Comparing a Kindle Fire to a generic Android tablet misses the point of the product.
FIREs aren't marketted as android tablets any more than eink Kindles are marketed as Linux devices.
http://www.zdnet.com/kindle-fire-upd...gn-7000023335/
Kindles are content consumption devices ala iPxxx family and they don't pretend to be anything else. The software is simplified and tuned to that purpose. The intent is to go after Apple, not the generic android market, which is why they are built with premium hardware that goes toe to toe with Apple's and offers features you don't get on generics. The 2012 models had the acknowledged best audio and networking of any tablet, period, and the 2013 model's screen puts Apple's to shame.
If you're looking to live in the Google ecosystem, Kindles are no more for you than are iPads.
But if you are comfortable in the Amazon gardens, Kindles can be quite satisfying buys and most Kindle buyers fully understand what they are doing.
Edit:
Recent review:
http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/Dec2013/amazo...-9-review.html
Quote:
Mojito is certainly very different to Android. There’s none of the customising malarkey with backgrounds, themes and widgets. Instead Fire OS is centred around the content.
When the HDX is powered up, you get a carousel, which is a bit like a shelf that scrolls, containing all your Amazon content such as books, apps, movies etc. Whatever you accessed the most recently pops up first, which is handy if you were half way through a game or movie. It is possible to remove items from the carousel if you prefer a more minimalist approach. A more standard menu is located above the carousel, for access to things like Web, Games, and Videos. While underneath you’ll find all your apps. So far, so easy to navigate. Delving into folders and sub folders though can be a little confusing, and it is easy to get lost, until you’re more familiar with the OS.
Amazon didn’t become the international retail giant it is by missing any tricks. It has included every which way possible on the Kindle Fire HDX to get to its online store and spend your cash. For example, the first menu option is Shop, and the unlock screen is an advert for Amazon. Finish a book, and recommendations pop up. It is obviously a great marketing opportunity for Amazon, and we don’t begrudge them taking advantage of it. Especially since you’re pretty much tied to the store for content anyway. The recommendations actually proved quite useful.
|