Kindle 2 Price Drops to $189.00 - Page 2

whitearrow · 06-21-2010, 06:30 PM

I don't know if we'll see a wifi only version of the Kindle. That would seem to go against the basic tenet of Amazon's marketing for the Kindle, which is how simple it is. There are still plenty of people out there for whom connecting a device to a router is not simple.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 06:33 PM

That's true as it would complicate marketing of whispersync for them if they had a wifi only model.

Solicitous · 06-21-2010, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

Only thing I can think of is the larger e-ink screens must cost more and/or they know it's a tiny niche, can't compete with the iPad and other tablets in the mainstream etc. so they just leave it high priced for the niche of people who want a big screen e-ink device.

It's still quite a bit cheaper than the rumored prices of the Que, or the big screen iRex devices etc. so they really don't have much pressure to drop price. No one who wants an iPad or other tablet would buy a DX instead even if it was $299 or something. And they're still under price the other 9.7"
or close big screen e-ink devices.

I think you are right, little competition in the larger screen market. If we look at the larger screen market there is who? iRex? Filed for chapter 11 so in the near future no real price or new product competition there. Hmm that is really it.

I can see why the Kindle has dropped in price. $199 for the Nook with 3g, and now a wifi only for $149, the Kobo for $149, Sony dropped the price of theirs (newegg and all those dropping the sale price of all the readers they stock). The 6" is where the competition currently is.

wallcraft · 06-21-2010, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitearrow

I don't know if we'll see a wifi only version of the Kindle.

See engadget: August Kindle is Shasta, with WiFi. It seems almost certain that there will be a Kindle with WiFi, but it might be 3G+WiFi. So, the "entry level" Kindle 3 could either be 3G-only or WiFi-only.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 07:01 PM

My guess is it will just be 3G AND WIFI and they'll price it in between the two nook models as they have done with this price drop.

Having a Wifi only would complicate marketing it as discussed above--easier to just have one device and not have to try to distinguish the differences in whispersync functionality between the two etc.

Teyrnon · 06-21-2010, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

I think you are right, little competition in the larger screen market. If we look at the larger screen market there is who? iRex? Filed for chapter 11 so in the near future no real price or new product competition there. Hmm that is really it.

The Kindle DX probably isn't a big seller. I've had a Kindle DX for almost a year now and while I really like it butt from experience I have to say the Kindle 2 is a much better choice for most people. If I'd known last year what I know now I would have gotten a Kindle 2 instead. I do much of my reading in bed and I've found the DX to large and awkward for holding while reclining. Instead I have to prop it on a pillow or rolled up blanket.

SensualPoet · 06-21-2010, 07:52 PM

I'm delighted! The Kindle 2 is a pretty awesome reader at $189 (and great value at $259). Not only is there access to the Amazon bookstore (the most robust ebook store on the planet), including free sample chapters of virtually ever title and free 3G access in many countries plus wikipedia access almost everywhere; it also have the built-in dictionary, text-to-speech, and now social networking stuff for those so inclined.

What's next? Kindle 3? "You betcha!", he said with a wink!

AnemicOak · 06-21-2010, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallcraft

See engadget: August Kindle is Shasta, with WiFi. It seems almost certain that there will be a Kindle with WiFi, but it might be 3G+WiFi. So, the "entry level" Kindle 3 could either be 3G-only or WiFi-only.

The "entry level" Kindle might be the K2 (at the new price point) with the K3 filling the price gap between the K2 and DX.

Dellaster · 06-21-2010, 09:36 PM

Kindle 2 for $189? A year and four months ago I bought mine for $359. That's a $170 reduction, almost half the cost. I never dreamed that ebook reader prices would come down this fast. Good.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 10:03 PM

I figured they'd drop pretty fast, which is why I waited and grabbed a used K1 for $200 from an owner who upgraded to the K2.

New tech prices drop fast. For instance Sony Blu Ray players were $600 or so when they came out back in 2006 or so. I got a Sony BR in late 2008 (Black friday) for $150 and they are commonly that price or lower these days.

Early adopters of a new tech always get shafted with a high price as tech is never more expensive than when if first comes out and price tends to fall rapidly after a year or two.

BenLee · 06-21-2010, 10:21 PM

If history is an indication, a price drop in the current main seller usually means the next model is well on its way here. I can't wait to see the Kindle 3. AnemicOak is definitely right about the K3 being the higher end model and the K2 filling the entry level slot.

I know it's weird, but I feel like getting another Kindle just because it got so much more affordable. Maybe just to give away or something.

Maybe Seth Godin had some affect on these two giants. It's been just a few days since his call for a $49 Kindle and we are seeing two of the biggest players drop their prices. Interesting...

flyash · 06-21-2010, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solicitous

I think you are right, little competition in the larger screen market. If we look at the larger screen market there is who? iRex? Filed for chapter 11 so in the near future no real price or new product competition there. Hmm that is really it.

While it's true there isn't much competition in the large screen e-ink market, there also isn't much of a market left after the iPad arrived on the scene.

