Comparing The Kindle 2 And The Kindle DX EBook Readers

When The Kindle ebook reader by Amazon came out several years ago, few of us had ever heard of digital book readers. At that time several companies had some kind of electrical reading device out on the market, but because of format or functionality problems they had not made any kind of impact. The Kindle reader was different. It was an instant hit. Amazon was quick to react to the markets needs and quickly responded by releasing an improved versions, the Kindle 2 and seven months later the Kindle DX.

There are hundreds of ebook readers out on the market today. Everyday there is a new portable reader coming out offering better options. However Amazon, with its two latest Kindle versions, is by far the leader. If you are researching the electronic book reader market and want to buy one, then the Kindle 2 or the Kindle DX are the ones to be checking out. But which is the right one for you?

The “big” difference between the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX is the size. The DX version is bigger than the Kindle 2 and any other ebook reader model out there. For comparative sake the Kindle DX measures 10.4 inches in height by 7.2 inches in width and its thickness is a mere .38 inches. The DX has a larger display screen which was designed for the better reading of magazines and newspapers as well as for accommodating the content of textbooks. The smaller Kindle 2 was originally meant for the reading of smaller books and is much easier to handle and store.

The larger screen display on the Kindle DX has the same display characteristics as the Kindle 2 in regards to the use of eInk. The displays still have that feel for real paper. The DX screen measures 9.7″ diagonally, while the Kindle 2′s screen is 6.” The one major difference besides the display screen size is that the DX’s display can be rotated from portrait to landscape just by tilting the reader. This can be an advantage for reading reports or diagrams or for just a more comfortable feel of the reading material

The most important thing to consider when comparing the two devices is the price. The Kindle 2 costs $359 and the Kindle DX is $489. However you have twice the storage capacity on the Kindle DX with 4GB of storage space versus Kindle 2′s 2GB. It is also worth mentioning that the Kindle DX comes with built in integrated PDF file support, while PDF files on the Kindle 2 have to be converted. This means you would have to go through Amazon support via email. Amazon charges a fee for file conversion.

The prices are somewhat on the steep end. There are cheaper models out there. But none have the look and feel of the Kindles, and at present none have the features of the Kindle DX. Prices have started to come down. Sony just brought out three new models cheaper than the Kindle 2. And as mentioned before their are new models coming out almost every week. The models may change and the options will only grow in number but the most important thing to remember is – what ebook reader is right for you.