Amazon has tried to rekindle interest in its Kindle reader by giving it a make over and adding a host of apps and features, the biggest of which is 3G connectivity to download content. Wait a minute, doesn’t that make it an internet tablet?
Is Amazon making a bid for the market that Nokia dominates with a number of its own internet devices? We feel a bit of a battle royale coming on, as the Kindle 2 versus Nokia N810 square up for a stat clash!
The Amazon KIndle 2 has just been released and one of the key selling points is the improved functionality and ability to use the internet to get moe books. Is this the start of Amazon putting together a serious web browser? It's difficult to see it being a serious contender, as the following rounds will explain.
Screen stars
While the Kindle 2 plays the big numbers and goes for a 6-inch display it drops its guard by only offering a 600 x 800-pixel resolution. The Nokia comes in with a polished and high visibility 4.13-inch WVGA display (800 x 480 pixels) but the clear advantage goes to Nokia because it’s a colour screen and not grey scale, so the internet as it was designed to be viewed!
Winner Nokia N810
Battery life
That grey screen must be good for something and it is, as battery life on the Kindle 2 is quoted as 25 per cent better than on the old device, which in theory gives you four days of activity with the wireless running. Turn it off and you get as much as 14 days. In response, the Nokia N810 offers up to five days of always-online time and 14 days in standby. It’s a close call but we reckon the N810 is clearly in safe hands here.
Winner Nokia N810
Storage matters
Books with weighty themes are heavier than trash novels, it stands to reason, so you’ll need plenty of space on your Kindle 2. Such a pity then it only comes with 2GB internal but there doesn’t seem to be an option to add more. In response, the Nokia N810 offers the same 2GB of internal memory and includes a microSD slot, the logical answer to getting more stuff on your portable.
Winner Nokia N810
Connectivity
This one is easy, as the Nokia N810 has been designed with full browsing in mind. With it’s Linux-based OS, it’s been designed to take full advantage of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The Kindle 2 has an EVDO modem with fallback to 1xRTT, which utilises Amazon Whispernet. OK, that sounds good but in pratise it’s hampered by the hardware and isn’t going to give you any real form of internet experience.
Winner Nokia N810
Winner by a clear Nok-out Nokia N810
It’s clear the Nokia N810 is a better device in every respect. Sure, we’re being harsh on the Amazon Kindle 2, after all it’s only designed for downloading and reading books. We still think it’s time to get back to the classroom and come up with a few more ideas if it wants to really compete in the web tablet stakes.
