HDX Kindle Fire HDX - First Impressions

Originally Posted by Blossom

So I decided to do a factory reset on the HDX and get this....the UI is now grey! not dark grey but grey like the UI shelves on the KFv1! OMG. I've tried restarting no change. Flicker still happens in books.

This unit is defective all right. It suppose to have a black not grey UI.

Ouch! You've got a replacement coming though, right? I hope the replacement is better. The HDX sure sounds a bit flaky in the FW.

We had some storms come through here last night, so I tried to use my Nexus 7.2 with a few weather and radar apps. None of the apps worked well at all. Slow to update from the internet, glitchy, lackluster performance. Meanwhile the iPad3 was humming along without issues and the same weather/radar apps worked wonderfully. Thankfully the Nexus 7.2 is good at reading and controlling my dSLR camera. But even with Android 4.3, the Nexus 7.2 is a disappointment as far as most of the apps I run. Or perhaps I should say Android 4.3 is a disappointment.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by jswinden

Ouch! You've got a replacement coming though, right? I hope the replacement is better. The HDX sure sounds a bit flaky in the FW.

We had some storms come through here last night, so I tried to use my Nexus 7.2 with a few weather and radar apps. None of the apps worked well at all. Slow to update from the internet, glitchy, lackluster performance. Meanwhile the iPad3 was humming along without issues and the same weather/radar apps worked wonderfully. Thankfully the Nexus 7.2 is good at reading and controlling my dSLR camera. But even with Android 4.3, the Nexus 7.2 is a disappointment as far as most of the apps I run. Or perhaps I should say Android 4.3 is a disappointment.

Yeah it will be here tomorrow. I just hope it works correctly! I'm thinking the brightness thingy is broke.

I simply use the The Weather Channel app. It works well enough for what I really need. Our local news channel has their own weather app I use that on my phone. It's my go to app for bad weather. I'm also sign up for weather alerts by email through TWC. These are the fastest. I usually get alerted first through email before an app tells me there is a warning out.

[Blossom]

HDX Replacement is here! I just spent the past hour setting it up. First it needed no firmware update so that was a relief.

I looked it over and noticed no screen defects but there is a small scratch on the back. Not really a big deal seeing it will always be in its case.

Now here's the thing. The blue border is really bad on this one! On the other one there was some shadowing on this there is toothpaste blue border around edges. It really stands out on light colored backgrounds. Also I am noticing that this one gets really warm and smells like something is burning. I don't remember that on the other one. I am keeping an eye on it and hoping that's just new electronic smell and it will go away but the warmness of the back concerns me.

Sound is better on this one less tinny. No flicking whatsoever in books!

Originally Posted by Blossom

HDX Replacement is here! I just spent the past hour setting it up. First it needed no firmware update so that was a relief.

I looked it over and noticed no screen defects but there is a small scratch on the back. Not really a big deal seeing it will always be in its case.

Now here's the thing. The blue border is really bad on this one! On the other one there was some shadowing on this there is toothpaste blue border around edges. It really stands out on light colored backgrounds. Also I am noticing that this one gets really warm and smells like something is burning. I don't remember that on the other one. I am keeping an eye on it and hoping that's just new electronic smell and it will go away but the warmness of the back concerns me.

Sound is better on this one less tinny. No flicking whatsoever in books!

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you got someone's returned item. The scratch makes me think that, plus the overheating and really blue vignetting on the screen, not to mention the update was already installed. I would call and give them heck about it. For one thing, the scratch will affect your trade-in or sale price if you ever decide to sell it in the future.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Blossom

HDX Replacement is here! I just spent the past hour setting it up. First it needed no firmware update so that was a relief.

I looked it over and noticed no screen defects but there is a small scratch on the back. Not really a big deal seeing it will always be in its case.

Now here's the thing. The blue border is really bad on this one! On the other one there was some shadowing on this there is toothpaste blue border around edges. It really stands out on light colored backgrounds. Also I am noticing that this one gets really warm and smells like something is burning. I don't remember that on the other one. I am keeping an eye on it and hoping that's just new electronic smell and it will go away but the warmness of the back concerns me.

Sound is better on this one less tinny. No flicking whatsoever in books!

That is too much "stuff" on it. It pays to send it back again for a replacement.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by jswinden

I hate to say it, but it sounds like you got someone's returned item. The scratch makes me think that, plus the overheating and really blue vignetting on the screen, not to mention the update was already installed. I would call and give them heck about it. For one thing, the scratch will affect your trade-in or sale price if you ever decide to sell it in the future.

I don't know yet so far I am going to watch it for a few days and see how it goes. The biggest issue is the how warm it was getting. The others I can deal with.

