Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2, Which Is Better?

The article is about the difference between Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2. And it can help you know the two products more.

Kindle DX is available for order (3-5 week delay) – the Kindle DX is Amazon’s second, higher priced, Kindle line. It’s $489 and that’s not bad for a 9.7″ screen. The big question is whether you should buy a Kindle 2 or get a Kindle DX and this post compares them on several important criteria.

Screen Size – Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

The Kindle DX clearly wins as its screen has 2.5 times the surface area of the Kindle 2′s 6″ screen. This might also be the rationale behind the DX name.

Price – Kindle 2 Vs Kindle DX

As it turns out Amazon kept prices low at $489. This is great.

Earlier Thoughts:
The larger screen will increase costs a lot. In the best case, the larger screen is double the $60 price of the smaller screen, and with related costs, we get to a $459-$499 price point.

Note: Another 10″ eReader, the iRex Illiad, retails for US$859.00. Anything near that would make the DX a non-starter.

The Kindle 2 clearly wins on price with the new $299 price. However, the Kindle DX clearly wins on value for money.

PDF Support – Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

Kindle DX comes with an in-built PDF converter. This is huge and probably necessary when targeting college students. Kindle DX’s superfecta of -

1. Larger Screen Size.

2. PDF Support.

3. Cheaper Textbooks.

4. Not having to carry heavy books around.

5. Support from 3 of the big publishers and 60% coverage of textbooks.

6. Reasonable Price at $489.

PDFs do not support taking notes, zooming, etc. – look at my kindle dx pdf faq for more details.

Ought to combine to turn Kindle DX into a huge bestseller.

PDF support is a huge win.

For the Kindle 2 you have the option to use a hack called Savory to support PDFs on the Kindle 2. However, the hack is unofficial, and it has to be uninstalled to get Amazon firmware upgrades. Plus it might cause problems. So, only consider it if you’re technical and willing to risk your Kindle 2.

Portability – Kindle 2 Vs Kindle DX

The larger size of the DX makes it difficult to carry and it won’t fit in a lot of handbags. Kindle 2 wins clearly on portability and this, along with its lower price, points to two lines of Kindles existing in parallel.

It is worth nothing that both are just around 0.3″ thin and weigh little.

Annotations and Keyboard – Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

Kindle DX has the same ‘notes’ feature as Kindle 2. PDFs do not support notes.

Another puzzler is the keyboard having just 4 rows (qwerty keyboards need 5). Perhaps an indicator that the input methodology on the Kindle DX is something innovative that allows annotations and a smaller keyboard without needing a touchscreen.

Update: It probably supports numbers via a shift. Kindle 2 wins as I don’t like the shift to get numbers option.

Target Audience

Kindle 2 targets people who read books.

Kindle DX targets people who read textbooks and periodicals. The price is not as high as expected, so I’d say DX is good for books in general too. If you can afford it, get the DX.

Web Browser – Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

Kindle DX is supposed to have a more fully functional browser. This is a no-contest as the K2′s browser is rather primitive.

Update: The details aren’t clear on this yet so will update when it’s clearer.

Additional Areas Kindle DX beats Kindle 2

At this point it seems that the Kindle DX has a lot of advantages over the Kindle 2 – screen size, the annotations feature, better browser, pdf support.

A few more areas it outshines K2 are -

1. Value for money – A 2.5 times larger screen and PDF support for $130 more is a deal.

2. Keyboard takes up much less of the device’s real estate.

3. It seems to have a wider space bar which would be a relief.

More as updates come out.

Additional Areas Kindle 2 beats Kindle DX

Kindle 2 is the clear winner on price and portability. It also holds up well in the following areas -

1. Kindle DX doesn’t have a full qwerty keyboard and using shift to get to numbers is slow.

2. Kindle DX doesn’t have any page turn keys on the left side and this is an obvious disadvantage for left handed people.

Whispernet is still free which is great. Actually, the change in the pricing scheme for document conversions and transfers over Whispernet might be aimed at the DX – to make sure that the stipulation was in place before any college kids bought a Kindle DX.

