Quote:
Originally Posted by flyash
Some of the full-sized readers that are good for pdf are pricey. Too pricey for all but some niche markets now that the iPad is out. For example, the Kindle DX is $489 - I'd posit that the market for the DX has shrunk considerably in a market where the iPad can be had for a mere $11 more. That will force prices for the DX lower, and by extension, the lower priced DX will force smaller readers lower. E.g., if the DX is lowered to $400, the Sony 900 at $350 starts looking overpriced. And so on.
Again, that's not to say that there aren't niche markets that will pay relatively high prices for an e-reader when an iPad can be had for the same or only a little bit more, but the broader consumer market appeal of pricey (say, north of $300) e-readers has been crushed, and as described above, that affects pricing all the way down the pricing structure.
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I agree, Kindle is going to have to think about what they are going to want to do with the DX, as much as I love e-ink, paying that much just to get and extra 3 inches in screen size and nothing else when you can get and iPad for just a bit more is just silly.
Sony can no longer be all goofy with their classic overpricing. Even with their price cuts lately they still offer 0 value compared to the Nook or Kindle.
The Alex, well again they are even in a worse position than the Kindle DX, they are trying to go with the whole "extra" fun stuff and they priced it within striking distance of the iPad. Why? the only reason why you would want an Alex as opposed to the Nook or Kindle or Sony would be it's mobile connection. Which for just a bit more you can get an iPad that can do all these "extras" at a much higher level.
The bottom line is all these high end ones are going to have to drop which wil then force the middle of the pack ones, Sony, Nook, Kindle drop their price or just drop the models.
Personally I don't see a rosey future for the DX and the Alex without a dramatic price drop.