Amazon Set to Unveil $199 'Kindle Fire' Tablet

[Confuzzzed]

What about Sony?

Apologies if it's already been discussed, but I wonder how the Sony tablets will now fare in light of this new release, with Apple cornering the premium end and Amazon seemingly the budget end. Clearly all are after our pennies on eating data, and I would hazzard a guess that Amazon is using their product as a loss leader, but what of Sony? Before today, I didnt want to be dismissing Sony in the tablet wars. Middle of the market is a dangerous place. I wounder how its stock will open in Asia in a few hours.

 

[Eidorian]

Except, again, it has built-in e-mail :

http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Color-...pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1321411382&pf_rd_i=507846



Go to the link before making uninformed comments. How many times does this need repeating ? All the specs/features have been posted online, there's no need for speculation or spreading of misinformation.

Reading the product page makes a difference.

I rarely use the cameras on my iPad2 for Skype but unless the headphone socket supports a headset with a microphone, isn't the Kindle Fire even more fundamentally restricted in its ability to use VoIP in that it has no microphone either?

Another concern of mine alongside the lack of the volume rocker.

 

[Yr Blues]

If they get enough feedback regarding the lack of a camera, I'm sure it'll be included in the Kindle Fire 2. Cameras are dirt cheap.

Amazon, just call it Fire. Drop the Kindle pre-name.

 

[edoates]

No 3G?

Since this new device is backlit just like iPad (harder to read in lighted areas), the only advantage the old kindle had was virtual ink and 3G for downloading books almost anywhere. The Kindle Fire now depends on WiFi instead of a free 3G service; when I'm on the road, many (most?) hotels charge for WiFi nowadays, at stupid prices (10 to 15 bucks a day; their cost, like a buck or less?)

Anyway, if I have to have Wifi and a backlit display, my iPad is a better overall deal since it does so much more.

 

[Yr Blues]

At Amazon's price point, I believe the iPad and Kindle Fire can co-exist very peacefully. Apple got out of the low-cost game a long time ago.

Apple is good at building premium products and a premium price. Amazon is good at building simple products at a very competitive price.

They appeal to different markets and they will both still do very well.

True, but at least close the gap a little.

Right now there will be a significant number of potential iPad customers seriously looking at the Fire. Hell, they can buy both the Fire and Kindle Touch for under $300. Still $200 less than the cheapest iPad.

 

[KnightWRX]

The a5 is not even close to winning the battle in performance. Have you used a tegra 2 or one of the new dual core qualcomms at 1.5ghz.

Actually, the A5's architecture is quite a bit ahead of Tegra 2 in benchmarks, especially the SGX543MP GPU it uses. However, the Samsung Exynos SoC is quite up there with it and with the Tegra 3 (aka Kal-el) and offerings based on the SGX543MP4+ GPU coming, the A5 will get a run for its money, barring Apple puts out the A6 early next year (which they probably will, as a quad-core SoC).

This race is never ending and with every player basically using the same core architecture (ARM) and partners (Imagination), no one is every truely going to have the upper hand here.

 

[jca24]

Apologies if it's already been discussed, but I wonder how the Sony tablets will now fare in light of this new release, with Apple cornering the premium end and Amazon seemingly the budget end. Clearly all are after our pennies on eating data, and I would hazzard a guess that Amazon is using their product as a loss leader, but what of Sony? Before today, I didnt want to be dismissing Sony in the tablet wars. Middle of the market is a dangerous place. I wounder how its stock will open in Asia in a few hours.

sony has been dismissed

 

[Yr Blues]

"There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less. Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp."

—Jeff Bezos

Ouch!

 

[steadysignal]

Just realized these will be tax free. When I bought my wife's iPad it was about $540. At $200 w/ free shipping that's quite a difference.

not if you are in CA it won't...better buy them asap, as most of the states are going to start charging tax on internet purchases via amazon...

 

[Shivetya]

Well its cheap enough. Still need more info before i decide though

EDIT: now more details have emerged i want the Kindle Touch. The price is superb!

