Simplify your laptop buyingAmazon Kindle DX
Manufacturer: Amazon.com Part number: B0015TCML0
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The pricey Kindle DX offers improvements over the Kindle 2, but its larger chassis has its pluses and minuses.
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CNET editors' review
Amazon Kindle DX price range: $489.00
- Reviewed by: David Carnoy
- Edited by: John P. Falcone
- Reviewed on: 06/10/2009
The good: The Kindle DX offers 2.5 times the screen real estate as the Kindle 2; native PDF support; you can switch from portrait to landscape mode by just turning the device; large library of tens of thousands of e-books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs via Amazon's familiar online store; built-in free wireless "Whispernet" data network--no PC needed; built-in keyboard for notes; faster processor speeds up the device; with 4GB (3.3 usable) of internal memory, it's capable of storing 3,500 electronic books; font size is adjustable; decent battery life; displays image files, and plays MP3 and AAC audio.
The bad: Expensive; somewhat heavy compared with the Kindle 2; no expansion slot for adding more memory; no protective carrying case included; battery is sealed into the device and isn't removable.
The bottom line: The pricey Kindle DX offers improvements over the Kindle 2, but its larger chassis has its pluses and minuses.
Even before the Kindle 2 launched, there was talk of an even newer, larger digital reader from Amazon that would be geared more toward reading textbooks and periodicals. We all assumed it would be bigger, but it was unclear exactly what form it would take. Well, now that it's finally arrived, what is a little surprising is how much the Kindle DX--bigger face aside--is a dead ringer for its little sibling.
In profile, the two devices appear equally svelte: the 0.38-inch-deep DX is just a tad thicker than the 0.36-inch Kindle 2. Obviously, the big difference here is the Kindle DX's 9.7-inch e-ink display (1,200x824-pixel resolution), which technically offers 2.5 times more screen real estate than the Kindle's 6-inch display. That extra screen comes at a price, both figuratively and literally, as the DX weighs almost twice as much (18.9 ounces) as the Kindle 2 and costs $130 more, at $489.
That said, while the DX is significantly larger and heavier, it doesn't feel too burdensome to carry or hold. However, it clearly isn't as portable as the Kindle 2; its larger footprint requires a larger bag or briefcase for stowaway purposes. Most women's handbags, for instance, just won't be big enough to contain the thing.
Amazon says the DX's screen technology and guts (i.e., processor) are exactly the same as what you get with the Kindle 2. The DX comes with more memory: 4GB (3.3 usable) of internal memory, compared with 2GB for the Kindle 2 (neither the DX nor the Kindle 2 has an expansion slot for more memory, like the
The DX also features a built-in QWERTY keyboard for taking notes, entering search terms when wirelessly accessing the Kindle Store, and typing out URLs in the rudimentary Web browser. Like the Kindle 2, the DX's rechargeable battery is sealed into the unit (read: nonremovable) and delivers about two weeks of battery life if you use the built-in 3G wireless data connection judiciously. If your battery dies, you have to send the device back to Amazon to replace the battery for a fee.
Aside from the expanded memory, the two most important feature additions to the new Kindle are native PDF support and the capability to go from portrait to landscape mode by simply rotating the device. Additionally, you can now adjust not only the font size but how many words you want to see on a line of text. And finally, the Web browser is slightly improved (I'll get to that in a minute).
As advertised, the larger screen lends itself to displaying newspaper and magazine content, especially when you throw some graphics and images into the mix. You see more of the story on a single page and the reading experience is a little more akin to reading an actual newspaper. However, the newspaper/magazine reading experience isn't dramatically changed from reading newspapers on the Kindle 2.
When it comes to textbooks, the Kindle does a good job of displaying graphics and charts (alas, there's no color--only 16 shades of gray), so complex layouts with multiple images end up displaying more or less as they would in a textbook. And obviously, the Kindle DX weighs far less than an organic-chemistry textbook, which is why this device will appeal to students hoping to lighten their backpack loads.
Amazon didn't make a big deal about the capability to add notes and highlight sentences and passages as you're reading, because that functionality was built into previous Kindles along with a built-in dictionary and keyboard. Ideally, of course, the Kindle DX would be a touch-screen model, and you could mark up the "pages" themselves by writing on the screen. You can, however, access those notes on any Web browser.
Another nice convenience: if you have multiple Kindles on a single account--or, more likely, if you're running Amazon's free Kindle App on your iPhone or iPod Touch--all of your content will be synced up. Stop reading a book on Page 116 on the DX, and when you pull it up on the iPhone, it'll resume at that point.
