Engadget has posted a review of the Kindle Fire (http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/14/amazon-kindle-fire-review/).

Any other sites have a review up yet?

Gizmodo:http://gizmodo.com/5858779/kindle-fire-review-the-ipad-finally-has-serious-competition

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/amazon-kindle-fire/4505-3126_7-35022491.html

See http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=156975

http://mashable.com/2011/11/14/amazon-kindle-fire-review/

http://www.theverge.com/2011/11/14/2560084/kindle-fire-review

The Mashable review strikes a nice balance. The bias isn't obvious. I don't care for reviews that are blatantly looking for more negatives/positives. Just use the device as a "normal" user and share the quirks and shortcomings.

It seems almost all reviews are comparing to the Ipad or Playbook. :smack: This is getting ridiculous. The Kindle Fire wasn't made to compete against them but other LCD eReader Tablets. It's a tablet yes but not really. They need to compare it against the Nook Color or Nook Tablet.

It seems almost all reviews are comparing to the Ipad or Playbook. :smack: This is getting ridiculous. The Kindle Fire wasn't made to compete against them but other LCD eReader Tablets. It's a tablet yes but not really. They need to compare it against the Nook Color or Nook Tablet.

The professional reviews are the same ol' same ol'. YAWN. It seems you have to wait for Lisa from MobileTechReview for the real UNBIASED deal. She truly comes at it from the average consumer perspective. What will the target market use this device for? Will it meet their expectations?

The professional reviews are the same ol' same ol'. YAWN. It seems you have to wait for Lisa from MobileTechReview for the real UNBIASED deal.

Yes her reviews are the best! :D

The professional reviews are the same ol' same ol'. YAWN. It seems you have to wait for Lisa from MobileTechReview for the real UNBIASED deal. She truly comes at it from the average consumer perspective. What will the target market use this device for? Will it meet their expectations?

Agreed, I love the reviews at MobileTechReview.

There is a lot of bias in these reviews because many of these people that do them don't read very much. They spend their days playing with apps and tons of hardware in and out. ALL of them have played with iPads, ALL of them use the iPad pretty much exclusively on a daily basis, with an iPhone as their main smartphone which never beats the other phones. They're all Apple fanboys.

And while it's ironic that I myself have 7 Macs in my house, two iPhones, and an iPod, among other Apple things and have been an Apple user pretty much all my life, I try not to compare my other devices with them because you flat out KNOW they can't.

I personally don't want an iPad and have no need for it though. Because, unlike what they say in reviews, it's the iPhone, but bigger and it costs twice as much.

The only thing that will really disappoint people is the fact that most apps, besides games, are pretty ugly on Android devices. That office suite that Amazon have pre-installed is pretty pathetic. It amazes me that we've come this far where Ubuntu is now beautiful, Windows has lost the start menu, and OS X is just WOW, yet people are still frustrated in designing apps that don't look like they were made for Windows 3.1/MS-DOS.

There is a lot of bias in these reviews because many of these people that do them don't read very much. They spend their days playing with apps and tons of hardware in and out. ALL of them have played with iPads, ALL of them use the iPad pretty much exclusively on a daily basis, with an iPhone as their main smartphone which never beats the other phones. They're all Apple fanboys.

And while it's ironic that I myself have 7 Macs in my house, two iPhones, and an iPod, among other Apple things and have been an Apple user pretty much all my life, I try not to compare my other devices with them because you flat out KNOW they can't.

I personally don't want an iPad and have no need for it though. Because, unlike what they say in reviews, it's the iPhone, but bigger and it costs twice as much.

The only thing that will really disappoint people is the fact that most apps, besides games, are pretty ugly on Android devices. That office suite that Amazon have pre-installed is pretty pathetic. It amazes me that we've come this far where Ubuntu is now beautiful, Windows has lost the start menu, and OS X is just WOW, yet people are still frustrated in designing apps that don't look like they were made for Windows 3.1/MS-DOS.

