Comments on: Amazon Kindle DX Review

By: Cobin Rox

Cobin Rox — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:24:30 +0000

@Don: the connections are free; I had never heard of any fees associated with 3G. The only fees you encounter is if you were to email documents to your Kindle (as opposed to just downloading documents from a PC via the Kindle’s USB port).

By: Cobin Rox

Cobin Rox — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:21:01 +0000

@jack: The 2nd generation KDX does not have a removable battery; can anyone speak to the 3rd generation?

By: Don Dunaway

Don Dunaway — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 22:44:16 +0000

I’m thinking of buying a Kindle DX but am concerned that it doesn’t have wi-fi capability (Why not? YThe little ones do?), especially since I spend a lot of time traveling in Europe and I understand that there are extra fees to download by 3G.
Any comment?
Thanks for the thorough review.
Don

By: jack davis

jack davis — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:49:38 +0000

does the KDX have a removeable battery?

By: rpv

rpv — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 00:05:56 +0000

Excellent review, i wrote up a review based on my experiences

http://goo.gl/zXv2M

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 00:59:40 +0000

Thanks for a great review. I was going to purchase the smaller Kindle and then saw the larger one was available. More $$ especially as if I get one, so does my wife!

Your detailed review made my decision an easier one to make.

By: Jani Wick

Jani Wick — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 07:15:57 +0000

This is the best review I have ever read on Kindle DX. I got all the answers for my questions.As Kindle is an ereader, so are you a mind reader.
Those who seek to buy a bigger screen often do so for some reasons. Most of the info that niche requires is here. Specially reading pdfs. This is even an example for everybody getting into writing reviews.

By: Cobin Rox

Cobin Rox — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:28:34 +0000

@Charles –
1) Navigation is a little easier because the back button works better now. Bookmarking is a little better because you can delete bookmarks while in the bookmarking screen.
2) Yes, Az books are still tightly DRM’ed.
3) PDF files are a little nicer now that there is a zoom feature. You can see an example of this in action:
http://the-gadgeteer.com/2010/06/17/deklutter-your-kindle-with-firmware-update-2-5/

By: Charles

Charles — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:42:01 +0000

Thanks a lot for your thorough review of the KDX! As others have mentioned, it addressed pretty much any question I could think of.

Since Amazon has recently lowered the asking price for the KDX and is advertising it more heavily I’ve started considering buying one of these. I initially wanted to buy a Kindle, but the screen was too big for me to remain interested. Also, I’m an anti-trend whore, so I refuse to even consider the iPad.

However, the issue with technical books is quite disappointing to me, as I’d like to at least be able to consider the possibility of uploading them in the future. Also, I have concerns about how Amazon does DRM, as I might not attain all of my books in an orthodox manner 0:)

So, two questions:

1) Has the bookmarking system been improved in the last few months by a software update, i.e., is it now easier to navigate by chapter in books like textbooks?

2) Does Amazon have an annoyingly overbearing DRM software like Apple’s iTunes does, or is it easier to get around?

By: Alan Afif

Alan Afif — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:34:59 +0000

This is an excellent review and has answered pretty much all of the questions I still had outstanding after spending some hours reading other reviews (and the KDX user manual). Like you, my main use would be for reading PDF’s of technical stuff (which I’m doing now on a Sony PRS-505 and it’s not easy reading). You addressed that topic pretty thoroughly.

I live in London and have read that there are some shortcomings in using it outside the US so I’m still unsure whether to purchase just now.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to share your experience and writing a really good review.

By: Another Andrea :-)

Another Andrea :-) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:34:04 +0000

@ Andrea: I had the same experience. I knew I wanted a netbook and purchased one before my Kindle. I tried reading from it, but it really did hurt the eyes after awhile. I tried changing the contrast (light text on dark background), but it didn’t really help for long hours of reading.

When I got my Kindle I realized how much BETTER e-ink is for reading. Still really like my netbook, for the tasks I use it for, but reading is not one of those tasks. If someone ever came out with a netbook with a dual capability screen (e-ink/LCD), THEN I might consolidate to one device. But I really do like my Kindle.

