At its core, the Kindle DX is simply a bigger, higher-capacity, and more-expensive version of the wildly popular Kindle 2 e-book reader. The interface is the same, the dead-simple process of wirelessly downloading books is the same, and the content you can get on the device (books, magazines, newspapers) is the same. It's just bigger and more expensive. The DX's extra-large electronic-ink screen is designed to make reading magazines and textbooks easier, and it does, but current Kindle 2 users shouldn't rush to upgrade. As for the rest of us, netbooks with color screens, full-size keyboards, and much more functionality can be had for the same price ($489 direct)—or less.
Of course, the biggest difference between the Kindle DX and the Kindle 2 is the size of the electronic-ink screen—the DX's is 2.5 times larger. Moving from a 600-by-800, 6-inch screen to a 824-by-1,200, 9.7-inch display changes the reading experience. Whereas reading on the Kindle 2 is akin to reading a book, the Kindle DX experience feels more like reading a magazine. Thing is, when you download a magazine like the Atlantic Monthly or the New Yorker to read on the DX, the design isn't any different, so it doesn't really use this extra space in a meaningful way. Sure, photos can be larger, but for the most part you just get more words on the page.
The device itself measures 10.4 by 7.2 by 0.38 inches (HWD), and it feels incredibly thin when you hold it in your hand (despite being a bit thicker than the Kindle 2, which is 0.36 inch deep). It weighs 18.9 ounces and has about the same heft as a spiral notebook. Two small slits on the left side of the device are used to attach a protective case, which must be purchased separately (for the price, one should be included).
One upgrade that won't be immediately obvious is the increased memory. The Kindle DX comes with 4GB of memory, room to store about 3,500 books, compared with the 2GB, 1,500-book capacity of the Kindle 2. I doubt many Kindle users will ever max out their libraries, but since Amazon is increasingly pushing the Kindle as a tool for reading your own documents, the extra capacity could come in handy. There's still no slot for expanding the memory.
The Kindle DX's interface hasn't changed much from the Kindle 2's, which is to say that it works but could be streamlined a bit. The Home button is still the best way to restart your navigation process, and the five-way directional toggle moves you through the menus. Previous Page and Next Page buttons, as before, are situated along the right-hand side of the device, but there are no page navigation controls on the left, as there are on the Kindle 2. Because of the device's larger dimensions, it's a little difficult to thumb-type on the tiny-buttoned keyboard, but since typing isn't often required, that's not a huge problem. On the other hand, if there's room for a keyboard, there should be one-button access to the Kindle store. To get there you have to navigate through the menu system.
One key improvement is the addition of an accelerometer. Like the Apple iPhone, the Kindle DX can detect its orientation and rotate the screen accordingly. This lets you view documents, photos, and charts in landscape mode. In fact, the device even works upside down, so that lefties can use the page navigation keys with their left hand. (Typing on the QWERTY keyboard upside down is much, much more difficult, however.)
The DX also adds native PDF and RTF file support to the Kindle. Although previous Kindles have been able to display PDFs, this support was experimental and spotty. The Kindle DX uses Adobe Reader Mobile technology to provide that native PDF support. During my tests, I loaded some of my own PDF documents, and the results were so-so. PDFs seemed a bit washed out but were legible.
Otherwise, this device supports the same assortment of file formats as the Kindle 2, including AZW, TXT, Audible, HTML, Doc, JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Files can be sideloaded via the micro USB cable or sent through Amazon's Whispernet service. For the latter, all you have to do is send the file as an attachment to your Kindle e-mail address and, minutes later, the file will appear on your DX. Just keep the cost in mind ($0.15 per megabyte). For large files, sideloading is a better solution.
Like the Kindle 2, the DX comes with a built-in EV-DO modem for wirelessly buying and loading books and other digital content. As usual, it worked quickly and seamlessly on my tests. Because I tested the Kindle 2 a few months back, I was able to access all the books I bought through the Kindle store on the DX. The Kindle even remembered the exact place I left off in Stephen King's UR. Very cool.
With rumors of the development of large-format color readers from Apple, TechCrunch, and others, it's hard not to look at this big display and want to see color. Monochrome seems more forgivable on the Kindle 2, since it's focused firmly on book reading, but the bigger display on the DX makes me want to do more with it. Also, keep in mind that for $100 less, you can get a netbook like the ASUS EeePC 1000HE with a color screen, a more comfortable keyboard, and a richer Web-browsing experience.
With the Kindle DX, Amazon is trying to tap the graphics-rich textbook and periodical markets, but in my testing I didn't see a lot of advantages to reading magazines or newspapers on the device. The larger screen is great for viewing Word documents or PDFs, but a lightweight, low-cost notebook will do that and much more. For book-reading, the Kindle 2 is still the best e-book reader you can buy.
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