Kindle Fire Reviews Rolling In

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by covfam

you do know that ALOT of browsers do this and most all of them like amazons Silk browser give you an opt out feature

Really? A lot of browsers do this?
Care to name some? (More than Opera Mini)

[soondai]

Pleasantly surprised that you can sideload apks.

Sounds like a good buy. Almost tempted myself.

[Kali Yuga]

Sounds to me like you're getting what you pay for... an underperforming tablet that pushes you to join or use Prime.

Seems like if you keep your expectations in line and/or can leverage Prime for all it's worth, it's a decent device. If you expect it to run as fast as a full-fledged tablet, you will be disappointed.

I'm not sure if I should be surprised that the first iteration is a little off. The Kindle 1 never caught my fancy, but that was also a much lower profile device / launch.

[ProfCrash]

I am tempted. Christmas is coming. Christmas is coming. Maybe I can convince the hubby to give it to me before we fly for Christmas....

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Sounds to me like you're getting what you pay for... an underperforming tablet that pushes you to join or use Prime.

Seems like if you keep your expectations in line and/or can leverage Prime for all it's worth, it's a decent device. If you expect it to run as fast as a full-fledged tablet, you will be disappointed.

I'm not sure if I should be surprised that the first iteration is a little off. The Kindle 1 never caught my fancy, but that was also a much lower profile device / launch.

The K1 was great. It did exactly what it said it would do. It read e-books. I loved mine and still miss the wheel and silver bar on my Kindle.

[ScotiaBurrell]

I say that this replaces the ipod touches and other ebook readers, and not that it replaces the iPad.

[Yamko]

Looks good, was wondering if I should get this or wait for an even newer version.

[Tess89]

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Sounds to me like you're getting what you pay for... an underperforming tablet that pushes you to join or use Prime.

Seems like if you keep your expectations in line and/or can leverage Prime for all it's worth, it's a decent device. If you expect it to run as fast as a full-fledged tablet, you will be disappointed.

I'm not sure if I should be surprised that the first iteration is a little off. The Kindle 1 never caught my fancy, but that was also a much lower profile device / launch.

"Get what you pay for" is right. It'll be a great starter tablet for many I'm sure but I'm glad I cancelled my order.

[fjtorres]

ZDNet has a review *and* an evaluation of the business model:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/amazon...74?tag=nl.e539

Basically, folks, it is neither an iPad not a NookColor.
It actually has more in common with the XBOX360 and PS3 than the NookColor.
It is a walled-garden terminal designed for consuming (and selling, natch) content.

Yes, you can sideload apps and content--they *said* it could at the intro--but if the SD Card slot and 16GB on-board storage matters to you it is because you expect it to behave like a standalone portable computer, which it is *NOT*. If you want a portable computer, you don't want a FIRE.

As pointed out in the ZDNet review, the 8GB local storage on the FIRE is more of a local offline cache for its cloud-based storage. Think of eink readers and small-capacity PMPs, where primary storage is on a PC and you load up from the PC what you intend/expect to use, rather than loading it up with *everything* you own. Well, the FIRE uses its cloud storage as the primary storage and the onboard as an offline cache. If you're not comfortable with that design, the FIRE is not for you

It'll be interesting to see how many people are okay with it, but judging by its acceptance on gaming consoles which are even more limited as to sideloading, Amazon's bet is a good one. I suspect ZDNet is closer to being right than to being wrong when they say that iPod will lock up the high-end buyers, FIRE will lock up the low end, and between the two they'll crush everything caught in the middle.

(Though I *personally* think the Win8 Tablet PCs will have something to say about the high end.)

[ScotiaBurrell]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

ZDNet has a review *and* an evaluation of the business model:
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/amazon...74?tag=nl.e539

Basically, folks, it is neither an iPad not a NookColor.
It actually has more in common with the XBOX360 and PS3 than the NookColor.
It is a walled-garden terminal designed for consuming (and selling, natch) content.

Yes, you can sideload apps and content--they *said* it could at the intro--but if the SD Card slot and 16GB on-board storage matters to you it is because you expect it to behave like a standalone portable computer, which it is *NOT*. If you want a portable computer, you don't want a FIRE.

