Earlier this month, Amazon released the latest version of its Kindle e-reader, the Graphite Kindle DX, which boasts an “all new e-ink screen” with “50% better contrast” on its 9.7-inch display. The cost is $379, which is a lot pricier than the 6-inch Kindle ($189) and a wee more expensive than the still available older version of the DX model. That remains at $359, so all you have to do is skip a pizza to make up the difference. But from another perspective, the newest Kindle is much cheaper than the Apple iPad, which starts at a steep $499, but I guess one could argue that’s comparing apples and oranges.

I acquired the 6-inch Kindle last year, when it cost $269. There is only one thing I don’t like about it: the background on the electronic page is a bit too dark. I’m glad it’s not white — that would cause too much eye strain for me — but I wish it were a lighter shade of gray. It’s hard to tell from looking at the pictures on Apple’s website, but if the background of the new model’s screen is lighter, which is what might be suggested by the claim of 50% improvement in contrast, that would be a major improvement for readers like me who have an issue with the background of the older Kindles being too dark for comfort. Another claim is that the new display “looks like real paper” — my Kindle does not — and that is presumably the ultimate goal of an electronic reader.

I can see another advantage of the DX model for people who, like me, prefer larger print. Obviously, the bigger screen allows more text to be viewed at the larger size, so there will be a lot less pressing of the “next page” button, which will in another way make the experience closer to reading a real book.