Amazon Kindle DX Video

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Created: 05/06/2009

Video description: The Amazon Kindle DX is functionally identical to the Kindle 2, but it offers a larger (9.7 inches) auto-rotating screen.

Amazon Kindle DX Video Transcript

[ Music ] ^M00:00:03

>> Hi. I'm David Carnoy, executive editor for CNET.com, and I'm here at the Amazon Kindle DX event at Pace University in Manhattan. And I'm gonna give you a quick tour of the new device. This is the larger form factor Kindle. It is a 9.7-inch screen compared to the 6-inch screen of the Kindle 2. Really, there isn't any design difference and on the inside, either. There's no faster processor or any sort of improvement in the ink technology. What you see is just a jumbo version of the Kindle 2. Some of the key features that have been added are native PDF support, so you can PDF files on the device without zooming. Also, this comes with expanded memory. There's 3.3-gigabytes of memory on board here. However, there is no expansion slot for additional memory, which is a little bit unfortunate. The price of the Kindle DX is a whopping $489.00. That does not include a cover. That is sold separately. If you're wondering why the device is called the DX, the answer I got is that it's the deluxe version. Amazon has, once again, sealed in the battery. There's a lithium ion rechargeable battery. You cannot remove it, and you have to send the device back to Amazon to replace the battery. The same wireless 3G service is on board for wirelessly transferring both documents and books to the device. If you use that wireless connection judiciously, you should be able to get up to two weeks of battery life from the battery. Amazon is touting the larger screen size to both view newspapers, magazines, as well as textbooks. There's a pilot program at several universities in the works for the fall, and we'll see textbooks on the Kindle, which is what a lot of people have been waiting for. One other small addition, you can change from portrait mode to landscape mode just by turning the device. One of the features we thought might be improved device is the web browser, but it, in fact, is basically the same web browser that is in the Kindle 2. Really, aside from the PDF reader, there isn't a whole lot new here. The features are basically the same as that are available in the Kindle 2. If you're wondering whether that PDF reader will be available in the Kindle 2, it will not. It is only available in the DX. I'm David Carnoy, and that's the Amazon Kindle DX. Thanks for watching. ^M00:02:25 [ Music ]

Amazon Kindle DX Review

Editors' rating

7.8

out of 10

Price range

$489.00

Amazon.com

See all 1 stores

The good: The Kindle DX offers 2.5 times the screen real estate as the Kindle 2; native PDF support; you can switch from portrait to landscape mode by just turning the device; large library of tens of thousands of e-books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs via Amazon's familiar online store; built-in free wireless "Whispernet" data network--no PC needed; built-in keyboard for notes; faster processor speeds up the device; with 4GB (3.3 usable) of internal memory, it's capable of storing 3,500 electronic books; font size is adjustable; decent battery life; displays image files, and plays MP3 and AAC audio.

The bad: Expensive; somewhat heavy compared with the Kindle 2; no expansion slot for adding more memory; no protective carrying case included; battery is sealed into the device and isn't removable.

The bottom line: The pricey Kindle DX offers improvements over the Kindle 2, but its larger chassis has its pluses and minuses.

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