Amazon.com: Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, U.S. Wireless) : Amazon Devices & Accessories

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Customers find the Kindle DX's readability excellent, with sharp and clear text and the ability to read for hours, while appreciating its large screen size and crystal-clear display. The device is easy to use and understand, and customers consider it well worth the price. However, opinions about weight are mixed, with some finding it light while others say it's heavy. Similarly, the device's functionality receives mixed reviews, with some saying it works well while others report it stopped working after 27 months of use.

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Reading ability Screen size Readability Ease of use Screen clarity Weight Value for money Works well

1,588 customers mention "Reading ability"1,501 positive87 negative

Customers find the Kindle reader excellent, with one customer comparing it to "the best thing since sliced bread."

"Great product, easy to use, easy to read, easy to download content. Exactly as advertized. You won't be disappointed. Too bad it was so expensive" Read more

"This is a great product. I like the fact that it is not touch screen. It is more like a book that way. It is easy to use and wonderful to read with." Read more

"...Great device, great customer service, NO WHISPERNET coverage where I live. Its only one out of three but its the big one in this case...." Read more

"Good product. I already had the small version, and now I use both of them. Has an unique feature: can sync the book between both devices. I recommend." Read more

1,252 customers mention "Screen size"966 positive286 negative

Customers like the Kindle's screen size, with one customer noting that the larger display is worth the extra money.

"Bought this for my mom as a Christmas present and she loves it. The large screen and no glare view makes it easy for her to read indoors and outdoors..." Read more

"I upgraded from the 2nd Gen Kindle and really love the larger screen and the newer features of the DX. Text to speech feature is one of my favorites...." Read more

"...So despite the fact that it's a big screen and the fact that you can increase the size of the text to see better, It doesn't actually offer a better..." Read more

"I was disappointed with the awkward feel of this reading device. It's too big and one would think if you need something like this go ahead and..." Read more

997 customers mention "Readability"796 positive201 negative

Customers praise the Kindle's readability, noting that the text is sharp and clear, and they can read for extended periods.

"This is the first Kindle we've gotten. The print is very nice and clear. We're trying to register it and can't find the @ key to enter our user ID...." Read more

"...It makes pdf files for cameras easily portable and readable without bulk or weight when using a camera during hiking or difficult to reach spots...." Read more

"...It's a great device and I like having books, magazines and newspapers at my fingertips, ready to go where I go and not have them in a big pile." Read more

"...Cons: -The fonts for some PDF documents are somewhat faint and hard to read, however this can be solved by manually cropping the margins to..." Read more

894 customers mention "Ease of use"716 positive178 negative

Customers find the Kindle reader easy to use and understand, noting that it is more convenient than handling a physical book.

"...Other than that the Kindle is easy to use. I think it is easily fixable to make this machine user friendly for the vision impaired by the manufacture." Read more

"...I cannot describe how easy this item is to use. How easy and fast it is to purchase and download books AND the single greatest feature is the native..." Read more

"...use the Kindle DX.The Kindle with the many features it has and the ease of use,meets all of my expectations. It is very easy to call my top choice." Read more

"...It is convenient, fun, and very easy to use. I doubt the price will go down anytime soon so I recommend you take the plunge and buy the new Kindle...." Read more

585 customers mention "Screen clarity"472 positive113 negative

Customers praise the Kindle's screen clarity, noting that it is crystal clear and perfectly readable, with one customer mentioning that the white pages make it easier to read.

"...is that you guys should take care of the interface and your screen is great, but how long do you think is gonna take to apple or other competitor to..." Read more

"...The Kindle DX is very readable, the e-ink crisp, and the larger screen was much better on my eyes with fewer page turns (read battery lasts longer)...." Read more

"...The screen is easy to read and the larger size means less page turning with books, and less scrolling with PDF's and newspapers...." Read more

"We were amazed at the clarity of the screen. Adjustable print size makes it a great device for multiple people with different vision problems...." Read more

730 customers mention "Weight"380 positive350 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the Kindle's weight, with some finding it light and convenient for reading without holding heavy books, while others consider it a bit heavy.

