I wish I knew what Amazon was up to - Kindle DX

[Jon Twitchell]

So... the Amazon Gold Box deal today is for a Kindle DX (http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fgoldbo x%3Fie%3DUTF8%26ref_%3Dcs_top_nav_gb27&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957) for only $299 (instead of $379).

I saw the same price a week ago in Staples.

I wish I knew if they had a next-gen Kindle DX on the way, if they are getting rid of the DX, or if they were planning something different altogether.

The DX is the larger Kindle, which I've considered using as a preaching device. While the $139 Kindle is a lot cheaper, the screen is enough smaller that I don't think it would work for me.

Anyway... if you've been considering a DX... today's a great day to buy.

I don't know what I'm going to do yet.

[Mike Haile]

Seeing the popularity of the Nook color, that may be where they are headed.

[Jon Twitchell]

Seeing the popularity of the Nook color, that may be where they are headed.

Here's my fear...

...that they replace the DX with a smaller kindle-color. And then my large-screen option is gone... (or I have to find one second-hand).

[Mike Haile]

There are few choices in the 10" size range, it might be good to heed your own advice & get one today! My wife has a 1st gen nook & font size range is great enough that I can read from it without glasses, however that means only one paragraph per page.

[Rich Schmidt]

Here's my fear...

...that they replace the DX with a smaller kindle-color. And then my large-screen option is gone... (or I have to find one second-hand).

I don't think they've revealed sales numbers for the various Kindle models, have they? So we don't know if the DX has been selling well.

But given the extreme popularity of the 9.7" iPad, I don't see Amazon entirely dropping the larger-screen Kindle option. Perhaps it's just time for an update.

[Steven Burton]

You know you can increase the font size right?

[Jon Twitchell]

You know you can increase the font size right?

It's precisely *because* you can increase the font size that I want the larger one. Since I preach from a manuscript, and my current practice is to use a 16-pt typeface, I figure I'd be turning the pages every other second if I had the standard kindle. With the larger screen, I can at least come closer to replicating the paper copies that I'm currently using.

[Rich Schmidt]

It's precisely *because* you can increase the font size that I want the larger one. Since I preach from a manuscript, and my current practice is to use a 16-pt typeface, I figure I'd be turning the pages every other second if I had the standard kindle. With the larger screen, I can at least come closer to replicating the paper copies that I'm currently using.

$299 is a lot to spend on a replacement for paper notes. :)

I'd rather spend $499 on an iPad that will do a heck of a lot more. But that's just me. :)

[Zach Wingo]

I'd rather spend $499 on an iPad that will do a heck of a lot more. But that's just me. :) It does a lot more until the battery dies :tongue:

[Jon Twitchell]

$299 is a lot to spend on a replacement for paper notes. :)

I'd rather spend $499 on an iPad that will do a heck of a lot more. But that's just me. :)

heh... it will be used for more than a preaching device. Consequently, the "replacement for paper notes" part is only $110 (the difference between Kindle 3G and Kindle DX).

And two things are in play... both the battery life... and the ability to be used outdoors (say... at a graveside service).

[Jon Twitchell]

The rumors are heating up, with reports that Amazon has placed an order with Quantas for tablets to begin shipping sometime this summer.

Hopefully this is not the end of the dedicated e-reader (Kindle), but an addition to the Amazon lineup. If so, they'll need to continue to drop the prices of kindles in order to keep the tablet pricing competitive. I'm holding off on my purchases.

Kindle promotions have continued this spring... both with the introduction of the "Special Offers Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004HFS6Z0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B004HFS6Z0)" for $114, and now a Mother's Day special with a $25 Amazon gift card when you buy the $189 Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FQJT3Q/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B002FQJT3Q) or the Kindle DX (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GYWHSQ/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=B002GYWHSQ). Staples is offering a $25 Staples gift card on the Kindle 3G, and a $30 discount on the Kindle DX. Best Buy is now carrying the "Special Offers Kindle" in stores.

In other news, I also read that Amazon is working with Overdrive to make Kindles compatible with library e-lending programs. This is a HUGE improvement to the Kindle... and will keep people like Marsha from having to say "I'm sorry" every time someone says that they bought a Kindle.

[Jon Twitchell]

More speculations and rumors: http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/03/6577648-amazoncoms-new-tablet-would-be-the-anti-ipad

[Jon Twitchell]

Two tablets? What will this mean for the Kindle?

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/05/17/6660771-report-amazon-to-release-two-tablets-this-year

[Shea Zellweger]

ooooh, Kal-El.

[Jon Twitchell]

An update on my Kindle journey...

With my birthday money, I bought Melody a Kindle (third generation, standard size), that I have near-exclusive use of until I decide what to do... Once Amazon releases their new product, I'll decide if I'm getting a standard Kindle, a Kindle DX, or the new product. I'm banking on a price drop for the DX whenever the tablets come out.

Anyway... I used the Kindle for the first time today at a funeral/graveside. I had practiced with it a little bit ahead of time... and had my paper notes with me (just in case.)

One of the benefits is that I don't have to worry about blowing papers at graveside services!

There was actually more glare at the funeral home then there was outside... as I was standing right under a recessed spot. I'll have to consider that a little bit.

