Are you waiting for the "official mobileread verdict" on the Kindle DX before buying?

[Donnageddon]

Oh, and a large screen iPod touch would have me drooling. I find I can get exceptional battery life out of my touch just by dimming the brightness way down. I prefer not having it so bright anyway, and reading outdoors with a large screen Liseuse is just not something I see myself doing.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by Donnageddon

I really, really want a large screen ereader (whats that other word... liseuse?) for graphic novels and manga (and I'll just say it... comic books) and I think we may soon have a blessing of options.

I think that the graphic novels/manga/comic solution will have to involve color and a touch screen to really work. And that, of course, is where Apple might come out on top with an iTab.

In particular, comics don't work well without color. Graphic novels can, and manga does. But there's an element of motion or perceived interaction or something that makes comics work better in color.

As for a touchscreen, again, comics are the main factor. Comic pages can be riots of nonsequential art, in the sense of reading left to right, ranging in size from a full page panel to several overlapping ones. I think that it lends itself very well to zooming, for instance. Plus, I think a reader has to be able to move back & forth between the whole page and specific panels or sections - gotta be a touch screen. Actually, I can imagine a whole new dimension for comics, manga & graphic novels on a touchscreen. Imagine, for example, a graphic novel in which you would read a person's interior thoughts by touching that person's image. Or being able to drill down into a digression, then return to the original page to continue the storyline.

[catsittingstill]

I really want something that will handle full page PDFs. However (whimper) I really want something that will do full-text cross-document search and highlighting and annotation.

Kindle DX can't do that.

So I'm waiting.

But I *am* interested to hear about it when other people get it.

[deedward9]

I'm also waiting to see if they something more for open formats and PDF support. I like the design of the device and would like to have a larger format ebook reader.

[kevindorsey]

I'm going to wait a bit and see what bugs start popping with this version before even thinking about upgrading.

[skoobwoman]

I was invited to the press conference in NY when they announced the DX. So I was able to (briefly) hold it. It is pretty big. It weighs more than the iLiad--more than a pound (the DX is 18.9 ounces and the iLiad is 15.3). I thought the iLiad was heavy to carry around. But I ordered a DX for a couple of reasons.

1. It is much more user friendly than the iLiad
2. It reads PDF files natively--no more messy conversions.
3. Graphics are worlds better on it.

I wouldn't buy it instead of the Kindle 2 unless I had a lot of PDF files or graphic-heavy files that would be unreadable on the Kindle 2. But then again, if you commute by car and don't have to carry your stuff much, the DX might be fine for you. I live in the city and commute by train so the weight of my devices matters more to me than it might to someone else. I will probably continue to use my regular Kindle for day-to-day stuff and leave the Kindle DX at home.

[Roy White]

So I guess the size issue will both draw people to the DX and stop others from buying it. I find that I use my iPhone for quick news fixes or to read when I have a few minutes away from home. Stanza is a great app for reading and downloading books from Gutenberg or Manybooks. It's a fair device for light reading on the go. But for reading for pleasure at home I think the size of the DX will be a huge plus. As for the 500 dollarprice tag... I've spent probably I dunno how many hundred of hours reading on my Sony let's say conservatively 250 hours. And most of my books have been free. So say I spent a dollar an hour. The DX will be 2 bucks an hour. (I'm sure I've spent more hours than that. Lessee. I spend prolly an hour a day reading most of the time more. I've read all night many times on my Sony. I've had it for over 2 years.... I bet ive read a thousand hours on it. I've had it over 750 days. Times an hour a day with stretches of several hours a day regularly. I bet I've used it over 1500 hours and it's still going strong. So my Sony has cost me prolly (I like typing prolly! Prolly prolly prolly!) that's like 8 CENTS an hour. The DX at 500 bucks 2 years from now will have cost me double that. 16 cents an hour!! (pretty spendy!) I thnk I'm goin to love the DX.

[numindast]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think of large-screen devices as being replacements for 6" readers, but complimentary to them.

+1

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I look at it like this:
Kindle 2 = paperbook
Kindle DX = hardcover

in terms of reading ease.

+1

Originally Posted by evandy

Depends what you mean by "not portable." I always carry a briefcase/messenger bag to and from work, so it will fit in there quite well. Since I don't have a purse, the K2 wouldn't fit in a pocket, and would need to be hand-carried as well when I'm out without the bag.

+1

All of the above combine, for me, to having both a K2 and KDX. I thought the PRS was a nicer looking device but I do like the K2's page turn buttons better and all that extra room around the screen actually does, for me, make it easier to hold comfortably in all sorts of ways.

In hindsight, I should never have bothered with the leather covers for my Sony Readers and just gotten a case to slip it easily into when not using it. That's the route I took with the K2, and I just ordered the exact same style (Belkin neoprene) for the DX.

