Positives: While it brings the same 6-inch e-ink display as the Kindle, the Nook takes it up a notch by throwing in a small capacitive touchscreen below it.  That means, you can thumb through your list of books without having to put up with the slow e-ink screen, whose refresh rates are usually downright frustrating.

Like the Kindle, it comes with free 3G for downloading books.  Unlike it, though, it throws in Wi-Fi and microSD card expansion (up to 16GB), giving you more options for getting books (it supports the universal ePub format, PDB and PDF) onto your device.   It also comes with 2GB of internal storage, an onboard MP3 player and access to a huge library numbering in the tens of thousands.  Not bad, right?

Do you stay away from ebooks because you can't have friends borrow them like print copies?  Not so with this ebook reader, which lets you lend your digital books to other Nook owners for up to 14 days (you can't read them while they're on loaner, though).  Even better, Barnes & Noble allows you to read the full text of their books for free, provided you're inside one of their stores.  Yep, just like the way you can browse real books inside any bookstore.

Negatives: E-ink's problem is it's very slow. That doesn't change here. Flipping from page to page is no different from other e-ink readers. Fortunately, the LCD allows you to navigate your library faster. The tradeoff is it eats up battery in a bad way.

There's also no text-to-speech here, which is disappointing, considering how basic the feature is on a computer (plus, the Kindle has it).  Finally, it has some very real software bugs (such as the painfully slow boot-up and grating turtle-speed of opening of a book) that we're hoping Barnes & Noble can fix with an update.

Conclusion: Is the Barnes & Noble Nook better than the Kindle?  In terms of core features, it's about the same.  The software glitches and the lack of text-to-speech, in fact, make it even less in terms of base performance.  With a good price point, ePub support and some unique features, though, it's a solid contender that just might prove to be your cup of tea.

The success of both the iPhone and the iPod Touch as software ecosystems, however, showed the market's interest in a closed device with extensive developer support.  Given the buzz for anything Apple-related and the App Store surpassing expectations, it's not too far-fetched to imagine the iPad, Apple's upcoming closed-system tablet, receiving the same level of extensibility through third-party efforts.

One of the areas the company specifically targeted are eBooks, working closely with major book and magazine publishers to deliver content on the platform.   Surprisingly, they're expecting users to read their books on a multi-touch, led-backlit display, instead of the E-ink platform that other ebook readers have embraced before it.  Even more surprisingly, people seem to be amenable to the idea, given the mostly positive response during the reading app's demo.

In the current landscape, dipping your toes in ebooks means going up against Amazon's Kindle, widely believed to own between 80 and 90 percent of the existing market.  Funny enough, just the sheer announcement of the iPad is already affecting them adversely, with publishers using it to pressure Amazon into giving in to their pricing demands.

To go along with the tablet, Apple announced an iTunes-like service for selling ebooks called iBooks.  They will be selling them in the popular ePub format, although it isn't likely to be the variety that can work on other devices like the Sony Reader and Nook, since the company is expected to lace it with their own copy-protection scheme.

As of now, the jury is still out on whether the iPad can really become a capable ebook reader. One thing's for sure, though - everyone's taking it as a serious threat.

Apple iPad

Even with the Kindle seeming to take the reins, the worldwide ebook market is still wide open to all takers.  For the most part, though, all the offerings we've seen don't look all that different from each other.  The Alex, a new dual-screen e-reader from Spring Designs, is almost guaranteed to draw attention.

Why two screens?  Like all modern ebook readers, the device has a dedicated e-ink display for extended reading.  Right below it, though, is a smaller full-color LCD that you can use for browsing the web.  Once you've found something you want to read from the bottom screen (images, videos and notes from the small browser), you can send it to the larger monochrome panel as a "Web grab" for low-power reading.

Carrying both a 6-inch e-ink display and a 3.5-inch LCD takes its toll on the Alex, making it look like a particularly strange machine.  You can save downloads and put new media on the device via an SD card slot, while web connection is facilitated via both integrated Wi-Fi and 3G chips.  It's running Android OS at the core, though it doesn't appear to be able to do much else except browse the web.  Pretty certain that can be hacked once this thing hits the market, though.

