Kindle 2.0 Tips » Kindle DX

Kindle 2 Trade In Values

bridgett — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:40:50 +0000

When the Kindle 2 was released in February I wondered if ebay would become the place to pick up a cheap Kindle 1. I have two college aged readers and thought that the introduction of a new Kindle would mean that people would be dumping the older version at bargain prices. I was hoping to pick one up for them on the cheap.

Heading on over to ebay, I was surprised. I wasn’t surprised by the lack of Kindle 1’s. People were definitely selling their Kindle ebook readers and moving up to the Kindle 2. However, the Kindle 1 was nearly as expensive as the new Kindle 2.

So with the recent addition of the Kindle DX, I wondered if people would start unloading Kindle 2 units to help finance the new DX purchase.

And I am surprised again. The used Kindle 2’s are still selling for upwards of $275! And you can buy a new Kindle 2 from Amazon for $299!

If this pattern continues to repeat, you may very well be able to sell your Kindle used on ebay and recover a large portion of the original purchase price!

What other electronic device lets you do that?!

Kindle 2.0 and Kindle DX – a Comparison

bridgett — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:31:42 +0000

It’s the newest member of the Kindle family – the Kindle dx. Larger and with more features than its older siblings, the dx packs a real punch. But is it what YOU need? Or do you need the Kindle 2.0? Here are a few points to consider when making your decision:

Size Matters:

I love my Kindle 2.0 because of its size. It drops right into my purse. It measures 8″X5″. Compare that to the Kindle dx unit, which is larger in size (10″X7″). Now while that may not seem like much of a difference, some reviewers have mentioned that the increased size makes it seem bulkier and it may not fit into your standard purse. For reference, think of the Kindle dx as being quite close to the size of a piece of printer paper (which is 11″X8″).

One of the great things about that added size however is the added screen size. The Kindle dx now sports a screen that is 9.7″ (diagonal). The Kindle dx has a reduced keyboard size and the entire ebook reader is almost all screen. The Kindle 2 has a screen size of 6″ (diagonal). The enhanced screen size makes it a great choice for anyone reading maps, technical drawings, and the like.

How Much Do You Work with PDF’s?

Which brings us to the next Kindle advancement – pdf’s. The Kindle 2.0 allows you to view pdf’s but you must send them through Amazon for “conversion” and then they are sent to your Kindle. I know some folks have issues with the quality/formatting of the pdf’s on their Kindle 1 and Kindle 2 units. Amazon picked up a huge market when they made pdf a part of the Kindle dx. The Kindle dx fully supports pdf’s and seems to have actually been designed to display pdf’s. You can turn your Kindle dx to view your images in landscape mode (great for drawings, spreadsheets, etc.).

Weighing In:

The Kindle 2.0 is lighter in weight, weighing in at just 10 ounces. I can easily hold it in my hand for long periods of time without discomfort. But what about a Kindle dx? It weighs nearly 19 ounces, almost twice as much as the Kindle 2. Would you want to hold on to a 19 ounce unit while sitting at the beach?

In summary, the decision to buy a Kindle 2.0 or a Kindle dx comes down to function.

Kindle 2: If you’re an avid reader and read mostly/exclusively “traditional” books, I think you will find that the Kindle 2.0 has a better overall size and weight for the everyday reader. It is portable and stores easily in a purse or bag. It is easy to hold and the screen size is great for reading books. Just ask the 2700 reviewers who gave it 5 stars on Amazon.
Kindle DX: An Amazon source told me that the Kindle dx was created for a different market and I think that’s spot on. While it certainly does allow you to read your “traditional” books, it really shines when you start to think of the business functions it supports. If you regularly read pdf documents, want to keep spreadsheets on the Kindle for handy reference, or have a need to review technical drawings, this is the Kindle for you. And with the upcoming support from college textbook vendors, I think the Kindle dx will make a big splash on college campuses over the next few years.

After reading my opinion (and it is just that – my opinion), consider what you will primarily use your Kindle for. And then you can decide which Kindle features support your needs.

Amazon Kindle DX Reviews

bridgett — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 17:49:04 +0000

The Kindle DX is starting to arrive all over the US and the reviews are pouring in. I’m sure folks will start stalking the delivery man once again as they anxiously await the arrival of the Amazon box.

How is the Kindle DX being received? What do people think of it? Here are a few very interesting comments from new owners (from the Kindle DX: Amazon's 9.7Kindle DX customer review section at Amazon):

The DX was not an obvious upgrade for me, but two features put me over the edge: the larger screen, and the native PDF reader. I now have the DX in my hands… Overall, the DX feels more like text and less like device and comes closer to the stated goal of the Kindle: for the device to disappear, leaving only the joy of reading.
(Alexander Sherr)
Reading on the Kindle DX vs 6″ readers is like the difference between sleeping in a King sized bed vs a Twin Bed (N. Jenkins)
I’ve tried loading my PDF documents onto my Kindle 1, but they won’t display. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I loaded my PDFs onto the Kindle DX. The formatting of the page displayed perfectly!!! Zooming and rotating was simple. (David Edmiston)

Want to know what others had to say about the Kindle DX? Click here for more reviews.

image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calaggie/

The Kindle DX Starts Shipping Today

bridgett — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:24:04 +0000

Today is June 10 – the day that Amazon has set as their first shipping day for the new Kindle DX: Amazon's 9.7Kindle DX. As with the much anticipated arrival of the Kindle 2.0, I am sure that many Kindle DX buyers paid for the overnight shipping so they can be one of the first users to get their device.

It will be quite interesting to hear what actual users have to say about the Kindle dx. What will people think of the increased size?

