Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet • Hacker News Board

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#271

Post by ChuckMcM » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:15 PM UTC

krishna2 wrote: post #267

ChuckMcM wrote: post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Totally agree with this insight. One of the fallouts of the tech bubble and ubiquitious computing trend was that it became so 'cheap' to add programability features and customization that everything got more computer like. The backlash, things like the cell phones for elderly people which act like 'normal' phones was the result. Also the market seems to be pushing back on things like TVs that are also internet browse…

"school district can give those to every student" How cool would that be! My library finally got the overdrive support so I wanted to check out an e-book (an audiobook) to try out on my kindle/iphone. And found a nice book that I wanted to read and the page says, "available copies : 0, library copies : 1, No. of patrons in waiting list : 23, Click here to add yourself to the waiting list". File this under w.t.f.

Yeah, its a weird (and stupid) system. Libraries are toeing a fine line between getting sued vs not. They only got agreement for 'lending' ebooks if they set up a system like real books where if its out, you can't borrow it. This from the head librarian at the Sunnyvale Library at least.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#272

Post by megablast » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:22 PM UTC

notatoad wrote: post #261

schrototo wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think Apple has ever promoted its products as "luxurious". Jobs introduced the iPad as " a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price ". I think that Bezos quote is actually very Apple-like, what with "people are going to love these" and so on.

maybe luxurious is the wrong way to put it, but the iPad has always been marketed as a luxury-segment product. it is promoted as being something special, not just another everyday CE device. the iPad is like a backyard swimming pool - you don't need one, but it's fun and all your friends will be impressed. the kindle is like a washing machine - you don't need one, but if you don't have one you're going to be going to…

No, I think the iPad is like a veranda, and the Kindle is like a block of cheese. No, wait, the iPad is like a BMW, and the Kindle is 40,000 frequent flyer points. No, that not right, the iPad is like a Ming vase, while the Kindle is like a big screen tv. yeah, that the way.

You analogy is only slightly less awful than mine.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#273

Post by tlogan » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:25 PM UTC

The interesting thing is that this will be probably the first successful Android tablet but Google will have absolutely zero benefits from its success. Actually, it might even hurt Google position in mobile/tablet market.

Two random examples:

The word Android was barely mentioned on Amazon site.

On device itself, the web and content to be consumed is showed Amazon.com but not thru Google search.

EDIT: Why is this comment downvoted? I'm kinda new on this hacker news and I'm under impression if I express opinion with a couple of examples supporting it that is not trolling... What kind of comment should be made to point out that it seems like Google will have zero benefits and even hurt it from this Android tablet?

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#274

Post by BoppreH » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:34 PM UTC

RobertKohr wrote: post #223

juliano_q wrote: post #179

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think you are being screwed, take a look at how it is for Brazil. Items (2): $118.99 Shipping & Handling: $28.97 Total Before Tax: $147.96 Estimated Tax To Be Collected: $0.00 Import Fees Deposit $140.74 --------- Order Total: $288.70 Obviously not Amazon's fault. We have absurd taxes here.

Yikes! That is almost 100% taxes.

If you buy only the Kindle, it's actually over 100%.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#275

Post by zmmmmm » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:41 PM UTC

cletus wrote: post #65

If Amazon want to not make comparisons with the iPad, something I'd strongly suggest, they should stop making statements like this: > The Kindle Fire will have a 7-inch display and sell for $199, compared with $499 for Apple’s cheapest iPad, Amazon executives said in interviews with Bloomberg Businessweek. Also, it's disingenuous. Of course a 7" "tablet" is cheaper than Apple's 10" tablet. Film at 11. That being said…

> I'd strongly suggest, they should stop making statements like this:

I think that statement is more about positioning the Kindle Fire into a different market segment than trying to frame it as a competitor to the iPad. Bezos needs people to see this as something different, something you might potentially own as well as an iPad. For that to happen he needs to be able to say that it's not just cheaper, but radically cheaper. Personally I think it needs to get down to $149, but we'll see.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#276

