Price war? B&N gets aggressive: Nooks at US$149-199 - Page 4

Lastblade · 06-21-2010, 03:39 PM

Seriously thinking about a Nook at $149.

luqmaninbmore · 06-21-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boswd

The nook also has web surfing, not understanding your post. The wireless connection brings out the same benefits for each the Kindle and the Nook.

The Kindle lets you surf the internet over 3G, the nook does not. The nook browser is WiFi only. I can use the Kindle to check up on email or get directions on google maps on the go. If you don't have a smartphone with a data plan, this is useful. That being said, I think I am moving back to just carrying a smart(ish) phone and not an ereader, phone, and MP3 player. My Walkman Phone has Mobipocket Reader on it, gets me web feeds and email (over WiFi), and lets me listen to music, audiobooks, and podcasts while still fitting easily in a pocket (and not being as fragile as e-ink devices). We'll see whether it ousts my Pocketbook 360.

flyash · 06-21-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Funny. New Kindle $189.00, refurb $219.99

With sales and new lower regular prices, it's easy to find refurb and used readers on ebay, craigslist, etc., where people are asking, and some ignorant people paying, the same or more than they could for the device brand new.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 03:44 PM

The refurb prices will drop below $189 for sure, they just haven't had time to pick what price and update yet.

luqmaninbmore · 06-21-2010, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fbone

If you arent in a hotspot, cant you download an ebook to your phone and transfer it to your nook with the WIFI app?

In theory, it would be possible to generate a wifi hotspot from your Phone if it is equipped properly (i.e., a rooted Android OS device, for example). The problem is that Android devices (such as the nook) do not detect ad hoc WiFi hotspots currently. Your nook would not see the hotspot and thus will not be able to connect.

phenomshel · 06-21-2010, 04:08 PM

I'm now seriously considering a nook to augment my Asus T91 MT that I use as my main reading device. I love the LCD on the T91 (sorry, don't lynch me!), but the battery life for long trips leaves something to be desired. With a Lyra light, the nook would fill that hole; and at that price point, it is doable.

fjtorres · 06-21-2010, 04:11 PM

About Amazon's counterattack: can somebody outside the US verify the price drop is global?

Serious blood-letting coming if it is.

phenomshel · 06-21-2010, 04:14 PM

Yeah, I just saw that, fjtorres... I think I LIKE price wars, LOL!!

fjtorres · 06-21-2010, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phenomshel

Yeah, I just saw that, fjtorres... I think I LIKE price wars, LOL!!

Everybody likes a price war...
...unless they're one of the casualties.
And they're coming, sure as the sun came out this morning. (Somewhere.)

But for consumers they can be paralyzingly fun.
Cause of course, now we have to wait for the dust to settle.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Everybody likes a price war...
...unless they're one of the casualties.
And they're coming, sure as the sun came out this morning. (Somewhere.)

Yep, you'd have to think this doesn't bode well for Kobo, Jet Book and the other smaller company readers.

They've competed largely by being cheaper, and they don't have the deep coffers to be able to take a loss per unit sold like Amazon and B&N can.

As the readers from Sony, Amazon, and B&N get cheap, the smaller companies will likely be priced out of the game.

There aren't enough diehards (like people on this site) who hate DRM and being tied to one store etc. to keep the small companies in business.

fjtorres · 06-21-2010, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

As the readers from Sony, Amazon, and B&N get cheap, the smaller companies will likely be priced out of the game.

You think Sony can keep up with the ebookstores' discounted hardware?
Some of us are wondering about that:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87784

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 04:49 PM

I've posted in that Sony thread a few times already!

fjtorres · 06-21-2010, 05:52 PM

I know. Just in case anybody else wanted to check it out.

I'm just not sure that Sony can keep up with the ebookstores in the dedicated reader wars. Multipurpose, maybe. But in dedicated hardware? Not sure even B&N can keep up if Amazon decides to get down-n-dirty.

Push comes to shove, Amazon could probably afford to go to $49 today if they had supply chain capacity for what that would do to reader sales. And I'm not sure all of PVIs capacity could meet *that* level of demand.

dmaul1114 · 06-21-2010, 05:59 PM

Yep, Amazon definitely has the deepest pockets to take a loss on hardware to get people locked into their store. Sony as a whole has deep pockets, but not in their e-reader division. And their stockholders won't be willing to see shares drop because of the e-book division trying to win a price war with Amazon.

