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lchen · 06-28-2010, 03:37 PM

I think a $50 price would make ereaders 'tip' and reach critical mass in the market.
With the recent price drop of the Nook and Kindle, the Kobo Reader sort of loses its marketing advantage.

I recently picked up the lower price Kindle2 and keep my Kobo on hand to read epub books. I still enjoy the Kobo reader but it's difficult to recommend the reader at the $150 pricepoint now.

For $30 more than the Kobo, Kindle users get some of the feature requests that many have asked on the firmware update thread. (ie. BrowseTo/Goto location, ability to click on ebook links, faster page turns, etc).

Some features that make it harder to choose the Kobo over the Kindle at the $150 pricepoint are:
+ the Experimental Text-To-Speech feature (no it won't replace audiobooks, but it's a convenient way of getting some 'reading' done when on the move).
+ 3G access -> to the bookstore and basic web browsing
+ Dictionary
+ There's an unofficial way of putting customized screensavers.

Things about the Kindle2 that are bad:
+ Non-user-replaceable battery (but that might be the case with the Kobo also)
+ Does not support Epub

For $50 I could even see schools purchasing the Kobo reader.

06-28-2010, 03:37 PM	#26
lchen Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 12 Join Date: May 2010 Device: Kobo EReader	I think a $50 price would make ereaders 'tip' and reach critical mass in the market. With the recent price drop of the Nook and Kindle, the Kobo Reader sort of loses its marketing advantage. I recently picked up the lower price Kindle2 and keep my Kobo on hand to read epub books. I still enjoy the Kobo reader but it's difficult to recommend the reader at the $150 pricepoint now. For $30 more than the Kobo, Kindle users get some of the feature requests that many have asked on the firmware update thread. (ie. BrowseTo/Goto location, ability to click on ebook links, faster page turns, etc). Some features that make it harder to choose the Kobo over the Kindle at the $150 pricepoint are: + the Experimental Text-To-Speech feature (no it won't replace audiobooks, but it's a convenient way of getting some 'reading' done when on the move). + 3G access -> to the bookstore and basic web browsing + Dictionary + There's an unofficial way of putting customized screensavers. Things about the Kindle2 that are bad: + Non-user-replaceable battery (but that might be the case with the Kobo also) + Does not support Epub For $50 I could even see schools purchasing the Kobo reader.