Kendall Giles

So I mentioned that I am evaluating a TRX suspension system, by Fitness Anywhere, via a 12-week fitness program (FORCE). This is a wrap-up of the FORCE program (84 days).

I finished the TRX FORCE program last Sunday, but I've been on travel and so haven't had a chance to post.

Overall, I was happy with the TRX FORCE program. I felt it gave me a jump-start at developing overall body functional fitness, and the final week 11-12 routines are ones that I will come back to now and then during my alternate training days. The program takes a bit of dedication to get through, since it is 12 weeks-worth of exercises, but if you can stick it out, then you *will* see results.

I did not do a pure experiment though -- I started out doing kettlebells, just kind of teaching myself, but at the same time enjoying this really efficient and useful exercise system. But I didn't want to go too far too fast without consulting with an RKC, so I took up the TRX FORCE program to work on until I could meet with one.

At about mid-way through the TRX FORCE program I was able to meet with an RKC (thanks Sandy Sommer!) and got some instruction that enabled me to move forward with my kettlebell training. But I didn't want to just quit the TRX, so I tried doing kettlebell workouts in addition to my TRX FORCE program workouts.

Then, from out of no where, I decided I wanted to run a 10-miler, a couple months hence. Note that I am not a runner. So I began to incorporate training for the 10-miler plus the kettlebells plus the TRX FORCE program.

Ugh.

I made it through the TRX FORCE program, and am now easing back a little to let some body parts heal and to re-assess where I want to go from here.

I still have the 10-miler coming up in a few weeks. The farthest I've ever run is about 7.5 miles, and I am still recovering from that run - especially my ankles, for some reason.

I also want to work on sustained performance - being able to do kettlebell lifts (especially snatches and swings) for many repetitions in a row. Up until now I've been working on several reps + rest for many minutes, but I've discovered this is not exactly the same as many reps + no rest.

So kettlebells plus running will probably be my focus going forward, using the TRX FORCE week 12 workout now and then to shake things up. I've also started using a rowing ergometer, and have been happy with the cardio plus strength benefits.

And I am hoping to heal some - over-doing it is not as risk-free as when I was younger.

UPDATE [25 November 2009]: There's a new software update for the Kindle DX that provides for better cropping of PDF files to maximize the amount of content on the screen.

So I am sure by now you've heard of the new digital book reader by Amazon, the Amazon Kindle DX. After my wife absconded with my first Kindle, a Kindle 2, I needed a new book reader, and so decided to try the new Kindle DX. The image below is of the unboxing.

A while ago I reviewed my Kindle 2. The DX includes Kindle 2 features such as free wireless delivery of books purchased from Amazon, long battery life, text-to-speech, and mp3 audio file playback (with stereo audio jack as well as built-in speakers), so here I will concentrate on the main new features the DX brings to the reading experience.

The most obvious difference is the size of the display. The DX is larger, with a diagonal screen size of 9.7".The screen size of the DX is more like that of a textbook, rather than the Kindle 2's paperback size format (screen size of 6" on the diagonal).

There are also a few cosmetic changes. The Next Page and Previous Page buttons are now only along the right side of the border. I actually welcome this change, since I can now easily hold the Kindle without worrying about accidently turning the page. Also, the keyboard on the bottom border is smaller - numbers can now be typed using an Alt-letter combination on the DX whereas the Kindle 2 had a dedicated row of number buttons. Again, I like this change, since it devotes more of the usable space on the device to the screen for reading. Moreover, I do not often need to type in numbers using my Kindle, and so when I do I do not mind using the Alt-letter combination.

Unlike the Kindle 2, the Kindle DX now includes native support for viewing Adobe pdf documents. This is a big win for me, since most of the documents I read are in this format. As an example, below is an image of the Kindle DX displaying one of my pdf slides.

This image also captures the another new feature in the Kindle DX - auto screen rotate. Simply turn the Kindle on its side and the display will automatically rotate. This effectively zooms in on the page being displayed.

In my opinion the e-ink display is more readable in the Kindle DX than the Kindle 2. Also, the display works better when trying to render dark fonts on a light background, as shown below. Here is where the Kindle DX shines when rendering pdf documents, as even equations are very legible.

So in summary, the Kindle DX brings a larger viewing format to the digital book reading world. The Kindle DX also supports viewing pdf documents. Text and images look great on the larger screen, and with the DX's 4GB of internal storage, you can carry up to about 3,500 books, magazines, and documents in one slim device. This is a boon, especially for folks who travel.

I personally prefer the Kindle DX, since the larger format and pdf support better suit my needs. My wife however prefers the smaller size Kindle 2 for reading science fiction novels.

Oh, and if you are going to get the Kindle DX, I would also recommend a case for it. This Belkin Neoprene sleeve case is a pretty good option.

Amazon Kindle DX

Available from Amazon here