วันอังคารที่ 27 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Why You Should Get a Kindle DX

Why You Should Get a Kindle DX

Amazon is one of the most innovative companies in the world. It has been around for years and has been transformed from a small book retailer to a huge company in a matter of years. Amazon’s latest project involves getting people to switch from paper books to digital content. Amazon’s weapon? The Kindle! This is a gadget that lets you read documents and take thousands of books with you on the go. And since the device is using the latest E-ink technology, you are not going to hurt your eyes with Kindle like you would by staring at a monitor.

Kindle DX is the latest Amazon gadget that tries to address some of the concerns that shoppers had about its predecessor. You get a 9.7 inch screen that now lets you read college textbooks and technical documents without going for the next page button all the time. That was one of the main complaints about the ebook readers on the market, but with this gizmo you can read all kinds of documents on the go. You can also rotate the screen and read your content in portrait or landscape mode.

Amazon’s latest gizmo now provides native support for PDF. Prior to the introduction of Kindle DX, you had to convert your PDF documents in order to read them on your device. Now, you don’t have to do that. In addition, you can read .docx documents on your gadget too. And you can sync your device with your iPhone using the Whisphersync service.

What I like about Kindle DX is the fact that the battery life hasn’t suffered at all. You still go for 2 weeks between each and every charge, which means you don’t have to keep looking for your adapter to charge your gizmo. Overall, if you are looking for a device to help you never buy paper books again, this is the one to own.

Looking to buy Kindle DX?

Kindle DX is one of the best ebook readers ever made. It has a big screen. It supports PDF documents. To find Amazon Kindle DX deals and discounts, log on to Kindle DX Store

By Panah C Rad Platinum Quality Author

วันจันทร์ที่ 26 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX : Customer Reviews

Kindle DX Bigger is Better, In THIS Case 5 July, 2009
I’ve had the Kindle DX for nearly a month now, and have compared it to the other Kindle Models. Here are my thoughts about the Kindle DX:
-The larger screen is a must have for the avid reader. One doesn’t wish to be scrolling pages every ten seconds because the page is so small; the page size is bigger than a paperback novel - - probably nearly as big as a new release hard cover.
-Downloading new books is simple. Turn on the wireless, Click on Books in the main menu, type in the author’s name (or the genre if you are browsing), find the book you want, click on “buy”, and the book is there within 20 - 30 seconds. No more waiting a week to get a book. I love finding authors new to me, so when I’m reading a new author, and I decide I really like that author, it takes 15 seconds to find other books by that author - - no more trips to the local bookstore, or ordering from Amazon and waiting for the order to arrive!
-I quite often am reading in different places, and the text turns as you turn the Kindle DX. Very handy!
-If you turn the wireless off when not in use (very simple to do from the main menu), battery power is greatly enhanced, and a charge will last more than a week even with heavy use.
-The main menu is relatively easy to navigate - - the 5 way button allows you to move up and down the menu, sideways allows you to move forward or backward in the menu. Pressing the button allows you to make a choice. Very intuitive and easy to navigate.
-ALL pages of every book you purchase are viewable - - cover, table of contents, title pages, acknowledgements, comments from authors or others, everything.
-I download the New York Times daily. It is easy to read, slightly less easy to navigate, but hey, the NYT instantly available every day on the Kindle DX….
-The weight and size make the Kindle DX a little cumbersome…it’s not as light as a single book, but it also never feels “heavy”. It’s big when you compare to a regular Kindle or Kindle 2, but its not overly big. And, when I think of being able to have 20-30 books right there in my hand, given how easy it is to use and read, well, who cares about the weight?!?
Last thought: as mentioned, I’ve had the Kindle DX for just under a month. The other day, I found a paperback book I had half read on a recent international flight. I picked it up, thought about it, then put it back down…I realized I much prefer (already!) reading on the Kindle DX! Surprised me.

By Aric Krause

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 25 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX: Amazon’s 9.7″

Kindle DX: Amazon’s 9.7″

Even better than Kindle 1 & 2,

Reading on the Kindle DX is such a joy. I’ve been so happy with my first generation Kindle 1, but the DX takes Kindle reading to the next level. The amount of content that fits onto the screen is a vast improvement to the experience. And even better than the *quantity* of content is the *quality* of the content. The display on the Kindle DX is truly phenomenal.

I write technical documents for a living. The product documentation that I write is full of images, diagrams, and rich formatting. I’ve tried loading my PDF documents onto my Kindle 1, but they won’t display. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I loaded my PDFs onto the Kindle DX. The formatting of the page displayed perfectly!!! Zooming and rotating was simple.

I read a lot of technical documents too. I’ve always been sorry that I couldn’t read good technical books on my Kindle 1 (the latest Photoshop books, etc.) They look great on the DX though. With the Kindle DX, you can carry your whole reference library with you: dictionaries, reference manuals, the Bible, … I even have PDF versions of the shop manuals for our dirt bikes. I haven’t loaded them onto the Kindle DX, but it sure would be easier to have them on one compact device than having five big fat books for the bikes.

The Kindle DX isn’t cheap, but I imagine the price will come down eventually like it did with earlier Kindle versions. It is an astounding device though–truly a game changing piece of equipment. Think of how your TV viewing changed when you got your first TiVo, how driving changed when you got a GPS, how your phone changed when you got voicemail and caller ID. That’s how your reading will change when you get your fist Kindle.

