Amazon is expected to announce a new larger Kindle at a press event being held tomorrow at Pace University. The setting is driving rumors that it will be positioned as the ideal device for viewing e-textbooks.

Engadget is reporting that the unit will have a 9.7" display (compared to the current 6" display) and a built in PDF reader.

The only way this device has any chance of succeeding is if it allows people to move files to it with ease and without any additional charge, something missing from the current Kindle. It needs to become the students USB key (i.e. the place they store their files) with built-in viewing capabilities.

We'll see on Wednesday how Amazon has decided to approach this market. I'm hoping to be surprised.