some Kindle Fire reviews are already in

[bpaluzzi]

It actually wasn't meant to be more than a media consumption device for content from Amazon.com, and unlike most of those moronic reviewers, the Fire's target audience is very well aware of that fact and buys the Fire BECAUSE of it.

In fantasy land, perhaps. You don't socialize much with non-geeks, do you?

Besides, this is just an entry-level device and it is very safe to assume that more powerful versions of that platform will soon follow.

I'd call that anything but a safe bet.

Regarding the apps: The iPad didn't have any native apps either when it was launched, but that didn't keep the people from buying it.

Again, perhaps in fantasy land. In the real world, the iPad launched with a healthy number of native apps. Seriously, this took 5 seconds to find.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/04/02/best-ipad-apps-launch/

Actually, the word that comes to mind is illiterate.

Hint: What I said was 80% of the functionality at 40% of the price. The phrase almost as good" is yours, not mine. It's not the sort of vague, largely worthless comparison I'd make.

Nowhere near 80%. Sorry. Try again.

It's called MAC Rumors fyi. Mac implying Apple.

Kindle is owned by Amazon.

Cool story bro.

 

[*LTD*]

My my, the fear based responses in this thread are very revealing. Further amplified by the full blown hypocrisy on display.

One minute while defending Apple they say specs don't matter, calling others spec whores. Then suddenly when ripping the Fire to shreads, specs are important.

The next minute it's about Apps.

Then it's bashing the low price. "cheap crap" they say, as their fear peaks.

Seems rather hilarious to this hardcore Apple enthusiast. I see things quite differently.

First of all, the reality is the Fire comes out of the box already setup with the buyers info, all ready to be used. That's a big advantage not to be easily dismissed. Especially when Apple lords *itself over others for ease of use. While not a big deal to us enthusiasts, its a huge deal for non techies and seniors.

So I ask, why the fear ? It's _NOT_ an iPad.

Next up, Amazon is being criticized because they're losing a few bucks per unit in this first generation product. So what? It's not _your money_ !

So I ask, why the fear ? It's _NOT_ an iPad.

They are going to sell millions of these because just like Apple, Amazon has made a name for itself, is trusted and valued by their existing customer base.

So I ask, why the fear ? It's _NOT_ an iPad.

Unless you own the latest generation of Kindle ( I do ) then you can't possibly appreciate what Amazon has accomplished.

*So I ask, why the fear ? It's _NOT_ an iPad.

This is a great product that is properly priced and will only get better. So what?

I will be receiving mine shortly since they _are_ different and my wife, like other wives all across America loves her Kindle. And guess what? She also loves her iPad 2 and fully appreciates the differences between the two.

Who says they both cannot peacefully coexist ?

Only fearful, single minded Apple lovers. Those who must designate a "winner". Those who are so insecure they're already calling the fire a POS. How sad.

In my house we each enjoy variety, choices & competition. Neither of us is filled with fear just because Amazon has built the Fire. She might love her Kindle for reading, and will love her Fire for other Amazon content, but make no mistake, neither replaces her iPad 2 for what it excels at.

Therefore rather than fearfully bash this new tablet from Amazon, I celebrate it's arrival as an enhancement to the category.

It's as simple as that

Maybe the "fear" is actually disappointment and chagrin, that this product too might tank like the rest of them and Apple will again be left without credible competition in this area.

It's already being dubbed as "it's good but it's no iPad." That already is a pretty bad sign. We know what happens when "good but no iPad" stuff hits the market against the iPad. It's just the way things go.

 

[FloatingBones]

I think you meant to say 40% of the functionality at 40% of the cost.

I think claiming "80% functionality" is a rather worthless sound bite. It's clear the device has massively less functionality. Juxtaposing that huge loss in functionality with a real number in one sentence is more marketing spin than anything else.

How would one quantify a UI that just isn't quite quick enough? How many of the percentage-point dings came from that?

The Fire got even the most basic things wrong with this that are going to drive people nuts, like touch sensitivity (or lack thereof) and not being able to distinguish when or if the Fire has registered the input. As another reviewer stated perfectly, "You feel every bit of the $200 price tag with every swipe of your finger."

Pogue's statement is certainly the "money quote" for this device.

This was the only analyst to make a claim that the Fire wasmaking money, and i love how you keep reposting it. As if you are "willing" the Fire to be a success. While no one knows exactly how much Amazon is losing on each Fire, we will know for sure in a coupe of days. Only realistic estimates are based off of The Playbook, which is what the Fire was moulded from. And based off those parts, the Fire is losing money.

