DX or Voyage?

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it's a bigger Kindle 2. It runs the K2 firmware, not the K3 firmware which is why, for example, unlike the K3, it doesn't support the KF8 file format.

The original white DX, yes.

The DX Graphite, which is the version being sold now, is more like a cross between the K2 and K3. It has
- a K3 Pearl screen
- a K3 processor in speed, but 1/2 the RAM (128 to 256 MB ), which is 4 times the K2's 32 MB.
- K3 storage (4GB compared to the K2's 2 GB )
- K2 firmware
- K2-like cellular-only 3G radio.(no Wi-Fi)
- unique-to-DX right hand-only page turn buttons.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by jj2me

The original white DX, yes.

The DX Graphite, which is the version being sold now, is more like a cross between the K2 and K3. It has
- a K3 Pearl screen
- a K3 processor in speed, but 1/2 the RAM (128 to 256 MB), which is 4 times the K2's 32 MB.
- K3 storage (4GB compared to the K2's 2 GB)
- K2 firmware
- K2-like cellular-only 3G radio.(no Wi-Fi)
- unique-to-DX right hand-only page turn buttons.

Very true, of course.

It was specifically the firmware side of things I was referring to, because it's the firmware that determines what you can actually do with the thing. The fact that the DX runs the older v2 firmware means that it can't be used to read KF8 books, and this (for me at least) is a significant issue.

[jj2me]

Other significant issues comparing to a K3 (for me at least) are
- no free Personal Documents deliveries (because no Wi-Fi), like from Calibre and the various send-to-Kindle services.
- How to light this thing when there's not enough ambient light? No clip-on will cover that large screen, so you need to use a chest or ear light. (At least that's my assumption, never having used one.)

The "K2-ness" drawbacks have been keeping me away.

[cybmole]

and , unless they are still making new ones, with all new components, you are getting one with an old battery i.e. has been in storage since it was made, - batteries can fade and die after 2- 3 years.

[mrevent]

Ok, I cannot help myself but "exploit" the topic to say that it's almost a crime that amazon does not produce a DXg (great device) upgraded with the Voyage technology. The only reason would be that they want to force people to the mobi format. A blunt case of "profit-seeking" preventing the development of technology...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by mrevent

Ok, I cannot help myself but "exploit" the topic to say that it's almost a crime that amazon does not produce a DXg (great device) upgraded with the Voyage technology. The only reason would be that they want to force people to the mobi format. A blunt case of "profit-seeking" preventing the development of technology...

No, it simply means that the DX was a commercial failure. The market for a 9.7" eInk device has essentially been overtaken by the development of tablets.

[Karl Myer]

cybmole, I'd thought about this battery issue before ordering my DX last November. Nobody seems to know whether the DX's being sold then or now were manufactured years ago or are newly made. MIne came with an electronic letter of introduction signed by Jeff Bezos loaded into its Library dated Nov 13 2013, for what it's worth.

It might be that already-manufactured DX's are taken out of storage somewhere and given an overhaul that fits them for sale which might include battery replacement or at least testing. I know that when I have received a refurbished Nexus 4 phone as a replacement under warranty it was indistinguishable from new right down to machine-applied plastic protective strips on the surfaces and pristine screen with oleophobic coating, so I assume the craft of refurbishing is highly developed and efficient.

Also, the DX came with somewhat of a charge already on its battery. And the battery has had no issues in the year I have used it so I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one on the battery issue, although I would prefer to know exactly what if anything Amazon does about this issue because I do worry about it since the battery is not easily replaceable.

[Karl Myer]

Originally Posted by jj2me

Other significant issues comparing to a K3 (for me at least) are
- no free Personal Documents deliveries (because no Wi-Fi), like from Calibre and the various send-to-Kindle services.

The way I understand it you still can have free personal documents delivery as long as it's to your PC, then you can transfer them to the DX. I could be wrong.

Thank you, by the way, for your list of the mixed K2 and K3 attributes of the DX. That puts a lot in perspective for me.

I haven't ordered another DX yet, mainly because when I go to checkout they are charging me state sales tax again, which they hadn't done in awhile, and it causes me to draw back at the last moment. I find it puts the price just a little into the range where I'll ponder a little more before I order. I've become desirous of a Kindle Basic 2014 with special offers because it has gotten excellent reviews and is so affordable. I'll probably go for a DX too but that sales tax really bugs me.

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, it's a bigger Kindle 2. It runs the K2 firmware, not the K3 firmware which is why, for example, unlike the K3, it doesn't support the KF8 file format.

Hummm didn't know that! Learn something new!

[Barbara1955]

Karl I think they adding State Sales tax to every thing but ebooks & music & movies things that can be downloaded! When I purchased my 1st K3 I wasn't charged taxes but Shipping would u believe!

[kocoman]

Has anyone receive the dx? Or is the shipping date keep push back? Thanks

[Barbara1955]

IF it the Battery your worried about ... http://www.eastcoastphoto.com/nav/bf...=1&trng=bingbf

This place sells them & the tools you need to replace them!

[stangri]

Speaking of DXG, you guys know there's a hack allowing it to run a 3.x firmware from K3, right?

While not without minor flaws, I ran 3.2.1 on a DXG no problem.

[markom]

Originally Posted by stangri

Speaking of DXG, you guys know there's a hack allowing it to run a 3.x firmware from K3, right?

While not without minor flaws, I ran 3.2.1 on a DXG no problem.

And those who would like their DX to be a much better pdf reader (also djvu, epub, cbz reader with better folder/subfolder managment) should take a couple of minutes to install KPV app thereon.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=157047

Those who are maybe not satisfied with the way their Voyage crops certain pdf files or with rendering speed afterwards, can simply use k2pdfopt beforehand.

http://www.willus.com/k2pdfopt/

[jj2me]

Originally Posted by markom

Those who are maybe not satisfied with the way their Voyage crops certain pdf files or with rendering speed afterwards, can simply use k2pdfopt beforehand.

http://www.willus.com/k2pdfopt/

I can second that. And thank you for providing the links in some other thread that introduced me to these options. I didn't realize it also affected rendering speed, so thanks once more.

So far, I have just used the PC version of k2pdfopt, dragging my PDF onto k2pdfopt.exe and it runs. I've usually been outputting to landscape. Margins, headers, and footers are reduced or eliminated, resulting in larger output than if I just put the raw PDF onto my PW2 and switched to landscape viewing. This often makes just enough of a difference to turn an eyestrain PDF into a pleasantly readable PDF. Also, if the input was two-column, it can be converted to single column by k2pdfopt.

I prefer how landscape page turns work when the PDF was made landscape by k2pdfopt. It's more like how you scroll PDFs on a tablet.