Kindle and Nook Prices Reduced to Less Than $200

We are now entering a brave new world of e-reader price wars: Amazon has slashed the price of its Kindle to $189 from $259, and Barnes & Noble’s Wi-Fi-only version of the Nook will retail for $149.

The Kindle will still be available with 3G wireless connectivity without a contract or any monthly charges.

With the arrival of iOS 4, which brings Apple’s iBooks app to millions of devices, e-readers are also getting a new competitor: the iPhone. Although the iPhone lacks the larger screen and more book-friendly interface of the iPad, the barrier to entry is now ridiculously low, since all a current iPhone user has to do is download the free iBooks app and start browsing for titles with no extra hardware required.


The price cuts could have been initiated in anticipation of this development, which was announced two weeks ago. Or they could have been planned as a way to position e-readers as cheaper — if less fully featured — alternatives to the new (and apparently popular) iPad. Of course, there’s already a Kindle iPad app, but for people who just want a good way to download and read e-books, a straight e-reader gadget is not a bad option.

What do you think is the best, most cost-effective e-reader for the average person today? Do you think these price cuts will affect consumer purchasing decisions?

Source [Mashable]

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