Kindle DX on sale for $239. Still worth it? - Page 7

quarterburn · 01-15-2014, 11:27 AM

I'm not sure if this discussion would still be considered "active" but I've been heavily debating on pulling the trigger on the Kindle DX. Really, it's split between that, the new Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kobo Aura HD.

I want a ereader for textbooks and casual reading. The 3G for accessing Wikipedia is huge to me so the Kindles would be great. Is the Kindle DX perfect for textbooks but too large for everything else? Is the lack of a light on the DX enough for me to be okay with a 6" screen? The Aura HD doesn't have 3G (no Wikipedia access) but does accept more formats, has a larger screen, and works with Pocket. And with that, my brain is stuck in a loop.

So boiling it down to questions that are on topic: Is the Kindle DX unwieldy? Is the lack of the paperwhite on the DX an issue?

HoopyFrood · 01-15-2014, 01:32 PM

Unwieldy? It's larger than a regular Kindle, but you'd have to handle personally to say if it is unwieldy for you. I have one and I don't consider it unwieldy. It's still smaller than a hardback book opened.

I've never had a paperwhite, but have 2 regular Kindles. Again I think whether lack of paperwhite is an issue will boil down to whether you can read without it. I don't consider it an issue, but I've not used a paperwhite so there is that.

IMO the DX is wonderful, and my smaller Kindles just gather dust now.

ThomasC · 01-15-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quarterburn

So boiling it down to questions that are on topic: Is the Kindle DX unwieldy? Is the lack of the paperwhite on the DX an issue?

Certainly a bit larger/heavier than a 6 inch reader but lighter than a 9-10 inch tablet.

The DXG is easy to read in any light you can read a normal book with. If you want to read in the dark then a good booklight is necessary.

If you mostly read e-books then I do not think you'll find a better reader than the dxg. However, if you mostly read textbood pdf's then you would probably be better to look at a tablet like the ipad.

If you buy it from Amazon I'm pretty sure you can always return it within 30 days if you are not happy with it.

quarterburn · 01-16-2014, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasC

However, if you mostly read textbood pdf's then you would probably be better to look at a tablet like the ipad.

I currently have the iPad2 and I can only read on it for so long until it strains my eyes. Most of the textbooks aren't PDF's but do have illustrations or CLI output examples that work better on a larger canvas.

Thank you both for the advice! I think that pretty much seals it for getting the DX.

PeterBishop · 02-06-2014, 07:28 AM

I like the Kindle DX because

It has a big screen so allowing me to read techical books with screen-shots of computer screens
You can read it outside or indoors
It has a vocalizer so it will read to you while (say) you're driving [plug it into car audio system]

The new Kindle models are far too small and have no vocalizer. That's a shame because the vocalizer is one of it's best features.

On the down side: The life seems to be fairly short. In 4 years, my second one has just died.

Overall I'd recommend the DX. I'm going to buy another now.

Happy reading!

johnnyb · 02-06-2014, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quarterburn

I currently have the iPad2 and I can only read on it for so long until it strains my eyes. Most of the textbooks aren't PDF's but do have illustrations or CLI output examples that work better on a larger canvas.

Thank you both for the advice! I think that pretty much seals it for getting the DX.

Or maybe try a Retina iPad...

greenapple · 02-06-2014, 07:31 PM

DX is really great. Unfortunately, a vast number of books at the Amazon store will not work on DX anymore, even books that require larger screens to read on. For instance, magazines, newspapers, comics, and many large format ebooks. Strangely though, these materials were ones that originally prompted Amazon to release the 9.7 inch reader. Alas, Amazon has now de facto abandoned support for the DX in favor of its KF series.

ThomasC · 02-06-2014, 07:44 PM

Ya, anything that requires 'Panel View' will not work on the DX or k2's. I have not run into any amazon regular e-books that do not work, just comics. Don't know about mag's and newspapers since I do not buy any of those.

