Amazon Kindle eBook Reader Review

Product Specifications
Positive Aspects
Negative Aspects
Customers Feedback
Should You Buy?

The Amazon Kindle, released in the Year 2011 and the 4th version of the device, is the lightest and smallest Kindle to date. It is also one of the cheapest eBook Reader available on the market. Coming in at an extremely affordable new price point, especially if you choose the ad-supported version. But does this latest model retain and improve on all the features we liked about the Kindle 3 which is now known as Kindle Keyboard? Continue reading to find out more.

Product Specifications Of The Amazon Kindle

Average Price: $79 (ad supported) - $109
Release Year: 2011
Battery Life: One Month (Wi-Fi off)
Screen Size: 6 inch
Screen Type: e-Ink
Weight: 5.98 oz
Storage Size: 2GB
Internet: Wi-Fi
Main eBook Format: AZW (Kindle)

Positive Aspects Of The Amazon Kindle

Price
With each new Kindle generation, Amazon has continued to lower the price point for buyers. True, the basic Kindle 2011 doesn't come with all the features that you'll find on the Kindle Keyboard or Kindle Touch, but it's an excellent option for those who had their eye on the Kindle but were put off by the price. This makes Amazon's Kindle range a strong contender in the market, given the quality of Kindles in general.

Option For Special Offers
Although some may see the inclusion of special offers as a drawback of the Amazon Kindle, it really isn't! Amazon is giving you a choice: would you like to save $30 buy purchasing a Kindle that will display ads on the home screen and screensavers (never while you read), or do you want to pay a little more for a device that'll never display advertisements? This is an excellent choice that allows you to save even more money if you need to.

Kindle Store
There's no denying that Amazon provides the biggest bookstore on the planet. You'll have access to the Kindle bookstore right from your Kindle menu, and buying your next book really is as easy as clicking a button. There's a fantastic range of eBooks available, including bestsellers and more niche options (though not all publishers choose to make their books available in eBook form).

The good news is that Amazon are also generally competitive on prices, and have a large library of free classics for you to download to your Kindle, too. Self-publishers have also embraced the Kindle platform, meaning that there's a huge range of unique titles available to buy at bargain prices if you like to seek out new writers.

Battery Life
The fact that the battery on the Kindle 2011 lasts for a month (with Wi-Fi turned off) is a massive bonus for most users. You'll rarely find yourself running out of battery and rushing to charge the device, which is important when you're right in the middle of a gripping novel! That said, it doesn't last as long as the battery on the Kindle Keyboard or Kindle Touch.

Negative Aspects Of The Amazon Kindle

Touchscreen
For some, the lack of a touchscreen may be considered a drawback of the Kindle 4. Like the Kindle Keyboard, you'll have to turn the pages using buttons on either side of the device. But unlike its predecessor, there is no keyboard. Instead, you must use the directional pad to navigate your way around an on-screen keyboard. Certainly not easy for those who like to make a lot of notes!

On the plus side, Kindle buyers who aren't necessarily into their gadgets may find physical page turn buttons easier to use and less intimidating than the touchscreen version.

No Audio
One thing you will find in the Kindle Keyboard and the Kindle Touch devices is a set of speakers. There are no speakers on the basic Amazon Kindle 2011, which means you can't take advantage of text-to-speech (which will read your books aloud to you), or the ability to play MP3s and audio books on the device.

No 3G Option
Unlike the older Kindle Keyboard and new Kindle Touch devices, there is no option for 3G connectivity on the cheapest Kindle. It's clear that Amazon wanted to keep things as simple as possible to make it easier to drop the price, and most users will find a Wi-Fi connection is all they need. That said, if you want to take advantage of the free 3G access Amazon offers its Kindle users, you'll have to pay up for a more expensive device.

No ePub eBooks
Amazon has been criticized by many for not taking advantage of the open source eBook format ePub, and instead going with their own format AZW. This means that you cannot read Kindle books on other devices, and you can't just buy ePub books and place them on the Kindle. The good news is that you can take free software programs such as Calibre to convert ePub books into Mobi format, which the Kindle can read.

Should You Buy The Amazon Kindle?

The Kindle 2011 is not perfect. It comes with no touchscreen and no keyboard which means you will have to do a lot of scrolling forward and backward to look up for words or type any notes. That being said, the Kindle 2011 price is extremely affordable and this is what Amazon is banking on. They now have various Kindle models to suit just about anyone. If you want an affordable, high quality reader, then opt for this Kindle. If you prefer a touchscreen or 3G internet access, opt for the Kindle Touch instead. You can purchased it from Amazon.com at a special price!

Read more eBook Reader Reviews.