Will the increase in the screen size (9.7″ – up from 6″ on the Kindle 2) be something that people will love?
Will it greatly improve the reading experience?
Or will the size be bothersome as it may not fit into purses and bags like the Kindle 2?

I, for one, am looking forward to what new users have to say.

Amazon Announces Kindle dx Ship Date

bridgett — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:22:52 +0000

Get ready to start watching your mailbox! Amazon has announced that the Kindle DX will start shipping on June 10, 2009. You can pre-order at any time. These wildly popular ebook readers will be mailed out on a first come, first served basis.

What will be very interesting to see is whether or not Amazon will choose to continue selling the Kindle 2.0. Personally, I hope they do. I find the size of the Kindle 2 is ideal for carrying around in my bag. Not to mention that the lower priced Kindle 2 might be a good entry point for some folks.

Saving Paper with the Kindle dx

bridgett — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:47:47 +0000

We all know that the Kindle 2.0 has a superb display. Anyone who has physically looked at a book on the Kindle 2.0 will agree with me in saying that the clarity of print is amazing. Amazon recently premiered the new Kindle dx and eluded to the fact that it was being marketed to students for textbook use. Why students would want the Kindle dx is no surprise – it will lighten their load and provide a very mobile solution for their textbook needs.

What does surprise me is the forward thinking of Princeton University. I recently came across an article in The Daily Princetonian that details the university’s plans for the Kindle DX. They will be offering the Kindle DX to the students (and faculty) in three courses next fall. As part of the program, it is expected that Princeton will offer the Kindle DX to students for use in reading their textbooks. But what is surprising is that Princeton has plans to use the Kindle DX to cut back on printing as well.

While other universities also announced similar Kindle dx initiative programs, Princeton’s project may be unique in that it will focus on sustainability by reducing the amount of electronic-reserve course materials that students print.

“Over 10 million pages were printed out in cluster printers [last year],” OIT director of academic services Serge Goldstein said, adding that “a lot of that is students printing e-reserves.” He emphasized that the other schools partnering with Amazon were more focused on providing students with textbooks on the e-readers rather than reducing paper use on campus.

“These devices have a screen technology that is really designed to optimize the reading experience,” Goldstein said, adding that students print e-reserves rather than read them on their computers because “laptop screens are not designed for supporting lots of reading.”

And while the university is standing behind the Kindle and what it offers, it is also standing behind its students. The article goes on to say:

“We don’t force technology on people because we think it’s cool or bleeding edge,” Temos said. “If it turns out that it’s not working, we’ll abandon it.”

Source: The Princetonian, U. to launch Kindle pilot program

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now by Kindle 2

bridgett — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:15:34 +0000

Amid all the “hub bub” regarding the release of the newest Kindle (the Kindle DX) one has to wonder why Amazon even bothered coming out with the Kindle 2??? Amazon had to have the improved model on the drawing board when the Kindle 2 was released, right?

Well, consider this – Maybe Amazon will continue to sell the Kindle 2, even after the Kindle DX starts to ship. I am thinking that would be a good move on Amazon’s part.

And Amazon may just agree with me. According to New York Times technology reporter Brad Stone, Jeff Bezos remarked “Kindle is now a family with two models.”

Many have remarked that the new Kindle DX is not something you are going to just throw in your purse due to its size. The Kindle 2.0 measures 8″X5″ inches (roughly) while the Kindle dx measures 10″X7″(roughly). And the Kindle dx weighs a bit more than the Kindle 2.0; actually the Kindle dx weighs nearly twice as much as the Kindle 2. Having a more compact model (the Kindle 2) and a more tablet-like model may be a good move for Amazon.

And then there’s the price. Some contend that Amazon was “pushing the envelope” with the $359 price tag on the Kindle 2. What will folks think of the new price on the Kindle dx? Will the Kindle 2 become Amazon’s “more affordable” and lower priced Kindle model?

It will be interesting to see what happens.

5 Reasons to Love the New Kindle DX

bridgett — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:00:09 +0000

Amazon just announced its newest addition to the Kindle line – the Kindle DX.

What features are new to the Kindle DX?

It’s BIG! The Kindle DX screen is larger in size. The Kindle dx features a screen size of 9.7″ (diagonal measure). Crisp and clear images (thanks to the E-ink display), the larger screen makes it easy to view pictures, periodicals and reports.
The screen rotates when you turn the device – quite handy if you have a pdf or picture that will display better in landscape mode. Great for reports, spreadsheets, or even a map of the city.
PDF built in – no longer considered an “experimental” form. This unit will now carry and display your pdf documents with clarity and ease. Send your pdf documents straight to your Kindle DX using the Whispernet service. Great for white papers or e-books!
Holds up to 3500 books and periodicals with its 4GB of storage.
Textbook manufacturers are jumping on board the Kindle train. Amazon has reportedly reached agreements with three leading textbook publishers: Pearson, Cengage Learning and Wiley. In addition, five universities have plans to try out the Kindle dx with students this fall: Arizona State, Case Western Reserve, Princeton, the University of Virginia, and Pace

Say Hello to Amazon Kindle DX?

bridgett — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:59:30 +0000

Engadget has supplied the world with photos of what may be the newest Amazon Kindle – the Kindle dx. As expected, it appears the Kindle DX will have an enlarged screen (9.7″ – up from 6″ on the Kindle 2). It is also being speculated that the pdf feature on the Kindle dx will no longer be termed “experimental”; this new ebook reader will have a built in pdf reader.

photo courtesy of engadget

I am anxiously waiting to see what Jeff Bezos has up his sleeve for us on Wednesday! Will the price remain the same? Is Amazon going to compete in the tablet PC market and offer more wi-fi capapbilities? We will all find out on Wednesday!