Customer Review : Kindle DX

Customer Review : Amazon Kindle DX

When it comes to making the choice as to what e-book reader is right for you, the first thing that many people realize is that there is a whole lot of choices. Which one to choose though really depends on what you are looking for in a device. Perhaps you would like the ability to store up to 3,500 e-books on one device or maybe you would like a reader whose batteries won’t die before you are finished reading. Or perhaps you would like one that does not require you hooking it up to your computer every time you would like to add to your library. If you are like most people, these are the things that you are looking for and what that means is that you are in need of a Kindle DX.
This latest version of the popular e-book reader has gone through a drastic overhaul while still maintain many of the great features that people have grown to love about it. It still features the automatically rotating display that is composed of Amazon’s e-ink design. This new version though, unlike it predecessor is capable of supporting PDF files without the need for an online conversion.
This PDF support has been a much anticipated update due to the popularity of this file format with regards to online reading material. Of course you cannot help but notice the Amazon Kindle DX’s increased display size because unlike its 6 inch predecessor, this display is an amazing 9.7 inches. That makes reading those books a much simpler process, especially if your eyes are not what they used to be. Many people have heard that the new device is being released and they are searching all over the web for Amazon Kindle DX reviews, but the truth is that if you like the previous models, then you will definitely love this one.
Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2.0
In the world of e-book readers, you have a lot of choices to select from but what name has stood out from the crowd since its inception and that is the Amazon Kindle DX. Of course there is always plenty of room for improvement as Amazon has shown with their recently release of their Amazon Kindle DX. Let us compare for a moment the Kindle DX vs. Kindle 2.0 models. This version of the reader features a much larger 9.7 inch display using the popular e-ink design. It is also capable of storing up to 3,500 different books and includes the much anticipated native PDF support. The display is auto-orientating so it will adjust as you move it around. It still hold the popular 3G wireless technology which allows you free access to download the books you are wanting.
On the other hand though, the standard model only has a 6 inch display which is auto-orienting. It can only hold up to 1,500 books and does not support PDF natively as it requires them to be converted online before downloading them to the device. One of the main reasons why the standard Kindle has not been as popular was due to its lacking ability to support the PDF files which can be found all over the internet. With the release of the Kindle DX though, this issue can be considered a thing of the past.
It is important to remember though that the display is known as e-ink. What this is, is it is a specially designed display that is capable of 16 shades of grey and give the appearance is if you were actually looking at paper. It reflects light the same manner as book paper and its contrast is also very similar which means there is no need for a back light. No backlight also means that the batteries will last a longer time in comparison to other readers which are currently available.

By John Luu

Kindle DX’s Ability to Display Complex Structures

Kindle DX’s Ability to Display Complex Structures

and Form Function of a Bigger Unit

Our Family owns 3 Kindles: K1, K2 and we now own Kindle DX.
We rated K1 and K2, 5 stars. K1 got its grade for the seamless Amazon’s wireless offering and the superior reading experience. K2 improved form function, introduced Text to Speech functionality and expanded embedded K1’s memory.
Why did I order a Kindle DX? I bought a DX for its ability to handle complex written structures. I read financial reports voraciously. Since I can’t read these reports on my PC screen or on K2 (text yes, financial statements no), I print out fat financials reports on a daily basis. As soon as I ordered Kindle DX, I sent .pdf files with tables, files and pictures to my DX email address. Does DX end the tyranny of lugging around piles of work material? Let’s find out.
Text: I almost had a heart attack. I downloaded a PDF from Edgar Online. Their standard font is just too small for DX. On the second attempt, I used a bigger bold font and it worked perfectly. I now have my Kindle DX magical font. Then I tested the Auto-Rotation feature. That is the DX golden nugget. It works brilliantly! Within a PDF document, auto-rotate to landscape will render the appropriate text size. I tested this feature on the original Edgar Document et voila! I prefer the next page and prev page buttons located at the bottom of the unit in landscape mode. You can’t annotate or Highlight in a PDF file. I trust Amazon.Com to deliver this feature in the not too distant future. If not, there goes one star.
Graphs and Tables: I got the Daily livestock Report from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The document has text, boxes, graphs and tables on one page. I auto rotated this newsletter to landscape mode and the rendering reaches perfection.
Pictures: Work of Art! I love the black and white pictures with lots of texture.
Browser: Speed has not increased but the ability to extract Wikipedia material for me is priceless. The size of the screen facilitates reading in the browser.
Form Function: The ability to handle complex structures comes at a cost. The cost is basically the super sizing of the unit. I find the unit to be much easier to hold in the landscape mode. My wife and I will continue to use our K1 and K2 for reading ebooks. I will be using Kindle DX for more complex material.
Text to Speech (TTS): I find myself using TTS more and more. Unfortunately on DX, TTS does not work within PDF files. It does on K2. This is a minor issue since I use TTS for ebooks.
Memory: 3,500 books on the Kindle DX and an unlimited number of your books saved within the Amazon.com’s cloud which can be downloaded at will for free. Some say it is not enough; I say bring a Cray computer on your next vacation.
Don’t want: I don’t want a backlight on my kindle or touch screen on the reading space.
Wishes: Global wireless access to Kindle DX Store. Bezos’ vision of all books ever written available on Kindle (let’s speed this up, please). Sudoku. Add a print to file feature in the browser so that I can clip Wikipedia or other web material to be retrieved within the main menu. Ability to access the documents I have archived on Pixily.

By Michael Bigger

Kindle DX Pros & Cons & Conclusion

Kindle DX Pros & Cons

Pros:
1. I am a Biomedical science and Biomathematics enthusiast. I read articles ranging from NEJM to applied mathematics and I find that the Kindle DX lives up to its descriptions. The pdf files come out beautifully and even if one were to not rotate, the two column text are still legible.2. Textbook viewing: I read Physiology texts as well as heavy equation filled texts as well and find that both are very well displayed on the Kindle DX provided that they are real pdf files. Even if the files are not formatted correctly, the text comes out great when rotated to landscape mode.3. Size: Despite the other reviewers saying that the Kindle DX is slightly on the heavy side, I believe that the weight distribution is well put together. Also, a little weight makes it feel…more sturdy perhaps. 4. So if you are a science student wanting to spend some money to get the Kindle DX, your investment here will surely benefit you. I have been waiting for such a device to come out for years and finally…a step into the future.

Cons:
1. I have have nothing bad to say thus far, but I do have some things that I thought I should mention.2. The lack of the ability to store files in folders is a slight problem that can easily be overcome by a little clever naming. (Like how some reviewers proposed) I hope Amazon will provide an update, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.3. The price is a little steep. It will put a dent in a wallet of a poor college student. But work a few more hours and you will be a part of the Kindle DX hype.
Conclusion:
The Kindle DX is something that I have always wanted. Although, a little pricey, I think it is a good investment if one has the money to put into it. The functions are very close to how they are described by Amazon and all in all it was a great investment. I hope this review helped someone out there who are debating whether the Kindle DX will be useful for a student. Good luck to you all! And have fun with your purchase!

By AK “AK”

The Amazon Kindle DX Advantage

The Amazon Kindle DX Advantage

Good news! Amazon’s Kindle readers are bound to be bigger and better. On May 6, 2009, Amazon Kindle DX was introduced as the latest ebook reading system from Amazon. The model features a 9.7-inch display with 1200 x 824 pixel resolution. Kindle DX is the first among the Kindle model with an accelerometer, which enable automatically rotating pages at landscape and portrait orientations. This much-improved, compact, lighter, easy-to hold and svelte device is due to be released on June 10, 2009 to retail at $489.
Amazon Kindle DX was launched at the New York City’s Pace University Campus, 3 months after the company has introduced Kindle 2. Coinciding with the model launch is the announcement of Amazon’s partnership with several universities and newspapers, which promises more exciting download features for Kindle DX. Expectedly, the promising design features of the newest Kindle model, which include bigger screen and more of the convenient ebook reading features, is questioned on whether or not it can successfully replace paper and ink, things that the original Kindle model pulled off.

