Reed College to Test Amazon Kindle DX in Fall 2009

Reed College to Test Amazon Kindle DX in Fall 2009

Reed was selected by Amazon as one of five colleges to test the Kindle DX for classroom use.
Portland, OR (May 6, 2009)–Amazon announced today that Reed College is a pilot school for testing the Kindle DX. The lightweight electronic device allows students to download textbooks and class materials assigned by their professors, including syllabi and reading lists. The Kindle DX has a keyboard that provides the ability for note taking, and additional technology that allows for the highlighting of pertinent text.
“We welcome the opportunity to explore this new technology and evaluate its potential in different areas of the curriculum,” said Martin Ringle, Reed’s Chief Technology Officer. “We are eager to see if this is the watershed device that will make electronic texts a viable option for college students.”
Students in select classes (approximately three upper-division classes) will begin using the Kindle DX devices in fall 2009. The Kindle will give students wireless delivery of books, and the capacity to carry thousands of books in one small device. It also saves on the economic and environmental costs of printing on paper.
Amazon’s Kindle DX Release Ignites Blogging Bonfire
Amazon’s digital reader Kindle is being heralded by the press with a mixture of fear and adoration better suited to an apocalypse than a machine. But, according to some, the Kindle could turn out to be just that for the publishing industry.
Especially since Amazon’s newest release is the Kindle DX, the so-called “Big Kindle,” created specifically for textbooks and (execution drum roll, please) periodicals. As print editions of the Seattle P.I., the Rocky Mountain News and Blender bite the dust, the appearance of a digital reader sounds like yet another death-warrent.
As we all know, larger national publications like New York Times and the Chicago Tribune are hemorrhaging money because, among other reasons, subscribers have fled. Free online content draws readers, as opposed to costly subscriptions. So the question is not how to keep publications from going online, but how tocreate competitive digital content that readers will pay to receive.

So, even though Kindle’s appearance may seem terrifying, it might, according to some, actually be a buoy to keep sinking publishing companies afloat. Amazon has revealed that it’s set up partnerships with Washington Post Co. and New York Times Co. that will allow consumers living outside the newspapers’ delivery areas to get discounted Kindles if they subscribe to the Times, the Post or the Boston Globe on their device. According to the Los Angeles Times, Sarah Rotman Epps, a media analyst at Forrester Research, is especially optimistic about the Kindle’s role in the news industry. “Newspapers are reaching the end of their rope. The e-readers are looking like newspapers’ last best hope,” she says.

But some are more wary, especially in book (as opposed to periodical) publishing. Amazon has already become a book-selling mega-mall, forcing independent sellers out of business, and many are worried that Amazon’s reader, which allows buyers to purchase books only from it’s own e-store, will only further this. In aSlate piece, Paul Aiken, executive director of the Authors Guild, verbalizes this fear, saying, “Everyone is worried that Amazon will end up becoming to books what Apple is to music.”

However, there are some that are neither warning death nor fervently seeking redemption through Kindle. These moderates are given a voice in the Gizmodo.com essay “Why There isn’t a Perfect Ebook Reader.” With E-Ink, flimsy plastic gadgets and colorless screens, the essay argues, Kindle still isn’t quite convenient enough (or cheap enough, at $489 each) to revolutionize anything yet. It’s still a marginal tool, for a niche culture of technophiles who love to read.

But, according to the site, “yet” is the key word here. Like the iPod several years ago, it predicts, Kindle’s time will come.

Amazon Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2 - Sizing Up the

Two Popular Ebook Readers

Ever since the Amazon Kindle DX became available for pre-order in early May, many Kindle users and would-be owners have been wondering how much of a "makeover" the popular device has undergone. If you’re an owner of a Kindle 2 considering an upgrade, or a reading enthusiast undecided on which would be the better fit for your lifestyle, wonder no more.
This comparison is your quick reference guide to what sets the new Kindle DX apart from the previous version.

Display
The Kindle 2’s 6″ diagonal screen is obviously no match for the Kindle DX’s 9.7″ diagonal auto-rotating screen. In addition to being 2.5 times larger than the earlier Kindle’s display, the DX also has an auto-rotate feature that allows you to toggle between a portrait and a landscape mode by simply rotating the reading device. This makes it the more suitable gadget for reading newspapers, image-rich books, or any material that contains maps, charts, and tables.

Size of the Device
The Amazon Kindle DX measures 10.4″ x 7.2″ x 0.38″ in overall size while the Kindle 2 is naturally much smaller at 8″ x 5.3″ x 0.36″. While both devices are about as thin as a typical magazine at 0.3 of an inch deep, the DX tips the scales at 18.9 ounces compared to the Kindle 2’s 10.2 ounces. If you plan on using your ebook reader "on the go" then the Kindle 2 is the more portable device.

Storage Capacity
The storage capacity is also a major factor to consider. The Kindle DXboasts a 4GB internal memory - double the 2GB capacity of the Kindle 2. That’s storage for approximately 3,500 books and 1,500 books for the DX and the Kindle 2 respectively.

Built-in PDF Support
With the Kindle 2, reading PDF files are a bit of a hassle as you have to go through the process of emailing your files to Amazon for file conversion - a service that you need to pay for, albeit with a minimal fee. With the Kindle DX, PDF support is built-in, so you can just download your PDF files directly to your device and read them immediately. If you read a lot of PDFs, then the DX is the better option.

Price
Here’s the real deal maker or breaker between the two Kindles. The Kindle DX costs a steeper $489, while the Kindle 2 is still priced high at $359. Even for the most avid readers, the price of either of these ebook readers leave a big hole in the pocket. However, students eager to leave behind their heavy textbooks and professionals who usually work with PDF files, will find a way to justify the steep price of the Kindle DX.

Amazon Kindle DX vs Kindle 2 - Closing Thoughts
While the Kindle 2 still packs a punch for its price and features, those looking for the ultimate reading pleasure will find the Kindle DX the best choice between the two devices. Like I said, the price is always the deciding factor in the equation so weigh the costs versus your needs and budget before making the ultimate decision.

