Setting the Tablet World on Fire – Amazon Tablet Preview
On November 15th the tablet PC community will welcome its newest member, the Kindle Fire. The device will represent Amazon’s renewed efforts in the tablet market and may offer select consumers an enticing alternative to the market dominating Apple iPad. The affordably priced ($199) device delivers access to the extensive Amazon media market via Amazon’s own Silk web browser. In addition to the famed Kindle bookstore, users will find TV shows, movies and music. Google’s heavily adopted Android OS, version to be determined, will also connect Fire owners to thousands of applications. The petite device touts a 7” display and weighs-in at a sleight 14.6 ounces. Those seeking simplicity will also enjoy data wirelessly backed by Amazon’s servers, eliminating the need for PC synchronization.
Despite the efforts of mainstream manufacturers such as Vizio and Samsung, Android powered tablets continue to fall to the seemingly unstoppable momentum of the iPad. In fact Analysts at research firm Gartner expect the iPad to account for three out of four tablet sales this year. How does the Kindle Fire expect to compete in this one-sided market? Simply put, Amazon has no interest in direct product competition. Apple’s iPad has a faster Dual-Core A5 processor, offers two to eight times the storage capacity, a larger app store, two cameras and a larger display (9.7”). However, this additional performance and function comes at an inflated price, $300 to $630 above the Fire’s price point. The Kindle Fire targets the casual tablet user looking for a convenient, portable and most importantly, affordable device to enjoy their favorite media formats. For those who intend to use their tablet for the occasional application, watching movies and TV or reading an e-book, why not trim the fat and save the bank account? The Kindle Fire is soon to fill this void and has serious potential to thrive, when accepted by this niche market.
