I have read on the boards at least 18 months for Kindle 2.0 and they are supposedly only
considering suggestions. Of course, we all know they will update, they
HAVE to at some point. I, and most on the Kindle boards are guessing Christmas 2010 since it would be tough to be ready to roll out in a year without at least SOME rumors leaking. And we haven't gotten anything new in our experimental section (where users can try out new upgrade features they are considering; beta testing!) to indicate a major update. Most of the requested upgrades would require a new unit though so I could be so far off the mark I'm talking out my hiney.
It seems a new unit is something most average users in this economy wouldn't purchase so quickly when their current ones are under 2 years old. I would think before they upgrade to that extent they'd want more of a rumbling about it to draw new users and not just upgraders. Right now it's kind of limited to
Amazon addicts and heavy readers. The more in demand it becomes the more in a hurry they'll be for an upgrade. Then again, the original sold out in 5.5
HOURS a year ago and took until April to get back in stock
It was in low stock again when I bought mine in early August but I don't think it's ever sold out again....YET.
I say if you're a voracious reader get it now, it's worth. It has many uses besides reading books; perks like a VERY PRIMITIVE web browser, dictionary, you can access email and word documents with a qwerty keyboard, play audiobooks and mp3s too! The versatility is amazing. And that's just to begin with.
You can go on Amazon and see if anyone in your town has one they'll let you play with because they are ONLY available through Amazon, not in retail stores. And anyone seriously interested in Newport News/Norfolk area is welcome to PM me to set up a meeting to check mine out if you really want to buy one but want to see it first.
Kindle itself holds around 200 books according to their user guide but user experience polls say more like 225 to 250+ depending on length and photos/illustrations vs. non photo/illustrated. I currently have 211 in mine. As someone else said, you can remove your books from Kindle to SD to store as backup or let Amazon store them and I can verify that if you lose a previously purchased book
as of this time they will give it to you again for free so you don't even have to store it. This could change if this thing takes off like iPod so I keep them on SD now just in case.
I would say that (my guess not Amazon's stats, couldn't find them) 98% of new books are available on Kindle, 90% of books published since 2000, 70% since 1990, 50% since 1970 and dropping significantly from there. If it was a classic or well known best seller chances are
99.5% it's available no matter how old it is. If it's new and obscure chances are pretty darn good too because Kindle publishing costs are next to nothing. You or I could write a book and Kindle publish it out of our pockets it's that cheap and writers are starting to learn that. So are publishing houses. Cut costs, increase sales, WIN/WIN (I hate that phrase but in this case it's true). Don't stay away just because you like obscure or very new
stuff. Several but not that many popular magazines and most national interest newspapers are available in Kindle subscription editions i.e. NY Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, WA Post, Seattle Times, San Fran Chronicle etc. But you won't find your hometown paper here unless you live in a MAJOR metro area. Mags like Newsweek, Time, Reader's Digest, Slate & Salon. People, Cosmo, Brides, Highlights, TV Guide, Good Housekeeping, are not. It's the one place I would say Kindle lacks GREATLY. But really, what's a mag without glossy color pics, which Kindle doesn't support? (only small b/w pics and crappy resolution) The very best way to check it out is to go here
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI73MA/ref=amb_link_7766432_4/19
1-8438072-7683906?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0PT
HEJFMAMMGYDXY916J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=455646201&pf_rd_i=507846
Read the boards and reviews, check out what's available and what's not, Google and read the other boards, ask other users (I'm glad to answer questions here or in PMs), estimate your yearly book purchases vs the cost of Kindle ($300 w/coupon) plus download costs (free or up to $10 for new best sellers on Amazon depends on book and where you get it) and decide if it's going to pay for itself quickly enough to be worth it. If you love to read and you BUY your books it probably will. If you're a big library user or 2nd hand book reader and that suits you great, you might think twice or at least get it 2nd hand.
BTW, Oprah just listed it as one of her favorite things. ALMOST but not ALWAYS[b/]aVERY GOOD THING FOR NEW OR OBSCURE PRODUCTS. We've owned stocked in Amazon for quite a while. It was slowly declining like everything else. Then Kindle started to gain word of mouth. There isNO advertising other than on the Amazon website and word of mouth. Our Amazon stock overall is hanging in or very slightly edging up while most of our others are tanking downwards or stagnant. If you ever wished you had gotten in on Apple just before the explosion of iPod or iPhone, I'm no stock expert or psychic and not making guarantees. I'm not making money by referring 20 people either unless you all buy $1000s of $$$$$ in stock 
An I have NO insider tips but everywhere I go I'm deluged with questions about Kindle when I pull it out. I WISH they did associate sales either on the device or the stock, I'd make a killing 
I personally know 6 people who've bought one in the 3 months I've had it who'd never heard of it before they saw mine. If that and the stock performance is an indication, consider that my ABSOLUTELY IGNORANT, DON'T KNOW NUTTIN BOUT NO STOCKS EXCEPT WHAT HAS HAPPENED FOR US BUT HAVE A LITTLE HUNCH BASED ON OTHER PEOPLE'S INTEREST AND MY LOVE OF THE TOY, do some research yourself and consider buying it too tip. 
(Btw my pcp bought stock when he got his own Kindle after seeing mine. He's happy with both 
) This columnist knows WAY more than me and I agree whole heartedly, he's been right on the money with the way ours has performed and is continuing and Christmas is coming. http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/10/amazon_deservin.html
P.S. I do NOT work for Amazon or any publishing house. I just LOVE my Kindle and saw the future of reading, entertainment, info distribution and simple, cheap wireless internet and jumped in with both feet and a few hundred $$$. It was worth it in both instant and future gratification.
Alright, If you're still reading, I'm done singing Amazon's praises 
and they really ought to pay me at this point 
It does have it's downsides. It's not the same as holding a real book and I miss that tactile experience. It's easy to hit the next and previous page buttons until you get used to it, it's a bit awkward to handle until you get the hang of it. The leather-ish jacket they send with it doesn't work well and I highly recommend adding a couple small dots of velcro at the top and bottom or each side to hold it in place. Keep the Whispernet off unless you need it because it eats batteries like kids eat candy otherwise 
With Whispernet off you can go around 5 days without a recharge 
And DON'T leave it to sleep, turn it OFF or you'll be recharging constantly! Oh, and I recommend you DON'T use the 1 click instant credit card ordering. It's much too easy to find yourself browsing the Amazon site from your Kindle and checking out a free sample of a book, get caught up then just HAVE to finish it. Next thing you know, you've spent almost $1k in 3 mo MAKE YOURSELF REALLY THINK BEFORE YOU BUY!!!
