Amazon has announced a new, third generation of its Kindle e-book reader that, frankly, is starting to make it more and more attractive to me.
The newest Kindle, set to retail for $189, same price as the current model which it replaces, seems to have a number of improvements - it's smaller (but the reading area is the same), clearer, lightweight, glare-free and readable in bright sunlight, will hold up to 3500 books, battery life of up to a month, etc. etc. etc. This version will come with both 3G and Wi-Fi communication capabilities. Amazon says the 3G works globally.
But perhaps even more impressive, Amazon is going to release a version that's $50 cheaper - a $139 version of the Kindle without 3G, so that it works on Wi-Fi only. Amazon says that if you plan to use your reader mostly in places that have Wi-Fi hotspots (like your home), then this is a good deal. At $139, they're obviously hoping for a much broader base of users - maybe parents will get the less expensive models for their kids.
Disclosure: If you're interested, and use one of the links above to go to Amazon to buy one, I do get a (small) percentage from Amazon.
Both models are available now for pre-order, and Amazon plans to start shipping them on August 27.
Wow! This is the first time I've been tempted, really tempted. I've been heard to swear I would never get one. Now I wonder... If I get one, I'll click from here since you were the first one to tell me. :<) Only fair.
Posted by: Nan | July 31, 2010 at 10:04 AM