Kindle DX is 0.38-inch thick, a tad thicker that the 0.36-inch Kindle 2. However, its clear advantage goes to its 9.7-inch electronic ink display. It technically offers 2.5 times more of the early model’s screen size, which will enable readers to enjoy more stories, graphics and images on each page. However, giving the model bigger screen resulted to a slight increase in the device’s weight (DX weighs about 18.9 ounces) and a $130+ price difference from Kindle 2.
Thanks to the model’s sleek ergonomics, the added weight and size did not cause the device to be bothersome to carry and hold. However, it is not as compact and portable as its predecessors. Because of its larger size, it requires a larger bag or briefcase to carry for stowaway purposes.
One design point that serves to Kindle DX’s advantage is that it shares the same functionality with the Kindle 2 and more. It comes with a larger memory at 4 GB with 3.3 GB usable internal memory and 2 expansion slots. Hence, this feature enables the model to carry as much as 3,500 books.
Take caution that the new Kindle DX has a sealed-in, non-removable and rechargeable battery. It can last up about two weeks of battery life, enabling the users to judiciously enjoy its built-in 3G wireless data connection applications.

In addition to the expanded memory, another design point for Kindle DX would be its new native PDF support and convenient portrait to landscape orientation features. It also offers convenient settings and adjustments on the text font size and one the number of words displayed on each line of the text. The new Kindle DX also shows potential of a highly competitive display features as it delivers a great job in displaying graphics and charts in 16 shades of gray. Hence, its partnerships with the universities is expected to make the gadget the better alternative to carrying thick and heavy loads of chemistry and other academic books that lightens backpack loads.
From a consumer electronics standpoint, the new Kindle DX is not that perfect. However, it shows incredible promise of being a favorite gadget among avid mobile book, newspaper and magazine readers, professionals and students alike. Although the initial retail price of Amazon Kindle DX somewhat restricts its market size, avid readers of all kinds and ages is likely to gravitate towards Kindle DX regardless of the price, thanks to the interest momentum set by the two successfully Kindle models.

By Thomas J Jarvis

Early analysis of Amazon’s Kindle DX

Early analysis of Amazon’s Kindle DX: E-news

This is the second part to my early analysis of the new Kindle DX large-format e-book reader. In the first post (”Early analysis of Amazon’s Kindle DX: Overview“) I discussed the physical and software features of the new device. In the third post, “Early analysis of Amazon’s Kindle DX: E-textbooks“, I’ll talk about how the DX will fit into the educational market.

The new Kindle DX is larger than the Kindle 2 with more than twice the screen resolution.
(Credit: Amazon.com)
But here, let’s talk about the Kindle DX’s suitability for reading electronic newspapers.
Newspapers are about text, and there’s only a moderate need for interactivity. For each story, the reader views the headline and perhaps skims the opening paragraph, and if it doesn’t look interesting, moves on to the next story.
Even with these relatively undemanding requirements, the Kindle DX isn’t as good for reading newspapers as a real newspaper. We’re all used to the ability to glance over a full newspaper page worth of articles at once. You can’t do that with the Kindle.
This issue boils down to the amount of time we spend reading articles vs. the amount of time we spend glancing at headlines and turning pages. Call that the “reading ratio.” A real newspaper offers a very high reading ratio even if we’re not reading much of the paper, because it takes so little time to flip through the pages looking for articles to read.
On the Kindle DX, the ratio will depend very heavily on how much of the paper we’re reading. For those who just read through the whole paper, the ratio can be fairly high, probably 90 percent or better. It’ll still be lower than a real newspaper because it takes a certain amount of time to turn the virtual pages of the Kindle, and page turning is much more frequent.
(Demonstration videos seem to show that page turning takes about the same amount of time on the DX as on the earlier Kindles.)
For those who read only a fraction of the stories in the day’s paper, the reading ratio of the Kindle DX will be much worse than a real newspaper because the experience will be dominated by page turning. Since most of us can’t simply increase the amount of time we spend reading the paper each day, I’m afraid that the Kindle approach to e-news will actually reduce the amount of news we read.
It’s also worth comparing the Kindle e-news experience with that of the iPhone and a laptop. These devices have active displays with fast update rates, greatly reducing the page-turning delays. I use The New York Times application on my iPhone pretty regularly (once or twice a week, at least), and it’s really quite easy to flick through the day’s top stories, which appear on the iPhone with the headline, a thumbnail photo, and usually about half of the lede.
On the other hand, the delay to read the story itself is quite long, since the Times’ iPhone software is not designed to pre-load the stories, as the Kindle does. The iPhone takes about 10 seconds to bring up a story once selected, but once it’s in, there are no further delays. The rest of the story scrolls past as fast as I want to flick through it.
At home, on my laptop, The New York Times Web site is even faster. It’s easy to skim the titles and ledes of about a dozen stories on the main page for each “section,” and loading a story takes no more than a second or two. Once loaded, again, there are no further delays.
The Kindle DX simply can’t deliver that kind of e-news experience because the screen technology is inherently too slow to support scrolling or fast page-turning.
In fact, it looks like the Kindle DX isn’t even taking full advantage of its own capabilities. The newspaper interface is very basic: one wide column of text, not the multiple narrow columns that help us skim through real newspapers. I wonder why?
But again, I think the Kindle DX will do an adequate job for people who like to read most of the day’s news stories. How much of the market that is, I can’t guess, but I suspect it’s a higher fraction among older, wealthier customers

By Peter Glaskowsky

Kindle DX : Software Improvements

Kindle DX : Satisfied but looking forward to software improvements

In my initial review of the Kindle DX I rated it 3 stars, but am revising that upward to 4 stars as I have used it more. This is primarily due to the excellent readability of the screen and the sheer utility of the device. I had not bought a Kindle previously because of lack of true PDF support and returned a Sony Reader because of very poor PDF support. One of my key reasons for wanting the Kindle DX was the promised PDF support. My impressions so far:

1. The software puts Kindle format reading ahead of PDF, MP3, and browser support. I am fine with that to start, but hope Amazon will put the resources behind software updates to improve the Kindle DX for these other data types.

2. The PDF support is servicable, but has room for improvement. For PDF articles it does a great job. For PDF books downloaded from the web (Google books or Internet Archive), will occasionally get “Some elements on this page could not be displayed” messages. These pages take extra long time to render. Hopefully, Amazon will identify the sources of these “elements” and improve the PDF rendering. As stated in other reviews, the Kindle DX does not support PDF index and other features, which is not ideal for book-length PDFs. Also, in general loading and turning pages in PDF is somewhat slower than the book formats.

3. PDF cropping of white space is inconsistent. On clean PDF articles, it works great. On scanned books from the web in general will not work (I assume it is interpreting the noise lines near the edge as a real feature). A zoom would be helpful here with no loss of content.

4. It is nice and convenient to have audio capability built in, eliminating the need to carry a separate audio player. However, the experimental version included is so rudimentary it is barely usable. The MP3’s sound nice (thru headphones, marginal thru speakers). There are play, stop, and forward buttons, but they forgot the back button. One needs to let the last song play out before it will loop back to the beginning. Add to this you cannot view what MP3’s are on the machine (except by using your computer in USB mode) nor set the play order. Hopefully Amazon will create some kind of audio player to create at least basic functionality.

