Editorial: Engadget on the Kindle DX
by Nilay Patel 
posted May 6th 2009 at 2:16PM
Update: Paul tacked on his thoughts as well.
Thomas:
Kindle, what the hell is a Kindle? While you US Americans are showering in Amazon's third iteration of E-Ink, you know what we're doing over here in Europe? Watching Sony's Reader choke-hold the marketplace in a tag-team with Google's half-million strong collection of free, public domain books. Nothing makes us happier than a good Gee Dubya joke and a polite romance set in Victorian times. I say good day sir.
Nilay:
As a Kindle 2 owner, my first reaction is to be a little ticked off -- I would have likely sprung for the DX if I'd had the option back in February, and now I just feel like I wasted $360. On the other hand, after a few months with the Kindle, I've basically given up on it -- it's just not as good as a real book, and that makes me wonder if students are really going to take to the DX when it hits colleges and universities. I spent a lot of time in college and law school at library tables stacked six inches deep in open reference books, and there's simply no way to recreate that experience with a Kindle, no matter how big the screen. Plus, I know I'm not the only one who writes all over the margin and highlights in five colors when I study -- if I tried to do the same using the tools on the Kindle, I'd basically end up with a totally inverted screen. Maybe I'm wrong and all the kids are clamoring for a $500 black and white e-book whose advantages over paper are dwarfed by its limitations, but I have a feeling the Kindle DX will be a novelty on the academic scene for a long time to come.
As for newspapers, the math simply doesn't make sense. Let's use the New York Times as an example: at-home paper delivery of the Times for a year costs a new subscriber something like $617. Compare that to the Kindle pricing of $13.99 a month plus $498 for a DX -- hello, $665.88. From a consumer standpoint, that's actually kind of a win, since the Kindle offers much more than just the Times. But from the NYT's point of view, it's totally obvious why subsidized Kindles will only be available on contract to people who aren't in the delivery area -- there just isn't enough cash coming in from their cut of the Kindle edition to keep the paper afloat. Will this change? Sure -- but not until the NYT stops spending money on printing the paper every day.
Darren:
Amazon has to be aiming at a different sector than just consumers here. Creating two devices for the same segment within three months makes absolutely no business sense, and I'm guessing the company is hoping to shuffle these things into public school systems (government checks are attractive, you know) and select universities ready to jump on the bandwagon and generate a little buzz. Truth be told, the price isn't so outrageous when you're selling this to institutions. It is a little extreme if you're a simple consumer, but again, I'm guessing Bezos isn't really expecting too many of you to care about its super-sized e-reader.
Oh, and the DX won't save newspapers -- partner papers won't even subsidize this thing if you're within range of a paper route, which is just about as myopic as it gets. Has it even dawned on these folks that people don't enjoy getting a wad of paper thrown on their deck anymore? Bottom line is this: Amazon has to be thinking outside of the consumer realm with the DX. Be it public school systems, universities or other enterprises, that is where the money is. You'll notice newspapers weren't included in that mix -- obviously, they're not interested in throwing tradition to the wind in a last-ditch effort to find a life raft. Too bad.
Don:
My thinking is that the success of the Kindle DX depends almost solely on the pricing of the content. If textbooks are 40 to 50 percent cheaper than the ones in the university bookstore then the device will practically pay for itself (even at $489), and Amazon will have opened the door to a huge potential market. Alternatively, if newspaper subscriptions are offered at a heavily discounted rate, or if the DX itself is offered at a subsidized price with a newspaper subscription, then it'll get a strong foothold in a niche that's only going to get bigger. Of course, the chances of either of those happening is probably less than 50-50, and the chances of both are slim to none, which leaves the Kindle DX in much the same position as the original Kindle and Kindle 2: a device that either needs to get a whole lot better or a whole lot cheaper.
