Amazon may soon launch a tablet, judging by comments made in an interview with Consumer Reports, which is essentially the US version of Which?.
Asked whether Amazon was working on a tablet, chief executive Jeff Bezos said "stay tuned".
As for the threat to Amazon's Kindle ebook reader posed by tablets such as the iPad, Bezos said: "We will always be very mindful that we will want a dedicated reading device. In terms of any other product introductions, I shouldn't answer."
Bezos also suggested that, if Amazon were to release a tablet, it wouldn't necessarily spell the death of the Kindle. "I hate the term 'killer,' as in one device killing another in the marketplace," he said.
Bezos was more explicit about the possibility of a colour Kindle, when the E Ink technology has improved. Even that could be some way off, as Bezos believes that colour E Ink "is not ready for prime time... the colours are very pale."
All-singing, all-dancing gadgets might be more exciting, but ebook readers are big business. Perhaps Amazon should stick to what it does really well and leave the tablet wars to everyone else.
What do you think? Would an Amazon tablet be welcome? Let us know in the comments section below or on our Facebook wall.
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jameskortright 13 May, 2011 16:06
I beg you Amazon, in the name of all that is good an holy, do not stray from the path you are on. I own a Kindle, and I love it. I don't want it to play mp3s, youtube videos or angry birds... I want it to be a fantastic dedicated e-reader with its current traits of e-ink, long battery life and simplistic controls. If I wanted a device that can do everything, but fail at doing anything well (and nothing at all that is useful), I would buy an Ipad. Please... not all of us orgasm at the thought of new and innovating ways to piss around on the internet!
Howard10000 13 May, 2011 20:26
I generally prefer reading on my IPad to my Kindle but yes, some love the simplicity of the Kindle.
I think it's worth pointing out that the last device that I would associate with 'new and innovating ways to piss around on the internet' would be an IPad. it doesn't even have Flash, for Chrissakes, at times rendering the BBC News website among many others, virtually bloody inaccesible.
Anonymous 14 May, 2011 16:51
I have said before that I think an Amazon pad should include an ereader,the
technology exists for the two on one screen. It should be called an "Amazon
Duo" and I think it could do very well.