Should I buy a Kindle DX?

Tom Swift · 11-01-2011, 07:43 AM

I discovered over here in China a place where I can get a new Kindle DX for about $100 less than the retail price in the States. I am having a student ask some questions about it, due to my lack of Chinese, but since I don't know much about them, I thought I would ask here.

Currently, I use my iPod in my classroom to hold in my hand as I write on the board. I have a Kindle 3 and it is fantastic but too small to read my PDF files, especially due to the Math functions I need to use. I did some searching on this site but since I can't search for "DX" (too few letters), I am probably missing some good information. Reading some comments on other sites, it seems that the DX is not really a new model but the Kindle 2 in a bigger package. Is this a problem? Any word if Amazon is planning to come out with a new model?

Will the Kindle DX be of use to me? Is it worth buying for the reduced price? Any information would be appreciated.

ProfCrash · 11-01-2011, 09:37 AM

I love my DXG because I love the bigger screen. I am not sure that I would recommend a DXG because I do not think Amazon is doing much to support the DXG. I am a bit concerned that the DXG will not have the ability to read the new format that Amazon is putting out.

The DXG is better for PDFs but still not perfect. The font can be pretty small and the zoom function is problematic. There are some programs you can add to make it work better but I am not a fan of hacking my device.

Finally, I would not trust any place that sells the DXG or any other electronic device below Amazon's listed price. I would be worried that the devices were stolen and not fully functional.

DustyDisks · 11-01-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I love my DXG because I love the bigger screen. I am not sure that I would recommend a DXG because I do not think Amazon is doing much to support the DXG. I am a bit concerned that the DXG will not have the ability to read the new format that Amazon is putting out.

The DXG is better for PDFs but still not perfect. The font can be pretty small and the zoom function is problematic. There are some programs you can add to make it work better but I am not a fan of hacking my device.

Finally, I would not trust any place that sells the DXG or any other electronic device below Amazon's listed price. I would be worried that the devices were stolen and not fully functional.

Also to add seeing you are in china, it could be a Chinese copy/clone of a official amazon DXG.

They copy almost everything else so I would not be surprised if it was.

SkyDream · 11-01-2011, 04:14 PM

Wouldn't buy it as it may be a clone.
What about warranty ?

Once more the DX doesn't seem to have a big future at Amazon. They abandoned it long ago and i doubt it will get any update to support new (or even older) features.

Tom Swift · 11-01-2011, 06:01 PM

I am not too worried that it is a copy since it is on Taobao, an eBay-like site that is pretty good at watching out for that kind of stuff. More likely it is an extra run from the factory that is sold by the managers. Pretty common over here. I will get more information today about it. Might also be factory overstock. Don't have much of a choice over here since they are not officially for sale in China anyway. The whispernet bypasses the Chinese Firewall so it is doubtful they will ever be legally available over here.

I still like the idea of a large book reader but the idea seems to be dying out. Knowing me, I will probably pick it up anyway. Can I put my own files on it, like I do with my Kindle 3 (convert and email it to Amazon) or do I have to use a cable? Since there is no wifi, and I can't put my own stuff on my Kindle 3 via 3G, is the cable mandatory?

ProfCrash · 11-01-2011, 06:07 PM

If it is a Kindle DXG, then yes, it works the same way as the K3 except that there is no wifi on it. If you don't have 3G then you will have to use the cord. Mine came with the USB cord.

I would be shocked if it was a DXG being sold for that price.

Tom Swift · 11-01-2011, 09:23 PM

Just talked to my student. That price is for a used model. The new models are the same price as in the States. There is no way I am buying used electronics over here in China, so that ends that. Thanks everyone for the information. My next stop is the tech malls in Shanghai to see if there are any Chinese models the same size.

frahse · 11-01-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

Just talked to my student. That price is for a used model. The new models are the same price as in the States. There is no way I am buying used electronics over here in China, so that ends that. Thanks everyone for the information. My next stop is the tech malls in Shanghai to see if there are any Chinese models the same size.

I don't know if you have looked around at the rumors, but supposedly early 2012 a new large Kindle like the DXG is coming. I believe that rumor, but it may be different. It may be a touch DXG and it may not have the free limited 3G we are used to. (i.e. the 3G may be more limited.)

One thing for sure is that any NEW DXG will have WiFi.

So I guess the question is what are you looking for?

Tom Swift · 11-01-2011, 09:38 PM

I just want something light I can hold in my hand as I write on a whiteboard. Yeah, I can probably use paper but it just seems so primitive. I just checked the two big Chinese ebook companies, Hanlin and Hanvon, and they both have 9.7" models but the price is the same as the DX. I will probably wait to see if new models from Amazon appear.

Tom Swift · 11-01-2011, 09:40 PM

Do you have a link to the rumours discussing a new DX model?

howyoudoin · 11-02-2011, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

I just want something light I can hold in my hand as I write on a whiteboard. Yeah, I can probably use paper but it just seems so primitive. I just checked the two big Chinese ebook companies, Hanlin and Hanvon, and they both have 9.7" models but the price is the same as the DX. I will probably wait to see if new models from Amazon appear.

I think I'm officially an old man now, at 30. Paper is cool.

frahse · 11-02-2011, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

Do you have a link to the rumours discussing a new DX model?

