Amazon is dangling a $50 tablet computer in its latest attempt to lure consumers who can't afford or don't want the more expensive internet-connected devices made by Apple and other rivals.<br />The 7-inch Fire tablet unveiled Thursday marks Amazon's most aggressive attempt yet to undercut Apple, which has been the market leader since its first iPad went on sale five years ago.<br />Amazon.com isn't trying to persuade anyone that its cheap tablet matches the quality of its own sleeker, higher-priced Fire HD alternatives, let alone the top-selling iPad line.<br />But the Seattle company is counting on the new tablet's low price to encourage more people to buy a device that will hook them on watching video, reading books, playing games and shopping on a computer that's easy to carry wherever they go.<br />In the process, Amazon is hoping consumers will buy more digital goods and merchandise from its store while also subscribing to its $100-per-year Prime service that offers a mix of videos, music and free shipping.
