Suddenly, there’s even more reason to get a Kindle DX over an iPad. Now that’s putting it quite bluntly for ebook reader fans.
Online retailer giant Amazon.com introduced this week the latest generation of its popular Kindle DX. With this new version — the Kindle DX International 2, Amazon has indeed put out all the stops to come up with a device that’s superior in capabilities and striking in looks compared to its predecessor. Plus of course, there’s the price.
Making a huge (downward) price leap from $489 to $379, the Kindle DX now holds a distinct advantage over Apple’s iPad which retails at prices ranging from $499 to $699. That should make the decision easier for potential buyers who are still on the fence about getting either device.
And while the iPad is a certified hit in the tablet PC realm with over three million units sold to date, the Kindle has been able to hold its own in the ebook reader department, and this latest overhaul of the Kindle DX should help keep sales going.
So what has changed with the DX aside from its price tag? Let us count the ways.
For starters, reading on its 9.7-inch screen should be even more of a pleasure with 50% better e-ink screen contrast. Deviating from the trademark Kindle white, the Kindle DX International 2 is enclosed in a sleek, black granite shell, integrated with Facebook and Twitter applications, and packaged with free 3G wireless connection.
In order to protect its hold on the ebook reading industry, Amazon is obviously making an attempt to make the Kindle more affordable and therefore, more “acquirable” for the average ebook reader user. Only a week ago, Amazon also decreased the retail price of the 2nd generation Kindle, from $259 to $189, only hours after Barnes and Noble made a similar move for the Nook ereader.
Now it remains to be seen whether Amazon’s gamble to lower profits for continued dominance in the industry is worth it.