5. Keyboard buttons could have been a little bigger and more spread out in the same space on the bottom of the Kindle DX. That would have helped a lot. Typing into webpages is somewhat painful. I consider this a lesser sin for this generation of book reader, but would like to see something better in future generations.

6. Some kind of foldering system would be nice. At this point I have loaded ~100 files, which take 7 pages on the home screen to go thru. Again, I hope Amazon puts the resources behind improving the software.In the future, I can imagine a Kindle size device that is a great book reader that you can read in bed, on an airplane, or just generally traveling about. It will have an audio player. It will be in color, providing full support to color books and PDF. It will also likely include a web browser (though how web access is paid for is separate issue). Nothing like this exists on the market today (net books and tablets just are not there yet either). Hopefully someone will see this as a vision for a product that will displace all current book readers.

The Kindle DX is a step in that direction, and has some really nice characteristics-excellent screen rendering, very long battery life (4 days and still have half the initial charge), and portability. These are the reasons that justify to me purchasing the Kindle DX over a netbook or tablet for reading books and PDFs. I think the vision above is a few years away, and the Kindle DX can provide a lot of value now, so I am overall happy with my purchase. I hope Amazon will make me even happier over time by software improvements.

By Thomas Block

Will The Kindle DX save you money

Financial Aid News 123: Will the Amazon Kindle DX save you money?

Student Financial Aid News

In an attempt to enter the electronic textbooks market, Amazon released its newKindle DX yesterday, a wide format eBook reader. At $489, Amazon’s positioning it to replace many college textbooks. Will it save you money?

Given the price of a textbook can be in the hundreds of dollars, it’s not inconceivable that you could buy a Kindle DX for just two or three textbooks’ dollars, but chances are that publishers will not provide a significant discount on e-texts. Right now, many Amazon titles sell for about 20% off their physical versions. If you spend $1,000 a year in textbooks, it’ll take you nearly 3 years to recoup the Kindle DX’s current price tag.

Granted, the Kindle DX will save some backs and reduce chiropractor bills, but it’s questionable whether it will save you money on textbooks, UNLESS professors begin to use more and more electronic texts available for free. For example, you can use the Kindle plus freely available software to make electronic magazines from popular blogs and RSS feeds. If a professor assigned a custom-made Kindle book compiled from blogs and other online sources for free as a master text for the semester, then the Kindle could quickly pay for itself.

The early verdict: publishers will save far more in expenses than they’ll pass on to students in electronic text savings. Don’t expect the Kindle DX to lift your wallet.

Want to buy a Kindle DX? Purchase one through our Amazon affiliate program and help support our ongoing free scholarships fund. All profits and proceeds from our Financial Aid Podcast affiliate program are contributed to Scholarship Points scholarship awards.

Kindle DX - $489 is just too much

As heavily leaked over the past couple of weeks, Amazon have announced the release of a new Kindle, The Kindle DX.

Kindle DX at $489 - With no colour display & no video

The Kindle DX is two and a half times the size of the previous Kindle and significantly more expensive than the other, already expensive Kindle models. Although it can display 16 different versions of grey, the device cannot display other colours and it is still unable to play video.

The Kindle cost barrier

Right now, even its fans will admit that the cost of the Kindle DX is way too high. Forgetting the price Amazon charge for Kindle books, the cost of newspaper and magazine subscriptions (what the Kindle DX was designed for) adds up to a huge outlay - especially during a recession.

As a tech lover, I am VERY aware of the extra price we pay in order to be an early adopter. I have a boxes, filled with thousands of pounds worth of tech gadgets, which are all-but worthless today. However, even for me, the Kindle DX is just too expensive and not sexy enough to justify the price tag of owning and ‘feeding’ it.

Amazon Kindle DX XL E-Reader

Amazon finally announced the Kindle DX (for Deluxe) extra-large e-reader this morning. The 18.9-ounce device has a 9.7-inch screen that measures 8.5 x 11 inches — 2.5 times the size of Kindle 2’s display. The Kindle DX is described as having a 1200×824 pixel resolution at 150 ppi, and 16 levels of gray.

At one-third of an inch in thickness, it’s about the same thickness as a magazine, or a multiply-folded newspaper section. The new device will autorotate the image from portrait to landscape. It has native support for PDF files. Kindle DX can also read print for you like the Kindle 2.

Amazon is pursuing relationship with textbook makers as well as newspapers to provide content for the device. Once you’ve purchased a newspaper or magazine subscription, Amazon will push the content onto your device overnight automatically. Like the Kindle 2, the Kindle Dx does not require a PC for downloads; it has its own 3G connectivity.

Read for four days on a charge with wireless on, up to two weeks with wireless off.

Although this is not quite the e-paper newspaper envisioned in movies like Stephen Spielberg’s 2002 movie Minority Report, it’s starting to get close.

Kindle DX offers RSS feeds as well, so you can get exactly the online news that you want, along with standard newspapers. SF readers may be trying to get Hugo Gernsback’s 1911 classic Ralph 124c 41 +, so they can read about his prediction of personalized news that is pushed to subscribers each night.

Best E-book : Kindle DX

Will a lot of Kindle DX sell in the first 1-2 months?

Let’s see –
1. The Kindle DX isn’t exactly getting a fair chance (as we’ve just seen above).
2. The $489 price of the Kindle DX is also scaring off a lot of potential buyers.
3. There is little pent up demand because a lot of people have bought Kindle 2s in the last 4 months. Also, there’s still more interest in K2 than in KDX -
Kindle 2 getting more interest than Kindle DX???
4. Back To School season doesn’t start until July and peaks only in August.
That pretty much means that the Kindle DX is going to see a gradual adoption.
This would mean that it’s not until students see other students actually using a Kindle DX that DX sales pick up. For Amazon, the biggest challenge is thus creating enough buzz during the early July to Labor Day shopping season to kick-start sales BEFORE the shopping season is over.

The first Kindle DX and its current release do ensure two things -
1. By the time of the BIG Holiday Shopping Season there are some Kindle DXes out there, and perhaps even enough to ignite DX sales.
2. Kindle DX 2 will be able to build on the experience and feedback of the current DX, and likely will be a bigger success.

Kindle DX PDF Top 5 Things to Know

Kindle DX PDF FAQ

The Kindle DX is out and comes with in-built pdf support. My kindle dx review post has been getting lots of PDF related questions.
So here’s a detailed Kindle DX PDF FAQ, after much due diligence on my part. Its backed by the kindle dx liveblog review by Brent Newhall and Jeffrey Ritholtz.

Kindle DX PDF – Top 5 Things to Know

The Good – Kindle DX PDF Features.
1. Native support i.e. just load a PDF and it works.
2. PDFs are searchable and you can bookmark pages, except for PDFs that are images. The searched term is highlighted wherever its found.
3. You can switch to landscape mode and most of the time the DX will show the PDF in a bigger, more readable size. You can go to the lower part of the page by pressing Next Page.
4. PDFs have page numbers, and completion percentage, and ‘Go To Page’ feature.

The Bad – Kindle DX Missing PDF Features
1. PDFs do not support Read To Me. If you do want a PDF read to you, you couldconvert it to kindle format and the converted file would support Read To Me.
2. PDFs do not support changing font sizes, and they do not support zooming and panning. If landscape mode isn’t big enough, you’re stuck.
3. The 5-way cursor doesn’t work in PDFs.
4. PDFs do not support adding notes, they do not support highlighting. Pretty much rules out adding notes to textbooks.
5. You cannot click on a link in a PDF.

