Amazon Introduces 8.9-Inch and 7-Inch Kindle Fire HD at $299 and $199, Updated Kindle Fire Drops to $159

[Allenbf]

I dunno, I really fel this could be a major blow to the iPad market

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you really don't understand how appealing the new kindles are to the education market. they are more cost effective, more durable, and features setup just for kids, (content timers for one) the new textbooks with inquiry built in its just something thats really cool.

why would a school district go with iPads if they can get twice as many units for the same price as the iPad? plus, the kindles are more rugged, hand's down.

Maybe you're right, why would they? But...they are, as evidenced pretty much everywhere. We've all seen the reports, and I can vouch for this in both my kids schools. No Kindles, no tablets of ANY kind, aside from iPads.

For that matter, why would schools not just use PCs as well, Macs are more expensive, not compatible with PCs, etc. But...they do.

The facts don't lie.

 

[PracticalMac]

Completely expected from Amazon.

Wow, that looks pretty impressive!

Apple have got their work cut out now getting the price down on the "iPad mini" to beat this... but then again, competition can only be a good thing!

Even more so Apple needs to offer Mini for $250.

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I think amazon just stole the tablet market.

NOT!

But for sure Apple must price Mini, and Big, right to compete effectively.

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you really don't understand how appealing the new kindles are to the education market. they are more cost effective, more durable, and features setup just for kids, (content timers for one) the new textbooks with inquiry built in its just something thats really cool.

why would a school district go with iPads if they can get twice as many units for the same price as the iPad? plus, the kindles are more rugged, hand's down.

It's the SOFTWARE!

Fire's lock you into Amazon.

iOS (yes, the ECOSYSTEM) is WIDE OPEN, but MONITORED.
And you have the iEducation and iBook advantages.

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Bottom line: In the tablet market, there's Apple...then there's everyone else. These Kindle tablets will compete well with the Nexus 7, but if/when Apple releases the iPad mini, it's game over.

This isn't me speaking as a fanboy, it's just a simple fact. Most of the people I know, work with, talk to, on a daily basis, they love my iPad. There is only one barrier, really. Cost. Many people aren't going to be able to justify spending $500 on a tablet.

The iPad mini will remove that barrier for most people. $250? $299? "I can have an iPad, the Apple ecosystem, Facetime, etc etc, all of that, for less than $300?"

I SERIOUSLY doubt a "game over" result.

Even at $249, a Mini will still more then many can easily afford, and don't forget one can now get Android tablets for $59 (!!!). Sure crappy, but that tiny $ is very attractive for those who don't know.


IMHO, the Mini will only hold the front line, not advance it.

 

[rocknblogger]

1. That would devalue apple products as a whole.

2. It would be inconsistent. Why pay 200 for a touch when the iPad is 200? Why spend $500 on the iPad when the mini is $200? It just wouldn't fit the product line. Btw, tons of people happily spend 300 on the iPod touch

3. People said the exact same thing about the original iPad. "WHAT? $500? What does it even do?" Etc.

4. Apple doesn't make mediocre products for people who can't afford great products. The mini will be an option for people who prefer the smaller size.

$350 feels right to me, but that's a weird number, so I'm guessing $300. That's almost half the iPad entry cost, but still gives the illusion of a premium product compared to the fire.

$300 will work if the iPad mini has retina display. Make no mistake, for the average consumer these Kindle devices are going to be very attractive and Amazon has a complete ecosystem set up. The mini must be competitively priced otherwise a lot of folks will be buying one of these Amazon devices.

Don't get me wrong, I don't see these as iPad killers but for the first time I think the competition is very attractive.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Just sold all my Apple stock and used the $$$ to buy Amazon stock....NOT!!!

 

[John.B]

So all of the new Kindle Fire tablets now have mandatory ads? You can't pay to turn them off?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRBBW/
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRE5A/
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/

 

[samcraig]

So all of the new Kindle Fire tablets now have mandatory ads? You can't pay to turn them off?

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRBBW/
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GFRE5A/
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GGCAVM/

And this just in... Yes... you will be able to.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/07/amazon-confirms-yes-you-can-opt-out-of-ads-on-new-kindle-fire/

 

[bawbac]

Maybe you're right, why would they? But...they are, as evidenced pretty much everywhere. We've all seen the reports, and I can vouch for this in both my kids schools. No Kindles, no tablets of ANY kind, aside from iPads.

For that matter, why would schools not just use PCs as well, Macs are more expensive, not compatible with PCs, etc. But...they do.

