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Amazon Kindle Fire Surfaces

MrCrassic was the first of several submitters to write in about the Kindle Fire: "It looks like another competitor has joined the fight for tablet market share. Amazon released specs and pics of its newest offering, the Kindle Fire, which is bound to turn heads at $199. However, I wouldn't sell your Nook Color or iPad just yet. From the article: 'The Kindle Fire doesn't have an embedded camera or a microphone. The device offers Wi-Fi connectivity, though not 3G access, and comes with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, the company's $79-a-year membership service that includes streaming video and free two-day shipping.'"

8 of 521 comments (clear)

  1. it's a media consumption device by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm already sick of hearing people bitch about how it doesn't have a camera and how you can't make Skype calls with it. It's not intended to do that. Amazon is selling it purely as a media consumption device to get you to use all their media services (video, audio, books, etc).

  2. Buy 'em all for less than an iPad! by jbarr · · Score: 4, Informative

    If you buy one of everything (wifi models only) that Amazon announced today, it is cheaper than the low end iPad.

    --
    My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
  3. Actually looks very good but. by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Can I root it and put the Android App store on it? I know not yet but hopefully someday.
    The Silk browser sounds very Opera like from the mobile days.
    OMAP 4! That is a pretty hot CPU folks.
    Lack of a front facing camera is a negative. Come on this is pure skype candy folks.

    My wife as a rooted viewsonic Gtab and it is really nice but it is too big for for an ereader.
    The iPad2 is too pricey and too big.
    Even if it isn't hackable at $199 I may still get it just because it would be so handy.

    --
    See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  4. for people to do without creating by tepples · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Perhaps they're bitching that it's yet another device that can act as a roadblock for people who want to climb from consumption to creation. Some people will end up owning only devices for consumption; if they want to create, they'll have to either pony up for something else or just do without creating. And if the market for devices capable of creation shrinks, prices for such devices will likely rise due to loss of economies of scale.

    1. Re:for people to do without creating by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If your choice of tablet computer is a barrier to creating content - photos and videos, no less - I humbly suggest that you were probably not going to create anything on it in the first place. People who want to make things go out and make them, they don't make creativity-themed rationalisations about their gadget purchases.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
  5. Re:So... by Jay+Tarbox · · Score: 5, Informative

    No, it's a full blown android tablet. Without a camera or mike, which I myself never use anyway on a tablet.

  6. Re:So... by tripleevenfall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Those devices were far overpriced. They tried to compete with the iPad at the iPad's price point with an inferior device. To the average consumer, they look at these smaller devices they've never heard of for the same price as an iPad and they say, "Well for that price, why wouldn't I just get an iPad?"

    This actually fits the bill. It is a reasonable competitor for the way most people use the iPad. Does it have limitations, sure. But it's $200. Most people to this point have thought that you had to spend $500 and up for one of these little tablet internet surfing thingys. For that price, they could have a nice full-featured laptop (which they probably already have).

    This gives you the core tablet computing functions at an affordable price. I know /. neckbeards will complain that this is not a full replacement for every electronic device in the world, but for most people, this works.

  7. Re:So... by blogan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Show me a better value 9.7" tablet than the iPad at $499 please.

    http://www.amazon.com/ARCHOS-101-Internet-Tablet-8GB/dp/B00422W5QO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317228887&sr=8-1

    And Archos 10.1 tablet for $259. Now it's just a matter of nitpicking if it's a better value or not. I can do all the things most people with an iPad do and I could almost buy 2 of them for the cost of 1 iPad.