some Kindle Fire reviews are already in

[Shivetya]

I received my Kindle Fire Tuesday, I already have an iPad.

It WILL replace my iPad for reading mail and light surfing. Why? Because of its very convenient form factor but most importantly, I only paid $200 for it. Hence I don't have that in the back of my head fear of loss that I have with the iPad2.

The form factor is the best feature, I fully expect an iPad in this size soon because the original iPad size is not portable as in "stuff it anywhere" nor is the price low enough to "brush it off when lost".

Oh, don't get me wrong, it certainly ain't perfect. Not intuitive at all, I used my iPad without ever reading how, this thing had me looking up some stuff.

Biggest fault I can find... the power button is located on the bottom edge which leads me to power it off occasionally while sitting on my back and it resting on my chest. Next, the speakers are just bad.

Otherwise, its ONLY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. I can have two of them and a regular kindle for the price of the lowest iPad2.

 

[maflynn]

At two hundred dollars I can see many people opting for that over the iPad when they're not really wanting a lot.

Amazon was very apple like in its approach. They made sure they had their content/app store already set up before unveiling the Kindle Fire.

I picked up the Kindle Touch because I owned the iPad and didn't want to spend the extra $$ on something that will only turn out to be an ereader. I figured the e-ink is better for long term reading anyways.

 

[jsh1120]

I picked up the Kindle Touch because I owned the iPad and didn't want to spend the extra $$ on something that will only turn out to be an ereader. I figured the e-ink is better for long term reading anyways.

Often it comes down to filling one's personal technological "gap." My iPad's functionality overlaps to some extent with my laptop and my smartphone. For me personally, with an iPad already in my "arsenal," there simply isn't a gap to fill. On the other hand, if I already had a different assembly of devices, the Fire (or one of the other Kindle's) might well fill my personal "gap."

 

[darngooddesign]

...The form factor is the best feature, I fully expect an iPad in this size soon because the original iPad size is not portable as in "stuff it anywhere" nor is the price low enough to "brush it off when lost"

I don't consider 7" to be fundamentally more portable than the iPad because it really isn't small enough to be stuff anywhere. It doesn't fit in any of my jacket pockets, let alone my pants. It isn't small enough to go under my motorcycle seats either. Since I'm usually carrying a messenger bag I'd just as soon carry the iPad. I do agree about the price making it less dear so the inevitable scratches won't hurt quite as much.

I wonder how much the aftermarket case industry will thrive around a $200 device. A $100 sleeve or case is at the most 1/5 the cost of the cheapest ipad, but the same case feels too expensive when it costs half as much as the Fire.

 

[Yr Blues]

How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

 

[darngooddesign]

How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

Can you get the Fire with 16/32/64GB?

 

[Night Spring]

How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

Can the Kindle Fire fit into your pocket? I hear some pants / coats have pockets big enough for the Fire, but I know most of *my* pockets aren't large enough to accomodate it.

 

[Yr Blues]

Can the Kindle Fire fit into your pocket? I hear some pants / coats have pockets big enough for the Fire, but I know most of *my* pockets aren't large enough to accomodate it.

Between the Touch and the Fire, I would choose the Fire. The screen size adds a lot of value. $199 vs $199. It's easier to read and watch movies on a 7" screen.

 

[aneftp]

Honestly you need to consider the blackberry playbook cause their prices are dropping fast.

Come black Friday , Staples and Best Buy will have the 16GB for $199. The Beta is out for the Android player already and RIM has (whiled delayed again). But they promised Feb 2012 OS update to finally support email and calendar finally.

Any one who has used QNX Blackberry's new OS platform will see how responsive it is. Obviously it was way overprice at $499/599/699.

But at $199, the Playbook is a much more useful tablet than the Kindle fire.

 

[Night Spring]

Between the Touch and the Fire, I would choose the Fire. The screen size adds a lot of value. $199 vs $199. It's easier to read and watch movies on a 7" screen.

The question I responded to wasn't what *you* would pick, but whether the touch can compete with the Fire. For some people, fitting a device in their pockets might be more important than screen size.

 

[Winter Charm]

It's the best Android media tablet at only $199. I think it'll put a dent in the iPod touch market at the same price point.

I agree. This will hurt the iPod touch for this christmas.

I feel like apple should upsize the iPod touch a bit more, just to cater towards gamers and other people. More room = bigger battery, too.

 

[Yr Blues]

The question I responded to wasn't what *you* would pick, but whether the touch can compete with the Fire. For some people, fitting a device in their pockets might be more important than screen size.

I think you put 10 people in front of the touch and the fire, 9 out of 10 would choose the fire. That's my guess. The fire also comes with 1 month free of Amazon prime. That's a lot of content and 2 day mail off your purchases.

Also, a lot of nerds rooting the heck out of it already.

I would love for Apple to challenge the Fire. Maybe at $300.

 

[m3coolpix]

How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

Now....see....that's not fair No critic, or analyst, has made that comparison, so we aren't allowed to think (and/or discuss) things like that.

Everyone knows that the Amazon Fire at $199 has to compete with the iPad priced at $499. Makes perfect sense.

 

[Yr Blues]

Now....see....that's not fair No critic, or analyst, has made that comparison, so we aren't allowed to think (and/or discuss) things like that.

Everyone knows that the Amazon Fire at $199 has to compete with the iPad priced at $499. Makes perfect sense.

I need to get paid for my wild and crazy ideas.

 

[Night Spring]

I think you put 10 people in front of the touch and the fire, 9 out of 10 would choose the fire. That's my guess.

And I say it depends on what they are looking for. If those 10 people are looking for a tablet, I say all 10 will go for the Fire. If they are looking for a media player that fits in their pocket, they will go for the iPod touch.

