More thoughts on the Kindle v2

Now that I’ve had a few days to actually use the device and I’ve read my first book on it (David Maraniss’s Rome 1960: The Olympics that Changed the World) I finally have some real world experience on which to base a proper review of the device.  I love it.

I truly enjoyed having the built-in dictionary available for a few of the more obscure words that Maraniss tossed in to the story.  Similarly, I’m a big fan of the ability to annotate a story.  There is a reference in Rome 1960 to another story, Pitch Invasion, that seems pretty cool.  Being able to search for that book directly from the device was great.  It not actually being available was a minor setback, but such is life.  Normally in that situation I’d write something on the scrap of paper I’m using as a bookmark and then hope I remember to look it up at some point.  The Kindle shortens that cycle and helps me actually remember to find the things I’m looking for.  That may become an expensive change for me, but I’m willing to accept that risk.

The battery life has been incredibly impressive.  People I’ve seen over the past few days keep asking me how long the battery lasts.  I honestly cannot give them an answer as I haven’t run it out yet.  I haven’t even managed to get it below 50%.  I keep the radio off unless I’m actively downloading something to help extend the battery life and it seems to be working out quite nicely.

I have but one complaint.  The forward/back buttons are a little difficult to click.  They redesigned those keys because folks complained they were too easy to press accidentally.  I think that they went too far in their efforts.  It isn’t really a problem, but it does require a rather forceful and purposeful action to turn the page.  That is probably what they wanted, but it is a bit annoying to me.

Also, I’m not sure why they made the keyboard area so big.  Make the device smaller or the screen bigger with that much real estate to work with.  But that isn’t too big a deal.

No complaints about the device otherwise.  I’m not certain that it is a compelling upgrade from the K1, but it is certainly a quality product.