By David Edmiston “Dave”

วันเสาร์ที่ 17 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX : Everything I expected it to be!

Customer Reviews : Kindle DX
I an early adopter of the new Kindle DX. This is new territory for me as I usually let a product be on the market for awhile before stepping in, but it was my 50th birthday,I wanted to rediscover my passion for reading and decided to go for the larger format of the Kindle DX.The Kindle DX is performing exactly as expected. The screen is crystal clear and I have found the ability to modify the fonts very convenient as I like the larger fonts at night when my eyes are tired, but the smaller fonts other times.
The ability to order books is as easy as Amazon says it is. A couple of clicks and 60 seconds later the book is ready to read. Personally, I peruse books using my computer on the website easier and faster, as I like to navigate more as I look for titles.
The devices ability to rotate was more useful than I realized it would be. In particular, I find myself reading upside down to put the next page key on the left-side when I’m snuggled with my wife watching television.
Also, as a do a lot of reading and research while I travel, the ability to download pdf documents a real plus and the elimination of a few pounds of material is good news for my shoulders.
The battery life is excellent and with the wireless turned off, I easily get more than a week of usage (I’ve haven’t pushed the battery life beyond 10 days yet with the wireless off).
Things to note are that not all newspapers / magazines are created equal. It is worth your time to read the reviews and try them them before you buy. As publishers tailor their content for this medium, the quality should go up.
The ‘blink’ when you go from one page to the next took me about an hour to get used to. Now, I don’t even notice it.
Finally, this is a device designed for ‘readers.’ If you are looking for quality pictures or high-end graphics the Kindle DX is not for you!
Overall, highly recommended!


Kindle DX exceeds expectations
After patiently waiting for the release of the Kindle DX, I must say that short deprivation paid off handsomely. The device works very well and both ergonomically and menu structure wise. Using this device suits my reading style and reference and bookmark needs very well. As a left-handed user, I have found the auto rotate feature to be a great bonus as I can now have my page controls either right or left oriented- what innovation! As for battery life and use of whispernet for book and periodical delivery, another grand slam for the Kindle DX. This device has really got me immersed back into reading and enjoying books more than ever.Also, use the device for PDF technical documents and that feature works well for my needs. Yes, it would be great in the future to see TOC integration for PDF, but for the first iteration, the Kindle works great.
E-ink screen is awesome to read in all kinds of lighting conditions and very easy on the eyes. Only negative about the Kindle DX is the tic tac size keys on the keyboard- agree with the other reviewers that they are hard to press and rather tiny; however I did not buy the Kindle to use as a typing device. For notes and such, you can get by just fine and this minor shortcoming will give the Kindle team one more nuance of the device to improve upon in future generations.
Overall, very pleased with my Kindle and Amazon offerings and account settings for the device. Kudos to the Kindle development team for making a great product even more stellar.

By W. Reister “Walt”

วันจันทร์ที่ 12 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Amazon Kindle DX Leather Cover Review


Amazon Kindle DX Leather Cover Review
The new leather cover for the Amazon Kindle DX is surprisingly very simple, nothing overdone unlike the previous Kindle covers. The leather cover is nothing fancy on the outside, but dependability wise, it’s really more than it seems, and it really fulfills its promise of protecting the Amazon Kindle DX.
This is one of the best things invented and I think that with e-books being published on the internet everyday, a gadget that will read e-books is the most helpful thing. If you love your Kindle and if you love reading e-books then the jacket is one thing that you should be without.
What I love about the new Kindle DX leather cover is the simplicity of the clips and edges designed specifically to offer protection to the Amazon Kindle. It only has a few fastening hinges, all of which are enough to keep the Kindle secure and away from scratch or any kind of tampering.
The thickness of the leather cover, I’ll say is to be about average. The thickness will obviously change and you can feel it, especially if you’re someone who really appreciate the thinness of the kindle. But at the same time, it also protects very good. I’ve learned how to adjust to the thickness, since I originally wanted something that’s both simple yet very effective anyway.
The outside of the Kindle DX leather cover is just a black rough genuine leather, and the edges are like soft felt. I love that it looks classy and it looks very professional. I love how the Amazon Kindle DX looks with its leather cover on, because it makes it look so much better. But what’s the best thing about the Kindle cover? It’s very affordable.
For more information, check other Amazon Kindle DX Leather Cover reviews.Erika Ayala works part time for a consumer review company.
Like the iPhone, the Kindle DX will automatically rotate the screen from portrait to landscape mode when you flip the unit on its side.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 11 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX Sold Out!