Agreed. While the material cost statements don't factor in marketing costs, the amount of advertising that Jeff Bezos is buying this month is unbelievable: print ads, television ads, web ads. Those marketing costs probably won't include a number for the nonstop marketing on the amazon.com homepage.

And for the umpteenth time, I never claimed the Fire "is as good as an iPad." Another problem with your reading skills.

You did say:

Pretty much what I expected. 80% of the iPad functionality at 40% of the price.

...but there was no attempt to explain how you derived the 80-number.

How much did you ding for the lack of BT interface?

How much did you ding for the lack of the iPad's sensors?

How much did you ding for the sluggish UI on the Fire?

Implying that you somehow quantified the Fire's functionality with no attempt to actually quantify the Fire's shortcomings makes no sense at all. Thankfully, I've seen no media reviews that have attempted to do such a thing. Andy Ihnatko on this week's MacBreak weekly thinks that any such comparisons are silly; I agree.

 

[Ccrew]

It actually wasn't meant to be more than a media consumption device for content from Amazon.com, and unlike most of those moronic reviewers, the Fire's target audience is very well aware of that fact and buys the Fire BECAUSE of it.
.

Exactly. Wife went and stood in line yesterday for one. 50 folks outside a rural market Best Buy when they opened.

She's not tech savvy, she's unimpressed by any dissertation on tech specs. Does it run well and look decent and can she read her books.

It'll sell. I don't expect it to beat up the iPad market because @ $200 it's not the same demographic. But for what it is at the price point it's at it's a fine media consumption device, which is all Amazon proposed it was.

 

[*LTD*]

I think claiming "80% functionality" is a rather worthless sound bite. It's clear the device has massively less functionality. Juxtaposing that huge loss in functionality with a real number in one sentence is more marketing spin than anything else.

How would one quantify a UI that just isn't quite quick enough? How many of the percentage-point dings came from that?



Pogue's statement is certainly the "money quote" for this device.



Agreed. While the material cost statements don't factor in marketing costs, the amount of advertising that Jeff Bezos is buying this month is unbelievable: print ads, television ads, web ads. Those marketing costs probably won't include a number for the nonstop marketing on the amazon.com homepage.

Well, folks were expecting an iPad or better. And this isn't it. So if it's being dubbed as competition for e-readers instead (Nook, etc.), then the Fire is already consigned to competing against others in a small segment of the market. So in this case it seems all Bezos did was make a better Kindle, that is still a Kindle. Which is fine in and of itself, except that it won't really change anything. So for $200 you're getting $200 worth, and not much more.

 

[dvrmstrng]

I own a MBP and an iphone. The only reason I am looking for a tablet is so that I can browse the web when the MPB is hooked up to the TV. For $200 versus the price of an Ipad its not a hard choice. Some people do not need all the computing power of an ipad.

 

[bufffilm]

Maybe the "fear" is actually disappointment and chagrin, that this product too might tank like the rest of them and Apple will again be left without credible competition in this area.

It's already being dubbed as "it's good but it's no iPad." That already is a pretty bad sign. We know what happens when "good but no iPad" stuff hits the market against the iPad. It's just the way things go.

i have to say that i agree with vitzr's post.

the tone of many of the naysayers is not indicative of disappointment and chagrin, quite the opposite actually. many of them are of a gleeful derisive nature (predictions of massive garage sales, etc is just one example) and it comes across very evidently if anyone has a modicum of reading perception. it happened with the xoom, playbook, and touchpad and these are no different.

i think the ipad is a great product and i'm quite happy in what it delivers. i just shake my head when after every new tablet there are people who revel in pointing out deficiencies in the product, take potshots at it, and predict failure.

in the end the consumers will decide what sells and what will fade away.

 

[worldwearyeyes]

Has anyone been able to get their .mac/iCloud email to push on the Fire? It took FOREVER to get the correct imap/smtp settings on this damn thing, and now that I've got that, it won't push my mail.

As far as my view of it...

If you're an iPad owner, this thing will vastly disappoint. Even though folks say "it's not an iPad competitor," the bottomline is that it is. I do like the size of it for certain things though.

If someone has not owned an iPad, I can see them really liking this thing for what it is. It surfs the web fine (big props to being able to watch games on ESPN3.com with it), the size of it makes it easier to type on in portrait than the iPad, and Netflix/amazon prime video works fine.

Any input on the email push question would be appreciated.

 

[*LTD*]

i just shake my head when after every new tablet there are people who revel in pointing out deficiencies in the product, take potshots at it, and predict failure.

Maybe these people are actually right. Look at their reasons. Then look at what the competition *still* isn't doing.

Do note, that "every new tablet" has also failed pretty miserably against the iPad. I'd give the critics some credit here. Maybe it's time you start giving them some more attention.

