The Amazon Kindle 4

The newest Kindle to hit the market in 2011 is the Amazon Kindle 4. It’s just recently been released and it’s by far the smallest and lightest Kindle ever. And not only is it the smallest but it’s also the cheapest one that we’ve seen. It’s got an amazing price point and this is especially true if you choose to buy the ad-supported version.

Click Here To Shop For The Amazon Kindle 4

What we’re all wondering is whether version 4 retains all of the features that we love about the Kindle 3 (now known as the Kindle Keyboard) and actually improves on those features. Be sure to continue reading to find out more. As with any product, there are some good and some not so good and we’re going to take a look at them all.

 

Amazon Kindle 4  Specs

• The average price is only $79 for the ad-supported version and $109 without

• It’s been newly released in 2011

• Battery life is one month as long as you keep the wi-fi turned off

• The screen size is 6 inches

• It has an e-ink screen type

• It weighs in at a lightweight 5.98 oz

• Storage Size is 2 GB

• It’s main eBook Format is AZW (Kindle)

The Pros Of The Amazon Kindle 4

The First Pro Has Got To Be The Price: Amazon has help true to their promise of keeping their prices low. In fact, they’ve continued to lower prices each time a new generation of the Kindle is released. This makes the Kindle a huge contender in the market. While the Kindle 4 doesn’t come with all of the features that you’ll see on the Kindle Touch or the Kindle Keyboard, it’s still a great example of the overall quality that we’ve come to expect.

The Second Pro Is Its Option For Special Offers: While some consumers may feel that this is a drawback when it comes to the Amazon Kindle 4, that’s really not the case. In this economy that we’re facing, Amazon is just taking the opportunity to allow you to save some more money. $30 is a lot and that’s what you’ll be able to save when you buy the version that will display ads on the home screen and on the screensavers. You’ll never see an ad while you’re reading so this is an excellent choice for those who are trying to be cost conscious.

The Third Pro Is The Fabulous Kindle Store: It’s not a big secret that the biggest bookstore to be found is the Amazon Kindle store. They have the best selection of eBooks and you’ll be able to access the bookstore right from your Kindle 4 menu. When it comes to buying your next book it really is as easy as clicking a button. And you’ll find that Amazon is very competitive on their pricing and not only will you find a lot of $.99 downloads but you’ll find plenty of free ones also.

The Fourth Pro Is The Battery Life: The battery life of Kindle products, including the new Amazon Kindle 4, is a massive bonus for users. The fact that this battery runs for a full month (when you’re not using the wi-fi) is truly convenient and you won’t find yourself running to charge the device every time that you turn around. It doesn’t last quite as long as the battery on the Keyboard or the Touch but it sure can hold its own.

The Cons Of The Amazon Kindle 4

The First Con Is The Lack Of A Touchscreen: Some may find the lack of a touchscreen to be quite a drawback. Just like the Kindle Keyboard, with the Amazon Kindle 4 you’re going to have to turn the pages by using the button on the sides of the device. There is no keyboard with this version so you have to use the directional pad to navigate. On the positive side, many may find the lack of a touchscreen much less intimidating and not as “technical”.

The Second Con Is The Lack Of Audio: One thing that you’re not going to find on the Amazon Kindle 4 is a set of speakers. This means that you won’t be able to take advantage of the text-to-speech (which gives you the ability to have your books read aloud to you) that you’ll find on the Keyboard and Touch versions. You also won’t have the ability to play MP3′s or audiobooks.

The Third Con Is The Lack of The 3G Option: It’s pretty clear that Amazon wanted to keep things as simple as possible by not having an option for 3G connectivity with this model. Their assumption is probably that most users will get all they need with a Wi-Fi connection and leaving out the 3G connection option makes it easier to keep the price low. If 3G is very important to you then you’ll have to opt up to a more expensive device.

The Fourth Con Is Not Being Able To Access ePub eBooks: Instead of opting for the open source eBook format ePub, Amazon went with their own AZW format. What this means to you is that you can’t read Kindle books on other electronic devices and you can’t purchase ePub books for your reader. If you’re a fan of ePub then the free software programs like Calibre will convert ePub books into Mobi format when your Amazon Kindle 4 can read.

Is The Amazon Kindle 4 Worth Buying?

The Amazon Kindle 4 is not perfect. Without a touch screen or keyboard, you’ll have to do a lot of scrolling if you’re looking up words or typing notes. On the other hand, it’s extremely cheap, and that’s what the selling point is. There are now enough Kindles to suit the needs of just about anyone. If you’re shopping for a cheap but high quality reader, then opt for the Amazon Kindle 4. If you prefer touchscreen or 3G internet access, then head for the Kindle Touch instead.

Click Here To Buy The Amazon Kindle 4

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