Earlier this week, Barnes & Noble dispensed with their original, clever hybrid E-Ink+LCD Nook to introduce a dedicated E-Ink eReader. In some respects, it may appear that the Nook platform has devolved. Yet I’m sure B&N has reduced their production costs with the new Nook ($139)… while, at the same time, made the device fully touch capable (as Sony’s been doing for awhile) – a much more natural form of interaction. And, for its primary purpose, the greyscale screen is sufficient. Perhaps even preferable.
What we’re beginning to see is line drawn in the sand. Power users and gadget aficionados such as myself are attracted to multipurpose tablets, while there’s a segment of folks who will be content with a more limited but affordable media consumption device. In fact, the trend is most clearly evident with Barnes & Noble product line — the Nook Color, marketed as “the reader’s tablet”, with the new Nook pitched as a “simple touch reader.”
Hardware and content expense will continue to be a factor for many, though. And while Amazon’s subsidizing some Kindle models via advertising (bleah), neither they nor B&N have hit the magical $100 price point. However, I expect the lower end of this market to (continue to) flourish as this is rectified in time for the shopping holidays. On the higher end, B&N seems to have found a sweet spot at $250 for a color Android tablet. Especially given its hackability. Our household already possesses a 10″ iPad, but I often pine for my own more compact 7″ tablet (to replace a 2nd gen Kindle) for e-reading… with web surfing benefits. If I find the willpower to fight off the Nook Color urges and all the refurb Samsung Galaxy Tab deals, I’ll hold out for Amazon’s rumored Kindle 4 tablet given my existing collection of Amazon digital media (books, video, apps).