Not sure how well such a clunky-looking e-reader will do, but kudos to Spring Designs for trying something different.  According to the company, they're now in negotiations with various content providers as they prepare the device for release.  No price has been cited, but they're looking forward to a debut before the end of the year.

Link

The Sony PRS-700 is possibly the most stylish reader on the market. The touch-screen removes all of those buttons that clutter every other reader on the market. As of now it is one of the two E-book readers that offers touch-screen capabilities. This is set to change, though, as Samsung prepares for the launch of their reader “Papyrus”.

The integration of the touch-screen and the ability to use hand gestures sure do add to the likability of this reader.  The touch screen allows you to navigate throughout the menus and change your page with the tip of your finger. If changing through menus or turning pages with your hands bothers you, Sony has included a stylus. However, with the addition of the touch-screen you will find that the screen now has a bit more of a glare.

One of the many great additions you will find with Sony's latest reader is that they have added a LED reading light. It isn't as bright as common backlights and because of this it takes up much less of your batteries life. This feature is perfect for being able to read comfortably in your room at night without the need of a lamp.

Sony Reader Digital Book with touch screen - PRS700BC List Price: $399.99 Used From: $315.00 Average Rating:

Description

Make the most of your reading experience with this next-generation Reader Digital Book. It features an interactive touch screen display and built-in light. Don't carry and tarry heavy books. Download and read them on this delightful electronic device. Imagine holding a library of books conveniently in one hand. Begin a new chapter with the PRS-700BC Reader Digital Book. Boasting an impressive 6.0-inch, touch screen display, this Reader uses paper-like E Ink technology which makes it easier to read, even in bright-light situations. In addition to a built-in light, there's an interactive touch screen that lets you turn pages with the slide of a finger or activate the bookmark. You can also create annotations with a virtual keyboard, highlight text with a stylus pen, search for text in your digital book, and easily adjust the font size. A faster processor gives you quicker response times when opening content or turning pages. Ideal for travelers or people who like to read while on the go, the PRS-700BC holds approximately 320 digital books. A sizeable 6-inch display with touchscreen technology lets you interact with the Reader just like a real book. A simple movement with the slide of a finger lets you easily turn pages or activate the bookmark. It also features a virtual keyboard that can be used for quick annotation or search. While most portable electronics lose power after only a few hours, the Reader Digital Book lets you turn up to 7,500 continuous pages (or up to two weeks of reading) on a single charge of internal rechargeable battery. USB connector for data transfer (broadband Internet service suggested) Battery Type - Rechargeable Lithium-Ion / Recharging Time - Approx. 4 Hours with USB charging from powered Computer or Approx. 2 Hours when using optional AC wall charger Sony USA Limited Warranty - 90-Day Parts and Labor

Features

• The Reader Digital Book allows you to search, browse and buy new releases, from The eBook Store from Sony and other participating Websites.
• With the included eBook Library 2.0 PC Software, you can easily transfer Adobe PDF documents, Microsoft Word documents, BBeB format.
• You can even play back of unsecured MP3 and AAC audio files. (Headphones not included.)
• Search, browse, and buy new releases, classics, and popular digital book titles from The eBook Store from Sony and other participating Websites.
• 20MB Minimum available Hard Drive space

Reviews

I have the Sony 700 touch, I really like it a lot and it's very user friendly. I should have investigated more however because although it's no fault of Sony, the library in my town is not on line yet, therefore limiting the "free" books I can download. If your library is online then you will have no problem with this issue and in fact you will be able to go to any library and download books. This honestly was something that I looked forward too, but now am stuck purchasing every book which is more expensive than paperbacks I can get at other stores. Also, the free Google books feature I found to be a bunch of older books, nothing I was really interested in. So, do your homework, I wish I had. I do believe I would have had a lot more book purchase options if I had gone with the Kindle.Sony Reader Digital Book with touch screen - PRS700BC