Thanks for this great review on the DX.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 14:17:49 +0000

As an owner of an iPod Classic, a 10″ netbook running Linux, a PC with Windows 7 and a Kindle 2 (just to say that I’m not fanboy of any particular brand/OS) I’ll explain simply why an iPad is totally unsuited to ebook reading: the 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy display. eInk was born just for the reason that backlight displays are a royal PITA for prolonged reading (as I learned by myself it with my netbook).

By: anieb

anieb — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:34:29 +0000

Julie, I finally realized that later. Thanks, and big thanks to Robin!

By: Kimberly O.

Kimberly O. — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:35:17 +0000

Great review! I’m almost tempted to buy a DX however now I think the only version available is the “global wireless” version — which uses AT&T for its Whispernet. (Which does not work at ALL in my little town in NW MN — and only one bar of service with my first Kindle 2i. I ended up returning it and bought a refurbished Kindle 2 U.S. Wireless that uses Sprint.) The Kindle 2 also now reads PDFs thanks to a firmware update in December. Yay! But the larger reading area sure would be nice with the DX. Excellent and very thorough review!!

By: Julie

Julie — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:58:35 +0000

@anieb I can’t take credit for this review. It was written by Robin.

By: anieb

anieb — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 12:40:14 +0000

Julie,
A lot of really good work you put into this. Probably the most thorough report on the DX that I’ve seen. Very helpful !

A few comments:
1. The reflection you showed. Doesn’t that come from the flash on your camera when taking a picture? My DX is matte finish and doesn’t show much of a reflection unless a light bulb is right over it

2. Weight of holding it, with cover
I agree. As a result I don’t use the cover when reading. Also, M-Edge has a ‘Platform’ model which lets you just sit it up on your leg. Pics of that for the Kindle 2 are at http://bit.ly/k2photos and I bought the version for the DX also.

3. Yes. .mobi and .prc files do have the same viewing and annotation features as the Amazon Kindle books – it’s essentially the same format but without Amazon’s digital rights or book-identifying numbers on them as they are downloadable from elsewhere. So, yes, the zoom feature works on images in those also.

4. True. mp3 files are played in the order in which you put them into the Kindle’s ‘music’ folder. Primitive. But that would allow you to read an mp3-book with multiple separate chapters (or you can get a free utility to combine mp3 files and also save the combined mp3 as encoded-32k which will usually make it all smaller).

Some say that you can put an mp3 in the ‘audible’ folder or in the ‘documents’ folder and then play it on-demand. But if you do, it’ll play as foreground material and you can’t read a book at the same time that way.

5. Annotations: if you haven’t tried it yet, go to http://kindle.amazon.com and sign in. You can go to the bottom left of a list and ask that ALL those for a book be shown on one page.

6. Web browsing — since you like the CNN news feature, try the free download of my file with several mobile-unit-focused websites. Go to http://bit.ly/mobiweb There’s a guide to faster Kindle web-browsing in that section too.

7. Absolutely right re folder organization or the lack of it (though we can choose to see only books or personal documents or subscirptions — sorted by title, author, most recent). Kindle support has written on the forums and Facebook that they expect an update for organizational capability will be due by the summer.

8. My books that have figure boxes etc. (I have history books) — these usually have a link. If they do and you click on one, then you press the ‘Back’ button to get right back to where you were before the “link-jump” via the 5-way button.

9. When paging ahead or backwards, doing a search for a word or content you’re looking for can help. Press ‘Back’ button to get back to where you were after looking at the various results. I sometimes set the location numbers back or ahead.

10. No, the iPad won’t be allowing multiple screens. It can’t multitask at all, which is odd for a web-browser. No listening to Pandora FM while web browsing or reading a book. Some say the iPad music playback can’t be done at the same time either but I don’t know if that’s true. The iPad also doesn’t have USB ports or Flash support.

Thanks again for this helpful page. I’ll let people know about it.

anieb – Andrys

By: ettober

ettober — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:47:33 +0000

Lots of infos. Thanks for sharing!