Amazon Set to Unveil $199 'Kindle Fire' Tablet

[feflower]

An tablet for less than the price of an iPod touch 4th gen... Sweet
And the $80 Kindle... Costs less than a brand new textbook! Whats not to like?
These are the devices we should implement in our public schools, imo.

Exactly. People are trying to compare the iPad and Fire; but really if you compare it with the iPod touch, the Fire is more attractive to me.

I can't read comfortably academic articles on my Touch.

It seems that Apple was trying to corner the market on educational devices, but I think the original Kindle as well as the Fire will be a strong competitor.

 

[accessoriesguy]

Amazon has done a fantastic job on the price, and as long as they do a great job with cloud and relying on its current kindle fanbase, as well as having great content available to stream, this would easily make a great iPad alternative.

The iPad may be a better machine, but for someone who just wants to watch vids, listen to music and some basic web browsing this would be a viable alternative, especially when you take into consideration amazons great pricing on some of their content.

 

[kdarling]

Whether or not the insides are the same as the Playbook is still speculation at this point.

However, if it is, terrific! The Playbook is a fine piece of hardware. Love its feel and responsiveness.

As for sales, there's enough market for all kinds of tablets. I can easily see, in a few years, homes having multiple sizes and types, just as they do now with TVs and other media players.

 

[Aspasia]

Interesting article about Bezos touting the Kindle Fire not as a tablet, but a service.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-28/bezos-portrays-pocket-sized-fire-as-service-not-tablet-in-ipad-challenge.html

Quoting from the article:

The versatile iPad 2, with its video chatting capabilities and exquisite screen resolution, is a lifestyle-defining objet d’art.
The stripped-down Fire is more of a sit-back-on-the-sofa- and-shop device.

I think it will fill a niche market given the economic realities for a lot of folks.

On the other hand, I'm looking forward to the Apple October event as it pertains to the iPod Touch. Need one as a gift for a young relative who just moved to the Windy City and the Kindle Fire is too large for her needs.

 

[jouster]

The Windows 8 tablets will function like an iPad most of the time--with a simple touch interface--unless the user needs additional functionality and then she can switch to a desktop interface. Windows 8 tablets will be the best of both worlds. That's if Microsoft can pull it off. So far Windows 8 looks promising.

Yup - Windows 8: Our future products are better than your existing ones!

A thought: What happens when Amazon releases their own smart phone?

I *really* wish Amazon would buy WebOS.

 

[inreasonsimage]

Yup - Windows 8: Our future products are better than your existing ones!

Why do you think I wrote: "Windows 8 tablets will be the best of both worlds. That's if Microsoft can pull it off. So far Windows 8 looks promising."

 

[fertilized-egg]

I really feel bad for RIM since they aren't even getting that much consideration on how this will hurt the PlayBook sales. From what we can see and have heard from reports, this is pretty much a slightly cheapened version of PlayBook at less than half of the original price. Same external design, same or at least very similar processor and screen, but with half the storage&RAM and no camera. This utterly destroys whatever market that 7" tablets like PlayBook aimed at, quite possibly including the Samsung and HTC's.

On the other hand, this product won't be that big of a success overseas where Amazon is mostly irrelevant. Although I can imagine some international buyers will order it over the lower end 7" Lenovos and Samsungs once it's rooted. But that's no different that Nook Color.

Speaking of Nook Color, it's somewhat sad that Nook Color did exactly the same thing a lot earlier yet never received so much fanfare. Hopefully the next Nook Color will be a good device.

 

[BigHonkingDeal]

I just pre ordered one myself.... Love my iPad 2 but let's face it this will be much easier to take everywhere. I did that with the iPad for a while but it's just to big for many occasions.

Have already uploaded all my music to the Amazon cloud for months.....

I will keep and still mainly use the iPad but for $200 how can one refuse

when you think of 8gb, you have to remember that you have a full blown - unlimited - cloud storage at your disposal. For 96% of the customers, i'd say that is more than enough --- and, its not like you wont be able to find a wifi connection to swap your materials in 96% of the countries (youd want to visit) in the world.

