The new Kindle DX is in smart looking graphite but its real claim to fame is even higher contrast. Can this coupled with a price drop be enough to make it the reader we all want to carry with us?

Following on the news that the price of the entry level Kindle has dropped to $189 - see Kindle price crash - Amazon has upgraded the top of the range Kindle DX and lowered the price to $379, down from $489. This makes it look more reasonable against the iPad which is now $120 more expensive. In many cases users are still going to regard the more functional iPad a better investment.

The Kindle DX has a 9.7-inch black-and-white screen and the new model features a new graphite enclosure and a higher contrast electronic ink display - claiming 50 percent better contrast. Also new is the integration with Twitter and Facebook which enables users to post passages and general messages - presumably inspired by the book they are currently reading. The built in PDF reader is an upgrade that is available across the Kindle range but the DX's larger screen makes if more suited to reading technical documents that have been uploaded without much attention to conversion.

What makes the Kindle DX, and most of the Kindle range, special is its suitablity to the task of reading. With higher contrast and a bigger screen size the DX has an edge - but will potential buyers think that a dedicated reader is the way to go?

You can pre-order the new Kindle DX for $379 today at http://www.amazon.com/kindledx and it will begin shipping on July 7.

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