[Taj44]

Originally Posted by rhredd1654

Maybe the settings on the expensive iPad enable reading in the sun.

Apparently they don't. My daughter-in-law has an ipad and says she can't read in the sun. That is the advantage of the ereaders like Nook and Kindle.

[rhredd1654]

Sometime in the not too distant future, we will have a lightweight tablet that will replace laptop , eReader AND smartphone. Oh yeah, also at an affordable price.

[dsned]

I used to have a library with over 1000 books, i loved my books! all gone now and thanks to the kindle I don't miss them.

[batman911]

New Kindle (iPad competition) coming out soon. I believe it is called "Fire".
The street thinks this may be the iPads only serious competition.

[BBQMan]

Originally Posted by rhredd1654

Sometime in the not too distant future, we will have a lightweight tablet that will replace laptop , eReader AND smartphone. Oh yeah, also at an affordable price.

The Kindle Fire came pout today. It is not a smart phone, but is a fully functional color touch tablet and a fully capable eReader. It lets you do 90% of what the iPad does including web browsing, e-mail and an eReader. The price is $199 and with Amazon Prime membership gives you access to free movies and TV shows. It does everything the Nook Color does and more for less money.

It is expected to be the first serious competitor to the iPad. For a black and white touchscreen Amazon introduced the Kindle Touch. It like the Nook b&w eReader has a six inch screen, uses e-ink and is in most ways very similar. The difference in price will be touch for B&N to match. The Kindle goes for $99 while the Nook sells for $139. Amazon offers a new model of its existing Kindle for $79.

I have ordered the new Kindle Fire and will use it to replace my iPad AND my existing Kindle. At $99 for the touchscreen Kindle delivered, my Christmas shopping list is going to be easy this year!

[LittleDog]

I ordered a Kindle touch for $99 but at that price you also get ads which doesn't bother me. Without ads it costs $139.

John

[linandvin]

Just heard the FIRE will be fine tuned AFTER the holidays with more than ever before! When to buy....hmmmm....I do LOVE my IPAD. However, when you put on polarized sunglasses, you can't read it in the sun. So I wear a hat instead!

[rhredd1654]

I too ordered the Kindle for $139 (includes 3g). My understanding is that the Fire DOES NOT have 3g, so you're tethered to a Wi-Fi location. To each his (her) own..whatever melts your butter!

[mitchbr47]

Originally Posted by BBQMan

The Kindle Fire came pout today. It is not a smart phone, but is a fully functional color touch tablet and a fully capable eReader. It lets you do 90% of what the iPad does including web browsing, e-mail and an eReader. The price is $199 and with Amazon Prime membership gives you access to free movies and TV shows. It does everything the Nook Color does and more for less money.

It is expected to be the first serious competitor to the iPad. For a black and white touchscreen Amazon introduced the Kindle Touch. It like the Nook b&w eReader has a six inch screen, uses e-ink and is in most ways very similar. The difference in price will be touch for B&N to match. The Kindle goes for $99 while the Nook sells for $139. Amazon offers a new model of its existing Kindle for $79.

I have ordered the new Kindle Fire and will use it to replace my iPad AND my existing Kindle. At $99 for the touchscreen Kindle delivered, my Christmas shopping list is going to be easy this year!

I also was reading about the Fire yesterday. I don't think it will drastically affect the iPad for these reasons...
Apple has a great track record with their devices.
The Fire is only available in the US. 50% of iPads are sold overseas.
limited to only wifi- no 3G connectivity
smaller screen at 7 inches
only 6GB of storage space. That can fill up fast.
Might be ok if everything is stored on the Cloud. But then Wifi connection must be used to access it.
no camera or microphone for Skype
though it uses Android in the background
limited number of Apps currently available
Amazon can track everything that you do every web visit, transaction, etc.
To access movies you need an Amazon Prime account. 30 day trial included. Membership is $79 a year.
Maybe some don't realize that an iPad has both Nook and Kindle apps for books

[BBQMan]

Originally Posted by mitchbr47

I also was reading about the Fire yesterday. I don't think it will drastically affect the iPad for these reasons...
Apple has a great track record with their devices.
Tire is only available in the US. 50% of iPads are sold overseas.
limited the Fo only wifi- no 3G connectivity
smaller screen at 7 inches
only 6GB of storage space. That can fill up fast.
Might be ok if everything is stored on the Cloud. But then Wifi connection must be used to access it.
no camera or microphone for Skype
though it uses Android in the background
limited number of Apps currently available
Amazon can track everything that you do every web visit, transaction, etc.
To access movies you need an Amazon Prime account. 30 day trial included. Membership is $79 a year.
Maybe some don't realize that an iPad has both Nook and Kindle apps for books

