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Amazon Set to Unveil $199 'Kindle Fire' Tablet

jsh1120 said:
The big news here is the evolution of the definition of what constitutes a "tablet."

() Amazon protects its flank in the eReader market with a new floor ($79) and a premium version with improved e-ink, additional content, and a "lifetime" 3G connection in 100 countries for $149. Nobody is going to encroach on Amazon's turf in this market.

() The "Fire" is better understood as growing up from the e-Reader market than a de-featured iPad. It expands the content available from books (and to some extent magazines) to movies, videos, the web, and music. (Not clear what happens to the Kindle DX at this point; it seems to be an unwanted stepchild.)

() The "split browsing" experience, if it works, builds on the Opera model and will eliminate the one area where no one (including Apple) has been able to resolve "lags" in the user-interface, i.e. web browsing. Managing browsing to eliminate jerkiness and lags is a huge step forward for users who don't differentiate between looking at a web page and running a local app. Roadblocks and net congestion will remain but if Amazon manages to "smooth" the browsing experience, they'll impress a lot of users.

() Not clear how traditional Kindle customers will react to the backlit Fire but I suspect the expanded content available will soothe their feathers. And if it doesn't, the other new Kindle models will provide a place for them to go.

() Not sure why the Fire apparently doesn't include a built-in email or messaging client. Though an email client is apparently available for download from the Amazon digital store. No demonstration of the Fire keyboard options (that I saw) so that might be the stumbling block. (Along with the wifi only current limitation.) In any event, I think those are the missing pieces for many potential customers who don't need/want a fully featured tablet.

() All in all, Amazon is taking a step by step up the ladder approach by extending an e-reader base into "tablet" functionality. And at a price point under $200, they'll sell 'em by the boat load.
Click to expand...

Also, leaving out 3G in their "flagship" model seems puzzling.
 
Abyssgh0st said:
Nope- HP sold hundreds of thousands of them with the fire sale, and they have a second batch now- there are a lot of them out there.

And @WRX- Do you really think WebOS isn't going to get licensed out/bought? It isn't as polished as iOS, but some features (ex. Multitasking) is so much better than iOS.
Click to expand...

Hundreds of thousands? This is a market of hundreds of millions. WebOS is irrelevant.


igazza said:
$199:eek: How can they even make a profit :confused:
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Content.
 
jsh1120 said:
The big news here is the evolution of the definition of what constitutes a "tablet."



() Not sure why the Fire apparently doesn't include a built-in email or messaging client. Though an email client is apparently available for download from the Amazon digital store. No demonstration of the Fire keyboard options (that I saw) so that might be the stumbling block. (Along with the wifi only current limitation.) In any event, I think those are the missing pieces for many potential customers who don't need/want a fully featured tablet.
Click to expand...

It does. From their website

Email
Stay in touch using our built-in email app that gets your webmail (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL etc.) into a single inbox. Import your messages and contact lists from other email accounts. Additional email apps are available in our Amazon Appstore for Android.
 
MacCurry said:
I just pre-ordered one. My children wanted an iPod Touch, and now they have something better.

It will not hurt the iPad, but hurt the iPod Touch. If Amazon put a FF and RF cameras in it, then it would have put nails in the coffin of the iPod Touch.
Click to expand...

Totally different market, you're talking tablets vs. a handheld device that has the power and flexibility of an iPhone (except the calling ability)
 
The major concern for me here is the reports out yesterday that this is a rushed to market product, and that the real Amazon tablet will be out in the first part of 2012. Let's hope this isn't buggy like the Moto Xoom, and the Playbook.
 
Confuzzzed said:
Allegedly (according to gizmodo) there's a follow up product in Q1 2012 which will offer all of those. That will be a more credible competitor to the iPad although by then Apple may move the game on once more with the iPad 3
Click to expand...

many, if not most, people are perfectly fine not having a camera etc. Especially if they save 300 bucks in the meantime. This will be huge. Not only because of the 199 fire, but also the 79 kindle.
 
Abyssgh0st said:
Nope- HP sold hundreds of thousands of them with the fire sale, and they have a second batch now- there are a lot of them out there.
Click to expand...

The second batch was only to cover existing orders. No new HP TouchPads will be made ever and the used market with its "hundred" of thousands can't sustain a significant market share even if you wish to include it in the sales figure.

No, let's not kid ourselves, the TouchPad is dead and buried. It rules nothing. The used/refurbished market is meaningless, no one does market analysis based on it as it is so volatile and pricing is all over the place. Value is hard to determine.

Abyssgh0st said:
And @WRX- Do you really think WebOS isn't going to get licensed out/bought? It isn't as polished as iOS, but some features (ex. Multitasking) is so much better than iOS.
Click to expand...

I think HP is going to aim it at the business side of things and integrate it in their enterprise offerings (something my workplace is highly invested in. I myself have to manage quite the variety of HP enterprise offerings ranging from hardware to software).

I hope you weren't pegging me as some kind of HP hater ? It's just being realistic here, my TouchPad is a dead device. What it does today is what it will do for its lifetime and for the price I paid for it, it's plenty good enough.
 
The other thing that is less fortunate about the Kindle Fire is the dependence upon the cloud... I personally don't want all of my information running through all of Amazon's servers. That said, even if you don't mind that, you're still dependent upon a mobile Internet connection, and we all know how well those work :rolleyes:

I like the fact that you can choose what gets rendered where, but I question the actual device performance, especially when you have poor or no Internet service. If you're out of coverage you're out of content... 8GB isn't exactly overfilling anything.
 
