Jeff Bezos announced the Kindle Fire in New York with initial reaction focusing on its competitive price of $199 or approximately R2 400 (including duties paid and delivered) in SA.

The tablet features a seven inch IPS, gorilla glass display and is powered by a derivative of the hugely popular Android operating system.

Co-owner of Have2Have, Simon Swanich says “while we were disappointed to not see a camera or a 3G option, we feel that the value for money on this device makes it a steal. This will be our top Christmas item.” And with strong demand expected, Swanich urges customers to pre-order as quickly as possible.

The device integrates with Amazon’s cloud-based services. However “Music and video services are always tricky for South Africans to access due to the regulations imposed by the owners of the Intellectual property. This remains a challenge locally and we do expect some limitations. But we expect this to have a marginal impact on demand,” he concludes.

Amazon also announced a new range of e-ink based Kindles with models starting at $50 less than the current cheapest model.

Swanich continues “our pick is the two touch-screen models with pricing at a little over R1 600 for the non-3G version and R2 200 for the 3G version (with lifetime international data)”.

The touch-screen models would no longer have a physical keyboard making it not only smaller but much lighter too, which means the device is without any competition.

What makes the Kindle and Kindle Fire different to all other ebook and tablet competitors is the available applications and integration to Amazon services such as books, music, and video.

“Industry experts are predicting that the Apple iPad 2 could be available for purchase within a few weeks. Not only is it rumoured to feature front and rear-facing cameras, and a Retina Display, but it will more than likely retail at the price of the first-generation device,” says Simon Swanich, co-founder of Have2Have.

Swanich believes that iPad-hungry South African buyers should wait to see what Apple announces next month as the new features of the Apple iPad 2 could impact on the effectiveness of the older model.

“While it is just about impossible to stay on the bleeding-edge of technology, I believe that by waiting a few days for the announcement, South African buyers would be able to make a more informed decision whether they want a state-of-the-art device or one that has been available to many overseas markets for almost a year. With this in mind, sales of the current generation Apple iPad have already been terminated via www.have2have.co.za.”

“This is inline with our longstanding policy of terminating sales and advising consumers in advance of official product announcements. We never have to dump stock on unsuspecting customers as we keep no stock on hand,” concludes Swanich.

Amazon has been hard at work analysing customer feedback to make design refinements and improvements to the new generation of Kindles hitting the market. The latest third-generation Kindle has undergone a huge transformation which has seen a number of changes including ergonomics, size, screen, and even new colours.

Overall Design
Starting off with the overall size of the device, the designers have manage to make it 79% smaller than the previous model which in turn makes it easier for you to store away while travelling. The screen size has not changed but since the border around the screen has shrunk it gives you the feeling of having more screen real estate than before. The Kindle is also 15% lighter and weighs in at just under 250grams.

There has been a redesign of all buttons, improvements to the keyboard, and the 5-way joystick has been changed to a square button layout. There are now page forward and back buttons located on both sides of the 6-inch screen making it usable in both the left and right hands.

In order to make it more comfortable to hold, Amazon has incorporated a soft textured backing on to the device which also disperses any heat build-up.

New Screen
Designers have added the latest in E-Ink screens to the Kindle. These screens boast faster refresh rates, up to 50% higher contrast ratios, which allow for the display of smoother text together with sharper images. The higher refresh rate means that the Kindle feels more responsive which is especially noticeable when ‘turning’ pages.

Connectivity
The 6-inch Kindle is now available in two models. The first model has both Wi-Fi and 3G. Due to the popularity of other Wi-Fi only readers, Amazon has introduced a lower cost model which just supports Wi-Fi.

Colours
The Kindle model with 3G is available in the classic White and Graphite (same as on the new Kindle DX model). The Wi-Fi only model is only available in Graphite.

Memory
The internal memory has been double to 4GB which allows you to store up to 3500 books.

Battery
The third-generation Kindle will provide up to about 10 days of continuous use on a single charge with the wireless turned on. With it turned off, you should get about one month’s use. These improvements have been a result of hardware and software changes but the battery technology has remained the same.

Software
The new Kindle ships with an experimental WebKit-based browser which should improve the user experience even further. The built-in PDF reader has also been improved and offers landscape and portrait views, zooming, and an option to convert the PDF into the native Kindle format.

You can now choose between three different fonts (standard Caecilia, Condensed Caecilia, and Sans Serif) to use when displaying books, newspapers, and anything else you are reading. Another nice function is the ability to adjust line spacing.

Accessories
As can be expected, a new range of custom-fit accessories are available to pre-order including new leather covers which are available in a variety of colours in addition to the option of having a built-in light.

Preorder your new Kindle from Have2Have.co.za :

Wifi & 3G Model:
Graphite:  http://www.have2have.co.za/product/Kindle-Reading-Device-3G-Wi-Fi-6-Display-Graphite-Intern/96042/
White:       http://www.have2have.co.za/product/Kindle-Reading-Device-3G-Wi-Fi-6-Display-White-Internati/96041/

Wifi Only Model:
Graphite:  http://www.have2have.co.za/product/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Device-Wi-Fi-6-Display-Graphite-L/96043/

Despite the announcement, it is not yet available anywhere in the world. We expect the US market to get stock first once regulatory approval is granted. Thanks to our unique import service, local customers will be able to use the iPad in about five to ten days once they start shipping from the US. A word of caution, the waiting list grows daily, so you can expect a few initial delays if you do not place a preorder. Traditionally initial stock of such a high profile device does not meet the built demand.

