RFC: Kindle Fire HD

wizwor · 02-27-2013, 12:47 AM

We got Fires at launch. My wife and especially my youngest son have put a lot of miles on their Fires. His has developed a problem with the usb port that makes it difficult to charge.

I plan to get him a new tablet and wonder how people who have graduated from the Fire to the Fire HD feel about the upgrade. I am particularly interested in the transition to the 8.9" model -- is it awesome or just too big?

booklover6 · 02-27-2013, 08:19 AM

I can attest, as I am sure everyone will agree who has tried one, that the Fire HD is MILES better than the original Fire. I loved the Fire1 but the HD is SO much better. Even the Fire2 is amazingly better than the Fire1. I can't speak for the 8.9 as I don't have one, but I am sure it is wonderful. Not quite as portable, of course.

Jessica Lares · 02-27-2013, 09:30 AM

HECK YEAH! I bought my brother the 7 HD model, and gave my dad the first gen. HUGE difference. Everything from the screen to it being so much slimmer. The surround sound is awesome too.

Barbara1955 · 02-27-2013, 09:36 AM

No difference except size thats up to you son what he wants.

WillysJeepMan · 02-28-2013, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by booklover6

I can attest, as I am sure everyone will agree who has tried one, that the Fire HD is MILES better than the original Fire. I loved the Fire1 but the HD is SO much better. Even the Fire2 is amazingly better than the Fire1. I can't speak for the 8.9 as I don't have one, but I am sure it is wonderful. Not quite as portable, of course.

Your experiences echo mine.

To wizwor, if you will be rooting the HD, then I'd recommend springing for the 8.9. Only the lack of support for an SD card prevents it from being the perfect Android tablet.

I have the 7HD and if I knew how much better it would be than then Fire1, I would've held out for the 8.9.

wizwor · 02-28-2013, 02:55 PM

Thanks. I don't plan to root the new device (no promises on the old one). I'm just not sure if the increased screen real estate justifies the additional weight and heft of the unit. My son mostly uses the Fire for games and to surf the internet. He totes it around, but not in his pocket. I think the 7" Fire HD is a little big for a pocket anyway.

WillysJeepMan, do you have an 8.9" Fire HD? Is it heavy or bulky?

runtmms · 02-28-2013, 02:58 PM

I went from the original Fire to the 8.9" HD. I wouldn't dream of going back. I really like the bigger size, and don't think it's too big or too heavy. The screen looks a ton better, and the touchscreen is miles ahead of the original.

VaultBoy · 02-28-2013, 03:50 PM

They say that size doesn't matter...except for when it does.

In this case, it's certainly a welcome upgrade and it'd be hard to go back to the original model (unless I had to...).

wizwor · 02-28-2013, 04:02 PM

you guys are getting me excited. Comments on the 4g or special offers options?

WillysJeepMan · 02-28-2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

Thanks. I don't plan to root the new device (no promises on the old one). I'm just not sure if the increased screen real estate justifies the additional weight and heft of the unit. My son mostly uses the Fire for games and to surf the internet. He totes it around, but not in his pocket. I think the 7" Fire HD is a little big for a pocket anyway.

WillysJeepMan, do you have an 8.9" Fire HD? Is it heavy or bulky?

Unfortunately, no. I only have the 7" Fire HD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

you guys are getting me excited. Comments on the 4g or special offers options?

I recommend NOT paying the $15. The special offers are not intrusive and are actually useful from time to time. Also, should you decide to root it, disabling the special offers is as simple as renaming a file.

runtmms · 02-28-2013, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

you guys are getting me excited. Comments on the 4g or special offers options?