Chris:
Amazon appears to be trying to frame the e-book market much the same way Apple (or any manufacturer, but particularly Apple) frames the laptop market: the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros are virtually identical in appearance, performance, and specification, for example, but the distinction is somehow totally justified. Problem is, e-books are in the very first moments of their infancy, and consumers are still looking for a single product they can rally around -- the last thing we need is nebulously-differentiated stratification across an entire product line that alienates early adopters and has the potential to hush folks who otherwise could've been evangelists for the technology. If Amazon wanted to release the Kindle 2, fine; if it wanted to release the DX, fine; but releasing two similarly-positioned devices just months apart is a confusing (and potentially upsetting) move at this point in the game, despite the company's clear signals that Kindle is as much a platform as it is a product. Talk to me again when the market's mature, guys -- in the meantime, you won't see me buying another Kindle until they're in brilliant, flexible color.
Paul:
To be honest, I don't understand the big kerfuffle. 8.5 x 11 is a really important size for a lot of people that were born before the "internet" was kind of a big deal -- what's wrong with giving them the option, even if it comes three months after the Kindle 2? Sure, it's expensive, and no, I won't be buying one, but I don't think it's too early to have multiple credible, distinct options from a single manufacturer. I also recognize that this isn't going to Change Education As We Know It, but we've gotta start somewhere. Most technology takes quite a bit of incubating before it's truly applicable to most people, and while the Kindle DX won't make e-books the de facto standard in education, it's a decent step in that direction. A future generation is going to think those paper textbooks we all used "back in the day" were pretty silly, so for the sake of generational pride I'm happy to be moving in the right direction.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
joey @ May 6th 2009 2:19PM
i would so use this if my textbooks were on it.
dfivetwo @ May 6th 2009 2:39PM
Recently, I got an opportunity to borrow the iRex Reader 1000 for a week. Seeing as I have some of my university textbooks in pdf format, I loaded them on to see how it was. To be honest, I was very dissappointed. Not by the device itself, it really is a beauty and e-ink is a wonderful technology. But when I study, I am constantly going back and forth in my textbooks, to reread and compare. The refresh rate of these devices makes this quite a painful affair.
It is immensely frustrating when you want to have another look at a formula on a previous page, and because that page is no longer in cache, you have to wait a couple of seconds (for image heavy pdf files i'd sometimes have to wait almost 30 secoonds if the page was not cached) before the page turns. I found it too disruptive in my studying to be useful. As much as I love the concept of these devices, these kinds of limitations kept me from purchasing one. It really cannot replace the usability of a textbook (though the increased portability is absolutely wonderfull).
On the other hand, I also loaded up some novels, and that is where the device started to shine for me. Due to lack of images and predictive lookahead caching, page turns werent disruptive at all, and it was quite a pleasure to read on its amazing screen. I think I read more in that week than in the previous months combined. But for novels, you do not need a large device like this, a smaller device is much better for that purpose.
So yeah, I really don't see this new Kindle catching on. However, if it helps E-Ink technology become cheaper and more mature in the future, then it has my full support.
THizzle7XU @ May 6th 2009 3:13PM
The only real advantage I see to this for textbooks is text searching. This is the real advantage to digital libraries and .pdf files. So many nights studying, I wish I could just search for a particular phrase in my 800 page text book so I could just skim the definition. The index just doesn't cut it most times. But what this would need marginal notes and a savable highlight functions for this to even begin to replace a text book, and maybe an external output to display two books at once for comparisons or displaying multiple references (or split screen viewing).
Also, a slightly lighter backpack would go a little easier on the back some days.
neal.lucas @ May 6th 2009 3:29PM
Ideas:
-a touchscreen with a stylus [gross i know - but you can highlight passages.]
-side screen with page numbers down the side [similar to the iphone's (yes, an apple reference) artist organization] that way you can flip to a page easily. also a bookmarker along the side panel to flip to set page.
-foldable: like a book [who would have thought?]
