Happy Sunday, WG2E-Land!
What an exciting day this past Thursday when Amazon unveiled its new Kindle Family!
I took part in the event via ABC News dot com’s LiveBlog, which is a fabulous fun techno tool! Here’s the link:
***Note: Thanks sooo much to ABC Reporter Joanna Stern for giving me a nice shout-out by using my comment - regarding what Amazon’s KDP has done for me – when Jeff Bezos was talking about Amazon Kindle making bestsellers out of authors who’d been rejected for years.
What I think is just brilliant about The Zon’s new Kindle Line is perfectly captured by Bezos’ tag line:
“We haven’t built the best tablet at a certain price. We have built the best tablet at any price.”
Basically, what they’ve done is introduce a line of Kindles that range in price from $69 to $499. Making a Kindle for every budget and every level of technological ability desired.
You can review the entire line here:
http://www.amazon.com/?tag=mh0b-20&hvadid=705234576&ref=pd_sl_1k1ow7xzhr_b
Get a fabulous comparison between the current Kindles and all the new ones from The WG2E’s own Bufo Calvin at I Love My Kindle:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/which-kindle-should-you-buy-september-2012/
And catch more techno scoop here:
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/09/amazon-kindle-event-live-blog/
http://www.zdnet.com/amazons-kindle-fire-hd-family-the-highs-and-lows-you-need-to-know-7000003880/
This last article from ZDNet, in particular, makes a fantastic point. Reporter Adrian Kingsley-Hughes says:
“…as with most things, it’s not a one-size-fits-all tablet. That said, Kindle Fire HD is probably the closest thing to a one-size-fits-all tablet that seen yet.”
And that’s exactly what I believe The Zon was after! 
Also worth noting is that Kobo also introduced their new tablet – The Kobo Arc – on Thursday, which you can get all the scoop on here:
I think this will be a huge player internationally (where Amazon just doesn’t seem to be able to get devices fast enough) just like the previous line of Kobo Readers has been!
For me, what all of this means is that now people have even more ways to “find” us. I look at every single device made as simply one more avenue by which I can reach readers. As long as I make sure I’m available EVERYWHERE, it’s another path to sales.
It’s Your Turn, WG2E-Land: What are your thoughts on Amazon’s Tablet at Any Price strategy? And what about Kobo? How will all of this shake down?
The Best of Tablets for Everyone Wishes — D. D. Scott
P.S. The WG2E’s very own Theresa Ragan – who I’m over the moon thrilled to be writing with for a Christmas book this year – was flown to the event by Amazon! Congrats to you, Theresa!!! We can’t wait to hear all about your trip!!!
Great news! I’m even more fired up about our future as Indies now – how many self-employed can say that these days?
Thanks for spreading the word D. D.!
~Nancy Jill Thames
Indie Author of the Jillian Bradley Mysteries
Excellent point, Nancy! I think we as Indie Epub Authors have a brilliant future as self-employed peeps!!!
Great post! The new Kindles sound AWESOME!
They do indeed, Jeanne! And for all of the comparisons and help choosing which one is best for your needs, be sure to check out Bufo’s terrific article:
http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/which-kindle-should-you-buy-september-2012/
As a Kindle owner myself, in addition to a writer, I’m thrilled. I love the range of prices here – makes crazy sense.
Crazy sense for sure, Tamara! Bezos (and Amazon) totally get it when it comes to reaching every customer base at every price with fabulous readers and beyond fabulous service to back ‘em up with!
DD, you made a very powerful point when you said…
“For me, what all of this means is that now people have even more ways to “find” us. I look at every single device made as simply one more avenue by which I can reach readers. As long as I make sure I’m available EVERYWHERE, it’s another path to sales.”
Amazon has leveled the playing field. No traditional publisher has been creative enough, or willing to put the resources of an entire conglomerate behind developing a marketing system geared toward choices benefiting the individual consumer while also supporting the many, many author voices who want (need) to be heard. The value received from this incredible PR and marketing support is priceless, so I say “Bravo!”, use it to it’s fullest advantage. What a truly exciting time for Indie authors. Teamwork…Win for Amazon…Win for authors! And a competitive field with other e-reader devices and tablets thrown into the mix only sweetens the pot.
