If you haven’t been paying attention to recent e-reader news, both the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook have just gone through a drastic price reduction! If you’re an avid reader, and have previously held off on the purchase due to price, now is the best time to dive in! I speak from experience, having JUST bit the bullet and ordered one for my fiancé! If you’re still trying to decide which e-reader is best for you, check out my article on the Apple iPad and how to choose an e-reader.
Show Me The Money!
I’ll readily admit that I’m a gadget junkie, although I’ve come to realize and admit technology changes way faster than I can afford to keep pace. As such, I generally wait until a gadget I want comes down in price or finds itself in a wootoff. Well my friends, that magic e-reader price point is finally here. As it stands:
- The Amazon Kindle (6″) is now $189 – It’s big brother (the Kindle DX with global wireless) is still at $489 (ouch!).
- The B&N Nook (3G + Wi-Fi) is just slightly more expensive at $199. However, it now gains a little sibling (Wi-Fi only) at $149.
UPDATE: Amazon has just released a new version of the Kindle with updated pricing! Just like the Nook, the Amazon Kindle now comes in two flavors: A Wi-Fi only version at $139, and the 3G version at $189. The Kindle DX was also just refreshed with some new hardware and a lower price point – $379.
Trust me, if you’re looking for a great e-reader, there’s no way the Apple iPad can compete on price. Think about it – the Nook and Kindle both have always-on 3G connectivity to download new books and content. The cheapest iPad with 3G functionality is $629, with 3G access costing an additional monthly fee! This means at a minimum, you can save yourself $430 by opting for the Nook or Kindle over the iPad.
But What About Books?
While I’ve not been able to confirm the prices for iBooks (as you can’t seem to access that section of the iTunes store without owning an iBooks-capable device), I’ve done a little spot checking on books in the Amazon and B&N stores. For starters, both stores appear to have a fairly decent list of FREE ebooks (although the freebies are generally the “classics”.. like the stuff you were required to read in college but didn’t really enjoy). I spot checked a few prices, and here’s what I found:
- Twilight Saga (Twilight, Eclipse, New Moon, Breaking Dawn): Amazon – $10, $10, $15, $11 | B&N – $10, $10, $15, $11
- The Bourne Series (Objective, Legacy, Deception): Amazon – $13, $8, $15 | B&N – $13, N/A , $15
I know that’s just a quick spot check, but it looks like book prices are about the same between Amazon and B&N. One thing I’m keeping my eye on is B&N’s new “Lend Me” feature. They’re experimenting with a way to lend one of your purchased eb00ks to friends/relatives for up to 14 days. I haven’t seen this feature available on many of the books I’ve looked for in the store, but it pops up occasionally. I’ve yet to hear of Amazon starting a feature like this. It may be one thing to consider if you have relatives that may have similar reading interests.
Final Thoughts
If you were a hold-out such as me, now is the time to get yourself an ebook reader. With the B&N Nook starting at $149, and the Amazon Kindle starting at $189, the price (and the books) are finally at a reasonable price! As I mentioned, I just purchased the Kindle for my fiancé (who manages to breeze through a book every 3 days)! Join the e-reader fun with us!
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