Fire vs iPad

[wizwor]

Bezos said a year and a half ago that Fire was not competing with iPad and I believed him. Looks like things have changed. Just say a commercial comparing the 8.9" Fire HD to the iPad with Retina display.

- Both have stunning displays
- You may not know the difference
- Your wallet will

Let the games begin!

[sunnysmiles]

I gave up reading books on the IPad but love to read on the fire. Just a shame you cannot read in the sunshine.

[Dubstepper]

Went with the fire because of the cheaper pricing.

[fjtorres]

When iPad was 10in only and you needed sandpaper to use anything smaller ,they weren't competitors.
Once the Mini was a certainty and Amazon designed a Premium 9-in class tablet they became (sort-of) competitors. Sort-of because realistically the aren't going for the same customers yet.

As the ad says; the wallet can tell the difference and if that difference can sway you you were never going to buy the iPad anyway. At least not the 10in version.

The ad isn't about convincing potential iPad buyers to get a FireHD but about convincing likely Fire buyers that they're getting a good deal. All the ad is really saying is "our screen is as good as anybody's". Which it is.

[wizwor]

You're right. Apple changed the rules with the release of the mini. Right again, that Amazon isn't trying to persuade iFolks as much as focusing the discussion on price.

[JSWolf]

Amazon is saying...

Our screen on the 8.9" Kindle Fire is as good as that of the iPad and we cost $200 less

Amazon IS trying to persuade people to buy a Fire instead of an iPad.

[fjtorres]

Do people buy iPads solely for the screen? Last I heard, the iPad mini was selling like hotcakes *despite* the screen. All the reviewers swear the iOS ecosytem is why. I tend to agree. First you choose an ecosystem you feel comfy with--then you choose the hardware that best suits your needs and wallet.
It's the same as with ebooks: first you choose between kindle and epub and after you choose epub Kindle becomes irrelevant. And vice-versa.
Ne'er shall the twain meet
.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Do people buy iPads solely for the screen? Last I heard, the iPad mini was selling like hotcakes *despite* the screen. All the reviewers swear the iOS ecosytem is why. I tend to agree. First you choose an ecosystem you feel comfy with--then you choose the hardware that best suits your needs and wallet.
It's the same as with ebooks: first you choose between kindle and epub and after you choose epub Kindle becomes irrelevant. And vice-versa.
Ne'er shall the twain meet
.

Some look at the hardware and not the platform. They see all these cheap Android tablets and how poor they really are and go with an iPad that has a good level of performance.

What Amazon is trying to tell everyone is that the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" model is a comparable tablet to an iPad at a lower cost.

[afv011]

For those who haven't seen the ad.

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

First you choose an ecosystem you feel comfy with--then you choose the hardware that best suits your needs and wallet.
It's the same as with ebooks: first you choose between kindle and epub and after you choose epub Kindle becomes irrelevant. And vice-versa.
Ne'er shall the twain meet

Amazon and Apple thank you for buying into their marketing ploy. Neither require you buy their hardware to buy their ecosystem. I have used this method for choosing a computer since the 70s and have never suffered buyers remorse...

1) make a list of the stuff you want to do with the computer
2) make a list of the apps that will do this stuff to your satisfaction
3) make a list of the computers that will run these apps
4) shop for one of these computers based on price

I think Bezos gets this and that is the reason they sell the hardware near cost. You really cannot buy significantly better hardware than the Fire at the various price points.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Amazon is saying...

Amazon IS trying to persuade people to buy a Fire instead of an iPad.

If so, then they're fools. The only difference they point out is price, and appleheads don't care about price. If price matters, they won't even be looking at Apple. If they're inclined to buy Apple, they won't be looking very hard (if at all) at anything else.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by taustin

If so, then they're fools. The only difference they point out is price, and appleheads don't care about price. If price matters, they won't even be looking at Apple. If they're inclined to buy Apple, they won't be looking very hard (if at all) at anything else.

What Amazon is also pointing out is that the screen on the Fire 8.9" HD is as good as the iPad. Amazon is trying to say that the Fire 8.9" HD is as good as an iPad for less money.

What about that did you not get?

[wizwor]

Originally Posted by JustinCox

I am glad I stumble upon this thread as I am planning to buy Fire HD 8.9 when it's available in the market. Thanks.

Though I love my Fire, I hope this discussion and that commercial are not the sole basis for your decision. Sit down and think about why you want a tablet...

1) make a list of all the things you want to do with the tab
2) list any deal breakers (battery life, dimensions, memory, killer apps)
3) make a list of all the apps that will do the things in #1 well enough
4) make a list of all the devices that will run apps from #3
5) set a budget
6) cross off items from #5 that violate #2, #4, or #5
7) go touch each remaining device
8) read reviews of each remaining device
9) shop price on the devices that are on your short list

if you can go through this process, you will likely be happy with your choice.

[BeccaPrice]

I want a tablet because I'm the only person in my family who doesn't have one.

Not sure what I'd do with one, just need to technologically keep up with the Prices.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I want a tablet because I'm the only person in my family who doesn't have one.

Not sure what I'd do with one, just need to technologically keep up with the Prices.

What you do is borrow one and forget to return it.