Kindle, Nook e-reader prices slashed

E-reader competitors Amazon.com Inc. and Barnes & Noble Inc. slashed the prices of their digital reading devices Monday, exchanging blows in a price war that is making the devices more affordable.

Amazon’s Kindle will now retail for $189, down from $259. The Nook’s price dropped to $199 from $260.

Barnes & Noble also introduced a lower-cost Wi-Fi Nook for $150. Because the device does not work on a 3G cellular network as its more expensive sibling does, users must be near an accessible Wi-Fi connection to download books from the online store.

The companies are both battling Apple Inc.’s iPad tablet computer, which boasts a large, touch-sensitive color screen. The iPad starts at $499 for a Wi-Fi-only version. The 3G iPad starts at $629, plus a monthly data plan.

david.sarno@latimes.com-fi-0622-google