 

[dvrmstrng]

Although these are both tablets, I am having a hard time understanding how you can compare device A to device B which costs 2.5x as much.

That's like comparing a $20,000 car to a $50,000 car and saying the two aren't even close in a comparison.....of course they're not! They are both cars, and both can get you from point at to point B. Are you willing to fork over $30,000 to have a "luxurious" ride, leather heated/cooled seats, etc. That should be up to the individuals needs/wants/budget/etc.

 

[YMark]

Edit: Before you point it out, I'm also talking about my own actions in this thread. My inner fanboy popped out, though I generally hate fanboyism.

Your "inner" fanboy popped out? Have you read your own signature?

 

[m3coolpix]

Maybe these people are actually right. Look at their reasons. Then look at what the competition *still* isn't doing.

Do note, that "every new tablet" has also failed pretty miserably against the iPad. I'd give the critics some credit here. Maybe it's time you start giving them some more attention.

And...maybe they aren't...cause they aren't seeing the big picture of what the Fire might do for Amazon.

The Fire (or any tablet device) will never be the 'iPad Killer' into the Apple iTunes ecosystem. Nothing made by any hardware manufacture will ever gain access to that revenue and ecosystem...cause it's NOT THIERS.

The Kindle Fire is Amazon's/Jeff Bezos' rev 1.0 product (built entirely to tie into Amazon's business model), and is expected to sell 2-5 million units this quarter (that's nothing to 'critic' away).....It is a product tied into an existing ecosystem of revenue similar to Apple's iTunes. This is very interesting, because it's not only renting/selling Amazon's products (mostly software products), it's going to be selling TVs, shoes, coffee, etc. etc. While their expectation for this quarter may very well be a loss....it's not expected to stay that way.

Some functionality overlaps are the only similarities that any critic can compare to now, and of course, rationale can't compare $200 tablet horsepower/functionality to a $500 tablet. Kindle Fire rev 2.0 is certainly going to be interesting, just as the iPad 2 is now (but by then the critics will be possibly compare Kindle Fire 2.0 to iPad 3.0, which again, is not a head to head comparison).

Being #2 in any market nowadays....at least in a critics mind....is a failure. Good thing not everyone is a critic.

 

[Yr Blues]

Y'all remember when e-ink Kindles costed more than $199, right? The Fire is an über Kindle. That's how I see it.

 

[bocomo]

Y'all remember when e-ink Kindles costed more than $199, right? The Fire is an über Kindle. That's how I see it.

i though e-ink was an advantage for reading vs. lcd

why did they go with lcd? seems to wreck one of their selling points

 

[jsh1120]

i though e-ink was an advantage for reading vs. lcd

why did they go with lcd? seems to wreck one of their selling points

Color is not yet available in the e-ink world.

 

[weespeed]

Well, folks were expecting an iPad or better. And this isn't it. So if it's being dubbed as competition for e-readers instead (Nook, etc.), then the Fire is already consigned to competing against others in a small segment of the market. So in this case it seems all Bezos did was make a better Kindle, that is still a Kindle. Which is fine in and of itself, except that it won't really change anything. So for $200 you're getting $200 worth, and not much more.

No, people can't expect an iPad when they only paid 199 for the Fire. Not everyone is that simple and naive. Of course there will be some that buy and say it isn't as good as an iPad when in fact it isn't. But it wasn't meant to be.

I have a lot of tablets. What I want is not what everyone wants, but I don't say, "It's not made by Apple or an iPad, so it's a failure."
People that buy into Amazon, like me know what they are getting. Just like people that buy into Apple and the iTunes store no what they are getting.

But to knock a product without trying it is really silly. Amazon already got me to buy 3 movies last night on my Fire. I've never bought a movie from iTunes or Amazon VOD before this. I've streamed content but never bought a movie.
So it's working whatever Amazon is doing.

And I like all tablets.

 

[m3coolpix]

And I like all tablets.

If they could talk, they'd all be screaming, 'Wash your hands before using us!'.

 

[weespeed]

If they could talk, they'd all be screaming, 'Wash your hands before using us!'.

Haha.. Yeah they would, but we have kids.
Impossible to keep the screens clean all day.

 

[JustMapIt]

I think a lot of folks posting don't see what's really happening with the Kindle Fire's release. This is not going to be Amazon's only foray into the tablet market. My guess is that the Fire will end up being Amazon's low-end device and over the coming year we'll see new Amazon devices, each leading up to what Amazon will position to be the 'iPad killer'.

