Amazon on Wednesday launched its next-generation Kindle, which is faster, lighter and smaller. The move sets Amazon up for the holiday shopping season and puts pressure on rivals, notably Barnes & Noble as well as Sony, to create next-generation devices.
With the latest Kindle, Amazon is looking to take the offensive on pricing. Barnes & Noble's recent price cut put Amazon on its heels a bit. Now Amazon is launching a Wi-Fi-only Kindle for $139, $10 cheaper than the Wi-Fi-only Nook. A 3G/Wi-Fi Kindle will run you $189. There is also a sharp Kindle cover that includes a built-in reading light that runs off of the device's battery, but that'll set you back $59.99.
The revamped Kindle will be open for orders Thursday with shipments landing August 27.
So what's different with this Kindle? Amazon has made the Kindle 21 percent smaller. When you hold the device, it's clear that it's mostly screen. The Kindle is also 15 percent lighter than its predecessor and weighs in at 8.7 ounces, more than 3 ounces lighter than the Nook. Amazon also revved up the page speed, which turns pages 20 percent faster. Toss in double the storage and the next-gen Kindle is a nice upgrade.
Review: My 20 minutes with the latest Kindle
But there's that nagging Apple iPad question. Do we need a dedicated e-reader? Won't multi-purpose designs win the day? How important is E-ink and the ability to read outside? All of these questions are at play when you look into e-readers. First, the iPad and e-readers aren't a zero sum affair. And at the lower price points, the iPad, Amazon's Kindle apps and the Kindle may all be complementary. In fact, all Amazon cares about is selling the e-books. In the end, the debate about whether the latest Kindle is evolutionary, revolutionary or toast doesn't matter as long as Amazon keeps bolstering the e-book ecosystem and revenue associated with it.
I had a few minutes with the Kindle and have posted my review and the assorted moving parts with Amazon's latest device. For now, here's a look at the key Kindle points:
What will be interesting to watch is the reaction from e-reader rivals, the comparison with the iPad and the holiday shopping season economics. Amazon's move will step up competition as well as e-reader adoption. Here's a look at the moving parts:
Russ Grandinetti, vice president for Kindle content, said he expects the latest Kindle will be attractive to students---especially English and history majors that read mostly-text anyway.
Meanwhile, Amazon effort to make the Kindle lighter with a higher contrast screen may also put some pressure on e-reader rivals. The next-gen Kindle is heavier than the smartphone, but not by much at 8.7 ounces. Relative to theBarnes & Noble and Sony will have to respond for the holiday shopping season. For now Amazon has the higher ground on e-reader innovation. It's unclear whether page turn speed---something Amazon obsesses over---is a winning feature for consumers, but the company can definitely target the clunky software integration among rivals.
Let's face it. The Kindle isn't going to win a showdown with the Apple in a beauty contest. However, the two devices arguably shouldn't be on the same stage together.
Also: I confess: I bought an iPad (and so far I love it)
If Amazon can get you to bite on the latest Kindle, it will be happy to sync you up with its apps. The Kindle isn't perfect---you still want to touch the screen and would like some color---but now it isn't priced to be perfect. In fact, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see the Wi-Fi-only Kindle go for $99.99 once volume ramps up dramatically.
That day is here now. Amazon's macroeconomic argument is simple: It wants as many Kindles and apps out there to sell you more e-books. Amazon has the selection and content to win the e-commerce game. Amazon said last week that it is selling more e-books than hardcovers and that Kindle demand has surged at the $189 price. It remains to be seen if Amazon can maintain its Kindle sales pace, but new devices certainly won't hurt.
With Amazon's economic case out of the way, the decision to buy a new Kindle resides on your own microeconomics. A few factors to ponder (at least in my buying case):
Can you get by with the Wi-Fi-only version? Given my travel, I'm going to want a 3G option. One wild-card here is my smartphone choice. If I get a smartphone that serves as a Wi-Fi hot spot, I'm not going to care about 3G.
Price. Amazon's pricing for the Wi-Fi-only Kindle (as well as Barnes & Noble's Nook) changes the iPad conversation a bit. The Kindle is becoming the equivalent of a beach reader. If all you use it for is to read at the beach you can garner ROI at $139.
What's your use case? I've harped on this point before. I'm in a situation where the iPad doesn't consolidate much for me. The lighter Kindle is a valid pitch for me. You may want an integrated device. For me, the less expensive Kindle may make sense. I almost don't want to be distracted by a bunch of apps and a Web browser. I already multi-task too much now. Others, like Jason Perlow, would chuckle at this assumption and tout the iPad.
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