About those PDF documents: there's no explicit zoom feature, but switching into landscape (horizontal) mode crops the PDF and essentially enlarges a portion of it. One of the problems with the Kindle is that it doesn't appear to have the horsepower to properly zoom in and out of PDF files quickly, and thus this horizontal mode is Amazon's workaround. While it may not offer the most flexibility in terms of viewing options, it's not bad. One warning: in order to get quick, smooth transitions going from portrait to landscape mode, you have to hold the Kindle DX upright so the screen is facing you at a right-angle. Also, if you're not careful, you can end up tilting the device and accidentally switching viewing modes. If you have trouble with this, you can set the screen to stay in a fixed vertical or horizontal mode. And you can even choose to flip the screen so it's upside-down with the keyboard on top.
We promised more on the Web browser improvements and here it is: you can now switch from a basic mode to an advanced "desktop" mode that allows you to view the Web page as you would on your desktop (you switch into landscape mode to get a wider angle of view). You access this mode while using the browser and hitting the menu button, which reveals the desktop mode option.
As a test, we brought up the CNET home page, and after some lengthy load times and some funky graphical glitches, the page did indeed look more or less like a monochrome version of CNET's home page. (This model, like previous Kindles, doesn't offer Flash support and won't display video). In other words, yeah, it's improved, but it's not a huge improvement. Ultimately, the browser still does best with lighter-weight (read: fewer graphics) mobile versions of Web sites that are suitable for viewing on mobile phones. (For now, Amazon is saying that a firmware upgrade will not be available to Kindle 2 owners to add the new browser features or native PDF support).
Small gripes aside, we don't have any complaints about the feature updates and generally think they're a nice plus. Of course, some Kindle 2 owners aren't happy that Amazon didn't include them in their devices--especially when you consider the DX was launched relatively quickly after the Kindle 2--but such is the cruel reality of a consumer-electronics world in which later products tend to incorporate new features.
All that said, you now have a choice between two different Kindle models, and the big question is whether you should spend the extra dough on the DX or opt for a Kindle 2. In our humble assessment, the majority of buyers will--and probably should--favor the smaller device, the Kindle 2. Why? Well, we have some concerns over the DX being more of a two-handed e-reader; yes, you can hold it in one hand for a short time, but you really need to keep both hands on the device to support its weight. Meanwhile, the Kindle 2 is easier to hold for longer periods of time with just one hand.
The other factor to consider is that when it comes to periodical reading (newspapers and magazines), the advantage of having more text and images on the screen is a nice perk, but the reading experience isn't enhanced as much as you might think. One problem is that even with the larger screen, you don't feel like you're looking at a whole newspaper (or magazine). There's typically one story per page and you keep hitting the "next page" button to turn pages and get to the next story. Alternatively, you can go to a table of contents and pick from various sections or select from a list of articles within the section. Again, aside from the fact that you're seeing more text, the overall reading experience is similar on each device. (Note: At the time of this writing, there's continued talk of reduced subscription rates on certain newspapers such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Boston Globe, but Amazon has yet to offer details on the terms of those reduced rates and we only saw full-price rates advertised in the Kindle Store. For example, The New York Times currently charges $13.99 a month for its Kindle version, but its rate is allegedly supposed to drop to $9.99 with a longer-term subscription).
As for textbook reading, we can see how the Kindle DX would have a distinct advantage over the Kindle 2. Also, for seniors or other sight-challenged folks who want to jack up the font size to the maximum level, reading on the DX is a better experience, because you can get a reasonable amount of text on the page, and the maximum font size is even bigger on the DX than the Kindle 2. With the font set to the highest level on the Kindle 2, we counted 11 lines of text with about five words per sentence. By contrast, on the Kindle DX, we counted 19 lines of text and six or seven words per line. (Note to arthritis sufferers: because the Kindle DX is somewhat weighty, you'll probably want to prop it up on some sort of reading stand. You can also flip Amazon's Kindle DX cover around so it becomes an easel, but you'll have to read in landscape mode for it to work).
The native PDF support is a tough call. Yes, it's a plus and the Kindle 2 should really have it. Amazon does offer an "experimental" e-mail conversion service that will turn PDFs, as well as JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP images, into Amazon's proprietary AZW format. However, Amazon acknowledges that using this service doesn't always yield PDFs that display accurately. Bottom line: if you're planning on storing and viewing a lot of PDFs on your e-reader, the DX is the way to go if you want to stay in the Kindle family. (We wish the Kindles were more open and offered support for other formats such as EPUB files, but, for now, Amazon has chosen to keep its e-reader garden relatively closed.)
