The Amazon-Apple war is on - Kindle Fire, 7" tablet for USD199

[Alamaking]

[video=youtube;hsH0GKUKmXM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsH0GKUKmXM[/video]

The Amazon-Apple war is on

Go to the Amazon website (www.amazon.com) and a letter from its chief executive Jeff Bezos greets you. It says that it is a company that 'works hard to charge consumers less'.

With this message, Mr Bezos launched its attack at the tablet market.

On Sept 28 at 10am (10pm Singapore time) in Manhattan, New York, Mr Bezos lifted the curtain on four new products: the all-new Kindle for only US$79 ($102), two new touch Kindles – Kindle Touch and Kindle Touch 3G – for US$99 and US$149, and a new tablet class – Kindle Fire - a full colour 7-inch device for movies, TV shows, music, books, magazines, apps, games and web browsing for only US$199.

The new Kindle for reading e-books at US$79 is a steal and a drop in price from the US$139 wireless version. Book worms and consumers do not have to wait until Christmas to buy it for themselves or as gifts because at that price, it is an impulse buy.

It is the new class of three touch Kindles that will make the greatest impact on the tablet market. They will give Apple's iPad a run for their money. Apple's tablet rivals have not succeeded in attracting customers because they matched iPad's pricing without matching its content offerings.

WIDE OFFERING

Amazon has done it better. The Kindle Fire has access to its online offerings including 18 million movies, songs, magazines, books and apps, and it is more than half the price of the cheapest iPad (US$499).

Fence-sitters who like the iPad's coolness, design and ease of use but baulk at the current prices, will jump at the Kindle Fire.

But the new Kindles are also likely to snatch sales away from other makers of tablets, such as Lenovo and Samsung, whose devices are also priced from US$400. They, too, do not have access to substantial content.

The new Kindles are available now. The Kindle Fire can be pre-ordered and are available from Nov 15.

For Singapore consumers, they will be disappointed.

They were unable to use the older generation Kindles because Amazon's digital content is not available here. The situation has not changed.

Some consumers have been able to buy the Kindles here by using work around solutions to get the content. Generally, they buy Amazon's gift cards and redeem the value to get the digital content.

Nonetheless, Amazon will have a sterling Christmas. Its cash registers are going to ring as millions of Kindles fly off the online shelves.

 

[johnny333]

If you are living in Spore or Malaysia Amazon will not sell you a Kindle. Don't know the reason for this
I also have my doubts on a business model that sells a product at a loss? Isn't this called dumping?

 

[Alamaking]

If you are living in Spore or Malaysia Amazon will not sell you a Kindle. Don't know the reason for this
I also have my doubts on a business model that sells a product at a loss? Isn't this called dumping?

I think Amazon wants people to have easier access to its online stores, thats where they earn the $$$.

Not sure about this Kindle, but it sure looks better than those lenovo/samsung android OS craps, LOL

 

[Unrepented]

Some of these models work well. Some prc very big companies, buy competitors product--> reverse engineer--> fast to market--> cheaper than competitor--> penertrate market--> up revenue--> use market coverage and growth potential as selling point--> up stock price--> sell stock--> turn to cash--> and the whole cycle goes on among the product lines.

Therefore, not necessary dumping, but cashflow management sometimes.

If you are living in Spore or Malaysia Amazon will not sell you a Kindle. Don't know the reason for this
I also have my doubts on a business model that sells a product at a loss? Isn't this called dumping?

 

[vamjok]

Why do you think most company eg HP that made laser printer willing to sell them cheaply even at a loss or not making a cent?

They know they will earn back big time when you buy their ink in just few months time.

 

[Rogue Trader]

Not sure about this Kindle, but it sure looks better than those lenovo/samsung android OS craps, LOL

Fire runs on Android 2.3

Blur fuck king.

 

[commoner]

amazon ebooks are not available for singapore and malaysia credit cards because of copyrights privacy thingy,,,,

unless you have some angmo credit cards, or even vietnam credit cards, kindle are basically useless for these two countries

 

[Pioneer]

If you are living in Spore or Malaysia Amazon will not sell you a Kindle.

Use your Android phone, download Kindle for Android and use your Android phone to read Kindle books.

If you have a Android tablet, download Kindle for Android Tablet and you can read Kindle books (see video)

Kindle Fire itself uses the Android operating system.

There is also a Kindle for PC where you can use the Kindle software to read kindle books on your computer/laptop.

You don't need to have a Kindle device to read Kindle books.

[video=youtube;l1djLklJsm0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1djLklJsm0[/video]

 

[johnny333]

amazon ebooks are not available for singapore and malaysia credit cards because of copyrights privacy thingy,,,,

unless you have some angmo credit cards, or even vietnam credit cards, kindle are basically useless for these two countries

There's also the problem of servicing the kindles world wide. If you are living in the US shipping is free or cheap but if you live outside the US it's going to be expensive if you have any problems. Especially if its a newly bought unit which is is Dead On Arrival.

 

[johnny333]

You don't need to have a Kindle device to read Kindle books.

I'm interested in getting a cheap WiFi device for when I travel. If I lose such a device it wouldn't be too painful

 

[scroobal]

The price alone is sufficient to drive demand without people worrying about servicing, support etc. All they need is purchase the gift cards or have a credit or debit card from outside this region. It may force apple and the others to reduce features and handle content. I am sure most people realise that iPad not matter how useful it is to many, it cannot replace a conventional laptop. First few months, tried do everything on iPad with little on laptop. Now the other way around. iPad is now an communication, recreational and entertainment device. Kindle Fire will be the same with cheaper content. Only issue is the smaller screen.

 

[Pioneer]

I'm interested in getting a cheap WiFi device for when I travel. If I lose such a device it wouldn't be too painful

If you travel in USA and you have Kindle, then you have free Wifi. Buy the cheapest kindle (Basic kindle is US$79) in the USA, and there you go, you have your free Wifi.

 

[Alamaking]

Fire runs on Android 2.3

Blur fuck king.

Android OS can be customized to suit the products, as I've said, I dunno much, but it does have a good response time and the screen look bright and clear.

 

[Alamaking]

..... iPad is now an communication, recreational and entertainment device. Kindle Fire will be the same with cheaper content. Only issue is the smaller screen.

I had a friend who really over-used his iPad, he create website, touch-up his images, access remote to his comp to watch movie, calling using True app, stream songs in the car, banking etc etc.....

I dun see the size is the issue here, its the content that Amazon have to trail, sadly its not going to be soon.....