Angry Birds is pretty great. Hubby spends hours playing Drag Racing on his phone. I have to endure hearing it as I am trying to sleep. Yet I can't use a booklight?!?

Myself I only play Yahtz Me and Farkle. I agree Android has alot limitations when it comes to office apps. I use Google docs on my phone. Most apps are made for phones not tablets though there are some that are the opposite. I haven't tried the EA games but on the Market they don't have good reviews. So yeah the games on Android are kind of lame with the exception of a few. I do enjoy reading on it though, surfing on Opera and watching youtube tutorial videos.

There is a lot of bias in these reviews because many of these people that do them don't read very much.

I feel they are reviewing the hype for the device rather than the device as intended.

It's funny how the products that aren't out yet are always exactly what we are looking for in a device. (Except, of course, that half the comments are about how the new wonder device costs just a little bit too much.)

They're all Apple fanboys.

Funny, the Engadget comments are filled with this remark, but I just don't see it.


And yes, a review from either MobileTechReview or The Gadgeteer would be much appreciated. :)

Angry Birds is pretty great. Hubby spends hours playing Drag Racing on his phone. I have to endure hearing it as I am trying to sleep. Yet I can't use a booklight?!?

I say you give him the smackdown on that ;) But then again, that booklight complaint is one of the reasons you're getting the Fire, right? Let's argue for a new toy rather than mutual tolerance :thumbsup: It looks like you're compromising, but really you're winning!

Although I'm not "pro-Fire," I agree that most of these reviewers just don't get it. The fact Amazon calls it a Kindle should say something, since that is their ereading brand and device line-up. :smack: B&N even made it clear in their marketing that the Nook Tablet isn't intended to be an iPad killer, but it's going directly for the Fire (and you could argue the Fire was actually going after the Nook, since that was the first concept).

And then there are all the "it's so boring and unoriginal, just a slightly modified Playbook." Um, duh? Amazon said from the launch that they were borrowing the Playbook in order to get the device out for the holidays and would be developing their own tablet down the road. You can critique the form factor, certainly, but don't whine that it's "unoriginal" when everyone knows that going in. I'll start calling you Captain Obvious.

I did see, I think it was Engadget or The Verge, that you CAN sideload non- Amazon market apps, but none of them worked as well as they should, so I'd assume that Amazon's UI is causing some interference, whether intentional or not. Makes sense. Developers often base their app compatibility off the unadulterated OS for widest use. Sounds like a two-way issue to me. Blossom, you might be okay with e-reading apps, since they tend be less intensive than other apps. Here's hoping!

I'm looking forward to MobileTechReview's thoughts on the Fire, too.

Don't MOST Android based tablets look the same anyway...? It's not like iPhone/iPads are any different looking either... Just the backs and sides.

I say you give him the smackdown on that ;) But then again, that booklight complaint is one of the reasons you're getting the Fire, right? Let's argue for a new toy rather than mutual tolerance :thumbsup: It looks like you're compromising, but really you're winning!

Well the Fire is mostly from mommy but he did pay for shipping and $30 of it. Yes I got the Fire because of this so he better not start with His it's too bright stuff.

I did see, I think it was Engadget or The Verge, that you CAN sideload non- Amazon market apps, but none of them worked as well as they should, so I'd assume that Amazon's UI is causing some interference, whether intentional or not. Makes sense. Developers often base their app compatibility off the unadulterated OS for widest use. Sounds like a two-way issue to me. Blossom, you might be okay with e-reading apps, since they tend be less intensive than other apps. Here's hoping!

