The company announced the introduction of the device on Sept. 28 at a price of $199, making it one of the most affordable tablets on the U.S. market. The Kindle Fire provides access to 100,000 movies and TV shows, which are available to stream or download, purchase or rent. Some 400 magazines will also be available for Kindle Fire, many of them through free trials.
With Black Friday less than two weeks away, the release's timing is optimized for the holiday season. For shoppers, Kindle Fire represents a much cheaper alternative to Apple's iPad, which starts at $499. However, it remains to be seen whether consumers will accept some trade-offs for the cost savings like a smaller screen, "shockingly small text" and clunky access to email that Mashable editor in chief Lance Ulanoff discovered when he reviewed the device.
Since most Android devices are in the same price range as the iPad (the "Family Edition" Motorola Xoom is a notable exception at $379), Amazon may face its toughest competition from Barnes & Noble, whose Nook Tablet retails for $249 -- just $50 more than the Kindle Fire.