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Amazon cuts price of the Kindle

May 27, 2008 Paul Thurrott | Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows

I didn't see an announcement about this, but it looks like Amazon has cut the price of the Kindle (see my review) from $399 to $359. I'm of two minds about this: First, they'll need to cut deeper to turn this thing into any kind of mass market phenomenon (though Jeff Bezos claimed just this week that the Kindle has sold far better than projected). Second, I can't overstate how wonderful the Kindle is. I use mine every single day--heck, I read three newspapers on the thing--and absolutely love it.

Product Overview

  • Revolutionary electronic-paper display provides a sharp, high-resolution screen that looks and reads like real paper.
  • Simple to use: no computer, no cables, no syncing.
  • Wireless connectivity enables you to shop the Kindle Store directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport, or in bed.
  • Buy a book and it is auto-delivered wirelessly in less than one minute.
  • More than 120,000 books available, including more than 98 of 112 current New York Times® Best Sellers.
  • New York Times® Best Sellers and New Releases $9.99, unless marked otherwise.
  • Free book samples. Download and read first chapters for free before you decide to buy.
  • Top U.S. newspapers including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post; top magazines including TIME, Atlantic Monthly, and Forbes—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
  • Top international newspapers from France, Germany, and Ireland; Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine, and The Irish Times—all auto-delivered wirelessly.
  • More than 300 top blogs from the worlds of business, technology, sports, entertainment, and politics, including BoingBoing, Slashdot, TechCrunch, ESPN's Bill Simmons, The Onion, Michelle Malkin, and The Huffington Post—all updated wirelessly throughout the day.
  • Lighter and thinner than a typical paperback; weighs only 10.3 ounces.
  • Holds over 200 titles.
  • Long battery life. Leave wireless on and recharge approximately every other day. Turn wireless off and read for a week or more before recharging. Fully recharges in 2 hours.
    Unlike WiFi, Kindle utilizes the same high-speed data network (EVDO) as advanced cell phones—so you never have to locate a hotspot.
  • No monthly wireless bills, service plans, or commitments—we take care of the wireless delivery so you can simply click, buy, and read.
  • Includes free wireless access to the planet's most exhaustive and up-to-date encyclopedia—Wikipedia.org.
  • Email your Word documents and pictures (.JPG, .GIF, .BMP, .PNG) to Kindle for easy on-the-go viewing.
  • Included in the box: Kindle wireless reader, Book cover, Power adapter, USB 2.0 cable

Discuss this Article 8

BrightrevCarl
on May 27, 2008
I'm thinking $199 and a less funky design.
Waethorn
on May 27, 2008
Until they release it worldwide, the competition won't see any reason to replicate it, one way or another, which means it'll remain a niche product that the majority of users will see as a "gadget" (read: gimmick) that is confined to the US.
Waethorn
on May 27, 2008
"product that the majority of users" ....should say "majority of people" (meaning NON-users).
dstrack
on May 28, 2008
I have been on the edge about the Kindle. I really want one and am about to pull the trigger. My biggest concern is not with books, but with magazines. No color? How do the magazines read? Does the e-ink do the mags justice?
dstrack
on May 28, 2008
Well... I did it. I'm going away this weekend and I had it overnighted. Kindle in hand tomorrow.
pthurrott
on May 28, 2008
The only thing I really miss is the accompanying photo that comes with many newspaper articles. (Sometimes the articles reference the photo, which is irritating.) I would change some things, of course. For example, every newspaper article should have a blurb, but most just have titles. Often, it's impossible to tell what a story is about from the title, especially if the author has constructed a too-cute headline. When you open most books, you start at page 1 of chapter 1 most times. If you manually navigate back to the cover, you'll often discover front matter that you would have otherwise missed. That's dumb. It doesn't automatically trim away old content, so you have to manually manage the memory. Not a big deal, but twice now (since November) I've had to connect it to the PC and manually delete old issues of newspapers. Again, dumb. Color would be nice, of course. But if you accept the fact that what you're really doing is reading pure and simple, you probably never once read a paperback book and said, heck, I wish this text were in color. Overall, my only issues with this thing are quibbles. All the baloney you've read about the form factor is just that, baloney. It's the first impressions from a person who felt like they had to complain about something. The Kindle is like any other device: You get used to it by using it, and it happens quickly. And just as with a traditional book, it's easy to get lost in what you're reading and simple *read*. In that, it's quite successful. This thing should cost $200. I get that. But it's a wonderful device.
dstrack
on May 29, 2008
Paul - Thanks. I appreciate your insight. I can't wait to get home tonight and play with it in preparation for my trip tomorrow.
dstrack
on Jun 2, 2008
For anyone who cares: Got it. LOVE THE KINDLE! Do NOT pay attention to the naysayers! If you are a reader and the Kindle looks interesting and the price is ok (it's too high, but if you read alot it's worth it in my mind)... Just do it. You'll be glad you did.

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