Buy them all for less than the price of a single iPad.

I know what I am getting family and friends for Christmas now. I never for once thought someone would hit this price point so soon. This is down in if not below impulse buy territory.

Its features more closely match what I do long term with my iPad, but my parents and other relatives would be more than fine with most of these models

 

[KingCrimson]

"There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less. Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp."

—Jeff Bezos

Ouch!

If I were an investor, I'd prefer Company A. You know the one that rakes in the cash in RECORD amounts? Company B is apparently a charitable organization, not a business. This is about pure profit, rake in the cash, take no prisoners!

 

[darster]

If I were an investor, I'd prefer Company A. You know the one that rakes in the cash in RECORD amounts? Company B is apparently a charitable organization, not a business. This is about pure profit, rake in the cash, take no prisoners!

Make no doubt about it, Amazon WILL rake in the cash with these devices.

 

[daveathall]

I have a MBP, iPad1, iPhone4, TimeCapsule, Apple TV and love using Apples products so can't be accused of bashing Apple, but to me this is a fantastic product, looks like it can do most things for around 150 quid, rather than upgrade to the iPad 3 when it comes out, I would keep my IP1 and buy one of these. IMHO it is not aimed at being a iPad killer.

Oh, I also have a Kindle, great product, love it.

 

[Peace]

Buy them all for less than the price of a single iPad.

I know what I am getting family and friends for Christmas now. I never for once thought someone would hit this price point so soon. This is down in if not below impulse buy territory.

Its features more closely match what I do long term with my iPad, but my parents and other relatives would be more than fine with most of these models

You hit the nail on the head. The Fire IS an impulse purchase. Just look at all the people in this discussion that have already pre-ordered it.

 

[apolloa]

Apologies if it's already been discussed, but I wonder how the Sony tablets will now fare in light of this new release, with Apple cornering the premium end and Amazon seemingly the budget end. Clearly all are after our pennies on eating data, and I would hazzard a guess that Amazon is using their product as a loss leader, but what of Sony? Before today, I didnt want to be dismissing Sony in the tablet wars. Middle of the market is a dangerous place. I wounder how its stock will open in Asia in a few hours.

Sony's top end tablet will be just fine, the stupid split screen thing is daft anyway, I can't imagine it selling very well?
But the other one has Sony's skin and interface, Sony's brand name also counts for a lot with consumers, no one's heard of Asus for example, but Sony also use brands like 'Playstation' certified and they have exclusive PS1 games etc. And it also has a nice unique design.

But Sony's tablet is aimed at the iPad's price range and market, as has been said so many times, it's the mistake to make because everyone just buy's an iPad.
I am getting more and more sure I'll ask for a kindle Fire for my birthday, if it's out in the UK by February anyway, because it does what I want. And at a price that's fantastic. Amazon have done exactly what was needed to get sales.

Apple will just launch the iPad 3 with a stupidly high res screen, iOS5 and what I think will be the A6 which is going to be stupidly powerful. Stick in a decent camera, etc etc and it will effectively still own the market at that price point. This is why I don't understand or like them sewing everyone, because they don't need to!

Anyway, Amazon have the low end, Apple the high end, the other manufacturers will have to decide middle ground or take on a giant.

I would personally make a powerful tablet and sell it just under the iPad's starting price, that should sell then. Or stick it in the middle price bracket of the two ends.

 

[darster]

You hit the nail on the head. The Fire IS an impulse purchase. Just look at all the people in this discussion that have already pre-ordered it.

And how many are going to pre order the iPhone 5?

 

[KingCrimson]

And how many are going to pre order the iPhone 5?

20 million MIN.

 

[blackhand1001]

http://techztalk.com/techwebsite/03-19-11-apple-a5-processor-smokes-nvidia-tegra-2-chip

Yeah I have seen A5 leaving everyone in the dust. Next!

