Here's an article! Let the discussion begin! :)

I've heard the hype that this might be an iPAD killer.  Of course, they say that every time a tablet device comes out. The price is excellent. But, from what I'm reading they are focusing on a device that enhanced reading with apps (not necessarily a full service computer which is where the iPAD is heading).  Good competition for the Nook Color (which just dropped in price yesterday) but probably not serious competition for the iPAD.

i already pre ordered mine !!!

They had them on Facebook!  Looking Gooood  LOL  Since I have been wanting a Table I leaning towards the FIRE!! 

The page at Amazon that tells more is at...

Here.

I think it looks great. If I needed a tablet I would definitely get one. In fact I like all of the products they released today. Too bad I don't need any of them!

I have a 1st generation Nook. When it dies or goes obsolete, I'm getting that Kindle Touch.

Well, I don't have money so I can't buy one.  LOL  What I heard on Bloomberg and other sources today is Amazon is seeing this more as an enhanced ereader.  Meaning it's designed with readers in mind--not so much people who want a full function tablet.  Bloomberg stated it doesn't have 3G or a camera.

Will see...I'll wait for people to buy it and review it to see the pros and cons.

The good thing about all these new entries at a lower price is it should bring down the prices on tablets all around.

Mine is on pre order.  I've been wanting an IPad but I think the Kindle Fire is going to work out just fine for me.  I'm keeping my 2nd generation Kindle for trips to the beach and such!

It doesn't have 3G but I have figured out that I really don't need or use 3G much.  WIFI is available most places that I go.  And it's not like I won't already have books to read and movies to watch before I start traveling.

I wonder how many folks are going to get the $99 kindle e-ink reader, choosing to take the advertisements to save $40. Doesn't seem like much of a discount to have to live with advertisements for the life of the product.

I also wonder about Amazon's cloud service and their new Fire tablet. It doesn't have 3G, so I wonder how using the cloud service could be hampered when there's no wi-fi?

Amazon has B&N beat on the streaming and music. B&N is going to have to catch up and offer those if it wants to compete. But Amazon is such a juggernaut, with the cash to start up those services. Not sure B&N does.

I wonder how many folks are going to get the $99 kindle e-ink reader, choosing to take the advertisements to save $40. Doesn't seem like much of a discount to have to live with advertisements for the life of the product.

I saved $50 for the Kindle with Special Offers.

Actually, some of the deals are pretty sweet. And I find I don't mind them. I don't even notice them most of the time. A screen saver is a screen saver when you can't change them anyway.

Jane, that's an interesting point about the cloud.  Since we are quickly moving towards cloud computing, can this be a detriment later?

For myself, I'm not sure I worry about music streaming and such.  I've got an MP3 player that slips in my pocket, which is more convenient to me than a tablet device (for music that is).  I could put songs on my Nook but then I worry about how much storage that takes since music files are pretty large.  I've got 600+ ebooks on it already. :D

I love my Kindle with Special Offers! I got the 3G with SO, saved $50 that way, and took advantage of Best Buy's offer of a $30 GC with purchase. I have used several of the offers. I like the screen savers. The little ad at the bottom of the main screen is not a bother.

I also have a Kindle 3 wifi without SO. Both are great. 

I really like that $79.00 one. Its so cute. I would love to see one in person. Hoping Staples will get them in so I can handle one just for fun.

In case you are confused by all the different new models, like I was, our friends at DailyCheapReads.com posted this great summary of all the new options:

Fire and all the new Kindles
Yesterday was an exciting day for Kindle users – the goodies from Amazon just kept coming. Price reductions, better devices with several highly desired features, and the
long anticipated tablet. Here’s a brief recap of the new Kindles now available or coming soon:
Kindle Fire ($199) Wi-Fi only tablet available to U.S. customers only, backlit, pre-order with deliveries beginning November 15. Great for children’s books.
 
Kindle Touch 3G + WiFi($149 w/ Special Offers; $189 w/out Special Offers) 3G Works globally, U.S. customers only, most-advanced E-Ink display, lighter and overall smaller than previous Kindles, holds 3,000 books, tap pages to seamlessly turn pages, and much more. Pre-order with deliveries beginning November 21.
 
Kindle Touch Wi-Fi ($99 w/ Special Offers; $139 w/out Special Offers) Available to U.S. customers only, most-advanced E-Ink display, lighter and overall smaller than previous Kindles, holds 3,000 books, and much more. Pre-order with deliveries beginning November 21.
 
Kindle Wi-Fi ($79 w/ Special Offers; $109 w/out Special Offers) Available now and to all customers, 30% lighter and 18% smaller than previous Kindles, most-advanced E-Ink display, holds 1,400 books and easy to use. Great Kindle for older children and the casual reader.
 
Kindle Keyboard Wi-Fi ($99 w/ Special Offers; $139 w/out Special Offers) Formerly known as the Kindle 3 – same Kindle as before now with a lower price.
 