By Travis Van Slooten

Amazon Kindle DX will cost $489

Amazon Kindle DX will cost $489

Amazon Kindle DX will cost $489 but newspapers will subsidize the price
Here’s what you need to know about Amazon.com’s (AMZN) Kindle DX that you didn’t know yesterday: It will cost $489. If you subscribe to the New York Times, Washington Post or Boston Globe, it will cost less.
How much less will be announced this summer by the publishers, when the Kindle DX begins to ship, Amazon.com chief executive Jeff Bezos said today at Manhattan’s Pace University.
Following the model consumers are familiar with from cell phone plans, if you subscribe to the New York Times, for example, and agree to pay a certain amount a month for a period of time, the gadget will cost less.
Will consumers pay for both the Kindle DX and monthly subscriptions to their favorite newspapers, magazines or blogs? The same content is available on laptops and cell phones, but it’s free.
Some will pay for the convenience of having their newspaper waiting for them on theKindle and its 9.7 inch screen, graphics and all, instead of squinting at their 3.5 inch Apple (AAPL) iPhone screen or running around with their laptop looking for a wi-fi connection.
Arthur Sulzberger, New York Times chairman, doesn’t care how folks get their digital news.
“We are using every available medium to meet every growing demand for high-quality journalism across every platform,” he said today. “The issue with new technology is how can we best use it.”
More details on the Kindle DX: No actual release date, other than this summer, has been set. You can pre-order it now at Amazon.com. It’s not for sale anywhere else. The screen is still black and white, so no color. There is no memory card slot.
It comes with 3.3 GB of storage, meaning it will hold up to 3,500 books, Amazon said. There’s no monthly cost for the 3G wireless access, which, like the Kindle 1 and 2, can download a bestseller in less than a minute. The Kindle 2, with its six-inch screen, will still be sold for $359 by Amazon. The page refresh rate is the same on the DX as the Kindle 2.
The DX means “deluxe,” Steven Kessell, head of global digital media for Amazon, toldDailyFinance. Users have wireless access to newspapers, magazines, blogs and up to 275,000 books, at monthly costs ranging from 99 cents to $14.99.
“We’re adding content everyday,” Kessell said.
The E-Ink display on the Kindle DX now has 16 shades of gray and PDF support for documents that can be imported in via USB. As with an iPhone, if you rotate the DX to the side or upside down, the screen will adjust.
Textbooks from three of the top five textbook publishers — Cenage, Pearson, and Wiley — and more than 75 university press publishers will be available in Amazon’s kindle store this summer, the company said.
When the DX begins shipping, Amazon will also launch trial programs with universities, including Arizona State University, Case Western Reserve University, Princeton University, Reed College, and Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. The Kindle DX will be available for students in the fall.

Reviewing Kindle DX’s chances of succeeding

Reviewing Kindle DX’s chances of succeeding

This is mostly a review of the strategy Amazon is using with the Kindle DX and its chance of succeeding. You can read my Kindle DX review (technically a preview) if you’re deciding whether to buy it or not.
That being said …

Positive Indicators and Things that indicate Kindle DX will succeed

Concrete Signs Kindle DX might succeed

- People are actually pre-ordering. We know from what various kindle blog sites are writing and what people are commenting at forums etc. that a decent number of people have actually pre-ordered the Kindle DX.
- Although the tone of nearly every kindle dx review at news sites and big blogs is negative, the anti-dx arguments all hinge on price or its inability to cook you breakfast (in addition to being an etextbook reader). Even in the recession there are a lot of people for whom $489 is not a deal breaker.

Indicators and Hints Kindle DX might succeed
- The amount of interest is high and is staying at the level of interest in the Kindle 2 -
Kindle DX Web Search Volume
- A lot of Kindle 2 owners are upset that a new product was released so soon and are trying to exchange – Surely, this means they feel the Kindle DX is worth the higher price.
- Signing up 3 of the major textbook publishers is a coup and indicates that Kindle DX might have very strong content options for students.

Things that do matter
- By announcing the price really early Amazon has anchored it i.e. people are not going to be shocked into inaction when it is released.
- In addition the lead time lets people get used to the more expensive price, and sets up the Kindle DX to even seem like a bargain if a $50 Kindle dx coupon were thrown into the mix down the line.
- Being the first company to announce a larger screen eReader available this year gives Amazon a distinct edge.
- The current interest and preorders give Amazon data on actual and potential demand and they can set up manufacturing accordingly. This, in my opinion, is the real reason for the ridiculous ‘preorder Kindle dx now and we’ll ship it sometime after a few months’ strategy.

Kindle DX: Bigger and Better

Kindle DX: Bigger and Better

I just finished my first session with the Kindle DX, and I am absolutely delighted. I have subscribed to the customer service blogs for the Kindle 2, and have watched “nit pick” after “nit pick” come cascading from people, who quite frankly, need to get a life. If you do not want a book for a penny more than $9.99, don’t buy it! If you are in the remote hills of Asia, and the product is wireless only in the USA, move home! And so on!

When you turn on your Kindle DX, you are now holding a perfectly sized book, substantailly heavier, but, oh, those large fonts. They are glorious. I am 55 years old and have had lasik surgery on one eye only. My vision corrects to 20-20 without glasses, but neither close-up nor far away feel absolutely perfect. That is the price I pay for not having to wear glasses.

With the Kindle DX, the font is perfect, using one of the two larger sizes. Compared to the Kindle 2, there is more content per page turn for the same size font, due obviously to the increased real estate on the screen.

Next, when I am wanting to find something, like for example a bible verse, I go to a smaller font, and get WAY MORE content. Once I am where I need to be, a quick pop to a larger font has me home free.

Of course, I want the backlight and the color, and would pay for them, but they will come in due course.

Do not subscribe to the USA today, unless you want a very watered down view of the paper. This device is not ready for a color newspaper. You would be much better served by subscribing on your PC, or reading the free USA today site on your iPhone or PC.

The iPhone integration continues to be superb, and if you want a quick bedtime read, it is backlit!

The downloading and upgrading remain remarkably easy.

Obviously, removing the left side buttons was a terrible mistake, and the cries of horrified anger will undoubtedly cause the problem to be solved on the next generation.

Will the next Kindle DX be better? Of course! Will the next iMac be better? Of course! Will the next generation Windows computer be better? Of course. Ditto for flat screen TV’s, cars, and telephones.

If you are a technology freak who has to get the latest and greatest immediately, you already have your Kindle DX. If you are almost that far towards the “bleeding edge” you should enthusiastically pony up for this baby, ’cause you are going to love it. You already know that you can sell your Kindle DX for about 70% of what you paid for it when the next one comes out. As a matter of fact, if the next one has color and/or backlighting, and you buy it the first day, you will get almost 90% if you sell quickly.

So, if you are a first time Kindl’r, it is time to get in the game. If you are an upgrade candidate, this is a clear buy if screen size and font size matter. When the backlit, color version hits, watch for my presale, I always keep my equipment in brand new condition!