Kindle DX Sold Out!
Its only been six days since the Amazon Kindle DX release…and already it’s sold out!
Either they didn’t make enough or there is a huge demand. Whatever the reason, It’s really hard to tell without the numbers.
In any case, if you order the device today, you will have to wait until June 22 for shipment. Add another couple days and you should get it in a week.
That’s not bad compare to Kindle1 back in November 2007. The wait time was much longer…yet faithful followers were willing to join the line and wait regardless of time.
Oh how times have changed!
Are you a Kindle DX enthusiast?…or a potential early adopter? If you are, then you will need to join the line now! If you don’t, t you could be waiting for a while.
Until next time.
Kindle DX… does Size really matter?
What is the real scoop with the Amazon Kindle DX? Why was it built with such a large screen…9.7″… when the only difference between it and Amazon Kindle 2 is it’s size and capacity?
The answer …it was built with Newspapers, magazines and textbooks in mind!
Yes, Kindle 2 can display magazines, newspapers…but where are the ADs that goes along with them?…they are all missing in action!
…as a result, Amazon not only set the price for these Newspapers and magazines, but also deprive the publishers of making additional income.
The publishers are grumbling, and Amazon is listening. After all, what else can they do, when there are some many competitors on the horizon?
They have to oblige if they are going to stay ahead of the game!
…and what will this mean for the public? Magazine and Newpaper subscriptions will be cheaper, Amazon will still gets it share, and publishers will stand to earn more from the ADs… so they can afford to cut subscription prices.
I can almost assure you that very soon after the Kinlde DX is released, you will see an advertising component added to its newspaper and magazines issues.
When and how it will be done? We don’t know yet, but it’s coming…mark my words.
One more thing about this new Kindle DX, the increased screen size is “perfect’ for magazine and newspaper display…making them somewhat closer to the “real” thing.
TextbooksOne other component that’s being tested right now is textbook. Imagine the income potential from making textbooks available on the Kindle DX. Schools will get involved, more people will become aware of the Amazon Kindle, Kindle sale will skyrocket, and the snowball will grow out of control.
…well, its in the works!
In fact there are pilot programs going on as we speak.
Can you see into the future? Kindle DX is about to change some things for sure.
Until next time….Let us know your thoughts!.

Kindle DX - a small step forward

Kindle DX - a small step forward

I also own a SONY PRS500. So I am already familiar with eink technology. I think that adjusted my expectations for the Kindle DX. The main reason I bought the Kindle DX is to read PDF files so that I can carry and read a lot of papers and technical documents (some highly confidential). This is my experience so far. Hopefully it will help others.1) Reading PDF

Not all PDF’s are the same. Kindle DX can do a pretty good job cutting the margins so that the PDF is display in good size. But some PDF’s are designed to be printed as hard copies. And they have really fat margins.

So I play around with Adobe Acrobat to make come up with a workable solution. If you have the full Acrobat version there is a feature to crop the margins (Crop Pages). I can trim the margins to a bear minimum and now all my PDF’s are very readable in portrait mode.

Some PDF’s are locked. I have to find some program for Windows that can unlock the pages before I can crop the margins. Just google for unlock PDF.

I also have some PDF’s that are about 1000 pages. Kindle DX choked on those. It just keeps rebooting when I open the files. I have to split those up to two files. It might be a function of the files size and/or number of pages.

2) Organizing books

This is the part that the Kindle software is doing a poor job. There are a few limited options to sort the list of books. Since I am going to have a lot of my own documents it is not going to work well. I think some way to organize books by folders is badly needed.

3) Support

I don’t think the support staff are all well trained. I also have a problem with the web browser. My Kindle DX came pre-registered. I think it is a nice touch by Amazon. But for some reason the setup broke the web browser. I counldn’t connect to the internet and I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. It took two calls to support to get it resolved. The trick is to revert to factory default settings. The second support person then have to help me restore all my settings through the wireless connection. It was pretty painless process. But the first support person I contacted didn’t seen to be aware of the process.

There is also no excuse why my Kindle DX is pre-configured incorrectly

4) UI

I am pretty good with gadgets. I own lots of them. I also have years of experiences with GUI design. I found the GUI inconsistent and difficult to use at times. A GUI design always offers way for user to discover he features. This is not always the case with Kindle. Some features have to be turned on with combination of key strokes that are non intuitive. Typing numbers with the ALT key is also awful.

I’ll keep the Kindle DX. It has indeed helped me to solve a problem adequately. But it is an imperfect device that leave me wanting.

By

Johnny Chan “Johnny”

วันเสาร์ที่ 10 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX: Bigger and Better

Amazon 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

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 8 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

The KindleDX matches well with the other devices


Travel Companion The size and shape of the Kindle DX matches well with the other devices you may already carry. If you tote an ultraportable or all-purpose laptop, the KindleDX will fit easily in the same bag. The Kindle DX slid in nicely right next to my ultrasleek MSI Wind U100 netbook (pictured here beneath the Kindle DX ). The Kindle DX is indeed slim, yet it felt sturdy to hold–something that surprised me, given its broader size. I thought it might feel fragile, or as if it were about to snap, an oft-cited concern as devices in general become smaller and thinner. Minimalist Design Like the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX has a minimalist design. On the bottom, the only port is the unit’s Micro-USB 2.0 connection. The device charges via Micro-USB, but the charging cable detaches from the outlet plug so that you can plug it into your PC’s USB port for data transfers as well. Direct-to-Kindle data transfers are more important with the Kindle DX, due to the PDF reader in the new device: PDFs can eat up 10MB, 20MB, or more if they’re large documents packed with images. Given that Amazon now charges 15 cents per megabyte for data you e-mail to yourself over the Kindle’s Whispernet service, that could add up quickly if you’re an avid viewer of PDFs.Minimal Buttons on Top, Too At the top of the Kindle DX, you’ll see a power slider switch and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Like the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX has text-to-speech reading capabilities, available for content whose producers permit the feature. Unlike the Kindle 2, which has a monaural speaker, the Kindle DX has built-in stereo speakers.Five-Way Navigation Joystick Amazon told me that nothing had changed about the five-way navigational joystick’s design, but I could feel a distinct difference between the one on the Kindle 2 I tested and the one on the DX I handled. The Kindle DX’s joystick was distinctly easier to move compared with the stiff joystick on the Kindle 2. At first I wondered whether that might be because the DX I tried was a preproduction device, but the Amazon rep I spoke with said the test unit reflected what we’d see on production units. Unlike the other navigation buttons on the KindleDX, the five-way joystick and its associated Menu and Back buttons are similar in size to those on the Kindle 2.


