Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_D
There are dozens of e-readers out there cheaper than the nook, kindle or iPad, but those are the price points most people think of when they hear ereader.
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The iPad is not an e-reader. It's a multimedia playback device that also happens to have an ereader app or two.
I don't know where you shop, but I sure don't have access to "dozens of e-readers" cheaper than the Nook or Kindle. Those are both $259; the cheapest Aztak device at Best Buy is $289 in Canada; Kobo is $149. The Sony e-readers are $199 on sale and closer to double most days of the week.
$149 is already a pretty great deal for a basic reader that allows you to shop at many different stores offering ePubs and borrow ePubs free from the local library.
I'm also not convinced there is any need to rush to a subsidized $49 reader. Vendors have a hard time keeping up during Xmas as it is and no one has a vested interest in losing gazillions selling devices. Amazon will do very nicely selling ebooks into the Kindle base as it grows and grows. Sony has no vested interest in a cheap or subsidized reader -- it has zero interest in being a bookstore. And, there are a finite number of readers for whom an electronic device holds appeal -- $49 isn't the tipping point for them ... although $149 is certainly more interesting than $259. As long as Amazon et al build greater value into the higher price, they can command those levels and attract more dedicated reading public.