Is a $99 Kobo on the way?

[Chopchurch]

Since the nook just dropped to $200/$150 with the new Wifi unit recently introduced, and the Kindle base unit now being $190 as of today, are we going to see a price drop for the Kobo any time soon?

For many would be consumers on Engadget and Gizmodo, $99 is the magic pricepoint for eReader adoption. It would seem to me that Sony and the Kobo guys have a very small window in which to respond to these sudden pricing moves by Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

So does anyone think we'll see a price drop this month? Anyone from Kobo want to respond in an official capacity?

[J. Strnad]

I expect the Kobo will come down in price, but I don't think it has to go to $99. While that price would be welcome, they could compete with the Nook at $139 or $129. Until the next round of price cuts, anyway.

[EtherealWinter]

Not for people who just bought it for 199$

[SensualPoet]

Yah, I can see the Kobo at $129 instead of $149. And, maybe, with a $20 e-credit toward an e-book for existing owners. The Kobo remains a very good deal vs Kindle at $129 vs $189. I don't think there is any need to go to $99 just yet.

[the hatter]

Hmmmm. I think with the new wifi Nook available, the Kobo price will have to drop to at least $129 if not lower. The nook has several features not available to Kobo: touch screen, replaceable battery, built in dictionary, wifi access.

To be honest, if I'd known that B&N were going to release a $150 nook then I don't think I would have got the Kobo. Unfortunately it's too late to return it too, since i bought it about 16 days ago.

[SameerH]

Oh the suspense!

[neilmarr]

Can you see a time when readers are free (like many mobile phones) but linked to some kind of book club with a monthly or annual subscription? Personally, I'd be happy if my decade-long prediction comes true and we see simple, single-function readers hanging bubble-wrapped at the supermarket checkout for fifty bucks or less by 2012. The idea is no longer as daft as it seemed ten years ago. We've already seen the $100 barrier breached. Cheers. Neil

[kiwikobo]

The question is whether the stores can get enough demo models in when the Kobo launches in the US properly. Before I'd played with the Kobo I used to think that Wifi, touchscreen, and so on would be worthwhile. After having the Kobo for a while I now realise that I wouldn't pay a cent for those features. They are features, not benefits.

I've downloaded epubs through an ipod touch (under stanza), but of course when searching the internet I'd much rather use a computer. And if I'm paying for content then I want that content stored on computer and able to be backed up before it goes on to my Kobo. As for reading, all that matters to me is light weight, good battery life, clear screen, and a button to go to the next page. I can't possibly imagine how a dictionary would be useful, but perhaps some people would. A replaceable battery might be useful, but all too often replaceable batteries tend to have smaller capacities than fixed ones in my experience, and let's face it you could actually replace the battery in a Kobo, although it's much more likely that you'll be upgrading to another model by the time it's dead.

Obviously the Kobo will come down in price, but I don't think it needs to be $99 tomorrow. If the (technically) minor issues it currently has about font sizes, battery life, jump-to-end, and the ropey desktop app are fixed it will be ideal.

In speaking to semi-techy friends, I'm seeing that the experience of an e-Ink reader is a very good one, and there is going to be a serious increase in takeup this year. The most significant things we need now are library ebooks, more books available (like the 2 million claimed), and better software. But I wouldn't give up mine for anything, niggles or otherwise...

[drivel mode: off]

Charles

[nursedude]

Neilmarr raises an interesting point...I can see a time when basic ereaders are free or really cheap but locked to a certain ebook provider. In a way it would be a very similar business model to that of printer manufacturers who almost give away the printer in order to get you "hooked" on their consumables.

My question is how long will it be before someone tries to introduce the idea of ebook "rentals". Instead of $9.99 or more for a book the consumer could rent it for $3.99 or so and it would be disabled or deleted after 30 days. E-books from the library already have time locks on them so I could see this being viable from a tech point of view.

[wrenn1]

Kobo sells for over $200. on ebay. I am not sure why anyone would pay that price plus shipping.

[artificial]

I think for a long time the Kindle brand was synonymous with eReading, and Amazon could maintain a high price. Now that Apple is making a bid for the eReader crown, and Kobo are positioned as the cheap and cheerful eReader, Amazon have had to respond by dropping the price of the Kindle to remain competitive.

Originally Posted by nursedude

I can see a time when basic ereaders are free or really cheap but locked to a certain ebook provider.

This is very close to what Amazon and Kobo do already with their respective eReaders. Obviously neither device is locked to the single content provider, but the intent is clearly there.

I think it's very likely prices will continue to drop to the point that eInk devices are "loss leaders" for content providers, and the real money is in eBooks (as you and neilmarr have already suggested).

[luqmaninbmore]

University of Chicago Press allows you to rent their books for a set number of months before they expire.

[Chopchurch]

It looks like Borders blinked. They are now selling the Kobo with a $20 gift certificate (Crunchgear).

[BenLee]

I would love to see a $99 Kobo, but I guess the $20 gift certificate will have to do. : |

[redadept13]

Now I really feel bad about pre-ordering mine at the end of last month. Just got it friday (was supposed to get it July 1)