Since Amazon and Barnes & Noble recently announced lower-priced versions of their e-readers, several companies have scurried to get ahead of the low-cost trend by dropping prices or creating cheaper models. Many top-notch e-readers are now available for $150 or less, with some $100 models expected out by year's end.

In June, Barnes & Noble announced that it would offer a new version of its Nook e-reader at $149 and Amazon introduced a $139 version of its Kindle e-reader. Both new models are Wi-Fi enabled, with no 3G connectivity, and have a 6" e-ink screen.