Why not a 5" Fire?

[rcentros]

After reading most (I read on other devices to see how well the syncing worked) of a longish book on the Fire HD 6 (Dead Key, one of my two free selections this month on Prime) I've decided that -- for Prime members -- the Fire is a pretty good deal. I like the fact that the HD 6 is quite a bit smaller than their 7" tablet, but I think a 5" one might even be better. I know others have mentioned this possibility also, but what do you think the chances are that Amazon will add a 5" Fire to their lineup? Would you be interested if they made a 5" tablet?

BTW, Fire tablets (including the HD 6) are no longer on sale at Best Buy or Amazon, but Staples and Office Depot currently have them on sale. ($74 at Staples after $25 rebate, $84 at Office Depot.) Other Fire tablets are on sale as well.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I know others have mentioned this possibility also, but what do you think the chances are that Amazon will add a 5" Fire to their lineup?

Minimal. It would be too close to their Fire Phone lineup in size terms.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Minimal. It would be too close to their Fire Phone lineup in size terms.

I guess so. But a Fire phone is a totally different animal. It appears that the HD 6 is Amazon's best selling tablet. Maybe they would discover that -- just as Samsung apparently couldn't make a smartphone too big -- maybe it could go the opposite direction on their Fires (and tablets in general). Tablets started out big and have gotten smaller -- maybe Amazon could make them even smaller.

[booklover6]

No, I don't really want a 5" Fire, but I would jump on a 5" Paperwhite. I love the size of my 5" Kobo Mini, except for the lack of lighted screen.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I guess so. But a Fire phone is a totally different animal.

Is it? Isn't it basically a Fire tablet with a cellular radio? From what I've seen of both, they have a very similar user interface.

I strongly suspect that most people (perhaps not here, but more generally speaking) buy a Fire for video consumption rather than reading, and a 5" screen is perhaps a little small for that?

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I strongly suspect that most people (perhaps not here, but more generally speaking) buy a Fire for video consumption rather than reading, and a 5" screen is perhaps a little small for that?

I suspect a lot of people buy the Fire because it is a multi-purpose device, and use it to read on, rather than an e-ink single purpose device.

I did buy my Fire HD 6 to read on. I love reading on it, but the shiny screen, poorer battery life, and occasional freezing limit it's usefulness. I read on my e-ink devices much more frequently.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I suspect a lot of people buy the Fire because it is a multi-purpose device, and use it to read on, rather than an e-ink single purpose device.

I did buy my Fire HD 6 to read on. I love reading on it, but the shiny screen, poorer battery life, and occasional freezing limit it's usefulness. I read on my e-ink devices much more frequently.

I read extensively on my iPad Mini, but that has a 7.9" screen. I use it almost exclusively as a PDF reader; I read fiction on my Kindle Voyage, and wouldn't want a smaller screen. The Voyage is extremely portable (I can carry it in my pocket) and I really don't have a need for a smaller screen.

My iPhone 4, on the other hand (3.5" screen) is just too small to read books on.

[aceflor]

There is a fire 5". It has a cellular function which the 6" doesn't.

Having had a Galaxy Note for years now (the Note, then the Note II) I would not buy a fire 5" for reading. A 5" display is really small, and if it does not have the comfort of e-ink (the Kobo Mini was OK, but is had an e-ink display) there is no way I would spend hours reading on it. I really like my fire 6", but I would not go under that size for serious reading.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

No, I don't really want a 5" Fire, but I would jump on a 5" Paperwhite. I love the size of my 5" Kobo Mini, except for the lack of lighted screen.

I agree, except the Kobo Mini is 1" too wide. I want an eink ereader the size of a Galaxy Player 5. I want it to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket; otherwise, there's no point in having it.

• Gal Ply 5 --> 5.56" x 3.08" x 0.47" -- 6.42oz
• Kob Mini --> 5.20" x 4.00" x 0.40" -- 4.73oz

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I agree, except the Kobo Mini is 1" too wide. I want an eink ereader the size of a Galaxy Player 5. I want it to fit comfortably in a shirt pocket; otherwise, there's no point in having it.

• Gal Ply 5 --> 5.56" x 3.08" x 0.47" -- 6.42oz
• Kob Mini --> 5.20" x 4.00" x 0.40" -- 4.73oz

Whereas I consider the Kobo Mini the perfect width for reading. I just want it to be lighted. So I use my Kobo Aura: 5.9" x 4.49" x 0.32" 6.14oz, which is small, while wishing for it to be even smaller.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The Voyage is extremely portable (I can carry it in my pocket) and I really don't have a need for a smaller screen.

Well.....I see it is virtually the same size as my Kobo Glo (but thinner) AND since Amazon allowed me to use the payment plan....I just ordered a Voyage! Yes I will have to embed my favorite font and side load.....but for $51 it's worth a try to see if I like it! If I do, I can sell one or two of my Kobos to make up for the cost.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I guess so. But a Fire phone is a totally different animal.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it? Isn't it basically a Fire tablet with a cellular radio? From what I've seen of both, they have a very similar user interface.

It is different. I have both the Fire HD6 and the Fire Phone. The HD6 uses Fire OS 4.5.2 (based on And 4.4.4 KitKat) and the Phone uses the older Fire OS 3.6.8 (based on And 4.2.2 Jelly Bean).

The HD6 is easier to use and has features missing from the Phone. For some reason, Amazon refuses to upgrade the OS on the Phone.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Whereas I consider the Kobo Mini the perfect width for reading. I just want it to be lighted. So I use my Kobo Aura: 5.9" x 4.49" x 0.32" 6.14oz, which is small, while wishing for it to be even smaller.

Since a 5" ereader to my liking will never happen, then I really don't care how large my ereader is. I recently picked up the Kindle 2014 for $29 and it will replace my Kindle 4S. Size wise, it's 6.7" x 4.7" x 0.40" x 6.7oz. Once I put it in a case, those dimensions will increase.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It is different. I have both the Fire HD6 and the Fire Phone. The HD6 uses Fire OS 4.5.2 (based on And 4.4.4 KitKat) and the Phone uses the older Fire OS 3.6.8 (based on And 4.2.2 Jelly Bean).

It's not just the features Amazon chose to put into the HD 6 and Fire Phone -- there's also the extra cost of building a phone (with the extra hardware (radio) not necessary in a tablet.) There's also the tendency to make phones thinner than the Fire tablets -- which also increases the price. (I've never really been able to understand super thin phones -- as they're almost always installed in relatively bulky cases anyhow.)

[Barbara1955]

Most that got the phone when it was on sale say they just using it as a mini Tablet. Mine replaced the 7" Bonus of being able to use it as my T-Mobile phone LOL