Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Kindle Fire HD 8.9


Credit: Online Gadget Store


I have had the joy of owning my Kindle Fire HD 8.9 for a year and six months.  In the time owning it, I have gotten great satisfaction from it, but also have encountered a few frustrations.  Now don’t get me wrong, the Kindle Fire is an amazing device and I would highly recommend it to a friend or family member.  Without any prior knowledge to the Kindle Fire, one might not easily assume what kind of tablet this device is.  A quick search would show that it was an android tablet, but some may not know how this tablet functions. 

According to Amazon.com The Kindle Fire comes in four different memory types: 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB.  I personally own a 16 GB version and have found that even after all of the hundreds of books, plus dozens of apps and games, that I still have over half the memory.  If you are looking for a good tablet reader that is less expensive than say an iPad, then I recommend the Kindle Fire.  When I bought my Kindle Fire it cost around $400, but this included the wall USB charger, a $60 case cover, and I kept the special offers.  Special offers are not that big of a deal.  They are basically ads that pop up every time you start up your Kindle Fire, or unlock it.  Honestly, they aren’t that annoying, in fact they can be quite helpful.  For example, these offers will showcase deals with books that are on sale, and similar deals concerning digital items.  Items such as: music and magazines.  If you wish to get rid of these ads, you can pay $15 at any time to get rid of them.  The price for a Kindle Fire on Amazon as of now, is $229.00, for a 16 GB, including special offers, and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Good:

1.     The Kindle Fire has a decent battery life.  I have gotten 8-10 hours out of mine, which on Amazon is the same. 
2.     It has anti-glare technology, which helps when trying to read in direct sunlight.  When turned on either automatic brightness, or high brightness settings, you can read on your Kindle Fire without any difficulties.
3.     The books on amazon are cheap and there are dozens of free ones you can find if using the appropriate wording.
4.     The android interface is easy to handle, and before you know it you’ll be a pro on your Kindle Fire. 
5.     The Kindle Fire is considerably cheaper than a 16 GB iPad Air, which costs $499 as stated by Apple.com

The Bad:

1.     In my experience the iPad seems to have more apps and games. This may be a problem for some, who are avid app and game users. 
2.     For Apple users the interface of the carousel wheel on the Kindle Fire may appear clunky.  It is a matter of preference, but some people dislike drastic change.
3.     The iPad Air has folders, while the Kindle Fire has categories at the top of the screen labeled Shop, Games, Apps, Docs, Music, Videos, Newstand, Audiobooks, Web, Photos, Docs and Offers. There is also a search bar in the same area.


Conclusion:


While the iPad Air seems the superior choice, it comes down to preference, what you plan on doing the most on it, etc. reading or apps and games, and how much you have to spend.  I would personally choose the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 again if given the chance, because of the cost and because I own an android phone.  However, the choice is always yours dear reader.


No comments:

Post a Comment