Will The Rumored Amazon Tablet Be DOA?

[Michael Knutson]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://techpinions.com/7-media-tablets-dead-on-arrival/2413' target='_blank'>http://techpinions.com/7-media-tabl...on-arrival/2413</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Last week, TechCrunch reported that Amazon&rsquo;s 7" Kindle tablet was "very real" and would ship for the 2011 holidays.&nbsp; Almost a year before that, the WSJ reported that "Steve Jobs declared the seven-inch tablet &lsquo;dead on arrival.&rsquo;" So the stage is set for an interesting war of beliefs and concepts this holiday shopping season.&nbsp; In one corner, the world&rsquo;s most trafficked internet retail stores and Kindle inventor, Amazon, and in the other, Apple, the most valuable company on the planet and inventor of the iPad."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/at/auto/1315543289.usr17748.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></p><p>Another debate on the merits of the 7-inch vs. the 10-inch tablet. We get a value proposition discussion, as well as a perceived value discussion. Amazon vs. Apple. Should be interesting! I think that pronouncing a competitor's product (or an entire genre) as "DOA" is not really a wise move, but Mr Jobs has been known to make statements&nbsp; that backfire. So what are your thoughts, is there room for an Amazon tablet, or is it destined to really be DOA?</p>

[Sven Johannsen]

With the success of the Nook Color, and it does seem to be doing well, and some other 7" Android offerings, if they make this dual core so it can run Honeycomb and keep that price down to the 'color reader' ballpark ($250?), I think they will sell a bunch of them.

I don't think 7" is a bad size for what it is designed to do, assuming that is reading, light browsing, media and e-mail. Think about the female sector. Tough to stick an iPad in a purse, but my wife will throw a Nook Color in there.

[Michael Knutson]

I personally really like the 7-inch form factor, as it's just so convenient to carry around, and, as a reading platform, it's perfect, IMHO. I've got a boatload of iDevices, but still use and prefer my (wifi + 3g) Kindle for reading. Add a bit more web functionality, and I'll buy one. I bought a Nook Color, but sold it, as it just isn't as "smooth" as the Kindle. As for the Kindle, I simply bookmark my reading, and can pick it up later on any device running the Kindle app.

[Sven Johannsen]

As for the Kindle, I simply bookmark my reading, and can pick it up later on any device running the Kindle app.
They do have that feature pretty much nailed. Not so on B&N. My wife continually needs to check what page she is on to go from Nook standard to color to iOS or Android app. They need to fix that.

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

Release first, talk later.

[Sven Johannsen]

Release first, talk later.Did you mean to post this in the "Fusion Garage Grid 10 Tablet Starting at $299 in October (http://forums.thoughtsmedia.com/f452/fusion-garage-grid-10-tablet-starting-299-october-116707.html)" thread? ;)

[Lee Yuan Sheng]

No, at least Fusion Garage has an announced product. We're going by rumours here.

[Bob12]

They do have that feature pretty much nailed. Not so on B&N. My wife continually needs to check what page she is on to go from Nook standard to color to iOS or Android app. They need to fix that.

You might want to check your settings -- I had a first edition Nook and switched to a Color Nook. I was part way through a book and when I finished setting up the Nook Color, that book was marked right where I'd left off on the first edition. It also syncs where I am whether I'm reading on the Nook Color, the iPad, or my PC.

[Sven Johannsen]

You might want to check your settings -- I had a first edition Nook and switched to a Color Nook. I was part way through a book and when I finished setting up the Nook Color, that book was marked right where I'd left off on the first edition. It also syncs where I am whether I'm reading on the Nook Color, the iPad, or my PC.Not sure what to set. She has been over it numerous times, and even took all the devices down to B&N for the 'expert' to check. Not that it never works, it just seems inconsistant. She isn't a tech sloutch BTW, MCSE, MCT, etc. (no eReader certs though, but I'm sure somebody will come up with that revenue generating scheme) I don't typically try to help unless she asks. Domestic tranquility and all.

[Jason Dunn]

If anyone can mount a serious challenge to Apple in the tablet space, it's Amazon. They have broad digital content offerings (books, music, movies, TV shows), incredible depth of products for sale, and excellent customer service. The Kindle, every generation, had impressive hardware design - if they get this right, and I think they will, at the price point being suggested ($250 to $299) it will be very compelling.

I think they might also do a bundle with Amazon Prime - imagine if they hit a $149 to $199 price point with the purchase of an Amazon Prime subscription? Amazon isn't shy about competing on price, and when you get down to a sub $200 price point, the idea of having a tablet that stays in the kitchen and is just for ordering food, looking up recipes, etc. isn't so crazy.