Kindle Fire Will Crush Other Android Tablets, May Increase iPad Sales Say Analysts

[AppleScruff1]

I am looking for something to replace my current Late 2007 Macbook. It is struggling right now the video playback and more so on an external display. Given my keyboard usage, I would definitely be looking at a notebook instead of a tablet. Still, quad core tablet does sound nice.

HD 7000M should have more details out today and Intel's HD 4000 looks like a nice improvement over the existing one on Sandy Bridge.

How about the current MBA or wait a bit for the Ivy Bridge models coming out next year? By then the selection of Ultrabooks should be better too.

Indeed... and don't forget -- ARM ones too.

You're right about ARM. I forgot all about it.

Frankly I think the ARM powered W8 tablets will be far more popular than their x86 counterparts. Even with the lack of backwards compatibility. How successful they will be overall is anyone's guess.

On possible appeal I see to the x86 tablets is they may actually be powerful enough to replace a notebook for some users. I find the iPad and tablets in general to be slow, even on wifi. As you have said, time will tell.

 

[divinox]

I think you have a good point, however, I think I'm ahead of the curve here or maybe I'm just old fashion. I have never been able to see working long hours on a laptop even for just writing. Manipulating big spreadsheet is just painful on a laptop, and if you truly wanting to write I would think you would want to sit at a proper desk, secluded-away from noise.

I own a laptop for at least a decade now, and I don't think I've ever done productive work on it. Of course, there will be people who loves it, but I think they are in the small minority.

I rarely do spreadsheets, but i do extensive writing. While the small screen makes it somewhat frustrating at time, the upside of relaxing in my couch while working makes that a trade off I'm oft-time willing to make. Personally, i think we're moving more toward docks + thin-clients, and thin-client docks, than toward tablets and desktops. After all, most of the time we only need the screen part of it, rather than the performance part -- and for the latter, vaio-style docks could do the trick for a fraction of the cost.

 

[ericinboston]

I doubt very many people would agree with your browser conclusion. Silk is a decent browser and performs well, particularly for what the device is. What it does not do is out perform safari on the iPad 2.

Well I think we would need a real browser vs. browser test...load times, Flash, ease of use, features, etc.

I think the Safari, as a whole, on iPad is ok...it's just not great...comparing it to a broswer (I love Firefox) on Windows or Mac or Linux.

 

[nagromme]

The whole "graduation" upsell is possible in theory. But as a marketer myself, it's harder to do it when the graduation is between two competing software/service ecosystems. This is part of the reason why Apple's retainment is so high. Once you buy into their ecosystem, it's hard to get out of it. Because you've invested X amount of dollars into software and content that is only available in that ecosystem.

The situation is no different with Amazon. Apple may be in for a rude awakening if people will be so quick to switch ecosystems from Amazon to theirs when they're "ready". It would be interesting to see Amazon create Fire "Pro" that more squarely competes with the iPad, and keeps users moving vertically within the ecosystem.

Apple and Amazon will BOTH be happy as people upgrade from Fire to iPad:

* Amazon doesn’t take a loss on future Fire products from that person.

* Apple gets the sale instead and makes a profit while gaining a customer who will likely be loyal (but not loyal to iBooks, which is a trivial matter for Apple’s profit).

* Amazon keeps their Kindle customer, who stays with the Amazon ecosystem but now uses the Kindle app for iPad. (Which is a good reader—not quite up to iBooks, but I’m reading a book on the Kindle app now and it’s a good experience.)

* Amazon keeps selling books to that user—which make Amazon a profit, as opposed to the loss on the device. (And Amazon also potentially loses a few Fire-specific app sales; but for the foreseeable future those are trivial for Amazon’s profit: they’re known for books and books cost more!)

And the upgrade to iPad won’t have much of a barrier: books carry over just fine, and those are the important/expensive items. Music carries over just fine too. Apps? The Fire is underpowered and not a great app platform. People will be glad to move to better apps on iPad. They won’t have bought very many Fire apps, nor paid very much for them.

 

[Eidorian]

How about the current MBA or wait a bit for the Ivy Bridge models coming out next year? By then the selection of Ultrabooks should be better too.

