Kindle 2 Out of the Box
In my previous post you (hopefully) read that I recently received my Kindle 2 from Amazon this past week. To celebrate the moment, I decided to take a few pictures of the unboxing event.
For those of you who are puzzled by the “unboxing phenomenon,” worry not. I was much the same only a few years ago, but I’ve come to appreciate technology to such a degree that I am impelled to document these type of events. Is it a bit geek-ish? Absolutely. But I’m willing to bet that a few of you are glad I have these geek-like tendencies!
The first image is of a most familiar-looking (and among my favorite) box with the Amazon “sweeping arrow” along the sides. Though it looks like the many other boxes I’ve received from Amazon, its contents are much more special this time. As you can see, I’ve spared you of a boring shot of an ordinary box. I went ahead and slipped my knife through the tape and propped up the treasures inside.
This next shot is of the first box that holds the Kindle packaging. I thought the words, “Once upon a time…” written along the pull tab was clever. The opening words of countless stories over the centuries still leave a mark even in the age of digital reading devices. How wonderfully appropriate!
There is yet one more box of sorts inside. For a moment I thought my Kindle 2 was hidden in the last of a set of Russian nesting dolls. Thankfully, this is the last! You’ll see that the same timeless phrase is printed along the pull tab.
So now at last we’re getting to the good stuff! This is a picture of the little black case that the Kindle was laying in. I thought the design with all the swirling letters looked really neat. The black background was flat, so the shiny letters really stood out.
Finally, we can see the Kindle 2 snuggled in nicely. The shimmery appearance is due to a protective film applied to the front. The film also has some simple instructions describing what an eager Kindle owner should do first. I’ll admit, I wasn’t excited that I had to tether myself to an electrical outlet, but the charging process only lasted a few hours (and I haven’t needed to charge it again, nearly a week later).
Not shown is the instruction sheet and USB cable / power adapter. Though, I should note that it wasn’t immediately obvious to me that the power adapter comes off, exposing the other end of the USB cable. I know, I know… and I call myself a geek. Just be aware of this when you get your own Kindle 2.
Last, but certainly not least, is a picture of my beautiful three-month-old daughter. As you can see, she was terrifically excited by Daddy’s new Kindle. I can’t wait to begin reading stories to her!
The “drop test” video on the Kindle website is, in my experience, false advertising. My Kindle was accidentally knocked off a table and fell to the floor. Unlike the demonstration in the video, my Kindle was also in a leather case. There was no visible physical damage to the device, but the screen no longer worked. I called customer service, which coached me through a couple of efforts to revive the device. When those efforts failed, I was told that, because I did not have the extended warranty (which I didn’t purchase because I’d seen the drop test video), my Kindle was not covered against accidental drops – even though the website uses the video to assure potential customers that the device is sturdy enough to withstand such a commonplace mishap. The company policy is to charge $200 to replace a broken Kindle that is still on the limited warranty.
Additionally, if for some reason one fails to return the broken device to Amazon within 30 days, they will charge $359 for the replacement, which is $60 more than simply buying a new one! The last customer service representative I spoke with was stumped (“That’s a very good question…”) when I asked if they would have replaced my Kindle for free if I hadn’t told them I had dropped it and just said the screen had gone on the fritz on its own. So, Amazon seems to overpromise the Kindle’s sturdiness, yet backs its product with a somewhat Kafkaesque policy. If you choose to buy one, either get the extended warranty or handle it with greater care than Amazon suggests is necessary.
Sorry to hear about your misfortunes, Mr. Alcorn. I’m paranoid about these kinds of accidents as well. I didn’t get an extended warranty either, so I’m extra careful with my Kindle 2! To say that their drop test is false advertising is a little extreme in my opinion. These tests were done to demonstrate that the Kindle is designed to take a little abuse, not that they are guaranteed to keep working after a nasty fall. Also, there are many variables surrounding the nature of your accident in comparison to the drop test. I sincerely doubt that an “apples to apples” comparison could be made.
I hate to take sides here, but I can see why Amazon has a strict policy on accidental drops. I know you didn’t mean for it to fall, but should we really expect Amazon to pick up the bill? Though their drop test does demonstrate how the Kindle is designed to withstand some abuse, I would never let this give me a false sense of security just as I wouldn’t rely on a company to trust all of their customers’ claims.
Just as a heads-up to new Kindle owners, if you didn’t get the extended warranty when you purchased your kindle, you can still get the extended warranty as long as you’re still within 30 days of the purchase date. Also, Service Net isn’t the only 3rd party that provides warranties for your gear. Square Trade is another popular company that I’ve heard good things about.
I need to find out were i can get a instruction book for my amazon kindle Could some one please e mail me were to get it . THANK YOU susan
Follow this link for help with your kindle: Kindle Support