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Prices Slashed For Nook, Kindle E-Readers

Posted by kdawson on from the free-falling dept.

b0bby sends in a report from ZDNet about the sudden outbreak of a price war in e-reader devices. "On Monday, Barnes & Noble cut the price of the 3G Nook to $199. It also launched a $149 Wi-Fi version. Just hours later, Amazon responded by cutting the price of the Kindle to $189. At $259, the price of the Kindle and Nook just 24 hours ago, an e-reader purchase competed with an Apple iPad, which started at $499 for a Wi-Fi version. Below $200, a dedicated e-reader purchase makes a lot more sense." Sony dropped prices for its readers three months ago, but the move didn't kick off a price war at that time. Some believe that dedicated e-readers are doomed in the long run to lose out to general-purpose devices such as the iPad — and its coming imitators, many of which will be based on Google Android.

4 of 255 comments (clear)

  1. EBOOK PRICES by birukun · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Until they drop Ebook prices, they can pound sand...... For those prices, Kindle/Nook should be free

    --
    Self Defense - A Human Right www.a-human-right.com
  2. Neglect the benefits & tablets win... by Coopjust · · Score: 5, Insightful
    When you neglect the benefits of dedicated eReader devices with e-ink, such as...
    • The fact that they get battery life in weeks instead of hours
    • The fact that they use minimal power between page flips (vs. a relatively steady draw)
    • The fact that they are easier on the eyes
    • The fact that they are more easily read in sunlight...

    It's a lot easier to say that it's over and the iPad/tablet rush will kill the eReader revolution.

    Not to mention the fact that the nook/Kindle are much, much cheaper. That makes taking it to places like the beach (large zipper plastic bag keeps it safe and readable) or just on the go in general is something you don't have to worry about.

    Yes, the iPad will have its fans. But there are people who don't want a "do everything" device, they want something that reads books really, really well. And the nook, Kindle, and other eReaders do that. Until there's a radical revolution in color screen technology that gains the benefits that e-ink has (which are great for a book reading device)

    Not to mention that the 3G iPad is $130 extra, and doesn't include free 3G for the store so you can make an impulse book buy wherever you are. That's major in the convenience factor of the device.

  3. Star Wars tie-in? by Tumbleweed · · Score: 5, Funny

    iPad meh...

    Is that Apple's version of Natalie Portman?

  4. Re:Easier on the eyes?!? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 5, Informative

    I disagree. I've owned a Sony Reader and an iPad. The iPad is, hands down, easier on the eyes.
    The Kindle and other eInk displays have a contrast ratio of 6:1 to 7:1. The iPad backlit IPS display is 750:1 to 930:1.

    You do realize that overly high contrast is precisely what causes eyestrain? (in general, and especially common when staring at a computer/gadget screen)