Why Amazon Might Be the Only Co. That Can Build an iPad Killer

L.J. Sellers · 05-04-2011, 09:48 AM

I thought this article was brief, but interesting. One of the selling points is Amazon's customer service.

http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfie...n-ipad-killer/

L.J.

RainingLemur · 05-04-2011, 10:51 AM

From my experience with both Amazon and Apple... Both companies have incredible customer service (in general). I've had MORE good experiences with Amazon, though. At the least, when I had an issue, the CS-reps I dealt with at Amazon didn't come off as condescending (like I did at a few Apple stores) when I explained my issues.

Either way, here's to more competition!

tubemonkey · 05-04-2011, 11:48 AM

Apple has an ecosystem and Amazon has an ecosystem.

Who else does?

kjk · 05-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Apple has an ecosystem and Amazon has an ecosystem.

Who else does?

Microsoft and Sony both have ecosystems that are ripe for the right products to take advantage of.

tubemonkey · 05-04-2011, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjk

Microsoft and Sony both have ecosystems that are ripe for the right products to take advantage of.

Microsoft is inept. They royally screwed up when they failed to keep pace in the mobile OS market. Now they're a bit player. Mobile hardware is another failure. The Kin and Zune HD are now history. MS hasn't a clue.

Sony will be a wait and see. I get the feeling that they really don't care about mobile products, because they never seem to be on the same page as the buying public at large. They cater to the fringe.

Penforhire · 05-04-2011, 01:20 PM

There's always Walmart. They've got a retail ecosystem and a lot of muscle too. So far no interest in Walmart-branded hardware. But I'd bet on Amazon as a better competitor. If their tablet has an Android OS you'd have to credit Google as well.

Apple is a tough fortress to attack. Just ask Nokia, still the world's largest cell phone manufacturer who had to throw in the towel on their own smart phones. Or Dell, who battered themselves against that same shore hand-in-hand with Microsoft.

astra · 05-05-2011, 04:33 AM

Nevermind

Sweetpea · 05-05-2011, 01:31 PM

Why must it always be a "xxx"-killer? Why couldn't they coexist together? No wonder there still isn't peace in the world, if even simple things like gadgets cannot target a different audience...

astra · 05-05-2011, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Why must it always be a "xxx"-killer? Why couldn't they coexist together? No wonder there still isn't peace in the world, if even simple things like gadgets cannot target a different audience...

Penforhire · 05-05-2011, 04:07 PM

Ever hear a Chevy enthusiast and a Ford enthusiast argue for their brands? The sentiment is universal. We choose something and therefore we have some belief that is was the best in some way (price, performance, or whatever). It is more natural that there be cut-throat competition than to all link arms and sing Kumbaya.

Look at it this way, if there was not such competition and drive to be better than the next guy we would not have evolved our beloved e-readers by now. The horse and buggy was good enough, right? No. Killer devices stalking each other down dingy retail corrodors is how we progress.

HansTWN · 05-06-2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Why must it always be a "xxx"-killer? Why couldn't they coexist together? No wonder there still isn't peace in the world, if even simple things like gadgets cannot target a different audience...

If each tablet had a separate target audience then every buyer would be paying a whole lot more and the devices would be upgraded every 3-5 years. Remember the MID's that went for 2-2500 US? We don't want businesses to get along, we want them to compete.

The publishers have a big happy cartel and they get along great. Fixing prices instead of competing with each other -- is that good for us?

Giggleton · 05-06-2011, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

Look at it this way, if there was not such competition and drive to be better than the next guy we would not have evolved our beloved e-readers by now. The horse and buggy was good enough, right? No. Killer devices stalking each other down dingy retail corrodors is how we progress.

I don't follow, It seems to me that a good portion of time and energy is spent on industrial subterfuge and sabotage, if this effort was directed towards R&D, we might have had ereaders awhile back, in fact we probably should have since they have been discussed in the literature for years.

Also, walking is good enough.

Sweetpea · 05-06-2011, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

Ever hear a Chevy enthusiast and a Ford enthusiast argue for their brands? The sentiment is universal. We choose something and therefore we have some belief that is was the best in some way (price, performance, or whatever). It is more natural that there be cut-throat competition than to all link arms and sing Kumbaya.