"Great little paper book replacement! Easy to use, light and small size doesn't bother me at all. Actually, just ordered one more for my husband :o)" Read more

"...cons: heavy, almost only for reading, bad firmware - [...] - much better even not that stable but better suited for pdf, chm and other formats,..." Read more

"...Also, Kindle's light weight makes it easier to hold for extended periods. For avid readers, it's the right choice to buy the Kindle. Happy reading!" Read more

"is too big, too heavy and too hard to turn the pages on. I also miss the page turn buttons being on both sides like on the Kindle Keyboard...." Read more

724 customers mention "Value for money"418 positive306 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the Kindle's value for money, with some finding it well worth the price and appreciating the savings on books, while others consider it somewhat pricey.

"...Overall, I think it kinda worth it and contain better value than the Amazon Fire in consideration that at least this is e-ink technology and reduce..." Read more

"...Compared to other Kindles though, I think at close to $400 it is too expensive and a little big for reading in bed etc... I sent it back and am..." Read more

"It arrived amazingly quickly from New York. Expensive, but is worth every penny. Works at first go with the Calibre book management programme...." Read more

"...has been helpful for a couple of terms not in the Oxford A.E. It's expensive, but it's nice to have the "latest" device for once..and such a great..." Read more

557 customers mention "Works well"354 positive203 negative

Customers have mixed experiences with the Kindle's functionality, with some saying it works well as an e-reader while others report it stops working after 27 months of use.

"...This item allows me to carrying thousands of books in one device. It works great, charges fast, and I have never had any issues with downloading...." Read more

"...No paper, no ink, no printing press, no binding, no packaging or shipping to a distributor, no packaging and shipping to a retail store, no clerk..." Read more

"Works great. Gets wireless service at my place of work, which doesn't provide any wifi." Read more

"...3. Automatic page orientation rotation is handy, works well, and can conveniently be turned off when you do not want it. 4...." Read more

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Alexander Scherr
Different and Better
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2009
Verified Purchase

I have owned both Kindle 1 and Kindle 2, so I'm already committed to the basic idea: e-ink reading in a slim form factor with excellent connectivity to a large selection of books and subscriptions. I have come to rely on my Kindle experience, and it has seriously enhanced my reading.

The DX was not an obvious upgrade for me, but two features put me over the edge: the larger screen, and the native PDF reader. I now have the DX in my hands, and can report PROS, CONS, and NEUTRALS:

PROS:

-- the larger screen is a definite plus. I use the larger type size on my Kindle 2 (older eyes), and at this type size I get far more text per page on the DX. This makes the whole reading experience more book-like (and should be a boon to people who buy large-print books.)

-- the screen is also sharper and crisper than my Kindle 2 in a side-by-side comparison: the text is darker, and the contrast is much better, making for better visibility overall.

-- on a side note, the larger screen also makes it possible to read poetry on the kindle, even at large type sizes. On earlier Kindles, the smaller screen cut off lines, so that you would lose the sense of when the poet ended the line. On the DX, you can see the whole line exactly as the poet meant it, with the cut-off in the right spot.

-- the PDF reader works as advertised, and is extremely convenient. PDF documents appear on the DX exactly as they do on a computer screen. Moreover, you can drag and drop your documents directly to the device using the USB cable (or use the for-a-fee email if you absolutely must.) The only downside: at least for the documents that I've used so far, I cannot adjust the type size as I can with native Kindle documents.

-- screen rotation also works as advertised: it operates as a mild zoom on both graphics and text and offsets slightly the downside of not being able to adjust the typesize on PDF documents. One nice design touch: the four-way navigation stick introduced on the Kindle 2 is rotation-sensitive, and will move as expected relative to the screen rotation.

-- more of the device space is devoted to the screen, while the white plastic border around the screen seems to have shrunk, both in general and compared to the proportion of screen to plastic on the Kindle 2. I like this (but see below about the keyboard).