Big screen–and a price to matchThe Kindle DX is set to debut in the summer of 2009 for a whopping $489

Compare KindleDX with Kindle

The Godzilla of Kindles

The Godzilla of Kindles tries to conquer the Ereader world,
I’ve been a very happy 1st-generation Kindle (referred to henceforth in this review as the K1), since last April, and as a disabled person who’s always loved to read but for various reasons (including the physical difficulties in handling an actual book), the device reintroduced the reading experienced and substantially changed my world. When the 2nd-generation Kindle (referred to henceforth as the K2) came on the scene, I didn’t feel overly compelled to upgrade to the new version because there was not a significant advantage, in my view, to do so. But when the Kindle DX was announced with it’s larger screen and specifically the native PDF support, which as one who had converted many software manual PDFs for reading on the K1 with passable but not great results, I couldn’t resist taking the plunge and upgrading. I’ve now been using the Kindle DX (referred to henceforth as the KDX), since Thursday (this review is being typed on Sunday), so here is my first impressions review.
The first thing I noticed about the Kindle DX is that it could as easily be called the Kindle Jumbo, or The Kindlenormous, because compared to my K1 (as stated above, I never owned a K2) it’s huge! I’ve seen several people comment on the difference in size, and one might get the impression from various comments (including my own above) that the device requires a forklift to pick up and a warehouse to house. The truth is that the Kindle DX is only big in relation to the prior Kindles. In fact, if this had been the size of the first Kindle, I think everyone would have felt it was the perfect size. As for the increased weight over its smaller brethren, if I personally had to manually hold it, for me with my disability, it would be a real problem. It’s not really the weight itself, but due to the center of gravity being more spread out as opposed to the more compact K1 and K2. Basically, if you hold the device vertically near the bottom, it becomes top heavy. Because of this, I don’t know if I’d consider the Kindle DX the best choice for the casual reader, especially one who hasn’t owned a Kindle before. Sort of like buying a full-sized Hummer for the little old lady from Pasadena who just wants to run to the grocery store twice a week. Doesn’t mean a Hummer isn’t great in itself, but it would be just a bit of overkill for the proverbial old lady’s needs.
As for the Kindle DX itself (and keep in mind that I’ve never owned or touched a K2, so some of the things that impressed me might be applicable to the K2 as well), it is truly amazing. My own feeling is that this design greatly improves upon what was begun with the K1. In fact I’d go so far as to say that the K1 seems more like a production or Beta model…a great Beta model, but a Beta model nonetheless. The Kindle DX feels more sturdy (and I think this due more to the case construction than the overall weight), and as I said, more polished than the K1. I like the 5-way controller (introduced with the K2) much more than the K1’s scroll wheel. While I used the scroll wheel without any qualms whatsoever, it always felt a bit kludgy, as if it was a bit “low tech-ish” for such an advanced product.
The K1 display is great, and if images are done well, they can be quite beautiful. However, if images are done right for the Kindle DX, they are mind blowing in comparison. The K1 always has looked great to me considering it’s limited abilities, but the Kindle DX shows just what eInk technology is capable of. Seeing this screen now has me excited for the first time about the prospect of a color eInk screen one day, because if they can do this with 16-shade grayscale now, imagine what we’re in store for in a few years. I checked how a couple of my own books’ covers looked on the KDX, and they looked great even at the larger size. The Kindle DX screen is also more elongated than it’s little brothers’, so you get more text per screen not just because of the larger size, but because of proportionally having more screen real estate to work with. Text is sharp and the interface differences from the K1 are also pleasurably improved. Again, I would use the expression “more polished” to describe the difference. Some of that is due to the improved screen resolution, I’m sure.
The Kindle DX’s responsiveness is better overall, although that’s a relative thing since a large PDF or a page laden with images will take longer to display than a plain text page, regardless of which Kindle you own. I do notice that when one scrolls the cursor with the 5-way controller, that it flies down the page. Not sure if the K1 could have done that it if had used the same controller, so I think the screen refresh rate is improved on the Kindle DX (again, this may be true for the K2 as well).
I don’t subscribe to any newspapers currently, but blogs look great on the KDX. On my K1, if you viewed the article list in a blog, you’d get a simple list of article titles. On the KDX, you get titles, a summary or first line from the article, and divider lines separating each listed article. Not to sound repetitive (although clearly I am guilty of just that), but “more polished is again the way I’d describe this difference.
I also own several Kindle books that are now listed as “DX optimized” (most of them being software reference books). These books look as if their layouts are very close to, if not identical to, their printed counterparts. One thing I’ve noticed, and I’ll use one of the books I own, How to Do Everything: Adobe Illustrator CS4, as an example. My guess is that the images contained in the book are in color in the printed book, and were directly scanned into ebook format “as is.” This becomes problematic because of the grayscale display, which shows these images as various shades of gray, often with little contrast between the different shades. The biggest problem, however, is that the gray in the images do not contrast well to the gray background of the screen. The gray screen provides plenty of contrast for text on the Kindle DX, but for images with a lot of gray shades in them, the lack of contrast makes the images look washed out. I would therefore strongly urge Amazon to take the “DX optimized” designation even further and make sure that the images in these books are also optimized for the grayscale display, because they do the KindleDX fabulous display capabilities justice.
The PDFs I have loaded onto my Kindle DX look wonderful as well. Most of my PDFs are Adobe software manual, and therefore they are true PDFs (not all PDFs are the same, or true PDFs) with lots of imagery, and they seem to display almost flawlessly in their native format. So the it appears that the promise and the biggest reason I once again invested a significant amount of money with Amazon has proven to be well worth it.
A personal note about the Kindle DX’s size. The KDX is too big for my Kindle stand from Octo, so I have to prop up against other stuff on my bed, Which is fine, and actually works well for this Godzilla of Kindles. However, when I want to charge the KDX while I read (which I generally do nightly), I have to turn it upside down because the charging plug is on the bottom of the device, and so can’t be “stood up” on that end while charging. So for me, the screen flipping technology is a godsend, although oddly enough, neither the screen savers nor the Kindle store will flip. Probably because neither could display properly in horizontal mode. Still, it’s annoying to be using the Kindle in one orientation but then be forced to reorient the device if I want to dash off to the Kindle Store briefly. While certainly a minor thing, I’d really like to see Amazon enable the screen flipping technology to work with the Kindle Store as well.
Overall, I already love my Kindle DX. While I’ll always love my K1 as well, I just don’t have the need for both, so I’m glad the K1 will have a happy new home with my sister. The KDX is an excellent addition to the Kindle family, while it was promoted as a device targeted to students and others with specific large-format document needs, the KDX could have easily been the first Kindle released, and I believe that it would have been equally successful even at the larger size.
If you’re thinking of buying a Kindle DX, or are especially debating between a K2 or KDX, I’d recommend you really assess your needs and uses for your Kindle, and use those to help make your decision. The KDX itself is amazing and expands on the promise and functionality of the original Kindles. But some may buy the Kindle DX and then criticize it, not because of the device’s failings (of which I have seen none yet), but because they perhaps would have been better served by a smaller Kindle instead.
So while I say any potential Kindle buyer should choose wisely depending upon their needs, the Kindle DX is in itself an outstanding product that will only help to solidify the Kindle brand as the standard by which all other ereaders will be compared.
Where I gave the 1st-generation Kindle 5 stars, based upon how the Kindle DX has improved upon the design and functionality, I’d give the KDX 10 stars if I could.