I think I did fairly well... while I noticed myself stumbling a couple of times, I don't think that the technology got in the way. I have yet to decide if I think that the technology is enhancing... ;) Taking the summer to practice will help me decide what I'm doing in the long run. And if I opt not to go this route, then Melody still gets a nice kindle out of the deal! :)

[Jon Twitchell]

This post isn't really Kindle DX related... but someone watching this thread might be interested.

The Kindle 3G w/Special Offers has just dropped another $25. Now only $139 for a Kindle 3G with special offers (http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=pastorjonslec-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393193&node=133141011&ref_=topnav_storetab_kinh).

[Rich Schmidt]

This post isn't really Kindle DX related... but someone watching this thread might be interested.

The Kindle 3G w/Special Offers has just dropped another $25. Now only $139 for a Kindle 3G with special offers (http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b?_encoding=UTF8&tag=pastorjonslec-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393193&node=133141011&ref_=topnav_storetab_kinh).

Back in February, I came across this article / blog post (http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2011/02/free_kindle_thi.php) about the price of Kindles being projected to hit $0 by November 2011. Looks like they should update their graph...

[Rich Schmidt]

The Wall Street Journal on Amazon's plans: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303406104576444213058153874.html

[Mike Schutz]

I have been waiting to buy a Kindle for my son until it was cost effective - until a semester when the majority of his books were available and the amount saved was almost equal to the price of the Kindle. We almost got to the break-even point this semester, so we bought him a Kindle 3G with Special Offers for $139. He will have to put up with the ads, but he is excited about it. It is an early 21st birthday present.

The 3G was necessary because ENC's Wi-Fi is better than it used to be, but still pretty bad. However, considering the phone reception I get when I am on campus, the 3G may not be much better.

[Jon Twitchell]

Here it is folks: The New Kindle Lineup (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051VVOB2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0051VVOB2)

Starting at $79 for a basic Kindle WiFi
$99/$149 for a Kindle Touch WiFi/3G
$99/$139 for a Kindle Keyboard WiFi/3G
and $199 for the new Kindle Fire

[Rich Schmidt]

Here it is folks: The New Kindle Lineup (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0051VVOB2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwyourchurch-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0051VVOB2)

Starting at $79 for a basic Kindle WiFi
$99/$149 for a Kindle Touch WiFi/3G
$99/$139 for a Kindle Keyboard WiFi/3G
and $199 for the new Kindle Fire

I was just coming here to post this (after starting a new thread (http://www.naznet.com/community/showthread.php?6169-Amazon-s-new-Kindles-announced-today-including-color-touchscreen-Fire-for-199) about it). :)

BTW, it looks like they're still selling the Kindle DX... but they're certainly not featuring it. Go to the product page for any of the new Kindles, and across the top of the screen they list all the Kindles they sell BUT the DX. You have to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page, where they compare features of the various Kindles, to find the DX mentioned and linked to.

[Jon Twitchell]

By the way... I ended up NOT buying the DX.

I DID give Melody the white Kindle that I bought with my birthday money... and I used money from the course I taught to buy my own Kindle 3G (special offers).

I've used the Kindle exclusively for funerals and memorial services and gravesides since June... and I started using it on Sunday mornings a month ago. While I make plenty of "page turns" during a sermon (A sermon manuscript used to be about 15 pages... now it's about 33 Kindle pages), they are arguably less obtrusive then the paper pages. I had to change the lighting configuration slightly on the platform, just to make sure that there was no glare on the Kindle.

After today's announcement, I'm glad I went ahead and made the purchases. Ultimately, I think I would have ended up buying the same thing... and now I've had them for the last couple of months.

[Karen Troxler]

Jon, I would like to try preaching from my Kindle, but isn't there a fee when you download/convert a document to it? Have you found a way to do it without it costing you?

[Hans Deventer]

Jon, I would like to try preaching from my Kindle, but isn't there a fee when you download/convert a document to it? Have you found a way to do it without it costing you?

Calibre!! Converts any way you want and it's free too! http://calibre-ebook.com/

[Jon Twitchell]

You have a FREE email address, as long as you can connect to a WiFi network... alternatively, you can plug the Kindle in, and drag-n-drop a PDF to it.

Here's what I do:

I have a template that is 3.5" by 4.75". It has .1" margins on top, left, and right, and a .15" margin on the bottom. I have a header and a footer with the page numbers and name of the sermon and/or text. The font for the header and footer is Calibri 8pt. The reason for the header and footer is really to make sure that the Kindle doesn't try to auto-fit my final PDF pages. Otherwise, if I have a page with less text, then it tries to zoom-to-fit, increasing the font size randomly when I get to those pages.

I copy-and-paste my sermon manuscript into the template... setting it at 14 pt., with 12pt spacing before/after each paragraph. In the paragraph settings dialogue box, I turn on orphan/widow control, and tell it to keep lines together. (This helps avoid page breaks in the middle of a paragraph.) (This is also why I do a PDF conversion instead of an ebook conversion. I want to control where the page breaks are.)

Then I scroll through the document, reviewing the page breaks and anything else that might cause a problem. And then I "save as..." a PDF file.
Then I email the pdf file to my secret address: jon_###@free.kindle.com. Within a minute or two, the PDF is on my kindle.

Hans recommends using Calibre... which I have... but this method works for me... and allows me to be in control of the output of my document... and still no charges.

[Karen Troxler]

Thanks Hans and Jon. I'll probably try both methods and see which one I like best. I appreciate the help!