Quote:
Originally Posted by brecklundin
Last time they dropped the price of the current device it was a very short time before a new reader, the K2, was announced and released.
At $259 they have set a new price point for a lot of people. So many just want it easy to buy books directly on their reader and could care less who store it comes from...and am willing to suggest even more who are on the bubble for a 6" (or even 5") device are going to look at the small price difference of the K2 compared to a 5" device with peeling paint (PAINT FOR GAWDS SAKES!!) for $199 and be willing to pay for the simplicity of not needing their computer in the mix.
As of now I see many will not pay anything like $200 for a 5" device unless the device offers some substantial differences that the AVERAGE consumer can appreciate. Experienced users are willing to dance around quirks but average users...not a chance.
And oh yeah, so much for the FUD from the marketing wonks about increasing cost of eink displays...
Nice to see the bar raised due to nothing more than a price decrease.
And YES, I get it that a 5" device is worth the "compactness"...and yeah, I dunna like the K2 anymore than my K1 so another Kindle is not going to be on my wishlist...a Pocketbook 360 would be nifty though...  |
Well if you are referring to the Astak PP the paint issue has been fixed, just a first batch issue. Substantial difference? Does the Kindle come in different colours? No. Does the Kindle offer extended storage by use of memory card? No. Does the Kindle offer the ability to buy DRM-laced content from different publishers? No. Does to Kindle offer the portability of a 5"? No (even less portable than comparative 6" readers on the market the Kindle is). Does the Kindle offer user replaceable batteries? No. Does the Kindle come with a supplied hard cover protective pouch? No. You say the Kindle is $259 and $199 for the 5" units. The 5" come with a protective cover, for the Kindle the cheapest is $29.99, so that takes you up to $289.99. So now there is a $90 price difference.
But the Kindle does offer; 1-stop shop for ebook purchases; the flexibility of buying book straight from the device; the ability to download purchased ebooks without hooking upto a computer; a computer is not required to have to use the Kindle; the availability of having certain newspapers and magazines delivered straight to your Kindle.
If people are happy to just buy the reader, a pouch and content to just buy books from Amazon, then yep the Kindle is an absolute winner, but for ease or portability, vast options of ebook suppliers etc, these cheaper 5" units are looking pretty good.
I think the biggest issue for people are, is a 5" or 6" screen best for my needs? Most certainly the Kindle will eat into the existing 6" market, but not the 5". People buy a 5" for reasons that a 6" can not provide.