Can Smaller Price Help Big-Screen Kindle DX Fight Apple's iPad?

Amazon, in the latest salvo in the electronic book reader war, unveiled a new version of its large-screen Kindle on Thursday with a slashed price.The new Kindle DX, which features a 9.7-inch (24.6-centimeter) screen, costs 379 dollars, down from 489 dollars.Apple's cheapest iPad, the Kindle's chief rival, costs 499 dollars and features a color e-reader compared with the black-and-white Kindle, which is devoted exclusively to digital books.

Kevin Parker submits: Amazon.com (AMZN) has a major uphill battle for the long-term viability of its Kindle product. With the release of the Apple (AAPL) iPad - a far superior product in my opinion - Amazon is most likely feeling the heat. Amazon has recently updated its Kindle DX product with a new graphite finish and a price cut down to $379.

By Dana Blankenhorn: According to the technology press, Amazon (AMZN) is under enormous and increasing pressure to relight its Kindle and Kindle Fire.

Jason Kincaid submits: Amazon’s Kindle is about to become even more affordable. Today, the company announced that it’s releasing a new version of its popular eReader with a new feature that everyone will like: a price-tag that’s $25 cheaper than the Kindle Wi-Fi’s normal $139. But it comes with one minor catch: Amazon (AMZN) will be placing ‘Special Offers’ — also known as ads — into specific parts of the Kindle UI.

US online retail powerhouse Amazon on Monday introduced a cut-price version of its Kindle electronic reader that features on-screen ads.Kindle with Special Offers e-readers priced at $114 each will begin shipping in the United States on May 3, according to Amazon.Amazon charges $139 for the same Kindle without ads or deals displayed as screen savers and on the home page. The e-readers connect to the Internet to download digital books using wireless connections to routers at "hotspots."

In our ad-saturated culture, books are one medium you generally can count on to provide a refuge from commercialization. That’s because books haven’t been a very good or sexy venue for ads. Until now!

Online retail powerhouse Amazon on Wednesday began selling a cut-price version of its Kindle 3G electronic reader sponsored by US telecom carrier AT&T.Kindle 3G with Special Offers was priced at $139 as compared with $189 for the same e-reader without on-screen ads.In May, Amazon began selling Wi-Fi-only Kindles featuring advertising and discounted prices. The AT&T version lets users download books where ever there is mobile telephone coverage.

NewsFactor - Amazon, the online giant retailer that has threatened the existence of bookstores, may help save the newspaper industry. That is a possible benefit of a new, larger-screen version of its Kindle e-book reader, which The New York Times reported Sunday will be released soon.