Way, way back in October we broke the news of Amazon’s Kindle 2. Seems like forever ago, doesn’t it? Amazon snubbed us at the launch event, but we’ve taken matters into our own hands and got a Kindle 2 delivered. As we all have come to expect, the Kindle 2 arrived in its very own customized packaging. Occupying the size of a large hardcover book, the inside of the box and the Kindle 2 packaging was matte black with a slightly embossed Kindle logo and swirl of letters that typifies the Kindle brand. The contents of the box are meager — Kindle 2, power adapter, USB sync cable and brief getting started guide. Unlike the original Kindle, the Kindle 2 does not included any type of case or slipcover. All in all, much as you think it would, the unit doesn’t disappoint aesthetically. It has a nice rounded look and is amazingly thin, not clunky and awkward-looking like the original Kindle, and despite its diminutive size, it has a nice heft and feel to it. The only drawback from an appearance point of view is that the screen is eclipsed by the overall size of the reader. Unlike the Sony series of readers which have minimal casing, the Kindle 2 is dominated by the keyboard and large casing, making the screen appear smaller that it actually is. A small trade-off for including a physical QWERTY keyboard. We are waiting for this baby to charge before we dive into our first book but you can enjoy the pictures with us while we wait.
