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Monday, December 5, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Fired up for the Kindle!
I'm not as gadget crazy as some of my friends or the DH. With that being said, I have begged, pleaded, and was almost willing to sell something of high value just to have an iPad. hahahahaha. What a mistake that would have been! I mean that.
I received my Kindle Fire this week since the DH is banning most fruit products from our home (sans iPhone and the iPod) because they are too trendy and that company over-patents everything anyways. So, here's the good, bad, and ugly about the Fire:
Good
Size
So, the Kindle Fire is compact and less bulky than the iPad (great). It weighs just over a pound with a case and under a pound without. The device feels weighty for being so petite. The "standby" button is in the same location as the Kindle - at the bottom. Amazon decided not to go with a similar apple-trademarked design for its device. If it did, sales would most likely be halted somewhere in this world. As an aside, the DH and I have issues with the fruit company over-patenting silly items. Who knows - maybe one day we won't be able to use the word apple without paying 2 cents per use to that company.
Back on point... The device is relatively easy to use. There are several options for finding your apps, news, going on the web, etc. The device runs on the android OS - it is relatively fast and easy to browse. There are "headers" for newsstand, books, music, video, docs, apps, and the web.
I'm not one to use the "newsstand" because I don't believe in paying for an on-line newspaper when I have to see ads. However, the device allows you to purchase your favorite glossy-papered magazine or newspaper. I could pay $2.49 per month for The Onion, but why when I can read from the website? And why on earth would I want to pay almost $20.00 per month for the NY Times? The same with Reuters. I can subscribe to at least Reuters RSS feed on my google reader at no cost. I can also link my google reader to the Pulse application for some light reading. On the plus side, one can subscribe to international newspapers if you wish. One plus side: People is free if you have a paid subscription. Come on, it is the best gossip mag out there!
Value
This device cost $200.00 plus shipping (free if you subscribe to Amazon Prime). Compare that to the cost of the iPad. I have the intention of using the device primarily as an e-reader rather than a camera/e-reader/gadget-that-can-do-it-all type of thing. Really. I might put pictures on the device; however, I see that as one of the "bad" part just because of ease of getting files on the device.
There are several delightful things about having a kindle: Copyright expiration for Classics. Yup. Most of these don't have a cost, you just need to own the device or the application for cell phone or computer to read a book. But I can read my stuff in color. This will work beautifully for texts in January.
Also, Amazon owns Audible so you can hear your books on tape, or similar to that concept.
Bad
Battery life while watching anything over WiFi is short. I'm not sure of the longevity if one were to only utilize this product as a color e-reader only. But why would anyone want to do that?
Similar to the fruit Pad, the kindle has no wandering WiFi connection. Ah, how cell phones have mastered this!
Lastly, the applications are a little limited. Yup. It would be nice to be able to utilize a few more apps on this device; however, I can find what I need on the internet. Some conveniences of the iPhone have not carried over to the android world.
The Ugly
If you have expectations of the iPad on this device, well, don't purchase the Fire. Also, I expected to receive a USB and plug charger with the fire (you know, the one that comes with the Kindle Keyboard); however, all I received was a wall-type charger. The cost of these accessories comes to 19.98 for the USB cable and the "Wall adapter." However, don't waste your money on these accessories as they are not needed. Any USB wall adapter will do as long as it has the right micro bus (cell phones like the Samsung Galaxy use a the same style port. Just sayin').
The other UGLY thing about the Fire comes in the photo department. First, I read reviews that state (home) videos don't play on the device. I have yet to try this, so you are getting second-hand information. But photos... I love my baby and want to share pictures with people and usually do so though the fruit phone (apple has perfected the picture thing). The fire is slow to load pictures and they often flicker when browsing through them. The exception here are the pre-loaded Amazon "sample" pictures.
So, here is an overview of my review:
Value: 4-stars. You can't beat the price for the device and its features if you have Amazon prime. 3.5 stars for those who don't just because they can't sit in front of a 7" screen mini boob tube. The fact that the device is lacking the USB port charger irks me.
Size: 5-stars. The device is not the ergonomically-friendly awkward-shaped iPad. Rather, this device is compact just like the Kindle of previous generations.
Features: 4-stars. Don't expect the iPad or a device which includes a camera and you will be happy. This is an e-reader that can browse the web as a mobile device and use some apps. Battery life is limited but that can be resolved by carrying a USB charger for your car with you.
Useability: 3.5 stars. I have yet to figure out how to organize things in the app store to my liking. Also, this device came with an instruction card rather than a few-page manual. My time of looking up ways to use the device or make my life easier is limited with having a baby around.
Overall: 4-stars. You can't beat what the device has to offer for the price. This device is even better for TV viewing if you have Prime. It is a great e-reader that surfs the net, allows you to edit documents, check email, watch videos/shows/movies via stream, and share pictures. It is not perfect - maybe the second generation will be more what those fruit-heads what the device to be. Also, don't expect the iPad for the Fire. You WILL hate it.
