Get Your Hands on an Amazon Kindle 2
The Kindle 2 is even better than the first Kindle
This isn't the first time we've sung the praises of electronic readers, such as the Amazon Kindle, but the just-released Kindle 2 is even better than the first. Usually, if you hit on a gift idea and you would also love to receive it, it's a sign that you've come up with a great idea. The Kindle 2 is a great gift for any reader in your life--and I want it too.
Five Reasons to Buy the Kindle 2
I'm a big electronic reader fan. As much as I'll always love the texture and heft of a solid book, there's only so much room in my house for all the titles I'd like to read. That's where e-readers such as the Kindle 2 save the day.
I liked the original Kindle, but there's a lot more to love about the revamped Kindle 2. These are my top five reasons to buy the Kindle 2 from Amazon.
1. Its Size
While the new and original Kindles are nearly the same size in width and length, the Kindle 2 is slimmer and rounder and simply feels better in your hand. The screen stayed the same at 6 inches--a generous, easy-to-read size.
2. Crisper Text, Better Images
The folks at Amazon advanced the Kindle's screen technology from 4 shades to 16 shades of gray, resulting in slightly crisper text and much better image quality. I'm not sure it's four times as good, but the pictures on the screen are definitely much better.
3. Usability of Navigation Buttons
I didn't realize that I didn't like the old Kindle's navigation button placement until I tried the new Kindle. The page buttons are now suitable for both left- and right-handed readers, and the size and placement are perfect for reading and browsing while holding the Kindle.
4. Text-to-Speech Functionality
For commuters like my husband, this is a nifty feature. He can turn this function on, place the Kindle in the passenger seat, and listen to the book he's been reading. It's like an audio book, but doesn't require you to buy the book and the audio book separately.
5. A Virtual Library
The Kindle 2 comes with 2GB of storage (enough for 1500 books by Amazon's estimations). But if you need more room, or need to delete a book from memory, Amazon now stores each member's purchased books on their server, so you can download it again at any time at no extra charge.
There you have it--the Top 5 reasons the Kindle 2 makes a great gift. So, if there's an avid reader in your life and you don't mind spending $360, buy them the Kindle 2.