Oh big question. Is the HDX interfaced suppose to be charcoal gray? Even the night theme on the Kindle is charcoal gray and not black?!? Seeing my other was bad I don't what color the UI really is I think I am going to start a thread.

[booklover6]

Originally Posted by Blossom

HDX Replacement is here! I just spent the past hour setting it up. First it needed no firmware update so that was a relief.

I looked it over and noticed no screen defects but there is a small scratch on the back. Not really a big deal seeing it will always be in its case.

Now here's the thing. The blue border is really bad on this one! On the other one there was some shadowing on this there is toothpaste blue border around edges. It really stands out on light colored backgrounds. Also I am noticing that this one gets really warm and smells like something is burning. I don't remember that on the other one. I am keeping an eye on it and hoping that's just new electronic smell and it will go away but the warmness of the back concerns me.

Sound is better on this one less tinny. No flicking whatsoever in books!

You should return that one and demand a NEW one.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by booklover6

You should return that one and demand a NEW one.

I agree. At this early stage of the game, only a new product is acceptable.

[booklover6]

I just read some of the reviews on Amazon, and they make me glad I didn't get the HDX. It seems there are a lot of problems.

Blossom, return that one and order a new one, instead of exchanging. That way you know it will be new.

[sirmaru]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't know yet so far I am going to watch it for a few days and see how it goes. The biggest issue is the how warm it was getting. The others I can deal with.

Oh big question. Is the HDX interfaced suppose to be charcoal gray? Even the night theme on the Kindle is charcoal gray and not black?!? Seeing my other was bad I don't what color the UI really is I think I am going to start a thread.

I looked closely at my HDX and the background IS charcoal grey while the frame is deep black. I never noticed it before. It doesn't bother me.

However, it should not be heating up and there should not be a scratch on the back. Send it back for another replacement. Over heating could be a sign of a defective battery. Several years ago some notebook batteries exploded. You don't want to run that risk.

A lot of these "problems" on all the units are probably noticeable by a very few folks with most just ignoring them.

Plus, a lot of problems may be related to users simply not having enough knowledge of how to use Calibre properly and then blaming the problems on the units.

If Calibre is like MediaMonkey, then it must have a steep learning curve which most folks never master unless they spend a huge amount of time learning it.

With MediaMonkey, I had to go to their forum to find out how to move my data from my Win 7 PC to my Win 8 PC. I never knew how to do it. Only moderators there had the proper knowledge.

Calibre is really for eBook collectors like MediaMonkey is for song collectors. Just reading eBooks purchased from Amazon does not require any special knowledge and no special auxiliary programs.

[FanciFreez]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I don't know yet so far I am going to watch it for a few days and see how it goes. The biggest issue is the how warm it was getting. The others I can deal with.

Oh big question. Is the HDX interfaced suppose to be charcoal gray? Even the night theme on the Kindle is charcoal gray and not black?!? Seeing my other was bad I don't what color the UI really is I think I am going to start a thread.

I would say if it has a scratch on the back.. I would send it back immediately if not sooner.. that would be unacceptable for me..

[Blossom]

I can tell you that I didn't really understand what a blue border problem was with my first one it was subtle this one it's right there in your face blue. More brightness more neon blue. Amazon should not get away with this. It's makes reading not as pleasant as it could be.

Oh I found a review by Ralph on Amazon who also suffers from the flickering problem but his is in settings mine was in books.

[Blossom]

Amazon Local has 50% off Kindle Fire accessories. I just ordered the Amazon Zip sleeve which will fit the HDX for $10! The lime green is even cheaper. These are $30 cases. There are Styluses also. There is a ton of cases for the previous generation Kindle Fires that are 50% off.

[iPatty]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I can tell you that I didn't really understand what a blue border problem was with my first one it was subtle this one it's right there in your face blue. More brightness more neon blue. Amazon should not get away with this. It's makes reading not as pleasant as it could be.

Oh I found a review by Ralph on Amazon who also suffers from the flickering problem but his is in settings mine was in books.

Okay, when I had to return a couple of KF's, everyone told me it was an anomaly and not to blame Amazon, just stick with it, don't jump ship and get a Nexus 7. Now I'm kind of thinking they just suck. Yes, now I have a good one and I love it but really, all this returning and replacing gets tiresome.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by iPatty

Okay, when I had to return a couple of KF's, everyone told me it was an anomaly and not to blame Amazon, just stick with it, don't jump ship and get a Nexus 7. Now I'm kind of thinking they just suck. Yes, now I have a good one and I love it but really, all this returning and replacing gets tiresome.

It really does. My replacement is okay. It has 3 scratches on the back not one as I first thought. I took a flashlight to the back and found more. Battery life is good. So far after firmware update unit working like a dream. The blue border is annoying but I am done. I can't play the replacement game right now.