The Kindle 2

[cathyr19355]

The updated version of Amazon's e-book reader device, the Kindle 2 is out.

So far as I can tell from a quick look at the website, the major differences between it and the original Kindle are: 1) it's thinner (only 1/3 of an inch!!!); it can talk to you (text to speech feature!); 3) longer battery life (by about 25%); and 4) a faster refresh rate (by about 20%).

And only $359.00!

Somehow, I think I'll continue to pass on e-books for awhile--for at least as long as new books on Kindle continue not to be price-competitive with paperback prices.

Comments

[cathyr19355.livejournal.com]

I think you're forgetting the +$3.99 shipping on used books at Amazon

I didn't emphasize it, to be sure. But I'm aware it's there. However, in many cases, it *still* doesn't raise the price above the Kindle price, and in any event Amazon itself sells some of the books in which I'm interested in dead tree versions for less than list price (if not for less than the Kindle price); Amazon, of course, will ship for free if you buy $25 or more from it in a single order. And I've been able to get used books amazingly cheaply elsewhere on the Web; I just stuck to Amazon as an example because I wasn't feeling so great and was lazy when I composed my reply to your last comment.

That's an interesting point, though; as far as I know there is no way to resell a Kindle book.

There isn't. I found a comment thread on the Kindle 2 (?) Amazon page to the effect that you can't even easily share a Kindle book, purchased by one Kindle owner, with another Kindle owned by a different person (the example was of a husband and wife, both having Kindles). Apparently you can get around this (I think by getting the Kindle book converted, as brandyeileen mentions above), but it is something of a disincentive.

You also make an interesting point that people who like to resell old books would not really be interested in a Kindle, though that again may be a dying market.