kindlesaleWell, that rumor about a new Kindle Voyage this month looks more and more believable.

Same for a Paperwhite with more memory.

Amazon has marked the Voyage down $30 to just $170, and the Paperwhite is now just $90. Those are the versions with advertising. Just click on the above links for the two machines.

The sale is only for Prime members, with discounts to be applied at checkout.

Not included in the sale, apparently, is the basic model—rumored to offer a higher screen resolution in a new version and be the “lightest Kindle ever” (Good E-Reader).

The markdowns are for a “limited time,” whatever that means. So don’t tarry.

My own hunch, especially after reading a TeleRead comment from the helpful Isaac Gomez, is that the new versions of the Voyage will soon be with us. Same for the Paperwhite, if you extrapolate. And ditto for the basic model, even if it isn’t on sale now.

Reminder: It’s easy to share news tips with us on sales or other topics.

(Via Good E-Reader and The Digital Reader.)

9 COMMENTS

  1. Amazon intermittently marks down the price of the Paperwhite for a limited period. It was briefly discounted £20 in the UK 6 weeks ago, so it’s hard to read much into that. Third-party sellers like the big-box stores are still trying to clear out inventory of the 2014 PW, so there’s plenty of excess still floating around.

    With more and more people reading on their phones and key features available on much cheaper models, the Voyage is looking a bit irrelevant these days. It’s served its purpose and maybe the smart thing is to let it drift off to oblivion rather than spend a lot of money on a refresh. But then Amazon’s hardware releases have often not been all that rational.

    • @Nate and @Charles: Of course Amazon ran discounts earlier — knowing then, just as now, that new models were on the way. That’s my theory. Let’s see how this works out. Thanks for sharing your opinions.

  2. @Nate: The FCC regs contain exemptions for certain kinds of changes in previously authorized devices. Among other possibilities, Michael could be right about a new Voyage model but wrong about the chip change. Regarding the expanded memory in the Paperwhite, that would probably not require a new filing. Same for shrinkage of the basic model’s size or weight (something of interest even if there presently are not discounts this case). What’s more, you still haven’t explained away the customer service reps’ info that Isaac reported—stuff presumably obtained independently of Good E-Reader and without Michael’s involvement in any other way.

    @Starbird: Amazon could have authorized reps to do little discounts of all kinds without their knowing about the forthcoming new models.

    Thanks,
    David

    Updated. Also see addendum below—quoting the FCC:

    What changes can be made to an FCC-authorized device without requiring a new FCC authorization?
    The person or company that obtained FCC authorization for a digital device is permitted to make the following types of changes:
    For certified equipment (personal computers and their peripherals) the holder of the grant of certification can make modifications to the circuitry, appearance or other design aspects of the device provided that no change is made to its main clock circuitry or its FCC ID.
    If such a change does not affect, or reduces the radio frequency emissions from the device then the grantee is not required to file any information with the FCC. These are called Class I permissive changes.
    If such a change increases the radio frequency emissions from the device, the grantee must file an application on FCC Form 731, along with complete information about the change, and results of tests showing that the equipment continues to comply with FCC technical standards. In this case, the modified equipment may not be marketed under the existing grant of certification prior to acknowledgement by the Commission that the change is acceptable. These are called Class II permissive changes.
    If the change is a major change (e.g., it results in a new product), then a new application along with complete test results must be submitted and a new grant must be obtained. A change to the clock circuitry of any digital device requires a new equipment authorization.
    For verified equipment (digital devices that are not personal computers or peripherals to personal computers) any changes may be made to the circuitry, appearance or other design aspects of the device as long as the manufacturer (importer, if the equipment is imported) has on file updated circuit drawings and test data showing that the equipment continues to comply with the FCC rules.

    https://transition.fcc.gov/Bureaus/Engineering_Technology/Documents/bulletins/oet62/oet62rev.pdf

  3. “What’s more, you still haven’t explained away the customer service reps’ info that Isaac reported—stuff presumably obtained independently of Good E-Reader and without Michael’s involvement in any other way.”

    What about the CS reps who said that we’d get a new Kindle in November?

  4. @Nate: Here’s the link to Isaac’s comment. I haven’t turned detectives loose on Isaac to see if he has a Michael connection, but my bet is that he doesn’t. 😉 I agree with Isaac: who knows how this will turn out? It’s even possible that Amazon could change its mind at the last minute. But if I were planning to buy a new Voyage or Paperwhite, I’d sit tight right now just in case the rumors are true.

  5. I couldnnt guess my comment would have been that much impactful LOL

    I have no connection with the guy on goodeareader, i’m a humble travel agent & travel bookstore manager in northeastern Spain. You’ll find different posts from me in goodeareder or the-ebook-reader or twitter (@isaacgobo) talking to other people like me:

    People who is looking to buy a voyage and found goodeareader rumour trying to know if there’s really a new one or not before buying. Rumour is not anywhere else but on goodereader and well, he is known for speculating too much to just believe him

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