Considering getting a Kindle Fire HD

ErikaGC · 04-02-2013, 01:34 PM

For starters, I have the Kindle (no keyboard), I use often.
Really love it, but somehow I feel like it is time for a change. So I have been considering the Kindle Fire HD. What I was wondering was, will I be able to have my ebooks on the kindle fire?
Since I have some downloaded ebooks and some bought, I don't want to get the KFHD if I wont be able to read the downloaded ebooks.
Will I still be able to transfer them as easily as the Kindle? Can I still use Calibre?
If I CAN still have the downloaded ebooks will I be able to edit them and send them to the KFHD?

Would also like your opinion on the KFHD. Should I even be considering getting it?

HarryT · 04-02-2013, 01:42 PM

You certainly can read your books on the Fire, but personally I find the reading app on the Fire to be not as good as using an eInk Kindle (in fact I returned my Fire HD). Yes, you can transfer your books with Calibre.

ErikaGC · 04-02-2013, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You certainly can read your books on the Fire, but personally I find the reading app on the Fire to be not as good as using an eInk Kindle (in fact I returned my Fire HD). Yes, you can transfer your books with Calibre.

So I won't be able to read the ebooks directly like in the kindle?
I won't be able to have them on the carousel?

tubemonkey · 04-02-2013, 02:16 PM

With the Fire HD (and most other tablets), you can download lots of book apps like Kobo, Nook, Play Books, Sony, Aldiko, Bluefire, Mantano, etc; and read what you want. You won't be locked into Amazon's ecosystem.

HarryT · 04-02-2013, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikaGC

So I won't be able to read the ebooks directly like in the kindle?
I won't be able to have them on the carousel?

Certainly you can, yes.

KimberlyFDR · 04-02-2013, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikaGC

For starters, I have the Kindle (no keyboard), I use often. Really love it, but somehow I feel like it is time for a change. So I have been considering the Kindle Fire HD.

I have the Kindle 4 (no-touch) that I got December 2011 and just got the Kindle Fire HD December 2012, so it sounds like you're in the same place I was just a few months ago. There's definitely advantages to both, and you will probably find yourself using both for different functions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikaGC

What I was wondering was, will I be able to have my ebooks on the kindle fire? Since I have some downloaded ebooks and some bought, I don't want to get the KFHD if I wont be able to read the downloaded ebooks. Will I still be able to transfer them as easily as the Kindle? Can I still use Calibre? If I CAN still have the downloaded ebooks will I be able to edit them and send them to the KFHD?

Yes to....all of that. The only books I've downloaded to my Fire are the ones from Calibre. I don't keep Amazon-only books on there as I do my Kindle 4. The reason is because of functionality. Out of the box, without app integration, there's not really a collections system on the Fire HD, so if you're like me and have hundreds of books you normally keep on your device, it's a bit cumbersome. However, if you keep a small archive on the device, it's not bad. Also, with the new update, you get time-to-read functionality, which I'm starting to enjoy. And reading full-color comics on the Fire HD cannot be beat! That's one of the things I love most about reading on the Fire HD.

Be aware that Calibre / Kindle Fire HD don't work well together on Windows XP, but they work fine on Windows 7 (I use my Win7 computer for my Fire, my XP for my Kindle 4, with the archives shared between them).

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErikaGC

Would also like your opinion on the KFHD. Should I even be considering getting it?

It depends on what you want to use it for. Do you just want an e-reader (color ability not important)? Then a tablet might be overkill. Do you want the ability to use apps, check email, read color comics, watch high-quality videos, and have the functionality of a tablet? Then the Kindle Fire HD is great and you should definitely consider it.

wizwor · 04-03-2013, 07:58 PM

Just before the Fire came out, I bought a Kindle 4 non touch to travel with. I like it a lot. I loaded it with my paperwork, reading material, and local menus and it kept me busy in transit and when dining alone. I was very happy with it except, 1) it was difficult to read in dim light, and 2) it was difficult to navigate technical books with large images -- the images were simply too small to read.

I got a fire when it was available, and have not used the kindle much since. The k4 is only used when 1) reading by the pool, 2) someone is using my fire, or 3) the fire's battery is discharged.

SampleAndy · 04-04-2013, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You certainly can read your books on the Fire, but personally I find the reading app on the Fire to be not as good as using an eInk Kindle (in fact I returned my Fire HD). Yes, you can transfer your books with Calibre.

I'm just curious, Harry. Was it the display you didn't like, or something about the interface? I just got mine last night so I haven't really formed an opinion, but it seems to be just fine. It's kinda neat the way you can slooowwlly turn the page and look at both at once. Not anything you'd want to do unless you want to impress somebody, but still kinda neat.

The thing I miss about the interface in both the PW and the HD is the ability to swipe up and down to move through a book a chapter at a time. (sigh) What are ya gonna do...

tommyr · 04-10-2013, 08:40 PM

I would wait until they solve the fast battery drain issue. It's driving us nuts. WAIT.

04-02-2013, 01:34 PM	#1
ErikaGC Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2011 Device: Kindle 3	Considering getting a Kindle Fire HD For starters, I have the Kindle (no keyboard), I use often. Really love it, but somehow I feel like it is time for a change. So I have been considering the Kindle Fire HD. What I was wondering was, will I be able to have my ebooks on the kindle fire? Since I have some downloaded ebooks and some bought, I don't want to get the KFHD if I wont be able to read the downloaded ebooks. Will I still be able to transfer them as easily as the Kindle? Can I still use Calibre? If I CAN still have the downloaded ebooks will I be able to edit them and send them to the KFHD? Would also like your opinion on the KFHD. Should I even be considering getting it?

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04-02-2013, 01:42 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You certainly can read your books on the Fire, but personally I find the reading app on the Fire to be not as good as using an eInk Kindle (in fact I returned my Fire HD). Yes, you can transfer your books with Calibre.

04-02-2013, 02:16 PM	#4
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	With the Fire HD (and most other tablets), you can download lots of book apps like Kobo, Nook, Play Books, Sony, Aldiko, Bluefire, Mantano, etc; and read what you want. You won't be locked into Amazon's ecosystem.

04-03-2013, 07:58 PM	#7
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Just before the Fire came out, I bought a Kindle 4 non touch to travel with. I like it a lot. I loaded it with my paperwork, reading material, and local menus and it kept me busy in transit and when dining alone. I was very happy with it except, 1) it was difficult to read in dim light, and 2) it was difficult to navigate technical books with large images -- the images were simply too small to read. I got a fire when it was available, and have not used the kindle much since. The k4 is only used when 1) reading by the pool, 2) someone is using my fire, or 3) the fire's battery is discharged.

04-10-2013, 08:40 PM	#9
tommyr Just add water! Posts: 18 Karma: 1286 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hudson Valley of N.Y. Device: Kindle 3	I would wait until they solve the fast battery drain issue. It's driving us nuts. WAIT.