You nailed it, Monica!!!
Luv what you said right here:
“…a marketing system geared toward choices benefiting the individual consumer while also supporting the many, many author voices who want (need) to be heard.”
Congratulations on being quoted by ABC, D.D.!
Thanks for linking my comparison…it took a lot of work, and I’ve gotten to update since originally writing it with new information.
You can now get a tablet (movies, web, apps, books) for $159 from Amazon! Then, you can go as high as $599 (for the super-duper connect pretty much anywhere 4G model with a lot of memory on board).
The low end means that people who aren’t dedicated readers, who consume more visual media than words, can include books in their entertainment mix easily. That’s important, and will help broaden the reading base, benefiting especially authors of “popcorn books” and ones plugged in to the current zeitgeist. For example, when the Olympics were super hot, someone who normally watched TV might read a book on the Olympics…if it was as available to them as the latest YouTube cat video (and in the same place).
Hey Bufo…I got a lot of great info from your Kindle comparison blog! Well done, and thanks for taking the time to put that together and share it.
Aren’t his analyses terrific, Monica?!
I rely on Bufo to teach me which Kindle devices I’d like and use most. For example, he convinced me to get the Kindle3G, and I luuuvvv it! And then the original Kindle Fire, which I live on! Now, I’ll be using his comparisons to choose between the new line-up too!!!
Thanks for letting me know it was helpful for you, Monica! That kind of response is one of the best rewards I get for my efforts.
Thanks bunches, my friend! It was sooo much fun and sooo exciting to be part of the ABC News LiveBlog!!!
I sooo agree too with what you said right here:
“The low end means that people who aren’t dedicated readers, who consume more visual media than words, can include books in their entertainment mix easily. That’s important, and will help broaden the reading base, benefiting especially authors of “popcorn books” and ones plugged in to the current zeitgeist.”
These popcorn books are really picking up steam, aren’t they?! Especially with the presidential election season upon us…
A big woo hoo on being quoted, DD!
I’m sooooo happy about this! And finally, Amazon is making the Kindle Fire tablet available in the UK – I’m going to get me one of those babies! Great product for a great price – what more can the consumer want?
I was over the moon to be quoted, Sibel! That was a superfab fun “first” for me!
And I sooo hope Amazon now brings these devices much quicker across the pond and around the globe. I think they’re missing huge opportunities getting ‘em out there later rather than sooner.
That said, I wonder if it’s because they have sooo many products, not just books, to get through all of the international trade rules, regulations and hurdles?
D.D., yes, that’s very complicated. Among the factors that they have to face for every new country:
* If the device has 3G or 4G, they need to find a carrier and work out a deal
* If the country has different copyright rules, that can make things hard
* If they are going to stream anything (like video), that’s a different negotiation
* Publishers, let’s say of apps, may not have international rights…more negotiations
* Countries may have restrictive import rules and/or control over internet use.
Much of the Middle East has been without Kindles and Kindle content from Amazon, as an example.
I always tell people, Amazon would like to sell things every on this planet…and beyond, if possible.
However, they have to be able to do it legally, and profitably…and that just isn’t that easy.
The Kindle will never be the best tablet at any price as far as I’m concerned as long as it has ads. I don’t care how unobtrusive these are to other people, the whole idea annoys me no end. I can’t stand television with ads at the bottom or corners of the screen while I’m trying to watch a movie and I can’t stand seeing an ad on my book.
I don’t think this is the end of the ads, either. While it’s only on the main screen now, I foresee that not too long from now there will be ads at the beginning and/or end of a book and, eventually, between each chapter. Maybe the attention deficit disorder generation doesn’t have a problem with this, but I prefer to be immersed in a story.
If other ereader and tablet distributors go this route, I’ll go back to paper books.
My Kindle Fire doesn’t show the Ads, Elise. I believe you can turn ‘em off using the Manage Your Kindle Section on Amazon.
I also turned them off from my Kindle3G.
Okay, I went back and read the details. You can turn off the ads for an extra $15. More than worth it to me.