Sorry, I don't have one handy, but go to the Amazon Kindle Forums.

eLiNK · 11-02-2011, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

Just talked to my student. That price is for a used model. The new models are the same price as in the States. There is no way I am buying used electronics over here in China, so that ends that. Thanks everyone for the information. My next stop is the tech malls in Shanghai to see if there are any Chinese models the same size.

Look for Hanwon E920.
It is supposed to handle pdf annotations better.

eLiNK · 11-02-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frahse

Sorry, I don't have one handy, but go to the Amazon Kindle Forums.

I personally would not bother reading the rumors about the allegedly new DX model.

With its treatment of the current DX model, Amazon has shown how little customer focus matters.

reprep · 11-02-2011, 06:12 AM

Yeah i too doubt we will see another 9.7 inch e-ink reader from amazon. They completely abandoned the dx series.

I exchanged my kindle keyboard 3 with kindle DXG and i don't regret it. It is really great for my eyes to read my PDFs and other e-books in a large screen.

Though i can't recommend kindle DXG to anyone as it is a completely abandoned product now. But if you really want a large screen e-ink reader, instead of onyx or hanwon etc. kindle might be a much better choice.

11-01-2011, 07:43 AM	#1
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	Should I buy a Kindle DX? I discovered over here in China a place where I can get a new Kindle DX for about $100 less than the retail price in the States. I am having a student ask some questions about it, due to my lack of Chinese, but since I don't know much about them, I thought I would ask here. Currently, I use my iPod in my classroom to hold in my hand as I write on the board. I have a Kindle 3 and it is fantastic but too small to read my PDF files, especially due to the Math functions I need to use. I did some searching on this site but since I can't search for "DX" (too few letters), I am probably missing some good information. Reading some comments on other sites, it seems that the DX is not really a new model but the Kindle 2 in a bigger package. Is this a problem? Any word if Amazon is planning to come out with a new model? Will the Kindle DX be of use to me? Is it worth buying for the reduced price? Any information would be appreciated.

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11-01-2011, 09:37 AM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	I love my DXG because I love the bigger screen. I am not sure that I would recommend a DXG because I do not think Amazon is doing much to support the DXG. I am a bit concerned that the DXG will not have the ability to read the new format that Amazon is putting out. The DXG is better for PDFs but still not perfect. The font can be pretty small and the zoom function is problematic. There are some programs you can add to make it work better but I am not a fan of hacking my device. Finally, I would not trust any place that sells the DXG or any other electronic device below Amazon's listed price. I would be worried that the devices were stolen and not fully functional.

11-01-2011, 04:14 PM	#4
SkyDream Wizard Posts: 1,377 Karma: 9400 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Device: PRS-650, iPod touch 4G, iPad 3	Wouldn't buy it as it may be a clone. What about warranty ? Once more the DX doesn't seem to have a big future at Amazon. They abandoned it long ago and i doubt it will get any update to support new (or even older) features.

11-01-2011, 06:01 PM	#5
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	I am not too worried that it is a copy since it is on Taobao, an eBay-like site that is pretty good at watching out for that kind of stuff. More likely it is an extra run from the factory that is sold by the managers. Pretty common over here. I will get more information today about it. Might also be factory overstock. Don't have much of a choice over here since they are not officially for sale in China anyway. The whispernet bypasses the Chinese Firewall so it is doubtful they will ever be legally available over here. I still like the idea of a large book reader but the idea seems to be dying out. Knowing me, I will probably pick it up anyway. Can I put my own files on it, like I do with my Kindle 3 (convert and email it to Amazon) or do I have to use a cable? Since there is no wifi, and I can't put my own stuff on my Kindle 3 via 3G, is the cable mandatory?

11-01-2011, 06:07 PM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	If it is a Kindle DXG, then yes, it works the same way as the K3 except that there is no wifi on it. If you don't have 3G then you will have to use the cord. Mine came with the USB cord. I would be shocked if it was a DXG being sold for that price.

11-01-2011, 09:23 PM	#7
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	Just talked to my student. That price is for a used model. The new models are the same price as in the States. There is no way I am buying used electronics over here in China, so that ends that. Thanks everyone for the information. My next stop is the tech malls in Shanghai to see if there are any Chinese models the same size.

11-01-2011, 09:38 PM	#9
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	I just want something light I can hold in my hand as I write on a whiteboard. Yeah, I can probably use paper but it just seems so primitive. I just checked the two big Chinese ebook companies, Hanlin and Hanvon, and they both have 9.7" models but the price is the same as the DX. I will probably wait to see if new models from Amazon appear.

11-01-2011, 09:40 PM	#10
Tom Swift Addict Posts: 250 Karma: 1232346 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Macau Device: Kindle Oasis (plus lots of older devices)	Do you have a link to the rumours discussing a new DX model?

11-02-2011, 06:12 AM	#15
reprep Addict Posts: 202 Karma: 6720 Join Date: May 2011 Device: amazon kindle DXG	Yeah i too doubt we will see another 9.7 inch e-ink reader from amazon. They completely abandoned the dx series. I exchanged my kindle keyboard 3 with kindle DXG and i don't regret it. It is really great for my eyes to read my PDFs and other e-books in a large screen. Though i can't recommend kindle DXG to anyone as it is a completely abandoned product now. But if you really want a large screen e-ink reader, instead of onyx or hanwon etc. kindle might be a much better choice.

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