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Amazon Kindle 2 Up Close and Personal

Amazon's Kindle 2 Launches at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City, February 9 2009.
By Jason Perlow, Senior Contributing Writer
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Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Presents the Kindle 2 to a packed auditorium. Click Here for more about the launch at ZDNet Tech Broiler.

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Kindle 2 is an evolutionary improvement over its predecessor, thinner with improved battery life, with increased levels of greyscale (16, previously 4) approximately 7 times the storage (1.7GB usable, versus 180MB) and text-to-speech capabilities. The device still sells for $359.00.

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Kindle 2 does not come with a case, unlike its predecessor. Instead, a number of 3rd party cases are being made available for purchase on launch.

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The Kindle 2, full profile shot.

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The Kindle 2 is significantly thinner than its predecessor.

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Text to speech capability is built into the unit. The Kindle can now read books to you, in a voice not unlike Steven Hawking's.

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The screen is extremely clear to read, even in full sun glare.

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The screen can invert to white on black for high contrast reading.

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Kindle 2 has a more streamlined look than its predecessor.

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Will every executive or busy traveller covet and acquire a Kindle 2, even in our recession economy?

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The back of the Kindle is now metallic.

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Kindle 2 now utilizes a "bubble" or "chicklet" keyboard, evocative of the 1980's Speak & Spell toy. A joystick now replaces the scroll controller.

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The improved greyscale screen now permits much more realistic representation of newsprint photos and graphics.

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