As we all know the new Kindle DX made a grand entrance into to ebook reader scene earlier this month when Amazon announced it in N.Y on May 6th. Currently the Kindle DX is set to ship early this summer with pre-orders now being accepted.
Here is my review based on all the Kindle DX information that is currently available:
Kindle DX Key Benefits:
- If your attending college than this is a really great choice, its perfect for textbooks and has an available PDF reader.
- In school, with the DX you don’t have to carry around a ton of textbooks.
- If you a daily commuter or frequent traveler than the Kindle DX is great for reading the newspaper. Do note that the larger size could be see as a draw back for some.
Additional Benefits:
- Great for reading newspapers and magazines, larger screen 9.7 inches
- Executives who do not want to carry around stacks of papers and documents.
- Of course, your able to read your favorite books.
The Kindle DX:
Is just 0.38″ thin and with a 9.7 inch screen it provides unmatched contrast.
The DX has a shinny metalic backing. (lower 3/4th)
Storage is 3,500 books
Native PDF reader installed
Rotating display
Long Battery Life
Kindle Pros VS Cons:
Pros…
- Larger Screen, great for textbooks and magazines.
- Offers full Adobe PDF support for your documents, so they look perfect
- Cheaper textbooks, up to 60% of the textbooks will be available as 3 major publishers have signed on.
- eLink Screen, a crystal clear screen that cause next to nothing in the way of eye strain. Much more book like.
- Auto-Rotate Feature, solid feature, a nice change visually.
- Read to Me, this is awesome provided publishers do not discontinue it. Books can be read out load on the Kindle DX, great for when your driving or cooking etc…
- Font Sizes, you have the ability to change fonts sizes to fit your viewing.
- Long Battery Life, up to 2 weeks with wireless off and 4 days with it on.
- Storage, Increased capacity with 3.3GB, holding up to 3500 books.
- Free Wireless Internet, WhisperNet is available through the Sprint Network, wherever available.
- Kindle for iPhone read documents as well as textbooks across your DX, iPhone and iTouch.
More Great Features to consider:
-Comes with a built in Dictionary
-Light, Thin
-Cloud Storage (download amazon books anytime)
-Great Screen Resolution, 1200 x 824 with multiple shades of gray (16)
-Cheaper price on Normal Books, avg $9.99 for Kindle additions
-More than 275,000 books available
-Available Textbooks from publishers, Preston Hall, Addison Wiley, Pearson, etc…
Now For The Cons…
- Price, expensive price tag $489 dollars primarily due to the fact that eLink technology is still developing. Too expensive? Than consider the Kindle 2 at a cost of $359.00 it has similar features.
- No Color screen available right now. eLink expects it to be available sometime in 2011
- No Touch Screen
- Lacks a Full Keyboard
- Screen refresh speed, really not so bad it takes a fraction of a second.
- Interface can be clumsy again eLink needs refining. This rules out video for now.
- Only color available is White.
- Lack the ability to set up Folders so you can not organize your books. Amazon may offer a patch for that…TBD
Our Final Thoughts and Recommendations…
The Kindle DX is a great buy if your an avid reader who reading lots of books, a student who needs to read textbooks or the executive who carries around a lot of paperwork with them.
Big issue price…I would say at $498 its very reasonable when you consider the Kindle DX has a 9.7 inch screen. especially when you consider the iRex Illiad comes in at a whopping $859 (retail) Now, factor in the lower prices for textbooks and your break even point comes in just under the 2 year mark.
Recommended High points-
- If your in college then you’ll need to get one of these! If you can afford it.
- If you commute or fly frequently, the DX is awesome it allows you flexibilty…no papers, books etc…
- If your thinking about using it for work, again its perfect, maybe work will even pay for it…how cool would that be!
- If your reading a lot of newspapers then Kindle DX is the obvious choice. Its so much more suited for reading long forms than the Kindle 2.
A Couple of Things to Consider…
- A Lower priced Kindle DX will be offered to people who live outside of the NY Times, Boston Globe and Washington Post delivery areas.
- Several Universities will be running trial programs with the DX, so keep on the look out for reports and updates on things are progressing.
Lastly, from the look of things the Kindle DX will be a big a great device for the person who reads textbooks, newspaper, books in general and carries a lot of document. If you travel and commute again this is a great gadget, one that will truly be a nice luxury.
Watch This Video To Lean More About Kindle DX!