Yes, but you won't hear: this Chevy will be a Ford-killer! And that's what I'm getting a bit tired of. Chevy and Ford coexist next to each other, one will improve something, then the other will improve the next thing, etc.
So, more competition is great, and some companies will not be able to keep up, true, and that's good as well, because it will the other companies on their toes (that could happen to us too!)

But if you say "product x will be a product y-killer!" you imply that there's only room for one product of each type. And that, I think, is absolutely not true.

msz59 · 05-06-2011, 04:11 AM

It would seem to me a disaster if the only important companies to compete in mobile market were Amazon and Apple. Both promote close systems (I have Kindle and iPhone and I am equally frustrated with both) with the philosophy "we know better what you want (than you yourself)".

As for mobile reading - I will never forgive Amazon killing the Mobipocket Reader which I consider the best ebook reader software I have ever seen/used. and Amazon bought the company and, instead of using its software, sells their Kindle-Swindle reader which is worse in every aspect. Not to mention that they force me to buy (again) the books I have already bought for Mobipocket reader if I want to read them on Kindle (despite even using the same format).

HarryT · 05-06-2011, 04:20 AM

It's silly to talk about anything being an "iPad killer". If Amazon (or anyone else) brings out a device with radical new features, Apple will very likely introduce similar features into the next iteration of the iPad. That's how competition works - new models tend to drive development in their rivals; they don't "kill" them.

05-04-2011, 09:48 AM	#1
L.J. Sellers Novelist Posts: 287 Karma: 387979 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Eugene, Oregon Device: Kindle	Why Amazon Might Be the Only Co. That Can Build an iPad Killer I thought this article was brief, but interesting. One of the selling points is Amazon's customer service. http://blogs.forbes.com/briancaulfie...n-ipad-killer/ L.J.

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05-04-2011, 10:51 AM	#2
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	From my experience with both Amazon and Apple... Both companies have incredible customer service (in general). I've had MORE good experiences with Amazon, though. At the least, when I had an issue, the CS-reps I dealt with at Amazon didn't come off as condescending (like I did at a few Apple stores) when I explained my issues. Either way, here's to more competition!

05-04-2011, 11:48 AM	#3
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,762 Karma: 158733736 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Apple has an ecosystem and Amazon has an ecosystem. Who else does?

05-04-2011, 01:20 PM	#6
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	There's always Walmart. They've got a retail ecosystem and a lot of muscle too. So far no interest in Walmart-branded hardware. But I'd bet on Amazon as a better competitor. If their tablet has an Android OS you'd have to credit Google as well. Apple is a tough fortress to attack. Just ask Nokia, still the world's largest cell phone manufacturer who had to throw in the towel on their own smart phones. Or Dell, who battered themselves against that same shore hand-in-hand with Microsoft.

05-05-2011, 04:33 AM	#7
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Nevermind

05-05-2011, 01:31 PM	#8
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	Why must it always be a "xxx"-killer? Why couldn't they coexist together? No wonder there still isn't peace in the world, if even simple things like gadgets cannot target a different audience...

05-05-2011, 04:07 PM	#10
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	Ever hear a Chevy enthusiast and a Ford enthusiast argue for their brands? The sentiment is universal. We choose something and therefore we have some belief that is was the best in some way (price, performance, or whatever). It is more natural that there be cut-throat competition than to all link arms and sing Kumbaya. Look at it this way, if there was not such competition and drive to be better than the next guy we would not have evolved our beloved e-readers by now. The horse and buggy was good enough, right? No. Killer devices stalking each other down dingy retail corrodors is how we progress.

05-06-2011, 04:11 AM	#14
msz59 Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2011 Device: Kindle 3G, (Sony Touch)	It would seem to me a disaster if the only important companies to compete in mobile market were Amazon and Apple. Both promote close systems (I have Kindle and iPhone and I am equally frustrated with both) with the philosophy "we know better what you want (than you yourself)". As for mobile reading - I will never forgive Amazon killing the Mobipocket Reader which I consider the best ebook reader software I have ever seen/used. and Amazon bought the company and, instead of using its software, sells their Kindle-Swindle reader which is worse in every aspect. Not to mention that they force me to buy (again) the books I have already bought for Mobipocket reader if I want to read them on Kindle (despite even using the same format).

05-06-2011, 04:20 AM	#15
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's silly to talk about anything being an "iPad killer". If Amazon (or anyone else) brings out a device with radical new features, Apple will very likely introduce similar features into the next iteration of the iPad. That's how competition works - new models tend to drive development in their rivals; they don't "kill" them.

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