kindle announce larger ebook reader

Amazon has announced a larger version of its famous (but not good looking) ebook reader.

It’s only available in the US, like the original Kindle (thank goodness), and Amazon’s aim is to let people read magazines and newspapers on this new large screen ebook reader.

Those of you who have tried an ebook reader such as the Sony PRS505 will know that it’s brilliant to carry about, great for reading novels and other text on, but with its 6 inch screen is not a lot of use for reading larger pages with pictures. But there again it doesn’t take photos either, or walk the dog, but that’s not what I got one for!

The new Kindle DX, expected on sale in the US this summer, has a 9.7 inch eink screen so Amazon hopes to be able to sell subscriptions to major newspapers and periodicals for people to download to their ebook reader.

Now it will certainly be easier to read them on the Kindle DX than on the Sony, but still in our view not as easy as on the paper page which is a lot bigger.  And the killer point for us is that you can fold newspapers and magazines, stick them in your pocket or bag, and they’re easy to carry about and will come to no harm.

The Kindle DX, like its smaller brother, can’t be bent, and is  susceptible to knocks and especially twisting or flexing which will break the glass substrate of the screen and render the device useless. So instead of a periodical you’re carrying about with you an unwieldy fragile Kindle that doesn’t take kindly to being thrown about and won’t fit in your pocket either.

In our view, until they develop flexible, even foldable epaper, don’t even think of getting one of these. Unless you want to spend your life protecting it instead of reading it.

And by the way, it’s still got the ugly Kindle front with the alpha keys on it.

Nul points from us for this!