Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet to retail at $199

Im sold. I never bought a tablet, to me they are to expensive for what they are worth. Im more of a laptop guy since I use it to work. But this new kindle really is an attractive offer. Has Android, free 3G, WiFi and able to read ebooks, play games and do most things tablets do. Its cheap enough that I can spend more money on books and other digital content and not too much on hardware. Its also small. And if I drop it or bang it around I dont stress too much cause of the cost. It looks sturdier and tougher then an iPAD too. I like it.

I have an iPad, and tried the Asus Transformer too. I NEVER use a laptop/desktop outside of work now.

As a media consumption device, tablets are awesome. Android honeycomb has a great interface, but there just aren't enough apps for it yet - and, given the lackluster sales figures, I'm not surprised. I also get the impression Google has lost interest in Android for tablets tbh.

The main reason I bought the iPad was to watch hockey in bed, as the games start at midnight here - it's easier to watch in it bed where I can fall asleep halfway through, than watch it on the TV. I could have used a laptop, but then you have heat issues. Magazines are also great on it - I have the Economist, Popular Science and the Atlantic. Then you have streaming radio apps, etc - my ipad sits on a stand on my desk during the day, and I can easily listen to stations from all over the world without having to use recourses on my laptop.

It really depends on what you expect from a tablet. You can use it for basic emailing etc, but it's not really a work device, whatever Apple and the others say. But for media consumption, a tablet is great.

I've already arranged for friends to grab me a couple of Kindle Fires from the states. They'll make awesome Christmas presents, especially for people who use kindle on, say, their ipod touches/iphones, but don't want a 10 inch tablet.

@ Rick. You say tablets are expensive for what they're worth. You're right, but I suppose they're worth different things to different people, depending on what they'll use them for?

@Fran Mulhern... I guess your right. The value in something is relevant to what people use them for. if an iPAD could be used as a tool for my graphic design and animation work then it would have higher value to me. But Im also a DJ and a Laptop caters to all my needs. but if its just to play games, surf the web, use facebook and watch video's and stuff I wouldnt pay so much. however the Kindle Fire has a price range that i find well worth the investment of having all those multimedia functions at a comforatible price. Its also small easy to carry around. which I like. i can read a book by the pool and not stress so much of water falling on it or dropping it.

Yeah, Amazon have hit the nail right on the head with their price point for the Fire. I paid (well, via my friend), £127 for one last night. Add in postage fees from the states to here, and customs fees, and you're still looking at under £200. I'm more than happy with that, especially if it hasn't come out here by the time I give it as a present at Christmas.