Amazon announced improvements for the largest device in the Kindle collection. On July 1, 2010, the company announced that the new Kindle DX will have:
- free 3G wireless (just like all Kindles)
- a 9.7 inch screen (same size as the iPad, only with e-ink on a reading screen)
- a graphite enclosure
- a new, high contrast electronic ink display
The new DX models are available to order on Amazon, and they will ship on July 7, 2010. They are not among the Kindles that have been appearing in airport bookstores.
Kindle DX vs iPad
When Steven Colbert wriggled in with happiness over his free iPad on his April 2, 2010 episode of the Colbert Report, he mocked the Kindle in comparison to the iPad,saying, "Oh look! The screen has both black and grey! Myrtle, get my calm pills!" The real Amazon vs. Apple battle isn't between the iPad and the Kindle, it is between the iPad and the Kindle DX.
The two have similar screen sizes, but the iPad is for multi-media lovers who might like access to some books (because Kindle, Nook, and Kobo have good libraries through their iPad apps), and the Kindle is for book-lovers who want to carry libraries and newsstands with them . Kindle's e-ink and screen makes it easier to read for longer periods of time, and there is no backlight or lcd glare. The Kindle DX screen, like the iPad screen, rotates between portrait and landscape, the Kindle has a built in keyboard as opposed to Apple's screen keyboard, and Apple has more memory.
Kindle DX vs iPad Price Comparison
The Kindle's new price is $379, and according to Amazon, that's all owners will ever pay. The web browser is still officially presented as an experimental feature, but the July 1, 2010 news release from Amazon says the free 3G is here to stay. "Shop the Kindle Store and download new content wirelessly in less than 60 seconds--all without a PC, Wi-Fi hot spot, or syncing. Amazon pays for the 3G wireless connectivity, so there are no monthly fees or annual contracts." More information about the Kindle is available from Amazon's press statement.
Not including the price of books, the total bill for a Kindle DX with basic web access is $379. Apple's iPad price is more complicated. The base price for the lowest 3G model is $629, and the lowest price data plan is $14.99 a month. After a year of ownership, the Kindle price (not including books or a case) will still be $379. The lowest iPad price (not including books or a case) will be 808.88, before taxes and any AT&T fees.
Bottom Line: Kindles are a lot less expensive to own than iPads. After a year, the Kindle DX is $429 less, and the $189 Kindle is $619 less. Add in Audible's $100 Amazon promotion code, and a smart shopper can buy a Kindle DX and a wifi iPad for the price of a 3G iPad.
Department of Education Comments on eReaders
For public colleges and universities to offer the advantages of portable ebook readers for students, the Department of Education warns that universities need to avoid using, "any electronic book reader, or other similar technology, in a teaching or classroom environment as long as the device remains inaccessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision. It is unacceptable for universities to use emerging technology without insisting that this technology be accessible to all students."
The letter is intended to make all ereaders used in classrooms accessible to blind and low-vision students, but it is rooted in complaints about the universities that experimented with the Kindle DX on their campuses.
- Arizona State University
- Case Western Reserve University
- Reed College
- Pace University
- Princeton University
The complete June 29, 2010 "Joint 'Dear Colleague' Letter: Electronic Book Readers Letter" is available to read from the Department of Education.
Because the DX screen is ideal for textbooks, periodicals, and detailed technical images, it is ideal for university student use. The current improvements help general users, but for the Kindle DX to realize its potential in the classroom, accessibility will have to be addressed.
Alex Sharp - Alex Sharp is a teacher who has been keeping Suite101 readers up to date with the latest in audio- and e-book gadgetry since 2008.