I own the PRS-505 (silver). I had a chance to compare it side-by-side with the 700. The clarity of the 505 screen sold it. The 700 is a nice unit, but the foggy display makes it feel like a cheap imitation. I am shocked Sony didn't come up with a better solution. The 505 is thinner (visually - a little, by touch - a huge difference). The 505 is easier to use single-handed. The 505 is easier to read in low-light (at night in bed). The metal finish on the Sonys is warm to the touch, and slightly textured to be enjoyable to hold. If you plan on getting PDF documents, there is a free program to convert it to .LRF and cut it up to display properly. As I have thousands of PDF textbooks (thanks, Google!) it was very important that I be able to use the device to read my documents. (Kindle's first version made it almost impossible to convert pdfs). I also find that (as an engineer) I can create my own technical documents specifically to display on the Sony and I can carry them with me wherever. Not only a friend in quiet times, but a major addition to my toolbelt as well. An awesome invention. It looks like the datapad from Star Trek as well. If they ever manage the screen in color I'll be thrilled.

I've had my 700 for almost a year and it's by far the best purchase I've ever made. I'm trying to find one for my husband but since they are discontinued I'm having trouble. The most attractive features, for me, are the memory card slots, that it accepts many file formats, and the optional screen lighting. I don't use the Sony store or any other ebook purchasing site. Rather I find free ebooks to download at various sources (try Project Gutenberg!!) and receive most of my readings for school in pdf or doc file formats. I currently have over 100 ebooks on my device and over 300 on the memory card currently in the slot. It takes up to a 16gb memory card, so 300 on a 2gb card is just the tip of the potential iceberg. I opted for the 700 over the Kindle because of the file format accessibility. Almost everything I read is in pdf or doc and some rtf and I don't want to be required to buy anything through amazon. I also bought the 700 over other sony models because the screen light and memory card slots are perfect for me. Because of school I am always reading many things at a time and need to keep other books and readings within reach. Having the memory card slot allows me to carry around everything I could need. Also, I do most of my recreational reading at night, just before falling asleep. The screenlight makes it easier to do this. It is more discrete than even a bedside lamp so I don't disturb my husband, and best of all, if I fall asleep reading it turns off after 10 minutes of being idle. This happens a lot so this is a huge benfit to me. I use my reader everyday for at least an hour so I have to recharge at least once a week but I would hardly call that an inconvenience considering how much I use it. The construction is durable. I have rolled over it a few times in my sleep and carry it around in my backpack everyday and it has not even gotten a scratch. There are/were many covers and cases available for purchase, but the sleeve it comes in has worked fine for me. Overall a great product and I really wish I could find another one from a reliable seller. This is the best purchase I've made and I only wished I had gotten it sooner!

A while ago my wife bought a Sony PRS-500 from Amazon for me. But I only got around to plugging it in today. Loaded the software, fixed the cradle, etc. Then, when the unit was charged, I took it from its cradle and popped the leather (extra cost) back onto the Reader. And the SCREEN FAILED immediately. I called Sony "What are the white out and black lines from? How can I make the go away?" They made me reset the machine, no change, still broken. "Ah, then you broke it." "I did what?" "You broke the screen when you snapped the back into place." "How is that possible?" " It is in the fine print... the screen must not touch anything when you put the cover back on, it cracks the matrix." "Can I get it fixed?" (20 minute call transfer) "Yes, you can, the fee will be about $269. It is not warranted for your breaking the screen." "But all I did was put YOUR cover on to YOUR Reader!" "Sony is not responsible for that." "But it is your bad design." "Is there anything else I can help you with?" (As if they had helped at all). If Sony is now like this - STAY AWAY FROM ANYTHING THEY MAKE.

After some month of using the PRS-700 I am disappointed how bad the touch screen are and the function of the book that get blocked, you have to reset it to often. The screen is like a mirror and the text get fogy. When I bought it I thought the technic has got up to the same levels as a iPhone with touch screen. I had one of the PRS-505 and I have to go back to that one again.

Although Sony may be ages ahead of Amazon as far as design is concerned, Amazon still has a few things Sony does not. For starters, Amazon's Kindle can connect to the Amazon E-bookstore from anywhere in the US. Sony's product doesn't even support Wireless and because of this you will need to download the books onto your PC and then sync them to your reader via USB.  Amazon's store has more than double, yeah double, the amount of books as Sony's. Even then you still pay more for the books than you would at Amazon.

