Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos introduced the new Kindle 2 electronic reader at a news conference in New York, February 9, 2009. Measuring 8 by 5 1/2 inches, the Kindle 2 is as thin as a magazine. It is wireless, which means that it doesn’t require a computer to download books, most of which cost about $10. Its capacity is about 1,500 books, and the available library is 230,000 books. The Kindle has a sound card and can convert text into speech, and it can access newspapers and other documents, including blogs.

In this version the clumsy scroll wheel of its predecessor has been replaced by a five-way controller for moving the text around on the screen. Amazon says you’ll especially appreciate this new controller while reading newspapers.

The Kindle use E-Ink technology, which makes the exhibited “page” look like a real book page. Leather covers, which make them seem more like books, are also sold as accessories.

ships Feb. 24 at about three fiddy plus tax