I'm not surprised that they decided not to launch the Fire tablet outside the US. At $199 they have to be selling near cost in the US, hoping to make their profit on media sales. Amazon's media stores are minimal at best outside the US. They still don't sell music or video in Canada, for example. Amazon is going to have a hard time playing at the same level as Apple until they step up their legal game and treat the rest of the world as more than an afterthought.
Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
211–220 of 318 posts
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#212Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Looks like they will still be selling the previous version as "Kindle Keyboard" for the same price as it is now.
I'd presume that this is just to drain any stock of the K3 they have left.
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#213Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
I'd be interested to see what % of Kindle users make use of the Keyboard. I'm pretty sure that I've only ever touched it for inputting URIs when web-browsing from abroad.
I use the keyboard quite a lot, for writing notes. It's amazing how reading a non-fiction book is so much more rewarding if you make highlights and notes. If you're thorough, you can read just your highlights and notes and effectively re-read the same book a year down the line in about 10% of the time; and still refresh your memory well.
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#214They're sure getting their jabs at Apple in everywhere they can: "There are two types of companies: those that work hard to charge customers more, and those that work hard to charge customers less. Both approaches can work. We are firmly in the second camp." "System Requirements: None, because it's wireless and doesn't require a computer."
The requirements line has been there since the K1. Not an explicit jab at Apple as much as "this isn't complex technology, relax".
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#215I wonder if they are selling these at a loss? I can see it going down well in the XDA/Hacker community...
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#216one thing i didnt understand.. this fire thingy has an eink display or not? and what about the digital library of books someone was talking about?
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#217Apparently there will be a $79 regular Kindle as well: http://thisismynext.com/2011/09/28/amazon-launches-79-kindle...
Wow. That looks a lot like an old Palm device.
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#218Earlier quoted context omitted.
The business model to compete with Apple has been known for extremely long: offer lesser products at lesser prices. Everyone else failed at the "lesser price" part. Amazon can pull it off, because they don't need to make money with the tablet: as long as it sells ebooks and movies, it remains profitable for them. Since there's nobody to challenge them on this market, they will get the volumes to drive the BOM prices…
Since there's nobody to challenge them on this market, they will get the volumes to drive the BOM prices down, too. Barnes & Noble is in this space too, and they have hundreds of stores that will serve as points-of-sale for the Nook. Don't forget them. EDIT: apologies to the European HNers. Still, those B&M stores in America are incredibly popular, making it easier for Barnes & Noble to find new Nook users.
>they have hundreds of stores that will serve as points-of-sale for the Nook.
I've seen Kindles in Wal-marts and Targets recently.
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#219Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your tablet can never be a replacement for your laptop. Period.
Hmm I'm not so sure... My iPad can replace my laptop for basically everything but work. Web browsing, listening/browsing/buying music, twitter et al, emails, games, books, movies/tv shows, etc, etc.
"My iPad can replace my laptop for basically everything but work" - so I guess my point stands. I was trying to argue against OP's point that all these things "Web browsing, listening/browsing/buying music, twitter et al, emails, games, books, movies/tv shows, etc, etc" can be done on a Playbook too.
Re: Amazon Unveils $199 Kindle Fire Tablet
#220so, sounds like Apple's skimming the top end of the tablets, and Amazon's skimming the bottom end.
In terms of quality of experience, I think Amazon's product is going to be perceived as runner up to the iPad, while other Android devices will be perceived as the lower end. Other Android manufacturers are probably going to start competing with Amazon's offer as well, lowering prices and cutting corners in the process.
I'm really interested to see how this plays out. From casual observation, I see a lot of people wanting a non-ipad tablet as their requirement, and the amazon one will fit the bill perfectly (cheaper, non-ipad, relatively hackable, is going to have a lasting presence as a product line - unlike touchpad/playbook).