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On the Fence - Kindle Now or Kindle 2 Later??

I am finding myself on the fence about buying a Kindle at this point in time. My worry is that if I buy now in a month the Kindle 2 will be out. Went through that once with an iMac and missed out on an Intel processor.

My question: Do you think the Oprah show was merely a push to get rid of existing stock? I would imagine if I was Amazon I would want to get rid of the original Kindles before announcing the 2.0.

It makes business sense, but if its the case its a shitty thing to do to the consumer. I mean, imagine the excitement over Oprah only to find out a month later that what you now have is crap compared to the new model.

Like all of you, I have seen the supposed leaked screen shots of the 2.0. The question I really have is if the 2.0 version will include the wireless phone connectivity that the current one has. If it does not, it would still make the original a viable option which giving people a choice of another model.

I soo want to get one of these, just can't seem to jump off the fence for fear of what I might find. Thoughts? I appreciate your reply.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jesslyn Hendrix on November 5, 2008 at 11:15pm: Well, let me give you my reasons for Kindle 1.0. I have seen the 2.0 screenshots also, and even though I am a gearhead that usually upgrades the minute new technology comes out. I am NOT happy with some of the changes.
No SD Card - I like the SD card capability. I am a repeat reader and want the extra memory capability.
No removable battery - I have gone down this road with iPod and its not a good one

The new form factor also looks a little larger and the buttons look odd to me. If you're lucky, K 1.0 would be discounted when 2.0 comes out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Susan M on November 7, 2008 at 5:46pm: I have had my Kindle for about a year and have added multiple Kindles to my account for immediate and extended family. For a 1.0 product - the Kindle is amazing. I have a hard time imagining what improvements would move me to want to upgrade, so for me I'm happy to have mine now. The major improvement I am looking for is a better way to organize materials on the kindle and since that seems like a software upgrade, I am hopeful that the main improvement I want will actually be available for my current product without having to upgrade the hardware.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michael on November 8, 2008 at 5:23pm: Who cares what 2.0 does? There will be a 3.0 and a 4.0. Then what. The Kindle allows you the freedom to read books and anything else. It does it well. You will be completely satisfied. Just like the generation one iPod. It plays music. If you want to email/surf the web/text/IM/read/listen to music simultaneously you won't be satisfied with the device. If you want to read volumes of gloriously clear pages with low priced or free content without carrying a library around with you, buy the 1.0. I love it as much as my iPhone which does all that other crap. Just read!

You can buy Kindle 3.0 in two or three years when 1.0 wears out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephen Lange on November 9, 2008 at 6:24pm: Well my concern was not over getting new non-kindle features but rather missing out on potential e-in improvements to the screen, etc. Given that its so close to the holiday season, and as a person who isn't rich, I don't think its wrong to consider the question of whether to buy now older -- but well tested technology -- or wait for newer hardware built upon an already successfull operating system,, etc.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Glennon on December 12, 2008 at 7:23am: Thanks for the email string, thanks to you I took the plunge and am awaiting my Kindle 1.0...my only regret is I didnt put in whatever code I needed to through Oprah or anyone else, to get a discount on my purchase (still waiting for delivery, but feel good about taking that plunge...anticipating all the free classics I can get (yes? I'm correct in that?)...reading war and peace now in the new pevear / volokhonsky version, im sure i couldnt get this one for free, but many english language classics i love ie dickens, jane austen and thomas hardy i'm presuming i can get on kindle for free... really looking forward to this christmas gift to me from me...happy holidays to you and to all in this network from Tim in Staten Isl NYC; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Johanna on November 8, 2008 at 11:28pm: I don't care if the Kindle 2 cooks dinner and cleans the bathroom - you're going to have to pry my Kindle 1 out of my cold, dead fingers. The only things I can think of that I'd like added to my Kindle are a clock feature and a backlight, neither of which are proposed for the 2. (At least that I know of.) I wouldn't wait - every day you're losing money by not having a Kindle. (That is, if you're like me and read three to four books a week.) Everyone should own a Kindle - I wish I had some extra money to buy one for my daughter, who reads as much as I do. I certainly wouldn't wait for the Kindle 2 to come out.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Glennon on December 12, 2008 at 7:22am: Thanks for the post Johanna, thanks to u and others my 1.0 kindle is on order...my only regret is I didnt put in whatever code I needed to through Oprah or anyone else, to get a discount on my purchase (still waiting for delivery, but feel good about taking that plunge...anticipating all the free classics I can get (yes? I'm correct in that?)...reading war and peace now in the new pevear / volokhonsky version, im sure i couldnt get this one for free, but many english language classics i love ie dickens, jane austen and thomas hardy i'm presuming i can get on kindle for free... really looking forward to this christmas gift to me from me...happy holidays to you and to all in this network from Tim in Staten Isl NYC; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Merch A. DeGrasse on November 13, 2008 at 9:40pm: I read where the kindle 2 will have more resident memory but will not have a slot for an SD flash memory card. I think that is a huge shortcoming, since the SD cards are inexpensive and allows you to have an almost infinate e library. Also if you are one to listen to music while reading, you can have a large MP3 music library on an SD card for your listening enjoyment. I wouldn't wait for the Kindle 2.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Glennon on November 22, 2008 at 3:27am: Thanks for your email string, because of it and the responses, just took the plunge...ordered Kindle 1.0, hopefully I'll be as pleased w my choice as the respondents to your post seemed to be; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary on November 22, 2008 at 10:19am: You'll love it, just you wait and see!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tim Glennon on December 12, 2008 at 7:21am: Thanks for the vote of confidence Mary...my only regret is I didnt put in whatever code I needed to through Oprah or anyone else, to get a discount on my purchase (still waiting for delivery, but feel good about taking that plunge...anticipating all the free classics I can get (yes? I'm correct in that?)...reading war and peace now in the new pevear / volokhonsky version, im sure i couldnt get this one for free, but many english language classics i love ie dickens, jane austen and thomas hardy i'm presuming i can get on kindle for free... really looking forward to this christmas gift to me from me...happy holidays to you and to all in this network from Tim in Staten Isl NYC; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mary on December 12, 2008 at 4:14pm: Yes, a lot of the classics are available through Gutenberg web site for free. There's a section here that deals with free/good deals on books, that lists a fair number of web site with free books. (look under the 'Kindle" tab); ▶ Reply to This