The Amazon Kindle 2 may be the avid reader’s best buddy nowadays but do you know that it could also be a good partner for students and professionals? This is because the Kindle offers an option for students that allow them to quit lugging around their heavy books. Professionals are also starting to realize that the Kindle can be used for reading their work-related documents. But how is the Kindle 2 doing in this role so far? Let’s find out what the pros and cons are.

For most people looking to get a digital version of their book, only MS Word or PDF versions are available. This is because most digital documents are set up to be read primarily on desktop computers. PCs and Macs can read these documents very easily or come with programs which can quickly convert files. Unfortunately, the Kindle does not have a native PDF reader and can only take a limited variety of files, most of which you will not find commonly.

Here are some common solutions for this problem. The first option would be to send over your files to Amazon and have them converted. This requires only a very small fee but if we’re talking about dozens of books here, a student may have to spend a lot of time sending files over to Amazon. Plus, with the issue of college costs, any amount spent would have an impact on struggling students. One could also opt to convert the files himself, but again this would require a lot of time that students could put to better use.

But the mere fact that students and professionals are interested in switching to the Kindle for their reading needs must mean that there are benefits to this move. An obvious one is the size and portability. No more heavy textbooks, no more bulky backpacks, no more sore backs. It could also save you money. How, you may ask, when the Kindle 2 costs a few hundred dollars? You’re forgetting that digitalized versions of books are priced lower than their printed copies so while the purchase might cost more upfront, you will get to see the savings over time. And in this digital age, many college professors are giving PDF materials for students to study. Instead of browsing it on the PC, why not on the Kindle?

One’s decision to use a Kindle in the academe would all depend on whether the need for it would outweigh the initial cost. Consider also the time that you would have to spend to convert files. If you can spare the time and the few cents needed to have files converted, then swapping your backpack of books for the Kindle 2 would literally get the load off your shoulders. If the file conversion process is too tedious for you, the new Kindle DX, with its native PDF support, could be the solution you’re looking for.

When the Kindle first released, it was fairly quiet. It didn’t garner the long wait lines of the iPhone or the stampede for the latest Windows. But if you were an avid reader, it may have caught your attention. When the Kindle 2 released, people began to realize that there really was an amazing piece of technology here. Now, with the release of the Kindle DX, Amazon has become the leading seller of ebook readers and the DX is their new top-end product.

But there are plenty of products out there with hype on their side, is the new DX another one or is it the real deal? Honestly, it is a bit of both. The Kindle DX is just the beefier big brother of the slightly older Kindle 2 and while they are both great technology, they may not be poised to replace paper books just yet. What they do offer, the Kindle 2 especially, is great portability. And with the ability to hold thousands of books in something only as big as a thin hardback book, the appeal is obvious. You would need a library on your back to carry around what the Kindle can.

The Kindle 2 has plenty of competition from other ebook readers, but the new Kindle DX is in a category all its own. Amazon has built a reader that is an improvement over the competition in almost every way. Whether it is more storage, an easier-to-read screen or the rotating views ala the iPhone, the Kindle DX is unmatched in its features. But it remains unmatched in its price as well.

The price of the Kindle DX is a whooping $489. This is probably why many people, even those who think highly of the Kindle and the ebook technology, are hesitant to get a Kindle DX. It doesn’t even come with any freebies like a bestseller or two, and since you would still need to purchase a good cover for it, your costs could extend well beyond the $500-mark. At the very least, couldn’t Amazon just have thrown in a cover into the package?

Despite its popularity though, the Kindle remains to be a product of the more advanced technology that still has to hit mainstream. It is a great device for those who are into books but for now, that’s simply what it is – something to read books on. It’s not even offered outside the country yet and still lacks the versatility that other modern gadgets offer. But then again, that’s what the iPod was before too and look how far it has penetrated the market now. What is clear however, is that the Kindle is an innovative gadget that has started a fast-growing industry. Give it a few more years and more people will realize that buying the gadget and the content that goes with it is more cost-efficient and convenient that keeping a whole library of books. And until the time comes, the Kindle will continue to rule the market as the ebook reader that has set the bar high.