When commuting to/from work, I always have my satchel with me and it has my notepad & papers and often my work laptop so the DX will slip in there and be fine. Then for the times I am going to the lakefront, say, and packing light I'll bring the K2.

An important feature, for me, is the Whispersync. It will be very nice to switch devices, activate wireless for a few moments and have my reading material sync'd up right where I left off.

I refuse to discuss the cost of eBook readers since that's the #1 complaint from people who have no interest in eBook readers. "You mean you buy the reader and THEN you have to buy the BOOKS TOO???" I'm a gadget lover, I'll pay for the gadgets.

[hackettt]

As a college professor, I am waiting to see the participation of publishers with the Kindle 2 and the DX. I agree with many of the students on the benefits of having all your textbooks in one device that weighs close to the amount of one paper chapter of the existing textbooks.

[HappyMartin]

I am waiting for someone to send Jeff B an atlas (don't Amazon stock them?) and a note explaining that there is a whole other place outside of the U.S.A.

I greatly value the expertise on MR but it is all pretty academic when it comes to the kindle and its kin.

[Harmon]

Originally Posted by numindast

I refuse to discuss the cost of eBook readers since that's the #1 complaint from people who have no interest in eBook readers. "You mean you buy the reader and THEN you have to buy the BOOKS TOO???" I'm a gadget lover, I'll pay for the gadgets.

Tell them that your device is not a reader. It's a portable bookcase. It holds lots of books. You'd probably have to spend a few hundred bucks on bookcases if you didn't have your device.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Roy White

I'm going to be buying it mainly for reading Novels and some Poetry. The Bible and Lots of public domain books like The Brothers K and Les Mis etc. I love the Classics. I'm 48 and in the last couple of years my close focus muscles have gone to dinner and haven't returned yet. So a LARGE screen device has a huge appeal to me. I have to put my Sony 500 n permanent "L" now. And turn the page every ten seconds. The large size doesn't daunt me. I think I can find a "man purse" or bag of some sort to lug it around. I plan on keeping my trusty Sony to carry along when I go to the movies or grocery shopping with my wife, those moments during the day when I'm waiting in line and can snatch a few moments to read. I look at the big screen as a luxury for reading at home or in bed. And hopefully it will load this site on the Internet browser? (does anyone know...?)
But still I wait for the scoop from Y'all.

Roy - you need to see the DX in your hand - order one (remember 30 day return policy) - you won't be sorry (well, maybe your credit card balance will whimper). I'm totally hooked!

[Roy White]

Pooh... (I hope you dont mind me shortening your name...) I'm totally on board believe me. Especially after I did my own math comparing hours I've used my Sony verses price. Works out to pennies per hour. I just like to walk into things knowing everything possible about... Whatever.

For example today in Bend Oregon on vacation we saw some Bald Eagles flying. So I hopped on the Internet and found a ton of fascinating yet useless facts about Bald Eagles. They rtrn to the same nest every year and add to them. The nests can grow to over 6 to 9 feet in diameteras they add to it over the years and can weigh up to 2 tons! The eggs incubate 31 days... Etc. Oh, and the reason theyre bald is cuz secretly theyre all Three Stooges Fans and they all love Curly so they shave their heads.

Oops I got off track. Anyhow I've been reading the early reviews and it sounds perfect. I will be ordering mine within the month I'm sure.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by Roy White

Pooh... (I hope you dont mind me shortening your name...) I'm totally on board believe me. Especially after I did my own math comparing hours I've used my Sony verses price. Works out to pennies per hour. I just like to walk into things knowing everything possible about... Whatever.

For example today in Bend Oregon on vacation we saw some Bald Eagles flying. So I hopped on the Internet and found a ton of fascinating yet useless facts about Bald Eagles. They rtrn to the same nest every year and add to them. The nests can grow to over 6 to 9 feet in diameteras they add to it over the years and can weigh up to 2 tons! The eggs incubate 31 days... Etc. Oh, and the reason theyre bald is cuz secretly theyre all Three Stooges Fans and they all love Curly so they shave their heads.

Oops I got off track. Anyhow I've been reading the early reviews and it sounds perfect. I will be ordering mine within the month I'm sure.

Cool - I think once you see the DX your Sony will be a forgotten episode in your ocular history. And your eyes will thank you - I'm reading more than ever now (if that is possible). Oh bother!

I live near Jordan Lake in NC - they reintroduced a Bald Eagle pair there a few years ago - saw Papa in a tree outside my house - they're HUGE - and beautiful. Not sure about their TV viewing habits (esp. with loss of analog signals - BTW they surely used real bunny ears on their sets)

[JSWolf]

There are rumors of Sony coming out with a larger screen reading in August. I'd wait and tif this turns out to be true, then you have the choice of the Sony or the DX and can then make the choice as to what's best for you. Given that it's only about 2 months to wait, I'd wait. Because if you get a DX now, you won't be able to return it then.