it still tries)
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Omar
August 6, 2010
approved
reviewer
81
Pros
- available with WiFi and Whispernet or WiFi only (for an additional $50 off)
- most affordable Kindle yet - starting at $140
- improved contrast - 50% better than the previous generation Kindle, blacks are considerably darker
- improved dimensions and weight - 21% smaller and 17% lighter
- 20% faster page turns
- new WebKit based browser
- true eInk design - can be used in direct sunlight, doesn't bother the eyes like a backlit display does
- amazing battery life - up to a month of use without charging it (with WiFi disabled)
- WhisperNet 3G connectivity for downloading books, magazine / newspaper subscriptions and browsing complementary websites for free
- a massive library of books at competitive / affordable prices
- native PDF support - improved over the previous generation: now offers support for password protected PDFs, allows for dictionary lookup, notes,etc...
- books purchased can be re-downloaded free of charge
- easy to use
Cons
- grayscale screen is extremely limiting, particularly when it comes to textbooks
- not worth it if you already have an iPad - and not worth getting instead of an iPad
- intended for hardcore readers
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sheep
Thursday, 4:30 PM
approved
reviewer
0
Pros
Did not agree with any pros
Cons
- no external storage expansion
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