By Richard Gruber

Review Kindle DX: Pros And Cons

Kindle DX: Amazon’s 9.7″ Wireless Reading Device (Latest Generation)

I have owned both Kindle 1 and Kindle 2, so I’m already committed to the basic idea: e-ink reading in a slim form factor with excellent connectivity to a large selection of books and subscriptions. I have come to rely on my Kindle experience, and it has seriously enhanced my reading.

The Kindle DX was not an obvious upgrade for me, but two features put me over the edge: the larger screen, and the native PDF reader. I now have the DX in my hands, and can report PROS, CONS, and NEUTRALS:

PROS:
– the larger screen is a definite plus. I use the larger type size on my Kindle 2 (older eyes), and at this type size I get far more text per page on the Kindle DX. This makes the whole reading experience more book-like (and should be a boon to people who buy large-print books.)

– the screen is also sharper and crisper than my Kindle 2 in a side-by-side comparison: the text is darker, and the contrast is much better, making for better visibility overall.

– on a side note, the larger screen also makes it possible to read poetry on the kindle, even at large type sizes. On earlier Kindles, the smaller screen cut off lines, so that you would lose the sense of when the poet ended the line. On the Kindle DX, you can see the whole line exactly as the poet meant it, with the cut-off in the right spot.

– the PDF reader works as advertised, and is extremely convenient. PDF documents appear on the DX exactly as they do on a computer screen. Moreover, you can drag and drop your documents directly to the device using the USB cable (or use the for-a-fee email if you absolutely must.) The only downside: at least for the documents that I’ve used so far, I cannot adjust the type size as I can with native Kindle documents.

– screen rotation also works as advertised: it operates as a mild zoom on both graphics and text and offsets slightly the downside of not being able to adjust the typesize on PDF documents. One nice design touch: the four-way navigation stick introduced on the Kindle 2 is rotation-sensitive, and will move as expected relative to the screen rotation.

– more of the device space is devoted to the screen, while the white plastic border around the screen seems to have shrunk, both in general and compared to the proportion of screen to plastic on the Kindle 2. I like this (but see below about the keyboard).

– storage: I like the increase in storage space, and don’t mind the lack of an external storage card. I can see some people having trouble with this, but only those folks who either a) must regularly carry around PDF documents totalling more than 3.5 GB of space or b) must have nearly 3500 books regularly at their fingertips. I fall in neither category.

CONS:
– price: it’s expensive, as you can tell pretty quickly. If you value the larger size, and the native PDF reader, these features may justify the roughly 30% premium you pay for the DX over the Kindle 2. In truth, the Kindle DX SHOULD cost more than the Kindle 2, and a 30% premium isn’t unreasonable. But, for my money, Amazon should drop the price on the Kindle 2 to $300 or so, and charge $400 or a little less for the DX. Still, I bought it, and will keep it at this price.

– one-sided navigation buttons: all of the buttons are now on the right side, and none are on the left. I’m a righty, so I shouldn’t complain, but I found myself using both sides on the Kindle 2. Lefties have reason to complain, I think.

– One-handed handling: I often read while I walk, with my Kindle in one hand, and something else in my other. Because of the button layout, this will be more difficult on the Kindle DX.

– metal backing: I miss the tacky rubberized backing on my Kindle 1. When I placed my Kindle 1 on an inclined surface, it stayed in place. Not so my Kindle 2 and now my DX. This is not a complaint specific to the Kindle DX, but it’s still there.
NEUTRALS (i.e. things worth noting):

– weight: the Kindle DX is heavier, noticeably so. This is only an issue if, like me, you regularly use the kindle with one hand . . . and even so, it’s still doable.

– keyboard: the keyboard has 4 rows, and not 5: the top row of numbers from the Kindle 1 and 2 has been merged into the top qwerty row, so that numbers are now only accessible with an alt-key combination. The keys are vertically thinner too, so that the whole keyboard is no more than 1″ tall (compared to over an 1.5″ on the Kindle 2). At the same time, the keys themselves are a bit easier to press, a bit more protruding than on the Kindle 2. For someone with big fingers (like me), this will be a slightly harder keyboard to use, but only slightly.

That’s all I can see. Overall, the pluses outweigh the minuses for me, and I’m satisfied with my purchase. I can now think of using my Kindle DX for work documents on a regular basis, because of the PDF reader. The screen size and screen rotation make the overall reading experience more immersive.

Overall, the Kindle DX feels more like text and less like device and comes closer to the stated goal of the Kindle: for the device to disappear, leaving only the joy of reading.

By Alexander Scherr

Kindle DX Has Landed!

Kindle DX Has Landed!

Kindle started receiving their new Kindle DXs yesterday. The earliest arrival was memberandyadler who received his DX at 10 am. He did note he lives in Louisville, KY, which is the central shipping point for many Amazon deliveries. I am in Maine and mine arrived at 10:38 am and was out of its box by 10:39.
Initial impressions of the Kindle DX seem to be positive. The screen is bright and clear, with good contrast. One member took hers out into the sun and did not report any problems with fading, as was seen on so many of the Kindle2s. (I couldn’t test mine since the great State of Maine has been under a blanket of rain for the past three days!) Personally, I think the auto-rotate feature is very cool. While I was eating lunch, I turned it upside down so the buttons were on the left, allowing me to use my left hand to change the page and continue using my fork with my right hand.

Weight: the Kindle DX weighs 18 oz and my Kindle2 in its Oberon cover weighs 20 oz. Interestingly, the DX "feels" heavier. I think it has to do with the center of gravity, especially if you hold it near the bottom. Of course, the perfect solution was sitting right on my desk: an old, metal copy holder for papers (which I never use anymore). TheKindle DX fits like a glove. It also fits very nicely in the Peeramid pillow.
We have lots of mini-reviews and first impressions posts at KindleBoards. Some of the more popular include Kindle DX: Your Mini-Reviews, It’s Almost Here, Time for the DX to Ship, and First Person to Receive a Kindle DX. There are also three reviews, with comments, posted in the Reviews Forum, which can be found here.

