Some users see red over Kindle 2's fuzzy fonts

The attempt by Amazon to improve Kindle 2 has ironically backfired--as far as a select group of users are concerned, anyway. Not only is the Kindle 2 slimmer and faster, it has better battery life than the original Kindle, it also packs a host of improvements designed to improve readability. This is where the Kindle 2's anti-aliasing technology and 16 shades of gray--versus the Kindle's four shades--come into play.

Unfortunately, the readability upgrades on the Kindle 2 are proving problematic for users with poorer vision but who prefer reading using smaller fonts. Summarizing the issue, Kindle enthusiast Audrys Basten noted, "The new basic font on the Kindle 2 is thinner [than] and not as dark as the K1. It's like writing with a fine point pen versus a darker point pen."

As e-book makers add color and touch-screen capabilities to their e-book readers, one certain downside is a decline in terms of absolute contrast. Ultimately, users will probably make their purchasing decision based on factors other than readability alone, as more players enter the e-book reader market.

Still, not everyone has gripes with the Kindle 2's readability. In a statement, Andrew Herdener, director of communications for Amazon noted, "A few customers have said they prefer Kindle 1 with less shades of gray, but for the overwhelming majority it's the opposite--they enjoy the smoother text and crisper images on Kindle 2."

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from Wired

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