Endgadget - BN Phasing Out 3G

abookreader · 01-24-2011, 07:08 PM

hmmmm - looks like they are letting stock run out. I wonder if the Pearl screen version hinted at here will have a 3G or if they will stick with 2 models - WiFi and then Color?

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/e...cites-lack-of/

WillysJeepMan · 01-24-2011, 07:56 PM

They'll just stick with 2 models. The extra cost of the 3G model (over the WiFi-only version) was virtually impossible to justify since the only thing that you could do over 3G was buy books.

bgalbrecht · 01-24-2011, 08:33 PM

I'm not sure I've ever bought anything via 3g on my 3G Nook.

jhempel24 · 01-25-2011, 12:13 AM

I've only downloaded from my Cloud....and that was with my phone as a wifi hot spot....Wifi is just too abundant to justify the extra price

GreenMonkey · 01-25-2011, 04:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

They'll just stick with 2 models. The extra cost of the 3G model (over the WiFi-only version) was virtually impossible to justify since the only thing that you could do over 3G was buy books.

Yes.

I think 3G was only on there to be like the Kindle - so that even older folks that aren't good at technology could buy books.

I think they've decided either that that sliver of the market is so small it isn't worth catering to, or they figure people will come into the store and buy books on the instore wifi (where the wifi should work almost automagically). They want the foot traffic anyway.

mgmueller · 01-25-2011, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I'm not sure I've ever bought anything via 3g on my 3G Nook.

I thought so in the past as well. But now, comparing my Kindle DX "global" to the former one, which only did have 3G in the US, I wouldn't want to miss 3G. Of course it makes more sense on a full-blown tablet, for using GPS and the likes. But even for only buying books or checking Wikipedia, I find it extremely convenient.
Given the harsh competition from tablets, in my opinion B&N, Amazon and the likes shouldn't reduce features of their dedicated readers.

I wouldn't buy a tablet without 3G anymore. Even did exchange my WiFi only iPad. So why should I go for a WiFi only dedicated reader?

tubemonkey · 01-25-2011, 06:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Of course it makes more sense on a full-blown tablet, for using GPS and the likes.

To some people; not all people. For me, 3G makes no sense whatsoever. Why do I need instantaneous 24/7 net coverage? I think it's ridiculous to put GPS and front-facing cams in a tablet. It's too big.

GreenMonkey · 01-25-2011, 06:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

To some people; not all people. For me, 3G makes no sense whatsoever. Why do I need instantaneous 24/7 net coverage? I think it's ridiculous to put GPS and front-facing cams in a tablet. It's too big.

Yeah. I don't need the internet that badly. I like being able to tether to a cellphone in a pinch, but I use that about once or twice a month, tops.

=X= · 01-25-2011, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

To some people; not all people. For me, 3G makes no sense whatsoever. Why do I need instantaneous 24/7 net coverage?

I'm guessing you do not own a 3g reading device. I say this because I too felt the same way until I bought a kindle 2. I didn't care for the 3g feature when i got it. It ended up being a great feature. I have access to ebooks and the internet when i need it. True for folks who read fiction it may not be so important but for folks who read non fiction instant lookup to wiki or the net is very important.

I read more out on the road than at home, that comes from being a dad.

So while wifi is good enough for you it's not for me. A company should have choices, b&n has just reduced their portfolio.

ProfCrash · 01-25-2011, 09:37 AM

With the number of wifi hotspots out there I think BN will be fine with a WiFi only option. The cost of covering the 3G plan is probably reasonably high and I would guess most people are fine with the WiFi option.

The 3G is great if you travel a fair amount or live in areas without WiFi hotspots.

Keep in mind that 99% of the Sony users love their devices sans any wireless and get annoyed when you mention adding wireless to their device. I would also guess that BN took a good hard look at the sales numbers and noticed that a larger percentage of their sales were WiFi only devices.

I have a feeling that BN will be just fine.

bhartman36 · 01-25-2011, 09:46 AM

I have a Kindle 3 Wifi, rather than a Nook, but I just wanted to throw my hat into the "Who needs 3G?" ring.

When I was using the Kindle 1, I mostly bought books when I was home, where I have Wifi, and browsing on it was mostly a novelty.

Wifi is anything but ubiquitous in my area, so if I felt the need to buy e-books outside of my home, I'd go 3G. But that's yet to happen for me.

jocampo · 01-25-2011, 09:57 AM

They are dropping it because is not selling well, obvious. I don't see, for instance, Kindle dropping the 3G models soon, because is more an international device. Nook 3G was in direct response to Amazon.

3G is really useful, especially when traveling. What's happening is that USA or Europe customers see wifi as normal, but unless you have not traveled to South America you can't understand how useful 3G would be; wifi is just starting there. 3G is also more secure, even when buying books.

After buying my Galaxy Tab I don't see myself without 3G access anymore. Even with the basic Kindle 3 browser, I can check my emails or bank accounts if I don't have wifi access but 3G.

tubemonkey · 01-25-2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by =X=

I'm guessing you do not own a 3g reading device. I say this because I too felt the same way until I bought a kindle 2. I didn't care for the 3g feature when i got it. It ended up being a great feature. I have access to ebooks and the internet when i need it. True for folks who read fiction it may not be so important but for folks who read non fiction instant lookup to wiki or the net is very important.