The Technologizer Review: Amazon Kindle DX

The biggest difference by far is the Kindle DX’s 9.7-inch screen, which is not just far more spacious than the 6-inch display on the Kindle 2 but larger than the Kindle 2, period:
The extra real estate lets the Kindle DX fit more than twice as many words onto a page than the Kindle 2 does; it reduces the amount of button-pushing you need to do and just plain makes the experience feel more like reading a printed book. Like the Kindle 2, the DX is only a third of an inch thick, but it’s much heavier–18.9 ounces instead of the Kindle 2’s 10.2 ounces. I found the extra bulk slightly distracting–while reading, I was more aware I was holding a gadget, and had to worry more about keeping the Kindle balanced in my hands. It’s not a major strike against the DX, but I noticed that Amazon buries the device’s weight in its description of the device and no longer touts it as a virtue.
The company has been pitching the Kindle DX as a better Kindle for reading richly-formatted magazines and newspapers. But it’s important to understand that the magazines and newspapers it sells aren’t Zinio-like replicas of the originals. The E-Ink display is only capable of providing a rough approximation of photos and other images, as shown by this TIME cover:
Worse, TIME’s interiors are plain-text only, making for a pretty drab experience no matter how good the articles are. The only new benefit the Kindle DX offers is more of that plain text on a page than with the little Kindle:

The good news is that the Kindle DX introduces native support for documents in PDF form. You can connect the Kindle to a computer via USB and drag PDFs over, or e-mail them to yourself for wireless transfer to the Kindle by Amazon (which charges 15 cents a megabyte for the service). The ones I moved onto the device retained their formatting and looked good given that the Kindle’s screen has only sixteen shades of gray to work with:

Amazon Kindle DX V Amazon Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle DX V Amazon Kindle 2

Amazon Kindle DX V Amazon Kindle 2 - Which One is Best For You?
The latest in Amazon’s Kindle ebook reader family - the Kindle DX was announced in early May, just a few weeks after the launch of the Kindle 2 in February. Ever since then Kindle owners and prospective owners have been speculating about just how big the changes and enhancements in the Kindle DX in comparison with the Kindle 2 actually were. If you’re an existing Kindle owner or if you’re an avid reader wondering which of the two devices would be the best for your needs, then check out the comparison below:
Display
The Kindle DX has a 9.7″ screen (measured across the diagonal) - which is two and a half times larger than the Kindle 2’s 6″ screen. Apart from the obvious size advantage, the DX screen has an auto-rotate feature which allows you to switch from the standard portrait mode to landscape mode simply by rotating the device. This makes the Kindle DX better for reading newspapers, magazines and other text which contains graphics.
Overall Device Size
The DX has overall dimensions of 10.4″ X 7.2″ X 0.38″ and weighs in at 18.9 ounces. The Kindle 2 has overall dimensions of 8″ X 5.3″ X 0.36″ and a weight of 10.2 ounces. So, whilst the Kindle DX isn’t too large or heavy to carry around, the Kindle 2 is the more portable of the two devices.
On Board Memory Storage Capacity
The DX has 4 GB of internal memory - which equates to storage for approximately 3,500 books. The Kindle 2 has 2GB of memory, enough for about 1,500 books - not too shabby, and enough to keep most people supplied with reading material for a long while, but still some way short of the Kindle DX.
PDF Support
The Kindle 2 can read PDF files - but only after you e-mailed them to Amazon for conversion. There is a fee - very small admittedly - for the conversion. All in all, a bit of a hassle. The DX on the other hand has PDF support built in so you can just load up your PDF files and read them with no conversion, no fee and no fuss.
Price
The Kindle 2 is currently available for $359. When the Kindle DX ships on June 10th it will cost you $489. It’s hardly surprising that the price is somewhat higher than the Kindle 2, the larger screen is one of the most expensive items in the device so a higher price point is to be expected. If you compare the DX’s $489 ticket price with the $859 of the iRex Illiad - a comparable 10″ ebook reader device - the DX doesn’t look quite so pricey anymore.
Final Analysis
Although the Kindle 2 is relatively new, and was itself a big step forward in comparison with the original Kindle, the Kindle DX offers significant further enhancements. The larger display and the ability to handle pdf files is more than enough to justify you spending a little extra - especially when you consider the price of other similarly sized ebook readers on the market. Unless Amazon make a significant downward adjustment of the Kindle 2 following the launch of the DX, go for the DX option.

By Hamish Hayward

Kindle DX : Software Improvements

Kindle DX : Satisfied but looking forward to software improvements

In my initial review of the Kindle DX I rated it 3 stars, but am revising that upward to 4 stars as I have used it more. This is primarily due to the excellent readability of the screen and the sheer utility of the device. I had not bought a Kindle previously because of lack of true PDF support and returned a Sony Reader because of very poor PDF support. One of my key reasons for wanting the Kindle DX was the promised PDF support. My impressions so far:
1. The software puts Kindle format reading ahead of PDF, MP3, and browser support. I am fine with that to start, but hope Amazon will put the resources behind software updates to improve the Kindle DX for these other data types.2. The PDF support is servicable, but has room for improvement. For PDF articles it does a great job. For PDF books downloaded from the web (Google books or Internet Archive), will occasionally get "Some elements on this page could not be displayed" messages. These pages take extra long time to render. Hopefully, Amazon will identify the sources of these "elements" and improve the PDF rendering. As stated in other reviews, the Kindle DX does not support PDF index and other features, which is not ideal for book-length PDFs. Also, in general loading and turning pages in PDF is somewhat slower than the book formats.3. PDF cropping of white space is inconsistent. On clean PDF articles, it works great. On scanned books from the web in general will not work (I assume it is interpreting the noise lines near the edge as a real feature). A zoom would be helpful here with no loss of content.4. It is nice and convenient to have audio capability built in, eliminating the need to carry a separate audio player. However, the experimental version included is so rudimentary it is barely usable. The MP3’s sound nice (thru headphones, marginal thru speakers). There are play, stop, and forward buttons, but they forgot the back button. One needs to let the last song play out before it will loop back to the beginning. Add to this you cannot view what MP3’s are on the machine (except by using your computer in USB mode) nor set the play order. Hopefully Amazon will create some kind of audio player to create at least basic functionality.5. Keyboard buttons could have been a little bigger and more spread out in the same space on the bottom of the Kindle DX. That would have helped a lot. Typing into webpages is somewhat painful. I consider this a lesser sin for this generation of book reader, but would like to see something better in future generations.6. Some kind of foldering system would be nice. At this point I have loaded ~100 files, which take 7 pages on the home screen to go thru. Again, I hope Amazon puts the resources behind improving the software.In the future, I can imagine a Kindle size device that is a great book reader that you can read in bed, on an airplane, or just generally traveling about. It will have an audio player. It will be in color, providing full support to color books and PDF. It will also likely include a web browser (though how web access is paid for is separate issue). Nothing like this exists on the market today (net books and tablets just are not there yet either). Hopefully someone will see this as a vision for a product that will displace all current book readers.The Kindle DX is a step in that direction, and has some really nice characteristics-excellent screen rendering, very long battery life (4 days and still have half the initial charge), and portability. These are the reasons that justify to me purchasing the Kindle DX over a netbook or tablet for reading books and PDFs. I think the vision above is a few years away, and the Kindle DX can provide a lot of value now, so I am overall happy with my purchase. I hope Amazon will make me even happier over time by software improvements.

