The Kindle Gets Bigger

[Timothy Huber]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcworld.com/article/164440/kindle_dx_first_impressions_of_the_large_doc_reader.html' target='_blank'>http://www.pcworld.com/article/1644...doc_reader.html</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>At today's launch event here, Amazon unveiled the details of its Kindle DX. The rumors about the device proved true: It has a larger screen than the Kindle 2, and is aimed squarely at maximizing the newspaper and textbook market. However, that's not the only angle that Amazon head Jeff Bezos took today. By focusing on professional documents, too, Bezos positions Kindle DX as a business productivity tool, too.</em></p><p><em><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1241645205.usr147.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></em></p><p>I've never actually used a Kindle, but one of the cons I'd always heard was the small display size. Today, Amazon addressed that by announcing the Kindle DX, which will ship this summer. It's a bit pricey at $489, but in addition to the bigger display, the DX adds a PDF reader and, like the iPhone, automatic screen rotation when you turn the reader on its side.&nbsp;&nbsp;In terms of its use as a business productivity too, it looks like it could be a great tool for reading documents, but I think the price will be a barrier, particularly in this economy.</p>

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

I wish companies will stop with their US-centric viewpoint...

[ptyork]

Yep, especially with cell phones. We get the most awesomest phones for years before anyone else. It's great to be an American!! ;)

Come on, Amazon is an American company with an American CEO and an American design team developing a product aimed at Americans. This is surprising? Disturbing?

[Felix Torres]

I wish companies will stop with their US-centric viewpoint...

Yes, it would be great if the publishing houses were to allow Amazon to sell ebooks outside the US. But since book rights are negotiated on a regional basis...

Try buying ebooks from Fictiwise or Booksonboard or any of the dozen or so Amazon competitors and see how easy it is to buy books from outside of region.

Same reason why Microsoft can't deploy the 1100+ movies in their US catalog outside the US; they are not authorized; they have to negotiate on a country by country basis and each country has its own local contents rules.

Last I heard, Amazon has to go through a Canadian Company, Chapters, to sell print books in Canada. That still true? Can't imagine they would be allowed to ship ebooks across the border if they can't ship books printed in Canada to start with.

Isn't it great when they protect you from your own spending habits?

Sadly, the US is headed that same way so real soon now we will be protected from buying all that advanced foreign stuff.

Good thing I already got my dutch ebook reader.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Yep, especially with cell phones. We get the most awesomest phones for years before anyone else. It's great to be an American!! ;)

Come on, Amazon is an American company with an American CEO and an American design team developing a product aimed at Americans. This is surprising? Disturbing?

The product isn't hardly American. I'll give it to you on mobile phones though.

Felix: I know, licensing and all. In many ways it's an outmoded system, but having gone through some frustrating times at work it's amazing how things can be done in the corporate world, if at all.

[Felix Torres]

Felix: I know, licensing and all. In many ways it's an outmoded system, but having gone through some frustrating times at work it's amazing how things can be done in the corporate world, if at all.

If you think the corporate world is dysfunctional; you should see what government operations are like. There's a reason the Soviet Union rotted from inside: imagine the entire country run the way the US government runs itself. Brrr! My heart goes out to those poor people... Kafka-esque doesn't begin to describe it.

Now, if you really like the idea of ebook readers and would like one that is rich in features, light, and affordable, you might want to look into the Hamlin series from Jinke. They are available all around the world from a variety of distributors under many names (Papyrus, lbook, bebook, ez reader, etc). They'll have three models to choose from by this summer, the existing V3 (6" screen, ~US$280), the recently announced V5 (5" screen, US$199), and a long-delayed V9 (9.7" screen, unpriced). No real reason to miss the Kindles, really.

I have the Dutch-distributed BeBook and am generally happy; it supports MSReader Lit files reasonably well. The architecture is PC-like and allows for alternate firmware loads, and there is one open source project developing a very promising one called openinkpot. I am eagerly waiting to see what they do in the 10" space and how its priced; I really need to get my mother a new reader to replace her old rocket ereaders. If the Kindle DX were actually shipping I would've jumped right there, but since it isn't...

I have friends with both the Kindle (they all love theirs) and the Sony 505 (ditto) so I've played with both and they all have a place, but I've found the Sony to be slower and less flexible than the competition. But hey, its got the Sony name, right?

Anybody with an interest in dedicated ebook readers should keep their eyes open; the next 6 months are going to be very interesting; there is a new industry being born right in front of us.

Kindle is just the beginning.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Ah, I'm aware of Jinke's Hanlin products, but the reason I'm moaning about the DX is because I'd like something with a bigger screen. Looks like Jinke's coming up with something bigger. I'll wait then.

[Felix Torres]

Looks like Jinke's coming up with something bigger. I'll wait then.

Out of curiosity, which of the three proposed V9 variants tickles your fancy?
I'm hoping BeBook picks up the minimal config rather than the tarted-up versions (V9c and V9t).

BTW, Sony is also rumored to be working on a larger reader, as well as the great-print-hope, Plastic Logic--they've already cooked up a deal with both Detroit newspapers to distribute their 10" reader to subscribers in that area.

There's also the already-released Brother reader but their pricing is non-competive; they're obviously focused on the corporate tablet market.

Lots of fun toys coming. :)

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Well, I'd like to have a touchscreen for annotation, but not wireless, since I find it superfluous. I guess it means none of them are ideal to me.

[Felix Torres]

Well, I'd like to have a touchscreen for annotation, but not wireless, since I find it superfluous. I guess it means none of them are ideal to me.

Touch screen but no wireless? That is the Hanlin V9t, if it ever comes out as spec'd; Welcome to Jinke ! ePaper Reading Device Global Leading Enterprise (http://www.jinke.com.cn/Compagesql/English/embedpro/newpro.asp).

That would, also, likely be the Sony 10-incher, if they don't learn their lesson from the 700. And Sony being Sony, odds are they won't.

Right now, that is also the iRex DR1000S; Wacom pen support and optional handwriting recognition.
iRex Technologies (http://www.irextechnologies.com/irexdr1000)
https://www.irexshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_35&products_id=69&osCsid=28ae65ae3ea0fe367a43b9db4bab6554

And sometime in the next year there is the Netronix EB-900, with both Wacom touch screen and WiFi.
EB-900 (http://www.netronixinc.com/product_EB900.htm)


Definitely *not* Kindle territory, though; as Kindles don't do touch screen, just the membrane dome keyboard. (Which I'd personally wish they'd ditch; its an ebook reader, not a cellphone! An onscreen keyboard run by the 5-way controller should suffice.)

Me, I'm sorta hoping *these* guys do a 10" model just on the basis of their ergonomics and design sense. Pretty! :-)
txtr reader - one step ahead (http://reader.txtr.com/one_step_ahead.html)

One thing I *have* noticed in the ebook arena: NorthAm is actually *lagging* in dedicated eReaders. Eastern europe in particular seems to be a hotbed for them.