The original Kindle has been sold out since November, and finally the replacement model is here. The New York Times seems to love it:

Amazon’s newest version of its popular e-book reader (see their announcement here) looks a whole lot more attractive and seems to have a simpler, more intuitive interface (the new joystick controller helps). The Kindle 2 is thinner (thinner than an iPhone, to give you some idea), has a crisper black-and-white display, turns pages much more quickly and should hold its battery charge for about 25 percent longer than the previous version. New features include text-to-speech and the ability to transfer content to other devices (such as mobile phones and other Kindles). It’s the same price as the outgoing model ($359) and will be shipped Feb. 24. Amazon is taking preorders now. The online retailer has said customers who are already on the waiting list for the old Kindle will get new Kindle 2’s.

Sounds great. And looks great, too:

So gorgeous! And what’s that they say about not such thing as being too thin…?

The new Kindle will be available February 24, but you can preorder it now.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s got a new rival for the e-book/e-reader business:

Plastic Logic, maker of an electronic book reader, plans to announce partnership deals on Monday that it says will bring a number of major publications to its planned device.

The company plans to make a device with a 10.7-inch diagonal electronic display, larger than the screens on an Amazon Kindle or Sony Reader, two of the more popular models currently on the market. Plastic Logic says the device will be available early next year. It uses the same technology to display print as its main competitors.

…

Unlike the other products, the screen of the Plastic Logic Reader is big enough to more closely approximate the look of a printed newspaper or magazine page.

Ooo, that sounds nice too.

So, buy a new Kindle now, or wait for Plastic Logic’s e-reader? Can’t a girl have both?