Q1: What PDF support is included? What’s Not?

A1: Based on the Good List and the Bad List above, Kindle DX is great for reading PDFs, technical PDFs, computer programming books, and pretty much anything technical. PDFs look great. However, you can’t change font sizes and you can’t turn poorly scanned PDFs into good looking ones.

It does not support a Table of Contents (there’s an inelegant hack Q10). You can’t add notes or nighlights.

Q2: Where can I see actual photos of PDFs on the Kindle DX?

A2: At Brent Newhall’s Kindle DX PDF Page and at Jef’s tech blog. Here are two snippets (courtesy Brent, one showing tables and an image, and another with formulae)

Q3: How fast are page-turns in PDFs?

A3: In Portrait mode, they’re slower. They’re reasonably fast in landscape mode.The reason a lot of people are complaining about page turns is – When you first get your Kindle DX and load a bunch of files, those files are getting indexed and that slows down everything. So the page turns you see in the first few hours are slowed down due to indexing.

New E-book : Kindle DX BY Amazon

Product Description

Sleek & Trim Kindle DX is as thin as most magazines. Just over a third of an inch in profile, you’ll find Kindle DX fits perfectly in your hands. Beautiful Large DisplayKindle DX’s large display is ideal for a broad range of reading material, including graphic-rich books, PDFs, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Kindle DX’s display is two and a half times the size of the Kindle display. Whether you’re reading the latest bestseller or a financial report, text and images are amazingly sharp on the 9.7″ screen. Auto-Rotating Screen By simply turning the device, you can immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables and Web pages. Built-In PDF Reader Unload the loose documents from your briefcase or backpack, and put them all on Kindle DX. From neighborhood newsletters to financial statements to case studies and product manuals–you can take them all with you on Kindle DX. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. With Amazon’s Whispernet service, you can send your documents directly to your Kindle DX and read them anytime, anywhere. 5-Way Controller Kindle DX has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words. Simple to Use, No Computer Required Kindle DX is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box–no setup, no cables, no computer required. Long Battery Life - Read for Days Without Recharging With Kindle DX’s long battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in Amazon Devices
Color: Bisque
Brand: Amazon
Model: D00611
Dimensions: .38″ h x 7.20″ w x 10.40″ l, 1.18 pounds
Features
Slim: Just over 1/3 of an inch, as thin as most magazines
Carry Your Library: Holds up to 3,500 books, periodicals, and documents
Beautiful Large Display: 9.7″ diagonal e-ink screen reads like real paper; boasts 16 shades of gray for clear text and sharp images
Auto-Rotating Screen: Display auto-rotates from portrait to landscape as you turn the device so you can view full-width maps, graphs, tables, and Web pages
Built-In PDF Reader: Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go

BY Amazon Kindle DX

Kindle DX Portable eBook Reader

Kindle DX Portable eBook Reader - Did Amazon Get it Right This Time?

Amazon.com’s new Kindle DX portable ebook reader follows the phenomenally successful Kindle and Kindle 2 portable book readers. Formally called a "wireless reading device", the Kindle DX, as did it’s predecessors, is capable of downloading books and newspapers wirelessly over cellular phone data transmission systems. It is about the size and thickness of a letter-size notepad. While you must pay a fee for each book you download, there is no fee for the wireless data connection that connects you to Amazon. Amazon makes some publications available for no charge, including an electronic edition of the New York Times. Such advantages must be taken into consideration when looking at the Kindle’s higher purchase cost of $489.
Size MattersThe 9.7″ high display of the Kindle DX is the most obvious advantage over previous readers. The screen is two and a half times the size of the Kindle 2. This improves the reading experience of any book, and is especially helpful with reading newspapers, which allow you to scan a full page, then zoom in to an article. The next major difference is the 3500 book capacity, over the 1500 book capacity of the original Kindle. This difference may seem unimportant if, like most of us, you are not going to be reading even 1500 books on the reader, but with increasing use of graphics and the ability to store your own files, extra storage is nice to have. With 276,000 electronic books available for the Kindle DX, you certainly could fill it.
FormatsOf particular importance (and a deal maker/breaker for me) is that the Kindle DX is the first Kindle reader to allow native storage and viewing of the popular Adobe PDF format, the most commonly used format for electronic books. It was possible to view PDF files on previous Kindle versions, but the file had to be converted, with some quality loss compared to Amazon’s proprietary AZW format. Other formats viewable include HTML, TXT, Audible, Doc, JPEG, GIF, and PNG. Files can be loaded via either USB cable or via the Internet through Amazon for a small fee. Another new feature is subtle, but nice: If you rotate the Kindle DX from portrait to landscape position, it will automatically adjust the page so that you are viewing it properly.
The first two Kindle versions have been wildly successful with rave reviews. As a full-fledged PDF format reader with a much larger screen, the Kindle DX overcomes the greatest weaknesses of it’s predecessors, offering what may be the best ebook reading experience on the market, though only for those readers not put off by it’s premium price.

By Wade Watson

Customer Review Kindle DX

Q & A on Kindle DX : BY Customer Review Kindle DX

Q & A on Kindle DX

Q. Why did you purchase a Kindle DX?
A. I love to read, and I read alot. Accordingly, the Kindle DX, while expensive, is likely to "pay" for itself in a relatively short time, for anyone who likes to read New Releases. Yes, you can check things out from the library, but for avid readers who like to plow through New Releases, the Kindle is a nice luxury that supports the healthy habit of reading.

Q. Yeah, but that thing is expensive. Why not the Kindle 2?
A. Who said anything about the Kindle 2? Buy the Kindle 2.

Q. Ok, but why did YOU buy the Kindle DX and not the 2?
A. Oh, well that’s because of a couple of features that were important to me. First, the screen is larger, and that is helpful to me. Second, I like the pdf capability and use it.

Q. And that was worth the extra $100+ dollars?
A. For me, yes. Maybe not for you…and in that instance, buy the 2.

Q. Ok, so what is the first book that you downloaded?
A. Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shephard.

Q. Does it come with a case or a light?
A. No and no… and this is one bone to pick with Amazon. At that price, a protective case, even a cheap one, should be included. I would like to point out for those that bash this "no backlight" thing that just about every paper book I’ve ever purchased did not come with a "backlight" front light, side light, or any other kind of light. I tend to read near a lamp, and so that works. And I have a reading light that I can use in bed or in a car, and whaddya know, that works too.

Q. No color? How come no color?
A. What’s the last paper book you read that was written in color?

Q. Ok, fair point, but what about with periodicals and such?
A. I suspect that eventually we will see color Kindles. I am not sure the technology is available yet at this price point. I, for one, am pleased with the readability of aKindle DX in black and white.

Q. Ok, so is it easy to use?
A. Oh, I think so. For anyone remotely tech savvy, you can figure out the Kindle DX on the fly…. but the user manual that is loaded onto the Kindle is helpful, and there are lots of online sources for information if you’re really stuck.

Q. Is the bigger screen really a plus?
A. For me, it really is. Sometimes, I need to increase the font size for reading comfort and the larger screen really makes it still feel like I’m reading a book and accomplishing something with each turn of the page.

Q. Is the screen really "better" or "improved?"
A. While I do not own a Kindle 1 or 2, I have read from both. In my opinion theKindle DX is crisper and blacker, and in that sense, for me, yes, it is better.

