Amazon has revised the screen of the kindle at least twice already since the original. Not including the larger DX model.

The original had only four shades. The Kindle 2 screen has sixteen. Four, and the original Kindle screen, is what I call "shit." The newer global revision of the Kindle has an even better screen with darker blacks and even greater contrast. It's not a Kindle 3, but it's the third revision of the Kindle product anyway.

Anyway... The global Kindle 2 is just about the best eInk reader out there right now, IMO. The Nook needs some updates, but I think it could be the best (if the updates it needs are possible in software).