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“Google just cut [Kindle Fire’s] knees off with this Nexus 7”

I don't think so. Google is terrible at marketing. For example, my mom owns a Kindle. She doesn't have an iPad, but she knows what it is. She will most likely never know or care what a "Nexus 7" is (or a "Nexus-Q" for that matter). I think the same goes for a large number of consumers out there.

Kills the Fire. The Fire was released last fall. I am going out on a limb to suggest that there will be a new Fire soon, and magically, this thing won't kill it. This reminds me of all the PC articles comparing the latest and greatest PC to a mac released 9 months before to justify their statements about how the mac is much more expensive. Or saying some Android tablet released today has better specs than that iPad released 9 months ago. Somehow the iPad still kicks its rear end in the marketplace.

I don't have a Fire, nor do I want one. I suspect, however, that the next fire will humiliate this thing in the marketplace. Amazon Kindle is a known brand Nexus 7 is not (except by Android's fandom). Same for "Jelly Bean." Joe blow consumer is not going to care, and the guy selling it to him won't care.

>McQuivey said. “Google can see that the only way to beat the premium-worthy iPad is to go for the millions of customers who are ready for smaller and cheaper tablets,” he said.<

What? How are you beating the iPad if you are selling to different people? Making money, yes. Beating iPad?

hagen, on 28 June 2012 - 04:33 AM, said:

They aren't even making money. They are selling it for cost.

I don't think the Fire will be posed any problem by the Nexus 7. 1. because it has been released prior to the N7, 2. because Google doesn't have the same level of hardware selling portals, and 3. doesn't have the content distribution that Amazon has with the Fire.

Honestly, this is where I see the N7 failing... I suppose that if Google can push out e-books cheaper than Amazon can with the Kindle, then they might have a winner... though I just can't see that happening.

Google N& might have the better tech inside, but insides don't count in the grand scheme of things... I mean, look at Apple, for years they have been behind the hardware stakes with iPad, though to them its irrelevant because they have the content with iTunes to back that up. Theit tech is also reliable and the software is kept up to take and is 'Safe' from malware, whereas Google isn't.

I don't think the Fire will be posed any problem by the Nexus 7. 1. because it has been released prior to the N7, 2. because Google doesn't have the same level of hardware selling portals, and 3. doesn't have the content distribution that Amazon has with the Fire.

Honestly, this is where I see the N7 failing… I suppose that if Google can push out e-books cheaper than Amazon can with the Kindle, then they might have a winner… though I just can't see that happening.

Google N& might have the better tech inside, but insides don't count in the grand scheme of things… I mean, look at Apple, for years they have been behind the hardware stakes with iPad, though to them its irrelevant because they have the content with iTunes to back that up. Theit tech is also reliable and the software is kept up to take and is 'Safe' from malware, whereas Google isn't.

gk_brown, on 28 June 2012 - 04:12 AM, said:

What rock did you crawl from under, everyone with an Android phone will want one those, and many people who own an iPad will also. Its new, different and its a new device the great looking specs.
You can't fail something out of the gate these days. As far as marketing is concerned is it not brilliant to test the water with a 7 inch tablet and new software update to give yourself time to develop a 10 inch tablet with a
more stable software update and maybe even better rival the iPad. Just saying.

I think the Fire will do just fine in this market and Amazon is ready for a second generation now. This isn't a market where anyone can kill anyone else anymore. Everyone is using pretty much the same technology and as such, no one is going to greatly undercut someone else's price without a loss in capability. For example, I just ordered a 13" Macbook air. Before doing so, I went to Dell's site to see if I could get one of their ultrabooks for a lot less. Not only is a Dell 13" XPS ultrabook the same or more money, it is significantly less powerful (less max memory and slower mem, lower screen res etc.)

To make an iPad killer, or Macbook Air killer, you basically have to use the same components that Apple is using. The problem is Apple was first and they have the supplies locked down. If you prefer Android, buy an Android, but don't expect to make the argument it's going to be a lot better performing or cheaper.

macless, on 28 June 2012 - 05:08 AM, said:

Most people with an Android phone bought "a phone". They did not buy the brand, and as such don't have much, if any, loyalty to it.

macless, on 28 June 2012 - 05:08 AM, said:

RIM Playbook? HP Touchpad?

This post has been edited by gk_brown: 28 June 2012 - 06:03 AM

It has been about a year since Kindle Fire was announced, so I would hope a brand new tablet would be superior today. Meanwhile, where is Kindle Fire 2?

The Fire is never going to compete with iPad because it's a different niche / scope... different type of tablet. But I find it hard to believe, unless the Nexus Whatever 7.2 with OS 4.1JellyBall (some really ingenious and memorable marketing there lol) has access to Amazon's marketplace directly, that it poses any real threat. Google does not have a developed book or content distribution market. People aren't used to thinking about buying from Google. Amazon is the biggest book seller and one of the biggest movie and music sellers in teh world. On that basis alone, Fire is going to be fine. Ecosystem and buyer loyalty is more important than the gadget, so long as the gadgets in question are all roughly comparable, which they are.

Look don't get me wrong, I expect that people who buy the device will get good use out of it, however it's market isn't clear as others in the field. The Google portal isn't as well defined as the Amazon or iTunes portals are, therefore it will struggle to attain its place because of the lack of identity.

One Example is Apple where for month/years where Apple had a fire/die hard group of purchasers who were used to buying from the iTunes website then they released the iPhone one or was it that Sony phone that played music from iTunes. Then came the iPhone two and so on.

The problem is that Google hasn't done what Apple did... they've really only released hardware with software OSs. If anyone can point me at an entertainment portal within Google itself and is well documented by a core group of followers, I will bite and agree that the N7 has a chance.... otherwise I think this one can be relegated to the same place the 10.1 is and so on....

VegemiteHero, on 28 June 2012 - 07:50 AM, said:

I agree. "Analysts: Nexus 7 kills Kindle Fire" equals "We still have no idea why people buy iPads." Technical specs are mostly meaningless and the Fire will be mostly just fine. It's the Galaxy Tab and PlayBook owners that will suffer buyer's remorse.