Amazon Set to Unveil $199 'Kindle Fire' Tablet

[trellus]

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.

For me, it's not an either/or, at all. I spend a lot of money with Amazon -- I buy music there more than I do with iTunes, I am an Amazon Prime member and get multiple shipments a month, sometimes multiple shipments a week, and all the eBooks I have bough are in Kindle format even though I have never owned a Kindle, because I like that the readers are available on multiple platforms -- I can start reading on my iPad, continue on my BlackBerry seamlessly, and if desired, read it on my MacBook as well.

I have no need yet for a Kindle Fire tablet, but I have already ordered the Kindle Touch because I would like a dedicated e-Ink e-reader, and at $99, it makes sense for me.

For my tablet needs, I am sticking with iPad because of the large, large app offerings and the bigger screen. That, and the seamless integration with my Mac, and with iOS 5, with cable-less sync with my entire iTunes library via iTunes Match and iCloud.

 

[MacCurry]

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.

Returns are easy with Amazon. You generate and RMA on-line and it prints out a UPS pre-paid shipping label.

 

[Frenchjay]

Honestly this is really good for the price point. General browsing, Youtube etc and a few games. It's no match for the IPad 2 but just look at the price!!

 

[Boston007]

Food, tech, cars, does not matter because the principle is exactly the same. The Kindle is a great product but it's not a true competitor to the iPad so it's silly to compare them anymore than you would a Chevy to a BMW or McDonalds to a Michelin rated restaurant.

If you don't think the Kindle Fire will take sales away from the iPad you are smoking some nice grass.

 

[DotCom2]

I can't find any details on whether it has Bluetooth or not.
If it doesn't...FUHGEDDABOUIT!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Its not meant to be. Not everyone needs everything that the iPad offers. It has been priced and specced for those who dont.

I agree 100% but that was not your original point. Your original post stated you could buy all 3 Kindle products for the price of 1 iPad implying that the iPad was too expensive. But the iPad is obviously not too expensive for the people that line up to buy them in ever growing numbers. For those that do not need all the functionality or performance of the iPad or find it too expensive then the Fire is a great tablet, but it's not an iPad competitor. It's two different markets like a $100K house and a $3M house.

If you don't think the Kindle Fire will take sales away from the iPad you are smoking some nice grass.

Then call me a toker, a joker, a midnight smoker...even though I've never touched the stuff. I do recognize that people looking for a cheap meal do not eat at a fine restaurant or vice versa. People who have resisted the iPad based on price cannot be considered iPad target customers. It's ludicrous.

 

[Daws001]

That's a good looking lineup. Don't care for the Fire but that $79 Kindle looks really tempting. Not sure if it's overkill to have a Kindle + iPad though...

 

[thetexan]

- No camera's at all for video
- small selection of Android tablet apps
- 8GB of onboard memory

The only thing compelling is the price. If Apple releases the iPad 1 for $199, the Fire would have absolutely nothing on it.

If Apple released the iPad 1 for $199 it would kill sales if the iPad 2.

 

[urkel]

- No camera's at all for video
- small selection of Android tablet apps
- 8GB of onboard memory

The only thing compelling is the price. If Apple releases the iPad 1 for $199, the Fire would have absolutely nothing on it.

Weight
Content
Size
Daily (quality) Free Apps
Amazon store
Amazon Special Offers (like the 20% off all Macs coupon last month)
Amazon Prime user benefits
Not two years old

You clearly have a bias which is fine, but to create fictional scenarios in order to justify your personal preference is silly. The $200 iPad doesn't exist, and even if it did then it's still a different class of device because these are two separate markets. (Believe it or not but many iPad owners also own kindles).

 

[starvingartist8]

Yes, I did read the explanation. It was denied for 2 reasons :

- It was a descriptive term. Multi-touch was describing the technology itself and the way the user interacts with the device.
- Apple failed to show it had achieved secondary meaning, ie, it was used all over the place without referring to Apple and Apple did not put enough effort in pushing the term itself on its own advertising and packaging to warrant they get exclusive use of it.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/66447722/Multi-Touch-Trademark



Apple failed to provide such evidence. If they had, they would have been granted the trademark. kdarling did quite a bit of analysis of Apple's lame attempt (trumpeting sales figure of the devices, failing to show that "Multi-Touch" was used in advertising and packaging).