One reviewer got Mantano to work so I'm happy just having it. :D I can use Dropbox through the browser if the app doesn't work. My apps are Mantano & ColorDict, Dropbox, ES File Explorer (This one prob wont work) and Opera. I don't need any others to be happy with the Fire. :D

in the fox news review the reviewer states that the kindle fires 7 inch screen is less than half of the ipads screen (my ipads screen is only 9.7 inches) apparantly the reviewer has a special 14 inch screen ipad that i was unable to buy :P

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/14/kindle-fire-review-good-product-despite-some-sacrifices/

in the fox news review the reviewer states that the kindle fires 7 inch screen is less than half of the ipads screen (my ipads screen is only 9.7 inches) apparantly the reviewer has a special 14 inch screen ipad that i was unable to buy :P

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/11/14/kindle-fire-review-good-product-despite-some-sacrifices/

It actually is. The aspect ratio makes a difference. That said if you were watching a widescreen video on the iPad it would probably not be much bigger than a widescreen video playing on the Kindle Fire. Here is a good site showing the difference and percentages:

http://www.displaywars.com/7-inch-16x9-vs-9,7-inch-4x3

by covfamin the fox news review the reviewer states that the kindle fires 7 inch screen is less than half of the ipads screen (my ipads screen is only 9.7 inches) apparantly the reviewer has a special 14 inch screen ipad that i was unable to buy :P

Maybe because they're so much more fair and balanced than everyone else, they get a special iPad? ;) Sorry, my bad, Fox News jabs pocketed. :rofl:

Blossom, I hope they all run smooth! :) I haven't tried ColorDict yet, but I noticed today in my trawling for apps that it came up a lot in "best of" blogs. And you'll probably be fine with the light, unless he's really picky. Mine likes that he can turn off the light on the rare occasions he beats me to sleep (but then he also complains the the LCD is going to mess up my sleep patterns - says the man who goes to bed and wakes up with his phone in his hands) :rolleyes:

I've noticed reviewers saying the Silk browser doesn't seem to be any speedier than others, but that could also be because it's likely in beta stage and also they haven't accumulated enough of a cache yet to really get it going? And the software glitches will be fine-tuned as time goes on.

I wonder how long before it's rooted?

Well the Fire is mostly from mommy but he did pay for shipping and $30 of it. Yes I got the Fire because of this so he better not start with His it's too bright stuff.

As a pre-emptive strike, make sure you point out that while a booklight illuminates down onto his face, your Fire will illuminate up into yours. There's obviously some light that bounces off the walls and ceiling, but it makes quite a difference. Also, I doubt your booklight has the same level of adjustment for brightness.

in the fox news review the reviewer states that the kindle fires 7 inch screen is less than half of the ipads screen (my ipads screen is only 9.7 inches) apparantly the reviewer has a special 14 inch screen ipad that i was unable to buy :P

As jeremy81 hints, it is half the screen real estate, not half the diagonal length. It is, however, 80% of the resolution.

Maybe because they're so much more fair and balanced than everyone else, they get a special iPad? ;) Sorry, my bad, Fox News jabs pocketed. :rofl:

Blossom, I hope they all run smooth! :) I haven't tried ColorDict yet, but I noticed today in my trawling for apps that it came up a lot in "best of" blogs. And you'll probably be fine with the light, unless he's really picky. Mine likes that he can turn off the light on the rare occasions he beats me to sleep (but then he also complains the the LCD is going to mess up my sleep patterns - says the man who goes to bed and wakes up with his phone in his hands) :rolleyes:

I've noticed reviewers saying the Silk browser doesn't seem to be any speedier than others, but that could also be because it's likely in beta stage and also they haven't accumulated enough of a cache yet to really get it going? And the software glitches will be fine-tuned as time goes on.

I wonder how long before it's rooted?

ColorDict is great! It works with many of the reader apps. You can find dictionaries online that it supports. It takes some working to install them manually but there is Wordnet on the market you can install automatically. I went hunting for an old dictionary for my regencies and I found the Webster's 1913 for it and I use that alot.

We both sleep with our phones so I know how you feel. I don't think it will mess with my sleep patterns. I love to read for few hours in bed. I wouldn't call me a Insomniac but it takes me hours to fall alseep so reading helps me alot.