Elise, just to run the history of this down a bit more…
Originally, the reflective screen Kindles (not the Fire) had no ads.
Then, on April 11 of 2011, Amazon introduced an ad-supported Kindle. It was $25 less than the then current model…essentially, the purchaser agrees to see ads, and the advertisers pay Amazon to show the ads: Amazon passed savings along to the purchaser.
At that point there was a choice: buy a Kindle without ads, or save by buying one with ads.
Later, Amazon gave people who had bought (or received) an ad-supported model the option to opt out by paying the difference in the purchase price between the ad-supported one and the non-ad-supported one.
The Kindle Fire first generation did not have ad-support.
The new generation of Kindle Fires do have ad-support, but Amazon quickly added an option to buy out of it for $15.
The ad-supported models have been more popular than their non-ad-supported counterparts, by the way. It’s interesting…people accept advertising in their magazines, newspapers, and TV shows, but are extra-concerned about it for books. I don’t think it’s likely that Amazon will put ads in books…but certainly, publishers might. I remember mass market paperbacks that would have an ad in the middle…commonly for cigarettes.
I do think if you gave most people the choice of getting their favorite author’s book at a $2 discount because it had an ad in the beginning or end (not in the story), they would take it. Some wouldn’t, but I think the majority would.
What you won’t be able to avoid? Product placement…
It’s so exciting! Like you said, everytime they bring out a new device they are upping our chances to reach new readers.
Congrats on being quoted. That was cool
Thanks bunches, Alison! Fun stuff with ABC News for sure!
And it is sooo about increasing our chances of reaching readers!!! Cheers to that!!!
I want me one!! Santa Claus, are you listening?
Here’s a little trick I use, Anne…each year I’m my own Santa Claus…I do what I call a “To Me, From Me, Love Me”…no joke…and I always get exactly what I’ve asked for!
Hi, D.D. The press conference was so exciting. We all stayed at Shutters in Santa Monica and then there were at least four shuttles that took everyone to the Barker Hangar on Saturday where the press conference took place. Watching Jeff Bezos speak was a thrill. I was excited about every device and I think the authors were the most excited people in the audience. I own a kindle fire now, but I want all of the new devices!
It’s going to be tought to choose which one to get. I was able to touch and play with most of them except the $499 device because the media was making it hard to squeeze in and get a look. 
I really like the paperwhite and I want to get one of those. After the event was over, everyone hung out at the hotel, pool, beach or their rooms until dinner at Pico’s at the hotel that same night. I was lucky enough to sit with Victoria Griffith who is with Amazon and authors: Jessica Parker, Michele Scott and Andrew Kauffman. I also loved meeting Barry Eisler, Lee Goldman, Aaron Patterson, Sheila Reidling, Melinda Leigh, Tina Folsom and many others. Everyone was super nice and welcoming. Lots of very cool people from Amazon, too: Brittany Turner, Thom Kephart, Jeff Belle, Russ Grandinetti, Nader Kabbani, and the list goes on.
More importantly, I LOVE that you were quoted, D.D.! That is super super fun!!! Thanks for always sharing so much great info. I appreciate it.
Congrats, Theresa! So exciting!
WooHoooo awesome sauce exciting, Theresa! And thanks for sharing the details! We’re all living vicariously through you for this one!!!
Barry Eisler is on the top of my to-meet list…and wow what a fabulous list you mentioned!!!
I’m most excited about the 4G capabilities on all of the new devices. With my DH retiring next year, we’re hitting the road in our RV, so we’ll need all the 4G devices we can get! LOL!!!
And thanks bunches for the ABC News shout-out! I couldn’t believe it when I saw my scoop pop-up on the LiveBlog!!!
Thanks for this post, D.D.! I already have Bufo’s comparison bookmarked to read and now I’ll zip over to the others. It is definitely time for an upgrade for me, and this will help me figure it all out.
Bufo is my Go-To Guy whenever I need a new Kindle, Alicia. What I luuuvvv about his comparison’s is that he really nails the features on each device so you know if you’re looking for something particular, this device has it for this price, this one doesn’t , or this one has it along with something else for a wee bit more.
Also, he’s great once you get the device and can’t figure out how to use it! LOL!