-speedier [this will come with time; i would rather have a little thicker device than waste valuable time w/loading; plus, nothing can be too much thicker than my chemistry book anyways]
-search feature of course
-lecture recorder- external keyboard for note taking in lectures [one side of folding tablet is text, other side notebook]
ambitious i know. but it would sell.
copyright neal l 2009-infinity
standwithnature @ May 6th 2009 4:29PM
But (I think) you won't really be able to sell back or sell the "textbook" to another person, which I know a lot of students do to make up for their costs or at least allows students to find bargains. Also, if publishers allows pdf downloads, students are resourceful; it won't be long before there's a copy floating around. I'll admit I'm not all too familiar with all this, that might be an issue that can be easily contained. However, some textbooks I've purchased have come with a media copy, which I didn't really use because cross referencing things in the same book can be really involved (and disruptive as noted in another comment) compared to just flipping pages in a book.
Zach @ May 6th 2009 7:00PM
As an academic, the kindle is really invaluable and I'll pay whatever price they're asking for this. The search features, the instant access, the portability are just too good to give up. Also, a note to those above, the kindle actually supports highlighting and notation, although touch features would be nice. Also, I can't vouch for the abilities of the IRex reader, but my kindle 1 never takes more than about 5 seconds to load even the most intricate images it can handle,
I don't really see this as all that useful for newspapers, but textbooks on the kindle are great as it is and a bigger screen will certainly help. Really, it will help on just about anything since if I have the text increased to a comfortable size (another often neglected advantage of ebooks) I find myself having to turn the pages too often.
As long as Amazon recognizes that they are dealing with a very targeted market they should do fine with this. I understand the complaints some have with this (except for those arguing for that other readers have public domain books, the Kindle works with those just fine but If you aren't interested in reading things as soon as possible then you really aren't the target audience here), but as someone with specialized needs it's a real lifesaver.
Dane @ May 6th 2009 9:53PM
The problem here for the textbook market will always be greedy textbook publishers. The few publishers that will sign on will more than likely offer subscriptions or rentals rather than letting you purchase, and with very little if any price advantage over the actual book. On top of that you can't sell them at the end of the semester to recoup costs. These problems in addition to the $500 price tag are more than enough for me to say that there will be no Kindle DX in my future.
nDy @ May 6th 2009 10:55PM
In most countries outside US they use ISO-A4, but not LetterSize(8.5X11)
So I guest it really wouldn't be ported out.
I hate American Standard(not only toilets)
nDy @ May 6th 2009 10:57PM
OK not really hating how these standards were made.
but hey
What's with ISO, it's anyway hard to be International if it does not include
a country call US.
Tonicboy @ May 7th 2009 1:02AM
@nDy
The paper size used in various countries is completely irrelevant as to whether or not that country could use a Kindle. Kindle content itself is designed to be scaled and therefore viewable on an infinite range of screen sizes. The negligible difference between A4 and letter is trivial.
Tonicboy @ May 7th 2009 1:10AM
@nDy
Oh and for the record, the Kindle DX screen is neither A4 nor US Letter. It's smaller than both.
thinkmore @ May 6th 2009 2:20PM
hmmm...let's see - the kindle2 and the kindleDX were probably being designed and developed simultaneously [definitely with overlaps]. As such, one cannot imagine that there could be such severe differences in the hardware / software implementation that a feature like PDF reading cannot be implemented for the kindle2. If, in fact, it cannot be done, then this was clearly planned obsolescence - which, in this day and age, is ridiculous.
I'm a big fan of e-ink technology and would like to see it implemented in as many ways as possible [I use the Motofone F3 : [thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com] ]. But I cannot see how this move by Amazon would endear itself to its current customers, or those waiting in the wings. Could the color kindle be 3 months away?
thinkmore @ May 6th 2009 2:25PM
In my comment above, I was trying to say that it would be clearly a good idea for a company to establish a product / category and allow it to mature just a little before jumping in and fragmenting the market. It's a little early to set up such product differentiation - especially if the color kindle may be just months away.
