Kindle DX impressions: Big screen, but prohibitively expe...

With a few minutes, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos unveiled the newest Kindle, named the Kindle DX — a larger screen version of the Kindle 2 that adds some features like PDF reading and an accelerometer to dynamically switch orentations. We linked to the specs earlier, so it's time for the meat: Our impressions of the device. On the panel today is freelance writer and columnist Gary Krakow, and Jason Hiner, Editor-in-chief of TechRepublic. We're all feeling a bit of apprehension toward the device, with Gary pointing out the $490 is going to be a tough pill to swollow for most people. Jason points out the device has a companion application for the iPhone platform, which leads to the logical conclusion: Why haven't they made software for desktops? I'm pretty much dead set against the Kindle DX, though I might opt for the Kindle 2. It's pretty ballsy to market a $490 device for reading books, when I could get a 10.1" netbook for around the same price that can surf the web on a color screen, and the like. Sure, my netbook might not have the long battery life, or as be as comfortable on the eyes as the epaper display, all 16 shades of its monochromatic wonderment, but for me, and most cash strapped college students, I think we're going to save our dollars for "real gadgets".

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• amazon
• kindle
• dx
• ebooks
• ereader
• epaper
• new
• technology
• com
• jeff
• bezos

[odinfury]

Your missing the ENTIRE POINT OF EBOOKS....specifically the idea of EINK technology which Kindle, Kindle DX, Sony Ebooks, and many others are based. E-ink technology allows people to read for long periods of time without eye strain, without battery charging, etc. Have you actually even held an EINK based ebook reader? The screen is so easy on the eyes. My only complaint about EINK technology is the refresh rate it is so slow! This technology is a game changer, just like the ipod/iphone

[y0gus]

if the price was around $300 it would be hit

i would definately buy it, but not for $500

[DonPetrushka]

@olekike, no, I use it just for reading and it's great! It looks like a real book. I mean size of the screen. Very useful.

[CheersProduction]

Dude I hate it when people compare unfairly

[olekike]

don't know who will use a big screen??? ideal for musicians, to read their sheet music!

[Taradays]

@joacovl umm yess

[berrylict]

@YouTabacco with kindle you can steal 1000s of books, turn off the wireless and cops wont get ya :)

[berrylict]

newspapers make my hands messy, netbooks and laptops hurt my eyes. i am 30. these gentlemen clearly never read a long article on a notebook :)

[LittleWarSnail]

even $300 is expensive for this

[YouTabacco]

and then came ipad

[YouTabacco]

with 500 dollars you can buy all the text books you need and hire someone to carry them for you till you finish college... lol...

[joacovl]

u had to think that it has to big a size u can read with confort... and yes the price is a little high, but u save money at the time u buy book for 50% the real price or even less...