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Kindle Wireless Reading Device (6" Display, U.S. Wireless)

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 17,606 ratings

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  • Slim and Lightweight: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines. At 10.2 ounces, lighter than a typical paperback
  • Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
  • Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required
  • Improved Display: Reads like real paper; now boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and even crisper images
  • Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
17,606 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the portability, text size, performance, and connectivity of the Kindle. For example, they mention that it's small enough to carry with you anywhere, the variable font size is very good, and it'll enlarge the text size if your eyes tire. That said, they say the functionality of the device is self-explanatory, and the joystick is highly functional. Customers also appreciate the e-book connectivity, saying it'd be a very powerful tool for reading.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7,025 customers mention6,105 positive920 negative

Customers like the readability of the Kindle. They mention that it's easy enough to read on, easy to just keep reading, and intuitive. The 5-way controller button is a convenient way to keep up with reading. The Kindle is also easy to use and has the ability to read to you. Customers also appreciate the wireless delivery, easy navigation, and the ability for it to read in bright sunlight.

"...will aide and abet me in avoiding that for a while -- the page is easy to read, the font size is easy to change, and my eyes sail across the words,..." Read more

"...If you change it to the "Advanced Mode" you are able to view pages pretty nicely as long as they aren't heavy with picture content...." Read more

"...Page turning is adequate really. It's not instantaneous, but plenty fast enough. About the length of time it takes to physically turn a paper page...." Read more

"...It's so easy to just keep reading, enlarge the text size if you're a bit tired, bookmark pages, add notes, etc. Reading books is just much easier...." Read more

4,300 customers mention3,830 positive470 negative

Customers like the portability of the Kindle. They say it's small enough to carry with you anywhere, it fits inside a suit jacket, and it doesn't take up much room in their purse. They also appreciate the small but not too small display. The Kindle is light enough so that you can carry it anywhere. Customers also say that the e-ink screen makes it easier to hold.

"...or any appropriate cover, provides something to hold and allows for greater comfort, making it an even more comfortable hold than a novel...." Read more

"...I don't feel that it is fragile, as some have stated. It is small and skinny and sleek, but well-built...." Read more

"...With these changes I could now read comfortably without any eye strain...." Read more

"...The screen is a good size, but I do wish it were sized so that the smallest text size would emulate a single paperback page...." Read more

2,584 customers mention2,116 positive468 negative

Customers like the performance of the Kindle. They mention that it's a powerful tool for high school and college students, and is flawless. They also say that the functionality of the device is self-explanatory without having to read any manuals. Customers also say the joystick is highly functional and the keypad is extremely easy to click. They say it'll enhance reading, not replace it. Customers are also impresseded with the clip function, saying that it works well and is a pretty cool feature.

"...I attached the light purchased just for the purpose, and it worked beautifully and allowed the Kindle to do it's job as a reader with the goal of..." Read more

"...It is small and skinny and sleek, but well-built. Of course, you're not going to want to throw it around...." Read more

"...It's very sturdy but not heavy, and with the leather cover (sold separately) it just feels great...." Read more

"...The functionality of the device is self-explanatory without having to read any manuals...." Read more

2,553 customers mention2,390 positive163 negative

Customers like the connectivity of the Kindle. They say it's the best e-book reading device, a very powerful tool for reading, and great if you're bored. The e ink display allows for a nicer reading experience, and the books get completely read. Overall, customers find the product amazing and say it reads just like a book page under any light.

"...And the books get completely read, because they're always there when I need them and ready to open to the last "page" I'd read...." Read more

"...But for me, the browser is actually better than the one that I have on my cellphone, so I am saving an additional $15 a month not having to pay..." Read more

"...people is a major drawback this device has, but the reading experience is greatly enhanced by it and I think you would be grateful you have it...." Read more

"...It is built to be a reading device, and it does that very well...." Read more

2,199 customers mention1,591 positive608 negative

Customers like the cost of the Kindle. They say the classics are either free or very inexpensive. They also appreciate the fact that they don't have to pay extra fees or monthly internet service bills. Customers also mention that the e-reader supports free mobi books and public domain books.

"...Savings in both weight and money. Not to mention trees...." Read more

"...It also saves trees - no paper is involved. The books seem to be cheaper than their paper counterparts in all cases...." Read more

"...that that downloads are fast with the Kindle 2 and that I do not have to pay extra fees, like I would pay shipping charges if I ordered the book..." Read more

"...They are expensive for screen shields, but with a little searching I was able to find 20% off internet coupon codes with a simple Google..." Read more

1,903 customers mention1,807 positive96 negative

Customers like the book downloadability of the reader. They mention it allows them to download on the run, has wireless downloading of books, and can download Mobi format books from Project Gutenberg and small publishers. The reader has its own program for downloading books from the internet, and the ability to download the first chapter of the books to preview them. Customers also appreciate the ability of instant book purchasing and the free samples that are lengthy enough.

