This Amazon Kindle review is for the fourth version released in 2011. This newest Kindle is by far the lightest and smallest eReader created by Amazon thus far. Perhaps more importantly, this version is also the most affordable to date at a mere $79 if you choose the ad supported version!
Many will wonder if this smaller version will be an improvement over the previous Kindle 3 which is now dubbed as the Kindle Keyboard version.
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Main Specifications of the Amazon Kindle 2011:
- Year of release: 2011
- Size of screen: 6 in.
- Type of screen: e-Ink
- Storage size capacity: 2GB
- Internet connectivity: Wi-Fi supported
- Kindle eBook format: AZW (Kindle format)
- Kindle weights: 5.98 ounces
- Life of battery: 1 month of reading time with the Wi-Fi turned off
- Price of the Kindle: $79 for the ad supported version, $109 for the version with no ads
Features and Benefits of New Amazon Kindle Reader
The Kindle Store: There is no argument that Amazon does provide the largest bookstore in the world. You can have access to the Kindle store stright from your Kindle menu, and purchasing your next book turly is as easy as pressing the button on your kindle. Not all writers will create their books in a Kindle format, but more and more are doing so these days so you will have access to a great many options.
The other great news about the Kindle store is that Amazon is very competitive when it comes to the sales of downloadable ebooks. You’ll also be able to find a great number of classic books and novels for free. If you love to come across new authors, a great number of self publishers are definitely creating a Kindle version of their first books.
The Battery Life: If you are reading on your Kindle with the Wi-Fi turned off, (which you should be doing as there’s no need for it to be on all of the time) you can enjoy a wonderful month of battery life. This gives you plenty of time to read the full novel or important PDF while on a long flight, for example, worrying about running out of power. One thing to note though, is that the Kindle Keyboard and the Kindle Touch do have longer battery lives than this regular version.
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The Price of the Amazon Kindle: With each progressive version of the Kindle model, Amazon has lowered its price and this 2011 version is no exception. This basic Kindle is priced lower than ever before at an impressive $79 for the ad supported version. It is worth noting that the Kindle Touch and the Kindle Keyboard versions do come with more bells and whistles, but it is a great alternative for people who haven’t purchased one in the past because the price was a bit high for them.
If you opt for the ad supported version of the kindle it only means that you will be shown special deals while you are in the screensaver mode or on the home screen. We think that this is well worth saving an additional $30, but you also have the option of purchasing a Kindle without the ads for $109. Note that if you opt for the ad supported model, you will not be shown the ads while you are actually in the midst of reading something on the Kindle so it is really not that disruptive.
Are there any downsides to the new Amazon Kindle 2011?
Some people really don’t like not having a touchscreen and this might be considered a negative aspect to the Kindle 4 version. It is similar to the Kindle Keyboard in that you will need to use buttons on each side of the Kindle to actually turn the pages while you are reading. However, unlike the previous Kindle 3, instead of a keyboard you’ll use a directional pad at the bottom of the Kindle to find your way around the screen. This may not be the easiest for people who might like to take a lot of notes while they are reading.
If you think the Kindle Touch is more suited for your needs, be sure to read our full review here at the website as it is also a great option.
There isn’t a 3G option with this of the Kindle, but again, you will find it on the Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire versions. We think it is good that Amazon created a very affordable version that you can simply using for reading your ebooks. If you’re more likely to be wanting to surf the Internet with your device, you’d probably do better with one of the other models or even a table computer such as the great Apple iPad 2.
Amazon is staying true to form in that they will continue to only offer the availability of their own formated ebooks which is the AZW format. This means that you can not readily read any open source eBook or ePub versions on your Kindle. However, you can easily find a free software application such as Calibre which will allow you to convert these common ePub formats into what is called a Mobi format which the Amazon Kindle will be able to read.
Unlike the Touch version or the Kindle Fire, the regular Kindle does not contain speakers. This is somewhat of a disadvantage if you are interested in audiobooks or utilizing text-to-speech functionality to listen to your eBooks instead of reading them. This also means that you can’t listen to MP3s on your Kindle. Again, you’re probably not buying your Kindle for these purposes. Most people will already have an iPod or some such cool device for anything related to audo so it’s probably not a huge deal that this version doesn’t include the option.
Amazon Kindle review – Final Verdict
We love that the basic Amazon Kindle is now affordable to everyone! If you have someone on your Christmas shopping list who is an avid reader, the Kindle is absolutely the perfect present for him or her without a doubt.
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