Differences between these two devices can quickly be reduced to five major areas:

• The size of the display: 9.7 inch for the Kindle DX, 6 inch for the PRS-505
• Connectivity: Free wireless for the Kindle DX, connection through a computer for the PRS-505
• Storage space: 4GB internal for the Kindle DX, 128MB internal for the PRS-505, accepts external flash cards for additional storage
• Keyboard: The Kindle DX has a full text keyboard, the PRS-505 doesn’t
• Read To Me: The Kindle DX can read books aloud, the PRS-505 can’t

The Kindle DX is much better suited for reading newspapers and magazines without having to scroll around the display. In addition, PDF documents are much easier to read on the Kindle DX – on the PRS-505 they are reduced to fit the 6″ screen, and even when zoomed to maximum magnification the print is too small to read comfortably.

As for connectivity, the Kindle DX comes with free wireless connectivity for downloading books as well as for browsing the Internet. The only way to get content into the PRS-505 is via a connection to a personal computer (running Windows, the software doesn’t work on Macs). In addition, there are more books available for the Kindle DX and their cost is usually lower. Amazon also provide over 5,000 free books that you can download for free from Amazon and over 25,000 books that you can get at the price of under $1 for the Kindle device.

The storage issue is probably one of personal preference, but with the PRS-505 you have to buy and keep track of all those tiny flash memory cards. The Kindle DX has enough built-in storage to last for years – plus Amazon gives you free backup on Amazon.com of any book you purchase – you can download it for free at anytime.

As for the keyboard issue, this means that you can makes notes and annotations on your Kindle documents, but you can’t on the PRS-505. The only other major differences between the two devices are the price and that, due to its smaller size, the Sony Reader PRS-505 is a little easier to carry around than the Kindle DX. If either of these is a problem for you then you should consider the Kindle 2 (read our Kindle 2 vs Kindle DX) – it costs around the same as the PRS-505 but it has many of the extra features of the Kindle DX.

The following table compares all the difference between the Kindle DX and the Sony Reader PRS-505:

	Amazon Kindle DX	Sony PRS 505
Outlook
Size	10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38"	6.9" x 4.8" x 0.3"
Thickness	0.38"	0.3"
Weight	18.9 oz	9 oz
Display	9.7" E-Ink 1200 x 824 resolution 150 pixels/inch 16 level gray scale	6" E-Ink 600 x 800 resolution 167 pixels/inch 8 level gray scale
Screen	Auto-Rotating, as you turn the device	Not Auto-Rotating
Storage	4GB (3.3GB for user content, about 3,500 books)	256MB (210MB for user content, with expansion slot)
Product Link	Kindle DX Best Price	Sony PRS-505 Best Price
Customer Feedback	Feedback on Kindle DX	Feedback on Sony PRS-505

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.

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So what do these differences mean? The Kindle DX allows you to read magazines, newspapers and textbooks without a lot of scrolling around. In addition, you can read PDF documents at full-size. So if you’re a commuter or frequent traveler, a professional who carries around a lot of documents or a college student, the new Kindle DX is ideal for you. The Kindle DX especially makes sense for college students, as about 60% of textbooks will soon be available for wireless download – and at a cost considerably lower than their print counterparts.

On the other hand, it’s possible that the smaller size (and/or price) of the Kindle 2 appeals to you. If you like to carry your reader around in a purse or a jacket pocket, then you probably should opt for the Kindle 2. The storage difference between the two devices is probably not an issue for most people, since the Kindle 2 has enough storage for more than 1,500 books to begin with. On the other hand, if you’re a researcher or someone else who needs instant access to a lot of material, the extra storage in the Kindle DX could come in handy. Read this review and you should be able to decide which one to get: Kindle 2 vs Kindle DX

And remember for both the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX, there are over 5,000 free books that you can download for free from Amazon, and over 25,000 books that you can get at the price of under $1.

The following table compares all the difference between the Kindle DX and the Kindle 2:

	Amazon Kindle DX	Amazon Kindle 2
Outlook
Release Date	10 Jun, 2009	24 Feb, 2009
Size	10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38"	8" x 5.3" x 0.36"
Thickness	0.38"	0.36"
Weight	18.9 oz	10.2 oz
Display	9.7" E-Ink 1200 x 824 resolution 150 pixels/inch 16 level gray scale	6" E-Ink 600 x 800 resolution 167 pixels/inch 16 level gray scale
Screen	Auto-Rotating, as you turn the device	Not Auto-Rotating
Storage	4GB (3.3GB for user content, about 3,500 books)	2GB (1.4GB for user content, about 1,500 books)
Battery Life	Wireless ON: Up to 4 Days Wireless OFF: Up to 2 Weeks	Wireless ON: 1 Day Wireless OFF: 1 week
PDF Support	Native PDF Reader	Native PDF Reader (latest update)
Product Link	Kindle DX Best Price	Kindle 2 Best Price
Customer Feedback	Feedback on Kindle DX	Feedback on Kindle 2

Below is a size comparison between the Kindle DX and the Kindle 2:

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:

• Read To Me – Most books can be read aloud by the Kindle DX through its built-in stereo speakers (or plug in your headphones for private listening). If you like to listen to audiobooks, you can save a bundle using this feature alone.
• Large storage area – 4 GB
• Built-in The New Oxford American Dictionary plus wireless access to Wikipedia, Google, and other websites
• Long battery life – The Kindle DX goes for 4 days with wireless on, 2 weeks with wireless off
• Free storage of all the books you’ve purchased on Amazon.com
• Native PDF handling
• Over 5,000 free books that you can download to your Kindle
• Over 25,000 books that you can get at the price of under $1 to your Kindle
• Several major newspapers will be offering the Kindle DX at a reduced price to subscribers to their Kindle edition – Most newspaper subscriptions are just $9.99 per month

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.

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Discover the Best Actual User Reviews of the Kindle DX