As a pre-emptive strike, make sure you point out that while a booklight illuminates down onto his face, your Fire will illuminate up into yours. There's obviously some light that bounces off the walls and ceiling, but it makes quite a difference. Also, I doubt your booklight has the same level of adjustment for brightness.


Well he sometimes complains about my phone which I read from now. I've gone to using a dark grey background with black text and that doesn't bother him but switching between books or surfing does. Still he will have to get over it Or I'll just throw a cover over my head like a kid. :rofl:

Still he will have to get over it Or I'll just throw a cover over my head like a kid. :rofl

Or his. ;)

Or his. ;)

He snores like a bear I can't tell you how many times I would love to do something like that :rofl:

The reviews on Amazon itself are not doing so well....even after ignoring some of the kooks...

The reviews on Amazon itself are not doing so well....even after ignoring some of the kooks...

I can't believe how many reviews give the Fire a 1 when the writer doesn't even own one. In my opinion, Amazon should delete reviews like this one...

I can't believe how many reviews give the Fire a 1 when the writer doesn't even own one. In my opinion, Amazon should delete reviews like this one...

Yes, and the many five star reviews from people without the device. I went through and rated down some of the most recent reviews when it was obvious they hadn't touched the thing.

One of my favorite reviews so far in from Chicago Sun Time's Andy Ihnatko. IMO he just "gets" the Fire.

http://www.suntimes.com/8816567-417/review-kindle-fire-is-no-ipad-killer-but-it-is-a-killer-device.html

I can't believe how many reviews give the Fire a 1 when the writer doesn't even own one. In my opinion, Amazon should delete reviews like this one...

From a B&N employee maybe? :chinscratch: Amazon reviews have gone down hill this past year. It full of people who don't even know what they talking about. They haven't even tried the product. Amazon needs to have stricter guidelines.

One of my favorite reviews so far in from Chicago Sun Time's Andy Ihnatko. IMO he just "gets" the Fire.

http://www.suntimes.com/8816567-417/review-kindle-fire-is-no-ipad-killer-but-it-is-a-killer-device.html

Yeah that is the one I liked as well.

From a B&N employee maybe? :chinscratch:

Almost certainly not. People just get really attached to their purchasing decisions. I also don't believe the five-star reviews are by Amazon employees.

Amazon reviews have gone down hill this past year. It full of people who don't even know what they talking about. They haven't even tried the product. Amazon needs to have stricter guidelines.

Well, there has been a steady trend to rating down products where the packaging of the product is not desirable. Games that have super-restrictive DRM, eBooks that have lots of typos, products by companies that provide terrible customer service. I don't disagree with them, but I understand people that trust the reviews less.

Amazon has introduced some product breakdown categories as well as the Amazon Verified Purchase, but I'm not sure if there is an easy way to filter yet.

There reviewers can be divided into some broad groupings. The spec freaks who want the fastest processor, the highest resolution, the fastest browser, etc and don't consider cost. The fanboys who view it from Apple colored glasses (aka Kim Komando) - The first two groups will mostly dismiss the Fire if not outright hate it. Others will pretty much weigh it on it's own merits like Ihnatko and Josh Topolsky. One must review the reviewers to determine if their biases match one's own (you can see I am biased towards the last two).

One reviewer got Mantano to work so I'm happy just having it. :D I can use Dropbox through the browser if the app doesn't work. My apps are Mantano & ColorDict, Dropbox, ES File Explorer (This one prob wont work) and Opera. I don't need any others to be happy with the Fire. :D

? Do you mean you can upload Mantano to Dropbox and then directly from Dropbox, install it into your Fire? Please, please, please say YES!

This would solve my problem of not being able to D/L apps from the Amazon AppStore...

