Amazon Kindle DX

Thanks to the friendly people at Amazon, I was able to spend about 2 weeks with the Amazon Kindle DX, and it was an interesting experience. Here are my thoughts.

The Kindle DX addresses most of my complaints about the original Kindle, namely the horrible industrial design and the small display size. It also improves upon its sibling, the Kindle 2, by adding PDF support and screen auto-rotation (which can be disabled).

Lets be honest I absolutely hated the look and feel of original Kindle! I realize this is a matter of personal taste, but it turned me off the device completely. Amazon remedied this first with the Kindle 2, and now with the Kindle DX, which is well proportioned, clean, and cohesive. The industrial design is further enhanced by the small (compared to the original Kindle and Kindle 2) screen bezel

The Kindle DX is thin, with a tasteful brushed metal back, a power switch & a standard 3.5 mm audio connector on the top edge, and speakers & a standard micro-USB connector (for charging and transferring data) on the bottom edge. Its reasonably light, although it can be uncomfortable to hold for longer periods of time.

The E-ink display dominates the front of the Kindle DX, with a QWERTY keyboard at the bottom, and all other controls on the right edge, including a 5-way joystick for navigation. The larger screen makes a lot more sense for an E-book than the smaller one used in the original Kindle and Kindle 2 none of these devices are pocketable, so why not maximize display size?

I think a smartphone or Internet tablet are better suited for mobile E-book consumption, and apparently Amazon agrees, since theres a Kindle application for the Apple iPhone.

Im a bit torn about the E-Ink display. Its certainly easy to read in daylight and renders nice text, while being highly power efficient, but i my opinion, its no more readable than a good modern LCD or OLED screen. Im not sure that the lack of backlight, color, and the extremely slow refresh are worth it, especially when browsing the web. Maybe Ive been using computers for too long?

Yes, browsing the web thats the first thing I tried doing with the Kindle DX. See, the device incorporates a 3G modem (EVDO) on Sprints network (CDMA) the service, called Whispernet, is free (subsidized by E-Book purchases) and allows browsing the web & purchasing content. Battery life is excellent, especially when wireless is turned off.

As an aside, after taking the Kindle DX apart, I temporarily removed the mini-PCIe 3G modem (Novatel Wireless E727NV WN2), placed it in a computer, and successfully connected to Sprints network after installing the right software. But I was unable to access the Internet presumably because the all data on Whispernet is proxied via Amazons servers.

The second thing I tried doing with the Kindle DX was to tap the screen to open a link on a web page out of habit :) Of course, theres no touch screen, but the user interface is relatively intuitive. The device also features a basic MP3 player which is (unfortunately) somewhat disappointing for the price point.

But lets keep things in perspective the Kindle DX is first and foremost a connected E-book reader, not an MP3 player, and not about browsing the web! PDF files (and other data) are easily transferred to the device via USB (it appears as a 4 GB mass storage device on any computer), and Amazon makes it dangerously trivial to purchase content

Theres a catch, however. You dont own the E-Books you buy, you just acquire a license to read them. Because the Kindle DX is a connected reader, Amazon can revoke that license, refund your money, and remotely delete the content from your device. In fact, thats exactly what recently happened with George Orwells Animal Farm and (ironically) 1984, although Amazon issued an apology.

With DRM, theres no way to lend, give or sell your E-Books like you do with paper, and most importantly, theres no way to ever migrate your content to another platform. Want to read your E-Books on your computer? Cant do. Want to convert the content into another format? Nope. To me, this is a problem.

I like the Kindle DX as a device its a worthy E-Book reader, and Im sure Amazon will continue to improve the display, the user interface (touch screen perhaps?), and the other features (Web and MP3). But I dont like the Kindle as a platform, and will not invest in content I cant own, especially when Amazon already supports DRM-free digital media distribution with its MP3 store.

After using the Kindle DX, Im longing for a device like the CrunchPad, but then again, Im not an avid reader. Your mileage may vary.

For more information, visit http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/amazon-kindle-dx-review/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• tnkgrl
• cameraphone
• iPhone3GS
• Amazon
• KindleDX

[sonofhendrix]

does it cost the earth, can you read it in sunlight, does it have usb so people can put pdfs onto it. why on earth did they make it an internet browser, its a flippen ebook reader stop trying to make it a jack of all trade amazon you pillocks.

[qrpkgrl]

@sonofhendrix first, I made this video over a year ago - at the time there was no iPad, so you have to keep things in context...

Second, I still maintain that the Kindle is not the right device for me, that for the price (at the time) it should have done more than just eBooks, and that backlit color displays are better than eInk - but that's my opinion, and you don't have to agree!

[Twinsmoms]

WOw yo describe the Ipad in the future.. very interesting!!!

[qrpkgrl]

@Twinsmoms I'm good like that.

[shippermd]

You know there's a way to turn off the auto-rotate feature so that it doesn't constantly

do that when you're holding and turning it and stuff. Was this global or pre-global version? Are ya still liking it? Still saving my pennies for the DX as my first e-reader! :)

[qrpkgrl]

@shippermd this was a review unit that I only had for 2 weeks. This was the pre-global version.

[98jpr]

Ummm what was the last real book you read that was backlit? Do normal books browse the web? If you want to browse the web, buy a laptop. This is basically just a virtual library. Nothing extrodinary. I still want one though.

[rafaelbezerranona]

Seriously? You don't find e-ink more comfortable? It's good to see that there are people out there who feel this diferently from me. I can't be reading a book on an LCD screen for too long before my eyes go weary, even after tweaking with the luminosity. And e-ink seem much more comfortable.

[TheLemonLime123]

if it was a touch screen there would be too many fingerprints on it to read it. if it had all the features you were looking for then it would be just another i-pad. and what about the glare???

[Pescaicho]

My hubby recently got it and we absolutely love it! I´m going to get it in white for Christmas! It is excellent to improve your english as well because the voice reads at the same time you´re reading!! It so amazing!!

[sonofhendrix]

The fact that they have proven they could delete animal farm and 1984 means they can delete any book they wish off your system.. Which brings one to the very fast conclusion, AVOID THE KINDLE LIKE THE PLAGUE.

[realisticHomeboy]

eInk does require light, but it is infinitely more comfortable for your eyes. That is what the point is as supposed to a backlit LED display.

[2imma]

nice!