Up till now we've been talking about the Kindle DX without any regard to price, but obviously its high price tag is one of its biggest shortcomings, and that may limit its appeal in the early going. We do expect that Amazon will figure out a way to subsidize the cost of the device for the one audience it hopes to reach in large numbers: college students. But for the average consumer, $540 (if you include the cost of an optional protective cover, which we actually consider a must-have) is a lot to spend for an e-reader that can easily break if dropped.
That said, there's undoubtedly a certain segment of buyers out there who won't mind spending this kind of money on a large format e-reader that offers the core simple-to-use Kindle experience, plus a couple of new features. This reviewer would prefer to carry around the smaller and less expensive Kindle 2, but to some, bigger will always be better--price be damned.
User reviews
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great potential, but just can't handle academic work
by erleellis on June 15, 2009
Pros: Nice screen, quite reasonable for reading pdfs.
Cons: 1) no touchscreen.
2) no useful way to manage large numbers of pdfs- a basic requirement for academic work.
3) no wifi.Summary: I'm a university professor and have been experimenting
with the DX since Friday. This device really has the
potential to be a powerful and ubiquitous academic
tool- it really ...Summary: I'm a university professor and have been experimenting
with the DX since Friday. This device really has the
potential to be a powerful and ubiquitous academic
tool- it really is possible to read academic PDFs on
this device- the mainstay of academic work.
But I must emphasize the word "potential"!
While all of the issues highlighted in this review
heavily degrade the academic utility of the DX (nice
review!), there is an even bigger problem, at least
for upper level undergraduates, graduate students,
postdocs and professors:
The Kindle offers no way to organize the thousands of
journal article and book chapter PDFs that are the
bread and butter of academic work. We are left with
only a list of thousands of titles or authors, often
incorrectly scanned from the pdfs. There is no way to
use folders, pages of tags or any other efficient and
effective way to manage the large numbers of academic
pdfs that are required to make a "paperless" academic
workplace.
If no workaround becomes or will become available
(I've emailed Amazon about this- still awaiting a
reply), I will be forced to return the Kindle DX by
the end of the week- it just can't do what it needs to
do to justify owning it.
Amazon- are you listening?9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy on the eyes, easy to use, pdf support works well
by Technojunkie3 on June 15, 2009
Pros: I really like the e-ink screen and the lack of a backlight in my eyes. Every serious reader needs one of these. Most pdf's display well with the screen turned on its side.
Cons: Expensive, really needs a way to organize books into folders, should include the nice but overpriced book cover that's a must if you intend to take your Kindle anywhere.
Summary: Ignoring cost: buy one. It is so much nicer than reading eBooks on a laptop. Anyone who says that the internal memory is inadequate for books simply can't do ...
Summary: Ignoring cost: buy one. It is so much nicer than reading eBooks on a laptop. Anyone who says that the internal memory is inadequate for books simply can't do math. Sprint's 3G wireless network transfers books in seconds. My computers see the Kindle as a USB flash drive and pdf's and mobi's drag and drop effortlessly under Windows and Linux. The simple, standard USB charger is a greatly appreciated touch.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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dissatisfied
by usclassic on August 18, 2009
Pros: It worked fine for a short while
Cons: After using Kindle dx for approx 4 times and and keeping it safely in a computer bag, kindle service department tells me I broke the internal screen. It was less than 60 days old. They offer to replace it for $350 more dollars.
Summary: The service person on the phone was rude, not helpful, in general a bad experience.
This obviously incredibly fragile product should be removed from the market.Summary: The service person on the phone was rude, not helpful, in general a bad experience.
This obviously incredibly fragile product should be removed from the market.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome E Reader
by psychguru on June 16, 2009
Pros: Screen Size, User Friendly, Rotating Screen, Native PDF Support
Cons: Price and the extra cost of a cover.
Summary: I bought a Kindle 1 on eBay to see if I would like the reading experience. I did, very much so and when I saw the KIndle DX I pre-ordered ...
