New Kindle Voyage

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by kaufman

This might be a reasonable argument if they weren't also selling a $80 model and a $120 model. They haven't raised the price on the same level of book reader. They have added a premium model. Probably because they learned from Kobo that there was a market for them.

All of you people complaining about the $200 price and predicting doom and gloom for Amazon because "no one will spend that much for a book reader", should probably read up a little on the history of the Kindle.

The first model was $400, and Amazon sold so many of them that it was backordered for about 6 months because they couldn't make them fast enough to keep up with demand. The next one was $300, and they sold a ton of those as well. And this was back before everything was available for the device.

They are almost certainly going to sell more paperwhites and basic models than the Voyage, but it looks like they are going to sell a lot of those as well.

Couldn't agree more. Look at the current wait times for all 4 models of the Voyage. That reader is in very high demand at all price levels.

Dean

[ApK]

Originally Posted by kaufman

All of you people complaining about the $200 price and predicting doom and gloom for Amazon because "no one will spend that much for a book reader", should probably read up a little on the history of the Kindle.

The first model was $400, and Amazon sold so many of them that it was backordered for about 6 months because they couldn't make them fast enough to keep up with demand.

Surely you must realize that the price of new technology seven years ago is meaningless in establishing the value of the current generation of the technology.
I'm not one of those predicting doom and gloom, but the $400 Kindle is absolutely irrelevant to the issue.

If you disagree, I'd be happy to sell you my VCR or Bluray player at half of what they cost when they first came out...what a bargain!

ApK

[ApK]

Originally Posted by kaufman

By "decided to milk" do you mean "produced a product that people want to buy"?

Because "decided to milk" sounds bad, but "produced a product that people want to buy" is what I am always hoping companies will do.

Indeed, though to j.p.s.'s point, it would be NICE if they offered the buttons on cheaper models, too.

I'm sure it's true that at one time, from strictly a manufacturing cost perspective, buttons plus non-touch display was cheaper than touch display. With the economies of scale, I'd bet that touch displays are now probably the same price or cheaper in quantity than non-touch, so buttons are going to be an up-charge.

[kaufman]

Originally Posted by ApK

Surely you must realize that the price of new technology seven years ago is meaningless in establishing the value of the current generation of the technology.
I'm not one of those predicting doom and gloom, but the $400 Kindle is absolutely irrelevant to the issue.

I think you are missing my point. Its not that $400 is the correct price point for an eReader now. Its that saying that to say that no one would ever pay $200 for an eReader is not correct. While some people are complaining about the $200 price point, I bet a lot of people buying it are thinking to themselves how much better it is than the device they paid $400 for not to long ago. I know that's what I thought when I ordered mine.

Originally Posted by ApK

You you disagree, perhaps you'd like to buy my Bluray disc player for $400? Or my VCR for $700? That's half of what I paid for my first one...what a bargain!

And while I am personally not interested in your BluRay Player for $400, there is still a market for $400 Bluray players even though at the low end you can get them for $30. The early adopters and the high end market don't disappear just because a low end market shows up. That's the point I was trying to make.

[kaufman]

Originally Posted by ApK

... so buttons are going to be an up-charge.

Especially fancy-shmantzy haptic-feedback adjustable-touch hidden buttons.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by kaufman

Especially fancy-shmantzy haptic-feedback adjustable-touch hidden buttons.

I know...I was perfectly happy with my K2's buttons, but what can ya do?

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by kaufman

Oh, I agree completely.

My point was that $200 wasn't some crazy out of left field number that had never before been seen in the life of an ebook reader. And its not that much more than the Kobo has been selling for for the last year.

True, but in addition to the highest resolution the Aura HD has a larger display, micro SD slot, ability to install user fonts, customize margins, line spacing, etc., and has a much better method to organize collections and series, IMHO. Not really an equal comparison.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by kaufman

I think you are missing my point. Its not that $400 is the correct price point for an eReader now. Its that saying that to say that no one would ever pay $200 for an eReader is not correct. While some people are complaining about the $200 price point, I bet a lot of people buying it are thinking to themselves how much better it is than the device they paid $400 for not to long ago. I know that's what I thought when I ordered mine.

Sure, but the $80 Kindle is ALSO a better device than they got for $400 not too long ago. That's how this kind of technology trends.
That $400 was not only for a device that few people had ever seen the likes of and was not ready available from other practical sources at any price, but that was pre-recession dollars! They were easier to come by....

My point was merely that the reasons that $200 is not wholly unreasonable nor will it spell doom for Amazon, are all based on what the market is today, not on memories of what it was in 2007.

Yes, there are indeed high-end BD players, and they seem to be worth the money! People by them because they are durable, reliable, and out perform the cheap stuff in every way. NOT because of anything to do with what 1st gen players cost.

And for the record, my $69 VCR absolutely sucks compared to the $1400 one I got back in the 80s! I would have lost sleep with guilt had you paid me $700 for it.