I contacted Kindle CS a couple of months ago and they told me that their tech guys were looking into a small firmware update to fix this but I have not seen anything yet. Since Amazon is still selling the DXG it really should still get some support imho.

greenapple · 02-06-2014, 11:11 PM

I doubt there will be anymore firmware fixes for DX. If they'd wanted to make more ebooks readable on DX (which means more profits), they would have done it ages ago. We haven't seen any updates for quite a long time, and I wouldn't hold my breath for a new one.

A pity, because the DX is such an amazing reader.

HarryT · 02-07-2014, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenapple

I doubt there will be anymore firmware fixes for DX. If they'd wanted to make more ebooks readable on DX (which means more profits), they would have done it ages ago. We haven't seen any updates for quite a long time, and I wouldn't hold my breath for a new one.

A pity, because the DX is such an amazing reader.

The DX is a member of the Kindle 2 family. I too wouldn't expect to see firmware updates for such an old device.

Dr. Drib · 02-07-2014, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenapple

I doubt there will be anymore firmware fixes for DX. If they'd wanted to make more ebooks readable on DX (which means more profits), they would have done it ages ago. We haven't seen any updates for quite a long time, and I wouldn't hold my breath for a new one.

A pity, because the DX is such an amazing reader.

I agree with you on everything.

For novel reading during the daytime, it's very comfortable and is often my reader of choice - but only during the daytime.

HoopyFrood · 02-08-2014, 12:25 PM

Another plus for the DX: your library books stay until you delete them. They are not automatically removed when the loan time is up, even when you connect wirelessly and they are returned and deleted in MYK. I guess it's because they are loaded via USB rather than WiFi.

Not that I would ever not delete a library book that was a couple days overdue.

Percivale · 11-10-2015, 06:13 PM

Can anyone please point out any clear disadvatages of DX in relations to PW3 or Kobo H2O.

It is an obsolete reader without any suport.
No touch screen meaning ordeals with footnotes reading.
Any problems with loading modern mobis ?

Is it worth buying second hand (about 200$) DX only for ebooks in mobi (not pdfs)?

jgaiser · 11-10-2015, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Percivale

Is it worth buying second hand (about 200$) DX only for ebooks in mobi (not pdfs)?

I have a DX. Second Kindle I bought. Still use it on occasion. Good for PDFs. You're stuck with old (mobi7) format. Much slower than modern Kindles. E-ink is old technology. I personally like it for it's screen size, but my Voyage is lighter, has a backlight and supports azw3.

I personally wouldn't buy another for $200. Maybe $100-$150.

ThomasC · 11-10-2015, 10:10 PM

The DXG (not the original DX) has as nice as screen as anything out there right now (with the proper lighting) and there is nothing nicer to read standard Kindle e-books with imho. The free 3G (although limited to 50mb/mo) is pretty useful as well.

Having said that, I do find myself using my K3 Keyboard with wifi/3G and an Amazon lighted cover more and more, esp. when travelling. I'd probably be more inclined to buy another K3 Keyboard wifi/3G for ~$150 than I would another DXG.

02-06-2014, 07:28 AM	#95
PeterBishop Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Perth, Western Australia Device: Kindle DX	Kindle DX - yes! I like the Kindle DX because It has a big screen so allowing me to read techical books with screen-shots of computer screens You can read it outside or indoors It has a vocalizer so it will read to you while (say) you're driving [plug it into car audio system] The new Kindle models are far too small and have no vocalizer. That's a shame because the vocalizer is one of it's best features. On the down side: The life seems to be fairly short. In 4 years, my second one has just died. Overall I'd recommend the DX. I'm going to buy another now. Happy reading!

