Kindle 2 - noisy little bugger

In my quest for an electronic reading device, I decided I had to try the Kindle. Amazon is obviously the juggernaut of e-reading. I hesitated because it weighs the same amount as the Sony PRS-700 I already nixed for being to unwieldy. But I found some really good prices on eBay and figured I'd give it a test drive. It didn't hurt that the auction I won came with a lot of case options for me to try.

Here are my thoughts on the Kindle (currently running firmware 2.3 - I haven't run the upgrade yet because none of my critiques can be fixed by the upgrade).

Design:
The used Kindle 2 I bought has a decal skin on it, so I didn't get to experience the tactile feel of the metal back. The creaky plastic is a bit annoying to me. The matte plastic bezel is nicer than the glare I get off the nook's glossy bezel. My largest complaint is the click noise the page buttons make. It's noticeable all of the time, but it is way too loud in a quiet dark room. On three occasions I have tried reading it while nursing, and it distracts the baby to the point I had to stop reading on the Kindle. I don't have that problem on the nook, which has a click noise, but it is more subtle. And the nook has the touchscreen swipe option.

Touchscreen:
The Kindle doesn't have a touchscreen. I wonder if they'll add that to Kindle 3?

Contrast:
The background is the same soft gray as the Sony PRS-700 (similar to newspaper), but not as white a background as the nook. Very good for reading in and outdoors, with no glare. Both letters and artwork appear very crisp.

Lighting:
There is no built-in lighting on the Kindle -standard for e-Ink devices. I have used the M-Edge Eluminator2 with the Kindle in a dark room, and while there is some glare, it is acceptable.

Speed:
Page turns were the same as the PRS-700. I have to push for next page at about the 2nd last line in order to keep my reading rythym. Again, the noise of the buttons is noticeable.

Software:
I would rate the Kindle software as average/mediocre. While it isn't awful in any way, it isn't very slick, either. Navigating works well with the 5-way, but gets frustrating when you have to select something at the bottom of the screen and have to click past a whole long list. And the inability to organize side-loaded content via the new Collections feature is unfortunate. I've been e-reading for 7 years, so I have a 400+ ebooks that get dumped into a flat view, with no organizing capabilities. All my meticulously-tagged series are useless on the Kindle.

The reading software reads .MOBI DRM and free .PRC formats. The slab serif font is and unfortunate choice - I don't find it readable for long periods of time. Luckily, there are font hacks out there. The jump between sizes is a little too dramatic - it would be nice to have a few in between.

The desktop software is Kindle for Mac, and I have also used Kindle for iPhone. I didn't authorize the Kindle, so I didn't sync with the desktop. Unfortunately, the Whispersync feature only keeps books purchased from Amazaon in sync.

Ergonomics:
The Kindle feels lighter than the Sony PRS-700, even though they weigh the same. I think that is because of the way it is designed to be held by the middle, rather than the bottom. Weight is more evenly distributed. The 5 way button leaves an annoying dent in my thumb. The rest of the buttons are laid out well. However, it isn't one-handable, for me. The Kindle is very wide - my (very small) hand only extends about halfway across the back, so I don't feel like I'm gripping enough of the back to hold it securely in one hand. Which is a shame, because the placement of the page buttons works well for one-handed operation. This is probably not a problem for someone with average hands.

Overall, I'm most comfortable holding it in two hands to hold it steady. For my daytime reading, the Kindle is an acceptable device. For evening and while nursing, it's not ideal. Even with an easel case, I found it difficult to read one-handed.

Conclusion:
I read in bed, I read in the car, I read at work, I read on the couch. All told, I think I have spent 14 hours reading on this device over 4 days. I wanted to like it - Amazon has an impressive store, even after the Big 5-Agency debacle. But I just can't get a good grip on it, and the noisy click buttons make this a no-go for me. That, combined with the lack of organization for anyone with a library of eBooks means the Kindle is heading back to eBay.

Up next, I'm still valuating the nook and the Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300) is on its way.