That's right, nary a one. No 3G phone, tablet, pocket PC, ereader, etc. The only net connected device I carry on a semi-regular basis (3-4x per month) is an iPod touch and I've yet to encounter an instance where I needed instantaneous net access. I live in a large urban metro area and not only is WiFi available all over the place, it's available in a matter of minutes.

boswd · 01-25-2011, 10:09 AM

the one good thing about this is for potential ereader buyers is I would expect to see some fantastic sales out on the Nook 3G, if in fact this rumor is true.

abookreader · 01-25-2011, 12:30 PM

Yeah - and I think that is a good distinction. The nook is still for all intents not an International device. In fact, at the inception one of their most advertised features was "Bring you nook to our store" and .... While Amazon makes a pretty big deal over the ability of the Kindle to travel to and fro and as long as you are within their area have a book within seconds.

I seldom use the 3G function of my Kindle. As long as I'm in my home area, I don't even turn Whispersync on. I download to computer, load into Calibre and transfer via USB.

BUT, when I travel I 3G and personally I think it has been worth the $50.

I suspect that the WiFi Kindle has sold very well though considering some of the stock problems they had in December.

I'll be interested to see if the Nook 2 has a 3G. One thing Barnes and Noble seems to have done right so far is not just copy the Kindle. They try to differentiate and it could be that they are going to leave that 3G market to Amazon.

01-24-2011, 07:08 PM	#1
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Endgadget - BN Phasing Out 3G hmmmm - looks like they are letting stock run out. I wonder if the Pearl screen version hinted at here will have a 3G or if they will stick with 2 models - WiFi and then Color? http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/24/e...cites-lack-of/

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01-24-2011, 07:56 PM	#2
WillysJeepMan Guru Posts: 655 Karma: 2877892 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: Kobo Touch, KFHD7, GTab 8.4 Pro, iPadAir 2	They'll just stick with 2 models. The extra cost of the 3G model (over the WiFi-only version) was virtually impossible to justify since the only thing that you could do over 3G was buy books.

01-24-2011, 08:33 PM	#3
bgalbrecht Wizard Posts: 1,806 Karma: 13399999 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: US Device: Nook Simple Touch, Kobo Glo HD, Kobo Clara HD, Kindle 4	I'm not sure I've ever bought anything via 3g on my 3G Nook.

01-25-2011, 12:13 AM	#4
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	I've only downloaded from my Cloud....and that was with my phone as a wifi hot spot....Wifi is just too abundant to justify the extra price

01-25-2011, 09:37 AM	#10
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	With the number of wifi hotspots out there I think BN will be fine with a WiFi only option. The cost of covering the 3G plan is probably reasonably high and I would guess most people are fine with the WiFi option. The 3G is great if you travel a fair amount or live in areas without WiFi hotspots. Keep in mind that 99% of the Sony users love their devices sans any wireless and get annoyed when you mention adding wireless to their device. I would also guess that BN took a good hard look at the sales numbers and noticed that a larger percentage of their sales were WiFi only devices. I have a feeling that BN will be just fine.

01-25-2011, 09:46 AM	#11
bhartman36 Wizard Posts: 1,316 Karma: 1515835 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 3 Wi-Fi, Craig CMP738a Android Tablet	I have a Kindle 3 Wifi, rather than a Nook, but I just wanted to throw my hat into the "Who needs 3G?" ring. When I was using the Kindle 1, I mostly bought books when I was home, where I have Wifi, and browsing on it was mostly a novelty. Wifi is anything but ubiquitous in my area, so if I felt the need to buy e-books outside of my home, I'd go 3G. But that's yet to happen for me.

01-25-2011, 09:57 AM	#12
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	They are dropping it because is not selling well, obvious. I don't see, for instance, Kindle dropping the 3G models soon, because is more an international device. Nook 3G was in direct response to Amazon. 3G is really useful, especially when traveling. What's happening is that USA or Europe customers see wifi as normal, but unless you have not traveled to South America you can't understand how useful 3G would be; wifi is just starting there. 3G is also more secure, even when buying books. After buying my Galaxy Tab I don't see myself without 3G access anymore. Even with the basic Kindle 3 browser, I can check my emails or bank accounts if I don't have wifi access but 3G.

01-25-2011, 10:09 AM	#14
boswd Banned Posts: 2,391 Karma: 1001781 Join Date: May 2010 Device: The Nook, Nook color and Droid X	the one good thing about this is for potential ereader buyers is I would expect to see some fantastic sales out on the Nook 3G, if in fact this rumor is true.

01-25-2011, 12:30 PM	#15
abookreader Wizard Posts: 1,516 Karma: 2567610 Join Date: Oct 2009 Device: Kindles - Keyboard, Fire, 2-US, iPhone, iPAD	Yeah - and I think that is a good distinction. The nook is still for all intents not an International device. In fact, at the inception one of their most advertised features was "Bring you nook to our store" and .... While Amazon makes a pretty big deal over the ability of the Kindle to travel to and fro and as long as you are within their area have a book within seconds. I seldom use the 3G function of my Kindle. As long as I'm in my home area, I don't even turn Whispersync on. I download to computer, load into Calibre and transfer via USB. BUT, when I travel I 3G and personally I think it has been worth the $50. I suspect that the WiFi Kindle has sold very well though considering some of the stock problems they had in December. I'll be interested to see if the Nook 2 has a 3G. One thing Barnes and Noble seems to have done right so far is not just copy the Kindle. They try to differentiate and it could be that they are going to leave that 3G market to Amazon.