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01-15-2014, 11:27 AM	#91
quarterburn Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2014 Device: Kindle DX	I'm not sure if this discussion would still be considered "active" but I've been heavily debating on pulling the trigger on the Kindle DX. Really, it's split between that, the new Kindle Paperwhite, and the Kobo Aura HD. I want a ereader for textbooks and casual reading. The 3G for accessing Wikipedia is huge to me so the Kindles would be great. Is the Kindle DX perfect for textbooks but too large for everything else? Is the lack of a light on the DX enough for me to be okay with a 6" screen? The Aura HD doesn't have 3G (no Wikipedia access) but does accept more formats, has a larger screen, and works with Pocket. And with that, my brain is stuck in a loop. So boiling it down to questions that are on topic: Is the Kindle DX unwieldy? Is the lack of the paperwhite on the DX an issue?

01-15-2014, 01:32 PM	#92
HoopyFrood Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 1005064 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Cruz e-reader, 2 Kindles and a Kindle DX, Sanza Clip	Unwieldy? It's larger than a regular Kindle, but you'd have to handle personally to say if it is unwieldy for you. I have one and I don't consider it unwieldy. It's still smaller than a hardback book opened. I've never had a paperwhite, but have 2 regular Kindles. Again I think whether lack of paperwhite is an issue will boil down to whether you can read without it. I don't consider it an issue, but I've not used a paperwhite so there is that. IMO the DX is wonderful, and my smaller Kindles just gather dust now.

02-06-2014, 07:31 PM	#97
greenapple Evangelist Posts: 404 Karma: 664 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura HD	DX is really great. Unfortunately, a vast number of books at the Amazon store will not work on DX anymore, even books that require larger screens to read on. For instance, magazines, newspapers, comics, and many large format ebooks. Strangely though, these materials were ones that originally prompted Amazon to release the 9.7 inch reader. Alas, Amazon has now de facto abandoned support for the DX in favor of its KF series.

02-06-2014, 07:44 PM	#98
ThomasC Thunder Down Under Posts: 210 Karma: 29154 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: kindle dxg, K3, K4nt, iPhone	Ya, anything that requires 'Panel View' will not work on the DX or k2's. I have not run into any amazon regular e-books that do not work, just comics. Don't know about mag's and newspapers since I do not buy any of those. I contacted Kindle CS a couple of months ago and they told me that their tech guys were looking into a small firmware update to fix this but I have not seen anything yet. Since Amazon is still selling the DXG it really should still get some support imho.

02-06-2014, 11:11 PM	#99
greenapple Evangelist Posts: 404 Karma: 664 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle DX, Kobo Aura HD	I doubt there will be anymore firmware fixes for DX. If they'd wanted to make more ebooks readable on DX (which means more profits), they would have done it ages ago. We haven't seen any updates for quite a long time, and I wouldn't hold my breath for a new one. A pity, because the DX is such an amazing reader.

02-08-2014, 12:25 PM	#102
HoopyFrood Zealot Posts: 118 Karma: 1005064 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Missouri Device: Cruz e-reader, 2 Kindles and a Kindle DX, Sanza Clip	Another plus for the DX: your library books stay until you delete them. They are not automatically removed when the loan time is up, even when you connect wirelessly and they are returned and deleted in MYK. I guess it's because they are loaded via USB rather than WiFi. Not that I would ever not delete a library book that was a couple days overdue.

11-10-2015, 06:13 PM	#103
Percivale Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2015 Device: none	Can anyone please point out any clear disadvatages of DX in relations to PW3 or Kobo H2O. It is an obsolete reader without any suport. No touch screen meaning ordeals with footnotes reading. Any problems with loading modern mobis ? Is it worth buying second hand (about 200$) DX only for ebooks in mobi (not pdfs)?

11-10-2015, 10:10 PM	#105
ThomasC Thunder Down Under Posts: 210 Karma: 29154 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: kindle dxg, K3, K4nt, iPhone	The DXG (not the original DX) has as nice as screen as anything out there right now (with the proper lighting) and there is nothing nicer to read standard Kindle e-books with imho. The free 3G (although limited to 50mb/mo) is pretty useful as well. Having said that, I do find myself using my K3 Keyboard with wifi/3G and an Amazon lighted cover more and more, esp. when travelling. I'd probably be more inclined to buy another K3 Keyboard wifi/3G for ~$150 than I would another DXG.

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