I do somewhat need a replacement for my aging Macbook but I am not terribly fond of Lion and I honestly do not believe Apple deserves my money for what hardware they offer. It is the same situation with Ultrabooks.

I keep eyeing Dell's Vostro V131 but I want a better display panel and at least 1440 x 900 or 900p.

Display resolutions should be better next year with the pull the MacBook Air exerts and what Ultrabooks offer.

I want Battlefield 3 on the road too but that appears unlikely in a form factor and noise tolerances that I am willing to pay for.

 

[gmcalpin]

What would then be the point of having a tablet?

For the far more frequent times you DON'T need to type more than a few sentences.

Honestly, what it this kneejerk, small-minded hatred people have for tablets? Not being great for absolutely everything doesn't make a thing useless.

 

[aerok]

I initially bought the first iPad when it came out, didn't like it because of its weight and size so I sold it.

Then the iPad 2 came and it was lighter so I went out to buy one. Then I realized a 10in screen was just too big to be portable and I would carry my Macbook Pro instead of the iPad because the size/weight difference was not significant enough for me to sacrifices the functionality I lose on the iPad versus my Macbook. I then bought a Kindle 3 and I loved the smaller size, I could literally carry it everywhere I go.

When the price dropped for the Playbook, I jumped on it to buy it due to its 7in size. I also use a Blackberry so I could share my data without paying extra fees. The Playbook is a bit heavy and battery life is so-so but for me, it is a better alternative to an iPad. I would probably not buy the Kindle Fire (Not too fond with their ecosystem) but the Nook color also seems to be a very good alternative.

The perfect tablet for me (Has to be OSX not iOS or Windows 8) would be a 7in tablet that can be docked to a desktop to give it full functionality (Bigger HD, video card, more ram and better cpu). I expect to see a company release something like with Windows 8, can't wait

 

[hvacigar]

Tablets

Our household owns three "tablets". We own an original iPad, a Kindle Fire, and a Galaxy Tab 7 plus. My beliefs in the tablet market now boil down to this.

1. Tablets are a LONG way from replacing my Macbook Pro, even on the shortest of trips.
2. The Kindle Fire is less a tablet and more a larger iPod with access to my wonderful Amazon Prime membership.
3. Steve Jobs was incorrect about the 7" form factor.

On the 3rd point, the Galaxy tab, in spite of the Android OS, is the best of this bunch by far (and you can lump the iPad2 in there as well). The reason I say this IS for the form factor. I did give Android a try after turning in my iPhone 3G for the Moto Droid, but I have now found myself back in the hands of iOS with my 4S...I hated Android and still do. It is clunky, and there is hardly anything worth downloading on the Android market aside from the standard bearers like Netflix, etc...Even with my hatred for android the 7" Galaxy tab comfortably fits in one or two hands, formats the web/docs perfectly in portrait or landscape, is a pleasure to watch movies with, and it is portable (try to fit an iPad into your back pocket). It doesn't so much surf the beneficial area between tablet and phone, it becomes THE landscape to create a device. I can say that I eagerly await Apple's foray into the 7" market, and I have no doubt they will enter it once everyone else discovers the joy of this form factor. A 7" Apple tablet is the iPad killer.

 

[Joe-Diver]

I'll admit it:

I bought a Kindle Fire on Saturday.

Why? Well, I wanted an eReader mainly, and after comparing the various ones, for the price, it was hands down the best bang for the buck. Why not an iPad? Too much money for what it is and what it does, because I also have a 17" MBP. Now, if I didn't have the MBP, it would have been a different story.... but for my immediate needs and budget, the Kindle Fire fit the bill.

And let me say....this little thing is friggan cool! I'm very happy with it. This Apple Fanboi made a good choice.

 

[divinox]

I'd love to see it when you write it!

amadeoplaza@me.com

Well, i first need the data, and for that i must find a telling case. But the idea certainly has merit, and i don't remember reading anything like it. Granted, various parts of it have been explored separately, but not in form of vertical bootstrapping strategy. Seems like a smart strategy, really. Suck people in to your ecosystem, then leverage on the same by a subsequent premium offering allowing for higher margins - which would probably not have been possible by going heads on straight away.