Amazon is in a much stronger revenue stream position than Apple is currently in. Apple sells music, books and videos. Amazon sells music, books and videos, and damned near everything else on the planet. Jeff Bezons sees the Kindle Fire not as an end in itself, but as an 'always with you' sales portal, and he can afford to sell 'em cheap knowing that he'll make up the loss of each Kindle sale through increased sales traffic to the Amazon sites. If to get the device into the hands of business executives and keep it there he needs to produce a device that offers all the high end functionality of the iPad or Galaxy Tab he'll gladly do it, and sell you all the apps you'll need for it through his new App store.

If I was Apple I'd be very concerned. Not about the Kindle Fire, but about where Amazon is heading.

As a tablet buying consumer I'm gonna' grab a bucket of popcorn and a Coke and sit down to watch the cage match. It's gonna' be fun!

 

[m3coolpix]

I think a lot of folks posting don't see what's really happening with the Kindle Fire's release. This is not going to be Amazon's only foray into the tablet market. My guess is that the Fire will end up being Amazon's low-end device and over the coming year we'll see new Amazon devices, each leading up to what Amazon will position to be the 'iPad killer'.

Amazon is in a much stronger revenue stream position than Apple is currently in. Apple sells music, books and videos. Amazon sells music, books and videos, and damned near everything else on the planet. Jeff Bezons sees the Kindle Fire not as an end in itself, but as an 'always with you' sales portal, and he can afford to sell 'em cheap knowing that he'll make up the loss of each Kindle sale through increased sales traffic to the Amazon sites. If to get the device into the hands of business executives and keep it there he needs to produce a device that offers all the high end functionality of the iPad or Galaxy Tab he'll gladly do it, and sell you all the apps you'll need for it through his new App store.

If I was Apple I'd be very concerned. Not about the Kindle Fire, but about where Amazon is heading.

As a tablet buying consumer I'm gonna' grab a bucket of popcorn and a Coke and sit down to watch the cage match. It's gonna' be fun!

Winnah, Winnah, Chicken Dinnah!

Although....I'm not quite sold on the 'revenue stream' comment between the two companies....yet. That being said, it will be a very interesting 2012 to enjoy the cage match.

I think even brick and mortar stores (i.e. Wally World) will need to pay attention. The Fire is poised to be a good media consumption device for all things digital on Amazon (overlapping iTunes), but also to be a good consumption device for anything the brown truck can deliver from Amazon. Gosh only knows this from my use of the Amazon app on my iPhones/iPad over the past two years as a Prime member.

 

[bpaluzzi]

Amazon is in a much stronger revenue stream position than Apple is currently in. Apple sells music, books and videos. Amazon sells music, books and videos, and damned near everything else on the planet.

Uh. Apple sells HARDWARE. Extremely profitable, non-commodity hardware, at that. Their media sales are a tiny fraction of their income.

 

[jsh1120]

Uh. Apple sells HARDWARE. Extremely profitable, non-commodity hardware, at that. Their media sales are a tiny fraction of their income.

Quite true. However, Amazon sells lawn furniture, book cases, camping equipment, clothing, food, and tens of thousands of other items. A device that links a consumer to the entire Amazon ecosystem is a much broader play than a device that links a consumer to a firm with products in a few specialized categories.

And in case it needs to be mentioned, you can buy an iPad from Amazon.

The business models are simply different.

 

[monkeylui]

Uh. Apple sells HARDWARE. Extremely profitable, non-commodity hardware, at that. Their media sales are a tiny fraction of their income.

I really don't have the source, but I remember reading or hearing once, not too long ago, that their revenue from media was in the single digits. I really can't remember. But yes I agree that their media sales really are a much lower than their hardware sales. As time goes on, we may see a slight shift, but I don't ever see media sales outpacing hardware. Apple has a very solid system with their tight integration of their OS and hardware, that's why many of us buy into it. It's a fantastic UE.

 

[Yr Blues]

Uh. Apple sells HARDWARE. Extremely profitable, non-commodity hardware, at that. Their media sales are a tiny fraction of their income.

Amazon also sells Apple hardware.

 

[m3coolpix]

And in case it needs to be mentioned, you can buy an iPad from Amazon.

Amazon also sells Apple hardware.

You have to watch carefully when buying some things on Amazon.

For example, looking just a few minutes ago (and when I bought my iPad) an iPod touch will usually be offered as 'Ships and Sold by Amazon, LLC', while, at least currently, all iPads I looked at show 'Available from these sellers' (even if fulfilled by Amazon PRIME).

Kind of a round-a-bout way of selling things that you aren't an authorized distributor of....I guess. They do this with many watch manufacturers also.

I ended up buying my iPad from BB for this very reason.