Kindle vs Nook anew? It seems we’re going to see the ebook reader price war go full force.
Less than $200 Kindle, Nook
In a totally unprecedented move (especially to those who made the purchase only the day before), Amazon slashed the price of the 2nd generation Kindle, making a nosedive from $259 all the way to $189. Now that’s a whooping $70-drop!
The announcement comes close on the heels of Barnes and Noble’s unveiling of a WiFi-only Nook, priced at just $149, and a major price cut in the WiFi/3G Nook from $259 to $199. Obviously, ebook reader companies are now willing to live with lower profit margins for a continued hold on the market.
New Players
Not too long ago (two and a half years to be exact), the original Kindle commanded a hefty price tag of $399 and yet, Amazon still enjoyed an overwhelming share of the ereader industry. But with success also comes competition and since then, ebook readers have mushroomed left and right. To top it all off, price cuts like this one initiated by Barnes and Noble don’t help Amazon any. It is however, certainly good news for those who’ve been waiting for an “affordable” Kindle.
A device going on sale often means that a newer model could just be around the corner; but in this case, the latest Kindle price drop could simply be a direct response to the Barnes and Noble move. Plus, the brisk sales of the Apple iPad, which can also function as an ebook reader, may also be affecting the ereader market in general.
Big Win for Consumers
While ereader companies certainly have their work cut out for them in keeping the demand for ereaders alive, one thing’s for sure: consumers are bound to benefit from all these price cuts and possible device enhancements. I for one, find the more reasonably priced Kindle 2 (at $70 less) to be hard to resist. And for those simply looking for a no-frills ebook reading device, the Kindle is still the gadget to beat.