Amazon opened up the Kindle 2 pre-orders today.  The original Kindle did not capture my attention, but this slimmer and more powerful version has me very interested. 

What changed my mind?  Running into e-paper out in the wild (Esquire 75th Anniversary issue).  Epaper is electronic paper that is as easy on your eyes to read as newspaper. Although the contrast of epaper is not quite as good as newsprint it is significantly better than try ing to read an active display, be it LCD or CRT.

So what makes the new Kindle 2 better than the original version? Amazon has this to say about their new Kindle:

• Slim & Lightweight: Just over 1/3 inch and 10.2 ounces
• 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 crisp images and text; even reads well in bright sunlight
• Longer Battery Life: 25% longer battery life; read for days without recharging
• More Storage: Take your library with you; holds over 1,500 books
• Faster Page Turns: 20% faster page turns
• Read-to-Me: Text-to-Speech feature means Kindle can read every book, blog, magazine, and newspaper out loud.
• No Wireless Bills: No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a monthly wireless bill.
• Large Selection: Over 230,000 books, plus U.S. and international newspapers, magazines and blogs available
• Low Book Prices: New York Times Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise 

In addition to books it can also access over 1000 blogs and all that WikiPedia has to offer. One of the exciting parts is the extra warranty which runs for two years and covers: 

1. Two years of coverage for failures due to normal operation of device
2. Two years of coverage for damage attributed to lightning or power surges
3. Two years of coverage (limited to a single claim) for accidental drops or damage

That’s right if you drop it you are covered!

I’m looking forward to getting my hands on one… let me know if you get your Kindle  before I do!