Macintosh Laptops

Kindle Wireless Best Price From Amazon!

Kindle Wireless Review

By: Earl E. A. Dopter

News Flash & Some Observations

First, the news flash: There is now a Kindle Wireless app available for the iPhone! I just downloaded it this morning to my iPhone and have been playing with it in conjunction with my new Kindle Wireless 2 and here is what I know. It works flawlessly. All my book content on Kindle Wireless 2 is now available on my iPhone. (update: NOT periodicals, newspapers, blog subscriptions!) It's synced, so wherever I left off on Kindle Wireless 2, I pick up on iPhone. If I read some stuff on iPhone, my new position is synced back to Kindle Wireless 2. This is good stuff. The iPhone app can be used without purchasing the Kindle Wireless, but I'm not recommending that.

I did not own an original Kindle Wireless(K1) so my review is not intended to compare K1 to the new K2. It would appear most reviewers are focused on pointing out the differences. I'm writing this to help first-timers decide if they want to take the plunge now or continue to wait. In short, I think this unit does what it's supposed to do without trying to do too much. You have access to all your content, all the time. You can order new content from the Amazon website or directly from the Kindle, and the wait time is so brief that it's a non-issue. I have subscribed to several blogs, two newspapers, and have bought several books already. I have also sent my Kindle Wireless a Word document, which was promptly and accurately converted and sent to my Kindle Wireless without issues.

My experience indicates the following:

1. All functions perform as I expected (flawlessly)

2. I really like being able to read a blog and clipping articles I like for later action or perusal. The clip function works very, very well and I've already clipped about 20 articles, most from Gizmodo or Cool Tools, saving me the effort of having to write myself a note.

3. All my subscriptions (I have a total of have been delivered conveniently and promptly. The blogs are being delivered through the day whenever updates are made by the bloggers.

4. The size of the K2 is just ideal in my opinion. Not too small to read (the viewing window is smaller than a paperback, but holds a similar amount of content) but not too large to be unwieldy. I have found it to be a pleasure to hold and to carry with me wherever I go. It's light, it's thin, it's just right.

5. It's very intuitive to use. I didn't need to read the instruction manual in order to get started. There may be some nuances that I will need to get to at some point, but it's not needed for the basics. I downloaded "The Complete User's Companion to the Amazon Kindle Wireless 2," and it would appear to have the answers to anything I can't figure out on my own. Recommended download.

6. Text to speech is adequate, I don't see myself using this feature too much, but it's a lot better than nothing when you need both hands free, and it would be a truly fantastic feature for anyone with poor eyesight or blindness. I was frankly surprised at how few words it mispronounced, and the pace was even and less machine-like than I had anticipated.

7. Many people who criticize the Kindle say that it should have a backlight. Kindle Wireless truly reads like a paper book; I actually like that it has no backlight, because it makes it "feel" more like reading a traditional book. I'm OK with having to read under the same conditions I would need for any paper-based book.

8. This is an enjoyable reading experience for me. Minus the minor hassles of having to hold a page open or flip it or keep your finger in it when interrupted, plus the huge benefits of having access to hundreds of thousands of books wirelessly anytime I want and being able to clip, highlight, annotate, delete, and look up anything anytime I want wherever I want. To have this continuous, high speed, wireless connectivity without the need for a physical computer to upload/download onto is truly amazing and makes the price of the Kindle Wireless truly irrelevant. I am shocked that anyone would be disturbed by the pricing of Kindle Wireless given the free full time wireless access thrown in for life! It works, it's fast, I'm thrilled.

9. Here are the subscriptions I have which I would highly recommend so far: AP Strange, Cool Tools, Gizmodo, USA TODAY, The International Herald Tribune, and Amazon Daily. There are several others but I'm still on the fence for those, so I won't bother mentioning them. I will post individual reviews on Kindle content (subscriptions) with those products.

10. Old issues of your subscriptions don't disappear right away. They just get archived. This means they are still available without stealing any memory, once the newest version of a subscription hits the Kindle Wireless. I really like this feature. An archived item is no longer resident on the Kindle Wireless, but if you select the item, it is immediately re-sent to the K2 for your review.

11. Battery life is very good, even with the wireless on constantly. K2 goes into sleep mode if you leave it be for a few minutes, but in this mode it still uses battery power if wireless is enabled. With heavy use and constant wireless connectivity, I am half charged after the first 36 hours. With wireless off, it lasts for days without any recharge. Many have been critical of the non user replaceability of the battery. Really? I just don't see the big deal. What you get in return for this is a sleeker, thinner unit. I can do without the K2 several years from now for a week while the battery gets replaced. More likely, by the time the battery no longer holds a charge, there will be a K7 with a color screen and 200 times the memory that I'll want to upgrade to!!!!

12. Screen refresh time is a non-issue. It's good.

13. I don't recommend Kindle for web surfing. It's slow and you don't get the graphics. Use it in a pinch, but it's really not Kindle's strong suit. It's there to help you get information, but it's just not the nice interface and speed you want and get with the good browsers. What I've found myself doing is clipping articles that need research, then later when I've got time using a computer to do that research and place product orders if needed.

