Quote:
Originally Posted by ApK
And as it happens, I bought three Kindle Fires at Walmart this week. :-)
(Really.)
It's true that's it's not an iPad, and it's not a PC, but if you happen to want what it is (and it's a good number of good things), it's an outstanding deal.
I mean, seriously, 90% of the time, I watch videos, surf the web, and play Angry Birds...can you tell me that the vast majority of owners of any tablet do more than that...?
ApK
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No, that is the vast majority. However, I like the close to 50% great screen area (7in diagonal versus 9.7in diagonal), much faster graphics and processor (not all dual core 1ghz processors are created equal), significantly longer battery life and much greater selection of apps. The extra storage space is simply icing; and actually important, since for what I do with my 16GB iPad2, I utilize about 6.5GB of the 14GB available user storage space, without any videos or significant amount of images...that is basically just apps. So I could cut down on that some, but then it significantly cuts down on the utility of the device. Also I have plenty of movies that are 2 or 3GB in size...which means for on the go, something like a Fire, if I cut it to the bone on apps, books and songs might manage 2 of my larger file size movies (if I was lucky).
That is fine for every day, but for a trip (and I visit my in-laws at the beach, my parents, business trips, etc probably at least once a month on average over the year) that is nothing. It is nice to be able to fit a couple of movies for myself, maybe a TV episode or two of something I am currently watching and maybe a movie or a few TV shows for my young kids to keep them entertained. I have a portable hotspot that I use only for its built in microSD card slot for wireless network share for really big trips, but it is less convenient, another device to tote, cost extra (about $70 used with the 16GB micro SD card), keep charged, etc...so for the short trips, it just isn't worth taking...and it would be a REQUIREMENT for anything other than everyday use if I was limited to 8GB of storage.
Back to the screen real estate issue. 7 inches is fine for more casual movie or TV watching, basic app use or very, very basic on screen keyboard. However, I want(ed) something that could effectively replace my PC for everyday use. The screen is large enough that I have basically 0 issues browsing websites for hours unless there is some kind of wierd formating issue, on screen keyboard is okay, though admittedly I wouldn't want to type out a work paper on it without getting a blue tooth keyboard (but if I did it would be so much more comfy using a keyboard with it to get work done), games and other apps are nice having the extra screen space, etc.
Just my 2 cents, but to recap, the limited storage space to me is a huge knock (I need 16GB minimum, and it would be nice to have 32GB which I am thinking of in my next tablet in a year or so), the small screen size is fine if I needed something SUPER portable as a tablet (but my iPad2 is just fine on portability, if I need something super portable, that is what a smart phone or an eink reader is for)...but a knock for normal use and finally the slower speed of the processor and graphics isn't the hugest deal ever...but my iPad2 is a lot more fluid.
The fire is nice for those that need/want nothing more than a basic 7 inch tablet with limited storage space and limited functionality (unless rooted). However, for the extra screen real estate, space for an on screen keyboard, extra memory, much faster graphics and processor and greater app selection...well I don't think the price is really much of a premium.