1. Apple has a great track record with their devices. Absolutely true, but so does Amazon
2. Kindle Fire is available only in US. A clear advantage for iPad, but probably temporary. Previous Kindles are available world-wide.
3. Wifi only, no 3G. Again true, but a mixed blessing. 3G adds a minimum monthly cost of $15 to iPad ownership and a more realistic cost of $40 per month if you are using the data feed at all. Cumulative 2 yr cost of ownership: Kindle Fire - $199, iPad $859 to $1459 (and potentially more)
4. iPad 10" screen vs Kindle Fire 7" screen. True, but a mixed blessing. The increase in screen size comes with an increase in weight. iPad weighs in at 21 oz, the Kindle fire at 14 oz both without covers. A typical paperback (I used Silva's, The English Assassin, 491 pages} weighs 10 0z.
5. Only 6GB of storage space. That can fill up fast. Might be ok if everything is stored on the Cloud. But then Wifi connection must be used to access it. Good point and a clear advantage of iPad. How much this will mean in real life remains to be seen.
6. No camera or microphone for Skype. Clear advantage for iPad, if you use Skype. But isn't this what your smart phone is for?
7. You need to have Amazon Prime for movies and this costs $79 per year. I think this is an advantage. It eliminates the needs for NetFlix and saves money at the same time. It also provides free two-day shipping on anything you buy from Amazon and hassle free returns, if for ANY reason you don't like what you purchased.
8. iPad has both Nook and Kindle apps for books. True and there is also an Apple app for the iPad. I've used all three and have found that it is best to have all your books in one 'library'. All of these apps function well, but I have found I prefer using the Kindle app on my existing Kindle, iPad and Computer.

I am both a Kindle and Apple fanatic. I've owned Apple computers since my Apple 2 and then the original Mac. I am now on my iMac and have a mac.com e-mail address. I'm also a iPhone and iPad user. I've used Kindles since they first came out and found that the only one I did not like was the Kindle DX with its 10" screen and 19 oz weight. Just too heavy to be comfortable for extended reading.

In the final analysis both are great at what they do, but the two year cost of ownership: $199 for the Kindle Fire vs $1459 for the iPad with 3g capability makes the Kindle an easy decision for me.

[KayakerNC]

I don't think the Amazon Fire is an "iPad killer".
More likely designed to be a Nook killer. If I were B&N, I'd be worried.

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

I don't think the Amazon Fire is an "iPad killer".
More likely designed to be a Nook killer. If I were B&N, I'd be worried.

I don't know. It's smaller, lighter and way less expensive than iPad and has a similar feature set. I won't buy the Fire 1.0, but might by a 2nd gen. if it's thinner, sleeker, has built up an excellent app collection and has 4G (or whatever is current at the time). I could see it replacing my iPad-- but not my 3rd gen. Kindle, (which replaced by 1st gen. Kindle).

The reason is, I love the iPad2 for apps and surfing net, but not for reading. I much prefer the e-ink, non-backlit screen for reading.

It will be interesting to see how things develop. The iPad will keep innovating too. Increasing competition will drive down it's price.

A killer pad devise to me would have an e-ink screen on one side and an iPad-like screen on the other, each with a sliding protective screen that automatically turns the side on when the screen is slid open. It would cloud sync too. Must admit, I think iTunes is as inelegant and clunky as the iPad and most Apple devices are elegant and endearing.

I agree B&N can't be thrilled about Amazon's huge techno leap for Kindle.

[Taj44]

I agree, the new Kindle will certainly be a hot item. But it will, I think, spur new developments in the other ereaders and tablets. In the next couple of years, with all the competition going on, the consumer will have many choices. I have a second generation Nook which I love - 2 month battery charge, and we have a Macbook air for our computer needs, which is light enough to travel with. But in a year or two, when the prices come down, I expect to be looking at tablets.

[oatmealgirls]

I just bought a Kindle Keyboard 3g + wifi 6" E Ink Display for $89.99 at Best Buy. ( [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Keyboard-Free-Wi-Fi-Display/dp/B004YL4NOU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1322019676&sr=1-1"] Amazon site [/ame] has it currently selling for $139. Good descriptions and Kindle comparisons here.)

I think there may be reviews with talk of discontinuing this model because of the newer Touch Kindles, and of course the new Fire, but thought it was a good price, so wanted to pass along to anyone else who may be interested!

[grandma-annie]

I just received a Kindle Fire as a gift. There was no manual with it and I don't know where to begin or how to use it. Any suggestions? thanks