In other words, different devices, different market. Actually, I'm not sure why we are even comparing them.

 

[Yr Blues]

And I say it depends on what they are looking for. If those 10 people are looking for a tablet, I say all 10 will go for the Fire. If they are looking for a media player that fits in their pocket, they will go for the iPod touch.

In other words, different devices, different market. Actually, I'm not sure why we are even comparing them.

You're right. People buy what people want/need. I just think they will choose a Fire over the Touch if given a choice.

 

[jsh1120]

I don't consider 7" to be fundamentally more portable than the iPad because it really isn't small enough to be stuff anywhere. .

I'm guessing you don't carry a purse.

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How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

No. But the Touch couldn't compete with the iPad or iPhone either. Sales down nearly 30% compared to a year ago. But I suspect the response from Apple will be a 7" iPod "SuperTouch," not a mini-iPad. Avoids embarrassing questions about what Steve would have thought of a 7" "tablet."

 

[bufffilm]

well, i'm not a big fan of the whole streaming thing, whether it's amazon doing it or apple icloud. so, i probably wouldn't be one of those 9 out of 10 person you think would choose the Fire.

because the fire and touch very different sizes and weights (never mind capabilities) because these are portable devices, there are a number of considerations that have to be taken into account before i'd decide which to get.

I think you put 10 people in front of the touch and the fire, 9 out of 10 would choose the fire. That's my guess. The fire also comes with 1 month free of Amazon prime. That's a lot of content and 2 day mail off your purchases.

Also, a lot of nerds rooting the heck out of it already.

I would love for Apple to challenge the Fire. Maybe at $300.

 

[m3coolpix]

I think we will see Apple respond to the ~$200 price point 'tablet' devices, now that SJ is no longer with us.

It could be the eventual replacement of the iPod Touch we know of with the same features but bigger screen....at maybe a slightly higher premium. Then the iPod Touch gets a definite nod to being a Fire 'killer' :roll eyes:

Or....will they miss the 'mid size' tablet market all together?

It's going to be an interesting popcorn saga as the various companies (that can deliver tablets and content/products) react to each other (whether we see it as such or not).

 

[Aspasia]

How about kill the iPod touch for a 7.85" iPad? Can the touch compete with the Fire?

Depends on your needs. The teens in my family have no interest in the Fire. Too large for their tastes (and pockets), so I've purchased two fourth gen iPods within the last month. Plan to buy a third one for another family member who also said "no" to the Fire, but "yes" to the iPod Touch for Christmas.

For what it's worth, no one in my family owned an Apple product before I purchased my iPad 2. The quality and design of the iPad, as well as the stellar Apple customer service, is why I'm buying more Apple products.

 

[iEvolution]

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.
.

This is a good point, however if anyone else has a eco-system that can attempt to rival Apple's it would definitely have to be amazon. Heck the only other one I can think of is Microsoft's Marketplace.

These closed off systems are awful I think because it doesn't give the consumer the maximum amount of choices. You've either got to go with Apple or Amazon when it comes to these devices because neither company wants to open to the other, though Apple is more closed than Amazon is.

 

[vitzr]

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 concur. Your points are well taken.

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Often it comes down to filling one's personal technological "gap." My iPad's functionality overlaps to some extent with my laptop and my smartphone. For me personally, with an iPad already in my "arsenal," there simply isn't a gap to fill. On the other hand, if I already had a different assembly of devices, the Fire (or one of the other Kindle's) might well fill my personal "gap."

Well said.

In my case as a voracious reader of both hardcover and e-books, I find the Kindle line very useful. Especially when I travel as I tend to do for both business and pleasure, the Amazon unit is light, I can "carry" many books without making my bag any heavier.

 

[Mac.World]

I received my Kindle Fire Tuesday, I already have an iPad.

It WILL replace my iPad for reading mail and light surfing. Why? Because of its very convenient form factor but most importantly, I only paid $200 for it. Hence I don't have that in the back of my head fear of loss that I have with the iPad2.

The form factor is the best feature, I fully expect an iPad in this size soon because the original iPad size is not portable as in "stuff it anywhere" nor is the price low enough to "brush it off when lost".

Oh, don't get me wrong, it certainly ain't perfect. Not intuitive at all, I used my iPad without ever reading how, this thing had me looking up some stuff.

Biggest fault I can find... the power button is located on the bottom edge which leads me to power it off occasionally while sitting on my back and it resting on my chest. Next, the speakers are just bad.

Otherwise, its ONLY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. I can have two of them and a regular kindle for the price of the lowest iPad2.

This is the reason i picked up a Touchpad during the Fire-sale. At under $150 for my 32gb TP, i can afford not to care to much for it. But I also knew it was no iPad equivalent. Same form factor, but not as polished and one less camera. But the Touchstone charging system kicks a$$! I so wish Apple would do this with all of their products.

The Fire will sell modestly, but in the end people need to call a spade, a spade. Don't try and pretend that the Fire is anything more than an Amazon portal that can surf the web and download books. People that were led to believe this was like an iPad will be pissed. People that knew what they were buying will love it, especially since i would gather a large portion of them were Prime members already. Otherwise, you are better off buying the Nook to fit your 7" 'tablet' needs.


I'm still predicting 2 million sales this quarter, with steady decline in every follow on quarter for the Fire.

 

[Yr Blues]

I found out that Amazon is letting you install any app you want. You just have to allow it in the settings preferences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RogxuPhCXs

also, this is what most kindle buyers are like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD01duzB_qc

 

[jsh1120]

I found out that Amazon is letting you install any app you want. You just have to allow it in the settings preferences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RogxuPhCXs

Wow. So slow. So much lag. Totally unwatchable video. People are going to return them in droves...Riiiighht.