Summary: I bought a Kindle 1 on eBay to see if I would like the reading experience. I did, very much so and when I saw the KIndle DX I pre-ordered it. Except for the price of the device I am very happy with it and it's large screen size. The K1 looks like a toy in comparison. With respect to price if you check eBay these readers have a very high resale value, I have seen from 50 to 70%. I have to read with a larger font size than normal so I have less page turning and more of a book reading experience. Plus the e-ink technology looks to be more advanced with a sharper image with better contrast and the processor speed is faster. I have yet to check it out with PDF's. The K1 was an ergonomic disaster in my opinion. It is hard to hold it without inadvertently hitting a button, this new set up is much better. I should add that I am right handed so I do not miss the buttons on the left side but that can be corrected somewhat while viewing in the landscape format. Great device if money is not an issue. Much has been made of the extra weight but I find holding it comfortable and the extra eight ounces is worth it to have the large screen size.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Big Kindle with PDF powers but less portability
by AListener on June 14, 2009
Pros: Its clarity, our ability to view PDFs in original layout, see webpages at correct width w/o suffering TINY lettering of Kindle 2.
Review correction: "Advanced" is a feature of both small Kindles and gives full-width of webpage but with tiny letters.Cons: Size and weight for carrying around. I always have the Kindle 2 with me but that wouldn't be true for this big lug.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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What a great whiz bang gadget. OS upgrade needed!
by markfreeborn on November 13, 2009
Pros: Very easy to use and holds loads of books and periodicals. A fantastic traveler with amazing battery life (if you remember to switch off the Wi-Fi). Supports pdf's and works well via USB to PC. Simple interface, fast recharge and great support.
Cons: Needs a better "filing" system. This is just an OS upgrade; should be an easy fix.
No SD slot
Gray scale is slow and overall has room for improvement
Periodicals cost more for less content, and cannot be backed up to PC
Small keyboard
Pricey...Summary: This is a product that has some great potential. As the "e" market continues to expand rapidly my guess is that by the end of the 4 qtr competition will ...
Summary: This is a product that has some great potential. As the "e" market continues to expand rapidly my guess is that by the end of the 4 qtr competition will drive price down, somewhat, and content will continue to explode. All good for the consumer. Now let's see if any of them have jobs, to make the money, to spend on a non-essential, rather intellectual product by year's end.
Don't get me wrong, I love mine. Use it every day. Just have a few gripes...
One- What's up with newspapers and magazines? Where is the full content of the print editions? Isn't it created electronically in the first place? And why can't I read them on my iPhone along with my other content?
Two- Just who is that keyboard made for? I?ve never been a huge fan of ?Chicklet? style keyboards, but this one seems harder to use than it should. Should have larger keys.
Three- Why can?t newspapers just default to ?save?? Doing in manually, one by one is a drag.
Four- Kind of a two-part jab. With a pack of wolves at their heels, one would think that Amazon would have a nifty, jazzy looking user interface with better document management capabilities in the wings, so to speak. And the ability to manipulate screen text density or contrast control of some type1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Indispensable for technical work
by batpox on September 22, 2009
Pros: Free wireless internet, can read in bright light, amazing battery life (a week for me), pdf support. Great navigation (if you read the docs), Can keep hundreds of reference docs at my fingertips. music player.
Cons: Needs folders for organizing books/docs when not tethered. Needs font-scaling PDF support. When I buy a technical book from Amazon, the publisher usually does not entitle me to the free (or cheap) PDF version (which I would use on my PC).
Summary: I've had this for a few months now, and could not do without it. Even though I have a tablet PC, the Kindle allows me to easily read (or ...
Summary: I've had this for a few months now, and could not do without it. Even though I have a tablet PC, the Kindle allows me to easily read (or buy) books and docs no matter where I am (office, beach, train...). I need lots of reference docs and now they are always with me (not to mention Wikipedia which is nearly always there due to the free wireless internet access).
I also use it for my daily news/weather (but you have to find mobile sites like the review says, or newspapers tailored to the Kindle). The music player was an unexpected plus.
Using the device: It is worth the time to carefully read the docs. Learning the navigation is worth the time spent. Also, although PDF files are usually ok, sometimes you want to annotate or increase fonts. This can be done by converting the PDF to word (using a 3rd party tool like ABBYY) and using the free Amazon service to convert them to native Kindle format (AMZ).
When you USB tether the Kindle to your PC, it looks like another drive, so you can drag-drop your docs to/from the Kindle. This is how I keep my docs organized, and select which music to listen to. (The Kindle is also charging while you do this).
Unlike some reviewers, I would not want touch screen support if it added to the weight or cost. It simply is not needed. The current navigation lets you navigate with one hand, and the screen doesn't get smeared with fingerprints.
All in all, an indispensable device for me.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Product with some limitations
by koolnoob on July 2, 2009
Pros: Good to read books on the go, saves a lot of paper and is a boon to School Kids in my opinion. It has a very Book Like redability and is not heavy at all. I prefer the Kindle DX over the earlier versions as it gives a 8.5*11" lview which I prefer.