Q. What’s with the screen shift?
A. Ah, you mean where you can turn it sideways and the screen shifts so that you can read, panoramic style. That feature has it’s advantages as well. First, you might find it a more comfortable way to read. Second, with PDF documents, sometimes, it’s the view you need.

Q. How’s the battery life?

A. Oh it’s great. So far, I’m still working off the first charge. Look, I think all of these readers have better than decent battery life. One keye is to remember to turn the wireless mode off if you want to extend the batter life. If you are a subscriber to blogs, etc…..you’ll need the wireless on for the downloads, but otherwise, keep it off. I imagine 2 weeks of reading with no wireless on is actually very achieveable. Now, not reading around the clock for two weeks, but with moderate usage, it lasts and lasts. This is NOT like some Walkman that burns double A’s in 3 hours.

Q. How is the download time?
A. I received Scratch Beginnings in under 18 seconds. I couldn’t have walked to the kitchen to get me keys to drive to the bookstore in 18 seconds. I also couldn’t have fired up my computer to purchase the book online in under 18 seconds.

Q. What about the range?
A. I’m in a metropolitan area. I have no problems. I’ve taken it to the mountains of North Carolina already, again, no problems.

Q. What about out of the country?
A. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Honestly, I plan to download a few books before I go…..

Q. What about people who complain that it isn’t green?
A. Oh for the love of humanity. You can’t please all the people all the time. Look, I read alot. I don’t need or want to own hundreds of books that OH BY THE WAY were printed on paper from trees. I don’t want to store them, put them in landfills, or whatever. This works for me. I hope it works for you.

Q. Yeah, but there are toxins in th…..
A. There are toxins in ice cream. I’m not going to stop eating that either.

Q. Didn’t you see that 20/20Frontline/48 Hours/iTeam investigation/New Magazine/Blah boo Blah show that talks about all the lead and mercury and hazardous stuff that children in Third World Nations are exposed to because you bought a Kindle.
A. Yes……no, wait……that wasn’t the story! Look, I love the environment and please know I try to do my part to protect same. I promise I won’t put my Kindle in the landfill, nor will I have it shipped to Naperstania where young children will be exposed to the evils of whatever might be in my Kindle. I expect to own the Kindle far longer than most books that I have owned in the past. I’m not trying to put magazines out of business, but really, I don’t need the mail, and the wasted paper and the ink and everything else. You give and you get, you know?

Q. Isn’t this just a fad?
A. I don’t think so. I think the Kindle DX could be the solution to college student spending hundreds of dollars per semester on text books and then having to lug them around for classes and trying to get rid of them when the semester is over. The uses of the Kindle DX in the education environment are all plusses. I believe the Kindle line and copies will be around for a long, long time. And if I’m wrong, I’ll come back and edit the review and admit I was wrong.

Q. Is it durable?
A. I haven’t dropped it and don’t want to….but I believe that it is durable. The screen is not like a laptop screen…. it’s more durable, in my view. I recommend getting a case or at least a protective cover. One does want to avoid scratches and unnecessary bumps with ANY electronic device. Again, Amazon should include a cover. Are you listening Amazon?
UPDATE: I dropped it. About 3.5 feet. It hit carpet. It’s fine. Not a scratch on it. Works just like it did before I dropped it. I did utter something that’s not PG when I dropped it….and I’m sorry for that now.

Q. Is it heavy?
A. It’s not heavy. It’s heavier than the Kindle 1 and 2. It’s got some heft to it. But it’s not unwieldy as larger books can be. And you don’t get that horrible thumb fatigue from holding the book upon with your thumb wedged in the bottom in the middle. I don’t find holding the Kindle DX awkward at all. I will say this though… I’m a rightie, and the buttons are all on the right. Perhaps some lefties will not appreciate that fact, but it’s not difficult to navigate at all. Reading with one hand and mashing buttons is a bit more clumsy than with the 1 or 2, but it’s fine.

Q. How’s the keyboard?
A. I think it works just fine. But lookie here…. I have an LG ENV mobile phone, in part, because it has a QWERTY keyboard with raised buttons. My big ol fingers and thumbs work better on little raised surfaces. So, the Kindle QWERTY is just my style. I’m not a touch screen sort of person. In fact, I have been known to become angry with various touch screen Kiosks - for example - at IKEA. But that is a story for another day.

Q. What happens if I spill something on it.
A. Don’t.

Q. How’s that little "mouse" button?
A. Easy to use. At first, I was concerned, because I sort of have fat thumbs. And, I was afraid that with overuse, it might get sticky or something. But, it’s easy to use. I don’t make mistakes with it, despite it’s small size.

Q. Will the Kindle DX make me cool?
A. No. The Kindle DX IS cool, but it will not make YOU cool, if you are not already cool. I am not particularly cool, and I also tend to think that trying to be cool because you have gadgetry is sort of pathetic.

Q. Is the Kindle a good conversation starter?
A. Why, yes it is…. and usually the conversation starts with, "Oh, is that one of those Kenny thingies?"

Q. What else can the Kindle DX do?
A. Scramble eggs and secure the perimeter. I don’t know, why are you asking this?

Q. Well, I’m trying to decide if it’s worth it…

A. If you aren’t an avid reader, NO, it’s not worth it. Look, for someone who always has a nose in a book, reads more than one at a time, reads alot, or quickly, OR for someone who wants to get the latest George Will columns, or magazine, etc…..the Kindle is a great little tool. It’s worth it. If you don’t read that much… stick to the old way.

Q. Do you do all of your reviews this way?
A. No.

Q. Why did you Q & A this one?
A. Because it seemed like more fun than just writing it out in long paragraphs.
The Kindle DX is an excellent device.
The ease with which one can search for and download a book is just wonderful. I realize this works with all Kindles, but folks, let me tell you…. with your Kindle Account, you can search for a book, order it with one click and, I KID YOU NOT, have the entire book on the Kindle in about 10 seconds. Now, does it MATTER whether it’s 10 seconds or 50 seconds or 78 seconds? No.
Of course not.
But I am one to marvel at the speed of things. And this downloading service is really great.
I also want to address one of the more common comments that I get in public when someone sees the Kindle and starts asking questions and then decides to soapbox for a bit.
I get this alot: "Don’t you like to hold a real book? I LOVE to hold a real book! I think I’d miss the holding of a real book. Sometimes, you just want to hold a real book."
MY ANSWER: Yes, sometimes you want to hold a real book. Maybe you like the cover art. Maybe you have a unique edition. Maybe you like the smell of the paper. Maybe you feel more bookish with a real book. That’s you. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re a lovely human being. More power to you. Buy or borrow all the real books you want and read, read, read.
I have no reason to hold a real book in my hands. I don’t love the smell of an old book. Cover art doesn’t usually light my fire. I don’t feel more bookish with a real book. I just want to read a good book, and the Kindle DX makes it easy to obtain and then read what I want to read.
Another thing. I tend to have my nose in more than one book at a time. Sometimes, I’m not in the mood for the biography I’m reading, and a little golf humor makes my day. I don’t have to bring 2-3 books long with me and wait for the mood to strike. The Kindle DX has them all right there. Nice and easy.
Believe me… I’m as uptight and traditional as the next person, but again, for me, the Kindle makes sense. So, there’s really nothing to "defend" so to speak. I would never, in a million years, put down someone who just likes to feel the paper. Accordingly, please grant me the pleasure of swooning over the feel of the smooth, white plastic.

By C.Coleman

Kindle DX News

Kindle DX News


Are we ready to say bye to books?