[kaufman]

Originally Posted by Skydog

True, but in addition to the highest resolution the Aura HD has a larger display, micro SD slot, ability to install user fonts, customize margins, line spacing, etc., and has a much better method to organize collections and series, IMHO. Not really an equal comparison.

I've been using an Aura HD for the last year, and its actually a more fair comparison than you think.

The larger screen is very nice, as is the better ability to customize the reading environment. And the ability to organize by series via Calibre is great. I don't think many people really use the SD card. Its really just a marketing thing. I tried it once and it really slows down everything.

The downside to it is that the device is enough bigger and heavier that it doesn't fit into pockets as well, and its a bit too heavy for cargo pants.

The software is more functional, but its also a lot more buggy. In four or five years of Kindles I never had to wipe the device once. I've probably had to do it three or four times this past year to the Kobo.

I'll miss the ability to organize on the device, but the truth is that the Kobo bogs down with more than about 700 books, so I couldn't keep my whole library on it anyhow.

And I can't wait for touch screen and buttons on one device.

Everything is a tradeoff. For me, the Voyage I have to pay for is much better than the Kobo I already own.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by kaufman

I've been using an Aura HD for the last year, and its actually a more fair comparison than you think.

The larger screen is very nice, as is the better ability to customize the reading environment. And the ability to organize by series via Calibre is great. I don't think many people really use the SD card. Its really just a marketing thing. I tried it once and it really slows down everything.

The downside to it is that the device is enough bigger and heavier that it doesn't fit into pockets as well, and its a bit too heavy for cargo pants.

The software is more functional, but its also a lot more buggy. In four or five years of Kindles I never had to wipe the device once. I've probably had to do it three or four times this past year to the Kobo.

I'll miss the ability to organize on the device, but the truth is that the Kobo bogs down with more than about 700 books, so I couldn't keep my whole library on it anyhow.

And I can't wait for touch screen and buttons.

Everything is a tradeoff. For me, the Voyage I have to pay for is much better than the Kobo I already own.

I agree. I'm far from alone in that I have never come close to filing my Kindle's storage, nor have I ever felt the need to use other than the built in fonts or adjustments. Not only am I not alone, but judging from what I can glean about Kindle sales, I'm likely in the overwhelming majority.

If those HD features are important to you, then that's the one you should buy, by all means.

[Skydog]

Originally Posted by kaufman

I've been using an Aura HD for the last year, and its actually a more fair comparison than you think.

The larger screen is very nice, as is the better ability to customize the reading environment. And the ability to organize by series via Calibre is great. I don't think many people really use the SD card. Its really just a marketing thing. I tried it once and it really slows down everything.

The downside to it is that the device is enough bigger and heavier that it doesn't fit into pockets as well, and its a bit too heavy for cargo pants.

The software is more functional, but its also a lot more buggy. In four or five years of Kindles I never had to wipe the device once. I've probably had to do it three or four times this past year to the Kobo.

I'll miss the ability to organize on the device, but the truth is that the Kobo bogs down with more than about 700 books, so I couldn't keep my whole library on it anyhow.

And I can't wait for touch screen and buttons on one device.

Everything is a tradeoff. For me, the Voyage I have to pay for is much better than the Kobo I already own.

I agree regarding tradeoffs but it still is not an equitable comparison (price wise) as display size and SD card slot add to the cost. It would be if the Voyage had the same footprint and card slot.

[Josieb1]

My first ereader cost me £150, my second £250 and my third £175, all Sony's. Then Amazon lowered the bar with the £109 KK. For me £169 is expensive and a considered purchase, I considered it for 24 hours then ordered.

I've paid more for less iykwim.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by Skydog

True, but in addition to the highest resolution the Aura HD has a larger display, micro SD slot, ability to install user fonts, customize margins, line spacing, etc., and has a much better method to organize collections and series, IMHO. Not really an equal comparison.

I agree and I like the look of the Aura, but what it doesn't have, for those like me who want it, is the Amazon Eco system. Whispersync. Emailing books to Amazon so they are available on multiple devices. Stable software, and good customer service.

[kaufman]

Originally Posted by Skydog

I agree regarding tradeoffs but it still is not an equitable comparison (price wise) as display size and SD card slot add to the cost. It would be if the Voyage had the same footprint and card slot.

The screen on the Kobo is larger, but the one on the Voyage is more dense. I have no idea (yet) which one is better.

The SD card is only an issue if you base your price on the BOM cost. I don't want the SD card, so its inclusion is not a benefit to me.

Price is based on a lot of things other than just the cost to create the device.

[Yolina]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

£169 is expensive and a considered purchase

And you'd think that for that price, they could finally let us be able to use our own screensavers and fonts. If the Voyage can be jailbroken, then I'll have a think about getting one; if it can't then I'll probably just stick with my PW2 until it dies