Post by zmmmmm » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:46 PM UTC

vsl2 wrote: post #269

Most people here and in the press (Amazon's PR unit included) consider this a company v company debate - "Apple vs Amazon" debate. Barnes & Noble seems to be such an afterthought that the Nook Color gets little attention though it is the directly competing product in terms of product specs and price (though the NC price will have to come down from $249 to $199 or below to compete). The NC curently has what I think is…

> Given the $200 price point, I think that there may be an oppotunity for BN to make a large mainstream splash if it allows greater flexibility in the NC (including fully integrating Android Market).

Good point. It might not have been possible before, but it might just be that Google will feel threatened enough by the Fire to want to help out a competitor and let them officially use the Google apps. It would certainly make it a no brainer for me. Of course, it might be a dumb decision for BN (Android Market => install Kindle App => no need to buy books from BN any more)

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#277

Post by Kadin » Wed, Sep 28, 2011, 11:54 PM UTC

dmix wrote: post #52

tjogin wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It isn't, really. They've built their Kindle product on the Android codebase, but it isn't Android and they won't be allowed to even call it an Android tablet, because they're not dancing to Google's tune. The new Kindle tablet may be sort-of compatible with Android today, but this isn't likely to remain the case since there is no feedback loop or collaboration between Google and Amazon in this.

So when Ubuntu releases their own app store combined with a new UI, it won't be "Linux" anymore? Just software built on top of the "Linux codebase"?

That doesn't make a ton of sense; Google's use of the "Android" trademark is closer to the OSG's use of "UNIX" than to how "Linux" is used.

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#278

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Sep 29, 2011, 12:04 AM UTC

nhangen wrote: post #192

achompas wrote: post #28

Bezos, on Amazon's refreshed e-Ink readers: So meet the family. These are premium products at non-premium prices. People are going to love these products. This is Amazon's mission statement for product development. They will not compete with Apple's "revolutionary, magical" phones and tablets; instead, they'll sell quality tablets and readers to the average person at great prices. This populist attitude has been miss…

"Developers need to think about this as another golden ticket. Here's the iOS gold rush, part deux." My thoughts exactly.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#279

Post by alatkins » Thu, Sep 29, 2011, 12:35 AM UTC

maximilian wrote: post #111

smackfu wrote: post #49

Main Amazon pages don't seem to be updated, but this URL is: http://www.kindle.com Interesting stuff: * Will still sell current Kindle as "Kindle Keyboard" for same price. * New non-touch Kindle is 2 ounces lighter than old Kindle, but has half the battery life. * The new touch Kindle is 1 ounce lighter than old Kindle, with same battery life. * Kindle Fire is 6-7 ounces lighter than an iPad 2. * All the prices that…

What popped out at me was the battery life for the fire: 8 hours continuous reading or 7.5 hours video playback 8 hours doesn't seem like very much. Clearly its an LCD panel with back lighting and all that, but 8 hours seems a bit short.

Man, how our expectations change in a short time. Nobody quite believed the iPad's 10-hour claim at launch, now apparently it's the accepted baseline in less than years :-)

Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet

#280

Post by mrud » Thu, Sep 29, 2011, 12:37 AM UTC

tlogan wrote: post #273

The interesting thing is that this will be probably the first successful Android tablet but Google will have absolutely zero benefits from its success. Actually, it might even hurt Google position in mobile/tablet market. Two random examples: The word Android was barely mentioned on Amazon site. On device itself, the web and content to be consumed is showed Amazon.com but not thru Google search. EDIT: Why is this com…

I am not sure but your first sentence sounds a little bit trollish. I think the Galaxy Tab 8/10 the Xoom or the Eee Pad Transformer are quite successful and established in the market.

Yes Google does not directly benefit from the android fork amazon created but i think it is also a quite good and interesting example of the often called openness and freedom of Android. It is quite refreshing to see a big company using Android as the base and modifying it completely to their needs.