If Sony wants to catch Amazon in the race they will need to get wireless connectivity on their devices. This is a huge, maybe the biggest, drawback to any device. The whole point of the device is that it is great for people on the go who don't want to carry books with them. Sure it stops them from having to carry the books, but they can't get them on the fly.

Overall the Sony PRS-700 E-book reader is great. Sure it has it's flaws, but so does every other reader. In the long run, if you can wait, this reader may not be the best choice. The technology involved still needs refining, that doesn't mean it is bad but it certainly can be improved. For now, though, it is head and shoulders above most of the readers on the market.

Sony PRS 700 Reader Digital Book eBook Reader US $281.99 --> Ends In 1d 17h 21m <--

Sony PRS 700 Reader Digital Book US $371.99 --> Ends In 17h 45m <--

Brand Sony E book eReader PRS 700 Used Great working US $207.50 --> Ends In 9h 40m <--

Sony PRS 700 Full with books of your choice US $250.00 --> Ends In 2d 22h 11m <--

NIB SONY Digital Reader eBOOK PRS 700 3 memory cards US $152.50 --> Ends In 3d 13h 52m <--

Sony PRS 700 BC eBook Reader 32GB SD 200000 eBooks US $299.87 --> Ends In 4d 11h 29m <--

Plastic Logic has not yet released very much information on their upcoming product. What we do know, however, is that the product is actually aimed more for business professionals rather than people looking to read just books. The CEO of Plastic Logic had this to say, “If somebody is just looking to read a book, and that's all they're going to do, they probably don't need all the capabilities in our product”.  The design of the new reader is actually a bit different than what we have seen in other readers in that the screen is the size of a full sheet of paper. Even with the much larger screen, Plastic Logic's new device still uses the E-Ink Technology that Sony and Amazon's readers carry.

In addition to all of these great features, Barnes & Noble have teamed up with Plastic Logic. In an announcement earlier this week, Barnes & Noble stated that they were “opening the world's largest E-bookstore”. Barnes & Noble will be supplying their digital copies of the books to the new Plastic Logic Device.

In announcement that was just made yesterday, At&t has decided to join forces with Plastic Logic as well. They will supply the wireless internet for these devices. At&t plans to allow access to the E-bookstore through their “anywhere-wireless” service. At&t does work with carriers overseas, though, which could be good news for Plastic Logic. The Kindle does not carry overseas support, but Plastic Logic may talk At&t to do so for their device.

As of right now Plastic Logic doesn't know how much their device will cost just yet. The Wireless-anywhere At&t service has not been decided on yet either. Whether it will just be free with purchase or have a separate charge.

Plastic Logic doesn't have anything big scheduled again until October where they have a international conference  and showcase planned for “Plastic Electronics Europe 2009”.

Here is a demo video of the upcoming Plastic Logic eReader.

E-Book Readers have come a long way from the old back-light days, and the Sony Reader isn't any exception. It has a crystal clear display and uses E-Ink Technology so that your pages will look like you are reading a genuine book. The weight of the Sony Reader is only 9oz's which makes it perfect for anyone who wants to read on bus rides or long family trips. Regardless of where you read or how you read the PRS-505 is the perfect solution for any book worm.

I bet you are starting to wonder how it stacks up against the competitors, eh? Since there really is only one direct competitor, we will compare it to the Amazon Kindle 2. The Amazon Kindle 2 boasts a pretty long list of features itself, but instead of going through each and every one and comparing them,  we will just point out the important ones.

One of the obvious differences between the two readers is probably the price. The Sony Reader is actually about 20$ cheaper than the Amazon Kindle 2 and 200$ cheaper than the Kindle's better half the Kindle DX. As far as price is concerned, Sony wins hands down.

If 20$ wasn't enough to sway you, I bet choice in design would and Sony wins here handily. Not only is the design of Sony's device better looking, in my opinion, but you can also pick it up in three different colors – red, blue, or silver. Amazon's Kindle doesn't appear to be putting up much of a fight either, because their plain appliance white doesn't look to be changing too soon.