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I have seen this clunky set up many a time, and while this may have been a good setup in the distance past, I don't see it being a popular option now. If you are aware of your work habits then you will quickly notice that a simple desktop will do the trick (99.99% of the time) and maybe even better and cost effective.

I got a feeling an iPad is a good writing tool. Thanks for the tip.

Once you have a true portable laptop its a great solution. For example, in the past i rarely brought my laptop to work, instead working on my iMac. Now, i always bring my laptop to work, rarely if ever working on my iMac.

 

[JHankwitz]

A "Gateway Drug" ? Wow.

People are addicted to these things ?

Like DUH!!! You should see my 7 year old grandson. The rest of the world no longer exists.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I do somewhat need a replacement for my aging Macbook but I am not terribly fond of Lion and I honestly do not believe Apple deserves my money for what hardware they offer. It is the same situation with Ultrabooks.

I keep eyeing Dell's Vostro V131 but I want a better display panel and at least 1440 x 900 or 900p.

Display resolutions should be better next year with the pull the MacBook Air exerts and what Ultrabooks offer.

I want Battlefield 3 on the road too but that appears unlikely in a form factor and noise tolerances that I am willing to pay for.

I don't know if you've read this or not, but there is some good info about displays, gaming, etc.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5177/holiday-2011-laptop-buyers-guide

 

[JHankwitz]

i could never use my iPad as my main computer, my fingers already fall off after an half hour chat session ^^

Then why not use it with a wireless keypad? There's no law mandating that you only use the touchpad.

 

[Eidorian]

I don't know if you've read this or not, but there is some good info about displays, gaming, etc.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/5177/holiday-2011-laptop-buyers-guide

I did read it. I will still be waiting until next year. Still no word on or from AMD's event today either...

 

[Cinch]

Once you have a true portable laptop its a great solution. For example, in the past i rarely brought my laptop to work, instead working on my iMac. Now, i always bring my laptop to work, rarely if ever working on my iMac.

Why lug your laptop to work, when you already have something better that is your iMac? Of course, I am assuming you work in the same office everyday. IMHO, your solution complicate things. I guess I'm thinking more traditionally here i.e. having a proper desk-space for work. Why cramp yourself to a 13" or 15" screen and a chicklet keyboard when you can work with a much larger screen and a full ergonomic keyboard? With Dropbox and other cloud services, your data and files can be seamlessly access from multiple devices, making it even less tempting to lug your laptop around. To all his/her own, I suppose.

 

[wikus]

Then why not use it with a wireless keypad? There's no law mandating that you only use the touchpad.

Putting in a wirelss keyboard for a tablet makes two separate objects that SHOULD be integrated.

Regardless, tacking on the keyboard essentially makes it a very handicapped laptop and ultimately useless.

 

[MacAddict1978]

I loathe any articles that say, "Analyst" in the head line.

CNET just earlier today published an article where Analysts were saying that the Fire started hot and had dropped and is not stalled in sales... which I think is garbage.

Gee, $199 tablet and the iPad

One so cheap people can't say no, and the one's who do eye the other...
Analysts get paid for these comments?

Well, when other Android tablets have been an epic failure (the HP Touch Pad outsold all Android tablets YTD combined! Ahem, and it didn't even sell 1 million units), how is this requiring skill to say? Just saying.

Next thing you know... the analysts will predict the iPad 3 will sell more units than the iPad 2

 

[iEvolution]

I disagree...I believe more people will need an iPad since the industry is now categorizing it more and more as a PC, and the iPad has now become a self-sustained, post PC device.

Many people still need basic productivity. They still need to write up papers, do spreadsheets, create presentations, and will want to print them. They can with an iPad. They can take basic photos and record movies, then utilize them for internet and email usage.

At the same time, iCloud gives them a free of charge, backup solution for all their apps, photos, and documents, and people that invest their media in iTunes will always have access to them (except for movies, as of now, that is)

The fact that iPad can exist on it's own and that analysts see it encroach upon traditional PC sales with every passing quarter gives more and more reason for Apple's iPad market.

Ridiculous, its not encroaching the PC market. PC market it a well established market of COURSE its not going to sell as well as a relatively new tablet market.

PCs have been around for 40+ years versus the tablet kick-off of what two years?

