Amazon to Launch Next-Gen Kindle

After reading an AC article on how to get free ebooks for the Kindle, I went to Amazon to find the announcement on the home page and a picture of the sleek new Kindles. Not only did I like the smooth, rounded style of the new Kindle but the price as well. The highlights hooked me.

Battery Life - 1 month: Wow. Of course you have to turn the Wi-Fi off in order to enjoy this luxury.

The option to choose between a white or graphite color Kindle. That's very nice. I chose the graphite because I'm hoping it won't show as much fingerprints as my white one does. If it doesn't, then I won't have to make a customized skin for it.

Double the Storage: You no longer have to buy the DX if you want to keep 3,500 books on your Kindle.

High-Contrast E-ink Screen: Supposedly has the sharpest contrast on the ereader market. If it displays the graphics in textbooks with crisp, easy to see format, then I'll be pleased.

Built-in Wi-Fi and/or 3G Wireless: I like the fact that I can choose which setup I want. I chose the cheaper Wi-Fi model because I don't do a lot of traveling.The Wi-Fi only Kindle costs $139. The Wi-Fi and 3G Wireless costs $189.

Enhanced PDF Reader: Now, this is something I would like to see. I own several PDF ebooks but haven't been happy with the way Kindle or the nook has displayed them as of this date. With this new model, I will be able to highlight and take notes, which is another big plus.

Adjustable Fonts: I've yet to figure out how to do that on my Kindle 2, but I love this feature on the nook.

Smaller frame size. The new Kindle measures at 4.8 x 7.5, while keeping the 6" screen. That doesn't seem like much until you shove your Kindle inside your purse and find that you have more room than you used to. It's also lighter.

These are just some of the features of the next-gen Kindle. I preordered mine this morning and expect to get it sometime around the first week of September. Look for a full-scale review from me then.

Next-Gen Kindle Specs