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Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

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Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#12
post #8

A large USP of the Kindle is it's E-Ink display (leaving aside other ereaders from sony etc. for now). I have often recommended people to 'get a kindle' when asked about reading books electronically; this will no longer be the case. I think this new addition dilutes the Kindle brandname.

I don't understand this rationale at all. How does the Kindle Fire devalue the Kindle brand name? The Fire is a different product from the e-ink Kindles. You can still say "get a Kindle touch for $99" or "get a Kindle with hard keys for $79."

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#15
So I'm reading along... getting interested... sounds promising... purchase might be on the horizon...

Amazon has painted over the rough surfaces of Google’s Android operating system

Now I won't even consider buying it until the cyanogenmod port is in decent shape. Why do manufactures always do this to android? The custom UI looks nicer (arguable, roll with it), but always kill usability because they don't understand how to have their software play nice and feel right on android. It might be better on the kindle fire because the biggest offenders I see are the dialer and text message app, but I won't hold my breath.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#16
post #8

A large USP of the Kindle is it's E-Ink display (leaving aside other ereaders from sony etc. for now). I have often recommended people to 'get a kindle' when asked about reading books electronically; this will no longer be the case. I think this new addition dilutes the Kindle brandname.

I don't understand this rationale at all. How does the Kindle Fire devalue the Kindle brand name? The Fire is a different product from the e-ink Kindles. You can still say "get a Kindle touch for $99" or "get a Kindle with hard keys for $79."

It doesn't devalue it, it dilutes it.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#17
post #15

So I'm reading along... getting interested... sounds promising... purchase might be on the horizon... Amazon has painted over the rough surfaces of Google’s Android operating system Now I won't even consider buying it until the cyanogenmod port is in decent shape. Why do manufactures always do this to android? The custom UI looks nicer (arguable, roll with it), but always kill usability because they don't understand…

This is more than just a skin, like the handset manufacturers do. It's not supposed to be an Android device, it's an Amazon device.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#18
post #15

So I'm reading along... getting interested... sounds promising... purchase might be on the horizon... Amazon has painted over the rough surfaces of Google’s Android operating system Now I won't even consider buying it until the cyanogenmod port is in decent shape. Why do manufactures always do this to android? The custom UI looks nicer (arguable, roll with it), but always kill usability because they don't understand…

They aren't making an Android table, they are making a Kindle tablet that runs some Android programs.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#20

Apparently there will be a $79 regular Kindle as well: http://thisismynext.com/2011/09/28/amazon-launches-79-kindle...

Great price point. It's basically in impulse zone: "This book is 6 dollars cheaper at Kindle price... if I buy 12 it pays for itself..." but note there's no physical keyboard. Without a touch screen, it looks like it won't do note-taking, which is a bummer.
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