Help on which version Kindle to Buy...K2 or KDX?

[markbot]

Originally Posted by Connallmac

I should probably make note when I say that I think the KDX is great for general reading that I am a large man. I stand about 6'3" tall and played offensive and defensive tackle in high school. I think that probably makes the KDX a better fit for me, as I don't find it heavy to hold at all. In fact, while helping my mother with her Kindle 2 over Thanksgiving it (the k2) felt too small for me.

Also, a lot of paperback books are significantly heavier than the DX....like books over 700 pages.

[TallMomof2]

I'm a big woman, 6' tall with man sized hands, and I wouldn't anything smaller than the K2. If the KDX's center of gravity were lower it would be easier to read in bed. I've taken to using a lap desk for long in bed reading sessions.

[mdibella]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

I'm a big woman, 6' tall with man sized hands, and I wouldn't anything smaller than the K2. If the KDX's center of gravity were lower it would be easier to read in bed. I've taken to using a lap desk for long in bed reading sessions.

Yeah maybe that's the problem. I have some arthritis in my hands and wrists so they do cramp easily, and it seems like the position I have to hold the DX in so I can hit the page turn button puts constant strain on my wrists.

I hadn't thought of using a lap desk, please can you tell me what sort do you use?

[eboyhan]

I have the KDX I got it to mainly replace printer output (I mainly print to PDF and read that on KDX). Big screen is important to me - I also read in bed, and find it very convenient. Weight is not a problem -- it's about the size and weight of one issue of the economist.

[TallMomof2]

Originally Posted by mdibella

Yeah maybe that's the problem. I have some arthritis in my hands and wrists so they do cramp easily, and it seems like the position I have to hold the DX in so I can hit the page turn button puts constant strain on my wrists.

I hadn't thought of using a lap desk, please can you tell me what sort do you use?

The Levenger Lapalot is the lap desk I use. In particular I like being able to set the top at an angle, works great for the DX and laptop use in bed.

[drofgnal]

The device is strictly a fiction reader for me. So I opted for the Kindle 2.

[Connallmac]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

The device is strictly a fiction reader for me. So I opted for the Kindle 2.

I hope you enjoy it!

[Roy White]

The device is strictly a fiction reader for me. So I bought the DX. I used to have a Sony Reader that has a screen the size of the kindle2. The DX is AWESOME compared to that 6 inch screen. Amount oof page turns reduced by over 30 seconds a page. The weight issue is amusing to me. The DX is super light. I saw a guy at Baja Fresh reading a kindle2 yesterday. It was ridiculously small to me since I'm used to the cadillac. I read it in bed and carry it with me all over. I never once have thought, "Hmmm, this thing is too heavy."

[Stingo]

I totally agree with Roy. What lured me to the Kindle was the big screen of the DX. It is fantastic. Large, light, readable and fast. Although I mostly use it for fiction, but I also have PDF's sent to me by e-mail for work and I sometimes will look at Manga full screen or in landscape. Great device. The regular Kindle seems nice but the DX is my right size. That said, I can certainly appreciate that the regular Kindle is smaller and easier to stash away for carrying.

[jj2me]

Is there a significant difference in web browsing capabilities between the Kindle 2 and DX?

[Daithi]

Originally Posted by jj2me

Is there a significant difference in web browsing capabilities between the Kindle 2 and DX?

They're both slow as molasses, but the KDX screen size is way better at displaying pages.

I already had a K1 but I bought the KDX for PDFs and illustrated books. I absolutely love it. Furthermore, I now use the KDX as my primary reader and it doesn't matter what kind of book I'm reading. I would much rather read a book of fiction on the KDX than on a K2's smaller screen. Less page turning is a bigger benefit than most people realize.

I don't find the KDX too heavy (I'm a 6' tall 200 lb. man), but the company that makes the Kindle DX screens just announced that this spring they will begin selling a KDX sized screen made of plastic instead of glass. So, I would imagine that by summer Amazon will be selling a KDX 2 that is about the same weight as the K2.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Daithi

They're both slow as molasses, but the KDX screen size is way better at displaying pages.

Slow like dialup? Or slower?
Also, if they're equally slow, you'd save time on the KDX because of the lower number of page turns to display the URL's result, right?
Thanks.

[Daithi]

Yeah, I'd say dialup slow (think 14,400 speed). It's not something with which I'd want to surf the web, but it will work in a pinch. The Kindle DX would have fewer page turns but would still be really annoying.

I have some software on my PC that lets me create PDF images of websites I'm viewing, so I have used this to create PDFs and then downloaded them to my Kindle. That works great.

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by Daithi

Yeah, I'd say dialup slow (think 14,400 speed). It's not something with which I'd want to surf the web, but it will work in a pinch. The Kindle DX would have fewer page turns but would still be really annoying.

I have some software on my PC that lets me create PDF images of websites I'm viewing, so I have used this to create PDFs and then downloaded them to my Kindle. That works great.

Thanks for the browsing info, it gives me a feel for the speed.

Another alternative for web capture is Instapaper, described in this thread.

They offer scheduled delivery ($0.15 Amazon charge), or manual downloads ready to be loaded into the Kindle via USB.

It installs a browser plug-in you click, "Read Later." It's instant, then later you go to their site to read or download the articles, or you just use the scheduled delivery service to get a batch at a time.

[garrettwp]

I just bought the Sony PRS-600 and had to return it due to the horrible contrast on the screen related to the touch screen. I kept shying away from the kindle due to the closed format and no way of expanding the storage. I am very interested in getting the Kindle DX for pdf viewing. I have a lot of technical books for work. I was about to place an order over the weekend until I found out that the pdf support is lacking a lot of most used features. For example no TOC or link support. How can a device this expensive not support these features. I hope amazon is hard at work in getting these basic features supported on their device.

For now I am using the older Sony prs-505 for reading my pdf's. Yes, screen is small and it is not the most comfortable viewing experience of reading tech. pdf's. I am looking forward to seeing what 2010 CES will bring us for ebook readers. The Kindle DX is still on my list, but I will not take it seriously until some basic pdf features are added to the device.

- Garrett