Initially, we expected the comparison to be between the iPad and the iPhone/iPod Touch, but surprisingly we have been asked to compare the device to the Amazon Kindle DX. It’s quite difficult to compare apples with bananas. The Kindle and the iPad are two very different devices.

While both devices offer eReader capabilities, for the iPad, this is just one of many things it can do. The Kindle is specifically designed to be used as a reading device.

As eReaders go, the Kindle is the natural choice as the e-ink screen is easy on your eyes as there is no reflection or glare. Also, you are only using battery life when turning the page or connecting to a network to purchase books. Furthermore, there is no cellular connection cost, or a monthly contract to use the 3G network, Amazon picks up the tab and only bills you a small delivery fee for each book bought via the 3G network.

Most importantly, the Kindle can access the Amazon Kindle book store with thousands of books. The Apple iTunes store will have a difficult time to match or eclipse Amazon’s good work. The major disadvantage of the iPad is that it uses a regular LCD touchscreen which can cause some eye discomfort. As a positive, the screen is colour, of a high resolution, and backlit so reading without a light is possible.

Despite the incredibly good battery life of the iPad it cannot come close to the quoted two week continuous reading battery life the Kindle can offer (with 3G turned off).

But that’s where the Kindle party ends.

The iPad is so much more than a capable eBook reader, it’s a music and video player, it’s a personal computer, you are able to browse the Web, or even read your email. As with the iPhone, its real strength rests in its ability to access Apples App Store. Developers have a blank canvas to write software to make our lives easier, assist with problems we didn’t know we have or just brighten up our day with fun and addictive games. Software development has always been hampered by piracy, distribution and marketing issues. So how does a talented developer working from home market their program to the world? Well Apples App store has been the answer. It provides developers with a global audience, the easy collection of funds and anti-piracy features. Ultimately, the App store will ensure the iPad gets utilised to the fullest.

On the negative side, Apple went with a new format SIM card. Although it is technologically identical to a regular SIM card, the bordering plastic is much smaller than that of a regular one. Originally developed for micro-mobile devices, the 9.8-inch iPad is far from that. We expect either the networks to adopt the new card size, or the market to be flooded by devices to “trim” your card to fit. Although not a massive problem, this certainly adds to the nuisance value.

Thankfully, the device is unlocked and will work globally on any GSM network including those in SA. Coupled with the international power adapter, SA users can breathe easily.

We can’t wait for the iPad to touch down in South Africa. For users wanting more than an eBook reader it has no comparison. We don’t view it as a Kindle killer. In fact users wanting an eBook reader need to buy a Kindle, for everything else the iPad will be unstoppable.

This is where the Internet has maintained a compelling position – we all dig sending emails to our mates with links that take us to the latest toys and high-tech gadgets. We love looking at the pictures, browsing through the specs, and we love filling up our online shopping baskets.

From the latest TV games, to laser pointers, to collector’s edition DVDs, to wireless gizmos, to Star Wars paraphernalia, to funky T-shirts, to cellphone applications, you name it – the Internet is the place to shop when it comes to the cutting edge of cool.

Don’t you love checking out all funky stuff on eBay. And don’t you hate the fact that most of that stuff is so far away that the shipping costs make your fantasy prohibitive.

The other day I found this way out Atari computer game cartridge for my old 800XL Atari PC – the price seemed too good to be true – the shipping cost seemed like a nightmare.

But eBay isn’t the only place where one can explore cool stuff. There are lots of sites out there that feature the best of the best. Amazon.com is a great place to shop, and so is www.jandr.com and www.thinkgeek.com. Then there are also the online hotspots that make your head spin, like www.stuffmagazine.com and us.gizmodo.com

Where am I going with all of this? Right here, to our good ‘ol South Africa. Yes, look no further. The stuff you have to have you can get on www.have2have.co.za. And then, when you’re still hungry then click on over to www.digitalplanet.co.za – we have some cool spots right here in our backyard, and the shipping costs are a non event. Also, you got to check out www.thegadgetshop.co.za – way cool!

One thing you may have gathered (well, you probably knew this already) is that online shopping is on the up and up. The consumer population of the UK, for example, according to a new Reuters report, rose by 25% during 2005 – one in four consumers now shop on the Web in England. And listen to this, online spend rose 28.9% in the UK during 2005. This is mind boggling. The opportunities here are overwhelming. The smart money is on the Net – if you’re looking for high growth opportuities then online is the place to be.

Our local Internet stores are really well put together. I am constantly amazed at what is going on in our own backyard. I keep hearing of more and more innovative ventures popping up in the local virtual market and I am all for it. I hate it when I read a notice on Amazon telling me that they don’t ship that particular product to South Africa – God only knows why.

Then, some sites, like the iTunes shop, don’t accept South African credit cards. It was starting to freak me out until I discovered our homegrown offerings. You know what? Local is lekker.