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It isn't a direct competitor is the more accurate way of looking at it.

Yes it is a car like the iPad is a car. But they aren't the same any more than a BMW is the same as a Nissan Versa.

Your list is nice and all. But hardly represents how each product performs in each of those categories. Nor does it list the things the Fire can't do which the iPad can.

Lets not forget that the screen is half the size of an iPad screen.

It is a different class of device.

Substitute good. Econ 101. Do fanboys know it?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by trip1ex
I agree that the tablet category does not need to be more than a surfing machine.

But the Fire is 7". All the more reason to not get one if you already own an iPhone.

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90% of what you do can be done on an iPod Touch too.


I think you have to give screen size a little more credit than you are currently giving.

That is funny because that was my point too. :D
 
I agree that the tablet category does not need to be more than a surfing machine.

But the Fire is 7". All the more reason to not get one if you already own an iPhone.

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90% of what you do can be done on an iPod Touch too.

$199 kindle fire vs $199 ipod touch. unless people need to buy apple, the Fire is the better choice here
 
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No matter how much better the iPad is than other tablets, competition is healthy for any Market sector

I totally agree. I have my Fire pre-ordered. I don't need everything the iPad has and I have an :apple: Mac Pro, Macbook Air, and iPhone

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I don't see why the media keeps comparing the Fire to the iPad. They're very different items that do different things. I own an iPad and I'm going to purchase a Fire because they are different.

The media LOVES causing a stir.

The media LOVES big news stories and saying it's a Kindle vs. iPad generates stories for them.
 
You can test that out on your iPad. Let us assume that the Fire surfs as well as the iPad for sake of the test. Not likely but let us assume that.

Ok, First turn your iPad so you are in Portrait mode.

Next cover half the screen with paper using some scotch tape.

Wha La. You have a Kindle Fire. Enjoy your surfing.

You mean, "voila"?
 
I hate when people say Kindle Fire doesn't compete with iPad. The fact is they indeed directly compete with each other.

Let's see, both do
Email
Web
Books
Music
Apps
Magazines

Not understanding how it's not a competitor product. Someone please explain!!

Let me help.

It's true the Fire can do all that but there are significant road blocks because the Fire heavily depends on it's cloud service and there is only 8GB internal storage.

As far as apps go, there is no way the Kindle Apps can compete w/ the ones on iTunes b/c of the Fire's hardware. It's like drag racing a VW Beetle 2.0L vs a BMW 335i. The quality and capabilities of some of the more complex iOS apps just isn't going to happen on a Fire.

Magazines - I suppose it will depend on whether you have to buy the sub on Amazon or if you can bring your own via Zinio. I had a lot of paper subs when I got the iPad and asked the publisher if I could get the electronic version instead. They switched me over to Zinio or their own iOS App.

The Fire looks like a great product to be sure. But it's a different class of tablet from the iPad. That is why they don't directly compete.
 
$200 for a $325 device seems like a really good deal.

325?? What the hell am I talking about?

The device is 200$. We know Amazon is subsidizing $50. This means there is a 250$ worth of components. Add a 30% margin, and you have a MSRP of $325.

Plus, Amazon has never disappointed with their Kindle line. Why would that start now?

This product will be a hit. Not saying the iPad won't best it in some ways. But for 95% of what people use tablets for, it will compete in a very serious way. And, it will absolutely crush on price.


you can buy a chinese brand x 7" android tablet with similar specs as the Fire for $169. I don't think amazon is losing any money on them except for the development costs they spent
 
Eventually Apple is going to be in for a shock.

Just like Flat screen TV's
Video recorders
DVD players
Laptops
Laser printers
Monitors
From this list, Apple only competes in the laptop market ... sure, they make monitors too, but they only cater to folks with Macs.

Apple makes quite a tidy profit selling "premium" laptops.

There will come a point in the future when the technology has matured to the point where tablets will just become commodity items. The tech will be settled enough, and so many factories around the world are churning out so many millions of tablets per month that costs will tumble.

When this happens, and will probably be quite a few years from now, perhaps a decade? It's going to be hard to justify your $600, $800 tablet unless it does something so amazing that nothing else can do.

Very few people in the mass market buy the top end hi-fi's and such like any more as the quality of the low priced models are enough for 95% of the population.

It's going to be interesting to see if Apple can only produce a "Premium" product when we get to this stage, as they might get swamped by then.
Right now, the iPad is not positioned as a "premium" product. It's priced very competively against the other ~10" tablets in the market. Are there more affordable tablets? Of course, the Nook Color and the Fire will attack that segment of the market (along with the Samsung 7 and 8.9" tabs. Will Apple follow suit? Who really knows. Apple has, in the past started out with the higher-tier end of the market and after sucking up all of the oxygen in the market, turned their attention to the lower-end of the market. They've done this with both the mp3-player market and the smartphone market. In both instances, they've done very well.