By Thomas Block

Amazon Kindle DX Leads to Buyer’s

Amazon Kindle DX Leads to Buyer’s

Kindle DX Leads to Buyer’s Remorse for Some Kindle 2 Users
Real gadget heads know the pitfalls of being an early adopter: The products can be expensive, sometimes buggy and easily rendered obsolete as a result of an upgrade. Now some Amazon Kindle 2 buyers are finding this out for themselves as they try to return their newly acquired Kindle 2 in favor of the larger sized Kindle DX.
"If I was aware that there would be an upgraded product announced less than two months and after I received my Kindle–and that would be better for my needs — I would have postponed the purchase of the product," says Rachel Swartz, who bought her Kindle 2 e-book reader two weeks after it was released in February. Swartz is now battling with Amazon to exchange her Kindle 2 for the Kindle DX.
Amazon introduced the broadsheet Kindle DX reader last week. The new product comes less than three months after the company launched Kindle 2, an improved version of the original Kindle reader. The KindleDX has a screen that measures 9.7 inches diagonally — two-and-a-half times the size of the current-gen Kindle 2 — and is targeted at readers who want to use the device to access magazines, newspapers and textbooks.
But, as Swartz found out, Amazon does not offer an upgrade path for Kindle 2 users who now covet the latest release. "They have been basically stonewalling all my attempts for the last few days to find a way to exchange the Kindle 2," she says. "This is not right. It’s not the way early adopters should be punished."
There is one loophole in the system. Kindle 2 buyers can use the company’s standard electronics returns policy to send their devices back. Amazon allows for a 30-day return on electronics purchases, says a Amazon spokesman in an emailed statement.
Ryan Meeks, who bought his Kindle 2 within the last 30 days, is one of those lucky users who can get an exchange. Meeks has sent his Kindle 2 back — no questions asked — and has instead placed a pre-order for the Kindle DX.
"I have glasses and a bigger screen was a major factor for me," says Meeks. "I also liked the fact that the Kindle DX changes from landscape to portrait mode when the device is rotated."
Meeks doesn’t mind paying the additional dollars for the Kindle DX, which costs $480 compared to the $360 for the Kindle 2. And he’s understanding of Amazon’s reluctance to offer an upgrade path for Kindle 2 users. "Ultimately they are two different products though many people don’t really understand the difference," he says. "Beyond the bigger screen, Amazon hasn’t done a good job of explaining how the two products are different."
Still, says Meeks, the company should try to offer a way out for unhappy Kindle 2 users. "If I were Amazon, I would do well to make sure early adopters are happy," he says. "The early buyers are the influential users."
Meeks suggests Amazon take a leaf out of Apple MobileMe’s playbook. "I was an early user of MobileMe and it had a lot of problems," he says. "But ultimately Apple gave us a lot of extras and I am glad I use MobileMe now. That may be something there for Amazon to learn from."
Amazon isn’t shipping the Kindle DX yet.

BY Amazon Kindle DX

The good news is that Kindle DX

The good news is that Kindle DX

The good news is that Kindle DX introduces native support for documents in PDF form. You can connect the Kindle to a computer via USB and drag PDFs over, or e-mail them to yourself for wireless transfer to the Kindle by Amazon (which charges 15 cents a megabyte for the service). The ones I moved onto the device retained their formatting and looked good given that the Kindle’s screen has only sixteen shades of gray to work with:
As nice as the PDF feature is, I wish that Amazon had also built in compatibility with Microsoft Office documents in .DOC, .XLS, and .PPT form–a feature which the Plastic Logic reader, which is due next year, will apparently offer. (Kindles do handle .DOC documents, but only through Amazon’s for-pay e-mail conversion service.)
The basic Kindle user interface remains the same, with buttons and a tiny joystick for navigating between and within books, plus a QWERTY keyboard for searching and taking notes. But Amazon did make a few tweaks. For one thing, it removed the buttons for flipping forward and backward in books from the left edge of the reader, leaving it with ones for this purpose only on the right side of the screen. Steve Levy, in his review of theKindle DX for Wired, says he misses the left-hand buttons and worries that southpaws will have trouble using the device; both Steve and the Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossbergspeak of lefties having to rotate the Kindle 180 degrees so that the controls and QWERTY keyboard are upside-down, with upside-down labels. That sounds untenable. But for what it’s worth, I’m a southpaw myself but have always clutched Kindles in my left hand and used my right hand to poke at the controls, so the new design still worked.
The Kindle DX’s keyboard is a departure from the ones on both the original Kindle and the Kindle 2: The keys are now shaped like Tic Tacs, and there are only four rows of keys versus five on the Kindle 2–you must hold down an ALT key to type numbers. Typing still isn’t much fun, but that’s ultimately not a huge issue, since it’s unlikely that you’ll use the keyboard for tapping out more than a few words at a time.
The worst thing about the Kindle DX is its new auto-rotate feature, which allegedly notices when you’ve rotated the device from portrait orientation to landscape or vice versa and adjusts the image on the screen appropriately. In my tests, this sometimes worked correctly, albeit sluggishly; but it often didn’t flip when I wanted it to, or flipped when I would have preferred that it didn’t. In no case did it contribute to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s oft-stated design goal for the Kindle, which is that it be "invisible"–I was always painfully aware I was using a fidgety electronic gadget. Fortunately, you can disable the auto-rotation and adjust the screen yourself as necessary.
Lastly there’s that price–$489, which is $130 more than the Kindle 2, and a fairly stiff cost for a gizmo of any sort. It’s high enough that it’s a factor in my bottom-line Kindle buying advice–which is to consider opting for the Kindle 2. It packs most of what’s good about the Kindle DX into a more compact, travel-friendly case. And the virtues of the Kindle DX’s bigger display are limited as long as most of its content doesn’t retain book-like graphics and formatting.