So sick of people acting like they are "taking away" from the PC market, they aren't.

 

[something3153]

Have you seen how small and light the Apple bluetooth keyboard is? Or will you never, ever purchase one of those things in your life either?

Measured and weighed together, the iPad 2 and Apple Bluetooth Keyboard still weigh less than the Macbook Air. There is still evident portable advantage for the iPad + BT keyboard.

The thing is, it's not about weight. How weak are you? The problem is it's more stuff to carry. A laptop is one unit. A tablet is one unit. A tablet with a BT keyboard is two units, more battery to keep charged, a bigger pouch to carry it all around in... an ultrabook starts to look a lot more appealing then. Especially since then you're getting a real computer running your OS of choice instead of a tablet. I love my Kindle Fire, but only at its price point. An iPad holds no appeal.

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For the far more frequent times you DON'T need to type more than a few sentences.

Honestly, what it this kneejerk, small-minded hatred people have for tablets? Not being great for absolutely everything doesn't make a thing useless.

You insult people with different opinions and needs from yours by calling them small-minded?

 

[bushido]

Then why not use it with a wireless keypad? There's no law mandating that you only use the touchpad.

then i might as well just carry my mac book.

 

[ucantgetridofme]

Kindle Fire is the netbook of tablets. Might be ok for awhile but then people will seek better quality version of it (iPad).

Apple so owns you. You're a product of Apple propaganda, you're little pea brain has been conditioned by Apple marketing to obey and you continue to defend them because you're too stupid to realise what's going on. Weak people love Apple.

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You've just taken away any reason to actually go for the alternative. Might as well just get an iPad then.

What we have here is an iPod situation. It's becoming clearer day by day.

And you're a ****ing retard shutup and die.

 

[dokujaryu]

then i might as well just carry my mac book.

I think you are a solid customer for an 11" Air. But then again, you could just wait for Siri for iPad if you don't like to type. When I travel with the iPad I just take a bluetooth keyboard with me for taking long notes.

Ultimately there's an Apple product for just about everyone. If you or others don't see the point in buying an iPad, then don't buy one. Telling people on the internet that you aren't buying one is kinda boring.

 

[LordJohnWhorfin]

I own a first generation iPad and a Kindle Fire. I find Safari on the iPad considerably faster and more pleasant to use than Silk on the Fire. Also, Netflix movies look very smooth on the iPad and they look terrible on the Fire. The Amazon Instant Video, however, looks great (can't compare since it won't play on the iPad). All in all, I think the Fire does not even begin to compare in terms of elegance, ease of use and performance. But it's much cheaper and smaller (although it's very thick). But the iPad is my go-to tablet, no question. I can't even be bothered to use the browser on the Fire, it's so slow and clunky.

 

[hissyfit]

There is none. No point at all.

Well to be specific the Metro version of IE will not support any plug-ins. That means no Flash, Java, nor even Microsoft's own Silverlight.

Point?

 

[KnightWRX]

I think you have a good point, however, I think I'm ahead of the curve here or maybe I'm just old fashion. I have never been able to see working long hours on a laptop even for just writing. Manipulating big spreadsheet is just painful on a laptop, and if you truly wanting to write I would think you would want to sit at a proper desk, secluded-away from noise.

I own a laptop for at least a decade now, and I don't think I've ever done productive work on it. Of course, there will be people who loves it, but I think they are in the small minority.

The laptop is versatile. I'm sitting at a proper desk, with a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse right now... I'm typing this out on this stuff connected to ... no, not a desktop, but to my MacBook Air.

And just as quickly, the MBA becomes portable and I can bring it to the bathroom, to my bed, to the living room or out and about with me to a coffee shop or work or the mall.

Laptops are not limited to their internal hardware. The expansion ports have always been there. That is why they are replacing desktops. A desktop is tied to your desk. A laptop can sit there and replace the desktop at the desk, and it can also be portable.

Tablets just don't let me type out code well enough (virtual keyboard hiding half the screen ? No thank you) to replace a proper laptop. The Ultra portables are also very very close to the portability of the tablets. In the end, it's desktops I'm afraid for. Sales are declining year after year as people realise they just don't need that much computing power.