Cons: No Color screen. Cannot share books across two Kindles within the same house / account. Different File formats support would be helpful
Summary: All in all , I love the Kindle DX and the fact that it is the first step in revolutionizing readability as we know today. A paperless society and a lightweight ...
Summary: All in all , I love the Kindle DX and the fact that it is the first step in revolutionizing readability as we know today. A paperless society and a lightweight device as a relacement to big and heavy books is a great step in evolution.
For more Kindle DX details , please visit http://www.BuyKindleDX.com1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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wife swiped it
by greggdourgarian on June 20, 2009
Pros: pleasant reading experience...easy access to amazon store and download encourage reading
Cons: flip from landscape to portrait happens too easily. i read on the couch and if i change position even a little it flips
Summary: i like the much bigger screen. i already have a smart phone for a portable device so the smaller kindle wasn't different enough from that. they should have included ...
Summary: i like the much bigger screen. i already have a smart phone for a portable device so the smaller kindle wasn't different enough from that. they should have included a basic carrying case for the $500
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Did AMZN CEO Mr. Jeff Bezos leave room for improvement?
by Reader_Admin on September 23, 2009
Pros: I like AMZN Kindle DX because in my case; it paid for it self. As an Amazon Affiliate, I decided to build a website about a handheld device, with free EVDO Whispernet internet; one can download e books from Amazon to your Kindle in less than a minute
Cons: The technicalities of the lastest generations of the Amazon Online Readers such as the Kindle DX. Amazons CEO Mr. Jeff Bezos is holding back on "Kindles" true potential; and it's not fair....
Summary: The Kindle Reader has a built in text book publisher where you can become a Publisher or Author and own the rights to your content, well. I would suggest to ...
Summary: The Kindle Reader has a built in text book publisher where you can become a Publisher or Author and own the rights to your content, well. I would suggest to make it available as a self publishing e book using your Amazon Online Reader. Why settle for less when you have the ergonomic design e book device that is always one step ahead of the rest.
1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Amazon.com
- Part number: B0015TCML0
- Description: Kindle DX is as thin as most magazines. Just over a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle DX fits perfectly in your hands. Kindle DX's large display is ideal for a broad range of reading material, including graphic-rich books, PDFs, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Kindle DX's display is two and a half times the size of the Kindle display. Whether you're reading the latest bestseller or a financial report, text and images are amazingly sharp on the 9.7" screen. Kindle DX is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box - no setup, no cables, no computer required. Kindle DX supports wall charging via the included Kindle DX power adapter, and charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable. Kindle DX fully charges in approximately 4 hours. Kindle DX's screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle DX can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room. Kindle DX can read to you. With its text-to-speech feature, Kindle DX can read books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers out loud to you, unless the book's rights holder made the feature unavailable. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can speed up or slow down the reading speeds or choose a male or female voice.
General
- Product Type eBook reader
- Width 7.2 in
- Built-in Devices Display, Keyboard, Speaker(s)
- Depth 0.4 in
- Height 10.4 in
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 7.2 in x 0.4 in x 10.4 in
- Weight 1.1 lbs
- Features 5-way controller, Built-in PDF reader, Auto-rotating screen, Read-to-me, Built-in dictionary, Text-to-Speech
- Included Accessories Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable, Battery
Memory
- Total User Available Memory 3.3 GB
Display
- Display Type 9.7 in E Ink
- Display type 9.7 in E Ink
- Image 4-bit (16 gray levels)
- Display Resolution 1200 x 824
Audio
- Audio Output Speaker(s)
- Supported Digital Audio Formats MP3
Telecom
- Modem Wireless cellular modem - Integrated
- Cellular Enhancement Protocol CDMA 2000
- Wireless Connectivity 3G Wireless
GPS System
- GPS Navigation None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Interfaces Hi-Speed USB, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Power
- Power Device Power adapter
- Recharge Time 4 hour(s)
- Power supply device Power adapter
Input Device
- Type QWERTY keyboard
EBook Reader
- Supported Text Formats DOC, PDF, RTF, TXT, HTML, PRC (Mobipocket)
- Supported Still Image Formats BMP, GIF, PNG, JPEG
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x USB cable
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- Amazon.com
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Amazon.com products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.amazon.com
- Address:
1200 12th Ave. South Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98144 - Phone: 800-201-7575
- Email: orders@amazon.com