By Gregory Bernard Banks - 2012: Seeking Closure…

วันอังคารที่ 6 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX: Bigger Screen, Higher Price

Kindle DX: Bigger Screen, Higher Price, Many Questions


Ending a week of heavy media speculation, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled the new, larger-format Kindle DX in front of about 200 journalists and camera crews at Pace University in lower Manhattan. Using a giant projection screen, Bezos delivered a presentation on the Kindle DX, which is essentially a Kindle 2 with a bigger, 9.7-inch screen; a new “native” PDF reader; and three gigabytes of storage that will sell for $489. Bezos also announced agreements to launch a pilot program with six universities that will distribute the Kindle DX to students and load the devices with textbooks from three of the largest U.S. textbook publishers—Pearson, Cengage and John Wiley—as well as a newspaper deal with the New York Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post. But while much of the early speculation about the Kindle DX focused on its ability to deliver newspapers, Amazon’s pilot agreement with the universities and publishers seems just as critical to the device’s future and fraught with many pitfalls.
Despite the Kindle DX’s enhanced display (and a few new but minor features), questions remain about whether the device is likely to gain traction in the newspaper market, let alone in a higher-education textbook market long focused on highly discounted, full-color digital textbook editions. In published reports, Dallas Morning News publisher James Moroney has already noted that Amazon’s terms to newspapers (Amazon gets 70% of revenues and wants licensing rights) are not looked on favorably by the industry. And while the universities involved in the school distribution agreement—Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, Reed College, Pace University and the University of Virginia—tout the device’s potential utility and the opportunity to survey student feedback, they offer few details of how the plan will be structured. Will either the device or the books be subsidized in some way or will students pay full price for books or device?
When questioned, the answer from both the universities and the publishers has been “more information to come,” including questions about just how many students will be involved in the pilot. At the press conference, Case Western president Barbara Snyder said the Kindle DX pilot would put “thousands” of books on the device and allow the schools to “see how the device affects learning and relationships with teachers.” Pace University provost Geoffrey L. Brackett told PW he expects to have at least 50 Pace students “from discrete sections of coursework,” including students from its publishing program, in the pilot program by the fall semester. Brackett suggested that Pace may subsidize some of the cost of the device while students pay full price for the e-textbooks; he was quick to emphasize “we’re still working out the details.”
While there have been reports that the pilot may include only about 300 students, at the press conference Laura Porco, director of Kindle Books, told PW that the pilot would include “hundreds to thousands” of students as well as “hundreds to thousands of books.” She also stressed to PW that Amazon did not plan to discount the e-textbooks used in the pilot. While Amazon has offered professional titles in Kindle editions, it’s a first for Amazon to offer Kindle editions of highly formatted academic texts for higher education. Asked about pricing, Pearson spokesperson Wendy Spiegel said she was unable to provide answers just yet. “The ink isn’t dry on this agreement,” she said, noting that the books, the disciplines covered and the price points were still to be discussed in “conversations to come.” PW received a similar response from John Wiley and Cengage. Spiegel also pointed out that in 2008, 25% of Pearson’s textbook sales from pre-k through higher education come from digital content. Indeed, Pearson offers students access to Web-based texts through CourseSmart, a consortium of six major textbook publishers (including the three publishers in the pilot), that offers access to more than 6,000 digital texts at half the list price of the print edition. Do students (and universities) really want a new device designed to provide access to more expensive digital textbook editions?
That said, Kindle is undeniably popular among customers. Bezos said 35% of all Amazon Kindle DX book sales of titles available in print and digital formats are Kindle editions, up from 10% early in the year. But can a large-screen black-and-white dedicated reading device that costs nearly $500 with relatively low computing power and a clunky mechanical navigational system compete in an educational marketplace in which students often have powerful full-color miniature netbooks ($500 and much less) and laptops (just as cheap)—not to mention a slew of sleek touch screen handhelds like the iPhone and iPod Touch? So far, neither Amazon, the publishers or the universities present at the Kindle DX press conference seemed able to provide any answers to that question.