-- storage: I like the increase in storage space, and don't mind the lack of an external storage card. I can see some people having trouble with this, but only those folks who either a) must regularly carry around PDF documents totalling more than 3.5 GB of space or b) must have nearly 3500 books regularly at their fingertips. I fall in neither category.

CONS:

-- price: it's expensive, as you can tell pretty quickly. If you value the larger size, and the native PDF reader, these features may justify the roughly 30% premium you pay for the DX over the Kindle 2. In truth, the DX SHOULD cost more than the Kindle 2, and a 30% premium isn't unreasonable. But, for my money, Amazon should drop the price on the Kindle 2 to $300 or so, and charge $400 or a little less for the DX. Still, I bought it, and will keep it at this price.

-- one-sided navigation buttons: all of the buttons are now on the right side, and none are on the left. I'm a righty, so I shouldn't complain, but I found myself using both sides on the Kindle 2. Lefties have reason to complain, I think.

-- One-handed handling: I often read while I walk, with my Kindle in one hand, and something else in my other. Because of the button layout, this will be more difficult on the DX.

-- metal backing: I miss the tacky rubberized backing on my Kindle 1. When I placed my Kindle 1 on an inclined surface, it stayed in place. Not so my Kindle 2 and now my DX. This is not a complaint specific to the DX, but it's still there.

NEUTRALS (i.e. things worth noting):

-- weight: the DX is heavier, noticeably so. This is only an issue if, like me, you regularly use the kindle with one hand . . . and even so, it's still doable.

-- keyboard: the keyboard has 4 rows, and not 5: the top row of numbers from the Kindle 1 and 2 has been merged into the top qwerty row, so that numbers are now only accessible with an alt-key combination. The keys are vertically thinner too, so that the whole keyboard is no more than 1" tall (compared to over an 1.5" on the Kindle 2). At the same time, the keys themselves are a bit easier to press, a bit more protruding than on the Kindle 2. For someone with big fingers (like me), this will be a slightly harder keyboard to use, but only slightly.

That's all I can see. Overall, the pluses outweigh the minuses for me, and I'm satisfied with my purchase. I can now think of using my DX for work documents on a regular basis, because of the PDF reader. The screen size and screen rotation make the overall reading experience more immersive.

Overall, the DX feels more like text and less like device and comes closer to the stated goal of the Kindle: for the device to disappear, leaving only the joy of reading.

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Cannon
Q & A on Kindle DX
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2009
Verified Purchase
EDIT: 1/16/2010(Please see end of review for most recent update)

Q. Why did you purchase a Kindle DX?

A. I love to read, and I read daily. Accordingly, the Kindle DX, while expensive, is likely to "pay" for itself in a relatively short time, for anyone who likes to read New Releases. Yes, you can check things out from the library, but for avid readers who like to plow through New Releases, the Kindle is a nice luxury that supports the healthy habit of reading.

Q. Yeah, but that thing is expensive. Why not the Kindle 2?

A. Who said anything about the Kindle 2? Buy the Kindle 2.

Q. Ok, but why did YOU buy the DX and not the 2?

A. Oh, well that's because of a couple of features that were important to me. First, the screen is larger, and that is helpful to me. Second, I like the pdf capability and use it.

Q. And that was worth the extra $100+ dollars?

A. For me, yes. Maybe not for you...and in that instance, buy the 2.

Q. Ok, so what is the first book that you downloaded?

A. Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shephard.

Q. Does it come with a case or a light?

A. No and no... and this is one bone to pick with Amazon. At that price, a protective case, even a cheap one, should be included. I would like to point out for those that bash this "no backlight" thing that just about every paper book I've ever purchased did not come with a "backlight" front light, side light, or any other kind of light. I tend to read near a lamp, and so that works. And I have a reading light that I can use in bed or in a car, and whaddya know, that works too.

