Courtesy of Amazon.com

If you’re an avid reader and technology savvy, be prepared to rejoice with Amazon’s release of the Kindle 2. However, if you’re a traditionalist and literary fiend who buys books by the dozens, you may be understandably skeptical about an electronic reading device, despite having a veritable mobile library–minus the dust and backache–at your fingertips.

The Kindle 2 is Amazon’s latest wireless reading device, designed to replace printed books with electronic ones. An improved version of the original Kindle, the device boasts improved design features, increased memory and battery life. With over 285,000 books, magazines, newspapers and blogs available at the push of a button, the Kindle 2 can store over 1,500 titles. At 10.2 ounces and less than a centimetre in depth, the Kindle 2  is lighter than most paperbacks and as thin as a typical magazine, rivaling the Sony PRS-505 as one of the slimmest electronic reading devices on the market.

This electronic reader offers several amenities to enrich the reading experience. These include the Read-to-Me feature which converts text to speech, an in-line dictionary, bookmarking and highlighting options. You can even email Microsoft Word or PDF files to your unique Kindle email address for automatic downloads. Be warned though–you’re charged 10 cents for every document and there is a disclaimer that PDF files may not format correctly.

When it comes to storing and reading your faourite titles, the Kindle 2 has the obvious edge on the traditional paperback. Sounds like a dream come true for the book junkie, right? Not necessarily.

If remembering to charge your mobile phone is a tedious task, this battery operated device may not be a smart choice. Like any other technological device, the Kindle 2 must be handled with care. Butterfingers beware; the screen is susceptible to cracking and there is no removable memory. Break the device and there goes your mobile library–a hefty price to pay, not least because the device costs US$359.

Technology freaks may also prefer a touchscreen display, rather than keyboard, though the Kindle 2 is easier to operate than the original device. On the plus side, e-ink technology mimics print, font size may be adjusted to six levels, and a 5-way controller allows navigational ease. Improved ergonomics aside, the built-in wireless internet, “Whispernet”, grants free access to the Kindle Store courtesy of Sprint’s 3G network. The catch? Asian and European readers are left out of the technology savvy book club.

There’s nothing like cradling a book in your hands, turning its pages and savouring the crisp scent of printed text. However, Amazon’s Kindle 2 gives readers instant access to literature, literally placing knowledge at your fingertips. Whether you embrace the 21st century electronic reading experience or remain a die-hard paperback fan, the truth is that however it’s delivered, nothing beats a good story.