The facts don't lie.

I don't know what planet or country you live in but over the last 15 years, funding for the education system has dropped significantly as well as shrinking teacher staff & salary.

Kids/parents now have to purchase a list of items in which use to be provided by the schools. Schools are closing and merging. Funding is at an all time low.

I suspect any Apple products seen/used in schools are donated by Apple or other charities. I highly doubt most schools are in the position to purchase high priced computers/tablets.
If they have funds, they will be very frugal and if a lower priced competitive device can accommodate their needs, they will purchase those over spending double or triple the amount for a device that essentially does the same exact thing.

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And this just in... Yes... you will be able to.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/07/amazon-confirms-yes-you-can-opt-out-of-ads-on-new-kindle-fire/

But how hard is it to unlock your Kindle Fire and make the ads disappear.
Some here are making out like it takes 10 minutes to unlock a Kindle and you must suffer through minutes of ads before you can use your Kindle fire.

When I use my iPad, the lock screen gets a total of <5 seconds before I'm at the home screen.

 

[MonkeySee....]

I think amazon just stole the tablet market.

My goodness.

 

[bawbac]

I think amazon just stole the tablet market.

 

[MonkeySee....]

$300 will work if the iPad mini has retina display. Make no mistake, for the average consumer these Kindle devices are going to be very attractive and Amazon has a complete ecosystem set up. The mini must be competitively priced otherwise a lot of folks will be buying one of these Amazon devices.

Don't get me wrong, I don't see these as iPad killers but for the first time I think the competition is very attractive.

What ecosystem would that be? Genuine question.

 

[samcraig]

But how hard is it to unlock your Kindle Fire and make the ads disappear.
Some here are making out like it takes 10 minutes to unlock a Kindle and you must suffer through minutes of ads before you can use your Kindle fire.

When I use my iPad, the lock screen gets a total of <5 seconds before I'm at the home screen.

It's not hard. It's not even that intrusive to most average joes and janes who might also like to save a few bucks. I know lots of people who actually feel they got their kindles for free because they saved some money with the ads for stuff they were going to buy anyway but saved enough to pay for their kindle.

But for the people who are annoyed - they have an option. So that kills that "argument"

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What ecosystem would that be? Genuine question.

Apps, Movies, Music, Books.

How is that not an ecosystem?

 

[MonkeySee....]

Image

Nice effort in paint. Did you mum help you do that?

 

[0dev]

And finally they've released it in the UK. It's about damn time.

Can it beat the Nexus 7 though?

 

[MonkeySee....]

It's not hard. It's not even that intrusive to most average joes and janes who might also like to save a few bucks. I know lots of people who actually feel they got their kindles for free because they saved some money with the ads for stuff they were going to buy anyway but saved enough to pay for their kindle.

But for the people who are annoyed - they have an option. So that kills that "argument"

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Apps, Movies, Music, Books.

How is that not an ecosystem?

I didn't know they did apps and movies so yeah. It was a genuine question. thanks for answering.

 

[linkgx1]

meanwhile on android forum fandroids are eager to LAUGH at what apple has to offer
http://forums.androidcentral.com/sa...ger-laugh-what-apple-has-offer-sept-12th.html

This is just sad i really hope there is a turnaround ,even if apple has only got this slighlty taller iphone it desperately needs One more thing...I mean come on imagine they launch ipod nano/touch at 149 or 199 or an ipad mini at 299 ,you can get a these awesome kindle fires with 3g/4g 7.0/8.0 inch 16/32/64gb loads of choices out there now.

And the point of that Android forum link?

Fanboys here do the EXACT same thing. Notifications are 'STUPID, POINTLESS' on Android. Apple updates it on iOS5 and it's the 'coolest thing ever'. Stupidity at its FINEST.

 

[0dev]

And the point of that Android forum link?

Fanboys here do the EXACT same thing. Notifications are 'STUPID, POINTLESS' on Android. Apple updates it on iOS5 and it's the 'coolest thing ever'. Stupidity at its FINEST.

Exactly, all fanboys are deluded idiots no matter what they're a fanboy of.

Edit: although some of those replies actually look perfectly sensible anyway.

 

[citi]

Forget about the tablet itself, the $49 per YEAR data plan for 250mb monthly is amazing. Granted, its only 250mb but AT&T currently charges $15 a month for that pittance.

I hope these lower prices find their way to the iPad. I'm not going to be happy to pay a premium on the same LTE service just for the privilege of already paying more for an iPad.

