Amazon tablet: What to expect from the Kindle Fire | Hacker News Reader

Amazon tablet: What to expect from the Kindle Fire

washingtonpost.com

25 pointsyesreally13 comments

I keep on hearing the question: is the Fire an iPad killer? Perhaps it's just me, but the two devices seem to have very different purposes. The Fire may sell as well as an iPad, but that doesn't mean it's an iPad killer. Was the iPad a Kindle killer?

I'm concerned that the Fire is getting a little too close to the iPad. It shouldn't be. That's a strategically scary place to go.

To your point, the Fire needs to be sufficiently different from the iPad. So different that consumers don't look at it and simply say "So...it's an iPad without native email?" Or some other rhetorical question to that effect. If people look at this device and think "iPad, but...", then the game's already lost.

Aren't Macs "PCs, but without a replaceable battery"? They still seem to sell pretty well.

I think the difference separating the two will be price. I think the customer will understand that if you're paying only $250-300 you're going to get a lot less features than the iPad. I could also see the iPad 2 getting a price reduction eventually.

The Fire (lousy name) strikes me as the first true media tablet. I don't think Apple views the iPad as just a media device though it has been classified as such by analysts.

The problem for the Fire may be competing against the Kindle. Many people use an iPad along with the Kindle because of the e-ink display. Would a customer spend extra money just so they can play music and video?

People seem to have an obsession with "iPad killers" and "iPhone killers." I remember advertisements for the Samsung Instinct tried positioning it as an iPhone killer. Boy were they wrong.

The only thing that could kill either of them at this point is Apple screwing up big time. Even then, they would be slow to die. Look at how many times Windows has endured through a major flop of a release.

My point is this: unless Amazon is really stupid (which they've shown they are anything but), then they probably are not attempting to release it or promote it as an iPad killer. It's other people that try to set it up that way. My assumption is that they are going after a section of the market that loves the idea of the Kindle, but wants more from it.

Was the iPad a Kindle killer?

It doesn't seem to have been, but no few people were predicting that it would be.

When in doubt, I take what people who are paid to write about the tech industry say and assume the opposite.

The Kindle Fire is not an iPad killer. It's a color Nook killer. The two Kindle models correspond exactly to the two Nook models.

The iPad is a different kind of device. Kindle is a reader. The Kindle 3 is an electronic book, the Kindle Fire is more like a magazine. The iPad is a general purpose computer that just happens to be delightfully useable.

There is no basis for the assumption the any one of these devices is going to kill the other. Many consumers will want both.

> The iPad is a general purpose computer

Let's not go overboard.

Firstly, what kind of name is this. Kindle Fire? please. Also no integrated email? I agree, it could possibly be added to the amazon "ecosystem", i mean it is only $300, but still no email? Email messaging is too important today.

This isn't a computing device. It's an Amazon device. The Kindle doesn't do email either.

"No wireless. Less space than a nomad. Lame."

(http://slashdot.org/story/01/10/23/1816257/apple-releases-ip...)

In an interview with Charlie Rose, Jeff Bezos said his vision for the Kindle is to be the best possible reading experience.

Being able to send/receive emails isnt a part of what they want the kindle to be. (Unless people start emailing books to each other.. I guess)

Video capabilities will be interesting. iPad can play some 3 full movies and still have battery life to spare.

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