Amazon also has name recognition which helps a ton in marketing. People post all the time bitching about being asked if they're Sony (or other reader) is a Kindle. I've never seen a Kindle owner post about being asked if it was a Sony reader or Nook etc.--though some have posted about being asked if it was an iPad.

If Sony is going to stay in the e-reader/e-book game long term, I think it will be through Tablets/Slates and having their e-books store have an app loaded on them. More likely, I think by 5 years down the road (if not sooner) they're out of the e-book division and focused on tablets and slates and have shut down their e-book store.

That said, I know Sony has a much bigger e-book presence outside the US, so maybe I'm underestimating the sway that has.

Fbone · 06-21-2010, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luqmaninbmore

In theory, it would be possible to generate a wifi hotspot from your Phone if it is equipped properly (i.e., a rooted Android OS device, for example). The problem is that Android devices (such as the nook) do not detect ad hoc WiFi hotspots currently. Your nook would not see the hotspot and thus will not be able to connect.

Evidently there is an Android version 2.2 that creates a wifi access point readable by devices including the nook.

http://www.nookboards.com/forum/index.php?topic=1585.0

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Seems Amazon have caused an epub price war in the UK	ceebee_uk	General Discussions	11	09-27-2010 04:20 AM
Sony Enters the War! Touch Edition for $199	BenLee	News	10	07-12-2010 06:43 PM
Has the Price war started? Preorder book for $13.10	tapar	Amazon Kindle	26	02-04-2010 08:10 AM
Keeping the price, for now, at $199	Robertb	Astak EZReader	14	10-06-2009 06:55 PM
The coming price war?	A J Edwards	Which one should I buy?	59	12-07-2007 04:08 AM

06-21-2010, 03:39 PM	#46
Lastblade Nookie are we Posts: 175 Karma: 496294 Join Date: May 2010 Location: NYC Device: Nooks with and without color	Seriously thinking about a Nook at $149.

06-21-2010, 03:44 PM	#49
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	The refurb prices will drop below $189 for sure, they just haven't had time to pick what price and update yet.

06-21-2010, 04:08 PM	#51
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	I'm now seriously considering a nook to augment my Asus T91 MT that I use as my main reading device. I love the LCD on the T91 (sorry, don't lynch me!), but the battery life for long trips leaves something to be desired. With a Lyra light, the nook would fill that hole; and at that price point, it is doable.

06-21-2010, 04:11 PM	#52
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	About Amazon's counterattack: can somebody outside the US verify the price drop is global? Serious blood-letting coming if it is.

06-21-2010, 04:14 PM	#53
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	Yeah, I just saw that, fjtorres... I think I LIKE price wars, LOL!!

06-21-2010, 04:49 PM	#57
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	I've posted in that Sony thread a few times already!

06-21-2010, 05:52 PM	#58
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	I know. Just in case anybody else wanted to check it out. I'm just not sure that Sony can keep up with the ebookstores in the dedicated reader wars. Multipurpose, maybe. But in dedicated hardware? Not sure even B&N can keep up if Amazon decides to get down-n-dirty. Push comes to shove, Amazon could probably afford to go to $49 today if they had supply chain capacity for what that would do to reader sales. And I'm not sure all of PVIs capacity could meet that level of demand.

06-21-2010, 05:59 PM	#59
dmaul1114 Wizard Posts: 2,300 Karma: 1121709 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Amazon Kindle 1	Yep, Amazon definitely has the deepest pockets to take a loss on hardware to get people locked into their store. Sony as a whole has deep pockets, but not in their e-reader division. And their stockholders won't be willing to see shares drop because of the e-book division trying to win a price war with Amazon. Amazon also has name recognition which helps a ton in marketing. People post all the time bitching about being asked if they're Sony (or other reader) is a Kindle. I've never seen a Kindle owner post about being asked if it was a Sony reader or Nook etc.--though some have posted about being asked if it was an iPad. If Sony is going to stay in the e-reader/e-book game long term, I think it will be through Tablets/Slates and having their e-books store have an app loaded on them. More likely, I think by 5 years down the road (if not sooner) they're out of the e-book division and focused on tablets and slates and have shut down their e-book store. That said, I know Sony has a much bigger e-book presence outside the US, so maybe I'm underestimating the sway that has.

Advert

Advert