Should I buy a Kindle DX?

[Greg_E]

It is just to expensive. The only reason many people have it is because of aging eyes. That was the reason I bought one for my mother (first version) and she has put countless hours on hers since we bought it back when it first came out (like $500 back then too). It also allows me to test things like PDF once in a while to see what I need to see.

If the DXG was $200 or very slightly more, I would buy it now, but for almost $400 there are a lot of alternatives including the Pocketbook 902/903 or one of the many Android/iOS/Windows tablets. I really hope iRiver will make a larger story HD with the high resolution display, the only thing better would be color e-ink in a big format and again for those pesky PDF files that many of us need to use.

[ProfCrash]

I got my Mom one for that reason. I got one for myself because I prefer the larger screen. I prefer hardback books to paperback books.

The Fire is going to be almost $200 less then the DXG.

[Greg_E]

Fire is too stripped down for a generic Android device with no SD card slot, I'd rather put a few more dollars on one of the other Android devices. They are claiming the Fire is a loss leader since it is fairly well locked to Amazon content.

[ProfCrash]

If you are looking for a larger screen Kindle and had to choose between a $379 DX or a $199 Fire, what would you buy? My guess is that most people will buy the Fire.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

If you are looking for a larger screen Kindle and had to choose between a $379 DX or a $199 Fire, what would you buy? My guess is that most people will buy the Fire.

True, but there is a market there. Some people want a larger device. Just look at the iPad theme "the experience."

Frankly except for the screen and a larger case, there doesn't have to be any new development. The case is nothing as these things go. The extra screen area, and the reduced volume that will be sold is the only real factor.

I believe that Amazon will bring out a new 10" (or so) screen reading device, but that is not their main concern right now. The main concern is the smaller, much higher volume devices.

[ProfCrash]

But you can do a ton more with the IPad then the DX.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

But you can do a ton more with the IPad then the DX.

True and the iPad WiFi costs $500 minimum, and doesn't last as long as a DXG or other E ink type device.

I expect to see a 10," WiFi, E ink touchscreen (infrared) DXG. for $300 or less.
Possibly $350 with free (LIMITED) 3G to bring the books and other Amazon stuff over when out of WiFi range, (plus I think they are providing Wikipedia, but on that I am not sure.) In fact, with the advertising addition, we might see $50 taken off both those numbers.

That would compete with the $500 iPad.

So you have gotten me to commit!

What do you think?

[max99]

Originally Posted by Greg_E

It is just to expensive. The only reason many people have it is because of aging eyes. That was the reason I bought one for my mother (first version) and she has put countless hours on hers since we bought it back when it first came out (like $500 back then too). It also allows me to test things like PDF once in a while to see what I need to see.

it's for reading pdfs. if someone has poor eyesight you can just ramp up the font size on a regular kindle.

as someone else stated, the reason amazon are dropping it is they don't make enough money milking content from users. most DX users side load pdfs.

[Greg_E]

Reading PDF on a 6 inch device is frustrating at best, scroll this way, that way, six other ways... Refer back to this picture (on same page)... No thanks it must be able to be displayed in full page mode and the DX (and the few other 9.7 inch devices) are the only size e-ink device that comes close to working.

I hope they bring out a cheaper WIFI only version, I think this would serve most people just as well as 3/4G. So that would bring the lifetime cost of the device down since Amazon won't be paying for the data usage.

[ProfCrash]

The problem is that the DX doesn't work. There is no way to adjust the font size so that it is easier to read and you don't have the functionality available on the K3 unless you are willing to hack the DX.

It has been clear for a while that Amazon is ignoring the DX. You cannot even get to it from the main Kindle page, you have to go to the comparison chart to find a link. They have not upgraded the software since the K3 was released.

I enjoy reading on my DXG, I prefer the larger screen, but I doubt that too many people are going to buy the DXG when there are larger tablets out in the same price range. I would not pay $300 for a DXG today. There are too many other options out there for me to buy. I would pay in the $200 range for a larger e-ink screen but once you move above that it would be hard for me to justify spending that money on something that is not a tablet. Great functionality and I can adjust the backlighting, screen colors, and the like to decrease eye strain and battery drain plus be able to play silly video games and the like.

[Greg_E]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

I enjoy reading on my DXG, I prefer the larger screen, but I doubt that too many people are going to buy the DXG when there are larger tablets out in the same price range. I would not pay $300 for a DXG today. There are too many other options out there for me to buy. I would pay in the $200 range for a larger e-ink screen but once you move above that it would be hard for me to justify spending that money on something that is not a tablet. Great functionality and I can adjust the backlighting, screen colors, and the like to decrease eye strain and battery drain plus be able to play silly video games and the like.

That is exactly the problem, it needs to be in the $250 new range or less since you can get tablets in that range, the only thing going for it is the e-ink display for extremely long battery life and easy on the eyes display. As a multifunction device it is not worth having so it is relegated to a reader only. This is pretty much why I've decided that I'll just wait and see what holiday sales bring and probably end up with a 10 inch Android tablet like the Iconia a500 or Transformer, guess I should have bought an HP when they were $99.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by Tom Swift

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.

Careful with fake devices!!! If it is too good to be true or too cheap, could be fake.

Now, I had a Kindle DXG before. Love it, but got tired of waiting for firmware upgrades. The lack of PDF annotations and the slow page turn, made me sell it.

I own an iPad2 and is great as PDF reader, using GoodReader app.

Save som bucks and buy a used iPad1. It will be faster and better with PDFs files plus will allow you to read magazines or any text or book with color.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by frahse

True and the iPad WiFi costs $500 minimum, a

Not a used one! You can get used iPads for $350.00 I've seen those on Amazon store before.

Originally Posted by Greg_E

It is just to expensive. The only reason many people have it is because of aging eyes.

Not really. The DXG is probably one of the only eink devices who truly supports landscape mode. Besides, let you reads PDFs documents.

[ThomasC]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

The problem is that the DX doesn't work. There is no way to adjust the font size so that it is easier to read and you don't have the functionality available on the K3 unless you are willing to hack the DX.

I've had my DXG for ~14 months now and it works great for me.

Only ~10% of my books are pdf's (mainly technical manuals) and these all work fine. I have had problems reading a few pdf's but, in my opinion, these were very poorly constructed pfd's (some were poorly scanned ones) that were hard to read on my PC or even read when printed out.

I guess all DXG owners would have liked to have gotten the K3 pdf functionality but I cannot say that this would have helped me. There have been a few 2.5x updates over the last 14 months which have helped and my DXG continues to work fine and it is a very stable system.

I also have a K3 and K4nt which are both ok for travel but there is nothing better imho than reading a book at home on my DXG. Even basic web surfing is better on it that on my K3 because of the larger screen size.

I don't know where Amazon is headed with the DXG and I really don't care. Mine suits my current needs and I'm sure it will for a few more years. Best $379 I ever spent imho.

Cheers,
Tom

[max99]

Originally Posted by Greg_E

Reading PDF on a 6 inch device is frustrating at best, scroll this way, that way, six other ways... Refer back to this picture (on same page)... No thanks it must be able to be displayed in full page mode and the DX (and the few other 9.7 inch devices) are the only size e-ink device that comes close to working.

i agree with you, i was talking about font sizes on regular kindle books.

personally i hope amazon continue to support a large screen eink device. i cannot imagine going back to a 6 inch screen when i download so many pdfs. and i prefer the larger screen for regular books too.

if amazon neglect the space i'm sure a competitor will come along and take advantage. tablets just don't cut it....prolonged reading on backlit screens is horrible.