Before we discuss the plastic Kindle DX 2, which might arrive in Spring 2010, let’s start with the news that the Kindle DX is now out of stock.
It’s not just a small delay either – We’re talking a 4 to 6 week delay.
TechFlash first broke the news of the Kindle DX getting sold out (today, December 18th at 3:30 pm PST) -
Looks like Amazon is succumbing to some of the same holiday supply issues that have dogged its e-reader rivals, including Barnes & Noble, Sony and iRex.
They also seem upset about the Kindle secrecy -
It should be noted that despite Amazon’s talk of record Kindle sales, the company has not given actual sales numbers, either units sold or revenue, for its readers.
The first comment is interesting. We now have the Sony Nook, the Sony Reader Daily Edition and the Kindle DX all sold out.
There is either a lot of demand this Holiday season or collusion at a grand scale 
.
9.7 inch Plastic Kindle DX 2 – a Kindle for Kids
Financial Times had the scoop (yesterday) on a new plastic eInk screen that PVI, the eInk screen manufacturer that supplies Kindle and Kindle DX screens, has in the works.
The article pretty much screams that the Kindle DX 2 will have a plastic screen and be a Kindle for Kids -
PVI plans to launch a lightweight plastic screen next year that is expected to make the products less likely to break and pave the way for their large-scale introduction in schools and colleges.
Amazon, rather interestingly, did not issue a denial – Amazon only said it did not want to comment on plans for a plastic-based version of the Kindle.
The Liquavista CTO thinks its pretty much a given that Amazon would be looking for plastic screens -
Johan Feenstra, chief technology officer of Liquavista, a Netherlands-based company developing new versions of e-readers, said it would be “logical” for PVI and Amazon to be co-operating on a new plastic-based version of Kindle, given their close relationship.
Why a Plastic Kindle DX 2 makes sense
The plastic screen adds two huge benefits -
- It will be much tougher to break the Kindle DX. Note that there is no mention of unbreakable – just that the new screens will be less likely to break.
- It would weigh 330 gm – that is a third less than the 500 gm if the screen were a glass screen.
The latter is a huge benefit as it would make the Kindle DX 2 easy to carry around - especially for young kids and anyone with arthritis. It would also make one-handed reading on the Kindle DX 2 easy.
Plastic Logic seem rather calm about the development (their screen is supposedly unbreakable) -
Hermann Hauser, a director of Plastic Logic, said: “I’m aware of PVI’s work in this area. But I think the Plastic Logic technique [for making its plastic screen] will turn out to be a superior solution.”
Plastic Logic Que targets business and the plastic screen Kindle DX 2 would target schools and colleges so their calm is well placed.
It’s about time the Kindle DX got some updates so its great to know that a plastic Kindle DX 2 might be in the works.
Filed under: kindle dx 2 Tagged: | kindle dx 2, plastic kindle dx
Since I broke my K1 without breaking the glass, I don’t understand why the plastic screen would be less vulnerable to damage. I would think it would be easier to bend the plastic than the glass.
Al, i think most breaks are happening when people drop the Kindle and crack the screen.
With plastic screens they expect it to happen much less.