Shop Talk

Is Amazon’s Kindle DX e-reader hype?

“The new Kindle DX is bigger, but is it better?” asked one headline as gadget reviewers examined the latest electronic reader from Amazon.com.

The verdict: “It isn’t as revolutionary as its promoters might like us to think.”

Amazon’s brand of Kindle e-readers now has a new addition, the Kindle DX, and despite the company’s hype, the $489 device may remain a niche product that appeals to a limited few.

The Seattle-based online retailer says the Kindle DX is optimized for newspapers and textbooks, and touts its large memory — 3,500 books — and auto-rotating screen.