Closing Thoughts on Kindle DX Vs Kindle 2

The Kindle DX and the Kindle 2 have their own place in the kindle dx vs kindle 2 argument -

1. Kindle 2 for price and portability and especially if you mostly read books.

2. Kindle DX for pdf support and if you need a larger screen or read mostly in large fonts and the kindle 2 font sizes aren’t good enough.

Periscope Lighted Folio for the Kindle 2 & Nook – Black $40.00 For everyone who has joined the Amazon Kindle or Nook digital reading revolution, Periscope® offers a single compact cover that also features a built-in retractable reading light, as well as notepad and pen holders. Ideal for reading at home or on the road, simply slip your Kindle 2 or Nook into the custom designed holder, pull up the retractable, twin LED reading light, and begin reading in any …

Aluratek APB01F 5000mAh External Battery Pack and Charger for iPod, iPhone, iPad, and more $29.99 Universal Battery Charger…

Aluratek AUCS02F USB Charging Station $8.75 Turn any standard ac outlet into a usb charging station – supports all smartphones including: iphone blackberry droid & evo – supports all ipods and other mp3 devices – unit rotates up to 360 degrees – uniquely designed so you dont lose an electrical ac outlet – built-in circuit protection – input: 100-240v / 50-60hz – usb output: 5v / 1a – eliminates the need to power on your computer for usb cha…

The Kite Runner $16.00 In his debut novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini accomplishes what very few contemporary novelists are able to do. He manages to provide an educational and eye-opening account of a country’s political turmoil–in this case, Afghanistan–while also developing characters whose heartbreaking struggles and emotional triumphs resonate with readers long after the last page has been turned over. And …

Nursing Care Plans: Diagnoses, Interventions, and Outcomes, 7e $43.37 The most comprehensive nursing care planning book available, Nursing Care Plans, 7th Edition features more than 200 care plans covering the most common medical-surgical nursing diagnoses and clinical problems. As in past editions, authors Meg Gulanick and Judith Myers meticulously updated content to ensure it reflects the most current clinical practice and professional standards in nursing, while …

Notepad for Kindle (Kindle Utilities) $1.00 This simple document, when transferred to your Kindle, provides you with a place to record and keep personal notes. Just click on one of the sixteen preset note locations after opening Notepad and select “Add Note.” Input your thoughts, ideas, or reminders and click “Done.” Then, when you return to Notepad, you can read your notes by selecting “My Notes and Marks” from the menu. Just click on any …

Kwik Tek Dry Pak Multi-Purpose Case (Clear 9-Inch x 12-Inch) $14.99 Dpc-912 dry pak multi-purpose case 9 in. Wide x 12 in. Long clear heavy gauge vinyl 2 d-rings sewn to corners yellow sealing clip for high visibility for paddling, boating, camping, hiking holds owners manuals, snacks, maps, electronics maximum circumference: 17 in….

Cisco-Linksys E3000 Wireless-N Router $72.97 The Linksys E3000 is a powerful dual-band Wireless-N router optimized for wireless entertainment. Connect your Blu-ray players, DVRs, and gaming consoles, and enjoy the smoother and faster HD video streaming and wireless gaming performance that simultaneous dual-band technology enables. A built-in USB port and UPnP AV media server let you share files over your network, as well as stream media cont…

Power Adapter for P-touch $15.00 Brother AC Adapter for Label Printers AD24 Camera Power Adapters…

Kandle by Ozeri LED Book Light for the Amazon Kindle (1st and latest generation), and other eBook readers – in Black $17.95 The perfect accessory for any eBook, the Kandle by Ozeri is designed for the Amazon Kindle 1, 2, and DX, Sony Reader Digital Books, and other eBook Readers. New 2011 edition features improved lighting and the award winning design that attaches to eBooks and printed books without blocking the screen or page. It also boasts double pivoting arms that allow for easy positioning and adjustment to tailo…