In the battle to beat the iPad lets take a look at the Kindle Fire and weigh up its chances. Has it got the guts for glory?
Amazons seven-inch Kindle fire is more akin to the Blackberry Playbook than the iPad in size. In fact, it’s about the same size as a decent novel. No surprises there coming from Amazon, considering they now sell more ebooks than hardcovers.
Firstly consider the cost, at just £130 it is almost £220 pounds cheaper than the cheapest iPad. At that price there’s also far less concern about loosing it, sitting on it, spreading jam on it or getting mugged for it. That makes it affordable to a much bigger audience.
Then there’s the operating system: Running Android it’s sharing a platform with the majority of the smart phone market. That should let users hook into the Android store and benefit from 1000’s of apps. Another reason, in my view, why the Playbook is a less attractive device and the Kindle Fire is more of a threat to Apple.
The device itself is basic, with 8GB of storage, a 7” display and no onboard camera, microphone or 3G connectivity. You certainly get what you pay for, but if your looking for an eReader that taps into the Amazon marketplace and gives you access to the Android app store, then you should be content to put up with a lower spec device than the iPad.
If anything is going to give Apple a run for its money, it has to be this. Windows have failed to make any kind of meaningful impression and the much-hyped Playbook is very disappointing in my opinion. A device like the Kindle Fire could be perfect for turning the masses onto tablets, and could even see the balance of power edge away from Apple. Maybe.
It’s looking unlikely that we will see this device launched in the UK before Christmas, which is a shame, as I can think of a few people, my parents and children included, whom this device would be perfect for. If you happen to be in the States you can grab one on 15th November or thereabouts.
Previously, on the Critical Path….
Everything I ever wrote on mobile, or a really specific article on Android vs iOS and 101 ways to count market share.