Amazon.com Inc. unveiled the new Kindle DX today, taking a dramatic step into the e-textbook market. GalleyCat prowled the packed press conference at Pace University in New York City, trying to find out why cash-strapped students would pay $489 for this new device.

We landed a short video interview with Steven Kessel, SVP of worldwide digital media at Amazon, and the executive delivered a pitch aimed straight at college students. When the device is released this summer, Kessel believes that students will see a value in the Kindle DX’s reading experience and pay a premium price.

Earlier today, GalleyCat interviewed an executive at another e-textbook company who thinks that students will prefer laptops to the Kindle DX.