Digital grudge match: Tablets vs. eReaders

From Kindles to iPads, MSNBC's Wilson Rothman discusses the pros and cons of ebook readers.

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Amazon's new plan—Ebooks for free

NerdBoyTV NOTE: I just picked up the Barnes and Noble "Nook" for my dad—great device (and many more coming from the looks of things at the 2010 CES). So, it's really not surprising that Amazon.com is looking for more ways to keep all these other units into playing catchup. Free ebooks is a smart "marketing" idea. What do you think?

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Will Barnes & Noble Break E-Reader Price Barrier?

By David Coursey / PC World

"Bookseller Barnes & Noble appears to be readying its own e-reader, due to go on sale as early as next month. The new model could help e-readers become the hot gift this holiday, but prices still need to come down.

Even with this week's price cut, the Kindle, at $259, still seems expensive. Will B&N beat Amazon's price and turn e-readers into mainstream devices? It just might.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the new B&N device would have a touch screen and virtual keyboard. Pricing was not disclosed and the bookseller refused comment on the e-reader rumor.

In July, B&N introduced an online e-book store, claiming some 700,000 titles that can be read on a variety of devices, including the iPhone. B&N is also the exclusive content provider for the Plastic Logic e-reader, due next year.

Gizmodo reports that the new e-reader is powered by Google's Android operating system.

The device supposedly has a 6-inch screen, using E-Ink technology, and will offer wireless downloads, according to media reports.

On Tuesday, Amazon lowered the price of its rival Kindle e-reader by $40, to $259 and said it would be offered for sale in 100 countries. The Kindle now costs $100 less than when it was introduced.

Consumer electrics giant Best Buy said this week it will begin selling Sony e-readers, which start at $199. The devices are expected to go on sale this weekend.

The B&N e-reader rumor appeared as the company was announcing sales drops and that it expects to take a loss during the current quarter, ending Oct. 31.

My take: B&N is in a good position to market e-readers, with the content distribution infrastructure already in place. Its storefronts will expose many people to the devices who have read about the Kindle, but have never actually touched one. If its device is a good one, it will generate sales for B&N, though it is hard to imagine they will offset the continued softness in its business.

The key for big sales this holiday is for e-readers to fall below the $200 price barrier. Throw in a couple of books and the devices will seem like a good value. Unless Apple (unexpectedly) gets its tablet out in time for Christmas, e-readers could be the hot item this year.

I have avoided purchasing a Kindle, mostly based on price and the availability of content I am interested in. I do not find $259 very interesting and the $199 Sony device is not interesting, even though the price is better.

However, a next-generation e-reader at $199 could become this year's holiday gift. It is not clear B&N will hit that magic price, but we can all hope. I would like to start reading books electronically."

Amazon Kindle DX: 9.7-inch Screen For $489

Amazon’s third incarnation of the Kindle is here, folks. All 9.7-inches of it. Specs and info leaked about the now official Kindle over the last week and they seemed pretty much dead on. It comes packing with the larger screen, auto-rotating screen, and finally supports PDF files fully with a native PDF reader. This larger Kindle also ups the storage capacity from 1,500 books on the Kindle 2 to 3,500 on the Kindle DX. The pre-order is up now and will ship shortly if you’re willing to drop $489 on one.

Amazon's Kindle 2 a smash hit

Has Amazon finally hit on the right formula with its second version of the Kindle e-book reader? According to TechCrunch, the company has already sold 300,000 of the devices (in less than two months) and expects to pump out 500,000 more before the end of the year. (Some analysts have even higher hopes for the device, with sales projections topping 1 million units.) Either way you cut it, that's a huge win for Amazon.

Amazon's new Kindle e-book reader gets slimmer

Amazon's new Kindle e-book reader gets slimmer

"Amazon.com Inc. is releasing a slimmer version of its Kindle electronic reading device, but it still costs $359 — making it unclear how mainstream even an improved Kindle can be during a brutal recession.

Rather than lowering the price, Seattle-based Amazon touted several upgrades to the e-book reader and a novella from Stephen King that will be available exclusively for the device. The new Kindle is expected to begin shipping Feb. 24, with owners of the first Kindle at the front of the line if they want to upgrade.

'This device is a significant improvement versus the first generation,' Amazon CEO and founder Jeff Bezos said in an interview."