Kindle DX : Impressions from a Reader and Radiologist

Kindle DX Review

Kindle DX : Impressions from a Reader and Radiologist

Background:I used to be an avid reader, starting in grade school, through high school, and up through college. Once I began medical school, time for pleasure reading went out the window. That trend continued throughout residency, until I purchased the Kindle 1. Since I got that device in Mar 2008 (and continuing through the Kindle 2 I got in Feb 2009), I have read over 80 books, a mixture of fiction and non-fiction. The Kindle has definitely re-ignited my interest in reading and made it fun again.I am a radiologist. To keep up with my profession, I need to read journal articles monthly. I usually read these in a .pdf format on a computer screen. Occasionally, if it’s an important article I’ll print it, but usually I keep noteworthy articles on a directory on my desktop PC.
The Kindle DX seemed like the ideal solution for me when it was announced. I could still read books (with a larger screen), and keep and read my journal articles at my leisure on my Kindle. Thus, even though I had just purchased a Kindle 2, I pre-ordered a DX. I’ve had the Kindle DX for a couple of weeks now, with pretty steady daily use.
Overall Impression:I really like the Kindle DX, a lot. (In fact, Amazon should be compensating me for the amount of free advertising I’m giving them by showing the DX off to anyone who will listen.) In most situations, I prefer it to the Kindle 2, which I preferred over the Kindle 1. I read pretty fast, and it’s a real benefit to be able to have more words on the page, with a larger font, and still require fewer page turns than the Kindle 2. I don’t find the Kindle DX overly heavy. The DX cover is much heavier than the 2’s, not just because of its size but also because of the magnets. If you take the DX out of its cover during extended reading sessions, it’s very manageable - certainly easier to hold than the average hardcover, and easier than most paperbacks.
I have found that I can set the Kindle DX on my treadmill or elliptical trainer and read fairly comfortably. The DX’s size means I can set the font size larger and still require fewer page turns than the 2.The DX is a little more cumbersome to lug around, but it’s not completely unmanageable. I could fit the 2 in my back pocket, but rarely did for fear of sitting on it. The Kindle DX won’t fit into any pocket, but it’s certainly at least as portable as any hardcover, and some paperbacks.
PDF Journal Article Reading:The .pdf formatting for radiology journal articles has so far worked pretty well. The page formatting thus far has been identical to what I see on my computer screen. The text with the .pdf in portrait mode is usually too small to read comfortably, but it’s very readable while in landscape mode.
Image quality is surprisingly decent. It has usually garnered favorable impressions from the radiologists who’ve seen it. Cross-sectional images, in particular, are usually easily interpretable on the Kindle DX (particularly if arrows are added). Radiographs are harder, but frankly they’re not all that great on the printed page either.
One big complaint (already observed by others on Amazon’s boards), is that the pagination in landscape mode doesn’t work. As you page through a document in landscape mode, you quickly get off of a “top-half/bottom half” separation and start having part of the bottom of one page displayed with the top of the next. To reset this, you have to switch back to portrait mode, and then back to landscape mode (tedious). This should be fixed, and I can’t imagine it would be difficult to do.
Another complaint is the lack of folder architecture. This is a frequent complaint, so I won’t go into it too much here. It does seem a little silly to have a device with 4 GB of storage and no clear way to organize dozens (or hundreds) of documents beyond alphabetizing them. I end up copying and deleting articles using the USB cable, and will probably continue to do that until a better Kindle software solution presents itself.
The bottom line is that I can and do read radiology articles on my device. There are still a few quirks, but right now I think it’s better than any other e-reader out there. That may change in a year or so… (Yes, the printed journal itself or laser copies are probably still better quality, but that’s missing the point of this review, no need to point this out.)
Device Issues:Wireless connectivity is good - on par with the Kindle 2, which was decent. I get pretty good service in most metropolitan areas. Again, one of the main benefits of the Kindle DX is the ability to download any book you want when you want. Using the experimental web browsing feature, webpages come up pretty quickly, and if you use the mobile links to popular sites (which are mostly text) they’re really pretty useable.The gyroscope/auto rotation feature works OK, although I’ve found with theKindle DX it isn’t as useful as with an iPhone. Or maybe it doesn’t work quite as well….I tend to read with the device flat, and it can get confused and randomly rotate the screen if it’s slightly tilted off axis while flat.
Battery life is on par with the 2 - still excellent. I get about 2 weeks out of a full charge if I don’t have the wireless modem on (which I usually don’t). One big caveat - others have noted that having the auto rotation feature turned on will slowly drain battery life. Because of this, in addition to the fact that I don’t like having auto rotation on, means I simply manually rotate the page when I need to.
Keyboard is smaller than 2’s, which is fine since it gives more space for the screen, and I don’t use the keyboard much anyway. It is a little irritating to press function keys for the numbers, though.
The dictionary look up feature is still awesome. If you like to read books that challenge your vocabulary, it’s great to immediately get a definition without pulling out a dictionary and rifling through it.
The screen quality is on par with the 2. In general, the font seems bolder and darker than the 2, independent of text size. Picture quality is about the same.
I don’t use the text-to-speech or the mp3 features. They’re the same as the 2, except there’s a female text-to-speech voice on the Kindle DX.
Summary:
Pros:Larger screen sizePDFs display wellImproved font qualityConvenience of book purchasing
Cons:Slightly heavier and less portablePagination of PDFs in landscape mode doesn’t work wellNeeds folders (or better file organization/searching)Price
Bottom line….as both an avid reader and a radiologist (and an early adopter, and a technophile), the Kindle DX has been a great device for me. I recommend any Kindle to anyone who enjoys reading (technophile or not), and the DX to those who want the option of reading .pdfs and having a larger screen, with the sacrifice of some portability and price.

