New Amazon Kindle Announced, Available August 27
New Amazon Kindle Announced, Available August 27
Posted 07/28/2010 at 4:11pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Remember yesterday when everyone noticed the Kindle was out of stock? Well now we know why. Amazon has announced new Kindle, but we kind of expected this one. The new model is just being called the Kindle, and brings a few improvements over the older model. The new eInk screen will have a 20 percent faster refresh rate, as well as better contrast. Internal storage has been bumped up to 4GB from the previous 2GB. Even with the new eInk screen, Amazon is claiming this unit will get a month of battery life with wireless off.
There will be two distinct models of the new Kindle. A Wi-Fi only version that will go for $139, and a 3G version for $189. The higher price is the same as the previous generation model. The keyboard has been altered with a different 5-way control, and slightly larger keys. The device is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the Kindle 2 as well. Customers will have the choice of color, either graphite, or classic white.
So, are you going to take the plunge on this new reading device? If so, will you be selling off a Kindle 2 to do so? Tell us if you find anything in this new package compelling.
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sojrner
July 30, 2010 at 7:15am
I like dead-tree books... like the feel, the smell and everything. I'm still considering an ereader for the portability on a trip.
The kindle, w/ its lack of epub and expansion (and tethering to its market) is not on my list. I've test-drove a nook (at BnN) and was impressed. The contrast was much better than the sony (the only other epub supporter I'm considering) and faster response. The addition of the color capacitive browsing/keyboard screen (instead of the physical buttons) is a wow feature that is cool at first but will probably fade to ordinary after use. Yes, the kindle beats it on batt life, but for the 'open-ness' I'll sacrifice that. 10 days is not bad anyway... on any trip I use it for I will certainly have power access before then.
The price for the wifi only version got my attention too. Also, unlike the new kindle I can get it now.
IMO if they got the price closer to $100 on any of these readers I'd be much quicker to buy.
JohnP
July 29, 2010 at 2:40pm
I hope he changes his mind. The new kindle with the Pearl E-Ink screen is exactly what I am looking for to replace my old SONY reader. So looking for Pearl and E-Pub. Who will be the 1st manufacturer to come up with it.
BTW, E-Book reader sales are DOWN. Is it becuase folks are waiting (like me) or becuase of the IPad? I had to talk my sister out of an IPad as book reader as she had no idea that trying to read for more than an hour on a LCD screen SUCKS.
dracoress
July 29, 2010 at 4:07am
When Amazon can give me a Holographic Ebook reader that makes the hologram look, feel, and smell like a book....then I might get me a Kindle....otherwise I'll keep my dead trees. Better yet...get to work on replicators so I can just replicate a book that I want, then when I'm done with it I'll put it back in the replicator and it can deconstruct it and make me a new book. Better yet....I want a Holodeck so I can live out participate in the novels I read.
So needless to say...I won't be getting a kindle anytime soon :) However the Graphite color is nicer then the white.
JohnP
July 29, 2010 at 2:45pm
I just recycled over a HUNDRED AND TWENTY hardcovers and paperbacks that I had in E-Book form. Why on earth would I need old, dusty large books when I have a perfect copy on the computer and readable on my E-Book reader?
Now I just have to figure out what to do with NO BOOKS on my BOOKSHELF.
flash739
July 29, 2010 at 7:07pm
Mass power outage takes out all of America's infrastructure. You.."no, no! Its not fair..its not fair! There was time now! THERE WAS TIME!" That would be a major reason to NOT get rid of the books. Also, you can't really give an ebook to a family member AFTER you die. I mean, sure most your stuff is crap or up for yard sale, but lets so your grand daughter really loved that bed time story you read to her...she may be assed out if the ebook is old tech, or someone else got the reader.
Just saying. Not being a douche.
Stockislander
July 28, 2010 at 7:27pm
Out of 6 books on my wishlist at Amazon, only one was available on kindle, so not yet.
JohnP
July 28, 2010 at 4:26pm
The "new" kindle" catches up to the rest of the e-book readers and allows E-Pub books to be read... and bought. funny, I thought Amazon got on the E-Pub train a while ago. Isn't that what Google is using with its mega-million online library?
GJEMaximumPC
July 28, 2010 at 8:42pm
I'll assume your comments were meant to be a slight mockery because I just went to the Amazon website and it says nothing about EPUB ebooks. Its the standard now and is the best overall ebook format for text. PDFs suck on a small screen. PDFs only work on a full-feature desktop or laptop. PDFs are horrible for stand-alone ebook readers.
They should have EPUB ability by now.
The color ink is definitely something for the future
The month battery life is awesome.
Two color form factors is an improvement, but they should have like a girl color and a cool color like navy blue for guys.
The price for the wi-fi only is perfect too. good job amazon.
JohnP
July 29, 2010 at 2:35pm
I too went to the website and saw the blurb about the 1.2 million free books available by Google. It's just I have no idea what format the Google books come in.
flash739
July 29, 2010 at 7:11pm
Still researching. But doesn't Calibre sort of make the format problem a non-issue? I understand you want to just BUY/Download with no conversion hassle. But for what its worth (calibre being free), does it make that big a difference?
Also, I am very much debating about WHICH ereader to get. I was leaning towards a Kobo or a Sony Touch. But this changes everythign as it allows annotations and notes. I could use this for work. Or at least TRY and see how PDF looks on it. Mainly just SOPS and text. Could come in handy when studying for a Lt. exam and not having a TON of three ring binders on the crapper with me.
Also, my main dissapointment with Kindle is that it DOES NOT include a slot for expanded memory. WTF?
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