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Amazon Launches Kindle DX eBook Reader with 9.7" Screen

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Apr 12, 2001
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Engadget has just wrapped up live coverage of Amazon's press event introducing the Kindle DX, the next generation of Amazon's eBook reader. The Kindle DX, now available for pre-order at a price of $489 for shipment this summer, contains a 9.7" screen and is being positioned as a device for reading documents such as newspapers, textbooks, and research journal articles whose formats have not worked ideally with the smaller 6" screen of the current Kindle 2 model.

The Kindle DX features a built-in accelerometer that allows for auto-rotation of content between portrait and landscape orientations, and increased storage over the Kindle 2 of 3.3 GB, which provides space for up to 3,500 books periodicals, and documents. Like the Kindle 2, which will remain available at its current price of $359, the Kindle DX offers free 3G access through Sprint's network to allow downloading of content on the go. Native PDF support is also included.

The Boston Globe, The New York Times and The Washington Post are all planning to offer long-term subscriptions for Kindle newspaper editions at discounted prices.

Many people have viewed the Kindle as a competitor to the iPhone's eBook capabilities, with a Kindle for iPhone application also offering compatibility with Amazon's service on the iPhone. Rumors of an Apple "media pad" that could provide more direct competition to the Kindle on the eBook front have also been circulating in recent weeks.

Article Link: Amazon Launches Kindle DX eBook Reader with 9.7" Screen
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/05/06/amazon-launches-kindle-dx-ebook-reader-with-9-7-screen/
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As I said on the other thread:

I stick by what I said when the kindle 2.0 came out

It won't take off until it can do colour and replicate a magazine or a text book in full. I still think Amazon's long term goal is to "Kindle" the market and become the leading ebook seller when the hardware big boys get involved.
 
Hmm, it simply costs too much, the displays must be horribly expensive. Still you need devices like this to drive improvements in technology until they are cheap and as good as you and I want.
 
Useful, but certainly expensive. I thought this was going to be cheaper, considering the rumors mentioned, to the best of my knowledge, that students could use it for text books.

Then again, I've seen school text books go for $200+

Looks like Kindle 2 it is, for me at least.
 
Too expensive for a single purpose device.

College kids won't spend their money on this. Text books are already so damn expensive and why would publishers lower their prices when you have no choice to buy the book?

Amazon should be giving these away. Give them the razor and make your money on the blades.
 
Um... $500 for "just" a 'newspaper' is a wee bit too much!

And I see its still black! DOes e-ink even come in color??
 
Ouch, very pricey.

Regarding color, is that realistic to hope for at this point? Is e-ink technology there yet? I mean I've seen plenty of articles with titles like "Is color e-ink right around the corner?" but it never sound like it really is.
 
Damn.

Would love one, but that's ridiculous. Why aren't they going the cell phone route by subsidizing the unit and then charging a monthly fee? Seems to have worked for EVERY CELL PHONE CARRIER OUT THERE.
 
Overall, a nice device from Amazon. Clearly a move to build a platform that brings content publishers and readers together.

The deals with the top news papers is a very strong move on Amazon's part.
 
I'm curious what the partnerships are going to look like with the textbook publishers.

I can't see a student buying one, paying full price for a textbook except with a 10% discount, and not being able to sell the book back at the end of the term.
 
I want one badly. But I'm not paying nearly 500 bucks for it. Reading on the iPhone is a joke and pretty impossible unless you don't want to have eye sight by the time you're 40.

If this thing was around 200 bucks, they would sell millions of them. Devices like this could save news "papers".
 
jb1280 said:
I'm curious what the partnerships are going to look like with the textbook publishers.

I can't see a student buying one, paying full price for a textbook except with a 10% discount, and not being able to sell the book back at the end of the term.
Click to expand...

exactly, but I have heard that they will be giving them out at certain schools / programs. I can see a quite different business model based on rental/semester fees..
 
All the "too pricey" and "single purpose" comments sound an awful lot like the complaints about the original iPods.
 
"Trying" to soften the blow of WWDC. Bring on the iTablet!! :D

As another poster said though it looks like Amazon is trying to position themselves to sell eBooks, not devices.
 
26139 said:
Would love one, but that's ridiculous. Why aren't they going the cell phone route by subsidizing the unit and then charging a monthly fee? Seems to have worked for EVERY CELL PHONE CARRIER OUT THERE.
Click to expand...


I agree, sort of. Let's say I read 12 books a year. If Ibuy a paper book I don't need a $400 reader. If I buy an e-book then I need the $400 reader. If the e-books were actually priced low enough then I'd invest in a reader so I could save money one books later. But Anazon sells the e-books at almost paper book price.

Amazon needs to get the entire package price to be comparable to what I pay now ageraged over the three year life of the reader.
 
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