Amazon Announces Cheaper, $114 Kindle With Ads - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

james99 · 2011-04-11, 07:47 PM

Amazon has announced a third, cheaper version of its Wi-Fi-only Kindle 3 device called Kindle With Special Offers.

Drainc · 2011-04-13, 12:33 PM

If they had priced it down to the magic $99 point I might be all over this. However I'm still very happy with my Kobo.

james99 · 2011-04-13, 01:14 PM

Most analysts expect a $99 price point by Xmas.

Mole · 2011-04-13, 03:31 PM

I can't imagine I would be willing to put up with ads for $25. I hope this gets them in more peoples hands but I don't think they will get many takers.

ScaryBob · 2011-04-13, 03:34 PM

IMHO, if it has ads, it should be free. Probably won't be long until someone finds a hack to get rid of the ads though.

spensar · 2011-04-13, 03:40 PM

Quote:

IMHO, if it has ads, it should be free.

Exactly. I hope that is a huge, huge FLOP.

rsambuca · 2011-04-13, 07:01 PM

The ads aren't in the books, only on the 'screensaver' and at the bottom of the home page. I personally don't have a problem with it, but for me I would have to see the price move a bit more before we buy another Kindle.

james99 · 2011-04-13, 07:37 PM

Don't understand the objection. It's a great idea and the ads are only on the screen saver. Who cares if the screen saver is an ad?

It will be a very large success, no reason otherwise.

GrimJack · 2011-04-14, 12:52 PM

If they were to just give it away for free it would become the next Cuecat, people would just order them to pull them apart and build other things.

They should have made it something like you had to buy a 100$ credit in e-books and you got the ad based kindle.

As it is the price difference is too low to make it worthwhile, and if they just keep lowering the price people who paid more earlier are going to get resentful.

james99 · 2011-04-14, 12:57 PM

Some analysts also believe that free Kindles are a real option in the future since the revenue comes from the books.

Your idea was one that I think they might do (or flavour of).

99semaj · 2011-04-14, 05:00 PM

I think the age of free e-readers is sooner than most people think, especially basic models. The economics seem pretty elementary and well-tested in verticals such as mobiles.

I'm betting that this new Kindle really takes off, given that it's a commoditized product.

spensar · 2011-04-15, 01:33 PM

Why I object?

- I's not needed to deliver a low cost e-reader. There are on the market already. We have 3. An Aluratek Libre Pro, a Kobo and a Libre colour with backlighting. The cost for each was $90 to $100. No reason that basic readers can't be pushed down to $50 or less, the way calculators have dropped hugely in price since brought in. The price isn't much of a deal.

- It's more acceptance by the market of vendor's monitoring your lifestyle via electronic monitoring.

- I wouldn't be surprised if it extends consumer monitoring to what and when you are reading it. All the provide "enchanced" services I am sure. I would be interested in reading the terms of service for accepting the deal.

- It's the thin edge of the wedge. Screensaver today, and tomorrow? Marketers won't be satisfied with just that. Remember when TV didn't have channel logos?

Just IMHO.

rsambuca · 2011-04-15, 01:43 PM

I would like to see the terms and conditions as well. Your first point I don't agree with though. Those cheaper eReaders are not nearly as good as the Kindle, in terms of screen contrast and page turning speed - the two most important features for me.

spensar · 2011-04-16, 02:40 PM

Quote:

I would like to see the terms and conditions as well. Your first point I don't agree with though. Those cheaper eReaders are not nearly as good as the Kindle, in terms of screen contrast and page turning speed - the two most important features for me.

The Libres are very fast at turn paging, that was a major factor for me. I returned a Sony ereader (non-touch screen), and it is faster than the Kobo I have. There isn't much room to turn pages quicker than the Libre pro does.

For screen, the Libre Pro is as good or better than the ones I mentioned, but I haven't compared it to a Kindle. I have read about 70 books on the Pro and have no problem with the screen, and I'm old enough to need reading glasses and don't tolerate fuzziness well.

One spot where the LIbre is slow is loading a book the first time, but once you are in it, the page turning is almost instant. It keeps a log of books you are reading and fires in quickly from there. Otherwise, when you turn it on you are back where you left off in your book. Using it is much more intuitive than the Kobo or Sony were. For an early generation cheap reader it does the basic job very well. I think of these as similar to early palm pilots that cost hundreds and eventually were dirt cheap.