Q. No color? How come no color?

A. What's the last paper book you read that was written in color?

Q. Ok, fair point, but what about with periodicals and such?

A. I suspect that eventually we will see color Kindles. I am not sure the technology is available yet at this price point. I, for one, am pleased with the readability of a Kindle DX in black and white.

Q. Ok, so is it easy to use?

A. Oh, I think so. For anyone remotely tech savvy, you can figure out the Kindle DX on the fly.... but the user manual that is loaded onto the Kindle is helpful, and there are lots of online sources for information if you're really stuck.

Q. Is the bigger screen really a plus?

A. For me, it really is. Sometimes, I need to increase the font size for reading comfort and the larger screen really makes it still feel like I'm reading a book and accomplishing something with each turn of the page.

Q. Is the screen really "better" or "improved?"

A. While I do not own a Kindle 1 or 2, I have read from both. In my opinion the DX is crisper and blacker, and in that sense, for me, yes, it is better.

Q. What's with the screen shift?

A. Ah, you mean where you can turn it sideways and the screen shifts so that you can read, panoramic style. That feature has it's advantages as well. First, you might find it a more comfortable way to read. Second, with PDF documents, sometimes, it's the view you need.

Q. How's the battery life?

A. Oh it's great. So far, I'm still working off the first charge. Look, I think all of these readers have better than decent battery life. One keye is to remember to turn the wireless mode off if you want to extend the battery life. If you are a subscriber to blogs, etc.....you'll need the wireless on for the downloads, but otherwise, keep it off. I imagine 2 weeks of reading with no wireless on is actually very achieveable. Now, not reading around the clock for two weeks, but with moderate usage, it lasts and lasts. This is NOT like some Walkman that burns double A's in 3 hours.

Q. How is the download time?

A. I received Scratch Beginnings in under 18 seconds. I couldn't have walked to the kitchen to get me keys to drive to the bookstore in 18 seconds. I also couldn't have fired up my computer to purchase the book online in under 18 seconds.

Q. What about the range?

A. I'm in a metropolitan area. I have no problems. I've taken it to the mountains of North Carolina already, again, no problems.

Q. What about out of the country?

A. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Honestly, I plan to download a few books before I go.....

Q. What about people who complain that it isn't green?

A. Oh for the love of humanity. You can't please all the people all the time. Look, I'm an avid reader. I don't need or want to own hundreds of books that OH BY THE WAY were printed on paper from trees. I don't want to store them, put them in landfills, or whatever. This works for me. I hope it works for you.

Q. Yeah, but there are toxins in th.....

A. There are toxins in ice cream. I'm not going to stop eating that either.

Q. Didn't you see that 20/20Frontline/48 Hours/iTeam investigation/New Magazine/Blah boo Blah show that talks about all the lead and mercury and hazardous stuff that children in Third World Nations are exposed to because you bought a Kindle.

A. Yes......no, wait......that wasn't the story! Look, I love the environment and please know I try to do my part to protect same. I promise I won't put my Kindle in the landfill, nor will I have it shipped to Naperstania where young children will be exposed to the evils of whatever might be in my Kindle. I expect to own the Kindle far longer than most books that I have owned in the past. I'm not trying to put magazines out of business, but really, I don't need the mail, and the wasted paper and the ink and everything else. You give and you get, you know?

Q. Isn't this just a fad?

A. I don't think so. I think the DX could be the solution to college student spending hundreds of dollars per semester on text books and then having to lug them around for classes and trying to get rid of them when the semester is over. The uses of the DX in the education environment are all plusses. I believe the Kindle line and copies will be around for a long, long time. And if I'm wrong, I'll come back and edit the review and admit I was wrong.

Q. Is it durable?

A. I haven't dropped it and don't want to....but I believe that it is durable. The screen is not like a laptop screen.... it's more durable, in my view. I recommend getting a case or at least a protective cover. One does want to avoid scratches and unnecessary bumps with ANY electronic device. Again, Amazon should include a cover. Are you listening Amazon?