You can always start with special offers and remove them if they bother you. I didn't like them, it was worth $15 to me to remove them. Nice thing is you have options.

booklover6 · 02-28-2013, 06:08 PM

I would say, if you have the money, get the bigger one. And don't worry about the special offers. I didn't really have the money for the bigger one. I got a used 7" HD. I wanted the bigger one though.

misling · 03-01-2013, 10:48 AM

I've got the original KF and the KFHD 7". The KFHD is way better, to the point that I only have a couple apps still on the old KF (games I couldn't transfer & didn't want to start over).
I got the largest available storage space on the KFHD. I'd go for more storage before I'd go for larger screen size. To me (YMMV) the 7" size is perfect for hauling around, it fits in my purse

And I can get LOTS of games, vids, pictures, & books in the storage space.

wizwor · 03-01-2013, 10:57 AM

I think 16 or 32 are big enough for games and books but not music or videos. We have a couple WI-Drives for additional storage.

wizwor · 03-13-2013, 10:24 PM

I bought a Kindle Fire HD 32g 8.9" w/out SO and no 4g. If you will indulge me, I'd like to brag a bit...

This is another story about how Discover Card and Staples love people like us...

I was looking at the various HD configurations this afternoon when Amazon lowered their prices. I don't know if that is a permanent price change, just for today, or an error, but I have a lot of Staples Rewards and opened a chat with them to see if Staples would give me the same price. Of course, they did. Then I had them apply my oldest Rewards and the cost to me for this $369 tablet was $15 -- well, sort ;-)

Kindle Fire HD 8.9” 32GB, Wifi
Item: 108944 Model: 53-000484

$369.00 Each

Item1 Qty. Subtotal
KINDLE FIRE HD 8.9IN WIFI 32GB
Item No.:108944Price:$299.00/each
Expected delivery:03/18/2013byUPS 1 $299.00

Subtotal:: $299.00
Delivery: FREE
Coupon1: -$187.50
Coupon2: -$50.00
Coupon3: -$40.00
Coupon4: -$6.25
Tax: $0.00

Total: $15.25

The coupons are all rewards -- checks Staples sends to me when I recycle ink or buy their products (most of which are free after rewards). $130 was for ink. I paid $0.17 each for the carts and get $2 back, so I paid $11.05 for that $130 in rewards. The rest of the rewards were from stuff I bought with gift cards from Discover cash back. I could say that the other $155 in rewards was free because it started as Discover cash back, but I could have taken 4/5 of that as cash, so in reality, only $31 was free so that $155 in rewards cost me $124. Plus I paid $15 in cash. So, I paid $150 for that 32g 8.9" Fire HD -- which is a pretty good deal. I actually bought $155 of stuff with the Staples gift cards which was free after rewards, so for that $150, I got the Fire, a lot of batteries, some paper, a bunch of storage boxes, and some plastic storage bins. Plus Duracell sent me a $20 visa gift card because I purchased so many free-after-rewards batteries, so let's say the Fire cost me $130.

So, when I clicked buy on that Fire, it was a lot like having a cigarette after sex (as best as I can remember either).

02-27-2013, 12:47 AM	#1
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	RFC: Kindle Fire HD We got Fires at launch. My wife and especially my youngest son have put a lot of miles on their Fires. His has developed a problem with the usb port that makes it difficult to charge. I plan to get him a new tablet and wonder how people who have graduated from the Fire to the Fire HD feel about the upgrade. I am particularly interested in the transition to the 8.9" model -- is it awesome or just too big?

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02-27-2013, 08:19 AM	#2
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I can attest, as I am sure everyone will agree who has tried one, that the Fire HD is MILES better than the original Fire. I loved the Fire1 but the HD is SO much better. Even the Fire2 is amazingly better than the Fire1. I can't speak for the 8.9 as I don't have one, but I am sure it is wonderful. Not quite as portable, of course.

02-27-2013, 09:30 AM	#3
Jessica Lares Wizard Posts: 2,240 Karma: 5759170 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Near Dallas, Texas, USA Device: iPad Mini, iPod Touch (5th gen)	HECK YEAH! I bought my brother the 7 HD model, and gave my dad the first gen. HUGE difference. Everything from the screen to it being so much slimmer. The surround sound is awesome too.

02-27-2013, 09:36 AM	#4
Barbara1955 Non-Techy Posts: 4,454 Karma: 15499273 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: WV---USA Device: Samsung Cell Phone & Amazon Fires & Kobo eReaders	No difference except size thats up to you son what he wants.

