Review Of Kindle 3 By Amazon

Science News

With the arrival of Kindle 3, the latest version of a new way of life has entered the market. When compared to the two earlier models, there are definitely more pros than cons. Should you replace your older model? Is it a good time to take the plunge and buy your first e-book reader?

Pros

Slimmer and more compact than its predecessor, Kindle 3 also has a new and improved screen with more advanced contrast and quicker page turns. Along with native PDF support, it features an extensive library with access to hundreds of thousands of magazines, newspapers, e-books, and blogs via Amazon’s well-known online store. At no additional cost, 3G “Whispernet” wireless data network, plus Wi-Fi, are built into the unit. For notes, there is also a built-in keyboard. With 4 GB, or 3.3 usable, memory, Kindle 3 has the capacity to store 3,500 e-books and a choice of eight fonts, including the addition of two extra large ones. In addition to displaying image files, this new version also plays AAC audio and MP3.

Cons

Unfortunately, the Kindle 3 does not have an expansion slot for additional memory; nor does it support EPUB files. The battery is permanently enclosed in the device and cannot be removed or replaced.


Quick Review

Kindle’s third generation model successfully combines a variety of significant upgrades. Its extended battery life, lower price, lighter weight, and enhanced screen vault it to the peak of the e-book reader alternatives.

Kindle 3 Full Review

Just as Apple was not the first to release an MP3 player, Amazon didn’t lead the pack in creating the first e-book reader.  The early versions of Sony Readers and the RocketBook by NuvoMedia both beat Amazon’s Kindle to the market.  Nevertheless, the Kindle has essentially become the equivalent of the iPod to the e-book market.  From an object of curiosity to a rapidly growing mass market, the Kindle has catapulted this e-book reader to the peak of the market in less than three fast years. Now, in the midst of an aggressive and competitive marketplace, Amazon is introducing the third generation.

To summarize the pros and cons, it is important to note that the Kindle 3 is not a totally  innovative new product but one that has evolved over the past three years.  Its six inch screen is lighter and smaller, and it screen has been improved.  Finally, Amazon has adopted the crucial Wi-Fi feature from its competitor, Barnes & Noble’s Nook.

This Kindle comes in two versions:  one with both 3G wireless and Wi-Fi for $189, and another with only Wi-FI, for $139.  Both come in a choice of graphite or white and retail for $10 less than the equivalent models of the Nook.  In addition to color, the Kindle 3 is more compact than the Nook and includes 4GB of memory instead of the 2GB in the models by Barnes and Noble.  If that isn’t enough, the Kindle 3 also has a battery life of four weeks (without the wireless turned on), twice that of the Nook.


Kindle 3 Specs

• 6-inch e-ink display
• 21 percent more compact than Kindle 2
• 15 percent , or 8.7 ounces lighter
• Screen offers better contrast like Kindle DX
• Quicker page turns (We found they are a little
        faster than older models; Amazon says 20%          
• Built-in memory of 4GB (the equivalent of 3,500 e-books).
• Improved life of battery (up to 4 weeks with  wireless turned off)
• Smaller buttons to turn pages; also quieter (almost no clicking noise)
• Up to a month of battery life from sealed battery (wireless not on)
• Improved experimental web-kit based browser, especially with Wi-Fi
• Increased text-speech options; ability to navigate without reading menu options;  ability to listen to some books aloud while listing content, item description, and menu options on the screen
• PDF reader built in; new dictionary capability; highlights, notes, and support for PDFs protected by passwords

The Kindle 3 comes without a cover, but Amazon sells two.  Especially useful is the cover with an enclosed slide-out light for $59.99.

Amazon clearly intended to make this evolution of the Kindle slimmer and more capable of being stored in the purse or pocket.   In turn, they obviously attempted to make the device an everyday option that can easily be carried anywhere at any time.  In my opinion, they reached their goal.  When used without a cover, at least, its light weight enables the reader to hold it comfortably in the hand for longer periods of time.

There is good news and bad news about the e-ink screen.   The display looks really good, and the letters seem to be darker and easier to see than those on the older Kindles and the Nook.  The optimized fonts really do make the writing sharper.  Though not a huge difference, it’s significant.  It’s also possible to turn the pages twice as fast as in the old version, and that is quite an improvement.  (Still, there’s a somewhat annoying look of a photo negative when doing so.)

Another plus to e-ink displays is the fact that they are not backlit.  This not only reduces eye strain but also enables the reader to see the screen more clearly in brightly lit areas, even direct sun.  The iPad, by contrast, is difficult to read outdoors because the LCD washes out in bright sunlight, and the glass on the screen creates issues with glare and reflects light.

The screen of the Kindle 3 can be toggled from landscape to portrait mode and is particularly helpful for websites and PDFs.  The process, however, requires manual access to the menu.  On the contrary, thanks to built-in accelerometers, this process is automatic on the iPad or Kindle DX.

At night, the Kindle requires a light source.  To solve this problem, Amazon created an optional cover that protects the unit and includes a brilliantly designed built-in LED light.  The slim light, only slightly visible, uses the power of the Kindle and folds into the case.  Since the Kindle itself comes without a cover, this option is worth considering.

For Kindle 3, Amazon greatly enhanced the capabilities of the text-to-speech feature by adding it to the menu. (Some publishers allow this action while others do not.)  Also new is a microphone near the USB port on the bottom near the volume buttons.  The great news is that Kindle has two small, but powerful, speakers on the back so that the user can listen to MP3 audio while reading.  Another new plus is the addition of games.   Although there are only a few thus far, they could be the forerunners of a much wider application on future Kindles.

When all is said and done, Amazon has taken a good e-reader and greatly improved it; much like Apple has done with its mobile devices.  While the improvements are not good enough to make earlier buyers of Kindle 2 regret their purchases, it just might make Kindle fans want to upgrade to the newer version.  In this case, family and friends will most certainly gladly accept the older models.

Those who are buying e-readers for the first time can take comfort in the fact that the $139 or $189 may not exactly be cheap, but it is a lot less than the $399 tag on the first model when it came on the market in 2007.  With prices like these, I can honestly say that the Kindle 3 is a reasonable investment for readers who are thinking about making the jump into e-books.