Gen 3 Kindle Fires

[GlenBarrington]

Google Drive? Google Docs? Things I use a lot, and would on my Fire if it were possible. Since there is no keyboard option, it's kind of a moot point anyway I guess.

I'm glad you like your Fire devices, but I won't buy one again. It's intentional crippleware. Side loading, and rooting is a workaround, not a design feature. Certainly not a reason to select the Fire, just a way to minimize the results of a bad decision.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

They have Bluetooth.

Well, the RECENT ones have bluetooth.

[Barbara1955]

You got the 1 KF DONT put ALL Fires down cause You Want thing that Amazon Added! BUT You refuse to buy a New Updated one..Fine Your Choice But STOP Putting Amazon Down! Like Buying a Modle T Ford Wanting A/C & Heat then Refusing to buy a model that has them & Blaming Ford! sheesh

[DuaneAA]

Originally Posted by wizwor

Kingsoft is always free and you can get their software for a PC as well...

http://www.kingsoftstore.com/

OfficeSuite Pro is $15 but has been offered a number of times as Amazon's free app of the day.

There are others, but these two are probably the best options.

Originally Posted by Katie1

DuaneAA View Post
does the Amazon store have a decent word processor app that is compatible with Microsoft Word?

My Fire HD came with OFFICe SUITE.... I never used it But maybe it would do what your asking.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback. I guess I will start investigating Bluetooth keyboards, possibly something with a built-in stand to support the tablet.

I remember when I first started writing fiction about 12 years ago my primary writing device was a pocketPC in combination with an infrared keyboard. I used Velcro to attach them to a piece of cardboard for the lightest device I could find to write while I was stretched out on the sofa in the living room. I typed my first 100,000 words on that combination. I only gave it up when it reached the point where the autosave feature would churn for three minutes every ten minutes and I couldn't figure out how to disable it. Ever since then I have always gravitated to the lightest configuration I could find/afford. At the moment my primary device is a 25" monitor sitting on a coffee table press up against the edge of my couch (with the associated desktop cpu stashed behind the sofa) in combination with a windows version of the tiny aluminum Apple keyboard resting on my lap.

Duane

[wizwor]

I'm a nester and have avoided using a tablet for work to date. I have a small laptop that is very portable and performs admirably. When I work, I plug it onto a pair of monitors, a keyboard, and a mouse.

I have my eye on the Surface, though. I can see it BT'ing to the same devices and being a better road warrior.

[Barbara1955]

DuaneAA Try this one http://www.amazon.com/Removable-Wire...oards+for+fire

or this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had the last one works Great!

[Mivo]

Originally Posted by DuaneAA

Thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback. I guess I will start investigating Bluetooth keyboards, possibly something with a built-in stand to support the tablet.

The ones that come with a built-in stand, or that are part of a cover/case, tend to have uncomfortably small keys. They work in a pinch, still beat the virtual keyboard, and you don't have to carry around something that's separate, but after a bit of trying to get friendly with the small keys, I picked up a "super slim" Bluetooth keyboard that is extremely flat and compact (no number block and such), but has regularly sized keys. They're "shorter" than normal keys, but do still have a "click".

It's a generic one for all sorts of computers and devices, not just Android (but worked out of the box). Mine's called "Wintech MKB-27P" and looks like this, but that's probably just some generic, rebranded product.

The advantage of the "cover-like" smaller one that I also have is the better mobility and a built in lithium battery instead of the two AA batteries (I guess some people might feel this is a downside). It looks like this (the device is a Nexus 7, but the Fire will have very similar dimensions). But yes, the keys are a little small for me, at least for typing longer documents comfortably.

Still, it's amazing how suitable for work these small devices become if paired with an external keyboard.

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Google Drive? Google Docs? Things I use a lot, and would on my Fire if it were possible. Since there is no keyboard option, it's kind of a moot point anyway I guess.

I'm glad you like your Fire devices, but I won't buy one again. It's intentional crippleware. Side loading, and rooting is a workaround, not a design feature. Certainly not a reason to select the Fire, just a way to minimize the results of a bad decision.