02-28-2013, 02:55 PM	#6
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Thanks. I don't plan to root the new device (no promises on the old one). I'm just not sure if the increased screen real estate justifies the additional weight and heft of the unit. My son mostly uses the Fire for games and to surf the internet. He totes it around, but not in his pocket. I think the 7" Fire HD is a little big for a pocket anyway. WillysJeepMan, do you have an 8.9" Fire HD? Is it heavy or bulky?

02-28-2013, 02:58 PM	#7
runtmms Connoisseur Posts: 70 Karma: 509194 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle Fire HD 8.9, Google Nexus 4	I went from the original Fire to the 8.9" HD. I wouldn't dream of going back. I really like the bigger size, and don't think it's too big or too heavy. The screen looks a ton better, and the touchscreen is miles ahead of the original.

02-28-2013, 03:50 PM	#8
VaultBoy Addict Posts: 206 Karma: 1683142 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: Kindle of many shapes, PIPBoy 3000	They say that size doesn't matter...except for when it does. In this case, it's certainly a welcome upgrade and it'd be hard to go back to the original model (unless I had to...).

02-28-2013, 04:02 PM	#9
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	you guys are getting me excited. Comments on the 4g or special offers options?

02-28-2013, 06:08 PM	#12
booklover6 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,533 Karma: 14008730 Join Date: May 2008 Location: PA (USA) Device: Kobo Clara, 2E, Libre, PW4, PW5, 2022 Kindle	I would say, if you have the money, get the bigger one. And don't worry about the special offers. I didn't really have the money for the bigger one. I got a used 7" HD. I wanted the bigger one though.

03-01-2013, 10:48 AM	#13
misling Zealot Posts: 106 Karma: 510000 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle	I've got the original KF and the KFHD 7". The KFHD is way better, to the point that I only have a couple apps still on the old KF (games I couldn't transfer & didn't want to start over). I got the largest available storage space on the KFHD. I'd go for more storage before I'd go for larger screen size. To me (YMMV) the 7" size is perfect for hauling around, it fits in my purse And I can get LOTS of games, vids, pictures, & books in the storage space.

03-01-2013, 10:57 AM	#14
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	I think 16 or 32 are big enough for games and books but not music or videos. We have a couple WI-Drives for additional storage.

03-13-2013, 10:24 PM	#15
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	I bought a Kindle Fire HD 32g 8.9" w/out SO and no 4g. If you will indulge me, I'd like to brag a bit... This is another story about how Discover Card and Staples love people like us... I was looking at the various HD configurations this afternoon when Amazon lowered their prices. I don't know if that is a permanent price change, just for today, or an error, but I have a lot of Staples Rewards and opened a chat with them to see if Staples would give me the same price. Of course, they did. Then I had them apply my oldest Rewards and the cost to me for this $369 tablet was $15 -- well, sort ;-) Kindle Fire HD 8.9” 32GB, Wifi Item: 108944 Model: 53-000484 $369.00 Each Item1 Qty. Subtotal KINDLE FIRE HD 8.9IN WIFI 32GB Item No.:108944Price:$299.00/each Expected delivery:03/18/2013byUPS 1 $299.00 Subtotal:: $299.00 Delivery: FREE Coupon1: -$187.50 Coupon2: -$50.00 Coupon3: -$40.00 Coupon4: -$6.25 Tax: $0.00 Total: $15.25 The coupons are all rewards -- checks Staples sends to me when I recycle ink or buy their products (most of which are free after rewards). $130 was for ink. I paid $0.17 each for the carts and get $2 back, so I paid $11.05 for that $130 in rewards. The rest of the rewards were from stuff I bought with gift cards from Discover cash back. I could say that the other $155 in rewards was free because it started as Discover cash back, but I could have taken 4/5 of that as cash, so in reality, only $31 was free so that $155 in rewards cost me $124. Plus I paid $15 in cash. So, I paid $150 for that 32g 8.9" Fire HD -- which is a pretty good deal. I actually bought $155 of stuff with the Staples gift cards which was free after rewards, so for that $150, I got the Fire, a lot of batteries, some paper, a bunch of storage boxes, and some plastic storage bins. Plus Duracell sent me a $20 visa gift card because I purchased so many free-after-rewards batteries, so let's say the Fire cost me $130. So, when I clicked buy on that Fire, it was a lot like having a cigarette after sex (as best as I can remember either).