With technology constantly evolving it comes as no surprise to see Amazon launching a larger version of their e-reader, only three months after the original release.
The latest version of the Kindle DX is 250% bigger than their Kindle 2 gadget.
With a screen roughly as big as an A4 page, the device is aimed at reading newspapers, magazines and documents.
The question is, are people in Northern Ireland ready to say goodbye to books and papers?
Currently, the Kindle DX is not on sale in the UK. However, with other e-readers on the market and the Kindle brand becoming more well-known, it seems like a question of when will we see it, not if.
Once you have bought your Kindle DX reader, you then gain access to the Kindle store. The virtual store has more than 225,000 books available to buy as well as 37 newspapers and 28 magazines which you can subscribe to. And they say that this is just the beginning.
Amazon’s vision is to allow user access to every book that has ever been printed, in any language, and all in less than 60 seconds. Titles already available include Irish classics such as Ulysses and the Narnia books, and the works of famous literary greats, Seamus Heaney, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw.
However, at a cost of ฃ340, an increase of ฃ87 from the original Kindle 2, will we actually benefit from Kindle DX?
Well apparently we will, or at least students will, especially if you’re studying literature.
Without printing and shipping costs, books could be cheaper and struggling with your books would be a thing of the past. A whole term’s worth of books could easily be stored in the device.

Kindle DX allows users to download from a virtual book shop
Ciarnan Helferty, president of the University of Ulster’s Students Union, thinks it could work.
"The initial price of the Kindle DX is quite expensive but if you worked it out the overall costs of textbooks students have to buy it doesn’t seem too bad.
"On average students spend ฃ200 per term, with six terms in a three-year degree then they spend on average 1,200."
With the Kindle DX costing only one third of the average amount spent then it seems quite reasonable.
However, as Mr Helferty pointed out: "All of the students’ textbooks and documents would have to be available in order for it to work.
"Perhaps if students could pay over a fixed term, say 12 months, like mobile contracts, that would work out better for them."

Kindle DX Review : Advanced Design

Kindle DX Review : Advanced Design

Kindle DX Features
Advanced Design Sleek & Trim
Kindle DX is as thin as most magazines. Just over a third of an inch in profile, you’ll find Kindle DX fits perfectly in your hands.
Beautiful Large Display
Kindle DX’s large display is ideal for a broad range of reading material, including graphic-rich books, PDFs, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Kindle DX’s display is two and a half times the size of the Kindle display. Whether you’re reading the latest bestseller or a financial report, text and images are amazingly sharp on the 9.7″ screen.
Auto-Rotating Screen
By simply turning the device, you can immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables and Web pages.
Built-In PDF Reader
Unload the loose documents from your briefcase or backpack, and put them all on Kindle DX. From neighborhood newsletters to financial statements to case studies and product manuals–you can take them all with you on Kindle DX. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. With Amazon’s Whispernet service, you can send your documents directly to your Kindle DX and read them anytime, anywhere. Some features such as annotations and read-to-me are not currently supported for PDF. You can magnify PDFs by viewing them in landscape mode.
5-Way Controller
Kindle DX has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words.
Simple to Use, No Computer Required
Kindle DX is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box–no setup, no cables, no computer required.
Long Battery Life
Long Battery Life - Read for Days Without Recharging
With Kindle DX’s long battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.
Charge via USB
Kindle DX supports wall charging via the included Kindle DX power adapter, and charging from your computer via the included USB 2.0 cable. Kindle DX fully charges in approximately 4 hours.
Wireless Access with Whispernet
Fast 3G Network - Get Books in Under 60 Seconds
Whispernet utilizes Amazon’s optimized technology plus Sprint’s national high-speed (3G) data network to enable you to wirelessly search, discover, and download content on the go. Your books and periodicals are delivered via Whispernet in less than 60 seconds. And unlike Wi-Fi, you never have to hunt for a hotspot. Download times can vary based on wireless coverage strength and file size.
National Wireless Coverage
Kindle DX’s national coverage includes cities and areas in all 50 states, enabling wireless downloads of books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Check our wireless coverage map for availability.
No Wireless Bills
No monthly wireless bills, data plans, or commitments. Amazon pays for Kindle DX’s wireless connectivity so you won’t see a wireless bill. There is no wireless setup–you are ready to shop, purchase and read right out of the box. See Wireless Terms and Conditions.
Carry Your Library in a Profile As Thin As a Magazine
Holds Up To 3,500 Books
The ultimate travel companion, Kindle DX is as thin as a magazine and holds up to 3,500 books, newspapers, magazines, and documents. No longer pick and choose which books fit in your carry-on. Now you can always have your personal and professional libraries with you.
Automatic Library Backup: Download Your Books Anytime for Free
A copy of every book you purchased from the Kindle Store is backed up online at Amazon.com in case you ever need to download it again. You can wirelessly re-download books for free anytime. This allows you to make room for new titles on your Kindle DX, knowing that Amazon is storing your personal library of Kindle books. We even back up your last page read and annotations, so you’ll never lose those, either. Think of it as a bookshelf in your attic–even though you don’t see it, you know your books are there.
Enhanced Reading
Paper-Like Screen
Utilizing the latest in electronic-ink display technology, Kindle DX provides a crisp black-and-white 9.7-inch diagonal screen with the same appearance and readability of printed paper. Sharp and natural with no glare or backlight, reading on Kindle DX is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Those who see it for the first time always do a double-take. The screen works using ink, just like books and newspapers, but displays the ink particles electronically. And unlike a laptop or smart phone, Kindle DX never gets warm so you can comfortably read as long as you like.
Sharp Display of Images and Photos
Kindle DX’s high-resolution screen boasts 16 shades of gray, so images and photos are sharp and clear.
Full Image Zoom
Whether you prefer reading in portrait or landscape mode, images and photos display crisply on Kindle DX and can be zoomed to the full size of the 9.7″ screen.
Read in Sunlight With No Glare
Kindle DX’s screen reflects light like ordinary paper and uses no backlighting, eliminating the glare associated with other electronic displays. As a result, Kindle DX can be read as easily in bright sunlight as in your living room.
Adjustable Text Size
Kindle DX has six adjustable font sizes to suit your reading preference. You can increase the text size of your favorite book or periodical with the push of a button. If your eyes tire, simply increase the font size and continue reading comfortably. Now every book in your library can be large print.
Read-to-Me Feature
Kindle DX can read to you. With its Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle DX can read books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can speed up or slow down the reading speeds or choose a male or female voice. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Enhanced Newspaper Reading Experience
With Kindle DX’s large display, reading newspapers is more enjoyable than ever. The 5-way controller lets you quickly flip between articles, making it fast and easy to browse and read the morning paper. Want to remember the article you just read? Clip and save entire articles for later reading with a single click.
Bookmarks and Annotations
By using the QWERTY keyboard, you can add annotations to text, just like you might write in the margins of a book. And because it is digital, you can edit, delete, and export your notes. Using the 5-way controller, you can highlight and clip key passages and bookmark pages for future use. You’ll never need to bookmark your last place in the book, because Kindle DX remembers for you and always opens to the last page you read.
Personal Document Service Via Whispernet
Kindle DX makes it easy to take your personal documents with you, eliminating the need to print. Each Kindle has a unique and customizable e-mail address. You can set your unique email address on your Manage Your Kindle page. This allows you and your approved contacts to e-mail Word, PDF documents, and pictures wirelessly to your Kindle for a small fee–see details
. Kindle supports wireless delivery of unprotected Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML, TXT, RTF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PRC and MOBI files. In addition, DOCX conversion is supported as an experimental feature.
If you would like to download your personal documents for free, or if you are not in a wireless area, you can send attachments to “name”@free.kindle.com to be converted and e-mailed to your computer at the e-mail address associated with your Amazon.com account login. You can then transfer the document to your Kindle using your USB connection. For example, if your Kindle email address is Jay@Kindle.com, send your attachments to Jay@free.kindle.com.