As with every positive there is almost always a negative. Sony's positives looked really nice, but the drawbacks aren't helping their cause. Amazon's Kindle has 16 levels of Grey-scale while Sony's Reader only has 8 levels of Grey-scale. Sony can probably consider this a pretty big blow, because more levels of Grey means more detail and could spell trouble for Sony. Amazon didn't stop there, oh no, with a counter attack to Sony's very appealing color collection Amazon had a backup plan. Even though Sony has several different models available, they are all the same specifications, but Amazon's isn't. Amazon's Kindle DX is a higher end version of the Amazon Kindle. It holds more books,boasts a larger screen, offers Native PDF support (which the Kindle can only read via conversion), and it offers the rotating display feature.

If you love reading E-Books and you have the pocketbook for it, the Sony PRS-505 is a great addition to anyone's library. Even though I think both products are great, and no one loses, no matter which one you purchase. The important thing is you are getting to read the books you have been dieing to read, right?

In the world of the ebook readers, the iRex iLiad is one of the most expensive offerings on the market. The $500+ price tag may leave readers asking exactly what the iLiad has that makes it worth all that money.

To look at the iRex iLiad is not quite as sleek and attractive as the Kindle or the Sony but it is far from ugly. It has a screen that is just over 8 inches in diameter and uses the same EInk technology as the Kindle which means that the text displayed is crisp, clear and incredibly paper like.

The basic reading experience with the iLiad is very similar to that with the Amazon Kindle or the Sony Readers. If you have not seen an E Ink screen in person you really should make the effort to do so, the effect is so much like real paper it’s nothing short of uncanny.

All 3 models have about the same power capabilities and you can get a great many hours reading under your belt before needing to charge an iLiad e book reader.

One of the nicer features that the iLiad has is the page turn feature is controlled by a “flipbar” that is set on the side of the screen rather than by back and forward buttons like the Sony E Reader features. The flip bar requires almost no force to operate at all, something you might appreciate during a long reading session.

Getting content onto the iLiad is where it does win over the other E book readers. You can use a USB flash drive, a Compact Flash card, an SD card, standard USB or WIFI. When expanded the iLiad is able to store up to 8GB of content at any given time.

The other big difference that the iLiad has over the competition is the ability to use a stylus to make annotations and handwritten notes onto the page of an ebook or PDF document. This is a great feature for students and academics although it is hard to export a copy of your altered pages out of the iLiad without a $70 software upgrade. On the iLiad screen however the feature looks very neat, but whether it worth the $200 upgrade on the price of even the Amazon Kindle DX is debatable. Be very careful with that little stylus as well, it costs around $25 to replace it if lost.

It is very nice to have a great spec sheet such as the iLiad has, but of course content is king. The iLiad comes with 50 “classic” titles pre loaded out of the box. Most of the most popular e book readers are linked to a certain site for the DRM content which encompasses the latest bestsellers and beach blockbusters many of us want to read at some point. The Ilaiad supports only mobipockety files. Not an immediate drawback as the main content site has a library of 40,000 titles. That sounds like a lot but it really isn’t. Many of the titles that are most popular are missing and the selection is not comparable with that found on Amazon or at Sony Connect.

The market for ebook readers is expanding all the time. Not quite at MP3/IPod levels of popularity yet the idea of portable libraries is catching on fast however. The Ectaco JetBook is at the moment one of the lesser known ebook readers on the market and that may be very unfair, as it is a very functional device that does the job it was designed for very well.

One of the biggest differences between the Jet Book and its major competitors is the display screen. The Jet Book does not the use the electronic ink technology utilized by the Amazon and Sony readers and it does not use a back lit screen like some of the older e book readers on the market. The Jetbook does have an LCD screen, but it functions more like that of a Palm V, just with far better resolution and clarity. The screen does have a slight greenish tinge to the display, which is noticeable if placed side by side with a Kindle but does not interfere with the overall reading experience.
The Jetbook does not have a touch screen function and it is navigated via the numerical buttons that run along the right side of the reader and directional and page turn buttons located under the screen.

