Kindle Vs. Kindle DX
Hard cover books with the printed word are simply irreplaceable. However, when in travel mode, it is impractical to carry a truck load of books with you when you have an option to use an electronic ebook reader. Gone are the days of entirely typeset printing. Today, almost all books are made available in a digital form first, before they are printed. Ebook readers like Kindle can enable you to carry an entire library in your pocket and refer any book at leisure. The advances in electronics have made the creation of a completely portable ebook reader possible.
About Kindle
Kindle is Amazon's very own ebook reader first released in 2007. Considering that Amazon started as an online book store, it seems quite logical that it should develop its own ebook readers to capitalize on its wide customer base. Selling ebooks and ebook readers goes hand in hand for Amazon. After the first generation Kindle launch in 2007, Kindle 2 came up in 2009, Kindle third generation (referred to as Kindle 3) was launched in 2010. A parallel deluxe version of Kindle (referred to a Kindle DX), with a larger screen was first launched in 2009, followed by two consequent improved models in the recent past. The latest deluxe version is the Kindle DX Graphite. This deluxe version, not surprisingly, costs a lot more than the small screen Kindle 3 version. Amazon has also launched Kindle for PC and Mac application, that enables ebook reading on your computer. The competition in the ebook market has forced Amazon to substantially reduce the prices on both Kindle 3 and Kindle DX.
Kindle Vs. Kindle DX Comparison
If you actually go through all the specifications of Kindle 3G + Wi-Fi and Kindle DX, there are no inherent differences in the facilities offered but the difference mostly lies in the graphic display. Here is a feature wise comparison of the two devices.
| Specifications | Kindle 3 Wi-Fi + 3G | Kindle DX |
| Diagonal Display Size in Inches | 6 Inches | 9.7 Inches |
| Screen Resolution (In Pixels) | 600 800 Pixels with 16 gray shades | 825 x 1200 with 16 Gray Shades |
| Dimensions in Inches | 7.5" x 4.8" x 0.335" | 10.4" x 7.2" x 0.38" |
| Weight in Grams | 247 gm | 540 gm |
| Operating System | Linux | Linux |
| Memory Size/Capacity | 4G (3500 Books) | 4 GB (3500 Books) |
| Battery Life (With Wireless On) | 10 days | 7 Days |
| Battery Life (With Wireless Off) | 1 month | 2-3 Weeks |
| Text to Speech Facility | Yes | Yes |
| Supported Formats | PDF, MOBI, Kindle | PDF, MOBI, Kindle |
| Price | $189 | $379 |
If you look at the head to head comparison, the differences are apparent at the top and right at the bottom. The difference is apparent when it comes to screen size, resolution and of course battery life. Otherwise, both are 3G and Wi-Fi enabled and Kindle 3 features are almost same as Kindle DX.
What should guide your choice between the two Kindle ebook readers is your requirement. The 3.7 inch difference between Kindle and Kindle DX means that the latter is a better option if you are planning to read periodicals or magazines using it. The larger screen size ensures that you can read these kinds of publications quite easily. On the other hand, Kindle 3G is ideal if you want to restrict yourself to reading books. It is all really a matter of convenience. Just try out the demo models of both devices to understand your level of comfort while reading. That will certainly help you decide whether you will prefer Kindle or Kindle DX.
The prime difference is display size. Kindle DX has a substantially larger screen size and if you find it more comfortable, go for it. However, if you are looking for a budget choice among the two, Kindle 3G is what you should go for.
