On one side you’ve got Apple’s new iPad, which can be an e-book reader, plus a lot more. On the other side, the introduction of the Kobo, which offers only the ability to store and read books electronically. The area between iPad and Kobo is where the Kindle and Nook are fighting for your attention.
The iPad is selling for around $499, and the Kobo will be $149 when it becomes available in July through Borders. So the other retail book giants are trying to figure out exactly how much people would be willing to pay for an e-book reader with additional features.
Yahoo News reported, “Amazon has lowered the Kindle’s price several times since the e-reader with a grayscale screen debuted in 2007 at $399. In October, the online retailer dropped the price to $259 from $299. Amazon also sells a larger-screen Kindle, the Kindle DX, for $489. The Nook was released late last year for $259.”
On Monday afternoon, after Barnes & Noble reduced the price of the Nook to $199, Amazon cut the price of their Kindle to $189. The $149 Kobo has just the basics, but TechCrunch seems to think they do what they do pretty well. So what does an extra $40 or $50 get you from the competitors? Access to internet speed and the ability to download books wirelessly, as well as features like bookmarks, dictionaries, and a wider variety of readable formats.
But they’re not the only players in the game. Sony offers e-book readers as do many other companies, as you can see in an overwhelming grid comparison of e-book readers on Wikipedia. Really, only a hands-on comparison can help you determine which one appeals most to you.
Tags: Digital Books, Internet Speed