What’s So Great About The Amazon Kindle DX?

Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 9.7

The Amazon Kindle DX is more than just a larger version of the Amazon Kindle. True, the screen size is 9.7 inches, in contrast to its little brother's quite usable six. But there's more to this mighty eReader than a little extra real estate.

That 9.7 inch screen exactly matches that of the iPad, making these two units somewhat competitors. Only "somewhat" because the iPad is a multipurpose computing device though not up to the level of a laptop and not a dedicated eReader. Still, they're similar enough to warrant some additional comparisons and contrasts.

The Kindle DX weighs a relatively modest 18.9 ounces (16 oz = 1 lb), as opposed to the iPad's heftier 1.5 lbs (24 oz; 1.6 lbs for the 3G model). Neither is as heavy as any but the thinnest laptop but both are heavy enough to present some wrist strain if not handled a certain way.

Because of the size, that certain way can be a bit dicey to find. Still, both offer optional covers that can be used to create a nice prop. Both can be turned to landscape mode for easy reading of two pages at a glance, and both offer a locking mechanism to keep the orientation from shifting at unwanted times.

The battery life on the Kindle DX far exceeds the iPad, though. The DX can last a week under normal usage, four days with the Wi-Fi always on. The iPad lasts about 10 hours. Of course, the latter has a much wider range of applications, and a color screen.

Among the applications on the DX is a usable, though wimpy, browser and the screen is black and white. You won't to do much surfing with it, but it's certainly good enough to allow for quick look up of material. It's also handy for purchasing books, magazine subscriptions, and even goodies from Amazon and other sites.

Despite the black-and-white only display, one of the reasons the DX is so readable is the 1200 x 824 pixel resolution (at 150 ppi), E-Ink display. It really does offer super-crisp text, thanks in part to the 50% improvement in contrast over the previous model. You can tell the difference between it and paper, but you won't mind the difference in the least, no matter how much you read or where.

That "or where" is important because you can take your Kindle DX to the beach, on a cruise, across campus, to the park at lunch during your work day, or anywhere. There is some minor reflection in situations where the light source is very bright and very close, but it's usable almost anywhere, anytime.

Like its smaller brother, the Kindle DX offers Whisper Sync, which lets you synchronize your reading in very handy ways. Read a book, stop at a location (the Kindle doesn't use page numbers), and close it or shut off your Kindle. Pick up reading the same book, another one, or even that same one on another device, and you can still start at the same location on the first book.

For those who simply must have a multimedia experience, the DX does provide an MP3 player, though it won't likely replace your iPod anytime soon. Listening to music is certainly pleasant, though, especially when you use headphones rather than the built-in speakers.

All in all, for those looking for a dedicated eReader with superb features (great screen, annotation, bookmarks, footnotes, location searching, and more), the Amazon Kindle DX remains at the top of the heap.