By Calvin Reid

วันจันทร์ที่ 5 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle 2 Or Kindle DX

Kindle 2 Or Kindle DX - Which One is For You?

The original Kindle was released by the earth’s largest book seller, Amazon, more than a year ago. Needless to say, it revolutionized the way we approached book reading. Since then, Amazon has released two more versions of the Kindle, which are both targeted at different market segments. In this article, we will quickly compare the differences between these two devices and see which is the best device suited for you.
The Kindle 2 has a much smaller screen than the Kindle DX, which means that it is much more portable. At the same time, a smaller screen implies that you cannot read daily newspapers and magazines so easily on the Kindle 2. The Kindle DX is the ideal device if you are planning to read journals, magazines and textbooks. The Kindle DX also comes with automatic screen orientation, similar to the one you find on the iPhone. The book you are reading automatically switches to landscape or portrait orientation depending upon how you are holding the device. This dramatically improves the readability of the book and comes very handy when you are reading a newspaper.
The Kindle DX also comes with a native PDF reader which is not available in the Kindle 2 device. This makes it very easy to carry your office documents and other e-books without the need for conversion.
One area where there is a stark difference between the two devices is the keyboard layout. Even though it is much larger, the Kindle DX has one less row of keys, which means you need to use a shift key mechanism to enter numerals using the keyboard. This may not be a major deterrent as mostly you will be reading books rather than entering large quantities of text on the device.
In summary, I would say that you should opt for the Kindle 2 if you have portability in mind and do not read many magazines or newspapers on the wireless e-book device. On the other hand, if you are a student who wants to carry all your textbooks in the Kindle, get the Kindle DX version.

By Cindy R Adams

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 4 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX : The Definitive Electronic Book… finally!

Kindle DX : The Definitive Electronic Book… finally!

Although I was an early adopter of the original Kindle, I’ve eagerly anticipated Amazon Kindle DX. The original device was, and is, well-suited for light reading of non-serious material, but its small screen size and lack of PDF support made it mostly a recreational device. I quickly realized that any serious technical book still worked better in physical form. That, combined with the original Kindle’s inability to handle PDFs in a usable form (the conversion left a lot to be desired), made me look at other eReaders, particularly the iLiad iRex. Unfortunately, the iRex, at above $800, was still a work-in-progress, with serious deficiencies in terms of functionality and reliability, and I didn’t want to be an alpha tester of a device that might never BE finished. Amazon’s announcement of the large-format Kindle DX with native PDF support seemed like the answer… so I plunked down the money for a DX and the Amazon case and got on the waiting list.Why would you want native PDF support? The small Kindles support PDFs file via translation; you send a PDF document to Amazon and they convert it to the Kindle’s AZW format and send it back to you, either to your desktop email account (free) or directly to your Kindle ($0.10 per document). However, if your document is anything more than simple text, formatting and imagery are mangled. What you get is readable but not nearly as readable as a Kindle document that was specifically prepared for the device. This is an inherent restriction caused by the difference between a document file structure that is meant to preserve formatting (PDF) and one that is meant to allow for text flow despite screen or font size concerns (AZW). The result was that you couldn’t practically use either the original or 2nd gen Kindles for reading even reasonably complex PDF documents. Having an integral native PDF reader on the new Kindle DX solves this problem and opens up a HUGE world of documents to the Kindle owner.