ECTACO jetBook LITE Portable Electronic eBook eReader US $149.95 --> Ends In 5d 14h 30m <--

ECTACO JB5W JETBOOK E BOOK READER WHITE NEW NO RESERVE US $142.50 --> Ends In 17h 54m <--

ECTACO jetBook English Russian Polish eBook eReader MP3 US $199.95 --> Ends In 27d 8h 48m <--

ECTACO jetBook Portable e Book eBook Book Reader BLACK US $199.99 --> Ends In 24d 19h 25m <--

Ectaco jetBook Portable Electronic e Book eBook Reader US $199.99 --> Ends In 22d 18h 47m <--

Ectaco Jetbook eBook Reader Burgandy US $179.95 --> Ends In 16d 9h 30m <--

ECTACO jetBook Portable Electronic eBook eReader MP3 US $179.95 --> Ends In 5d 14h 30m <--

Mini Flex Neck Reading Light Lamp for Ectaco JetBook US $6.59 --> Ends In 24d 19h 32m <--

ECTACO JETBOOK EBOOK Reader WALL CHARGER AC ADAPTER US $12.94 --> Ends In 20d 1h 43m <--

Reading on the Jetbook is a decent experience. As there is no backlight, just as with the eink readers you do have to be in decent light to read, but you do with a regular paper book as well.

Content wise the original  Jetbook does not support DRM files, so many of the bestsellers and popular novels available to Amazon Kindle reader’s are not compatible on this device if you bought a model made before April 2009. Since then new models do now feature support for MOBI. ePUb and other commercial formats.
The JetBook does have the ability to play MP3 files but given that only a 2MB SD card can be used that renders such things an almost useless extra.
The Jetbook is very small and light, but not quite as thin as the Amazon Kindle 2. It is smaller though. The screens are the same size but a lack of the extra real estate around the screen makes the Jetbook a little more portable. In addition to the black and white versions the Jetbook is also available in red, which may appeal to some but actually gives the Jetbook a little bit of an old fashioned Etch A Sketch look in my book.

Priced at around $300, the JetBook is a little cheaper than the Sony ebook  readers but is in same price range with the Amazon Kindle 2. It does provide good competition to the big boys but I like many do prefer the look of the Eink technology to this LCD hybrid technology.

The eBookwise 1150 is one the older Ebook readers on the market and one the most inexpensive available. As it is an older version of the technology it does lack a lot of the features of readers like the Amazon Kindle or the Sony line both in appearance and functionality. But for those who are on a limited budget, or only intend to use an e book reader occasionally it is still a nice alternative to a shelf of books.

The internal memory of the eBookwise – 1150 is a very small 8MB, which translates to about 15 books. It does have the capability to hold a 128MB memory card however, which can expand its basic portable library.

The eBookwise – 1150 is exceptionally easy to use, even the most technophobic of readers can operate this one without a problem. The eBookwise – 1150 does not have a QWERTY keyboard like that more costly models and much of the navigation is done via touch screen. The eBookwise – 1150 uses a stylus, much like a Nintendo DS does. The stylus has its own storage area on the side off the e reader and is pretty easy to access. Two large buttons at the side of the screen provide page forward/back navigation that is very easy if a little slow.

Check out these daily deals available on new and used eBookwise ebook readers.

eBookwise 1150 eBook READER DEVICE US $95.00 --> Ends In 4d 18h 26m <--

EBOOK EBOOK READERS EBOOKWISE GEMSTAR STYLUS PEN US $4.99 --> Ends In 18h 36m <--

ebookwise 1150 ebook w memory card carrying case US $60.00 --> Ends In 3d 8h 15m <--

The display itself is where the eBookwise – 1150 lags so far behind other Ereaders on the market. It still uses back lit technology, and not the electronic ink technology that makes reading on devices like the Amazon Kindle so enjoyable. The books displayed on the eBookwise – 1150 do not look like real paper at all. The other big downside is that once you are in bright light the text practically disappears and is impossible to read. Low resolution also makes the images a little blurry and hard to decipher after a while.

The fact that the eBookwise – 1150 uses back lit technology also affects battery life. The average charge only produces 15 hours of reading, compared to the days offered by some other models such as the Kindle.

Adding books to the eBookwise – 1150 depends almost entirely upon working with a membership at fictionwise.com, a site run by Barnes and Noble. This is not too restrictive however as the site does have a wide variety of offerings. I was able to find titles by even the most obscure authors. The pricing is also reasonable. Some titles at Amazon for download to an E book reader can be more expensive than purchasing the real paper version.

