Kindle DX eReader Review
Design - Weight and Dimensions
Dimensions: 10.4 in x 7.2 in x 0.4 in
Weight: 16 ounces
Color: Available in black
Amazon's Kindle DX is by far the largest Kindle the company has ever sold, and it's currently the largest-screened device on the eReader market. This size does come at the cost of portability, however, and Kindle DX buyers will find that the device's weight, at 16 ounces, is very substantial. That doesn't mean the device isn't portable, however; but be prepared to buy a slightly larger bag or carrying case for this eReader as compared to the broader market with which it is competing. It is available in black, as are all Amazon Kindle devices, and has a very sleek appearance.
Display - Resolution and Reflectiveness
Display Type: 10 inch monochrome eInk display
Resolution: 800 x 600
Color Depth: 4-bit monochrome with 16 levels of gray
Amazon has made a name for itself in the eReader with its monochromatic Kindle devices, and the Kindle DX is no exception to this rule. Despite containing a larger display that seems like it would be a perfect fit for 32-bit color, Amazon has elected to install the traditional 4-bit monochrome eInk display on this behemoth of an eReader. And that's actually an alright choice, as eInk is notoriously easy to read and resembles the pages of a print book better than any other type of display currently available. The important thing is that the screen is easy to read, visible in all levels of light, and won't cause a headache after hours of use.
User-friendliness and Interface - Touchscreen vs Keyboard
Another hallmark of Amazon eReader devices has been their inclusion of a physical keyboard at the bottom end of the device. That holds true with the Kindle DX as well, though many users might have expected an eReader of this size to prefer a touchscreen input rather than increasing bulk with physical buttons. Amazon has until recently been firmly committed to the physical keyboard as a tenet of user-friendliness, and there's no denying that the keys are easy to push, navigate, and use to enter textual information. In fact, most people will prefer this method to the more cutting-edge touchscreen input devices.
Memory - Internal and External Storage
Flash Memory: 4GB internal memory
Flash Cards: Not expandable with removable media
The Kindle DX comes with 4 gigabytes of memory built-in, which is a relatively large amount of memory to include with a device that largely displays nothing but black-and-white text. While images can be displayed in grayscale on the Kindle DX, it's unlikely that any user will be storing large quantities of memory-hogging photographs on this eReader. For that reason, the Kindle DX easily navigates this category even though it is increasingly in the minority among competing devices which have come to favor removable SSD cards.
Formats - Doc, PDF, ePub and Third-party DRMs
Supported Text Formats: AZW, PDF, TXT, MOBI, PRC
Supported Image Formats: JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP
The Amazon Kindle DX supports a wide range of both textual and image formats. The device can, of course, display AZW files which are Amazon's exclusive eBook file format. In addition, it can read PDF, TXT, MOBI, and PRC files. That means it'll be a great eReader for customers who prefer to buy their books from international stores, or transfer self-made PDF or TXT files to the device for delayed reading outside of the home or office environment. Its image format support is ok, but it's important to remember that this is an eInk device; as such, all images will be displayed in grayscale.
Web-browsing and Applications
Amazon is unique among eReader manufacturers, in that many of its models support 3G and Whispernet connectivity. That means users will be able to download new eBooks from the Amazon Kindle store on the go, even in areas where they lack a WiFi connection or a USB data connection to their laptop or desktop compeer. This ultimate portability factor is often one of the deciding features for many consumers, and it's easy to see why: never worrying about cables, connectivity, or proximity to hotspots.
Battery-Life
Amazon's Kindle DX supports up to 10,000 page turns on a single charge, placing it easily ahead of every single competing eReader on the market. At that rate, even avid book readers will be able to go about a week before they need to recharge their Kindle.
Pricing
The Amazon Kindle DX eReader retails for $379.00; that places it in the upper tier, price-wise, of eReader devices. However, its large screen and unique features more than justify this higher price tag.
Additional Features and Accessories
The Kindle DX supports MP3 files and includes a multimedia player. This is great for customers who like to listen and read at the same time. Also, the Kindle DX features an auto-rotating screen that moves with the device, unlike many of its competitors. This feature, which is just like the one found in most smartphones on the market, allows for a smoother and more intuitive reading experience.
The Bottom Line
Amazon's large Kindle DX device is one of the most user-friendly eReaders on the market, with a large display and always-on connectivity that allows it to be used almost anywhere. For the price tag, it doesn't get much better than this.