BY Nicholas V. Stence

The Perfect Digital Reader? - Kindle DX (9.7-inch Reading Device)

The Perfect Digital Reader? - Kindle DX (9.7-inch Reading Device)

The Perfect Digital Reader?
While the original Kindle and the Kindle 2 is designed for reading books, Amazon has released the new Kindle DX that is optimized for reading textbooks, newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. You would think that the new 9.7-inch screen would be perfect for reading those materials but the truth is, the Kindle DX does has a lot of room for improvement.
First of all, the Kindle DX costs around $490 each, which is pretty expensive by any standards. A lower price tag will make it much more accessible to the mass market (but then again, it is the first of its kind). There are many people who will be reluctant to fork out close to five hundred bucks for a more stylish way to read their newspapers.
When it comes to PDF files, the Kindle DX is really just able to view it and nothing more. It is unable to increase the size of the fonts, nor magnify the images on them. If you read the PDF file in landscape, the font size may sometimes be more readable. So if you wish to view a lot of PDF files on it, be sure to increase the size of the fonts on your PC before you load them on the reader.
Due to its size, the Kindle DX is heavier than the smaller Kindle 2. Although it is still quite comfortable to hold it, it just doesn’t have the portability of the smaller Kindle. You will need an average sized bag to carry it around with you. Then we have the page turn button. The new left-side-only page turn button is an improvement to prevent accidental page turns but when you are reading the material horizontally (landscape), the page turn will be on the top/bottom, making page turns a little awkward.
Despite its flaws, the Kindle DX is still a revolutionary, one-of-a-kind digital reader. Its larger screen makes reading newspapers and magazines so much easier. Although it is still far from perfect, it will provide an enjoyable reading experience for many (if they are willing to fork out the price). I am already looking forward for the launch of the Kindle DX 2 (if any)! Kudos to Amazon!

By Troy Richards

Kindle DX Frequently Asked Questions

Kindle DX Frequently Asked Questions

I already have a Kindle, and now I want to trade it in for a Kindle DX. Do you have an trade-in program?

No, we aren’t offering an trade-in program for Kindle DX.

If you ordered a Kindle in the last 30 days, you’re welcome to return the Kindle for a refund and order a Kindle DX.

I already have a Kindle–how do I transfer my books and subscriptions to Kindle DX?

We store all your purchases–including annotations and the last page read in each book–on Amazon.com. You can access your books and other content from multiple Kindles, including Kindle DX, as long as the Kindles are registered to the same account. You can transfer books and subscriptions from one Kindle to another in three ways:

1. Schedule delivery of books from your computer to your Kindle DX: Visit the Manage Your Kindle page and scroll down to the “Your orders and individual charges” section. Select the Kindle DX listed in the “Download/Send to” drop-down choices.

You can schedule delivery of your existing books before your Kindle DX even arrives. Your books will be automatically downloaded to your Kindle when you turn on the device, as long as you’re in wireless range.

2. Wirelessly download books directly from your Kindle DX: Select “Archived Items” from the Home screen or “View Archived Items” from the menu. Select the item from there.

3. Transfer a periodical subscription from one Kindle to another: From the Manage Your Kindle page, scroll down to the “Your Active Kindle subscriptions” page. Under “Deliver future editions,” select the Kindle you’d like to use for the subscription and click “Save.”

Note: Subscription content can only be delivered to one Kindle registered to your Amazon.com account. When you update your delivery settings, the next available issue and all following issues on your subscription will be delivered to the designated Kindle.

How is Kindle DX different from Kindle?

Kindle DX has many of the same features as the Kindle, with some additional features customers have asked for. Take a look at this chart to see what’s different:

Kindle DX Kindle

Display 9.7″ Diagonal E-ink 6″ Diagonal E-ink

Weight 18.9 ounces 10.2 ounces

Storage 3,500 books 1,500 books

PDF Support native PDF reader via conversion

Rotating display Yes No

Books in under 60 seconds Yes Yes

Text-to-Speech Yes Yes

Whispersync Yes Yes

In addition, Kindle DX features include:

· Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines

· Carry Your Library: Holds over 3,500 books, periodicals, and documents

· Large Display: 9.7″ diagonal e-ink screen reads like real paper; 16 shades of gray for clear text and sharp images

· Auto-Rotating Screen: Display auto-rotates from portrait to landscape as you turn the device so you can view full-width maps, graphs, tables, and Web pages

· Built-in PDF Reader: Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and work documents on the go. With Amazon’s Whispernet service, you can send your documents directly to your Kindle DX and read them anytime, anywhere.

· Wireless: 3G wireless lets you download books right from your Kindle DX, anytime, anywhere; no monthly fees, service plans, or hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots. No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle DX’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a wireless bill. There is no wireless setup-you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box.

· Books in Under 60 Seconds: Get books delivered in less than 60 seconds; no PC required

· Long Battery Life: Read for days without recharging

· Read-to-Me: With the Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle DX can read every newspaper, magazine, blog, and book out loud to you, unless the book is disabled by the rights holder.

· 5-Way Controller: Kindle DX has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.

· No Computer Required: Kindle DX is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box–no setup, no cables, no computer required.

BY Amazon Kindle DX

Kindle DX first impressions from a former Kindle 2 user

KindleDX first impressions from a former Kindle 2 user

Here are my first impressions of the KindleDX which I received earlier today. I’ve been using the Kindle 2 for the past three months and have loved it. It has improved the way I read by making it easy to download and try books before purchasing them, and allowing me to carry a variety of reading material with me. I was disappointed with the way it handled PDF’s, which is important to me, so I sold the Kindle 2 and bought the Kindle DX.

- The KindleDX works like the Kindle 2 in terms of keys, navigation, joystick etc., except all the navigation keys are on the right.

- Was concerned about lack of navigation on the left, but if you flip it 180 degrees, the display auto rotates and you can use your left hand. Very slick.

- The DX is heavier, but is still comfortable to hold and read.

- The overall size of the KindleDX is not as big as I expected from the pictures on the web.

- The digital ink looks similar on both, but a little sharper on the DX.

- The DX works much better for PDF’s overall. The bigger screen really helps here.

- A complex powerpoint I converted to pdf looks just like it does on my pc except in b&w.

- PDF’s with columns work fine. I couldn’t read them on the Kindle 2.

- If you have a PDF with multiple columns, the print may appear small on the DX, and you can’t adjust fonts in PDFs.

- Newspapers are easier to read on the KindleDX, especially pics and tables.

- I downloaded a sample chapter of a textbook. I can see this working well for students.

- The rotate feature is excellent on the DX; works as advertised.

- The Kindle 2 weighs less and is more portable. If reading only books, I’d probably prefer the Kindle 2, given the lower price and size, and nav keys on both sides.

Regarding the price, while I’d love Kindles to cost less, I think the price is reasonable. Here’s how I justified it. I assumed I could resell the KindleDX in 2 years for 50% of its purchase price, or $245. (50% seems reasonable based on the experience of Kindle 1). So my net cost is $245. The differentiating feature of the Kindle is the built in wireless capability. Not only is it elegant and integrated, it is also included in the purchase price. If unlimited wireless were priced separately, a reasonable price would be around $10/month. So effectively my out of pocket cost using the DX for 2 years is roughly equivalent to what the wireless would cost me if it was priced separately.