Kindle Keyboard 3G + Wi-Fi ($139 w/ Special Offers; $189 w/out Special Offers) Formerly known as the Kindle 3 3G.
 

It's going to be interesting how this plays out.  The Kindle Fire cost more than $199 for Amazon to produce (I think it was $220 to produce each unit).  They are waging bets that you will buy the other content (ebooks, movies, music, etc.) to offset their losses.  I didn't realize it but Amazon has a razor thin profit.  I thought they were doing really well.  So, this is a gamble for them and we'll have to see if it pays off.  The price is definitely good even without some of the features of the more expensive tablets.  The question will be if folks will buy enough media products to make it winner for Amazon.

Since we are quickly moving towards cloud computing, can this be a detriment later?

I'm not a cloud person. I like to have some control over not only my purchased movies and music, but my ebooks as well. Years ago, when I was in a fandom with a lot of fanfic coming out on the internet, some people used to tease me about collecting it to read off-line. That is until several of the archives disapeared, due to web sites going toward pay sites, hard drive crashes and just general bad luck for many people. I've had more than a few authors ask me if I had copies of their old stories because they lost them for some reason.

And then during the Agency war, many of my books disapeared from my Fictionwise book shelf. But I'd downloaded my own copies, (like they strongly advise) so it didn't bother me too much.

Add to that the fact that I find 3g service in my area really, really slow, I'd rather have my own stuff with me, stored by me and backed up by me.

Doesn't mean I don't do streaming services. I do. Just that once I buy something, I want to make sure I have access to it and not depend on anyone else. Been burned, have seen others get burned.

They are waging bets that you will buy the other contest (ebooks, movies, music, etc.) to offset their losses. 

One discussion I was listening to rang true for me. They said that Apple is a Hardware company, that tolerates apps because it makes them a bit of money and helps sell their device. Their product is the hardware.

Amazon is a large retail store that will do their best to get you the equipment that lets you keep buying their goods. Their hardware is the means to customer purchases, their catalog. So they'll make their hardware a loss-leader if they think it means a ton of future sales of other items.

Too me, that made a lot of sense when it came to the different ways the two go about things.

I'm hoping Amazon will change that in the future and allow us to personalize the screensavers. I'm interested though if they do that how they will implement that into those who have the advertisement Kindles.

I'd think they'd have to keep the Kindle with adds locked up so people can't use their own pictures. Otherwise, their advertisers wouldn't want to pay for the privilege of buying add space no one would ever see.

I think that they'd just have to be upfront with those who get the adds that that's one benefit they'll have to do without for the cheaper machine.

I think most people would like the chance to put their own screen savers in. Those that don't care can save some money.

Ordering mine this weekend.  I am so excited.  I wanted an ipad but I will be so so much happier with this.  Love the price and love the Kindle. 

Cindy, thanks for your feedback.  As I said it will be interesting to see how this goes.  I am surprised at how many people are buying sight unseen.  Then again, I'm a wait and see kind of person when it comes to technology.  I hate getting a new device before they've worked out the glitches.

i'm intrigued by the new models, but mostly in a 'just to see what they're doing' kind of way.

i really like my K3.  i definitely do not want a touch model - i like the buttons to turn pages where they are, since it's super easy to reach no matter how i'm holding it.  i also use the keyboard on it a lot to add notes (mainly just comments on when i read a book, for my own future reference), and in playing some games.  i haven't seen anything yet that shows how that's replaced, but on the touch versions they can probably just pop in on the screen like some phones do.  the new very basic model probably involves a painful amount of using the ring to select letters.

i did get the 3G model (no ads), but i don't think i've ever used the 3G on it, only the wifi.  [except maybe when i first got it out of the box on Christmas, before i set the wifi up.]  i figured i might, on rare occasions, want to download a new release or something when i was on vacation when i might not have wifi, but it hasn't happened yet.

as far as a tablet, i can see where i'd be wanting to use it on weekend trips out of town instead of bringing a laptop or using my phone - but on those occasions i've rarely had wifi access so the Kindle Fire wouldn't be useful to browse the web at that point anyway without 3G.  but it might be nice to have next to the couch!

Kindle Fire: 95,000 Orders On Day One

That is mind boggling!

Ellen, I agree with you, love my K3 with keyboard!

Kindle FIRE will NOT be in STORES until Middle of DEC!!!     This was told to me by Staple.....Best Buy......Walmart.......Target  MGRS today!  Cause I was debating on buying direct from Amazon or in stores.  So I guess IF I want it ASAP I have to order it LOL   

DANG Anne I Hope they dont run out!!!!

Oh definitely order it from Amazon, remember the 30 day money back.

It will be fun to play with one in the store. I want to do that. Not going to order one, though. 7" is too small. (And I am sure I won't be able to afford the bigger one when it comes out!)