Size wise the eBookwise – 1150 is a little thicker and bulkier than other Ebooks. It measures 7.5 x 9 inches and weighs in at 33 ounces. This still makes it portable enough for daily uses, not quite pocket sized but close to purse sized.

All in all, if you are looking for an affordable EBook (at $400 the Amazon Kindle is out of many people’s budgets) the eBookwise – 1150 is a good option and its basic operation makes it suitable for everyone.

Even though it is just a few months since the long awaited release of the Amazon Kindle 2 here comes another addition to the Kindle family – the Amazon Kindle DX.

So what is the big difference between the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX? Size for one thing. The Kindle 2 has a screen that measures 6 inches across, the size of your average paperback. On the other hand the Kindle DX has a screen that measures 9.7 inches, the size of the standard hardcover book. The Amazon Kindle DX is being marketed towards the student and academic population and the textbook sized screen is designed to reflect that.

Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device (9.7" Display, Global Wireless, Latest Generation) List Price: $489.00 Sale Price: $489.00 Used From: $429.99 Average Rating:

Description

Sleek & Trim Kindle DX is as thin as most magazines. Just over a third of an inch in profile, you'll find Kindle DX fits perfectly in your hands. International Coverage: Enjoy 3G wireless coverage at home or abroad in over 100 countries. Beautiful Large Display Kindle DX's large display is ideal for a broad range of reading material, including graphic-rich books, PDFs, newspapers, magazines, and blogs. Kindle DX's display is two and a half times the size of the Kindle display. Whether you're reading the latest bestseller or a financial report, text and images are amazingly sharp on the 9.7" screen. Auto-Rotating Screen By simply turning the device, you can immediately see full-width landscape views of maps, graphs, tables and Web pages. Built-In PDF Reader Unload the loose documents from your briefcase or backpack, and put them all on Kindle DX. From neighborhood newsletters to financial statements to case studies and product manuals--you can take them all with you on Kindle DX. Native PDF support allows you to carry and read all of your personal and professional documents on the go. With Amazon's Whispernet service, you can send your documents directly to your Kindle DX and read them anytime, anywhere. 5-Way Controller Kindle DX has an easy-to-use 5-way controller, enabling precise on-screen navigation for selecting text to highlight or looking up words. Simple to Use, No Computer Required Kindle DX is completely wireless and ready to use right out of the box--no setup, no cables, no computer required. Long Battery Life - Read for Days Without Recharging With Kindle DX's long battery life, you can read on a single charge for up to 4 days with wireless on. Turn wireless off and read for up to 2 weeks. Battery life will vary based on wireless usage, such as shopping the Kindle Store and downloading content. In low coverage areas or in 1xRTT only coverage, wireless usage will consume battery power more quickly.

Features

• Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
• Wireless connectivity enables you to find, buy, and read instantly—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
• Shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle.
• Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.

Reviews

I've been satisfied with my Kindle DX as a device for downloading books but there are still features lacking, which is surprising since the DX is a third generation product: 1. There is no way to organize your downloads into categories (folders) such as alphabetical by author, by type mysteries, travel, etc. I read a lot of "beach reads" and tend to forget titles. It would be extremely helpful to be able to organize my books on a virtual shelf or piles so I could quickly check to see if I previously read a particular title. This is a big drawback as I add more books. I can't imagine what happens if you sign up for a daily paper. How do you find your books in a pile of daily papers? 2. There is little quality control over Kindle accessories sold on the Amazon website. I bought an M-EDGE cover for my DX. It looked great but it's designed so the elastic band in the upper right corner permanently depresses the volume key also in the upper right corner. This is just poor design and annoying to have to return when the defect is so obvious. 3. To date I have found no night lights that work well. They either put out too much light and light up the whole room or don't illuminate the whole page. The last two criticisms are annoyances but the first is a big thing that will get worse as you make more downloads.

Have not been happy with this item. Downloaded Bible and it is not fun going from one book of Bible to other, or chapters, verses, etc. Wish the screen itself had some light on it. It is not easy dealing with light attachment. Wish you had page numbers, not percent down at the bottom of screen. Downloaded New Yorker magazine. It only had articles, I wanted to see it in magazine form. I wanted to see what was going on in New York, like new shows, etc. I do like the ease in downloading books. That is really simple.