I received my Kindle Fire this week since the DH is banning most fruit products from our home (sans iPhone and the iPod) because they are too trendy and that company over-patents everything anyways. So, here's the good, bad, and ugly about the Fire:
Good
Size
So, the Kindle Fire is compact and less bulky than the iPad (great). It weighs just over a pound with a case and under a pound without. The device feels weighty for being so petite. The "standby" button is in the same location as the Kindle - at the bottom. Amazon decided not to go with a similar apple-trademarked design for its device. If it did, sales would most likely be halted somewhere in this world. As an aside, the DH and I have issues with the fruit company over-patenting silly items. Who knows - maybe one day we won't be able to use the word apple without paying 2 cents per use to that company.
Back on point... The device is relatively easy to use. There are several options for finding your apps, news, going on the web, etc. The device runs on the android OS - it is relatively fast and easy to browse. There are "headers" for newsstand, books, music, video, docs, apps, and the web.
I'm not one to use the "newsstand" because I don't believe in paying for an on-line newspaper when I have to see ads. However, the device allows you to purchase your favorite glossy-papered magazine or newspaper. I could pay $2.49 per month for The Onion, but why when I can read from the website? And why on earth would I want to pay almost $20.00 per month for the NY Times? The same with Reuters. I can subscribe to at least Reuters RSS feed on my google reader at no cost. I can also link my google reader to the Pulse application for some light reading. On the plus side, one can subscribe to international newspapers if you wish. One plus side: People is free if you have a paid subscription. Come on, it is the best gossip mag out there!
Value
This device cost $200.00 plus shipping (free if you subscribe to Amazon Prime). Compare that to the cost of the iPad. I have the intention of using the device primarily as an e-reader rather than a camera/e-reader/gadget-that-can-do-it-all type of thing. Really. I might put pictures on the device; however, I see that as one of the "bad" part just because of ease of getting files on the device.
There are several delightful things about having a kindle: Copyright expiration for Classics. Yup. Most of these don't have a cost, you just need to own the device or the application for cell phone or computer to read a book. But I can read my stuff in color. This will work beautifully for texts in January.
Also, Amazon owns Audible so you can hear your books on tape, or similar to that concept.
Bad
Battery life while watching anything over WiFi is short. I'm not sure of the longevity if one were to only utilize this product as a color e-reader only. But why would anyone want to do that?
Similar to the fruit Pad, the kindle has no wandering WiFi connection. Ah, how cell phones have mastered this!
Lastly, the applications are a little limited. Yup. It would be nice to be able to utilize a few more apps on this device; however, I can find what I need on the internet. Some conveniences of the iPhone have not carried over to the android world.
The Ugly
If you have expectations of the iPad on this device, well, don't purchase the Fire. Also, I expected to receive a USB and plug charger with the fire (you know, the one that comes with the Kindle Keyboard); however, all I received was a wall-type charger. The cost of these accessories comes to 19.98 for the USB cable and the "Wall adapter." However, don't waste your money on these accessories as they are not needed. Any USB wall adapter will do as long as it has the right micro bus (cell phones like the Samsung Galaxy use a the same style port. Just sayin').
The other UGLY thing about the Fire comes in the photo department. First, I read reviews that state (home) videos don't play on the device. I have yet to try this, so you are getting second-hand information. But photos... I love my baby and want to share pictures with people and usually do so though the fruit phone (apple has perfected the picture thing). The fire is slow to load pictures and they often flicker when browsing through them. The exception here are the pre-loaded Amazon "sample" pictures.
So, here is an overview of my review:
Value: 4-stars. You can't beat the price for the device and its features if you have Amazon prime. 3.5 stars for those who don't just because they can't sit in front of a 7" screen mini boob tube. The fact that the device is lacking the USB port charger irks me.
Size: 5-stars. The device is not the ergonomically-friendly awkward-shaped iPad. Rather, this device is compact just like the Kindle of previous generations.
Features: 4-stars. Don't expect the iPad or a device which includes a camera and you will be happy. This is an e-reader that can browse the web as a mobile device and use some apps. Battery life is limited but that can be resolved by carrying a USB charger for your car with you.
Useability: 3.5 stars. I have yet to figure out how to organize things in the app store to my liking. Also, this device came with an instruction card rather than a few-page manual. My time of looking up ways to use the device or make my life easier is limited with having a baby around.
Overall: 4-stars. You can't beat what the device has to offer for the price. This device is even better for TV viewing if you have Prime. It is a great e-reader that surfs the net, allows you to edit documents, check email, watch videos/shows/movies via stream, and share pictures. It is not perfect - maybe the second generation will be more what those fruit-heads what the device to be. Also, don't expect the iPad for the Fire. You WILL hate it.
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