Kindle DX 1 As expected, Amazon formally introduced the big brother to the Kindle 2 today and yes, it is indeed called the “Kindle DX”. Here’s what you need to know about the new Kindle reader:

  • Measures just over 1/3 of an inch thick
  • Has more memory than the Kindle 2 – capable of storing 3500 books (4GB of storage space total with 3.3GB available to the user)
  • Has a larger display measuring 9.7 inches diagonal. Displays up to 16 shades of gray. This is approximately 2.5 times the surface area of the Kindle 2’s 6 inch display.
  • The display auto-rotates from portrait to landscape thanks to a built-in accelerometer
  • Built-in PDF reader thanks to Adobe technology
  • Same 3G wireless modem built right in
  • Text-to-speech feature like the Kindle 2
  • Measures 10.4 x 7.2 x 0.38 inches
  • Built-in stereo speakers
  • 3.5 mm audio jack
  • 5 way controller for easy navigation
  • Charge via USB
  • Fully charges in 4 hours
  • Read up to 4 days with wireless turned on
  • Read up to 2 weeks with wireless turned off

So that’s on the hardware side of things. Yes, the Kindle DX is basically a larger Kindle 2 with a built-in PDF reader and accelerometer.  You can preorder the Kindle DX now at Amazon.com for a price of $489.

Now on the content side of the equation, Amazon has signed three of the top 5 textbook publishers out there in an attempt to make the Kindle DX the preferred way of buying and reading textbooks. The idea for college kids? Replace bulky textbooks with the lightweight/thin form factor of the Kindle 2.

Now to help spur this market segment along, five colleges will launch trial programs this fall where Kindle DX devices will be made available to students. According to the Amazon press release, “schools will distribute hundreds of Kindle DX devices to students spread across a broad range of academic disciplines. “

Our thoughts (or should I say.. My thoughts?)

  • It’s pricey.. but we knew it was going to be pricey given the fact that the original Kindle 2 is pricey. Amazon’s basically priced themselves into this position. They can’t risk cannibalizing sales from Kindle 2 – yet they need to make sure Kindle DX does well too. Plus – it’s dangerously close to low end notebook prices. Granted, the battery life and the comfort level isn’t there in a notebook like it is in the DX yet.. a notebook offers more functionality and is a possibly a better bang for the buck in today’s economy
  • Love the fact that there’s a built-in PDF viewer now. It’s about time.
  • Question to be answered – will kids really latch onto the Kindle DX? The idea of carrying around just the DX instead of full-on textbooks is a great one but is it practical? Many of today’s students carry notebooks with them to class and to the library. The Kindle DX just makes the load lighter but it doesn’t remedy the fact that I have to read a textbook in one hand and write my essay in another device. Why not integrate the two with a single notebook? Something to consider.
  • Finally, there’s the potential competition. As Sascha Sagan points out – someone could easily come out with a cool PC design – say Apple’s long rumored tablet device – that would essentially knock the socks off of the Kindle DX. I would much rather carry a large screen iPod touch-like device where I had a full featured web browser, an e-book reader application, the ability to use a touch-screen display, and the potential idea of attaching a keyboard for user input. If that meant it would cost $700 dollars.. OK – I can deal with that because it offers function not available today in a $500 dollar notebook or a $500 dollar Kindle DX.
  • I wonder if some Kindle 2 buyers are pissed at the thought that a larger Kindle is now available. Would they have gladly waited for the larger display and forked over additional bucks for that model??

To be fair, I think the Kindle is a great device overall. From concept to look and feel to execution, the Kindle is solid. There’s no doubt about it. However, the main beef is with the pricing. Pricing in my opinion has left the Kindle vulnerable to the competition (assuming it’s executed correctly also).  The question is – will the competition answer in kind and at a lower or more competitive price point? Does Amazon ultimately care? Probably not – especially if it means it can sell more and more e-books.

Ok.. enough of my blabbering – here’s some early looks at the Kindle DX:

[Check out the press release]

 

Kindle DX 2 

Kindle DX 3 

Kindle DX 4

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

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