With everything plans from Verizon and ATT this will cost your 10$ a month. A little more but you are not restricted to 250gb.

 

[Perrumpo]

Yes, how dare Amazon give us choices and options...we're too dumb to understand all these different Kindles. Just give us one model like Apple.

I simply believe in a streamlined product line. All of these kindles look messy to me. And, yes, I think it will confuse a lot of "non-techie" people who are looking for a Kindle because all they want to do is read books or the person who is trying to decide on one as a gift.

Really, I count 7 Kindle Fire Models
Fire
Fire HD 7 16/32GB
Fire HD 9 16/32GB
Fire HD 9 4G 32/64

Apple has 12 current iPad Models + 4 iPad 2 models, and that's not counting any rumored iPad Mini models

Black or White in 16/32/64 configurations with Wifi or Wifi+4G

Having said all of that, unless the iPad Mini is $149, I'm thinking about picking up one non-HD Fire. At $160, it's a great little tablet for the kids to play on, and the parental controls look outstanding.

I really don't consider different capacities as different models. Here are the Kindle models:

That's eight models.

Even if you count the iPad 2, Apple has half that many models. 3G or Wi-Fi iPad 2 and "New iPad."

And without worrying with 3G or 4G, there's five Kindles and two iPads. To me, that's a lot of Kindles to bother with.

 

[soundguyami]

And BOOOM goes the Dynamite! Amazon is taking no prisoners...

More like pop from a firecracker. Amazon insist on watering down the Android version it uses makes the units junk.

 

[bawbac]

Did you mum help you do that?

It's your
I know, you didn't have your auto grammar correct enabled on your Apple device.

 

[soundguyami]

Amazon are good. They've been good for over 15 years. Ahead of the curve more than once. Yes, we could see something here. In fact, thats what i said one year ago when the original Fire was launched. I would like my position if i were Bezos. Amazon have a good shot at dominating the lower end. A very good shot, indeed.

Question is, what is Google going to do. While they will probably do fine in mobile for at least another 5 years, they are certainly going to have a hard time gaining traction anywhere else now that the formerly sleeping giant is wide awake, getting ready for a full charge. Never count out MSFT. Stumbling early and winning from behind is what they do best. To speak Apple-speak: Its in their DNA. Heck, it is their DNA.

I disagree. Amazon almost lost their shirts on the fire when it came out. At one point there were very few going out that were not returned in the early stages.

 

[Allenbf]

I don't know what planet or country you live in but over the last 15 years, funding for the education system has dropped significantly as well as shrinking teacher staff & salary.

Kids/parents now have to purchase a list of items in which use to be provided by the schools. Schools are closing and merging. Funding is at an all time low.

I suspect any Apple products seen/used in schools are donated by Apple or other charities. I highly doubt most schools are in the position to purchase high priced computers/tablets.
If they have funds, they will be very frugal and if a lower priced competitive device can accommodate their needs, they will purchase those over spending double or triple the amount for a device that essentially does the same exact thing.

----------



But how hard is it to unlock your Kindle Fire and make the ads disappear.
Some here are making out like it takes 10 minutes to unlock a Kindle and you must suffer through minutes of ads before you can use your Kindle fire.

When I use my iPad, the lock screen gets a total of <5 seconds before I'm at the home screen.

I live in FL, in the USA. Quite a few districts around us, including our own school district, have purchased iPads. One district near us recently purchased 400 iPads for a local high school.

I agree that funding is lower, and that it's shrinking. But that doesn't mean technology is going away in the education sector. It simply means that when making purchases, schools will be damn sure to look for the best value.

And right now, that's the iPad.

 

[soundguyami]

Captain Obvious here.

Have you used a Fire? Things are horrible. Nexus 7 blows it out of the water at the same price point....iPad is way out of the ballpark and shouldn't even be compared.

 

[samcraig]

Have you used a Fire? Things are horrible. Nexus 7 blows it out of the water at the same price point....iPad is way out of the ballpark and shouldn't even be compared.

Have you used the new Kindle Fire. No? Can't be compared.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Have you used a Fire? Things are horrible. Nexus 7 blows it out of the water at the same price point....iPad is way out of the ballpark and shouldn't even be compared.

Yeah. I've got a couple of friends with a Fire. They like it but they realize it's not an iPad.

UI is stutters on scroll and vertical height in landscape is claustrophobic. I'm not enthused by the advertising on the next gen Kindle Fire.

I always try to minimize the amount of advertising I or my son watches. I'm not opening up my tablet screen to advertising because Amazon wants to save me $60 on a tablet.