Fire it up, Kindle that is…
My Kindle Fire arrived yesterday afternoon, and so far, it’s exactly what I was hoping for.
Why did I sell my iPad 2 ? I sold my iPad 2 because: it was too big, the screen resolution is crappy, and I didn’t and wouldn’t use it to create content of any kind, ever. After trying in vain to use it to create content, mainly documents, it fell far short even with an external keyboard. For my workflow, I still need the full power of a laptop for most tasks anyway (software development). Thus, the iPad became a media consumption device for me. One that was too big and bulky, and had a crappy display. For me, the next iteration of the iPad may fair better if it introduces a better display.
As for the Fire, I’ve been reading some of the pre-views and reviews online, and was starting to get a bit concerned by some of the statements being made. However, after stepping back and reminding myself of what my own hopes were for the device I was able to consider the Fire in its own right, and have been very pleased. So, here’s my take.
It isn’t an iPad, but it’s NOT SUPPOSED TO BE. Keep that in mind, and seriously consider the ways you’ll use a tablet before deciding on which one to buy. There are too many people hoping the Fire will be an iPad killer. It won’t, but it’s neither supposed to be, nor is that inherently a bad thing. The Fire is a truly awesome media consumption device, and what’s been said many times by other reviews online is that the integration with Amazon’s content repositories is the biggest advantage the device has. Make no mistake, that sentiment is spot on, and in that way this thing’s a beast. If you’ve been using Amazon’s MP3 cloud, Instant video services, and/or any Kindle app (desktop, mobile, etc), the Fire will serve you really well.
A $199 Kindle Fire serves as a BETTER media consumption device than the iPad, for less than half the price. It’s also the right size for my usage, and has a better (denser) display.
So, to summarize, seriously think about what you want a tablet for. If you’re an Amazon user, and want a media consumption device, chances are the Fire is right up your alley.
Pros:
> Best pure media consumption device, hands down (if you’re willing to embrace Amazon completely)
> Relatively minimal cost
> Excellent form factor
> Great display
> Perfect minimal feature set if you’re looking for a media consumption device
> Great interface (Amazon’s facade on top of Android)
> With Amazon’s release of the source code, this thing has the potential to be HUGE
Cons:
> UI very sluggish in places
> Limited App availability (even considering net install of .apk files)
> As with all Android devices I’ve used myself (many), lacks polish, feels kludgy in a lot of places