There was a time when Amazon had big plans for Kindle DX. The device was expected to be a hit among college students and in professional schools. Unfortunately for Amazon, those plans have not panned out. When Kindle DX was announced, there was no device like an iPad to put competitive pressure on it. In a few months, there are going to be a few more iPad-like tablets available to consumers. That means Amazon probably had no choice but to stop the bleeding and reduce Kindle DX’s price to keep it competitive for now.
Amazon seems to be stuck with Kindle DX at this point. The device is still too expensive for the average reader. At the same time, it does not offer the features people have come to love on devices such as iPad. The next generation E-ink screen is nice to have, but it does not justify the price.
The e-reader competition is going to become even more intense for Amazon. While Kindle DX can have a bright future in the education business, the company needs to figure out how to connect better with students. So far, Kindle DX trials have bombed.
It may be hard for die-hard Kindle fans to accept, but Amazon has made a major shift in strategy when it comes to Kindle. Amazon’s Kindle strategy is more tied to software than hardware at this point. Dedicated e-readers will be around for a while. But it would not be surprising if Amazon killed Kindle hardware a couple of years from now.
Your turn: is Kindle in trouble?
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5 comments
#1JohnJuly 2, 2010, 8:54 am
"The next generation E-ink screen is nice to have, but it does not justify the price." — oh, so you have seen this screen?
Seriously, though, though I'm inclined to agree with you about the price, there are probably reduced vision folks out there reading on a Kindle of Kindle2 that would disagree. I hope they sell these puppies at Target, because I, for one, would like to see this new improved eInk screen.
I LOVE eInk. I have an iPad, and I read on it. But I do my LONG periods of reading on the Kindle2. If the screen really is THAT much better on the new DX, I'm pretty sure I know what I'll be asking for this Christmas. Either a new DX or better yet a cheap Kindle3 with the improved screen in the 6" version
#2GilJuly 17, 2010, 6:40 am
I would love to get the new DX but I just can't justify spending practically $200 more on the DX verses the Kindle 2 price just for 3 inches more of screen and auto-rotation. If there is something significantly more the DX can do that the Kindle 2 cannot than please let me know.
#3JoshJuly 24, 2010, 9:51 pm
kindle will NEVER be useful in educational settings unless they somehow help their Kindle owners determine actual page numbers. amazon has taken the arrogant position that page numbers are a thing of the past. yet, scholars need to be able to quickly cross check each other's work. this isn't easily possible on Kindle. this is the one area that Nook has a distinct advantage over Kindle at this moment.
#4CyrusJuly 25, 2010, 4:28 am
Interesting take John. Just wondering if your issue is just with Amazon or other e-book reader makers too?
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#5melajaraSeptember 26, 2010, 10:31 am
Having a Kindle DX 2 and now a DX 3, I can tell you that I LOVE the crisper fonts from the Gen 3. Kindle 2 was already very good (especially outdoors) but now I'm using only the Kindle 3
Now, I cannot understand why Amazon didn't come in those 3 years from Kindle I, with a better content management software. The beauty of having an entire library in your hand is to be able to QUICKLY navigate from a book to another one, categorize them by various, user defined criterias and ideally cross referencing them and last but not least appending notes (e.g. from an external source as the Kindle keyboard is useless for extensive notes).
The ability to add and mingle notes from external prepared sources would be a bonanza for students before exams revisions.
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