"...Wireless downloading of books. I wanted this...." Read more

"...It's so simple to go onto amazon through my computer and buy books for it, a lot of which are insanely cheap and some others which are questionably..." Read more

"...Reading books is just much easier. Furthermore, the ability to download the first chapter of the books to 'preview' them is amazing...." Read more

"...The wireless in the Kindle works quickly and well, downloading selections swiftly...." Read more

1,328 customers mention1,289 positive39 negative

Customers find the text size of the book reader to be very good. They say the text is displayed in a variety of sizes and looks clear and smooth from smallest to largest. They also mention that the font size is easy to change and that two new font sizes were added for a total of 8. Customers also say the screen size is just fine and that the type size can be easily increased.

"...avoiding that for a while -- the page is easy to read, the font size is easy to change, and my eyes sail across the words, my finger hits next page..." Read more

"...Being able to change your font size is really nice as well, but I keep mine at the lowest so I don't have to turn pages so often...." Read more

"...It's so easy to just keep reading, enlarge the text size if you're a bit tired, bookmark pages, add notes, etc. Reading books is just much easier...." Read more

"...Larger fonts. Two new font sizes were added (for a total of 8). They are Humongous and Gargantuan (my terms)...." Read more

1,673 customers mention1,074 positive599 negative

Customers are mixed about the battery life of the book reader. Some mention that the battery seems good, amazing, and no power is used when it's off. However, others say that the page refreshes slowly and the screen freezes. The battery isn't replaceable by the end user.

"...This maximizes the battery life, and I have had no trouble using the Kindle for hours on end without external power...." Read more

"...battery, while not a major concern because the iPad had a surprisingly long battery life, but for the amount I used it, if I forgot to put it on the..." Read more

"...Speed of the unit. Not bad. Page turning is adequate really. It's not instantaneous, but plenty fast enough...." Read more

"...The screen itself... eInk, so no power used when it's off, or you're just looking at a page. Nice feature...." Read more

