I think that releasing a piece of hardware that wasn’t a big hit would be a real marketing challenge for Amazon. At this point, they’ve been successful with their hardware (counting it as two things…reflective screen Kindles and tablets). It would challenge a perception they have right now to release a non-blockbuster.

The poll has been interesting! While it is close, a larger screen tablet is only third…behind a frontlit reflective screen Kindle and a more fully-featured same size Fire. That doesn’t mean respondents think they wouldn’t do all three, of course, but I find that intriguing.

Got some more support for that theory
I just checked over at The Kindle Chronicles, and Len Edgerly received an invitation to the press conference He was at the last Kindle conference (or should it be konference too, so a /very/ strong indicator as to what it’ll be about.
I’m so excited!

When I voted in the poll, I voted “for” 3/4G Tablet and “against” the smart phone, but now I think that doesn’t make sense. They’ll probably do both or neither since the data plan options are the real key here. Of course, if they do offer a phone, they probably won’t offer an “ember.”

And, as long as I’m speculating wildly, let me guess that color RSKs are not going to happen in the near future, if ever. First release would be too expensive to compete with Tablets, and I believe not enough people value RSKs over backlit screens to risk offering that line (I do, but every tells me I’m “different”). In order for the price to come down, there would have to be hopes of developing a high demand, and I just don’t see that happening. I actually hope I’m wrong about this!

Anyway, the poll was fun. Thanks!

I hadn’t thought of that one…do you think there would be a market for that if it wasn’t also a phone? I think introducing an iPod touch at this point would be tough.

I didn’t cover everything. I perhaps should have included a color reflective screen…I have too many responses to add it now without it being unfairly skewed to the low end, but that seems possible.