Amazon's curious twist

I have heard the rumors about Amazon's supposed "tablet" device for a long time now.  A thing that would compete with the minimum $499 iPad and the around $250 Nook all at once.  Apparently, Amazon is about ready to release just this sort of device.  An article in TechCrunch sent to me by a friend and colleague seems to provide all the information on what sounds like a beta product that's about ready to leave that status and go to production.

From the author's description it sounds like a mixed bag of hardware and software pluses and minuses,  It will only be a 7" screen device, no camera, WiFi only initially, and some other things you can read about.  But the reason for the lack of some size and features is that it will be priced to compete with the Nook Color.  It will be interesting to see what this device does to the "tablet" market.  Will it make a dent in the iPad juggernaut?  Will it roll over Barnes & Noble's book-reader-with-bonuses Nook Color?  We are so far from seeing a "settling down" of the ebook reader / tablet computer / how-does-this-affect-libraries question it's almost funny.  Almost.