Amazon trots out ad-supported Kindle 3G with $25 discount

Not to let Barnes & Noble completely steal the e-reader show this week, Amazon has added another ad-supported Kindle to the mix. Amazon recently introduced the Kindle Wi-Fi with Special Offers (i.e. advertisements) for $114. Now the 3G edition is getting the same treatment with a $164 price tag rather than $189, and it is available immediately. But is $25 really worth the difference? If a Kindle owner needs or wants to have 3G access on the e-book reader at all times, it seems likely that he or she would have already forked over the extra money already. The first ad-supported Kindle was targeted towards students because of the budget-friendly price. $169 is certainly cheaper, but it’s hard to see why the ad-supported Kindle 3G would be appealing to students over the more affordable Wi-Fi edition. Additionally, how often does someone really need 3G on a standard e-book reader that badly? Often times, I just buy a bunch of books in advance of a long trip (or just in general) so I always have a stock waiting. Furthermore, it’s not as if someone is going to do heavy Internet browsing on an electronic ink display. The only way I can see this as a satisfying product is if the buyer wants to save as much money as possible, doesn’t care about ads all over the place and wants to use the 3G connectivity to buy books when on a very long outdoor vacation. Or, it could also work for someone who is seriously addicted to buying items from Amazon. Special offers this week include another $10 for $20 gift card and more $1 Kindle books. However, those deals are also accessible on the Kindle Wi-Fi with Special Offers.