Since this is a java application i'll take this quote to show you why the result came out that way. "This test is more a reflection of the state of the Android Dalvik Virtual Machine than of the floating point performance of the underlying processor."

Thats why the test shows up that way. Find a better benchmark thats not emulated on android. Also they obviously messed up the test because i checked linpacks website and most of the xooms are scoring over 200. Even single core phones are scoring above 100. So typical messed up mainstream reporting to get views rather than real scientific tests.

 

[Yr Blues]

If I were an investor, I'd prefer Company A. You know the one that rakes in the cash in RECORD amounts? Company B is apparently a charitable organization, not a business. This is about pure profit, rake in the cash, take no prisoners!

Now I'm wondering who's going to make money in the long term. The Fire or the iPad?

If the majority of people own a Fire, they will be purchasing Amazon content. Their customer base will be huge and they sell millions of more products than Apple.

At least it'll make Apple sweat a little.

 

[Peace]

And how many are going to pre order the iPhone 5?

That's different. The people that order the iPhone already have one or have actually held on in their hands.

 

[Eidorian]

You hit the nail on the head. The Fire IS an impulse purchase. Just look at all the people in this discussion that have already pre-ordered it.

I recall hunting stores for a Touchpad. I never did find one but $199 is close to chump change personally and for most it is Christmas for everyone at the price of an iPad.

Though I am going to hold out for that volume rocker and microphone. Maybe next year.

The hardware feels a little rushed but they will have something for Christmas and in this economy, at a price more can afford.

 

[apolloa]

Speaking of price points in my comment above
It will be very interesting to see what Apple does once Windows 8 tablets take a hold, much more fully fledged machines with stunning designs and power that will be priced at the top end of the iPad's market. Will be interesting to watch that one......

Oh and the Kindle Fire runs Android 3, so that's the proper tablet Android, and I can also see this being rooted in no time at all.. A dual core Android tablet running a naked Android OS for $199. Bargain IMO.

 

[Savor]

In the end, we are all winners here! Anybody who bought an iPad 2 for $500+ shouldn't stop enjoying their purchase anymore than a person who bought a TouchPad for $99. It all depends on what we need from each tablet and just being happy with it.

Compared to smartphones, tablets technically still do cost more to manufacture. TouchPad cost $300 to make.

TouchPad, PlayBook, and Kindle Fire are all for cheap that I might buy them all for Christmas gifts. Spending $200-$250 for each one, you really can't go wrong with any of them at that price. An iPod nano is being sold over $150 for goodness sakes and most netbooks still cost more than an Kindle Fire. All Amazon is trying to do is expand the tablet market's reach that Apple is unable to do with their prohibitive pricing.

with the economy the way it still is, alot of bargain shoppers this year will be very happy with these new "toys" at reasonable prices. This is the Holiday season for the tablets.

 

[Peace]

I recall hunting stores for a Touchpad. I never did find one but $199 is close to chump change personally and for most it is Christmas for everyone at the price of an iPad.

Though I am going to hold out for that volume rocker and microphone. Maybe next year.

The hardware feels a little rushed but they will have something for Christmas and in this economy, at a price more can afford.

This is true if electronics are your mainstay for Christmas.

 

[robanga]

$199 is a great price for a tablet with integrated services like this. It took Amazon to stand up a credible iPad competitor. I'm getting one. (although why i need one is beyond me )

----------

Since this new device is backlit just like iPad (harder to read in lighted areas), the only advantage the old kindle had was virtual ink and 3G for downloading books almost anywhere. The Kindle Fire now depends on WiFi instead of a free 3G service; when I'm on the road, many (most?) hotels charge for WiFi nowadays, at stupid prices (10 to 15 bucks a day; their cost, like a buck or less?)

Anyway, if I have to have Wifi and a backlit display, my iPad is a better overall deal since it does so much more.

Many places provide pretty decent free Wifi ( a lot of hotel chains and McDonalds for instance). Although traveling in Europe, a lot as I do it far more common to charge here.