Amazon made a big announcement today; not only did they introduce the new (and highly anticipated) Amazon Kindle Fire tablet but they introduced a $79 Kindle (sans keyboard) and the Kindle Touch. Here’s the new line-up:
In Stock.
- $79 with Special Offers (Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers display on Kindle when you're not reading)
- $109 without Special Offers
The all-new Kindle - Lighter, smaller, faster
- 30% lighter, less than 6 ounces
- 18% smaller body, same 6" screen size - Fits in your pocket
- Most advanced E Ink display, reads like paper
- Built in Wi-Fi - Get books in 60 seconds
- Massive book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less
- New - Borrow Kindle books from your public library
Kindle Touch Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
(US only)
Pre-order (will be released on November 21, 2011. Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis.)
$99 with Special Offers (Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers display on Kindle when you're not reading)
$139 without Special Offers
Simple-to-use touchscreen, with audio and built-in Wi-Fi
- Most-advanced E Ink display, now with multi-touch
- New sleek design - 8% lighter, 11% smaller, holds 3,000 books
- Text-to-speech, plus audio books and mp3s
- Built in Wi-Fi - Get books in 60 seconds
- Massive book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less
- New - Borrow Kindle books from your public library
Kindle Touch w/ Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
(US only)
Pre-order (will be released on November 21, 2011. Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis.)
- $149 with Special Offers (Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers display on Kindle when you're not reading)
- $189 without Special Offers
Top-of-the-line e-reader, with touch and free 3G wireless
- Free 3G wireless, no annual contracts or monthly fees.
- Download books anywhere, no hunting for Wi-Fi hotspots
- 3G wireless works globally
- Most-advanced E Ink display, now with multi-touch
- New sleek design - 8% lighter, 11% smaller, holds 3,000 books
- Text-to-speech, plus audio books and mp3s
- Massive book selection, over 800,000 titles are $9.99 or less
- New - Borrow Kindle books from your public library
Kindle Keyboard, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
In Stock. Same version as the 3rd Generation Kindle, just with a LOWER price!
- $99 with Special Offers (Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers display on Kindle when you're not reading)
- $139 without Special Offers
Kindle Keyboard Free 3G + Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display
In Stock. Same version as the 3rd Generation Kindle, just with a LOWER price!
- $139 with Special Offers (Special Offers & Sponsored Screensavers display on Kindle when you're not reading)
- $189 without Special Offers
Kindle Fire, Full Color 7" Multi-touch Display, Wi-Fi
(US only)
Pre-order (will be released on November 15, 2011. Orders are prioritized on a first come, first served basis.)
- $199
Movies, apps, games, music, reading and more, plus Amazon's revolutionary, cloud-accelerated web browser
- 18 million movies, TV shows, songs, magazines, and books
- Amazon Appstore - thousands of popular apps and games
- Ultra-fast web browsing - Amazon Silk
- Free cloud storage for all your Amazon content
- Vibrant color touchscreen with extra-wide viewing angle
- Fast, powerful dual-core processor
- Amazon Prime members enjoy unlimited, instant streaming of over 10,000 popular movies and TV shows
I currently have what’s now called the Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi version. I got it when it was $139 (and before the ‘Special Offers’ version was available). I don’t have plans to upgrade my Kindle any time soon since I’ve only had it for about a year. But if you’re looking to buy an eReader, now seems like the best time to do so.
The Kindle sans keyboard would be good for your ‘average’ reader. For book bloggers and reviewers, I’d recommend going with the Kindle Keyboard version. I’m constantly using the keyboard to jot down notes.
If I were in the market for an eReader as a first time owner, I’d go with the Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi model. And I’d save myself the $40 by going with the Special Offers version. I personally do not need the 3G since I always buy ebooks when I’m at home and I have Wi-Fi here. And I wouldn’t have a problem seeing special offers as my screen saver. Though, I’d love to get my hands on a Kindle Touch to see how it operates…
And Kindle Library Lending is here! I haven’t used it yet myself but I have checked my library and can see the Kindle editions are already on there.
What do you think of the eReader market now with the addition of these new Kindle models? Does the B&N Nook stand a chance against Amazon? Any iPad owners out there looking to trade-in for the Kindle Fire?
Will you be getting one of the new Kindles? Will it be your first Kindle or an upgrade?
They're so tempting! I currently have a kindle3 3G with keyboard, and I love it. But I love the look of the Touch 3G. It's so small and new and shiny... I love new toys. The Fire looks awesome too, but I'm not sure if I want to read on a backlight. I'd love the color children's books for my kids—our shelves are overflowing with kids books! I'm holding off on buying for now, but I'm not sure how long I'll be able to resist!
ReplyDelete@heatherthurmeier
ReplyDeleteIt is very tempting! And I love new shiny toys as well. I, too, want to check out the Kindle Touch. Hopefully they'll have a demo model in our local retail stores shortly after it releases.