As for the Motofone [my favorite e-ink based product so far], here's the link : http://thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/50-2/
badbob001 @ May 6th 2009 3:43PM
PDFs are not implemented on the Kindle2 because the screen resolution is too small to view fix format PDFs without scrolling and scrolling is a big no no for e-link. Since the DX can take any PDF, I wonder how it handles scrolling for PDFs with large page sizes.
ran @ May 6th 2009 2:20PM
It's a great looking device, but the size doesn't looks as portable.
It would be nice if they put the PDF reader in the Kindle 2 at least.
neal.lucas @ May 6th 2009 2:21PM
I would like to see an example of a newspaper page on the kindle.
also, what happened to the rumored touchscreen?
maybe next month....
Templarian @ May 6th 2009 2:22PM
I like how Thomas tried his best to fit the stereotype perfectly. lol.
8.5x11 .5" frame flush to the screen with a touch screen (with captive stylus input). Only 1 on and off button on the top. I'm still waiting.
joe23521 @ May 6th 2009 2:25PM
Hey, I like this format. You guys should do this more often with other new products.
Alan Strangis @ May 6th 2009 2:52PM
I agree, but we do get that weekly with the podcast, with a lot more humour as well.
Harry @ May 6th 2009 3:13PM
I really enjoyed reading this format too - seemed more personal. Do more like this!
BJ is Gooder @ May 6th 2009 4:39PM
I fourth this idea - fantastic format!~
Nik @ May 6th 2009 2:27PM
I'm a student and because of this fact, I have to go with Nilay. There is simply no better solution to sitting at a table with tons of books nearby. It allows you to be looking at several different subject areas, not just one on a screen. It also is the studying factor, how much easier is it to just be able to highlight and tab little sections with multiple books? The Kindle DX seems more of a fancy thing you would buy if you had the money, not something you especially need. Also, I think it's pretty funny how Amazon released 2 Kindles within 3 months of each other. I disagree with the fact that they're trying to corner the market with different screen sizes, that just doesn't make a whole lot of sense. All in all, I'm sure they'll sell well enough to have a second and possibly even third iteration, it all depends on how the economy fares.
Mojo_Yugen @ May 7th 2009 10:59AM
I just don't get this whole "too many models" or "it's too confusing". One is bigger and costs more. Even the knuckle-dragging average consumer can wrap their head around that one. How is this different than a stereo manufacturer that offers 12 different amps? A computer company offers how many different models? Cripes! I even have to decide between 3 grades of gas at the same pump.
As for me (no eBook reader at all right now) I like the larger size. The smaller ones won't work for my needs. I don't like the price but may still pull the trigger on it. I do wish Plastic Logic would get theirs out the door but I'm not sure i want to wait that long.
Matt @ May 6th 2009 2:29PM
I think Darren has the right of this. The Kindle DX doesn't make sense for newspapers or for consumers. However, it does make sense for textbooks and businesses that do a lot of 8-1/2 by 11 printing. Even if annotating and highlighting is difficult, and even if there isn't much of a price drop to digital textbooks, anyone who's had to carry several classes worth of textbooks around for a day can see some appeal here. Also, at higher levels of education, as well as with businesses, much of the reading material is in PDF form.
Also, as a recent Kindle 2 buyer I have the opposite reaction as Niley is having. As a consumer, there's no way I would have shelled out the extra $140 for this over the Kindle 2, which probably fits my needs better anyways.
cowabungaCarl @ May 6th 2009 4:38PM
without a significant drop in price going from traditional textbook to digital textbook, I dont see how many college students can afford to spend $500 on this device.....and that is assuming that ALL of their textbooks are even available on the DX
textbooks on the kindle have to be cheap enough, so that even after selling the textbook back to the bookstore it is still clearly cheaper to buy digital.
also curious, how many years do you think it would take to make your money back assuming digital textbooks are cheaper, or is just the convenience factor enough?
