Faced with competition from Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Sony has slashed the prices of its U.S. Reader electronic e-book readers line. The move comes after Amazon and Barnes & Noble cut the price for the Kindle and Nook, and is the second price cut from Sony this year.
Sony dropped the price of its cheapest model, the Reader Pocket Edition, from $170 to $150, the second price cut after an earlier $30 drop in April. The Touch Edition Reader is now $170, cut from $200, and the high-end 3G Daily Edition Sony Reader is down from $350 to $300.
Since its April launch, Apple’s iPad functionality as an e-book reader has put a strain on the market for dedicated devices. The entry price for an iPad is $499, so dedicated e-book reader manufacturers have had to cut their prices in order to compete with Apple’s multifunctional device.
Barnes & Noble was the first to cut the price of its 3G Nook e-reader, from $260 to $200. Barnes & Noble also introduced a cheaper, Wi-Fi-only Nook, priced at $150. Amazon followed suit, and slashed the standard Kindle price from $260 to $190, on the same day.
Amazon also reduced the price of the 9.7-inch display Kindle DX (same screen size as the iPad), from $490 to $380, while the $150 Kobo e-reader from Borders did not get a price cut, but offers customers a $20 Borders gift card. The smaller Libre e-reader from Borders is $120 (shipping late July).
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What price point would entice you to buy a dedicated e-book reader like the Kindle or Nook alongside an iPad? Can the iPad fulfil both your reading and entertainment needs? Sound off in the comments.