Amazon Kindle DX Compared with Kindle and iPad

If you are in the market for an eReader then you have no doubt been looking at the Amazon Kindle. But with several different models to choose from, how do you know which to choose? Here we take a look at the main features of the Kindle DX as compared to the original Amazon Kindle and the iPad.

The Amazon Kindle DX is more than just a bigger model of the Amazon Kindle. Yes, the screen size is 9.7 inches, compared to its younger sibling’s quite usable 6 inches. However, there’s more to this terrific eReader than a little more screen size.

Screen Size

The  9.7 inch screen of the Kindle DX matches exactly the screen size of the iPad, making these two units somewhat competitors. I say only somewhat because the iPad is a lot more that simply an eReader. It is a multipurpose computing device — even if not up to the computing power of a laptop –  and not simply a dedicated eReader. Still, the Kindle DX and the iPad are enough alike to warrant some additional comparisons and contrasts.

Weight

The Kindle DX weighs a relatively light 18.9 ounces (16 oz = 1 lb), as opposed to the iPad’s heavier 1.5 lbs (24 oz; 1.6 lbs for the 3G model). However, both are significantly lighter than any but the thinnest laptop. Yet,  both are heavy enough to present some wrist strain if not handled a certain way.

Because of their size, that certain way can be a bit tricky to find. Still, both the Kindle DX and the iPad offer optional covers with stands that can be used to prop them up nicely. In addition, they both can be turned to landscape mode for easy reading of two pages at a glance, and they both offer a locking mechanism to keep the screen orientation from shifting at unwanted times.

Battery Life

The battery life on the Kindle DX far exceeds th

e iPad, however. The DX can last about seven days with normal usage, four days if  the Wi-Fi is kept on. The iPad battery can last around ten hours.

Applications

Of course, the iPad has a much wider range of applications, and a color screen. It also comes with a much heftier price. Among the applications on the Kindle DX is a usable, though somewhat lame, browser with a black and white screen. You probably won’t want to spend much time surfing the Web with it, but it is certainly good enough for quick look ups of information. It’s also useful for purchasing books, magazine subscriptions, and even items from Amazon and other sites.

Readability

Despite the black-and-white only display, one of the reasons the DX is so readable is the 1200 x 824 pixel resolution (at 150 ppi), E-Ink display. It really does offer super-crisp text, thanks in part to the 50 percent improvement in contrast over the previous Kindle. Yes, you can still tell the difference between it and paper, but you won’t mind the difference in the least, no matter how much you read or where you choose to do it.

That “or where” is important because you can take your Kindle DX to the beach, on a cruise, across campus, to the park at lunch during your work day, or anywhere. There is some minor reflection in situations where the light source is very bright and very close, but it’s usable almost anywhere, anytime.

Synchronization

Like its smaller brother, the Kindle DX offers Whisper Sync, which lets you synchronize your reading in very handy ways. Read a book, stop at a location (the Kindle doesn’t use page numbers), and close it or shut off your Kindle. Pick up reading the same book, another one, or even that same one on another device, and you can still start at the same location on the first book. Of course, the iPad offers this feature as well.

For those who simply must have a multimedia experience, the DX does provide an MP3 player, though it won’t likely replace your iPod anytime soon. Listening to music is certainly pleasant, though, especially when you use headphones rather than the built-in speakers.

So, which should you choose? That really depends what you are looking for. If you need (or want) a multipurpose device, can afford the high price tag, and don’t need to read outdoors, then the iPad is your choice. But, for those looking for a dedicated eReader with superb features (great s

creen, annotation, bookmarks, footnotes, location searching, and more), the Amazon Kindle DX remains at the top of the heap.

Click here to purchase the Amazon Kindle DX directly from Amazon with free shipping.