We just don't know how Apple will address the lower-end of the tablet market. Will they sell last-year's model at a $100-150 discount? Will they introduce a smaller tablet with fewer/downgraded features? Will they bump the iPod touch screen size up? Will they do nothing and leave the low-end, low-margin market for the "others" to fight for?
 
For those who say that you can't compare the two I disagree.

For those who are in the market for a tablet and are eyeing the iPad because other tablets are similarly priced, so would prefer to get the iPad for various reasons (it is a proven popular product, it fits in their apple ecosystem, they don't know any better, etc). They may know that that an iPad is overkill for their needs, but would still like a tablet. And they can only afford one such toy.

So they wait till they can afford the iPad. Then along comes the Fire, it is more affordable and more consistent with their needs. (Also may have other advantages: smaller form factor, ability to thumb-type, etc). Therefore they opt to buy the Fire and forgo their plan to buy the iPad.

Yes, different device, but in the "same market".



P.S. I wish Apple would have a 7" for some reasons: iPod Touch is too small to read scholarly articles.
 
No one who buys a Fire was ever a potential iPad customer. If you don't start acknowledging that and pointing it out in the articles that highlight the Fire, then you might as well stop posting about it all together.
 
I need something that can easily slip into my pocket.

Well there's a reason why some might opt for the Fire vs an iPad as well. a 7" device - while likely not pocketable - is easier to purse/manbag than the ipad. Or just hold in your hand during your commute.
 
This just in.

Amazon-brand 26" LCD hdtvs are only $200.

Everyone quick. Grab one for your living room. Forget about those more expensive 42" hdtvs.
 
No one who buys a Fire was ever a potential iPad customer. If you don't start acknowledging that and pointing it out in the articles that highlight the Fire, then you might as well stop posting about it all together.

and where do you base that off of?
 
$199 kindle fire vs $199 ipod touch. unless people need to buy apple, the Fire is the better choice here

LMFAO. You must be joking.

This is the kind of nonsense you hear from someone who really can't/doesn't/won't understand the whole of the Apple ecosystem. Amazon has nothing to compare to. They have a website, where you can buy em pee threez. Big deal.
 
i see more people with kindles on the NYC subway than ipads. A LOT of people with ipods, especially Nano's.

if all you want to read is books on the way to work plus some light movie watching and other media consumption you can't go wrong with a kindle. and the kindle selection is awesome

Nook is better but B&N are marketing morons and that product will die

love my ipad and iphones but for a lot of people the kindle is just right. even for a lot of iphone owners. a lot of people don't spend any money on music or very little at all. so lack of itunes is not a big deal
 
Well there's a reason why some might opt for the Fire vs an iPad as well. a 7" device - while likely not pocketable - is easier to purse/manbag than the ipad. Or just hold in your hand during your commute.

And if you already have a smartphone then why bother?
 
This just in.

Amazon-brand 26" LCD hdtvs are only $200.

Everyone quick. Grab one for your living room. Forget about those more expensive 42" hdtvs.

This just in.

People like small TVs in kitchens and bedrooms, like a 26" LCD.

People like large TVs in theater rooms and living rooms, like a 42" HDTV

People hate carrying large devices on trains, buses, etc.
 
Eventually Apple is going to be in for a shock.
[...]
There will come a point in the future when the technology has matured to the point where tablets will just become commodity items. The tech will be settled enough, and so many factories around the world are churning out so many millions of tablets per month that costs will tumble.

While a product market is maturing, there is much money to be made by improving the products. When it becomes commodity, then they move on to the next product market. This isn't a shock to Apple, but basic business.
 
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Hmmm

Unless you fully buy into the Amazon ecosystem (or until the Fire has a minimum of 32GB of space) the Fire just is not that compelling for any kind of robust user.

8GB is really about 6GB and there is not a lot of space unless all of your music and videos are bought on Amazon.

I love my ipad, but I'd consider a Fire if it had more storage. To me this is it's fatal flaw...if you can call it that...because I know it will sell well.

I don't think the average buyer knows how limiting this storage issue will be until they take it home and use it for a while.
 
and where do you base that off of?

Reality. The Fire is a cheap piece of dirt, that just happens to have a color display that is large in size. That is the only aspect of it that is "comparable" to the iPad. Evidenced by the never-ending industry of absolutely horrible digital picture frames, there are markets for products that are total crap, and mimic the functionality of real products.

The reason this product is so cheap by comparison to the iPad....is because its not remotely the same. Nothing about it is similar. Components suck, performance suck, applications suck.

In short, it sucks.
 
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