Boston007 said:
It's not really for CURRENT iPad owners. It's for the ones who haven't bought a tablet like myself. See ya iPad, I'm going with the Fire.
Click to expand...
Not really.

Many people bought an iPad simply because it's the only legitimate tablet out there and it has the most commercial appeal. But I know many iPad owners who are happy with it, yet still are considering a kindle because Amazon rules the market for books and also because the kindle is "pocketable" while the iPad requires a satchel.

So to those people then the Kindle Fire is an amazing device that seems to bridge the kindle and iPad in terms of features, yet still offers an amazing price. I own and LOVE LOVE LOVE my iPad, but I already preordered my Kindle Fire because I actually want a tablet I can use outside of the house.
 
It obviously comes down to each person's usage of these devices--which apps they use most and where.

But, what else could Amazon have done here to make you happy? Offer a 3G version? This thing is cheaper than the iPod Touch. With touch you get a camera and pocketability. With Fire you get larger device for better reading, surfing, etc.

As for 3G, I'd like to see the split of iPad Wifi vs. 3G. Anyone know the sales figures?

Bezos demoed Fruit Ninja running on the Fire. If they get the top apps such as Evernote, QuickOffice, Google Calendar integration, good email client and then some top games like Angry Birds, etc. this will be a huge success. Those apps combined with Amazon's movie, TV and music and budget-minded folks who see the $200 price tag will jump on this.

iMovie and GarageBand on the iPad are awesome and technical marvels, but how many people are really using these type of apps?

Heck, I'm thinking this would be great for my 10 year old and I have a total Apple house.
 
notjustjay said:
I don't think the iPad and this Fire really have that much to compare with each other, especially not price.

Remember that for twice the price, you're also getting "twice" the tablet: larger screen, 3G, two cameras, much larger software base, etc.

As we already know, the iPad was very competitively priced for its features. That hasn't changed.

Having said that, I actually want a tablet in around the 7" size, so I'm watching this announcement with excitement!
Click to expand...

I would agree with this, but for 3g you're actually looking at three times the price for a new ipad 2 ($630 vs $200). But perhaps a 3g ipad 2 is three times the tablet. :)

I'm interested to see how this impacts Apple's plans in the near term, holiday season.
 
I may have to get one of these. Once the people at XDA get a hold of this it could become a great little hackable tablet.
 
jdanilson said:
why is everyone doing the low price dance.

Unless the departure of mr. Jobs has changed apple's strategy, i do not recall that they have decided to dumpster dive for the low price prize. They have never been known for low cost. I for one hope they do not forget this.

Yes, the ipad is more expensive. It also is more ground breaking than anything rim or amazon or hp have to offer. The next ipad will similarly break new ground.

I'll stick with apple.
Click to expand...


ipad earthquak3!!!
 
igazza said:
$199:eek: How can they even make a profit :confused:
Click to expand...

Think of Amazon here like you would a carrier. AT&T/Verizon/et al don't make jack on the sale of devices. All of the profits come from plans and add ons.

Same will be true here. They won't make squat on the tablets themselves, but they will make it up on the back end selling e-books that have just about no cost from an overhead standpoint.
 
jsh1120 said:
The big news here is the evolution of the definition of what constitutes a "tablet."

() Amazon protects its flank in the eReader market with a new floor ($79) and a premium version with improved e-ink, additional content, and a "lifetime" 3G connection in 100 countries for $149. Nobody is going to encroach on Amazon's turf in this market.

() The "Fire" is better understood as growing up from the e-Reader market than a de-featured iPad. It expands the content available from books (and to some extent magazines) to movies, videos, the web, and music. (Not clear what happens to the Kindle DX at this point; it seems to be an unwanted stepchild.)

() The "split browsing" experience, if it works, builds on the Opera model and will eliminate the one area where no one (including Apple) has been able to resolve "lags" in the user-interface, i.e. web browsing. Managing browsing to eliminate jerkiness and lags is a huge step forward for users who don't differentiate between looking at a web page and running a local app. Roadblocks and net congestion will remain but if Amazon manages to "smooth" the browsing experience, they'll impress a lot of users.

() Not clear how traditional Kindle customers will react to the backlit Fire but I suspect the expanded content available will soothe their feathers. And if it doesn't, the other new Kindle models will provide a place for them to go.

() Not sure why the Fire apparently doesn't include a built-in email or messaging client. Though an email client is apparently available for download from the Amazon digital store. No demonstration of the Fire keyboard options (that I saw) so that might be the stumbling block. (Along with the wifi only current limitation.) In any event, I think those are the missing pieces for many potential customers who don't need/want a fully featured tablet.

() All in all, Amazon is taking a step by step up the ladder approach by extending an e-reader base into "tablet" functionality. And at a price point under $200, they'll sell 'em by the boat load.
Click to expand...

great post...the only correction is that the Fire does include a built in email app which can consolidate all of your inboxes. I don't have an ipad, mainly because I can't justify spending $500-over $800 on that type of device...but $200? I really do love my kindle, so who knows

"Stay in touch using our built-in email app that gets your webmail (Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, AOL etc.) into a single inbox. Import your messages and contact lists from other email accounts. Additional email apps are available in our Amazon Appstore for Android"
 
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