except that the kindle fire doesn't ship until november and ipads and iphones get that ability in a week or so when ios 5 is released.

Exactly or I would say a media delivery device as clearly they hope to make the jump beyond ebooks at last.

Read this yesterday re: Amazon/Fire:

"company has been on a tear to secure movies and TV shows that will make it competitive with other content distributors. It recently lined up Fox and CBS, but also has deals with NBC Universal, Sony, and Warner Bros. Yet Amazon isn’t expected to position the Kindle Fire as a potential iPad killer. The Kindle Fire will feature a carousel that makes it easy for users to buy and access videos, music, text, and apps from the online retailer. But the device also is expected to accommodate rival content services such as Netflix and Hulu.

The inexpensive device with a 7-inch screen is designed to compare favorably with Barnes & Noble’s Nook and give Amazon a sexy product to sell this holiday season. The company’s challengers to the iPad should arrive next year: more powerful tablets with code names Coyote (for the 7-inch model) and Hollywood (for the 10-inch one)."

I currently have a Kindle, so would be interested to see what Coyote or Hollywood offers when they come out & how it compares to ipad.

Friends of mine who don't have a Kindle are definitely interested in the Fire, especially at that price point.

Cheers.

My Wish List
 

8.9"
Android Gingerbread or custom ROM
unlocked 3G or FauxG
Voice Commands ("Computer...Earl Grey Hot")
8-10 hour runtime
2 year "no questions asked" warranty
Decent Camera(s)
USB 2.0
Bluetooth
Tethering

BTW Bezos' latest offer is a game changer (if this isn't BS):

http://www.talkandroid.com/63668-sil...plained-video/

$300 buys you under 3 months. That's the kind of value proposition Apple loves to offer ^

Did I read the specs right for it, it won't do anything without wifi?

I can understand needing wifi to surf the internet, but it's a step backwards not to be able to download books without it.

A major drag is the inability to add memory. Apparently it has no microSD slot, etc.

Looks like a Nook Color lite.

Actually the biggest disappointment is lack of 3G. Would have been sweet with the same kind of global no-fee 3G as eInk Touch or Keyboard models...

Sadly this seems to be a trend. :( (iPad, GT 10.1, Fire)

Actually, I think if using domestically, where I'm sure I will have WiFi or at least 3G/4G, the thin client paradigm works well. The problem will be overseas and in situations connectivity is not great or guaranteed. Non the less, the price point does make it quite appealing.

At $199, you can call it a tableau as far as I'm concerned - that price blows away the iPad.

I agree. That is why I decided to try one.

Are you really surprised that an inferior product has a lower price point?

That much lower? Yes indeedy. That much inferior? Hardly.

Yes.

I use a Lenovo X220 for travel requirements, and this the ideal companion for reading and simple tasks. Like the idea. A lot.

None of which exclude it from being a tablet.