I’ve had the Kindle DX for about a day now, and it’s everything I was looking for. PDFs render beautifully, and Kindle AZW documents render even better than they did on the original Kindle due to the larger screen size and 16-tone grey scale capability. The large screen really elevates the new DX into something more than a convenient device for light reading. The Kindle DX shows the true utility of an electronic reader for the first time. It’s what the Kindle should have been from the start.

What has improved? Performance is better, particularly the screen refresh rate. The new button design means not turning pages accidentally anymore (although I wish they’d kept buttons on both sides of the device for us left-handers). I don’t like not having an SD card slot on the device, nor do I like not being able to change the battery without sending the device back to Amazon. Being able to turn the Whispernet modem on and off via software (menu item) is scads better than having to move a switch. The web browser’s ‘desktop’ mode makes the browser very usable, especially when combined with the rotation feature. Speaking of rotation, the ability to rotate the device and view documents in either landscape or portrait mode is KILLER. Text-to-speech works well, but I have yet to try it for actually ‘reading’ (listening to) a document while doing something else, e.g., driving, to see if it is really useful or just a checklist feature. The Amazon cover (extra charge) is WAY above the original Kindle’s flimsy cover; it actually holds the device securely, protects the screen, yet is easy to open (beware of the magnetic latch around external hard drives or near the bottom of your laptop).

Okay, so now I have two Kindles. My wife asked me why I need two, a good question. My answer is, the small Kindles are great for light reading… the latest fiction novel, public-domain classics, etc., but they’re useless for PDFs or more serious reading such as technical books because the screen size is too small and images, formulas, etc., don’t display well. The Kindle DX is great for any type of reading and shines with PDFs and more serious books, yet it is considerably heavier than the original Kindle (I’d say twice as heavy, if not more so) and not as convenient to stuff in a carry-on bag. I’ve already moved all of the technical books I own over to the Kindle DX, as well as many PDF documents. I had decided to not buy any serious books for my Kindle, using it only for light reading… but the new Kindle DX has changed my mind. The experience of reading a technical book is as good or better than the physical book, and that is something that could not be said about the smaller Kindles.

If I had to own just one electronic reading device, the choice is obvious: the Kindle DX. Amazon has gotten it right; the Kindle DX finally fulfills the ‘book’ paradigm in an electronic device.

By John Clifford

Amazon Introduces Large Screen Kindle DX


Amazon Introduces Large Screen Kindle DX
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) introduced Amazon Kindle DX, the new purpose-built reading device that offers Kindle’s wireless delivery and selection of content with a large 9.7-inch electronic paper display, built-in PDF reader, auto-rotate capability, and storage for up to 3,500 books. Kindle DX’s display has 2.5 times the surface area of Kindle’s 6-inch display. The larger electronic paper display with 16 shades of gray has more area for graphic-rich content such as professional and personal documents, newspapers and magazines, and textbooks. Kindle reads like printed words on paper because the screen works using real ink and doesn’t use a backlight, helping to eliminate the eyestrain and glare associated with other electronic displays. Kindle DX features a built-in PDF reader using Adobe Reader Mobile technology for reading professional and personal documents. Like other types of documents on Kindle, customers simply email their PDF format documents to their Kindle email address or move them over using a USB connection. With a larger display and built-in PDF reader, Kindle DX customers can read professional and personal documents with more complex layouts without scrolling, panning, or zooming, and without re-flowing, which destroys the original structure of the document. Everything from annual reports with graphs to flight manuals with maps to musical scores can be viewed on a single, crisp screen with Kindle DX. Kindle DX’s display content auto-rotates so users can read in portrait or landscape mode, or flip the device to read with either hand. Simply turn Kindle DX and immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables, images, and Web pages.
New Built-In PDF Reader
Kindle DX features a built-in PDF reader using Adobe Reader Mobile technology for reading professional and personal documents. Like other types of documents on Kindle, customers simply email their PDF format documents to their Kindle email address or move them over using a USB connection. With a larger display and built-in PDF reader, Kindle DX customers can read professional and personal documents with more complex layouts without scrolling, panning, or zooming, and without re-flowing, which destroys the original structure of the document. Everything from annual reports with graphs to flight manuals with maps to musical scores can be viewed on a single, crisp screen with Kindle DX.
New Auto-Rotation
Amazon Kindle DX’s display content auto-rotates so users can read in portrait or landscape mode, or flip the device to read with either hand. Simply turn Kindle DX and immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables, images, and Web pages.

New 3.3 GB Memory Holds Up To 3,500 Books
With 3.3 GB of available memory, Kindle DX can hold up to 3,500 books, compared with 1,500 with Kindle. And because Amazon automatically backs up a copy of every Kindle book purchased, customers can wirelessly re-download titles from their library at any time.
Incredibly Thin
Kindle DX is just over a third of an inch thin, which is thinner than most magazines.
3G Wireless, No PC, No Hunting for Wi-Fi Hot Spots
Just like Kindle, Kindle DX customers automatically take advantage of Amazon Whispernet to wirelessly shop the Kindle Store, download or receive new content in less than 60 seconds, and read from their library—all without a PC, Wi-Fi hot spot, or syncing. Amazon still pays for the wireless connectivity on Kindle DX so books can be downloaded in less than 60 seconds—with no monthly fees, data plans, or service contracts.
Syncs With Kindle for iPhone and other Kindle Compatible Devices
Just like Kindle, Kindle DX uses Amazon Whispersync technology to automatically sync content across Kindle, Kindle DX, Kindle for iPhone, and other devices in the future. With Whispersync, customers can easily move from device to device and never lose their place in their reading.
Massive Selection of Books—Plus Newspapers, Magazines, and Blogs