Built-in Dictionary With Instant Lookup
Never get caught without a dictionary. Kindle DX includes The New Oxford American Dictionary with over 250,000 entries and definitions, so you can seamlessly look up the definitions of words without interrupting your reading. Come across a word you don’t know? Simply move the cursor to it and the definition will automatically display at the bottom of the screen. Never fear a sesquipedalian word again–simply look it up and keep reading.
Wireless Access to Wikipedia
Kindle DX also includes free built-in access to the world’s most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia–Wikipedia.org. With Kindle DX in hand, looking up people, places, events and more has never been easier. It gives whole new meaning to the phrase walking encyclopedia.
Search
Kindle DX makes it easy to search within a book, across your library, in the Kindle Store, or even the Web. To use the Search feature, simply type in a word or phrase you’re looking for, and Kindle DX finds every instance in your book or across your Kindle library. Looking for the first reference of a character in your book? Simply type in the name and search. You can extend your search to the Kindle Store to find related titles you may be interested in. Explore even further by searching Wikipedia and the Web.
Whispersync
Have more than one Kindle? Our Whispersync technology allows you to seamlessly switch back and forth between your Kindle devices and iPhone while keeping your reading location synchronized–now you can read a few pages on your iPhone or Kindle and pick up right where you left off on your Kindle DX.
Own an iPhone?
The iPhone is a perfect companion for your Kindle. To read Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod touch, simply download our freeKindle for iPhone application. Just like all Kindle devices, Kindle for iPhone includes Amazon’s Whispersync technology so you can easily switch back and forth between your Kindle and iPhone.
Audiobooks
With Kindle DX, you are able to download and enjoy more than 60,000 audio titles from Audible.com, including bestselling audio books, radio programs, audio newspapers and magazines. Due to their file size, audiobooks are downloaded to your PC over your existing Internet connection and then transferred to Kindle DX using the included USB 2.0 cable. Listen via Kindle DX’s speakers or plug in your headphones for private listening.
Experimental Features

The experimental category represents features we are still working on to enhance the Kindle DX experience even further. Try them out and let us know what you think.
Read-to-Me
Kindle DX can read to you. With its Text-to-Speech feature, Kindle DX can read books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers out loud to you, unless the book’s rights holder made the feature unavailable. You can switch back and forth between reading and listening, and your spot is automatically saved. Pages automatically turn while the content is being read, so you can listen hands-free. You can speed up or slow down the reading speeds or choose a male or female voice. In the middle of a great book or article but have to jump in the car? Simply turn on Text-to-Speech and listen on the go.
Basic Web Browser
Kindle DX’s basic Web browser works well to read simple, text-centric Web sites, such as Google and Wikipedia. Reading a book or article about solar power and want to research further? Now it’s easier than ever to find the information you’re looking for right from your Kindle DX.
Listen to Music & Podcasts
Transfer MP3 files to Kindle DX to play as background music while you read. You can quickly and easily transfer MP3 files via USB by connecting Kindle DX to your computer.
Included In the Box

Kindle DX electronic reader, Kindle DX power adapter, and USB 2.0 cable (for connection to the Kindle DX power adapter or optionally to connect to a PC or Macintosh computer).

By Amazon Kindle DX

News : Kindle DX Quick-Start Guide

Kindle DX Quick-Start Guide

Migrating Content to a New Kindle DX
If you already own a Kindle, you can download content to your new Kindle DX from Amazon.com via Whispernet or you can transfer personal documents, MP3 or Audible files via USB. You can also send items to Kindle remotely or download them to your computer from the Manage Your Kindle page on Amazon.com. For more information, see Managing Your Kindle on Amazon.com or Transferring Documents and Files to Kindle.
Copies of all your books and recent issues of newspapers and magazines purchased from the Kindle Store are kept on Amazon.com, and you can download and share Kindle books with multiple Kindles registered to your Amazon account. Please see these Help pages for more information:
Screen Rotation for Kindle DX
The Kindle DX screen image can rotate to match the way you’re holding your Kindle. The display changes accordingly from portrait to landscape. The buttons work the same in either rotation, and the 5-way controller movements are switched to match the rotation. Note: The Kindle Store can only be viewed in portrait mode.
Locking your viewing mode
By default, the Kindle DX auto-rotates the screen image based on your orientation. Tolock your screen in portrait or landscape mode:
Press the “Aa” key located on the bottom row of the keyboard.
Move the 5-way down to underline the Screen Rotation options.
Move the 5-way left or right to select the option you prefer. (”Auto” automatically adjusts the display based on your motion.)
Press the 5-way to confirm your choice.
Tip: Want the Next and Prev Page buttons on the left side of your screen? Rotate the device 180 degrees.
Reading PDF files on Kindle DX
Your Kindle DX is able to display most PDF documents.
When your Kindle is held in portrait orientation, PDF documents are displayed in their original layout and fit the entire screen of the device. White margins of PDF documents are automatically cropped to maximize the amount of content shown on the screen. In landscape orientation, Kindle automatically magnifies your document to fit the width of the screen.
Tip: The options available while reading a PDF are slightly different than when reading a book or a periodical on Kindle. Options that are not available in PDF files are grayed out in the menu.

BY Amazon Kindle DX

Kindle DX: Looks Good, Works Fine, Costs Too Much

Kindle DX: Looks Good, Works Fine, Costs Too Much

The Kindle DX, which shipped June 10, is the latest iteration of Amazon’s family of black & white digital reading devices to be released. And since I reviewed the original device in 2007; as well its redesigned upgrade, the Kindle 2, in March of this year; here’s my review of the DX.

If you read myreview

of the Kindle 2, there’s really not a lot more to say. The Kindle DX is essentially a bigger (9.7” screen), enhanced version of the Kindle 2 (6” screen) with a larger 3gb harddrive that will hold up to 3,500 books as opposed to the Kindle 2, which is said to hold about 1,500. Naturally the price is higher as well, $489 for the Kindle DX and $359 for the Kindle 2. All of the other stuff—sleek minimalist design, 24/7 wireless connectivity; the ability to buy any of more than 300,000 Kindle editions at any time day or night; including newspapers, blogs and magazines—is pretty much the same.Ultimately the Kindle DX is all about size. It’s bigger, although not necessarily better, but its increased size offers some important advantages in display. The DX’s larger screen is a major improvement over the original Kindle’s notoriously poor display of photographs, illustrations and graphic material in general. The Kindle 2 introduced the 16-tone grayscale which has given photos and other graphic material more visual weight and volume. The DX’s larger format simply enhances the grayscale by allowing the images to be displayed larger. The Kindle DX has also added a jazzy landscaping mode—flip the decide on its side and the image will shift and adjust to horizontal display. Indeed both the larger display and the iPhone-like image rotation appear to be part of Amazon’s attempt to pitch the device as the next gen reader for newspapers and textbooks, an initiative the company announced when it launched the device in early May.