Both the KindleDX and Kindle 2 are good values. If you only read books, the Kindle 2 is probably better. If you already own a Kindle 2, and don’t read PDF’s, I recommend keeping your Kindle 2. If you read a lot of pdf’s or newspapers, or you like to read with large fonts, you’ll be happier with the DX. For my needs, I like the KindleDX more.

By New England Book Reviewer

Kindle DX : Costomer Reviews

KindleDX Review

Amazon keeps on hitting this Kindle thing right out of the ballpark.
The KindleDX is a worthy upgrade to the Kindle 2. From the HUGE screen to the native PDF support to the ability to turn the KindleDX sideways to read, everything is just better on the DX.
1) The packaging is crisp, clean, and similar to a certain fruit vendor from California.
2) The DX comes pre-registered so all you have to do is plug it into the AC adapter and turn it on. The KindleDX does the rest. Within a minute or two, your books will start appearing. From the time the UPS driver dropped off my DX to my first book was less than five minutes. Amazon has made the setup process very, very easy.
3) The native PDF support is absolutely brilliant. I sent a 6.7MB manual to my KindleDX account. It appeared in less than 2 minutes! The fonts are crisp, the graphics are decent, and there is a “go to page” feature that allows you to skip through large PDFs.
4) The gyro-thingie works like a champ. While reading a PDF, I turned the DX 90 degrees. The KindleDX reorientated the PDF automatically. Took less than a second. Not sure how comfortable it will be to read since the next page/prev page buttons are now at the TOP of the page…but it’s a very cool feature to have.
5) The keyboard has been improved as well. The keys are now slightly raised and, in my opinion, easier to use.
The KindleDX is expensive. No question about it…but if you do any kind of reading, you owe it to yourself to get one. You will not be disappointed.
Some people might question the e-ink, lack of color, and lack of a touch screen. The DX isn’t designed to be a tablet…or have a battery life measured in hours. The DX can run for days with wireless enabled…and up to weeks without wireless. There are tradeoffs to be made. If you are seeking those features, the KindleDX isn’t for you.
If you are seeking a huge e-book reader with native PDF support, text to speech, massive storage, whispernet, ability to purchase a book and start reading it in under a minute, access to over 270,000 books plus millions of free books on-line, and enjoy reading, get a KindleDX.
Ok, I did find one minor drawback. The left-side buttons have been removed in the DX. Not sure why. It’s only slightly annoying…given all the other brilliant features.

By Gordon Ewasiuk

Reviews The Kindle DX

Reviews The KindleDX
A K2 Owner Reviews The KindleDX
I really love my kindle 2 but decided to order the KindleDX because I was intrigued by the larger screen of the DX and wanted to see how the two kindles compare. Hands down the DX is a better e-reader despite being bigger and heavier. The key advantage is the larger screen which can hold a lot more words and information on a page than the K2. Even at very large font sizes the KindleDX still looks like a page from a book. The contrast is also much sharper on the DX - something I noticed right way when I first turned it on. The words seem darker and crisper. The DX is faster than my K2 when I am opening books, turning pages or even accessing the web. With respect to the pdf feature I can’t critique the KindleDX because I don’t read a lot of pdfs. For what I do read which are some pdfs and word documents it works well.
Although the KindleDX is bigger and heavier than the K2 this in no way compromises the user-friendliness of the reader. There is only a marginal difference in how heavy the device feels as compared to the K2 and the increased dimensions are not so significant that it affects portability. This can easily fit into a large handbag (albeit not a small purse). As a normal sized woman with the typical upper body strength of a woman I am sensitive to carrying around heavy things and the KindleDX does not feel that much different than my K2.
In short, as much as I love my K2, I am really happy I bought the KindleDX and will likely use this exclusively. I will use it primarily for pleasure reading and for reading pdfs and other work documents. I am not taking any classes so I won’t be using it for textbook reading (and I have not tested textbooks on the Kindle DX).

By victori100 “victori100″

Compare Kindle DX with Kindle

Compare Kindle DX with Kindle

That was a short wait! Kindle DX is already out, and we do get the standard letter from Jeff Bezos to Amazon Customers on the front page of Amazon. Amazon has decided to get away for numbers for now, which is why Amazon is calling the new device Amazon Kindle DX. I have been calling it Kindle 2.5 as it is not really the third generation Kindle but it does offer some improvements over Kindle 2.0.
Kindle DX is only 1/3 inch thick. That means it’s almost as thin as your everyday magazine. It has also been improved upon Kindle 2.0 in the storage area. Kindle 2.0 can hold 1500 ebooks on average. With Kindle DX, you can carry 3500 ebooks. But the major improvement with Kindle DX is the 9.7 inch diagonal rotating screen. That’s much bigger than the previous generation Kindle. That is going to make Kindle DX very attractive to college students and those who want to use their Kindle to read magazines and newspapers on the go.
Here is a summary of what Kindle DX features:
Screen: the 9.7″ screen makes Kindle DX more attractive to college students and newspaper publishers/readers.
Color: no color yet. But you get 16 shades of Gray which is currently the best in the industry.
Auto-Rotate: unlike Kindle 2.0, you can now auto-rotate your Kindle DX’s screen (portrait, landscape) as you turn your device.
PDF Reader: Amazon Kindle DX now provides native support for PDF (finally!).
Thickness: it’s as slim as a regular size magazine. So it’s almost as portable as Kindle 2.0, and it’s not that heavier either.
Storage: holds 3,500 ebooks on the 4 GB internal memory.
Wireless: you still get wireless 3G connection on your Kindle DX which is fast enough to download books fast.
Read To Me: the voice to speech feature that raised a lot of controversy is still included on Kindle DX. But Amazon clearly discloses that publishers have the right to disable this.
Battery Life: you can read your device with wireless turned off for two weeks. If you have to keep your wireless connection on, then you can expect your battery to last for 4 days.
iPhone: you can easily switch back and forth between your Kindle and iPhone by using Kindle for iPhone app.
.docx support: Microsoft’s .Docx is supported on Kindle DX.

Here is a graphical comparison of Kindle DX and Kindle 2.0:

Overall, Kindle DX is a bigger, better version of Kindle 2.0. It’s more expensive too! Amazon is seemingly targeting college students, engineers, and other niche segments to expand its business. I am not sure how many Kindle 2.0 owners will upgrade to Kindle DX but it’s certainly worth a look.
Kindle DX Accessories:
2-Year Extended Warranty for Kindle DX
Amazon Kindle DX Leather Cover