Cornelius @ May 6th 2009 5:48PM
I disagree. When I worked on my masters, many of my comp sci books had electronic versions (pdf, ebook, etc) that you could buy (or pirate) or were included on the CD that came with the physical book. I carried the actual books around anyway.
Sure it would've been easier just to lug my laptop, but reading text on a tiny LCD screen gets irritating, especially considering that much of my projects (and therefore non-school time) were spent staring at text- err, code- on the screen anyway. It's so much easier on the eyes, and my battery wouldn't last an entire day (I was constantly moving so pulling out the AC PSU/plug wasn't fun, plus I could study on the metro).
Several classes had multiple books, and relied on other references. Constantly switching between different textbooks on a kindle is a PITA.
Mike @ May 6th 2009 2:30PM
The problem with using this for textbooks is that you cannot resell the textbook after your finished with it.
cykosis @ May 6th 2009 3:12PM
If textbooks are sold at a low enough price, selling it back becomes irrelevant. It's a double win if it's a text book that's actually worth keeping as a reference.
Jay @ May 6th 2009 3:59PM
My experience with sell back textbooks is you don't get much for them anyway. Occasionally, I would get a decent amount if the book is for a class that everyone takes. But once you get into specialized classes without a lot of students, the money falls off dramatically. This is assuming they aren't going to a different book or a new edition is out.
leo @ May 6th 2009 2:34PM
Once they add color, can we finally call it a 'netbook'?
Melissa @ May 6th 2009 2:36PM
I really didn't understand the point of the DX from a mass market point of view. However if Darren proves correct and Amazon will be partnering with public schools and universities (universities in particular) that puts a different spin on things. Also if the books are discounted as heavily as Don mentioned I think those that have an affinity for writing in margins and such (Sorry Nilay) will adapt in name of saving money. Beer money is scarce these days after all ;)
Greg B @ May 6th 2009 2:37PM
Seriously though, with the +$400.00 price tag, wouldn't a simple netbook be enough for most reading uses without the cost?
BigD145 @ May 6th 2009 2:46PM
No. Reading a whole book or magazine or newspaper on an LCD screen becomes painful and will ruin your eyes.
Jeremy @ May 6th 2009 4:25PM
What college student does that? For some disciplines I see it being useful, ie business and law for case studies, but not for engineering and sciences where textbooks are used more as a reference.
omo @ May 6th 2009 2:39PM
I think Don has the right take, as it has a lot to do with marketing a lower price array of text books and ultimately undercutting the used textbook market for more profit to the publishers. Text book publishers actually have some incentive to invest in the long term success of the Big K.
Personally I think it's about time Kindle has native PDF, and if it has touch screen it would be a home run rather than a disputed fan-interfered double that it currently is.
Alex S. @ May 6th 2009 2:41PM
What I don't like about all this Kindle thing is that if I buy a book, after I read it, it can go to my wife or my brother or to any friend that comes home and takes it with him. Same thing with newspapers, I pay a subscription, but we are at least 2 people to read it daily.
Kindle has the problem of uploading my stuff into it. It's a long lap before I can have all my stuff ready to read. I have to send it to Amazon's site, then check my email and then I can upload it.
Snoopmayo @ May 6th 2009 2:42PM
Great article, but who are these people btw? Is it Darren Rowse? or Darren Whom? :)
spinoza2 @ May 6th 2009 2:47PM
I've owned a Sony Reader for a couple of years now, and have completely integrated it into my lifestyle. With over a hundred books on it, I take it everywhere with me. The DX sounds very compelling and will most likely spring for it once it's introduced into the marketplace (unless of course Sony also introduces a big screen Reader first!). I use Kindle for my iPhone and have been enjoying it as well. From the reports I predict it will be a winner in spite of the rather steep initial price.
caz @ May 6th 2009 2:46PM
I get the Boston Globe delivered on Sunday between 8:30 and 9 and like last week not at all. I'm ready for the Sunday paper to be E-delivered but are they ready?
