It seems as if Amazon is determined to give Kindle sales a big push. Just days after we heard of the new Kindles with better displays and lower prices, comes the announcement that one can also opt for refurbished versions of the e-book reader that many (us included) consider to be the best when it comes to reading electronically. Refurbished versions generally are devices that have been repaired and are as good as new and come with complete warranty and support. Most importantly, they are always cheaper than brand new versions of the device. The refurbished Kindles are no different - you can get the 9.7 inch Kindle Dx for $299.99 and the regular 7 inch Kindle for $169.99, which are both well below their regular prices. Interestingly, unlike the new Kindles, these are both global editions and will work anywhere in the world. There are no restrictions on either device - you can do pretty much what you can on a regular, brand new device on them.
Terrific deals for those wanting to take a dip in e-book readers. Now, we are waiting for the competition to respond.
The e-book reader wars are really hotting up. As if slashing the price of its Kindle e-book reader to sub-$200 levels was not enough, Amazon has now released two new models of the Kindle. The new models are sleeker, more slim than their predecessors, and more importantly, one of them comes at a staggering price tag - just $139. This is the Wi-Fi only version of the e-book reader, which many expect to go head-to-head against Barnes & Noble’s Wi-Fi only Nook which costs $149 (we are waiting for a price cut there too, folks). The other model comes with a $189 price tag (same as the Kindle 2) and has 3G connectivity.
The world’s most popular e-book reader just took a step closer to affordability in India. The price of Amazon’s Kindle e-book reader has been slashed to $189, which when combined with shipping and handling and import fees, comes to about $ 283.92 if you place your order online: somewhere in the vicinity of Rs 13,000. Yes, we are sure that even that figure will make some of you wince, but when you consider that the device had been launched in India at a price of $279 in October, which translated into a total cost of almost $ 373 (Rs. 17,000), thanks to shipping and handling costs and import fees, it is really not that bad a deal, especially after the last software update, which included PDF support and a number of other very handy tweaks.
One of the biggest criticisms levelled at the Indian tech industry is that it has been unable to really come out with a “killer product” — the kind of product that catches the public’s imagination at large. Well, with the Pi e-book reader, that criticism might just have been answered resoundingly. On a level playing field, the device would not have the hardware or connectivity muscle to take on Amazon’s mighty Kindle, but given the terms on which Amazon has brought its e-book reader to India, the Pi is more than capable of slaying it. 
We got our hands on Pi, India’s first e-book reading reading device, during a visit to the World Book Fair at Delhi. Its details had been released a few days ago, along with an aggressive pricing strategy. Our initial impressions: well, the hardware does look rather impressive and the price of Rs 9,999. is definitely going to tempt lots of gadget lovers. In fact, we would even go so far as to call it a MUCH better deal than the Kindle in India. Before you start accusing us of insanity, do take a look at our reasons. Mind you, these are based on a very short use of the product. We will have more to say when Infibeam sends us a review unit. Incidentally, the device will start shipping on February 22, although one can place an advance order for one. 
E-book readers were the rage at the recent CES in Vegas. Just about every tech player worth their salt is trying to get into the segment, from Amazon to Sony to Asus, is trying to make its presence felt in the e-book reader segment. But call us old-fashioned if you will, we still think that conventional paper books beat the hell out e-book readers. At least at the moment. Before you start accusing us of being paper-freaks who hate everything mechanical, just read through our reasons for thinking so. 