The Kindle Store currently offers more than 275,000 books, including popular books like New York Times Bestsellers, New Releases, and fiction and nonfiction released in the past several years. Dozens of newspapers and magazines are also available for subscription or single-edition purchase. BusinessWeek and The New England Journal of Medicine are available in the Kindle Store starting today, and The Economist will be available soon. Subscriptions are auto-delivered wirelessly to Kindle overnight so that the latest edition is waiting for customers when they wake up. Over 1,500 blogs are available on Kindle and updated and downloaded wirelessly throughout the day.

วันเสาร์ที่ 3 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX goes on sale at Amazon.com for $489


The Kindle DX started shipping from Amazon.com on Wednesday, as promised,for $489, and could reach customers Thursday when initial owner reviews are expected to start hitting blogs and Websites.
Amazon.com began listing the larger, 9.7-in. wireless reading device as “In Stock” today on its site, with overnight shipping available.
The company also offered up several “reviews,” even though none of the reviewers owns a new DX and instead simply gave reasons for ordering it. The discussions mainly focused on the larger screen as a reason for ordering thekindle DX over the Kindle 2. Some also raised concerns about the absence of an external storage card in the Kindle DX.
One reviewer, R. Joyce, wrote about selling a first-generation Kindle to pay for a Kindle 2, and then selling the second Kindle to be able to pay for the DX. “As you can tell by now, I am a Kindle fan: this device brought me back to reading for pleasure, for which I am grateful,” the Kindle fan wrote, adding that 600 books acquired for use with the devices had not used up all the internal storage.
But M. Jobay “Lucky Luke” complained that $489 is too steep a price for a student to afford: “I was going to buy the Kindle DX because I am a student and it would be much easier if I could carry the Kindle DX to school rather than my school books that sometimes could weigh over 15 pounds. …I was hesitant due to the price. I mean, the way the economy is today, this seems like a costly investment.”
One other writer was concerned that the Kindle DX has no color screen, meaning Amazon is missing out on a market for art books and cook books.
A professional review by Steven Levy on Wired.com that first appeared yesterday noted that the DX has 2.5 times more display space than the Kindle 2’s 6-in. screen, but is virtually the same thickness as the Kindle 2, weighs only 19 ounces, “won’t tax your wrists…[and is] very comfortable to hold.”
Levy also credited the Kindle DX for including a built-in PDF reader, unlike previous Kindles. He was able to download a Google Books public domain autobiography and email it to his Kindle DX and then read the scanned pages. “The DX crisply displays monochrome output of PDF or MS Office files,” he wrote.
But Levy noted that while Amazon wants to aim the Kindle DX at students needing textbooks as well as workers who need access to business documents, the textbooks are yet to arrive. Levy also noted that while Kindle DX is supposed to help with future-generation newspapers and magazines, the predicament today is that subscribers to Kindle periodicals “are stuck with a cumbersome interface that makes magazine articles readable but dull in appearance. Reading a long newspaper article on the DX can be daunting, as it appears like a dense block of text.”

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 1 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2552

Kindle DX - An Improved E-Book Reader



Kindle DX is Amazon’s newest and improved version of Kindle, the famous portable e-book reader. This new release of the popular electronic device contains several improvements over its predecessors.
It is now possible to read PDF files without having to convert them first. Previous Kindle versions allowed you to read PDF documents, but only after converting them to the device’s proprietary format, AZW. The Kindle DX’s ability to recognize PDF as a native format eliminates this hassle.
Considering the amount of content that is available as downloadable PDF files all over the Internet, this new feature is extremely convenient. It makes it especially useful for those who collect reports, white papers and e-books released in the format created by Acrobat. So, next time you subscribe to a newsletter and get an e-book as a gift, you will be able to comfortably read it on your Kindle DX as long as it is a PDF document.
Another important feature is its built-in accelerometer. For you, the final consumer, it means that whenever you turn your device on its side, the electronic paper display will change its alignment as well.
The result of this change in the screen alignment is that you can read documents in either portrait or landscape mode. Just choose the appropriate mode according to the file you want to read, rotate your Kindle DX and its screen will conform to the right orientation.
A notable improvement concerns its storage capacity. Previous Kindle versions allowed you to save around 1,500 e-books. Now you can store 2,000 additional items. By being able to save up to 3,500 files on your memory, you can rest assured that document storage won’t be a problem for you.
As nice as the improvements mentioned above are, you probably won’t notice them at first sight when you purchase your Kindle DX. What you will notice for sure is the device’s bigger screen size.
Older Kindle versions, although already useful, were rather small. The new display is two and a half times larger than that of its immediate predecessor, Kindle 2. The higher screen resolution will make it much more comfortable for you to read your college text books and/or your favorite newspapers, among other large-sized publications.
Thanks to all its new features, the new device can ensure that you will have a better user experience. Amazon Kindle DX may be just the e-book reading device you need.



By Jan Cummings