Toby @ May 6th 2009 2:46PM
Amazon needs to get its arse in gear! No Kindle in UK... No Amazon iPhone apps in UK... It's not as if Amazon hasn't got a presence in UK. They are a massive retailer. Oh, but... its kind of like MS with Zune and media center, and I'm sure it won't be the last time we are neglected by big US corps. TAKE MY MONEY!!!! Please!!!!
Jack_Barron @ May 6th 2009 2:48PM
Kindle 1 - Meh. Kindle 2 - Meh. Kindle DX - Meh. Talk to me when you can display color, and not cost as much as a laptop until then I will continue to not be impressed.
ZeroCorpse @ May 6th 2009 10:50PM
I know. You can't enjoy the Dora The Explorer books you like so much in black & white, can you?
Seriously... Who needs color for a novel? You're not a reader, are you?
Tim @ May 6th 2009 2:50PM
What I want to know is how many people in the US are both outside the delivery range of the NY Times and inside the range of the 3G service. I guess there's always wifi...
Elias @ May 6th 2009 2:51PM
That newspaper subscriptions are only available to people who can't get the paper delivered is moronic. The Times should have provided nationwide availability. They forget that their content is already free for netbooks with wifi.Those of us that subscribe to it are really being pushed to cancel and just get the website for free. On the other hand $9.99 seemed reasonable to get from many of us, and I think the Times would get many more $9.99 subscriptions than $40 dollar paper-delivery subscriptions.
JC @ May 6th 2009 2:50PM
If I were still in school I'd give it a shot - 15lbs less to lug around campus would have been really helpful.
Charles @ May 6th 2009 4:43PM
Picked up a 12 inch Motion Computing LE1600 touchscreen on ebay for $300. Doesn't have the battery life, but 1.5 gb ram, 30 gig hard drive, and plays most media I'm interested in, plus MobiPocket books, PDFs from the NY public library digital collection, and dear old Gutenberg.org. The Kindle is pathetic.
Ariel @ May 6th 2009 2:53PM
@GregB: Reading over long periods of time on an LCD screen is total fail. You must not be much of a reader. eInk is wonderful for this, so please stop with the "just read it on your laptop/netbook/phone" conceit.
@Thomas in the post: You mean those same 500,000 public domain books that are available on the Kindle as well? The 500,000 books of which many are just duplicate versions/renderings of the same book? So really the *maybe* 100,000 that aren't already available on Amazon to be delivered to the Kindle wirelessly, and those you can get from any source and drop them on the Kindle yourself. Is Thomas a Sony shill?
Thomas Ricker @ May 6th 2009 3:24PM
Sigh. The Kindle is not sold in Europe. Period. Thus there is no Kindle vs. Reader comparison to be made from our viewpoint.
nickux @ May 6th 2009 2:52PM
I still can't figure out WHO this product is for. If it's for colleges and students- who can afford such a thing? If Oprah can't easily shout "Everyone in the audience is getting a Kindle DEEEEE EXXXXXX!" Amazon is going to have a tough time selling this to anyone in the consumer space. Unlike something in Apple's world such as a Macbook Pro versus a Macbook where you get an increase in specs for a price increase, the Kindle DX doesn't seem to offer much more than screen real estate. It only does the same things as the current Kindle model but with a bigger screen. $150 for more screen? I'm sure some people will be willing to pay that premium over the already expensive Kindle 2, but I doubt there are many of them.
Chris Miller @ May 6th 2009 2:55PM
Not sure if someone has already said this, but what they need is an upgrade program for anyone who bought the Kindle 2 and is like "what the hell!?" Same concept as EVGA's step-up program with video cards and such.