SlashGear Japan
After the official announcement we had the chance to go hands-on with the new Amazon Kindle DX, and despite the overall family resemblance it feels a very different device to the Kindle 2. Where that e-reader prioritizes the hand-feel and portability of a paperback, the Kindle DX feels decidedly more work-oriented. The bigger screen – which refreshes a little slower than that of the Kindle 2, but not frustratingly so – is 1,200 x 824 resolution and 150ppi, and while still grayscale feels far more useful than that of its smaller sibling.
Full Kindle DX live gallery and demo video after the cut
As for the thickness, that’s basically indistinguishable from that of the Kindle 2 (0.38-inches versus 0.36-inches) but the weight has nearly doubled from 10oz to 18oz. That makes it noticeably heavier, and might make bedtime reading less comfortable. Happily there’s little flex to it, despite the thin casing, which we’re putting down to the metal back plate (shared by the Kindle 2, of course). While it’s now particularly small, we’re pleased with how the keyboard has been reduced: it’s still usable for entering search terms and the like, but the front panel of the Kindle now feels as screen-focused as it should be, rather than marginalized by the QWERTY ‘board.
Most of the time the DX’s functionality is just like that of a Kindle 2, but of course the automatic screen rotation is new. Unlike on a cellphone like the iPhone, where the rotation is completed in seconds, the E Ink display on the Kindle DX is a lot slower: perhaps 3-4 seconds before it flips. Still, we’d happily sacrifice some speed for landscape reading; this really is a huge stretch of E Ink panel, and it’s in this orientation when you really recognize that the display is 2.5 times that of the Kindle 2.
The Kindle DX is available to pre-order now, priced at $489. It’ll begin shipping in the US over the summer; for all the details on today’s launch, check out SlashGear’s liveblog coverage plus the hardware specs and official photos from Amazon.
Make sure to also check out Joanna Stern’s hands-on with the Kindle DX over at LaptopMag.com.
One Response to “Amazon Kindle DX Video hands-on”
john100 May 6, 2009
That’s awesome that a larger-display version is coming out. It is kind of odd that it costs as much as a laptop. This article also has more pictures than most I have read, so thank you!
Now, a color display would be nice. If they properly take care of tables, graphics, annotations, that would make this a very powerful tool for textbooks. The impact on traditional newspaper is less clear, unless Kindle can have a very low price point.
I don’t have a Kindle but checked one out from a friend. The screen is very neat and unlike most standard back-lit LCDs. If you get a chance, check it out. Kindle’s display is VERY cool and more comfortable for all-day reading.
In any case, it is awesome that there is another, larger screen, Kindle coming out. It is pretty exciting that Amazon is putting a ton of effort into revolutionizing and popularizing eBooks.
On the note about Amazon, thanks to PC World, I came across an interesting table that shows Amazon’s discounts in various categories.
It is at http://www.uberi.com
Maybe someone will find it useful too, or at least somewhat amusing.
+1