 

[hcho3]

I am just worried about battery life. It says 8.5 hours with Wi-fi off.

WTF? That's bad.

Amazon kindles are known for good battery life. Is this thing going to have a terrible battery life???

I am just waiting a little longer to pull the trigger, but I am definitely interested.

I am scratching my plan on getting iPod touch.

No iPod touch unless apple wants to cut the price by at least 100 dollars.

 

[eye]

I wouldn't use an android tab for free. But many will buy this piece of crap. Cheap sells.

 

[kdarling]

Amazon has the Fire up for presale. Nice web page:

http://www.amazon.com/kindlefire

I see now that it's different from the Nook in that Amazon has spent a lot of time speeding up the browser, they have their Appstore (with the free app each day that I get), and they will stream your music from their cloud.

The best thing about the Fire to me, is that it's from Amazon. I shop with them all the time, and over many years I have never had a bad experience. They're prompt and reliable.

---

Question: has anyone here used Amazon Prime for movies and TV shows? For ~ $8 a month, how does it compare with Netflix?

(The two-day shipping for everything is icing on the cake, if the show choices are good.)

 

[inreasonsimage]

I really feel bad for RIM since they aren't even getting that much consideration on how this will hurt the PlayBook sales. From what we can see and have heard from reports, this is pretty much a slightly cheapened version of PlayBook at less than half of the original price. Same external design, same or at least very similar processor and screen, but with half the storage&RAM and no camera. This utterly destroys whatever market that 7" tablets like PlayBook aimed at, quite possibly including the Samsung and HTC's.

On the other hand, this product won't be that big of a success overseas where Amazon is mostly irrelevant. Although I can imagine some international buyers will order it over the lower end 7" Lenovos and Samsungs once it's rooted. But that's no different that Nook Color.

Speaking of Nook Color, it's somewhat sad that Nook Color did exactly the same thing a lot earlier yet never received so much fanfare. Hopefully the next Nook Color will be a good device.

Yea, I feel bad for Barnes and Noble. We are fans of Barnes and Noble especially their $25/year membership which gives you free 3 day shipping on most purchases regardless of the amount. B&N frequently discounts their classics. I have 10 B&N classics sitting on my bookshelf waiting to be read. Hahaha. B&N also emails me 2-3 times a month with a coupon offering 20% off a single item. I'm curious to see how they respond.

 

[iEvolution]

Amazon has the Fire up for presale. Nice web page:

http://www.amazon.com/kindlefire

I see now that it's different from the Nook in that Amazon has spent a lot of time speeding up the browser, they have their Appstore (with the free app each day that I get), and they will stream your music from their cloud.

The best thing about the Fire to me, is that it's from Amazon. I shop with them all the time, and over many years I have never had a bad experience. They're prompt and reliable.

---

Question: has anyone here used Amazon Prime for movies and TV shows? For ~ $8 a month, how does it compare with Netflix?

(The two-day shipping for everything is icing on the cake, if the show choices are good.)

x2 with the Amazon comment.

Amazon Prime is pretty limited in the selection in movies but from what I understand Quickster (or whatever the hell Netflix streaming service is called) is getting the ax on a lot of titles in their library as well.

Amazon Prime doesn't have very many new movies. It is mostly TV and 80s-90s movies.

 

[Tiggs]

Seems like they're offering them at a loss and will make it up with volume. Guess thats one way to get to scale but really not a good long term solution.

 

[vanzantapple]

Two words, WIN NER!

 

[darster]

Amazon has the Fire up for presale. Nice web page:

http://www.amazon.com/kindlefire

I see now that it's different from the Nook in that Amazon has spent a lot of time speeding up the browser, they have their Appstore (with the free app each day that I get), and they will stream your music from their cloud.

The best thing about the Fire to me, is that it's from Amazon. I shop with them all the time, and over many years I have never had a bad experience. They're prompt and reliable.

---

Question: has anyone here used Amazon Prime for movies and TV shows? For ~ $8 a month, how does it compare with Netflix?

(The two-day shipping for everything is icing on the cake, if the show choices are good.)