A $489 tag for the Kindle DX will ensure that sales will wither down to a very tiny niche market. The vast majority of people ready to plunk down $489 for a device that size will pony up the extra $11 and buy an iPad.

afa · 06-21-2010, 11:38 PM

Not only will they, flyash, but they should. I've long since felt that the $489 for a DX was overpriced. And ever since the iPad came out at $499, it became downright ridiculous. I'm not a diehard Apple fan by any means, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go for the iPad 100 times out of 100.

Considering how quickly they responded to the Nook's price drop, I'm surprised Amazon hasn't really done anything about the DX's price. Surely, they must have thought of the above as well. I suppose it's possible they know something we don't, but I'm going to go ahead and be arrogant enough to say they're wrong. The DX will go the way of the Dodo unless they have a dramatic reduction in price.

LDBoblo · 06-22-2010, 04:33 AM

I'm hoping for a next-gen e-ink screen to appear on Kindles in the coming few months. It'll be a nice, if small, step upward.

EowynCarter · 06-22-2010, 04:41 AM

Prices goes down. Nice

I saw that prs-600 was now 180 euros yesterday.

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06-21-2010, 06:30 PM	#16
whitearrow Guru Posts: 808 Karma: 2260766 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Kindle Oasis 2	I don't know if we'll see a wifi only version of the Kindle. That would seem to go against the basic tenet of Amazon's marketing for the Kindle, which is how simple it is. There are still plenty of people out there for whom connecting a device to a router is not simple.

06-21-2010, 06:33 PM	#17
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	That's true as it would complicate marketing of whispersync for them if they had a wifi only model.

06-21-2010, 07:01 PM	#20
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	My guess is it will just be 3G AND WIFI and they'll price it in between the two nook models as they have done with this price drop. Having a Wifi only would complicate marketing it as discussed above--easier to just have one device and not have to try to distinguish the differences in whispersync functionality between the two etc.

06-21-2010, 07:52 PM	#22
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I'm delighted! The Kindle 2 is a pretty awesome reader at $189 (and great value at $259). Not only is there access to the Amazon bookstore (the most robust ebook store on the planet), including free sample chapters of virtually ever title and free 3G access in many countries plus wikipedia access almost everywhere; it also have the built-in dictionary, text-to-speech, and now social networking stuff for those so inclined. What's next? Kindle 3? "You betcha!", he said with a wink!

06-21-2010, 09:36 PM	#24
Dellaster 本の虫 Posts: 242 Karma: 344 Join Date: May 2008 Location: USA Device: Kindle3, DXG, Fire · iPad, iPod	Kindle 2 for $189? A year and four months ago I bought mine for $359. That's a $170 reduction, almost half the cost. I never dreamed that ebook reader prices would come down this fast. Good.

06-21-2010, 10:03 PM	#25
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I figured they'd drop pretty fast, which is why I waited and grabbed a used K1 for $200 from an owner who upgraded to the K2. New tech prices drop fast. For instance Sony Blu Ray players were $600 or so when they came out back in 2006 or so. I got a Sony BR in late 2008 (Black friday) for $150 and they are commonly that price or lower these days. Early adopters of a new tech always get shafted with a high price as tech is never more expensive than when if first comes out and price tends to fall rapidly after a year or two.

06-21-2010, 10:21 PM	#26
BenLee eReader Junkie Posts: 304 Karma: 1220 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: New York City, NY Device: Kindle + Sony	If history is an indication, a price drop in the current main seller usually means the next model is well on its way here. I can't wait to see the Kindle 3. AnemicOak is definitely right about the K3 being the higher end model and the K2 filling the entry level slot. I know it's weird, but I feel like getting another Kindle just because it got so much more affordable. Maybe just to give away or something. Maybe Seth Godin had some affect on these two giants. It's been just a few days since his call for a $49 Kindle and we are seeing two of the biggest players drop their prices. Interesting...

06-21-2010, 11:38 PM	#28
afa The Forgotten Posts: 1,136 Karma: 4689999 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Dubai Device: Kindle Paperwhite; Nook HD; Sony Xperia Z3 Compact	Not only will they, flyash, but they should. I've long since felt that the $489 for a DX was overpriced. And ever since the iPad came out at $499, it became downright ridiculous. I'm not a diehard Apple fan by any means, but if I had to choose between the two, I'd go for the iPad 100 times out of 100. Considering how quickly they responded to the Nook's price drop, I'm surprised Amazon hasn't really done anything about the DX's price. Surely, they must have thought of the above as well. I suppose it's possible they know something we don't, but I'm going to go ahead and be arrogant enough to say they're wrong. The DX will go the way of the Dodo unless they have a dramatic reduction in price.

06-22-2010, 04:33 AM	#29
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	I'm hoping for a next-gen e-ink screen to appear on Kindles in the coming few months. It'll be a nice, if small, step upward.

06-22-2010, 04:41 AM	#30
EowynCarter Wizard Posts: 4,332 Karma: 4000000 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Paris Device: Cybooks; Sony PRS-T1	Prices goes down. Nice I saw that prs-600 was now 180 euros yesterday.

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