The Kindle DX has so many new features making it transform e-book reading as we know it!
Many analysts suggest that the Kindle DX is just a “larger” version of the Kindle 2. For those who do not know about the Kindle- it is a wireless reading device, which you can use to store and read ebooks. Kindle DX is the freshly released version and has plenty of new features. The list below contains all the features the Kindle comes with, and the ones in bold and italics are the newly added features in the Kindle DX. 0
• 9.7-inch E-Ink 1200 x 824 screen including 16 shades of grey.
• One third of an inch thick, now 10.4″ x 7.2″ x 0.38″.
• 4GB Storage allowing for 3500 books, which previously was 1500.
• More battery life.
• Navigation buttons located on the right hand side.
• EVDO to allow 60-second book transfers.
• Native PDF support using the built-in reader
• Automatic landscape/portrait text rotation
• Line length adjustments in order to conclude how wide the text on-screen is.
Now, returning to how the Kindle DX will change e-book reading as we know it. There are many people who have rejected this claim. In my opinion, however, the launch of this handheld gadget is quite significant, and it can potentially change reading as we know it.
Understanding ESL (shortened from “English as a second language”)
The Kindle DX’s dictionary and text to voice reading will enable users from foreign countries such as India, to become more accustomed to the English language. Those using this tool might find that they are able to progress faster in the most popular language. This will surely attract many more readers if they can learn English quicker and more efficiently by the “kindle” method than the conventional teaching method. Obviously, the cost of the Kindle will restrict this type of usage in developing countries, but the potential is still there. 0
Line customization to user’s satisfaction
One problem users faced when utilizing the Kindle 2 was that the screen did not contain enough text , meaning users had to frequently keep turning the pages over. For some this was very aggravating, and what prevented the Kindle from being a practical device. However, the Kindle DX provides an e-book reader that formats more text and is overall much larger. In addition to the big e-book format reader, the Kindle DX enables users to customize how much text they’d prefer to have on each line as well as the text size. 0
PDF support opens new doors
As I outlined before, the new Kindle DX, using the in-built reader, supports Adobe PDF files. This is great news for people who publish their own articles in which the Kindle’s E-Ink screen will aid them in sending professional stories out in such a format, providing the perfect read for users.
The Kindle DX has so much more to offer than people originally think. Yes, it might have a shocking price tag ($450+) and it might not have colour and video capability, but it offers a new way to read newspapers etc. and might push us towards a ‘paperless society’. The device can hold up to 3,500 books (Think how much space you can save!) and has access to over 200,000 titles. 0
There might be many skeptics now, but then again, there are always skeptics. There were many present a few years ago when another portable device was launched. It would allow, for the first time, for people to store and listen to music wherever they were. It was supposed to revolutinize the way people listened to music-and it has. I bet 90% of you reading this own one of these. I am, of course, talking about the iPod. 0
If the iPod was so successful, then why is it not feasible that the Kindle DX, a device with such similar implications for a different kind of media, be potentially revolutionary as well?
Yeah, the kindle DX is nice, but when you look at what is new in this new model in detail you realize that it is much too expensive for what it does: http://www.tech-no-media.com/2009/05/amazon-kindle-dx-ebook-reader-is-nice.html
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more articles from you in the future.
- Jack
yes.. 10x for te xt. b
As a previous Kindle 1 owner, I can say the K2 is a definite improvement over the K1. Here is a rundown of my likes and dislikes:
Likes:
- Slimmer design, very “modern” looking and easy to hold, although I do have a tendency of getting my thumbs on the bottom corners of the screen when holding (I am a guy so maybe I have longer fingers than others).
- Page turning is faster than the K1. I used to hit the “Next Page” then I had a few works left on the screen to compensate for the refresh rate. Now I can hit “Next” as I am done with the last word on the page, it is definitely faster.
- One button to turn on, turn off, and sleep. I also like the fact the button is on the top and not on the back as it was on the K1. And I like the fact the wireless is a menu option, I just leave it on all the time anyways with little perceptible battery drain.
- Battery life seems a bit longer but the K1 was good too.
- Text-To-Speech is much better than I thought it would be. Although I still consider it a little bit of a novelty (at least for my needs) I was pleasantly surprised how realistic it was!
- New joystick is a big improvement over the scroll wheel. Now you can go directly to the word you want to look-up, as opposed to just the sentence and have to choose from that line. Still would prefer a touch screen but the joystick is a big improvement.
- More internal storage. I know many people complain that they removed the SD card slot but for me this was never a deal breaker. I like the fact that the K2 has more internal storage. And if you are concerned with “backing up” your ebooks, you can just connect the K2 to your PC and drag and drop all the books to a folder for safe keeping. That is what I do, and have done with the K1 too.
Dislikes:
- I tend to get my thumbs on the bottom corners of the screen with the K2 as opposed to the K1. Maybe because the K1 was a bit thicker they did not reach up as far. Not a major issues, I need to get used to the newer layout. But still a “dislike”, although maybe not an issue for most.
- In some strange way, the thinner design makes the K2 feel less like you are holding a book. The K1′s shape (with a thicker “binder”) made it feel more like you had an actual book in your hands. Not a huge issue, but thought I would mention that. Overall though I do prefer the K2 chassis over the K1. Kind of like a next generation iPod, the look gets more polished.
- No cover included. I really liked the cover that come with the K1, except for the fact it did not always stay in place. But the look and feel of that leather cover was nice. The lack of a cover “forces” most users to spend more money to protect their investment. I personally like the m-Edge leather cover so I can keep the cover closed when not in use (mine won’t ship till mid March). If the Amazon branded cover had a closure device I would probably buy that instead.
- No touch screen. I realize the K1 did not have this either, but it sure would be easier to touch the places you want to navigate than use the joystick. The only caveat I image in greasy fingerprints on the screen.
So my overall thoughts are the K2 is a nice upgrade from the K1. If this is your first ebook reader, do not hesitate and buy a Kindle. If you already have the K1 and love it the improvements might not be compelling enough for the upgrade. In my case I sold my K1 online and used the proceeds from that for the K2 so my overall costs were less. If I have to spend the full puirchase price on the K2 with a K1 still in hand I would have probably waited.
Looking forward to the K3 now!