Our sister blog Gadgetell has spotted some interesting information about potential upcoming models of the Nook and the Kindle.
In regard to the Nook, it points to information from an FCC listing referring to a new model number of Barnes & Noble e-reading device, described as “EBOOK, WLAN, AND USB PORTS WITHOUT WWAN.” In other words, it has wifi and USB, but no 3G access. This could make it somewhat less expensive since it does not have to amortize the price of 3G access for its users.
Meanwhile, Gadgetell suggests that a thinner Kindle with a more responsive screen and sharper display will be coming out in August. Furthermore, this device is to be codenamed “Shasta", and will be available in two flavors: one with wifi, one without. (No mention of whether the one with wifi will, like the upcoming Nook, not have 3G to go with.)
Not to be left out of the e-book game, Borders is going to start selling the $120 Aluratek Libre e-book reader, an inexpensive device similar to the Kobo in that it does not include any sort of wireless sync capabilities. E-book readers are definitely creeping cheaper.
Uh, creeping?
More like plunging; the Sony readers have shed 30% of their price in the last 6 months and the entry-level base price has (nominally) dropped 40% from US$200 to $120 and, in practice, by 50%. Borders is *not* a deep discounter; if they will carry the Libre (which is a quite competent reader) at $120, plenty of other retailers will carry it at $99.
We’re already seeing B&N throwing in a $50 giftcard to bring the Nook to an effective $210 (and a very good idea it is; it keeps the nominal price high while driving revenue to the ebook store) and are probably looking at a similar deal for the Nook Lite; say a nominal price of $199 with a $20 gift card to bring the effective price to $179. Might be even lower seen the Sony PRS-600 with its Touchscreen is running $199.
I would not be surprised to see ebook giftcards/credits become a standard part of the sale bundle for most B&M reader packages; the intent, after all, is to drive sales to the ebook stores, no?
The trends suggest the business is very quickly picking up all the marketting tricks of platforms past (PCs, media players, gaming consoles) and that (entry-level) prices are going to plunge over the next year or so.
At this point, I’m think the question no longer is when we’ll see a list price of $99 but rather when we’ll see a street price of $49.
If we’re starting a pool, I’m picking black friday, 2010. 😉
Felix basically said it all. Well put 🙂
It’s an exciting time for eReaders!