I am among the disgruntled users who think that Amazon’s Kindle e-reader should be made available worldwide, and not tied up to a specific, US-only network.

But frankly, when I look at the device I can’t help thinking how butt-ugly it is. Kindle 1 is blocky and, ugh, white/grey. According to BoyGeniusReport, the Kindle 2 is rumored to be less blocky and sport rounded corners.

I can’t help wonder who the lead designer here is, though. Why on Earth do they insist on spending half the available surface on a keyboard? Come on! Who needs it! A touch-screen keyboard overlaying the Kindle’s screen when needed (as on the iPod) would probably be a better solution. It would also miminize the bulkiness of the thing.

Kindle may be a cool invention but tech-wise it looks like an 80ies gadget IMHO.