Can the Nexus 7 take down the Kindle Fire?
Share:
 |
Google Nexus 7 |
As unbreakable as Amazon's model seemed, Google's announcement of the Nexus 7 tablet raised the question if this isn't the end of Amazon's fairy tale with the Kindle Fire. After all, the Nexus 7 is a much better device in terms of hardware (and software), and comes at the same alluring price of $199. It seems like Google has copied Amazon's model here by selling the device itself without any real profit in order to achieve such a price. Unsurprisingly, however, while presenting the Nexus 7, Google also put a lot of emphasis on the media-consumption capabilities of the device, especially stuff like books and magazines. All of this makes it obvious that with the Nexus 7, Google is aiming for that said niche, carved by the Kindle Fire. Now, the only question left unanswered is whether or not it'll be able to put out the Fire.
As easy as the answer to this may seem, having in mind the Nexus 7's superiority, we wouldn't be so quick to consider the matter closed. First of all, the Kindle Fire will always be favored at Amazon's, and Google isn't really a great hardware seller. Perhaps more importantly, though, the Kindle Fire has been out since last November, and the rumors of a sequel aren't stopping. Google has done well in providing a worthy competitor to the Kindle Fire, but the Fire has been a success for Amazon, and the company is rumored to be gearing up for the launch of a successor.
 |
Amazon Kindle Fire |
So, what's the bottom line of all this? We really doubt it that Amazon will just quit the game it started. The Kindle Fire may look like a bad deal now that the spectacular Nexus 7 is about to come out, but it'll soon be time to welcome its successor/s, and then, who knows, maybe Amazon has found other ways to bring the price even further down (there were rumors of an ad-supported Kindle Fire). In the end, it'll be the consumers who win, but it's all thanks to these unbelievably innovative companies.
Share:
Related phones
Google Nexus 7
- Specifications
- News (20)
- Review
- User Reviews
- Discussions (0)
- Photos
- Size it
- 360°
- Manual
Amazon Kindle Fire
- Discussions (2)
- Photos
- Size it
- 360°
- Manual
28 Comments
5. Santi_Santi posted on 1 1
Remember, cloud storage. we have discussed this issue all the week!
18. shimmyx20 posted on 0 0
Just make sure to have a phone with mobile hotspot capability
6. andro. posted on 0 0
a USB/micro SD card adapter will definitely be made available. The one for the galaxy tab 10.1 is quite small and handy,and cheap also
2. bohdan4ik13 posted on 2 2
Google Play closed in many regions and people cannot buy Google's tablet (even if they want Nexus 7). Amazon works worldwide. And new 7 inch Kindle is coming. So... Nexus 7 is better than Kindle, but this tablet will never be Kindle Fire killer
20. Mario1017 posted on 2 0
you know....the play store isnt the only place to nuy the nexus 7...
21. dmckay12 posted on 0 0
And the play store isn't the only place to get apps, music, movies, and books.
22. -box- posted on 0 0
Though it's the only place to get Google-approved apps. I had a ViewSonic gTablet for a few months, and while it was a great tablet, it didn't have access to the (then) Android Marketplace (now Play Store), which was so frustrating I reluctantly got rid if it. Granted, it was also stuck on FroYo, but not having access to the official Google experience, even though I live in the U.S., was the killer.
Will I get the Nexus7? Maybe, but it would be the 16GB model to have sufficient storage as a media player and app launcher, though I'd rather have a 5" Android media player like the Galaxy Player or Walkman, so that it would be pocketable. I found that having anything that wasn't pocketable made it less appealing to bring with me outside the house because I'd have to either carry it or put it in a laptop bag, which was ridiculous for such a relatively small object. Any appropriately sized bag would have looked like a purse, and if I'm going to put the effort in carrying a device around with me, it may as well be a full-fledged laptop, which has multiple times more storage, full apps with no ads, a physical keyboard, and plenty of ports to hook up peripherals as needed. If computer OEMs started making touchscreen netbooks (or, essentially, the Surface Pro) and priced them the same as current netbooks ($150-500) tablets would lose almost all appeal, especially if the purchaser used the ability of Windows to launch an instance of Android (though only reason to do that is if a particular Android app was so needed that wasn't as accessible or whatever reason it wasn't attainable via Windows, though with the relative scarcity of tablet -specific Android apps, I can't imagine that being necessary. I installed about portion on my desktop for Android and I used it twice, months ago, and never since). I won't even dignify the iPad with an inclusion as it's just a giant iPod touch with an unnecessary camera on the back. Only reason to use a tablet for camera work is if the photographer has vision problems so a small screen isn't worthwhile (even people with not-great vision want to take photos and should have the ability to) and even then they have a tripod to keep the silly thing stable.
23. dmckay12 posted on 0 0
Google doesn't approve the apps. As long as the seller pays $25 and violates no terms (found out after problem reported which comes after it is already in the store), the app is allowed and Google doesn't really care.
24. -box- posted on 0 0
Not quite. Google also proactively checks for malware, which not all app stores do. When I had the gTablet I used GetJar, Amazon, and a few other app stores for what I wanted, or I'd download the API and manually install it, if I could, but even those apps weren't consistently updated, and every download I performed I felt nervous that I could be downloading something possibly malicious, so I had to make sure none of my personal info was ever saved to the tablet, making daily activities like email or Facebook time consuming and frustrating. Just my personal experience, YMMV.
26. dmckay12 posted on 0 0
They do check for malware, but Google does not approve them. Apple approves IOS apps, Google does not approve Android apps.
You will have better luck from the play store but it is not the only place to get good apps.
3. Santi_Santi posted on 0 0
I think Nexus 7, by hardware specs, will take the lead in no time. also the closed fire ecosystem (android, but only with amazon apps) will be a disadvantage considering that the Nexus 7 will be pure-free android experience. Even with a larger screen there is a possibility that the Fire 10" will be the same ol' fire with lower hardware specs and, to keep price, even without a rear camera, or quad core like the Nexus.
7. Muhannad posted on 2 0
It's kinda unfair comparing a 2011 tablet with the new Nexus tablet with all it's awesome hardware, we should wait to see Amazon's response to Google's offering.
8. Jay_F posted on 2 0
I think it has absolutely no chance. You keep forgetting, in this crowd, I fully agree that the Nexus would and should outsell the Kindle Fire. In reality, people go for what they know. The Amazon Kindle Fire will own the budget tablet market for a while, solely due to how well it has been recognized. And if Apple makes their budget tablet, that one will soar to the top. It may not be what you want to hear, but in all likelihood know you know it's the terrible truth.
9. OptimusOne posted on 2 1
duhhh.... yes
more apps in app store!
quadcore v dual core
higher res screen
stock jb(no amazon crap)
almost imediate updates
able to sideload
able to hack and mod(best part)
25. -box- posted on 0 0
In fairness, you can hack and mod any Android-based tablets. Heck, my brother and I rooted the kids tablet I got my nephews for Christmas and got it to run Honeycomb. It's not a smooth setup because of hardware limitations, but it runs more than it was sold as.
11. Xquisite posted on 1 4
To me, this is like asking if the Galaxy S3 can take down the iPhone.
12. threed61 posted on 1 0
The Nexus looks to be very nice! Google isn't yet close when it comes to offering media, but they do tend to catch up quickly. Amazon has done one thing with apps that I wish would catch on with other appstores, they've weeded out the garbage. I'll take their 'limited' selection over having to wade through tons of crap produced by competing for raw number bragging rights anytime.
