ReKindle your Love for Books with Kindle 2 (Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York)

Kindle 2

As the economy continues to put a clamp on our money clips, bookstores across the country are bearing the brunt of our spendthrift. Some have even closed their brick-and-mortar stores as a result. On the other hand, online stores like Amazon are thriving. So much so, they are releasing the sequel to their e-book reader, Kindle.

Once again, Amazon has fused a love for reading, the green movement, and the modern lifestyle with the e-book reader, Kindle 2. But I have to wonder, will consumers see Kindle 2 as a money saver or just a waste of their paper?

For $359, Kindle 2 holds over 1,500 books, each available for $9.99 and downloadable in less than 60 seconds with 3G wireless capabilities. That's a hefty overhead for the gadget, costing more than an iPhone, yet a cheaper price for books and no monthly fees. The high initial price has the potential to even out if you're an avid reader, but it’s still a lot to pay during tight times.

The creators made reading from Kindle 2 as similar to reading a piece of paper as possible. The words are easier to read than text on a computer screen because it is made from electronic ink and uses no backlight, making it readable in sunlight without a glare.

For the frequent traveler and environmentalist, Kindle 2 has some key features. It weighs less than a pound and is only 1/3 of an inch wide, taking up little space in your carry-on. If you're traveling by car, you can turn on the text-to-speech option, and Kindle 2 will read your book to you. It has 25% longer battery life than its predecessor, staying charged for days at a time. Also, using Kindle 2 saves the paper that would be used to print hundreds of thousands of books and newspapers.

Overall, the gadget is another step in our society's quest to decrease our carbon footprint while releasing the latest technology. Is Kindle 2 worth it to you?