I received a Kindle 2 as a gift recently. I'd had my eye on the Kindle since its launch, but couldn't justify the high price tag ($359). I use several forms of portable technology including a touchscreen smartphone, but the Kindle 2 was my first eBook reader. Opening the Kindle 2 was an experience: Amazon has cleverly packaged the Kindle in minimally wasteful packaging; the box itself is very clever and space-saving, and the USB cord is tucked into the two-prong adapter (so if, like me, you initially think that they forgot to include the USB cable, just pop the prong adapter off the end).

First, the size: the Kindle 2 measures about 8 inches by 5 inches by .36 (it's literally thinner than a Number 2 pencil), so it's about the same size as a paperback without the thickness (or the weight). It weighs only 10.2 ounces, so it's easy to slide it into a large purse or backpack. The display is large and crystal clear, but is only in black and white, so if you're getting magazine or newspaper subscriptions, be aware. There are sixteen shades of grey, though, so photos and illustrations have a lot of depth and contrast despite being in black and white. There are six different text sizes available if you have problems with too-small fonts, but the Kindle screen isn't backlit, so this won't work in low light without a reading light. There's also the controversial text-to-speech feature, which is the same technology that's come with Windows OS for years; a synthesized voice (male or female) will "read" the text out loud (there's a 3.5mm headphone jack if you want to listen in private). After the Authors' Guilld threatened to sue Amazon.com over the feature, publishers have the right to disable it on Kindle versions, so be aware that the text-to-speech feature may not work on all Kindle books.

You can purchase and download Kindle books instantly using the Kindle 2's Whispernet (an EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT that uses's Sprint's 3G network). Most New York Times Bestsellers are available in Kindle editions, which are typically $9.99. There are no Kindle rentals; once you've downloaded the book, it's yours. However, there are numerous free Kindle books to be found on Amazon.com and elsewhere; simply click on the Kindle Books tab at Amazon.com and set to sort by price ($0.00 titles show up first). Many of the free Kindle texts are based on older (think 19th-century) authors and are transcribed by volunteers, so they may not be exactly what you were expecting. You can either purchase Kindle books from your PC and have them sent wirelessly to your Kindle, or you can browse and purchase directly from the Kindle, but be careful: Kindle books are purchased via 1-click, which means that you could accidentally purchase something you'd only intended to look at. The download time depends on the size of the book; for a text-only book, it took less than a minute to download. When I downloaded a larger book with illustrations, it took several minutes.

Reading on the Kindle is much like reading a paperback; the Kindle "disappears" as you read. However, the page turning is a bit jarring, since every time you turn a page, the screen flashes in contrast (at first I thought that it was some sort of flaw or bug). The previous page button is on the left edge, while there's a next page button on both sides of the Kindle, so page turning is easy (other than the screen flashing). On the downside, you can't flip several pages ahead easily without repeatedly clicking the "next" button. With a real paperback, you'd simply thumb the pages.

There is no expandable memory slot, but the Kindle 2 features 2GB (1.4 GB for user content) of internal memory that will hold up to 1,500 books as well as documents (PDF, HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion) and MP3 music and AAX Audible audiobook files. You can even set up customized MP3 music playlists (it's under "experimental") by dragging files into the "Music" folder on the Kindle by hooking it up to your PC via the included USB 2.0 cable. If you have documents that are in another format (the Kindle native format is .AZW), you have two choices for conversion: either e-mail the documents to your Kindle e-mail (your regular e-mail ended with @kindle.com) for a ten-cent conversion charge (you'll be billed when your conversion balance reaches $3.00) or to your email @free.kindle.com (you then must drag-and-drop the file onto your Kindle from your PC, but there's no fee to convert the file).

The Kindle also features a basic Web browser that handles text-only versions fairly well, and a built-in dictionary. You're able to highlight, put in page markers and add notes to Kindle books, making it a useful tool for study or research. There's a full QWERTY keyboard and a five-way toggle that takes some getting used to. The menu designs are drop down similar to Windows; you simply move through the various options using the five-way controller, then press down on it to select.

The battery can hold a charge for up to four days; it takes about three hours to fully charge the battery. It’s not replaceable; you have to mail your Kindle to Amazon.com for a replacement. The battery is covered for the first year after purchase, but it’s $59 after that. The Kindle 2 also doesn’t come with a cover, for which you’ll have to shell out $30 unless you choose to store it in the box.

If you love new technology and are looking for new ways to read / listen on the go, the Kindle 2 may be a good choice for you. But besides the initial expense ($359), the Kindle versions of paperbacks are as expensive as their paper counterparts. Depending on your area, the Whispernet may not have a strong signal (and for now, the Kindle 2 is only available in the US, so overseas customers will have to wait). I love mine, but would never have spent $360 out-of-pocket, so it’s up to you whether it’s worth the cost of the Kindle 2 and book downloads.