Amazon May 6 press conference - breaking news, your reactions

[Gemini44]

Here is a link to the latest on the new Kindle

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/04/amazon-kindle-dx-to-feature-9-7-inch-display/

[jason10mm]

Dang, that looks sweet. I bet it will be VERY pricey compared to the K2 just to ease the buyers remorse, while the universities will get a nice behind the scenes discount. Hopefully the PDF reader is just a firmware update away! I wonder if the whispernet feature will be modified for college use. On the one hand, it could be used for distribution of notes, schedules, etc, but on the other hand giving every student a web browser is an invitation for mayhem

I still think a single screen e-book is inadequate for image heavy texts like science books. The need to refer to various graphs, charts, and cartoons (not to mention the lack of color), as well as the ease of highlighting and notetaking in the margins with a pen versus typing, will really start to show. But I guess someone has to take point and iron out the details. Good luck students!

For me, my "ideal" Kindle would be about the size of the K2, but enlarge the screen almost to the margins, using that squished keypad and retaining the side bars. Maybe a touch sensitive slider on the bottom for quickly moving through books. I'm in the camp for NOT wanting a touch screen for the whole thing, I"m already OCDing over the smudges and specks on it already (ohh, and the CAT HAIR!!!). Color, better image integration, and a more robust web browser are clearly secondary objectives for me.

[Jammie]

I'm excited about having an option for college students.  My son is 13, so by the time he gets there, all the kinks should be ironed out and the process working great.  I'm also excited about the technological future of books and all the doors that will open up for people.  We're on the brink of major change.

This new kindle may be just what we need for around the house.

[Rhiathame]

Personally I hope they treat this as a different model, meaning the Kindle DX and don't replace the smaller form factor of the KK and K2. I would not want the larger reader for my purposes since I don't use it for newspapers or magazines and am thankfully done with textbooks for now.

[ProfCrash]

That looks like a version my Dad would use. Cool.

[Anju No. 469]

I agree with a previous poster, this looks to be for students.  That sounds cool.  As for me, I am happy with the smaller kindle that I can cart around with me, I am through with school!  The larger screen should help with charts, etc., think of the lack of bad backs 40-50 years from now from not having to cart around pounds and pounds of books.! 

[Ann in Arlington]

A thought occurs:  (I know, lie down and it'll go away )  With a bigger screen, there could be even bigger fonts. . . .which might be just what someone with certain vision problems needs.  You know, when even 6 isn't big enough. . . .

Ann

[ProfCrash]

My Dad's vision is fine. His first comment when he saw my Kindle was that he wishes that the screen was the size of a hard back book. I think there are plenty of folks that would agree with that. I think the really interesting but is a built in PDF reader. That will likely make a bunch of folks happy. Maybe they will finally include a folder system.

[Neversleepsawink;)]

I love the bigger screen, but love the size of my KK....so I might just wait a bit before I buy.  Plus, I don't exacltly have much cash on me  

[Ann in Arlington]

I think the really interesting but is a built in PDF reader. That will likely make a bunch of folks happy. Maybe they will finally include a folder system.

I agree. . . .for businesses, the way they send documents around is usually PDF. . . .the ability to send a large doc to your Kindle to reveiw rather than having to carry several huge binders could make it very attractive for the corporate world.  'Specially if it renders things like technical manuals decently.

Ann

[tashab]

Oh good, I was getting a little worried that it would be an upgrade from the K2, like how K2 was an upgrade from the K1. I just bought my K2 2 weeks ago. I only use mine for books and don't subscribe to magazines or newspapers, nor am I in school, so the K2 is still perfect for me.

[ProfCrash]

You are still in the window for returning your K2 no questions asked so if you wanted the new one, you would be fine.

[Vegas_Asian]

This sucks. I just my k1 and within the first six months of ownership...Amazon debuts two new and different editions for the kindle.

[DraKhen99]

Has anybody else seen this?

http://www.pcworld.com/article/164335/leaked_images_of_large_screen_kindle_dx.html

What does this mean to those of us who JUST bought the K2 a month or two ago?  I know about planned obsolescence, but 2 months, really?  That's ridiculous!

-John

[mwvickers]

Merge time.   

[Luvmy4brats]

I'm going to merge this with the other thread on this topic. Just trying to keep it all in one place.

[Saylorgirl]

I have 6 days left that I can return mine!!  I will wait until tomorrow and then make the decision!

[Wunderkind]

The rumors will be resolved one way or the other tomorrow, but if they are true, to me this is obviously not a replacement for K2 but an option for a different target market (largely made up of students). It is surprising to see the amount of angst regarding this, given that the size seems to be the biggest difference. It doesn't seem like this has been a concern previously so it would be surprising that it would cause people to second guess their K2 purchase.

I'm hoping (and I know it may be foolish) that because of this new target market, folders will come into play. I don't think a student user (or even a business user) who has a need to access more books/documents on a frequent basis as well as being able to get to them quickly would view a folderless structure as positive. Hopefully Amazon realizes this and will include that feature in the new Kindle (and update K1 and K2s!). Nothing wrong with hoping right?

[ProfCrash]

There is a lot less angst then when K2 was announced. Maybe people are still burnt out from the K2 launch?

As a few others have said, it looks like this is the student version they have been talking about for ages. If the measurements I have seen are accurate, this is not going to easily fit in a purse and covers are going to be a great deal heavier. This looks like something great for students (more likely then not its intended audience) and people are want to read the paper and the like at home on a larger screen then is currently available. (ie my Dad). It is likely to make newspapers happy because the larger space might make it possible to include ads in the Kindle edition of the paper which would greatly help the newspapers when selling ad space.

[Neversleepsawink;)]

I love the bigger screen...however, I love my KK.  My hubby offered me the K2 but I turned it down...wanted the SD card and darker text.  I know I could get K3 for my bday....but I think I should wait for K4, maybe...LOL!

[ProfCrash]

So your waiting until July? :-)

[Neversleepsawink;)]

So your waiting until July? :-)

Lol...yes.  Maybe by then K5 will be out

[ProfCrash]

And it will make tea for me.

[Neversleepsawink;)]

And it will make tea for me.

Not to mention the built in jet pack   Can't wait to fly!  LOL!!! Ok...no one take that seriously. 

[Chad Winters]

Has anybody peeked over at the Amazon boards? I bet they are more "up in arms" than usual over there!