Comparing the 2nd Generation Kindle and the $79.00 Wifi Kindle

The new Kindle is much lighter than the current 2nd generation Kindle. It is 5.98 ounces compared to 8.5 ounces for the 2nd  generation Kindle. When you hold it in your hands it feels well balanced and easy to hold.

The new $79.00 Kindle is about 3/4 the size of the 2nd generation Kindle. The first button on the left is a return button.  The second button from the left will pull up a keyboard on the screen. The middle button has 4 rockers that surround it which allow you to move back and forth in a menu or on the keyboard. The center of that button is used to make the selection. When used in conjunction with the keyboard, it is a lot like entering text on your TV using a remote control, slow and awkward for note taking. The two right buttons are the Menu and Home buttons, both of those work the same as before.

The new Kindle has no audio input or volume control. So if you want to listen to audio books, music or podcast on your Kindle this is not the Kindle for you.

I noticed when I compared the sides of the two Kindles, they look the same except the new Kindle is missing two slots. If you have a lighted cover this is how you connect it to the Kindle, so that the Kindle powers the light. It will be interesting to see if someone can come up with a lighted cover for the new Kindle and how it will be powered.  The lighted cover makes a good product even better.  I have been playing with new Kindle for about a day now and as a basic book reader it is a success.  However if you are looking for something more, then look somewhere else.