Many people have been asking lately -“Which is a better choice for me, the tried-and-true Amazon Kindle 2 or the brand new Kindle DX?”.
Well…today we plan on helping you answer that question!
The Kindle 2 is Amazon’s 2nd generation Kindle device and was released on February 23, 2009. It had many improvements over the original Kindle, but due to its smallish size, it was still not ideal for reading larger print media like newspapers or magazines.
Amazon’s solution to this problem came shortly after, with the May 6, 2009 announcement of the Kindle DX. It has a much larger screen (2.5x the size of the Kindle 2), can natively display PDF files, and is the first Kindle device to come with an accelerometer so pages can be viewed in either landscape or portrait by simply rotating the unit. (If you’re familiar with the Apple iPhone or iPod Touch, these also come with an accelerometer.)
Note: The Kindle DX won’t be shipped until sometime in the summer of 2009, so if you need a portable ebook reader ASAP you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Below is a detailed comparison of many of the features of these two popular devices. We want to give you as much information as possible so you can make an educated decision about your purchase.
| Feature |
Kindle DX |
Kindle 2 |
| Price | $489 | $359 |
| Weight | 18.9 oz | 10.2 oz |
| Thickness | 0.38 “ | 0.36 “ |
| Screen Size | 9.7 “ | 6 “ |
| Resolution | 824 x 1200 | 600 x 800 |
| Internal Storage | 4 GB | 2 GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Processor | 532 Mhz | 532 Mhz |
| Keyboard | 4 rows of keys | Full QWERTY |
| Rotating Display | Yes | No |
| PDF Support | Native | Only by Conversion |
| Text-To-Speech | Yes | Yes |
| 3G Wireless | Yes | Yes |
| Web Browser | Yes (Easier to Use) |
Yes (More Basic) |
* Red text denotes the “winner” for each feature
As you can see, it’s neck-and-neck between these two Amazon electronic reading devices. Each one has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. The best way to decide which one is best for you, is to ask yourself these questions:
- Is price important? (Kindle 2)
- Is screen size important – ie. will I be reading a lot of magazines and newspapers, rather than novels? (Kindle DX)
- Is portability important? (Kindle 2)
- Do I plan on reading a lot of PDFs? (Kindle DX)
Hopefully that was helpful and you now know which Kindle is right for you! If not, please let us know how else we might be able to help you decide.
Popularity: 21% [?]
What does it mean by “native” PDF support?
That means that the Kindle DX can display PDF files without any external conversion tools (software), which the Kindle 2 would require. All you have to do is download a PDF ebook to the Kindle DX and you’ll be able to read it right away!
Hey,
Thanks for explaining the difference. I have been considering purchasing one of these but wasn’t sure which one would actually be the better one for me. I think I have to go with the Kindle DX as I am getting a little older and my eyesight is not quite what it used to be. Not only that but I really like the idea of it supporting PDF files. I could load up lots of stuff I have and carry it around with me.
Thanks
Rick
Thanks for the review. It helps, but I’m still trying to make up my mind which one of the Kindle readers I want to buy. I wish I had friends that had them so I could try them out. I wonder if anyone rents these things?