Kindle -- still many things to love.
4 Stars
Kindle -- still many things to love.
Update: June, 26, 2010I've been using a the iPad 3G for a couple months now and here is my perspective on Kindle vs. iPad for prospective buyers.- The iPad is definitely slicker and cooler looking, with a wide range of applications and customization that has infinite possibilities (like color)- As a primary reading device, the Kindle is still better...it is light in your hands so you can hold it without getting tired (it's often hard to find a comfortable position with the iPad due to its weight and balance), Kindle's screen is gentle on the eyes for long periods of reading time (you don't have to worry about changing the brightness of an LCD screen which requires exiting an application and going to the settings menu on the iPad), and the real life buttons are simple and easy for reading (close to the edge of the device, and you know when you've clicked something)- Since Kindle's content is loaded directly onto the device memory, you don't have to have a live internet connection for it to work. I find it very frustrating that many of the applications on the iPad require an active internet connection just to work (e.g. news, streaming music/video, magazines). That said, for the eBook applications (Kindle, iBooks) content is saved onto the iPad- If you have both devices, you can sync between them without repurchasing content. One of my favorite features is the "sync to last page read" which takes you to the last page you read across all devices on your account. The Kindle app for iPad is pretty simple, though I would like to see some additional features (e.g., adjust screen brightness within the application, ability to better manage content like deleting books from iPad memory, ability to buy and access periodicals, being able to shop for books within the application)- With the recent Kindle price drop, it is significantly more affordable than the iPad. You also don't need to pay for cellular service for the Kindle, though you can't do any complex internet activities on it either--just shopping for books- On the subject of content, I will have to defer to others. I'm pretty happy with what is available via the Amazon Kindle store, but it has its limitations- There is so much more that is possible for books to be with these new platforms (like greater interactivity and using graphics more creatively), but today neither device fully showcases themAll in all, I see the iPad as a multi-functional personalized mini-computer that can do a lot of whiz-bang things--downloading and reading books is just one those things. If you are interested primarily in reading, the Kindle is still better in terms of functionality and price.------------As one of the original Kindle's biggest fans and an owner for over a year, I can speak to the Kindle from two perspectives--the benefits of owning a Kindle, and Kindle 2 improvements (as I've now had it for half a day)The benefits of owning a Kindle (these do not change)- Absolutely, Jeff Bezos is right that the Kindle 'disappears' as you read it...as I read other reviews (and non-user critiques) about the Kindle, this point is often lost. Once you have the Kindle in your hands, you forget everything and become immersed in the content of what you're reading. Isn't that really the whole point?- I read more now that I have my Kindle, 10 years out of college than I did when I was in school, and I really enjoy it. Books look a lot less intimidating when they aren't sitting on your bookshelf and 3 inches thick. I recently finished Team of Rivals, and I am sure that if I had to read it in book form, I would never have gotten through it because it would have felt so intimidating.- Heft and weight is a complete non-issue with the Kindle. I like to read in odd positions (in bed, on the couch, on a plane, poolside, shifting around in a lounge chair) and I've always had trouble with real books because unless you are in the absolute middle of the book, it always is weighted to one side or another and frankly, my arm and pinkie finger gets tired holding it up. The Kindle is balanced and portable, and entirely usable in any situation.- I can be in the middle of a lot of different books at once...not much more to say here. You never run out of space on the Kindle, and though it may be a little bit hard to maneuver around a lot of books in your library, it's still better to have access to all your books at any time.- I now read newspapers. I always found physical newspapers to be clumsy and take up too much space to actually subscribe to. They are great for short content pieces, but terrible for reading in transit because the pages are so big. I also read some articles on my BlackBerry, but find myself scrolling a lot and waiting a long time for page loads. On the Kindle, you have wireless delivery, easy navigation, no ads, no need to flip to page D17 and find the place where you left off. You also have a searchable/annoted/bookmarked archive of all your newspaper articles if you ever need to find something again.- All of these things can probably be accomplished with any eBook reader. The difference with the Kindle is that you have wireless delivery of content. This means, literally, that I can be sitting on the plane, start talking about what good books the guy sitting next to me has read recently, look it up on my Kindle, read the reviews and download it before the rest of the passengers have boarded and the plane doors close. This has happened.- My biggest complaint, which I'm sure will be addressed in due course is that the entire wireless benefit does not exist outside of the US. I have taken my Kindle to Canada, Mexico and China, and I found that I had to (gasp), decide what I wanted to have on my Kindle before I left the US. Foreign language support would also be a plus, but again, I see why this might come later.Now, onto improvements with the Kindle 2- There are the obvious ones: sleeker look and feel (it feels solid in your hands), sharper screen, no longer accidentally depressing the next page button by accident and having to find your place in the book again...you can read about these from various sources)- The 5-way button, though a bit small, allows you to select left and right, and not just up and down like the original version. This is very helpful when you want to select and highlight.- There are now two layers of interaction...before when you were reading a paper, you could only go back to the previous screen to select the next article. Now, there is an option at the bottom of the screen to skip to the next article when you tire of the current one.- Page loads are much faster. I can feel that the delay between pages is much less. Only issue is I need to recalibrate now--in general, I try to anticipate how much time it will take the next page to load, and when I'm two lines from the bottom, I would hit the next page button. Now I need to push the button later.- Text to speech is cloogey, but fun. I'm not sure how useful this will end up being. I tried to have the voice read the user's manual to me and it paused at commas and periods, but skipped right over hard returns. It also scrolled the page as it was reading, so if you are trying learn English and don't mind developing a metallic accent, it could really help. :-) You can also choose, male/female and speed. I think this could be a nice feature, though probably won't be using it all the time.- Managing your books is much easier. It's easy to see what is in your archive and re-download onto the Kindle. Also easy to delete and manage your books. That 5-way button is magical...though a bit unintuitive--you need to train yourself to think that there might be something useful if you scroll to the right.- Dictionary is improved. Now you can highlight a word and it automatically gives you a definition at the bottom of the screen. It also lets you look up words (that are not in the text), which is an improvement since the last version.I'm sure there are still a bunch of things that I haven't yet discovered about the Kindle 2. I don't really bookmark/annotate/highlight that much, but for those who do, I think this has also been improved upon.Overall, the Kindle is an amazing product. It did the basics well in the original model, the Kindle 2 has improved on a lot of dimensions, and I look forward to seeing what new bells and whistles are still to come.If you are considering buying one, and need to see before you order, find someone in your city who has one and can show you. There is now a special board for this on Amazon. Kindle owners (at least this one), are always happy to talk about it, and you will be delighted with the screen and the possibilities in such a compact package.
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