Ordered a Kindle Fire out of shear curiosity and it arrived yesterday. Here’s my take so far.
PROS:
1. It’s smaller than an iPad making it a pleasure to hold with one hand while navigating with the other.
2. The screen size is just big enough to watch movies on without your eyeballs melting.
3. $199 for a new toy isn’t bad.
4. $75 annual amazon prime membership gives me access to 10k videos (movies, tv shows) and a book library where i can borrow a book a month. (I took out The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins)
5. The controls are mostly intuitive; tap, double tap, spread, swipe, etc…
6. It has adobe air and adobe flash player
7. You can toggle the browser display between Desktop mode and Mobile mode and the websites you visit will reflect that setting.
CONS:
1. You need a WiFi connection at all times to do anything worth doing (aside from reading a book you downloaded)
2. The memory is a measly 6.54 gig so don’t think you can just download everything and sidestep the WiFi need.
3. You need an $75 annual amazon prime membership to access the videos and books.
4. No camera
5. One browser issue, see screenshot below.
6. Navigation not as intuitive as an iPhone or iPad. My 3yo uses those with ease, but the kindle he fumbled around with. Me, i couldn’t find the sound setting (it’s buried under the settings gear icon in the upper right hand corner of the window)
7. I really don’t want to buy two of everything apple apps and amazon apps! blegh…
Overall, I’m still enjoying the device. I’m reading a book and got to watch Girl with the dragon tattoo so i’m happy with that. BUT you need a WiFi connection and an amazon prime account to make this worth your while. Amazon should have sold this for $274 bundled with amazon prime.
BlackBerry for scale.
Houston we have a problem.









