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Does it matter, really? I love that the iPad is losing some share so we can end up with a more competitive market place. I bought my iPad 2 last summer because it was quite clearly the best tablet. It probably still is today, but with competition heating up, it won't be long before the difference isn't so clear-cut anymore.

The title of this article is "Android's Share of Tablet Market Jumps" so in that context, yes it matters greatly. If ultimately the Kindle Fire isn't an Android tablet then likely Android's market share didn't jump very much if at all.

I think that the Kindle is quite a different device from an iPad so it's success does not necessarily augur the coming of iPad competitors.

Now, that said, Apple's share of the marker will almost certainly fall though I personally believe that it will be because of the arrival of Microsoft/Windows 8 tablets rather than Android tablets if for no other reason then that many PC manufacturers will build hybrid netbook/tablet devices.

For the people that use tablets to read ebooks, check email, play some games and browse online while waiting for others in a coffee shop, it sure does.

or do you think a 10" 500USD tablet can compete with a 200USD 7" tablet?

Yes it can. In fact the 500 USD tablet would probably cost 200 USD if it weren't for the very high profit margin.

Kindle Fire and B&N Nook Tablet cost much less because the profit margin is very small, because the manufacturers are making money by selling content, not the actual hardware.

To see if some hardware can compete with another hardware, don't look to the price or what some fanboi are saying. Just go look to some benchmarks: go look at Quadrant, Neocore, GLbenchmark etc. figures and judge for yourself.

More expensive is not always better. It should be, but it's not.

I believe it's the analysts muddying the waters accounting fire as an Android tablet which it clearly isn't.
Soon it will have as much in common with Android as Meego or Webos.

[quote]Also, I doubt many iPad sales were lost due to the Kindle Fire... unless you really think a 7" $200 tablet competes with a 10" $500 tablet?[/quote]

I know for me it did. The main reason I got a 7in. android tablet vs. an ipad is because of portability. I can literally just put my tablet in my jacket pocket or the pocket of my sweatshirt and go.

I think it's only appropriate to not count as Android what cannot use legally the "Android" trademark -- which includes both the Nook and the Fire.

If that is the case, should a jailbroken iOS device be counted in Apple's numbers?

Edited 2012-01-26 17:55 UTC

If nothing else, if it's not technically Android, they should at least be immune to Microsoft's patent threats against Android.