Electronic book readers are nothing new. Over the past decades, many have actually tried but failed, until Amazon that is. Ever since the Kindle, it's actually groovy again to be reading. By and large, it is in vogue especially among the executive and academic ranks. Everyone would want one, for whatever reasons; work needs, status symbol, lifestyle and what not..... Whether you're pro or against it, it captures your attention!

With the launch of Kindle 2 Amazon has integrated the entire business of e-reading. The eBook reader is not only filled with smart features, it's also connected and mobile just like the cellular phone. It is essentially a cellular eBook reader in that it has wireless coverage anywhere in the US for Amazon bookstores plus browsing text-centric websites like Wikipedia, Google and others.

The original Amazon Kindle wasn't much of a looker but you can't say that about the new Kindle. Looking stylish and a lot more approachable than its predecessor, the Kindle 2 is also an ergonomics masterpiece. Whether it's by chance or choice, the appearance is very Apple-like (iPod) and that's a plus with many folks. But looks aside, it's a functional gem in its own right.

Although the Kindle is likely to attract quite a bit of attention, that's not the intention of the design upon the reader. The objective was in fact to get the reader 'lost in your reading, not the technology'. It has so gallantly replicated the feature of a good physical book to disappear while you're reading it but can't put it down except it's now can't put the Kindle down.

The most distinctive feature of the Amazon eBook Reader is the Whispernet. This is a wireless service for acquiring content and some degree of internet access. It also carries the Whispersync feature which links other Kindles and its associated devices such as the iPhones and iPods plus others in the future. When you purchase the Kindle 2, Amazon will pay for the lifetime connectivity of the particular e-reader. The network is 3G-based so it doesn't have to be in a hotspot to operate.

Yes, the Amazon Kindle is but a book. And what a book! It's any book you wish, out of 275,000 and you can carry more than a thousand of them everywhere you go and access the rest in less than 60 seconds. Amazon has publicly stated its goal of availing any book that's ever printed in electronic form for the Kindle within the US. That's a tall order but based on their track record, you don't want to bet against it.