UPDATE: I dropped it. About 3.5 feet. It hit carpet. It's fine. Not a scratch on it. Works just like it did before I dropped it. I did utter something that's not PG when I dropped it....and I'm sorry for that now.

Q. Is it heavy?

A. It's not heavy. It's heavier than the Kindle 1 and 2. It's got some heft to it. But it's not unwieldy as larger books can be. And you don't get that horrible thumb fatigue from holding the book upon with your thumb wedged in the bottom in the middle. I don't find holding the Kindle DX awkward at all. I will say this though... I'm a rightie, and the buttons are all on the right. Perhaps some lefties will not appreciate that fact, but it's not difficult to navigate at all. Reading with one hand and mashing buttons is a bit more clumsy than with the 1 or 2, but it's fine.

Q. How's the keyboard?

A. I think it works just fine. But lookie here.... I have an LG ENV mobile phone, in part, because it has a QWERTY keyboard with raised buttons. My big ol fingers and thumbs work better on little raised surfaces. So, the Kindle QWERTY is just my style. I'm not a touch screen sort of person. In fact, I have been known to become angry with various touch screen Kiosks - for example - at IKEA. But that is a story for another day. UPDATE - I now have a Motorola Droid (with slide out keybard, on which the buttons are not raised enough. Touch screen technology is vastly improved - and I suspect the new Apple tablets will have high quality touch screen function).

Q. What happens if I spill something on it.

A. Don't.

Q. How's that little "mouse" button?

A. Easy to use. At first, I was concerned, because I sort of have fat thumbs. And, I was afraid that with overuse, it might get sticky or something. But, it's easy to use. I don't make mistakes with it, despite it's small size.

Q. Will the Kindle DX make me cool?

A. No. The Kindle DX IS cool, but it will not make YOU cool, if you are not already cool. I am not particularly cool, and I also tend to think that trying to be cool because you have gadgetry is sort of pathetic.

Q. Is the Kindle a good conversation starter?

A. Why, yes it is.... and usually the conversation starts with, "Oh, is that one of those Kenny thingies?"

Q. What else can the Kindle DX do?

A. Scramble eggs and secure the perimeter. I don't know, why are you asking this?

Q. Well, I'm trying to decide if it's worth it...

A. If you aren't an avid reader, NO, it's not worth it. Look, for someone who always has a nose in a book, reads more than one at a time, reads alot, or quickly, OR for someone who wants to get the latest George Will columns, or magazine, etc.....the Kindle is a great little tool. It's worth it. If you don't read that much... stick to the old way.

Q. Do you do all of your reviews this way?

A. No.

Q. Why did you Q & A this one?

A. Because it seemed like more fun than just writing it out in long paragraphs.

The Kindle DX is an excellent device.

UPDATE 6/22/2009

The ease with which one can search for and download a book is just wonderful. I realize this works with all Kindles, but folks, let me tell you.... with your Kindle Account, you can search for a book, order it with one click and, I KID YOU NOT, have the entire book on the Kindle in about 10 seconds. Now, does it MATTER whether it's 10 seconds or 50 seconds or 78 seconds? No.

Of course not.

But I am one to marvel at the speed of things. And this downloading service is really great.

I also want to address one of the more common comments that I get in public when someone sees the Kindle and starts asking questions and then decides to soapbox for a bit.

I'm often asked: "Don't you like to hold a real book? I LOVE to hold a real book! I think I'd miss the holding of a real book. Sometimes, you just want to hold a real book."

MY ANSWER: Yes, sometimes you want to hold a real book. Maybe you like the cover art. Maybe you have a unique edition. Maybe you like the smell of the paper. Maybe you feel more bookish with a real book. That's you. There's nothing wrong with you. You're a lovely human being. More power to you. Buy or borrow all the real books you want and read, read, read.

I have no reason to hold a real book in my hands. I don't love the smell of an old book. Cover art doesn't usually light my fire. I don't feel more bookish with a real book. I just want to read a good book, and the Kindle makes it easy to obtain and then read what I want to read.

