Let the e-reader price wars begin!
This morning Barnes & Noble announced a new Wi-Fi only model of their NOOK e-reader priced at $149 while also reducing the price of the NOOK 3G to $199. In response, Amazon lowered the price of the Kindle down to $189 (which was originally at $259) – 10 dollars cheaper than the comparable NOOK 3G e-reader. Like the NOOK 3G, the Kindle has built-in 3G connectivity support allowing customers to easily purchase and download/sync eBooks over-the-air wherever they have 3G coverage.
The new Barnes & Noble NOOK Wi-Fi model offers everything the NOOK 3G model offers minus of course the 3G connectivity support. With the proliferation of Wi-Fi hotspots, many will find the NOOK Wi-Fi model more than enough to meet their reading needs especially since Barnes & Noble gives you free access to thousands of AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots around the country.
Free access to the AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots is part of the latest NOOK v.1.4 software update which is now available for manual download at www.nook.com/update. The update also provides a new Go To Page feature, an extra-extra large font size, and performance enhancements to make opening eBooks even faster. NOOKS connected to Wi-Fi will receive an automatic NOOK v.1.4 update upon syncing over the next week.
As for the NOOK Wi-Fi, here are the features and specs:
- Dual displays – a 6 inch E-Ink display up top and a 3.5 inch LCD color touchscreen display on the bottom
- LendMe technology allows you to share ebooks with friends for 14 days
- Games, music, and web support
- 2GB of storage space
- Barnes & Noble Lifetime Library allows you to access your eBook library wherever you go
- 10 days of power with Wi-Fi turned off
- Weighs 11.6 oz
The NOOK Wi-Fi is available now online for order and will begin shipping this week. You can order the NOOK Wi-Fi at Barnes & Noble stores, at www.nook.com, or at www.bestbuy.com.
Let’s see if Sony reacts in kind to these price cuts but more importantly, does it really matter given the incredible popularity of the Apple iPad? Maybe – especially if eReaders become affordable enough for the masses.
[Check out the NOOK Wi-Fi and price cut announcement]
[Check out the Amazon Kindle price cut announcement]
