| Ever since it's debut in November of 2007, | | | | While it may seem minor, the addition of the |
| Amazon.com's Kindle electronic book reader has | | | | inclinometer showcases a level of customizability |
| remained one of its flagship products, targeting | | | | for the reading experience simply not available |
| the e-book market at entirely new demographics. | | | | with non-electronic books. The PDF viewing |
| The Kindle also continues to evolve, seeing its | | | | experienced has been enhanced by the new |
| second generation in early 2009 and, in June of | | | | inclinometer feature. By changing orientation, it is |
| that same year, appearing again as the Kindle DX. | | | | sometimes possible to zoom in on otherwise |
| So what new features does the Kindle DX bring | | | | difficult-to-view PDFs that were designed to be |
| to your virtual libraries, and does it lose anything | | | | viewed on computer screens. |
| when compared to its predecessors? Below you'll | | | | The DX also adds stereo speakers, a feature |
| find an overview of what new features the DX | | | | which makes the text-to-speech capabilities |
| offers. | | | | introduced in the Kindle 2 somewhat more |
| The Kindle DX features a number of advantages | | | | accessible. Also, whereas the previous models |
| over the Kindle 2. Sporting four gigs of internal | | | | were restricted to transferring data via Amazon's |
| flash memory, the DX doubles the capacity of its | | | | Whispernet, the DX offers a wireless fallback |
| predecessor, allowing for the storage of | | | | option for times when Whispernet connectivity is |
| approximately 3000 non-illustrated titles. It's larger | | | | either absent or inadequate. |
| screen, which is almost ten inches, shows more | | | | The Kindle DX does have several disadvantages |
| text on the screen that the six inch version. This | | | | which, depending on perspective, might make its |
| larger screen makes textbooks easier to view, | | | | predecessor a more appropriate choice. The |
| thus targeting a new demographic of college | | | | Kindle DX, priced at $489, far out prices the |
| students not wishing to be burdened by numerous | | | | previous models originally priced at $389, but now |
| heavy physical volumes. | | | | priced at $299. The larger size of the DX, while |
| The Kindle DX opens users to other electronic | | | | an asset to many, also brings attention to its high |
| document formats such as PDF, which doesn't | | | | cost compared with other equally sized, and |
| lock the user to the proprietary Amazon format. | | | | greater featured electronic book readers. While |
| By supporting PDF titles, the Kindle DX is taken | | | | the newer display is larger and more ideal for |
| out of Amazon's closed ecosystem, becoming a | | | | many viewing conditions, there remains something |
| reader capable of rendering any number of | | | | to be said for a smaller gadget that is more easily |
| business documents, periodicals and e-books, | | | | portable. |
| including large libraries of public domain classics. | | | | Amazon's rapidly-evolving Kindle line shows great |
| One of the DX's new innovative features is its | | | | promise. Rather than a slow iteration cycle with |
| inclinometer, enabling it to be flipped sideways or | | | | few visible improvements and numerous problems |
| upside-down while still retaining the correct text | | | | left unaddressed, Amazon has shown a dedication |
| orientation. There have always been critics on the | | | | to design an exciting and usable platform for |
| bandwagon that separate electronic reading | | | | electronic book distribution. |
| devices are not as convenient as physical books. | | | | |