Very nice machine indeed. Very pleasant to use. Some good touches such as interesting screen savers. A wonderful dictionary and related features (for a non-native English reader like me). Good software: the software has hung only once on me after 1 month use. The wireless feature is an excellent idea, making browsing and buying very convenient. Great battery life! Electronics should be made this way: you remember charging it, before it runs out. Particularly for a book (or reader), you don't want to find some reading time but find your book dead. You would not want to read it with a cord round your neck in your bed! But it is slow, sometimes agonisingly so. Also, keys are not up to par, not feeling tactile, if not a bit squeaky. Its clicking sound is a bit noisy during the night, enough to wake my wife up! The 5-way key is not up to the standard---perhaps so bad that you do not find some thing as bad in any other mainstream products such as branded phones, MP3 players, etc. Even though you only need to use 2-3 keys often (next page, prev page, and home), you still hate them all! Clipping and notes are very limited in features(it does not, for instance, allow links between clippings and the source books.)

This is awesome. So easy to use and even easier to read. Great if you have slight eye problems. You can make the text as big as you need.

hey there! i really love my kindle. i'm not much of a tech person at all, and i can use this well for a newbie! i'm not intereseted in all the features, as most of them are over my head anyway. BUT i love it for all my books (3500)-to say i love to read is an understatement. i don't care about blogs,newspapers or magizines either, just books! before i'd read like a mad woman,then till my eyes were on fire! now? they are just plain bleeding!!LOL i love my kindle!! the only thing i don't like (or i have just not figured out)is how i power down or look in the home position, and then to go back to reading is i have to scroll to find my book. the book mark is great when i just go to that. i have finished several books and they were in the archive and now they are gone! where did they go? can i get them back? if anyone has the answer let me know-i like keeping my books! i would like to see this on the kindle: books that i have read, that i could put into my kindle. i hate when the covers of books are changed, and i think i've not read it before thinking it's a new book!! ARRRG! but, i'm learning too,and i love the kindle dx-it's like a cadaliac with a jacuzzi in the back!! thank you, kenogirl 3-10

The Amazon Kindle DX does not feel big though. It is just about as thick as its smaller screened sibling and still weighs only 19 ounces. The keyboard is actually a little smaller than that of the Kindle 2 so the whole thing is pretty much all screen, which does make reading easier.

The left hand buttons that are on the Kindle 2 are gone on the Kindle DX. This gives the device an even more streamlined appearance, but can get a little getting used to if you have used a Kindle before, and may be a real pain for a leftie when it comes to page turning.
The other big step forward that is made with the Kindle DX is its PDF capabilities. There are thousands of free books available on Google Books, and unlike the other Kindle models the DX can read them with ease. Download to Kindle DX takes less than 10 minutes for a large book.

As I previously mentioned Amazon says that the DX is aimed at the textbook market. The textbook haven’t arrived yet, but those who are used to having to carry around binders full of documents can make great use of the Amazon Kindle DX already. It’s clear crisp display of PDF and MS Office files can really lighten the load.
Reading a newspaper is still not as seamless as Amazon would like, but this is improving.

Battery life seems to be very similar to the Amazon Kindle 2 on the Amazon Kindle DX. The test model ran for two weeks with the wireless function turned off (having it turned on reduces that to around 4 days.)

Brand new in the box Amazon Kindle DX US $475.00 --> Ends In 13h 24m <--

NEW RED mCover® Shell Cover Case for Amazon Kindle DX US $11.99 --> Ends In 1d 13h 51m <--

NEW PINK mCover® Shell Cover Case for Amazon Kindle DX US $11.99 --> Ends In 1d 15h 21m <--

The biggest drawback though of the Amazon Kindle DX is its starting price. The $490 price tag is far higher than the cost of a Kindle 2, which currently runs at $359 on the Amazon Site. One might have expected that Amazon would follow the Apple pricing model, offering the upgrade at the price of the previous model with a drop in price for the older generation device. Many had expected the Amazon Kindle DX to come in at around $400 with the Kindle dropping closer to $300.
Price aside though, the Amazon Kindle DX is a very easy and elegant way to read, even if it is more costly than its competition.