Newer ones come with google. You need google to use the YouTube apps & others.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by Katie1

You got the 1 KF DONT put ALL Fires down cause You Want thing that Amazon Added! BUT You refuse to buy a New Updated one..Fine Your Choice But STOP Putting Amazon Down! Like Buying a Modle T Ford Wanting A/C & Heat then Refusing to buy a model that has them & Blaming Ford! sheesh

I'm sorry you have a hard time with negative opinions, but we WERE asked for our opinions. I didn't realize that only positive statements approved by you were required.

[HarryT]

I don't think anyone minds negative opinions, Glen, but when we're talking about the 3rd Gen Fires it's a little irrelevant to comment on what the 1st gen Fire can or can't do, don't you think?

[Barbara1955]

From my understanding Glenn You the Ogr Fire Owners are the main reason Amazon doing all thes Updates. Yet Now that they are comming out with them ALL you want to do is put Amazon Down! Makes no sence to me YOUR getting what you want BE HAPPY! Dang they are even willing to reduce the price by allowing trade in to those that want the updates! Something they Again dont have to do since they are Old Old products! Go with something else BUT I betting you wont get anything to make you really happy. Or the Great Customer Service Amazon gives its customers... Whining cause you wont update is Not great feedback.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I don't think anyone minds negative opinions, Glen, but when we're talking about the 3rd Gen Fires it's a little irrelevant to comment on what the 1st gen Fire can or can't do, don't you think?

Not at all. If you recall, the original post asked, "With the arrival of the next generation of Kindle Fires, I wonder if Amazon has established itself as a tablet brand. I also wonder if Amazon is retaining their existing tablet customers. I have created this poll to get a sense of brand loyalty."

I would suggest that my comments relate to the overall user experience with kindle tablets as a brand. My experience has been less than satisfactory. And I don't consider the ability to side load and ROOT a tablet to get the SOME of the functionality I consider important to be a brand building experience. Those are a workaround for what was a bad decision on my part.

The fact that Kindle advocates STILL promote the ability to sideload and root Kindles tells me that Kindles are still intentionally crippled in terms of providing what I want. How stupid would I have to be to buy ANOTHER Kindle now that I know they don't offer what I'm looking for?

If people want to buy an exclusive Amazon content consumption device that can do simple word processing, I say more power to them! They should buy one. I'm being honest about how I feel concerning the brand, THAT bus ISN'T designed to take me where I want to go.

Honest questions deserve honest answers. The OP got one.

[Barbara1955]

Its irrelavant to talk about something Not being sold anymore.

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by Katie1

Its irrelavant to talk about something Not being sold anymore.

Not when they were the best selling tablet NOT coming from Apple.

Customer satisfaction with the Kindle Fire can influence customer acceptance of future models. If the Customer Sat numbers were high even given the limited functionality, then that bodes well for the newer devices. But if many were soured on their experience then that can dampen enthusiasm for future models.

The restrictions of the original Kindle Fire are still present in the latest generation.

- No access to Google Play
- Restricted access to apps in the Amazon Android App Market
- limited choice of web browsers (essentially Silk, Dolphin is available for those with the tech-savvy to sideload)

The OP asked specifically pondered:

Originally Posted by wizwor

With the arrival of the next generation of Kindle Fires, I wonder if Amazon has established itself as a tablet brand.

If a person asked for your advice on purchasing a tablet you would be doing them a disservice by implying that the latest Kindle Fire devices are equivalent alternatives to full-Android tablets from Samsung or Google (without explaining how the Fire is restricted). And with the further divergence of "Fire OS" from Android, you can expect a decrease in the number of Android apps that can be sideloaded... as Amazon removes unneeded APIs or modifies them in a way that is incompatible with vanilla Android.

[Sydney's Mom]

I have bought every iteration of kindle and kindle fire, and have already ordered the 8.9". Currently, I have a K4, a PW a 8.9" Fire HD and a Tab 10.1.
I use the Tab for games, the PW for reading and the Fire for movies. I will probably keep that ordering, except my family gets my PW and my Fire HD. They seem to lose them regularly (my husband has left 3 on a plane. He got one back.)

I would feel pretty guilty, but I already told my family that the Fire is coming out so close to Christmas, that can be my Christmas present.