I consider the content on amazon prime as free, since upgrading prime gets me free 2 days shipping on any order, plus no sales tax. The content isn't bad at all. In fact probably better HD material than Netflix.

 

[iEvolution]

Seems like they're offering them at a loss and will make it up with volume. Guess thats one way to get to scale but really not a good long term solution.

At least someone is giving Apple some potential competition, Samsung and Motorolla seemed to think that their products could run against an already well established iPad at virtually the same price points.

This might drive down the ridiculous price of the iPad, there is a $300 premium for that larger screen on the Wifi iPad VS the iPod Touch 64GB, I mean get real.

I honestly can't believe how many people have fallen for this device that is nothing more than a large iPod Touch.

 

[bemylover]

i was hoping it would come in two models, one being more expensive high end model with larger screen. watching movies on 7 inch display is not cool

is the video of the keynote available anywhere online?

 

[Mazeman]

Here's what's going to happen:

Apple is going to use some of its $80 billion in cash, and announce price reductions on the iPad to $300.

Take THAT, Amazon.

 

[Illumination]

I wouldn't use an android tab for free. But many will buy this piece of crap. Cheap sells.

Cheap does sell. But beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Another man's garbage is another man's treasure. You may find the Fire garbage, but there are many people who will enjoy it without breaking the bank at the same time.

And to the above post: why is this a war between Apple and Amazon? If you're going to be angry at someone, be angry at Apple. They're the ones who can't make their products affordable, and it's come to haunt them now that a cheaper alternative is available.

iPad and Kindle Fire can co-exist. It's not one or the other.

 

[sloan47]

I'm actually excited about this... so excited I pre-ordered it. And I NEVER pre-order anything.

 

[darster]

I'm actually excited about this... so excited I pre-ordered it. And I NEVER pre-order anything.

The great thing about pre order with Amazon is you can cancel order anytime before it ships. So if between now and November 15th, the reviews get really bad, I can just cancel with no charge.

 

[MisterK]

Fantastic showing from Amazon

These products are fantastic. I'm still deciding between the Kindle and the Kindle Touch for myself, but I'll be getting a couple Kindles for family members this Christmas. I think the Kindle Fire is great (of course, for the price), but it's still too expensive for me to get for extended family and I'll go iPad for my wife and myself. I have no doubts though that this will be a hit. It might not do the numbers that the iPad has does, but then it doesn't need to. It just has to make money and I'm sure it will make a bunch of it.

I also hope this makes Apple drop the price of the iPad a little. They didn't have to until now, but this does put the pressure on a bit. Apple's iPad, as a luxury device (you'll have to admit that no one NEEDS one) isn't competing just against other tablets but against any other product that is vying for our discretionary income. Amazon just released a few. Not that the Kindle Fire is any slouch; with a few of the major apps on their system, it's going to be hard to tell most people why they should spend twice as much as the Kindle Fire on an iPad.

It also helps that Amazon knows how to advertise like a pro (as opposed to every Android ad I've seen –*which have been garbage and written by a 6 year old).

Anyway, nice job Amazon.. you'll be hearing from me this holiday!

 

[SactoGuy18]

People need to STOP COMPARING IT TO AN IPAD. Look at it as its own device. For $199 you're getting a device that can read books, watch videos on Amazon Prime, browse the internet, and access to an app store from a reputable company. Not bad at all for only $199.

Think of it as more a direct competitor to the Barnes & Noble Nook Color than the real iPad. I'd rather get the real iPad because at least with an iPad, I don't need Wi-Fi access to read books, listen to music or even watch videos.

 

[fitshaced]

I got rid of the ipad in favour of the kindle because of the weight, but mostly the matte screen. If the Kindle fire handles glare much better than the iPad (which is ridiculous), then I might upgrade.

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Also, just wanted to add that the iPad always had a competitor in the Kindle. It offers a better reading experience and reading is one of the main functions of the iPad. The Kindle fire will make an even bigger impact I would think.

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Actually, just remembered the killer reason I ditched the iPad. The touchscreen. Constantly wiping the bloody screen was a night mare. I'll stick to my Kindle then. That was easy