As pointed out in the ZDNet review, the 8GB local storage on the FIRE is more of a local offline cache for its cloud-based storage. Think of eink readers and small-capacity PMPs, where primary storage is on a PC and you load up from the PC what you intend/expect to use, rather than loading it up with *everything* you own. Well, the FIRE uses its cloud storage as the primary storage and the onboard as an offline cache. If you're not comfortable with that design, the FIRE is not for you

It'll be interesting to see how many people are okay with it, but judging by its acceptance on gaming consoles which are even more limited as to sideloading, Amazon's bet is a good one. I suspect ZDNet is closer to being right than to being wrong when they say that iPod will lock up the high-end buyers, FIRE will lock up the low end, and between the two they'll crush everything caught in the middle.

(Though I *personally* think the Win8 Tablet PCs will have something to say about the high end.)

Businesses not consumers will buy the Win8 tablets in very big numbers.

[Tess89]

It'll be interesting to see how many people are okay with it, but judging by its acceptance on gaming consoles which are even more limited as to sideloading, Amazon's bet is a good one.

It's tolerated on gaming consoles because there are precious few other options. We don't accept it. We deal with it.

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by Blossom

Wait no charger cable in the box? That can't be right you have to be able to charge it.

It comes with a charging cable, rather than the more ubiquitous charger with cable. The Nook Color charging cable is special, but it still works as a data cable.

Originally Posted by JD Gumby

It offers all of your browser traffic (URLs entered, clicks, form information, passwords, etc...) to Amazon by default - even SSL communications (they are basically a man-in-the-middle: it goes to them, is decrypted, then reincrypted and passed on to the destination you were intending. Same goes for the path back to you).

As I said in another thread, Silk is great if you have a high latency connection and the web site you are visiting is not optimized. Since neither of these were probably true for the tech web sites (they probably have great connections and visit their own web site), they do not see the real benefit.

[JoHunt]

Another not so complimentary review:

Kindle Fire sacrifices to get under $200

The Kindle was always an odd product name. Amazon used a verb to name a thing, raising the question: Kindle what? Now we have the answer: Kindle Fire. The Kindle Fire is the first full-color, touch-screen Kindle. It's available in the U.S. starting Monday for $199.

A price like that for what's essentially a small iPad is bound to light the flames of desire this holiday season. I want to cool those down a bit, or some of you will buy the Fire and feel burned.

http://news.yahoo.com/review-kindle-...050342124.html

[Zoshka]

Originally Posted by ScotiaBurrell

I say that this replaces the ipod touches and other ebook readers, and not that it replaces the iPad.

I think the ipod touch is superior for gaming, with all the apps and an easier screen to hold for games, as well as the retina display. Plus you can pop it in a pocket, so it's more portable as an anywhere device, and of course you can store all your music on it easily, without the need for cloud wifi.

I don't think it replaces other ereaders either. As one of the reviews pointed out, most people won't want to read on an LCD for hours at a time (as Kindle enthusiasts and Amazon itself continually pointed out to criticize tablets, until now). Then the new eink devices, including the K4, are featherweight and small and are actually nice to look at. I agree with the Pogue review in that respect, that Amazon made great ereaders with the new Kindles but not a great tablet.
The price drop and recent update to increase speed/font clarity on the Nook Touch also make it a compelling choice, and the Sony also seems a decent choice, now that they've dropped their price a bit.

The losers will be all the ereaders that aren't Kindle/Nook/Kobo/Sony, since it simply won't be worth it to manufacture something to compete with a price point around $100. The other crapware Android tablets will also be the losers, except for the Nook Tablet if it's of good quality, especially if Amazon comes out with a larger Fire with better performance and storage. But by that time the ipad 3 will be coming out and perhaps a large ipod touch or mini ipad with a retina display to compete with the Fire, and then things will really get interesting.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by joehunt

Another not so complimentary review:

Kindle Fire sacrifices to get under $200



http://news.yahoo.com/review-kindle-...050342124.html

But it has to be weighed against the competition. When you do that, it becomes apparent just how spare Amazon had to keep the device to limbo under that $200 price level.

What competition? Why is it constantly compared to devices that cost more? Much of the criticisms could have been written right after the press event. Are people genuinely shocked?