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I also returned mine. I was expecting a more polished experience from Amazon. Even for $200 the software feels unfinished and nowhere near as responsive or inte

by flyt 15y ago

I also returned mine. I was expecting a more polished experience from Amazon. Even for $200 the software feels unfinished and nowhere near as responsive or intelligently designed as iOS. The lack of hardware volume controls and placement of the on/off switch are the killing blows. This isn't buying a Honda and expecting a BMW-class experience. It's buying a Honda and getting a car that only starts after three tries, only reads square CDs, only streams music from EMI, and refuses to brake until the pedal is pressed in the exact special way at the exact time. The iPad just drives.

angstrom 15y ago
They're struggling to compete both high and low. The iPad is pressuring them to put out a product that can use Amazon's VOD while BN is pressuring them to put out a device with a price that competes with the nook which has partnered with Netflix. I doubt Netflix has any interest promoting either iTunes or Amazon services. It would be as stupid as Borders allowing Amazon to run their website. Hopefully this creates a nice trifecta of choice that benefits everyone.
- elliottcarlson 15y ago
  On a side note; Borders was powered by Amazon from 2001 through 2008, until they decided to go separate and compete directly with Amazon. Of course this only mattered until Borders merged with B&N in 2010.
  - RexRollman 15y ago
    Borders did not merge with B&N.
    - elliottcarlson 15y ago
      Ah, indeed, I was wrong - B&N purchased the brand and customer list - the merger was something that was rumored, but never happened.
comedian 15y ago
For $250-$300 you can get a refurbished iPad 1. or for $200 you can get an iPod Touch.
ardit33 15y ago
Amazon rushed this product. Also their treating of engineers like replaceable cogs, made sure that over time the best ones left, and whats left behind is either people that don't have many options, or fresh naive engineers that don't really know what they are doing. When I left, they had very hard time hiring new engineers. They had it easy during the 08-09 downturn, and thought that they could be going like it. So, the product is showing it's flawed development process. Also, this was not build by the original Kindle team. It was done on a separate building, by a completely different team, and the hardware done by a third party.

by flyt 15y ago

angstrom 15y ago

They're struggling to compete both high and low. The iPad is pressuring them to put out a product that can use Amazon's VOD while BN is pressuring them to put out a device with a price that competes with the nook which has partnered with Netflix. I doubt Netflix has any interest promoting either iTunes or Amazon services. It would be as stupid as Borders allowing Amazon to run their website. Hopefully this creates a nice trifecta of choice that benefits everyone.

elliottcarlson 15y ago
On a side note; Borders was powered by Amazon from 2001 through 2008, until they decided to go separate and compete directly with Amazon. Of course this only mattered until Borders merged with B&N in 2010.
- RexRollman 15y ago
  Borders did not merge with B&N.
  - elliottcarlson 15y ago
    Ah, indeed, I was wrong - B&N purchased the brand and customer list - the merger was something that was rumored, but never happened.

comedian 15y ago

For $250-$300 you can get a refurbished iPad 1. or for $200 you can get an iPod Touch.

ardit33 15y ago

Amazon rushed this product. Also their treating of engineers like replaceable cogs, made sure that over time the best ones left, and whats left behind is either people that don't have many options, or fresh naive engineers that don't really know what they are doing. When I left, they had very hard time hiring new engineers. They had it easy during the 08-09 downturn, and thought that they could be going like it. So, the product is showing it's flawed development process. Also, this was not build by the original Kindle team. It was done on a separate building, by a completely different team, and the hardware done by a third party.