Titles download quickly (except for comics or photo works which take significantly longer); and while paging is a bit clunky—the screen blackout when a page turns is annoying but not a big deal—the Kindle reading experience is mostly pleasant and efficient. However, while image and graphical display on both the Kindle2 and the Kindle DX is much improved, it remains to be seen if that alone makes the device worth the price. Yes, photographs are much improved, although far from great. Photographs and graphics displayed during the debut press conference

back in May were often crisp and eye-popping. However, my experience with graphic works purchased and downloaded to the Kindle DX device—newspapers and magazine photos, graphic novels and comics and jpeg photographs downloaded to the device—ranged from okay to better but still unimpressive. Photos from the New York Times and Newsweek had visual weight and depth but are not crisp at all.In fact photos still look veiled, dim and soft even though they are much clearer than on the original Kindle. Comics have the same problems. (Apparently during BookExpo America, Amazon was meeting with a number of comics publishers to discuss enhancements to the device for comics display). The graphic novel adaptation of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride looks mostly better on the Kindle DX because it can now be displayed at a larger size. Comics displayed on the improved Kindle 2 looked dim and small and were hard to read and the device’s zoom feature didn’t really help much. Comics are now much easier to read on the Kindle DX but they still seem dim and veiled by the screen’s grey cast. They are also often marred by ugly moray patterns over the work’s grey tones. Indeed the Kindle’s much-hailed e-ink screen has an overall greyness to it that makes everything look a bit dull. And while Amazon hypes the e-ink screen for its ability to be read in bright sunlight just like paper, it also has another paper-like quality—unlike backlit screens the e-ink screen is very difficult to read in lowlight or dimlight situations. Color photographs displayed in b&w on the screen were much the same—better than the original Kindle but not impressive in a world of relatively cheap mobile computing devices with high resolution screens that can display full color documents.

Amazon has also redesigned the keyboard as well as the keys, creating a new and awkward layout and key-shape that is hardly an improvement. The device’s keys—oddly stretched into a pill capsule-like shape—are laid out to conform to the space leftover from the screen rather than to any sense of keyboarding efficiency. And while the keyboard works just fine, it’s virtually impossible to key with any speed, comfort or confidence because of the way the keys are spaced. Indeed it’s virtually impossible to key at all unless the device is resting on the edge of something.

The Kindle is a popular device—it’s easy to use, works like a charm, looks good and, to the ongoing chagrin of book publishers, has set a popular standard for e-book pricing with its $9.99 price point for Kindle editions. The Kindle DX will likely also attract a following. But once again, can a black & white reading device survive over the longterm in a market that includes full-featured miniature computers and handheld mobile devices that sell for much less and have more uses? I suppose we’ll soon find out. The Kindle DX works just fine, but really, $489?

by Calvin Reid

KindleDX Quick-Start Guide

KindleDX Quick-Start Guide

Powering Up Your KindleDX

The Power switch on top of Kindle puts it to sleep, wakes it up, and turns your Kindle DX on or off.

To wake up or turn on your Kindle DX: Slide and release the power switch.

To put your Kindle DX to sleep: Slide and release the power switch. (Other keys and buttons are locked in Sleep mode.)

To turn your KindleDX off: Slide and hold the power switch for four seconds until the screen goes blank and then release.

To reset your Kindle: Disconnect your Kindle from any power source, and then slide and hold the power switch for 15 seconds before releasing.

Tip: Your KindleDX will also go to sleep by itself after ten minutes if you aren’t using it. If your Kindle DX had wireless on prior to going to sleep, it will continue to receive your regularly scheduled subscriptions while in sleep mode.

Using the Controls

To get around on your Kindle, you use the buttons, menus, and the keyboard–all of which are explained here.

· Volume controls: Look for the silver button located on the right side of the device. This controls the headphone or speaker volume for audiobooks, background music, and text-to-speech.

· Previous Page button: This takes you to the previous page in your reading material.

· Home button: Click this button anytime to go back to the Home screen, which shows content stored on your Kindle as well as content archived at Amazon.

· Next Page button: This takes you to the next page in your reading material.

· Menu button: Click this button to display application and navigation choices that are related to the screen you’re viewing.

· 5-way controller: Shift the button up, down, left, or right to navigate the screen you’re viewing. Push down to select an item or action.

· Keyboard: Use this to enter search terms, notes in your content, URLs for Web sites, etc.

· Back button: Click this button to retrace your steps on Kindle–it works just like the back button on a web browser. For example, you can follow a link in a book and then press the Back button to return to your place in the book.

· “SYM” key: This presents a menu of punctuation marks and symbols. Move the 5-way controller to select the desired symbol and press the 5-way to select.

· “Aa” key: Changes the size of the text you’re reading and presents available controls for Text-to-Speech, the number of words that appear per line, and screen rotation options. Move the 5-way controller to select the options you prefer.

Using the Home Screen

Your Home screen displays a list of all of your Kindle DX reading materials–books, newspapers, magazines, blogs, personal documents, as well as audiobooks. It serves as a personal bookshelf for all of your reading material, as well as a starting point to access other Kindle DX features.

To display the Home screen: Press the Home button on the right side of your KindleDX.

Here’s what you’ll see on the Home screen:

· Device name: The name of your Kindle. You can edit this name on the Settings screen.

· Show options: Choose which types of content you want displayed on the Home screen.

· Sort options: Choose the order you want content displayed in Home.

· Title: the title of the item.

· Author or Date: For books, the author of the item is listed. For periodicals and blogs, the date is listed.

· Unread title: The “new” label indicates the item has never been opened and is less than 24 hours old. Once you open a new document or more than 24 hours has passed since the item arrived on your KindleDX, the “new” label is removed.

· Archived Items: Downloadable items stored at Amazon.com not currently on your device.

· Sample title: Indicates the book is a sample. If you like it, you can purchase the full book when viewing the sample.

· Progress indicator: The series of dots below the item shows how long the book is and bold dots show how far you’ve read in a particular item.

· Audiobook title: The “audio” label indicates the book is an audiobook.

· Pages in Home: Indicates the total number of pages in Home. Use the Next Page or Previous Page button to navigate the pages.

· Periodicals: Select this to access older issues of newspapers and magazines.

Registering Your KindleDX

Register your Kindle DX to access features such as purchasing and downloading content. If you no longer have access to your Kindle DX or you transferred it to another user, you should deregister your Kindle DX from your account.

To register or deregister your Kindle DX:

1. If you aren’t already on the Home screen, press the Home button.

2. Press the Menu button. (Make sure Whispernet is turned on.)

3. Move the 5-way down until “Settings” is underlined and press to select.

4. Press the 5-way to select “register” or “deregister” from the Settings screen.

5. If you’re registering Kindle, enter the e-mail address and password associated with your Amazon account using the keyboard.

6. Navigate the 5-way to select “OK” to finish the process or “Cancel” to abort.

Tip: If your e-mail address or password contains characters not present on the Kindle keyboard, press the “SYM” key to see a menu of additional characters. Numbers are alternate options on the Kindle DX keyboard; if you need to select a number, press the “ALT” key first and then press the key that displays the number.

You can also register or deregister your Kindle on the Manage Your Kindle page athttp://www.amazon.com/manageyourkindle.

Setting Your Payment Method

When you buy books or other items directly from your KindleDX, you’re paying with the Default 1-click® Payment Method on your Amazon.com account. Typically, this is the payment method associated with your default shipping address. For digital purchases, you can only use a credit or debit card issued by a U.S. bank with a U.S. billing address.

To check or change your payment method:

1. Visit the Manage Your Kindle page.

2. Click the “Your 1-Click payment method” link in the shortcuts on the right side of the page.

3. Click on “edit” to update your payment method, then follow the on-screen instructions for choosing or adding a payment method.

4. Click the Continue button to verify your changes.

You don’t have to enable 1-Click for all of your Amazon.com purchases, but you must have a valid 1-Click payment method specified to place a digital order.

By Amazon KindleDX