KindleFire

3 Reasons I'm Not Buying the New iPad

I'm no Apple hater, but I don't see the appeal of its expensive new iPad. Clearly, I'm in the minority here -- Apple sold 3 million of them in a single weekend -- but allow me to explain.

The Tablet Wars Get More Interesting

If Amazon.com wants a price war, Barnes & Noble is ready to play. The struggling real-world bookseller announced this week that it's offering an 8-gigabyte version of its Nook tablet for the same $199 price point as Amazon's Kindle Fire. Meanwhile, Apple is widely expected to unveil the iPad 3 early next month.

Are We Reading the Final Chapter for Pure E-Readers?

Purists may cringe at the loss of easy-to-read E Ink screens, but it may be time to turn the page on the e-book reader. A key analyst has slashed his sales forecast for Kindles, seeing the rise of Kindle Fires, Nook Tablets, and of course, iPads as inevitable.

Is an Amazon Store in the Real World a Good Idea?

Soon, you might be able to buy a new Kindle at an actual, brick-and-mortar Amazon Store. The e-commerce giant is reportedly opening its first pilot store in Seattle. It's an intriguing idea, but the real question is: Why would Amazon want to?

Tax Doomsday Is Coming for Amazon

It sometimes seems like every new idea Amazon has dreamed up lately has been designed to help it lose money more efficiently. But the truth is more subtle: If it doesn't take these short-term hits now, it's destined to get crushed in a few years when the tax men come a-calling.

Netflix Tells Amazon: 'Been There, Done That'

An online giant sees its margins contract as it replaces physical delivery with digital delivery. Revenue's growing. Profitability's shrinking. It may even post an operating loss during the next quarter. Not many months ago, this was Netflix. Now, it's Amazon.com.

What to Watch This Week: Malls, Tech, Homes and Papers

With 2012's first earnings season well under way, let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week that lies ahead: Here's why you should be watching one major mall owner, two tech giants, three homebuilders and a couple of old media behemoths.

Study Finds Tablet, E-Book Ownership Soared

Tablets and e-readers were a popular gift over the holidays, so much so that the number of people who own them nearly doubled between mid-December and January, a new study finds. A report from the Pew Internet and American Life Project set to be released Monday found that 29 percent of Americans owned at least one tablet or e-reader as of the beginning of this month. That's up from 18 percent who said the same in December.

3 Hot Tech Trends to Watch -- and Invest In -- for 2012

If you think 2011 was a wild year for technology, just wait until you see what 2012 has in store for you. Here are three tech trends that will undoubtedly grow in relevance -- and investor profitability -- in the year ahead.

Record Super Saturday Sales Signal a Consumer Rebound

Following a record Black Friday, retail sales hit new heights on Dec. 17 -- the penultimate shopping Saturday before Christmas and a day when retailers trot out themed promotions. It's a sign that many consumers have rebounded from the recession and unleashed their pent-up buying demand.

How Low Can the Price of an iPad Go? Just Wait

Apple will never tell you what I'm about to tell you: The iconic iPad tablet will be cheaper next year. We're now just a couple of months away from the likely release of the iPad 3. The original iPad hit the market at price points between $499 and $829. The iPad 2 hit the market at the exact same price. Why should the third time be the charm? Because right now it's raining tablets.

Amazon's Next Big Thing: Its Own Smartphones

Amazon has become an surprising gadget rock star. Skeptics bet against the original Kindle, which became a blockbuster, and the Kindle Fire is the first non-iPad tablet to sell well. Next stop for Amazon's gadgeteers: smartphones.

Kindle Fire Review: 5 Things Amazon's Tablet Is Missing

The Kindle Fire is a quality entry-level tablet, and the price is right, especially compared to an iPad. But before you buy, consider these five flaws that may bump Amazon's new gadget from your holiday shopping list.

Is Amazon Prime Preparing for a Price Hike?

Amazon Prime is a bargain for active online shoppers: For $79, they get unlimited two-day shipping of Amazon merchandise, and a host of other digital goodies. But as Amazon keeps tacking on freebies, can it stick to that price?

Amazon's World Takeover -- By the Numbers

Amazon plays by its own rules -- and the online retail giant usually wins. Check out this infographic by blogger FrugalDad that gives you a peek at who you're paying when you opt for the Free SuperSaver Shipping.

Take Either of 2 Tablets and Call Me Christmas Morning

At $499 and up, Apple's iPad may not fit in your holiday budget. But how about $199 or $249 for a slightly smaller, full-featured gadget? Barnes & Noble has its Nook Tablet; Amazon has the $199 Kindle Fire. Decisions, decisions ...

We'd Rather Buy iPhones Than Clothes, Report Reveals

Though Americans aren't buying homes, clothes, gas, or furniture, we're still spending on gadgets, according to Tuesday's retail sales report from the Department of Commerce. Overall retail sales rose 0.6% in October, mostly due to higher electronics and appliance sales.

Is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos the Next Steve Jobs?

There will never be another Steve Jobs. Apple's iconic co-founder was one of a kind for a host of reasons, but the aspect Apple will miss the most is Jobs the master marketer. Enter Jeff Bezos: The Amazon boss may have they insight to be the tech world's next gadget visionary.

Will Cheap Kindle Fire Burn Amazon or Ignite Profits?

The Kindle Fire hits the market next month, and the $199 tablet is already a "hot" seller. This would normally be the kind of news that would send board rooms into a frenzy of high-fives, but Amazon won't turn much of a profit on the entry-level tablets. Then again, it may not need to.

Why Barnes & Noble Will Never Be Great Again

This isn't how Barnes & Noble wanted to write its final chapters. The liquidation of rival Borders this summer should have been an opportunity to grab market share, and it's Nook e-reader should have kept it relevant. Instead, a price war is exposing the retailer's financial shortcomings.

For Tech Deals, Wait 'Till Black Friday

'Tis the season to buy tech products -- almost. If you're looking to upgrade, it's probably best to wait till Black Friday. Computers, high-end smartphones, HDTVs and tablets will see sharp discounts for the holidays.

5 Things to Watch This Week

There's never a dull moment on Wall Street, especially when new tablets and old banks are in the way. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week ahead once Monday rolls around.

Coming to a Printer Near You: Magazines!

Why wait for the postman to deliver your next copy of Glamour or Golf Digest when you can print it out at home? This is the half-baked idea that Hewlett-Packard and magazine mogul Conde Nast are proposing this week. The two companies are teaming up to offer printer-fueled content from Conde Nast magazines including Allure, Wired, and Epicurious.

The Week's Top Technology News

Buyouts, bum guidance, and a broadening decline for a one-time tech titan top the week in review. Go inside the stories that prompted this week's big buys and sells in the nexus between Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

Q4 Predictions: Kindle on Fire, iPhone 5 a HIt

The final quarter of 2011 promises to be just as exciting -- and frustrating -- as the first nine months of the year have been for Wall Street. This analyst is unafraid to go out on a limb and make a few bold calls, so let's go over four of the biggest developments that will play out over the next three months.

Analysts: Santa's Bag Will Be Filled With Bargains

Consumers can expect a holiday shopping season heavy on promotional offers as stores offer sweet bargains on all manner of products amid a still-sluggish economy -- good news for buyers of tablet computers, smartphones and video games, all predicted to be big gift items this year.

5 Things You Need to Know About Amazon's New Tablet

The Amazon.com tablet is finally happening. The online retailer showed off its Android-powered device this morning. Kindle Fire should be a hot item this holiday season, but let's go ahead and break this down into five important takeaways, as you ponder the decision to buy or pass on Amazon's latest gadget.