Another thing. I tend to have my nose in more than one book at a time. Sometimes, I'm not in the mood for the biography I'm reading, and a little golf humor makes my day. I don't have to bring 2-3 books long with me and wait for the mood to strike. The Kindle has them all right there. Nice and easy.

Believe me... I'm as uptight and traditional as the next person, but again, for me, the Kindle makes sense. So, there's really nothing to "defend" so to speak. I would never, in a million years, put down someone who just likes to feel the paper. Accordingly, please grant me the pleasure of swooning over the feel of the smooth, white plastic.

Another question I get is this: Why does it only come in white?

A. I have no idea. Would I enjoy an apple green Kindle? I suppose. Hey, there's a million dollar idea. Fashion skins for your Kindle. Someone get on that, would you?

UPDATE #2 - I figured there were already fashion skins for the DX available, and what do you know, there are. See comment section below for one place (I know nothing about the site, just pointing out that these, apparently, do exist).

UPDATE #3 - I want to address a couple of other points raised by other reviewers and even commenters to ths review:

a) Auto Wireless/off/on mode - For those that don't know what's being referenced here, when you turn you Kindle on it's in Wireless ON mode....this is what allows you to reach into cyberspace and grab the book, periodical, newspaper of your choice. The battery lasts longer when the wireless mode is OFF. Some users would like a setting that automatically turns ON the wireless mode when they download something and then shuts it off when the download is complete. I agree, that would be handy and worry free.

b) Organizational folders: again, agree...the ability to create folders to organize materials would be mighty nice.

c) various pdf improvements: I think this is on the way. With PDF, a zoom mode would help, but alot of how much you like the PDF capabilities is directly related to how you use it.

EDIT: July 22, 2009

I want to address the recent hubbub over the removal of two books from the Kindle, surreptitiously, by Amazon from owners' Kindles. According to published news reports (as opposed to message board accusations, some of which have made this issue into something it is not....) upon discovery that a publisher did not actually have the rights to sell the book in electronic format, a decision was made to withdraw the books from Kindle's circulation (i.e. remove them from availability to purchase) and then to remove them, via Whispernet, from Kindle owners' devices - without previously informing the owners it was going to happen. Amazon, according to published reports, did refund the purchase price of the books to each Kindle owner. (I am aware that some owners may not have immediately noticed the refunds OR if they changed account data, may not have actually received the refund because Amazon did not have an electronic means to complete the refund).

My view is simply this: If a publisher doesn't have legal rights to sell a book via Kindle, then it should be stopped AND it makes sense that the version of the books that people purchased should be returned. Obviously, Amazon should refund the purchase in any such situation. But this type of transaction should ONLY be completed with the ADVANCED knowledge of the Kindle owners. I think that Amazon has even admitted, in published reports, that this was not handled correctly and would not happen in the future. In other words, I think they learned their lesson, from a customer service standpoint.

In this situation, I believe that Amazon could, and might still, make an additional concession to those affected (A book credit for their trouble).

I do NOT think this is "Big Brother" reincarnate (although the books at issue were Animal Farm and 1984).

I am not sure a review of the device is the proper place to have a debate over "ownership" of the material on your Kindle. THAT debate has raged for some time, and you need only search message boards here or plug a few search terms into your favorite search engine to read all about it (although I must tell you 98% of the info is all on one side of this debate). This is a PERFECT example, though, of how technology provides remedies that are unavailable to print media. Had this occurred with an actual book, no one could have taken the book out of your home. But in a legal sense, the technology allows Amazon, the conduit here, to avoid massive liability or damages in a civil context by being able to show that the books are no longer "out there" and available for purchase.

I still believe the Kindle DX is a wise investment for the avid reader, and I stil recommend it to you. My goal in this update was to provide helpful information about the recent issue concerning two books and provide my assessment of Amazon's handling of the matter. I believe that in the future, Amazon is likely to do a far better job of providing information to owners, before the fact.

