Stereo speakers and a micro USB port on the bottom edge. While readers like the Kindle can last 10 days to 2 weeks on a charge (if you turn wireless off when not needed), your notebook computer and iPad last anywhere from 2 to 10 hours.
If you stare at a computer screen all day, you know what I'm talking about. Why not just use an LCD? LCD displays use much more power and their backlighting and refresh are tiring on the eyes. This means you must read in adequate lighting or use an LED book light, just as you would with a printed book. Most E Ink displays are made by Vizplex, and no E Ink reader has backlighting (Sony experimented with sidelights in the PRS-700). These readers have reflective displays that use microscopic ink capsules to display text and images. What's next? Probably color E Ink, though those may not surface until late 2011 or 2012.įor those of you who are new to E Ink readers like the Kindle 2, Barnes & Noble nook and Alex readers, they were the hot product of 2009 and continue to sell well in 2010. Generally the world of tech progresses at an absurd pace, and 3 years is a long time to wait for an improvement. In fact, it's sad that the PRS-505 is still used today as the gold standard among E Ink displays. Sure, manufacturers have added touch layers or active (pen-based) digitizers on top of the E Ink display, but E Ink itself hasn't changed much since the second US mainstream ereader, the Sony Reader PRS-505, hit the market back in 2007. It's a solid and very welcome evolution of the Vizplex E Ink display the first we've seen in several years. Books are certainly more readable, especially in low light settings where I had to increase font size or work harder to read (yes, I'm too lazy to break out the book light). The new display is noticeably more contrasty and this gives text a sense of increased crispness. Second? Incorporate the new E Ink Pearl display that boosts contrast by 50%. Amazon is an aggressive company, and in a few short months since the iPad's release, they've managed to breathe new life into the 9.7" DX, now reborn as the Kindle DX Graphite.įirst off? Lop off nearly 25% of the price and sell it for $379. Yes, there are those who appreciate E Ink's superior features for long form reading, but the casual reading market and (in the future) text book market find much appeal in Apple's latest product. The Kindle DX, previously priced at $489 and sporting a casing about the size of the iPad took the biggest hit.
Given the current economy, that's not a bad tactic: a decently featured ebook reader that sells for $149 to $189 competes well on price with the $500 to $829 iPad. This year, the E Ink market has focused on price reductions rather than improving technologies and features. What's not: Still no Amazon support for ePub format books.Įditor's note, August 2010: Also read our review of the Kindle 3 6" ebook reader that uses Pearl E-Ink like the DX Graphite. What's hot: New E Ink display significantly improves contrast. Home > eBook Reader Reviews > Kindle DX Graphite
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