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”

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”

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.

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”

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

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

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