UPDATE: 08/11/2009

I was recently lectured on the use of Public Libraries and how the Kindle line and Sony line of electronic readers are going to lead to the downfall of the Public Library Systems in America.

HOGWASH.

I still use my public library. I'm just not restricted to waiting 6 months for a best seller to go through the 9 people ahead of me on the wait list.

Also, what about support for the authors in this world? When 1000 people check out the same book at the library, the author and publishing house have sold a grand total of 1 book.

There aren't enough Kindle users in the world to drive libraries out of business. PLUS, there is something to be said for being able to borrow a book, for free. We do it all the time. By the bagloads.

I strongly support Public Libraries and I urge you to do the same. Donate your time and/or money and/or all your used books once you purchase a Kindle.

1/16/2010

I've read no less than 4 "lists" that discuss items that you should not buy - on each list ELECTRONIC READERS. One list said they are bad for the environment and then completely ignored the entire paper angle of books. The other 3 lists indicated that these readers really are in their infancy in terms of capability and function.

Here's the deal. They're right. We haven't really scratched the surface of tablet style smart pads yet. Believe me, the market will be full of them over the next 5 years. Think iPhone, Droid function. At some point, I won't be surprised if Google gets involved. The iPad, which has an Amazon Kindle App, makes sense for lots of people.

But here's the other deal.... We are 10 years away from a competatively priced smart pad ($300 or less) that represents the vast improvement that will make "replacing" your Kindle or Sony worthwhile. iPads and their ilk have infinitely more options through Apps and "cloud computing" that your Kindle does not have. But this doesn't mean you need to replace the Kindle or that it is obsolete.

I cannot stress this point enough. Electronic readers are NOT for everyone. If you're a casual reader and don't buy many books, this is an overpriced gadget that will eventually just collect dust. But for avid readers who invest considerable time to page turning....and are prone to buying a great many books.....Kindles - and frankly any electronic book reader - is likely something you'll grow to love.

I also want to add this: The continued debate over the pricing of electronic books does not appear to yield warning signs that the electronic reading array is going to significantly decrease. I would think the opposite. There were be more and more titles. I ultimately believe that authors and publishing houses will begin to incorporate (they really already do) the electronic title price into the publishing contract. Think about it...what's the real overhead here? Instead of printing the books on paper and having to ship them all over kingdom come, there's no print - just electronic delivery. What we MAY see is the price of actual books go down.

I'll give you an example. If I want Journey's Greatest Hits, I can buy the entire album on iTunes for 9.99. Three years ago, that title was $13.99 - $15.99 at Best Buy. Today, it's $9.99, and it comes in a paper package - this is for the actual CD, mind you. So what to buy? Well, I have to tell you, in the case of the CD, I might PREFER to own the CD at the same exact price because I'm not restricted to iTunes and I can share the CD with my family if I prefer - in the same way that I can loan an actual book to someone else (instead of having to loan them my reader). But so long as the CD is priced at $15.99, I have to decide whether the extra $6 is worth it for the actual CD. In the case of book titles, why pay $25.99 for the newest book when I can pay $9.99 for the electronic version? And unless I'm willing to loan my reader to someone else, they'll have to buy the electronic version on their own for $9.99. Seems to me that there's room in the electronic market to be competative price-wise in the face of readability restriction. Electronic readers are here to stay. And my guess is the market will meet the demand, sooner than later. So, the point of all this in the review is that I like the Kindle, and for avid readers, you'll likely enjoy it too - and get great useage out of it.

BTW - COST OF BOOKS HAD I BOUGHT THEM IN THE STORE - including paperbacks - SINCE PURCHASING THE KINDLE - $527.98

COST OF THOSE BOOKS IN ELECTRONIC FORMAT (Many were free) - Approx. $140.

Almost $390 in "savings" in less than one year.

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Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, U.S. Wireless)

Top Brand: Amazon