The Libre Color is very good at turning as well, it isn't like the generic 7" tablets with e-reader software, it is a dedicated reader. Initial book loading is much quicker as well. It is back lit, and gives you good control on the lighting level.

Both let you read in landscape mode as well, which is my preference.

I'm sure the Kindle is slicker and likely a bit better screen, but for basic reading, the cheapo does work well.

james99 · 2011-04-27, 10:02 AM

Being released one week early:

http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/a...advertising-r/

This is a USA product only.

2011-04-11, 07:47 PM	#1
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Amazon Announces Cheaper, $114 Kindle With Ads Amazon has announced a third, cheaper version of its Wi-Fi-only Kindle 3 device called Kindle With Special Offers.

2011-04-13, 03:31 PM	#4
Mole Veteran Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,246	I can't imagine I would be willing to put up with ads for $25. I hope this gets them in more peoples hands but I don't think they will get many takers. __________________ "I've sworn off agnosticism, which I now call cowardly atheism" James Cameron

2011-04-13, 03:34 PM	#5
ScaryBob Veteran Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The Dandelion City Posts: 7,133	IMHO, if it has ads, it should be free. Probably won't be long until someone finds a hack to get rid of the ads though. __________________ At 20 I had a good mind. At 40 I had money. At 60 I've lost my mind and my money. Oh, to be 20 again. --Scary

2011-04-15, 01:33 PM	#12
spensar Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ottawa Posts: 1,113	Why I object? - I's not needed to deliver a low cost e-reader. There are on the market already. We have 3. An Aluratek Libre Pro, a Kobo and a Libre colour with backlighting. The cost for each was $90 to $100. No reason that basic readers can't be pushed down to $50 or less, the way calculators have dropped hugely in price since brought in. The price isn't much of a deal. - It's more acceptance by the market of vendor's monitoring your lifestyle via electronic monitoring. - I wouldn't be surprised if it extends consumer monitoring to what and when you are reading it. All the provide "enchanced" services I am sure. I would be interested in reading the terms of service for accepting the deal. - It's the thin edge of the wedge. Screensaver today, and tomorrow? Marketers won't be satisfied with just that. Remember when TV didn't have channel logos? Just IMHO. __________________ Panasonic TH-42PX60U, Harmony 670, Rogers HD 8300, 3250HD, Denon AVR-591, Chartwell SL3-5A, Venturer SHD-7000, Samsung 1600 BR.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

2011-04-13, 12:33 PM	#2
Drainc Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ottawa Posts: 516	If they had priced it down to the magic $99 point I might be all over this. However I'm still very happy with my Kobo.

2011-04-13, 01:14 PM	#3
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Most analysts expect a $99 price point by Xmas.

2011-04-13, 07:01 PM	#7
rsambuca Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,633	The ads aren't in the books, only on the 'screensaver' and at the bottom of the home page. I personally don't have a problem with it, but for me I would have to see the price move a bit more before we buy another Kindle.

2011-04-13, 07:37 PM	#8
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Don't understand the objection. It's a great idea and the ads are only on the screen saver. Who cares if the screen saver is an ad? It will be a very large success, no reason otherwise.

2011-04-14, 12:52 PM	#9
GrimJack Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 216	If they were to just give it away for free it would become the next Cuecat, people would just order them to pull them apart and build other things. They should have made it something like you had to buy a 100$ credit in e-books and you got the ad based kindle. As it is the price difference is too low to make it worthwhile, and if they just keep lowering the price people who paid more earlier are going to get resentful.

2011-04-14, 12:57 PM	#10
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Some analysts also believe that free Kindles are a real option in the future since the revenue comes from the books. Your idea was one that I think they might do (or flavour of).

2011-04-14, 05:00 PM	#11
99semaj Veteran Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: /dev/null Posts: 2,669	I think the age of free e-readers is sooner than most people think, especially basic models. The economics seem pretty elementary and well-tested in verticals such as mobiles. I'm betting that this new Kindle really takes off, given that it's a commoditized product.

2011-04-15, 01:43 PM	#13
rsambuca Veteran Join Date: May 2006 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,633	I would like to see the terms and conditions as well. Your first point I don't agree with though. Those cheaper eReaders are not nearly as good as the Kindle, in terms of screen contrast and page turning speed - the two most important features for me.

2011-04-27, 10:02 AM	#15
james99 Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Burlington Posts: 24,791	Being released one week early: http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/a...advertising-r/ This is a USA product only.