14. I just added number 14 because I got asked about mp3 playing on the K2. Here's the answer. I plugged the K2 into my Apple MacBook USB port and a message came up on the K2 stating that if I wanted to charge the K2 or read it, I would have to eject it from the computer. (Fine with me!) So I opened Finder (analogous to My Computer on Windows systems) and there was the Kindle Wireless, listed as a hard drive. I went to iTunes Music folder on my hard drive, found Coldplay "Trouble" and dragged it to the K2's "Music" folder. In about five seconds it was done. I ejected (unmounted in Applespeak) the K2, and it immediately went back to normal condition. From the Menu screen, I selected "Experimental" then "Play mp3." It worked perfectly first time. Notes regarding playing mp3s on Kindle Wireless: music is played in the order it was placed onto the K2. It plays each song once, then stops at the end of the songlist. There does not appear to be any way to shuffle or have the songs repeat. I'm sure that will all be part of some software update.

15. Update: Forgot to mention that I got the Amazon Kindle Wireless 2 Cover and am very happy with it also. Not sure what the complaints have been about. It works just fine. Amazon Kindle Wireless 2 Leather Cover.

The bottom line here is that this is a great, satisfying device that will please you unless you ask more of it than it was designed to do. It's the clear choice versus other e-readers. I say this based on the following criteria: price (because of the whispernet being free forever, the device itself might as well be free), build quality (I am extremely picky in this regard, and K2 is superbly constructed), content (Amazon offers more than any other e-book, and it's all available right from the device without a computer), and intuitive operation (your parents and grandparents can operate this device, if you are fortunate enough to still have them!) I love the K2 and highly recommend it.

I am available to answer questions, just send through a comment and I'll let you know what I think.

Check For Best Price Now!..

 

About the Author

Kindle Wireless Highly Recommend!

Computer Confessional

Hell’s Kitchen – CLB359 13 MacBook/Pro/Air Case - Black $36.99 Classic design with so much durable function is a look you'll want to hold on to and you can with this ballistic-nylon sleeve that accommodates 13" MacBook MacBook Air or Ap

Hell’s Kitchen – CLB409 15 MacBook Case - Gun Gray $59.99 Classic design with so much durable function is a look you'll want to hold on to and you can with this ballistic-nylon sleeve that accommodates 15" MacBook/Pro.

Hell’s Kitchen – CLB409 15 MacBook Case - Racing Red $59.99 Classic design with so much durable function is a look you'll want to hold on to and you can with this ballistic-nylon sleeve that accommodates 15" MacBook/Pro.

Hell’s Kitchen – CLB409 15 MacBook Case - Black $59.99 Classic design with so much durable function is a look you'll want to hold on to and you can with this ballistic-nylon sleeve that accommodates 15" MacBook/Pro.

Hell’s Kitchen – CLB359 13 MacBook/Pro/Air Case - Racing Red $51.99 Classic design with so much durable function is a look you'll want to hold on to and you can with this ballistic-nylon sleeve that accommodates 13" MacBook MacBook Air or Ap

Speech & Debate $21.99 Speech & Debate - T-Shirt

The King's Speech $12.49 The King's Speech - Masterprint

Mobile Edge 13.3" SlipSuit MacBook Edition $23.99 10.25" 13" 13.3" SlipSuit MacBook Edition 13.75" 2" Specially made for 13" Apple MacBooks Soft, durable and water-resistant Neoprene protects and cushions your laptop Small enough to fit inside your regular carrying case, but tough enough to use by itself Stylish design combines form and function to create a unique laptop carrying solution Heavy-duty nylon strap Full-size external pocket for AC adapter, files, CDs and other accessories Apple - MacBook 13" Black Carrying Case MESSM1-13 Mobile Edge Neoprene Notebook SlipSuit www.mobileedge.com

Speech $23.95 This book is in Used condition

Philips Speech Mini Cassette Transcription System $389.99 0% 1 Analog Transcription Machine Headset Foot pedal Power supply Color: Black Specialist analog transcription machine is geared towards simplicity. Large-digit LCD shows tape information at a glance, while user-friendly controls allow individual documents to be accessed at the touch of a button. Three-function foot control provides hands-free operation of play, fast forward and rewind. Recorder offers a fast return to the beginning of the tape with auto rewind, quick access to the start of the next job with search forward and skip functions, and fast access to any part of the tape with turbo wind. LCD tape counter displays information stored on cassette. Headphones keep playback clear and confidential. Recorder includes headset, foot pedal and power supply. Acoustic frequency response is 200 to 6,000 Hz. LFH072052 No Philips Philips Electronics Speech Mini Cassette Transcription System Transcription Kit www.usa.philips.com

Final Speech $74.99 Norman Rockwell Final Speech - Framed Art Print

Freedom Of Speech $39.99 Norman Rockwell Freedom Of Speech - Framed Art Print

Freedom of Speech $124.99 Norman Rockwell Freedom of Speech - Framed Giclee Print

Speech Recognition Headset AC645 $8.97 Speech Recognition Headset AC645

Obama - Destiny Speech $19.99 Obama - Destiny Speech - Masterprint

In Speech, In Life, In Love $17.99 In Speech, In Life, In Love - Poster