So no, I'm not the pot calling the kettle black, I actually read the decision and the reasons behind it. You should to before trying to compare it to other situations so that you are familiar with the nuances behind trademarks and their grant process.

Apple probably knew this but they may as well try right. If they succeeded imagine how much damage they could do. I for one am happy that Apple has set standards so we can choose from a more affordable range of products even if they are not as good

 

[KPOM]

This sounds like a good deal. I don't see it replacing the iPad, but instead replacing a Kindle or Nook. It is a good additional device. The real battle for the iPad market won't happen until Amazon releases a larger version with more capabilities.

 

[LeiQQ]

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

I have an iphone for all that--camera, etc.. After getting my iPhone 4 I could not really think of what I could use an iPad for. The only thing would be reading books or PDFs. I need to read a lot (researcher, teacher) and I think the weight of an iPad would be too much. I think there is a market for something like this for sure. I love Amazon and I'm seriously thinking of buying one. I'm just worried that the reading experience will not be as good as with the regular kindle. I haven't decided yet but considering it. I think within six months I'll either own a kindle touch or this new kindle fire.

 

[Patriot24]

This is a good thing for everyone. Just remember folks - Apple doesn't have to lose if the Kindle wins.

Competition is a good thing. Whether or not we perceive the Fire to be a competitor to the iPad, it will be compared since iPad has set the "gold standard" for tablets to this point.

As an iPad fan/user, I hope the Fire does well so that Apple is forced to innovate and address their pricing model as it may relate to the Fire.

Will it last longer than the current lineup of pretenders? I hope so. We'll see...

 

[shiseiryu1]

Not really so excited...

The iPad isn't really that good to do reading on...I can't imagine that a smaller Kindle Fire is going to be any better...in fact I would bet it's worse.

Also, if the Kindle Fire does become popular it seems like it's going to degrade the quality of Android apps. No camera, no mic, no gyroscope, no GPS...is it even multi-touch?! Probably is, anyways, my point is that it's going to set the standard for apps lower whereas Apple is constantly adding features to their devices so that developers can continue to make innovative apps.

I guess if all you want a tablet for is to look at your facebook profile then the Kindle Fire is ok. If all you want to do is read books then just buy the regular Kindle. However, if you want to do anything serious on a tablet you should probably spring for an iPad.

 

[Ssn!]

Excited!

I have an iPad 2, and definitely love it, love the camera/mic for Skype, and I read a lot of books in it, using both the iBooks and Kindle app.

However, I am excited by this announcement. Different market, I think, but as a gadget lover, I'd love to play with the Kindle Fire. Sure it's just another Android tablet, but Amazon makes good products, so I wanna try it and maybe even get one for the heck of it.

Also, great to see that they cut their prices. Awesome, even for an Apple geek.

 

[lesiu]

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

In case of counting 3G for iPad the 3x price ratio should have been used ..
Quite sure it will come within the next iteration though.

 

[iOrlando]

I cannot wait to see the comments on this thread(or others that will be started) its going to be epic.

At $199 this will be the tablet to beat this holiday season! They cut cost by not including items that are rarely used on a tablet(mic, camera) and just get it down to the essential.

With contents deals in place, it should be very interesting.

Get it down to the essential? So you want it to be a pure content consumption device? Ok fine. Funny though how everyone was knocking on iPad for being just a consumption device, even though its not.

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This is great - Apple will have to price the iPad more resonably now!

Yes, since it's priced so unreasonable now...Give me a break.

I think this is likely to be a threat to Apples ipad competitors rather than the iPad itself.

Bingo.

This will really hurt ipad sales.

apple puts doing well

If you say so....

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.

Something better? So now I see apps don't even matter anymore. People's preferences must really change quick these days.

 

[iapplefanboy]

The Kindle Fire can be pre-order now!!

$199

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0051VVOB...iveASIN=B0051VVOB2&adid=11NHCBSNSQ542B2VD06F&

And the new Kindle Family, Kindle and Kindle Touch:

http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&x=0...zon-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957


WOw The war is really getting serious, isn't it?

 

[KingCrimson]

At best this might pull 10% of potential iPad sales. at best.

