The Goldilocks tablet

[kennyc]

The Goldilocks tablet: Why Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire is ‘just right’
Rob Enderle December 3, 2011 By Rob Enderle

Neither too big nor too small, Amazon’s 7-inch Kindle Fire might just be the perfect third device for users who still have to juggle smartphones and notebooks.

The Kindle Fire is reported to be the top tablet at Best Buy this year, and Amazon is expected to sell 5 million in the fourth quarter against an estimated 13 million for the iPad. While Apple’s iPad remains the clear winner, if these projections hold up, the Kindle Fire will be the first tablet to come this close to challenging it.

The Fire has two clear differences to the iPad. The first is a dramatically lower price; you can effectively buy 2.5 Kindle Fires for the price of an iPad. The second is screen size; the Fire has a 7-inch screen, a size that most thought was a non-starter before it shipped. I’ve been using the Fire for two weeks now, exclusively on a three-day trip for entertainment, and I’m coming to love the 7-inch size. Let me explain.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/...is-just-right/

[wizwor]

half hearted defense of the iPad here...and goldilocks conversion here.

These three articles had me nodding my head.

[kennyc]

All depends on what your needs/requirements are.

[wizwor]

I know. I took my youngest to school for an event yesterday. While I was waiting for him to take the stage, he saw me playing with the Fire. When he got off the stage, he asked me where the fire was and was surprised when I popped it out of my back pocket.

I find this thing the perfect size for just about everything -- I could never see me with a 10 tab or ereader and my phone is simply a device of last restor.

On price and form, Fire wins. On performance, I have to admit that the iPad is smoother. This, so far, seems limited to the user interface and seems to be related to the number of apps installed and running in the background. It's not a deal breaker, but definately impacts the first impression.

The jury is still out on apps. I have yet to discover an app for the iPad which would compel me to spend the extra couple hundred bucks. In fact, the more I use the Fire, the smaller my app library becomes as I remove apps that were interesting but I do not use.

I'd like to give Amazon the nod on their library, but, to be honest, I don't get much value out of it. We've watched some Prime Video, but prefer Netflix. I've downloaded some free and for fee books, but have not used Overdrive or borrowed from Amazon. I get my news from Calibre. All of this could change as Amazon grows its library.

For now, I like being able to play a game or edit a spreadsheet or check my mail, or read the wall street journal on this device that slips into my back pocket and whose screen is impervious to damage which only cost $200. For me, it's just right!

[weatherman]

Originally Posted by wizwor

The jury is still out on apps. I have yet to discover an app for the iPad which would compel me to spend the extra couple hundred bucks.

I agree with just about everything you said, but I will say there are a few apps that I dearly miss on the iPad;

1) Flipboard: there's simply no better app for consuming social network news. I use twitter for work and sorting through the information on Flipboard is just worlds apart from reading it on some other client. I can't wait until there's a really good knock-off or version for Android.

2) Penultimate: absolutely one of the best note-taking, idea-sketching apps around. Well designed, simple to use, lovely interface. MaplePaint is a decent substitute, but not quite as good.

3) Corkulous: amazing project/idea management app. The ability to stick pictures/notes on to a large "cork board" and move them around, label them, etc. just makes planning everything from home renovation to x-mas shopping so easy.

These are three apps I absolutely use all the time, and they're all very well designed, but I wonder if they would be as good on a 7" screen. The way they all use the screen size is kinda what makes them good. Not that I would give up the portability of the Kindle Fire - I just can't really use the iPad for out-of-the-office settings. But for those three apps, I may always have to return to my iPad.

[Kai Winters]

I've found the KFire to be in the "Goldilocks Zone" for me as well.
It serves every purpose I currently have for a tablet type device and especially and ereader.

I've been using an ereader for several years, started with the Sony 505...broke it...then the 300 which works find but the screen is a bit too small for my taste...son has it and loves it...Now I have the T1, purchased before the Fire became available, and while it is my favorite of the ereaders I have been using there is still a gap that it does not fill.

There are times that I'd love to have the capabilities of a tablet while on the road, etc. I have an Eee netbook but it is very heavy and battery life is short so you have to lug around the 2 cords needed to keep it juiced up. It's fine for staying in a hotel but sucks at Star Bucks or sitting in the dentist's office waiting for your turn.

The ereader is great for reading anywhere and the T1, with its' wifi capability does an adequate job but the B+W screen is not that great, not great at all, when using it as a web browser, etc.
The Fire, on the other hand, does that nicely. It is fast and with the Firefox app I have all bookmarks available that I use at home on my desktop.
It also makes a great photo/video viewing device.
And as an ereader its' screen size is just about perfect. I've adjusted the brightness, tint...sepia for me...and font/size to my exact taste and desire.
It is easy to carry around and its' battery life is reasonable as long as you pay attention.

In an 8 hour shift at work I seldom use more than 35% of its' charge. I use it only as a reader at work because there is no wifi access and I pretty much work in a concrete bunker with no cell access or any other access either. Nothing "secret", just a freakin' concrete shell that is thick as hell.

Also as a reader that uses a lcd screen my wife is much happier. I love to read before I go to sleep and have read in bed since a child using a flashlight or just a "D" battery with a flashlight bulb taped to it with a bit of wire for power. Using my ereaders I would have to use a light on my nightstand. My wife never complains but she "tolerates" my night time reading. Now using the Fire I no longer need a light on and my wife is much happier...happy wife, happy life...

There are some things about it that I'm not thrilled with but they are minor. First, it is a heavy device compared to the ereaders, especially the T1 which is a feather weight. Second, its' physical dimensions are just a tad large to easily slip in a pants pocket...again compared to the T1.
Those are my only complaints and they are so minor as to practically not be worth mentioning.

Overall the Fire is a great "Goldilocks Zone" device for me...Until the next one comes along???

[Blossom]

I love my Fire! It's perfect for small hands. I have it right next to me using it as a MP3 player at the moment. The Cloud player works perfectly. Streams without interruption. Android has an app for everything but I only put what apps I will use on the Fire. The other stuff remains on my phone.

I bought the fire for reading at night and it's perfect for that with a few tweaks. I didn't expect myself to use it as a mp3 player or the browser to be almost as good as my Desktop but it is. The size is perfect for me. It's not too heavy or too small it's just right.

It's a great little multimedia device.