Kindle DX Review

Filed Under (Kindle DX Review) by Benedict Williams on 16-08-2009

The latest version of Amazon’s amazing Kindle eBook reader, the Kindle DX, has just been released, and a lot of people are looking for a Kindle DX review. We’ll attempt to answer that question by taking a close look at what the Kindle DX has to offer.

The first and most obvious new feature of the Kindle DX is its huge 9.7" screen. This screen uses the same easy to read e-ink technology as the original Kindle and the Kindle 2, but it has over 2.5 times the surface area – it’s large enough to comfortably read newspapers and magazines on the Kindle DX without having to scroll around very much. The device is still only about 1/3" thick and weighs barely over a pound at 18.9 ounces, so it’s lightweight and easy to carry.

Along with the larger screen, Amazon has added the ability for the screen to rotate like an iPhone – when you turn the Kindle DX sideways it rotates the screen to landscape view. This makes it even easier to read your morning newspaper. Another major addition to the Kindle DX is a built-in PDF reader – you can now carry all of your PDF documents around in one device and access them anywhere. And you don’t need to connect the Kindle DX to a computer to transfer the documents – each Kindle DX comes with its own email address that allows you and your approved contacts to email Word and PDF documents and pictures to your Kindle DX wirelessly.

The Kindle DX has built-in wireless access to Amazon’s huge library of content as well. This content includes over 300,000 book titles, plus top newspapers, magazines and blogs. And there are no wireless fees to pay – the Kindle DX uses Sprint’s 3G network and Amazon pays the bill. You pay only for the content you download, which is priced considerably lower than the print versions. For example, most books, including New York Times bestsellers and new releases, are just $9.99. Compare the price of most hardback books and you find that the Kindle DX can pay for itself after you purchase just 25 books!

And if you like to listen to audiobooks, you can save even more – the Kindle DX has a built-in text-to-speech function that allows you to listen to any book, newspaper, magazine or document in your Kindle library. Audiobooks can easily cost $50, so you can save $40 on each one.

Here’s a quick summary of some of the other features of the Kindle DX:

  • Battery life of up to 4 days with wireless on, 2 weeks with wireless off
  • Battery can be charged using a USB port on your PC or Mac
  • Built-in stereo speakers, MP3 playback while reading
  • Enhanced web browser built-in
  • Supports Kindle (AZW), PDF, TXT, HTML, DOC, RTF, JPG, GIF, PNG and BMP formats
  • Contains 4GB of internal storage – Enough for up to 3,500 books, periodicals and documents

So is the Kindle DX worth the price? You can see for yourself all of the features of the Kindle DX in this review, and if you compare it with the competition, you’ll find that many of those features are only available on the Kindle DX – that makes it a bargain at any price.

 

Is Kindle DX Worth the Money?

Filed Under (Kindle DX Review) by Benedict Williams on 04-08-2009

Amazon has announced the new Kindle DX, and it’s already the number 2 seller in the electronics category at Amazon.com at a price of $489.00. The question on everybody’s mind – "Is it worth the money?" With its new larger screen, the Kindle DX is ideal for reading textbooks, newspapers, magazines and business documents.

If you’re a college student, about 60% of textbooks will soon be available for wireless download for the Kindle DX, thanks in large part to its larger 9.7" screen. Besides not having to carry around all those textbooks, you could save a bundle over the price of the printed books. Most Kindle versions of books sell for only $9.99 or below on Amazon.com, as opposed to $24.99 for print copies, so this could add up to a significant savings. If you’re an avid reader, the Kindle DX also improves the reading experience for regular books, since it uses the latest E-Ink technology (16 levels of gray as opposed to 8 provides more detail and contrast, a faster refresh rate for less flicker).

The Kindle DX is also ideal for those who like to read newspapers and magazines. The large screen and auto-rotate makes so much easier reading of newspapers and magazines than on the Kindle 2. If you’re a commuter who likes to read your morning newspaper on the way to work, the Kindle DX is much easier to use.

Professionals who carry around a large number of documents can also benefit from the added PDF support on the Kindle DX. All of your documents can be sent wirelessly to the Kindle via Whispernet or copied through USB cable from your computer, and you won’t have to print out and carry all those paper copies. Plus, if you’re a researcher, the DX has the same improved web browser as the Kindle 2 and free wireless Internet access via the Sprint network.

A few other pluses offered by the Kindle DX:

The Kindle DX is an excellent choice for:

  • College and high school students
  • Frequent travelers and commuters
  • If you like to read a lot, especially newspapers
  • Professionals and business people who carry a lot of documents, emails, etc.

So is the Kindle DX worth the price? All of the free or low-cost features that come with the Kindle DX, combined with its new larger screen, make for an excellent device that is well worth the money.