I don't think a tablet is for me. I wasn't even really stoked about the iPad release. I have a laptop and my Kindle; what do I need a tablet for? I guess to replace those 2 items but nah. It would be great for children's books though...
I have been waiting for the Kindle Fire since the iPad 2 was announced. I have an iPad 1, but it is just too heavy to take with me everywhere so I'll either be selling it to Amazon or giving it to my grandson for Xmas. He is 6 so I figure they can use it for anything BUT games.
ReplyDeleteI pre-ordered the Fire AND the Kindle Touch. I ordered the Touch to reserve a spot, but I may cancel because I don't really need one.
With my Kindles 1 and 2, I was able to pass them on to my daughter and my sister, and with new Kindles and more swapping, pretty much everyone now has one except our (gasp) non-reader family members. That eliminates the excuse that I'll be passing on the device and I will just be left with the gadget greed factor. I will probably have to cancel the Kindle Touch with regret, but really, I love my current Kindle so....
@Jazz
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see the side-by-side comparison reviews and pictures for the Kindle Fire v. the iPad. That will be interesting to see.
I may do one from a non-techie POV. I really wish we were looking at October, not November delivery.
ReplyDelete----
And now I'm going to have to resurrect my Shelfari account. Did you see the new integration with books via XRay?
I'm so glad there are more options and cheaper options so ebooks can be accessible to more people. I think this holiday season is going to explode with e-reader purchases. Always good news for books!
ReplyDeleteI bought the Nook touch earlier in the year because of its e-book library lending capability. I love it and I think it's just as good a choice as some of the Kindle options.
I'm a little shocked by how intensely I want a Fire, given that I didn't know it existed yesterday!
ReplyDelete@Jazz
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see your comparison post! Let me know if/when it goes up :)
I heard 'xRay' but I'm not sure what that entails. I'll have to read up on that later.
@Stephsco
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - this holiday season is going to explode with all the ereader options that are now available.
The Nook has been one step ahead of the Kindle for a while now (with book lending and library borrowing). I'm glad Kindle has finally caught up. If I hadn't gone with the Kindle, I would have gotten a Nook :)
@Elizabeth Fama
ReplyDeleteLOL!! I hope you get one :)
I'm still deciding which one to get. For me, one thing an ereader needs to have is that touch screen capability to 'turn the page'. For me, this is a sensory experience of reading, so whatever type of reader I end up with needs to have that ability.
ReplyDeleteAngela @ The Bookshelf Muse
@The Book Vixen
ReplyDeleteUrk! I did it, I pre-ordered one. I told myself it was because my husband needs an e-reader that handles .pdfs well, and I'd share it with him.
I am oddly loyal to the Nook... I have both a Kindle and a Nook. (As well as an iPad, but that's not even really a comparison - is it??)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit; the thought of upgrading my Kindle to a Fire is appealing though! Simply because I love gadgets...
@Angela Ackerman
ReplyDeleteHear that? It's the Kindle Touch calling your name :)
@Elizabeth Fama
ReplyDeleteYay!! And that's a totally valid reason ;)
@Jac
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't gone with a Kindle, I would have gone with a Nook.
It's hard to part with our ereaders, isn't it?
And you certainly do love gadgets!!
Husband is already drooling over the Kindle Fire--for me, he says ;D but I'm really happy with my keyboard one. I am a homebody anyway so now that I have my own car, I'll just go home and watch tv there--no additional gadget required!
ReplyDeleteAs an ex-Borders I have a long-lasting *enemy* label on all things *B&N*... the people are nice, but I'm not buying a Nook anytime soon.
The Kindle fire is gorgeous!! I have a Sony Ereader and a Nook Color. I don't need anything else but I love to look. I wouldn't switch to Kindle because of compatibility issues but I heard it will soon be Epub format. Kindle is a force to be reckoned with.
ReplyDeleteI'm still pro-Nook. While I miss the easy shopping on Amazon (I have had to deal with customer Service three times in two months with my Nook purchases), I would be hard pressed to even think of getting rid of my Nook for a Kindle. I love the flexibility of being able to read almost any book format, I love that I can make it a full Android tablet with just a few programs on an SD card, and I love the extra features I use daily with my Nook.
ReplyDeleteNow if only I could buy my books on Amazon and download them to my Nook instead of having to restart in tablet mode and read there via my Kindle app.
I love the Kindle Touch, but I agree with you, as a book blogger I like being able to take notes. But boy, I sure do like that cover view.
ReplyDeleteI just bought the Kindle keyboard, with special offers, this summer after mine mysteriously broke (I suspect the 2 year old). I really like it, the adds are a bit irritating but I can ignore them.
Amazon's pricing really does change the e-reader market, especially for schools. I love that you can now borrow from your public library as well.
I think it was a Gizmodo article that I read saying that Apple and Amazon have now divided the tablet/e-reader market with Amazon taking the low end cheaper side of the market and apple the high end more expensive. They said that other manufacturers just couldn't compete with these two companies right now. I think I might agree.