Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

engadget.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 94 posts

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#11

Post by dandelany »

melling wrote: post #10

I haven't enabled 3G on my iPad because I'm usually near wifi these days. I can't imagine that a 3G Kindle is necessary for too many people. The extra cost is your first 4 books.

It's not really necessary for anyone, but it is quite a nice luxury. I was at the beach last week and a friend (a highschool English teacher) recommended a novel that she teaches her students ("The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell; it's great so far). I was so intrigued by her explanation of it that I bought it then and there, sitting on the beach, and started reading it 30 seconds later. So I expect that those who can afford it will.

That said, I keep the 3G off when I'm not using it, because it tears through the battery, even when the Kindle's off(!) so that it can always receive new subscriptions.

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#13

Post by acangiano »

The world of reading is about to change. $139 is not quite Seth Godin's suggestion for a "paperback" device, but it's still very affordable. At this price point, I think that many relatively tech savvy readers will end up buying one simply because they can.

Seth Godin's reaction: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/07/here-comes-t...

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#14

Post by jonknee »

miratrix wrote: post #8
ajg1977 wrote: post #2

Interesting that there's only a $50 premium for the 3G Kindle, whereas the 3G iPad is an additional $130 over the Wifi model. Different licensing agreements? Amazon taking a loss? Typical Apple markup?

iSuppli estimates that 3G radio adds about $25 to the cost of iPad ( http://www.isuppli.com/teardowns-manufacturing-and-pricing/n... ) so at $50, I'd imagine that Amazon's probably recouping the cost of baseband hardware + development time and effort, and not much else. It's amazing to think that they can throw in the free 3G access on top on the hardware for just $50 extra. I guess they're counting on low browser an…

> It's amazing to think that they can throw in the free 3G access on top on the hardware for just $50 extra. I guess they're counting on low browser and web usage due to the e-ink screen...

I think that's subsidized by the increased amount of books people buy when they can buy them anytime anywhere but only through Amazon.

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#15

Post by mhd »

Finally back and forward buttons on both sides. And I've always been rather satisfied with the page turning speed, especially compared to the nook, so if that got even faster… I'm tempted to sell my old one now.

If the increased speed of the e-ink translates to a better browser, the 3G model might finally be a good HHGTTG replacement for travelers (Con against the iPad: roaming charges). Even better if the developer program would finally take off and someone would make a dedicated Wikipedia app.

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#16

Post by moultano »

Frankly, I don't know why someone would choose this over reading on your smart phone. (Assuming you have a smart phone.)

I bought a nook, but then returned it after discovering that its pdf support sucked, and that I could read much more easily using Aldiko on my nexus. I find e-ink screens to actually be much worse for reading compared with white text on a black background on a hi-res LCD/OLED. The page turning time is a deal-breaker compared with a smart phone. That e-ink KACHUNKA every time gives me a headache for some reason.

To me, battery life seems like the only selling point.

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#17

Post by jonknee »

keltex wrote: post #7

$130 is a really compelling price point. The NY Times charges $20/month to access their Kindle edition ($240/year). What they should do is offer a 2-year contract and throw a Kindle in for free. I personally hate this model, but it's been proven effective (at least in the U.S.) for cell phones sales.

They would now be a lot better off buying Kindle's for as many of their dead-tree customers as they can and switching them over to digital delivery. They have less than a million daily subscribers (so that's just $130m for the Kindles) and spend $240m a year in raw materials. Gobs more for the staff. Of course they would need to figure out advertising, but they would need to sell less of it with the lowered printing/delivery costs.

Not an original idea, but now a lot more financially sound: http://www.businessinsider.com/2009/1/printing-the-nyt-costs...

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#18

Post by minouye »

I love my Kindle and this is awesome news. For all of you on the fence, here's why I recommend everyone buy a Kindle (haven't used a Nook, but I think most of these points apply):

1. You will read more.

2. The reading experience will be better than you think--there was a 1-2 day adjustment period for me. After that, I didn't even notice I wasn't reading paper and ink.

3. You can highlight and make notes in books that are actually usable. Remember post-its, bookmarks, notes in the margins? I loved to mark-up books, but never pulled them out again to reference what I wrote. Now I have all of my highlights in one place. I can even highlight a passage and share it on Twitter or Facebook (if you have 3G, then you can do this while sitting on the beach!)

4. I have all of my books with me via my phone. I just read Moneyball and wanted to share a quote with a friend. I was able to open up the Kindle app and presto, I'm able to share it with them.

5. I am more mobile (I have less stuff). Instead of buying books to collect them, I am buying them to consume them. Others may not have this problem, but I did.

5. Did I mention you will read more?! If you like reading and have ever set a goal to read more, please buy a Kindle. If a friend recommends a book to you during the day, you can download it while sitting in a comfy chair when you get home, and can be reading it seconds later.

Most of the arguments about whether or not to buy a Kindle center on the price. At $140, it is well worth it when you consider the additional amount of reading you will do. You will learn more, you will read more books, it will be worth it!

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#19

Post by jonknee »

JunkDNA wrote: post #12

At that price, I'd be tempted to get one for situations where I would worry about my iPad. I'd consider taking a $139 kindle to the beach. I'm terrified of taking my iPad.

Not to mention you'll actually be able to see the Kindle's screen at the beach.

Re: New Amazon Kindle announced: $139 WiFi-only, $189 3G, available August 27th

#20

Post by pg »

minouye wrote: post #18

I love my Kindle and this is awesome news. For all of you on the fence, here's why I recommend everyone buy a Kindle (haven't used a Nook, but I think most of these points apply): 1. You will read more. 2. The reading experience will be better than you think--there was a 1-2 day adjustment period for me. After that, I didn't even notice I wasn't reading paper and ink. 3. You can highlight and make notes in books that…

Why is a Kindle better than an iPad?
Post reply on HN