I think you can report reviews on Amazon, or at least thumb up or down on the helpfulness. When looking at electronic devices, I tend to look for the longer reviews with a pro/con list, workarounds, little activity tests, etc. Straight up YAYS! I LUVS IT! reviews and THIS SUX!! reviews I'd love to just delete, because they're not helpful. Give me details, comparisons, etc. Preferably with decent grammar and spelling, too ;-)

There's a lag between when you write a review and when it gets posted, but I don't think Amazon has people who read every single review. There are probably trigger words and phrases that then puts the review under scrutiny, like swearing and what not (though I've seen a few curses in reviews). Plus, even if they did have an army of review reviewers looking over every post, you're going to have the Lazy Guy who just sends them through. But, yes, Amazon has every right to take down obviously fraudulent or useless reviews.

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Teleread (http://www.teleread.com/paul-biba/my-kindle-fire-arrives-today-the-state-of-the-reviews/) says it will not do a rush review on the Fire, because a few hours is not sufficient to get a thorough review of such a device. The writer brings up an excellent point about current reviews slamming the browser performance:

he Fire browser goes through Amazon’s servers. Well, as hundreds of thousands, or more, users receive their Fires one of the first things they will do is check out the browser and pound Amazon’s servers. We are going to see a number of reviews saying that the browser is slow simply because the servers are overloaded. To review the browser properly one needs to use it at a time when the server traffic is at a normal level, not at a just-released-peak.

I think if reviewers said it's an unboxing/first impression review, that would be one thing, and then follow-up with a longer road test review, like Edmunds.com does with a lot of vehicles (initial review, followed by the long road test review months or a year later, though a true road test of a car would be years down the road ...)

I can't believe how many reviews give the Fire a 1 when the writer doesn't even own one. In my opinion, Amazon should delete reviews like this one...

Amazon, and all similar sites, should limit reviews to those who have purchased one through their website. And no reviews should be allowed until after the item ships.

? Do you mean you can upload Mantano to Dropbox and then directly from Dropbox, install it into your Fire? Please, please, please say YES!

This would solve my problem of not being able to D/L apps from the Amazon AppStore...

Well If the Dropbox app works. I think it will because ES File Explorer works. Just load the apk file into your dropbox and download it that way on the fire. I did this on my other tablet I sent back and it worked fine.

At first I was worried about some of these reviews. But when I received my fire today those worries were shattered. This is an amazing device. I'm so glad I got it. I posted my 1st impressions in the 1st impressions threads. I think the update that happened today helped with some of the reports about sluggishness, etc. Because to me it's pretty snappy, not as quick and smooth as my iPad, but it's great. I have no complaints. I hope to see some more reviews that address the way it currently is set up. Should be glowing reviews on it soon.

At first I was worried about some of these reviews. But when I received my fire today those worries were shattered. This is an amazing device. I'm so glad I got it. I posted my 1st impressions in the 1st impressions threads. I think the update that happened today helped with some of the reports about sluggishness, etc. Because to me it's pretty snappy, not as quick and smooth as my iPad, but it's great. I have no complaints. I hope to see some more reviews that address the way it currently is set up. Should be glowing reviews on it soon.

That's good to know because it appeared to be a dud according to some. I found that hard to believe, but anything's possible.

That's good to know because it appeared to be a dud according to some. I found that hard to believe, but anything's possible.

That's because they expect it to outperform an Ipad. It's like comparing a Lexus and a Corolla.

That's because they expect it to outperform an Ipad. It's like comparing a Lexus and a Corolla.

Yeah, that was my take away as well.

Marking stupid reviews as 'not helpful' will at least push them down the rankings when reviews are sorted by 'most helpful'.

Here's our girl Lisa from MobileTechReview!!!

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Here's our girl Lisa from MobileTechReview!!!



Thanks! She had one thing wrong you can sideload the Nook app on it. A few have already done it. No rooting needed. :)

I was a bit surprise the sideloading wasn't mention more but all in all good review as always. :D

Here's our girl Lisa from MobileTechReview!!!

Great review as always from Lisa.

Teknoholics just posted our review(s) (http://www.teknoholics.com/) of the Fire.