 

[starvingartist8]

I have an iphone for all that--camera, etc.. After getting my iPhone 4 I could not really think of what I could use an iPad for. The only thing would be reading books or PDFs. I need to read a lot (researcher, teacher) and I think the weight of an iPad would be too much. I think there is a market for something like this for sure. I love Amazon and I'm seriously thinking of buying one. I'm just worried that the reading experience will not be as good as with the regular kindle. I haven't decided yet but considering it. I think within six months I'll either own a kindle touch or this new kindle fire.

I am in the same boat (minus owning any iPads) I wanted to buy an iPad refurb just for my zinio subscription and some pdfs. I know that zinio is available for android but will it be available on this kindle fire? if so I am all for it as long as it can read pdfs also. Sure it would be nice to open a double page spread on the iPad but for $200 i would gladly open 1 page at a time

 

[samcraig]

Well investors seem to like Amazon today.. so they've done something right already.

 

[AAPLaday]

I agree 100% but that was not your original point. Your original post stated you could buy all 3 Kindle products for the price of 1 iPad implying that the iPad was too expensive. But the iPad is obviously not too expensive for the people that line up to buy them in ever growing numbers. For those that do not need all the functionality or performance of the iPad or find it too expensive then the Fire is a great tablet, but it's not an iPad competitor. It's two different markets like a $100K house and a $3M house.

It was just something i noticed after seeing the prices for Amazons products. Just a way of putting it into perspective on how good the pricing is that Amazon has put out. I was expecting the Fire to be about $100 dearer than it is

 

[asphalt-proof]

I have an iPad (using it to send this post) but before I bought this, I had heard rumors of Amazon releasing their own tablet. I was half-tempted to wait to see what they were going to offer. Amazon has the ace in the hole that none of the other tablet makers had to actually challenge Apple: built in content. Massive amounts of content. That being said, I get the feeling from this keynote that this is not positioned to be a direct competitor to the iPad. This really appears to be purely a media consumption device. I know that some of you will argue that the iPad is simply that as well (just a toy) but... Well, nothing I say is going to change your mind. Myself, (and apparently many, many) other people are using them for everyday work and are quite productive with it. It really can be just about anything you want it be. I really didn't see that in Bezo's presentation. however, it is Android so... I guess the 7" is a turn off for me personally. The screen on my iPad is about as small as I can go and still have it be useful. Just my preference though.

Will this "steal" markets share? Absolutely. If, for no other reason than Amazon's huge media availability. Ease of use and seamlessness is the key to this market. I think Amazon has nailed that. Maybe. I guess the proof is in the pudding. But the cost! Oh that too will put a lot of these into shopping carts this christmas.

Am I kicking myself for waiting? No. I love my iPad and nothing in the keynote made me look at it and think, "your not shiny anymore." well, except the cost. Love the cost. I could see me picking up one of the kids this christmas. I
wouldn't even contemplate that with the cost of the iPad.

By the way: did anyone else notice the similarities between Bezo's keynote and past keynotes by Jobs? I think even the font was the same. Not slamming him or even calling him out for it. I think one of the reasons Jobs keynotes are so widely reported and heralded is because he does a great job of showing what the product can do. No dwelling on specs. Just what an amazing product it is and why you want it. Simple. Direct and easy to understand. I actually enjoyed watching Bezo's presentation. I thought he did a nice job selling it.

Here's to the success of the Amazon new Kindle line up. It can only push Apple to innovate further. Can't wait.

 

[DudeDad]

I have Amazon prime for the free shipping, and purchase many household items from Amazon. Great deal. The prime streaming is about exciting as Netflix streaming....seems good at first, but the well runs dry quickly.

Those bashing reading on an iPad may not have done so. I was in the same boat until I got my iPad (first gen) and have no problems reading on it. I don't read on the beach, so sunlight is not an issue. The new Kindle will have a market and certainly will hurt the other android tablets (that don't do that well anyways, let's be real)...and it will take some from buying an iPad, but I don't think that this will kill the iPad. It's too well thought out and works so damn well!

 

[ChrisTX]

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

iMovie not so much, but Garage Band, and Pages daily. This will be a consumer friendly device but won't rival the iPad in specs.