Anyone else have a Kindle Fire HD?

[Eric Perry]

My mom wanted one for Christmas, so I got her one. It's the 8.9" screened one. My mom is a bit of a hardhead. When she wants something, THAT'S what she wants, no exceptions. because of that, I didn't do any research, and just went and bought her the "tablet".

My impressions so far? It's a joke. What it is, is a $300 Amazon vending machine. No access to Google Play, no ability to customize it whatsoever, and it's completely locked. I can't even use a different launcher. Stuck with the lame carousel of apps on the home screen. Sure, it can be rooted to use more as a tablet, but I shouldn't have to. Also, it tends to lag pretty frequently, It seems to play video just fine, but lags on simple things like using the keyboard. And along with all THAT, it's completely inundated with ads. They were everywhere. I had to pay up another $15 to Amazon to have the ads yanked from the device.

Overall, I think it's a joke. For $300, there are some nice actual tablets out there that can play the role of reader just as well as this damn Kindle. They can also be used as tablets! After tinkering with my phone, my mom is thinking she might want more control to do what she wants. So, she may concede and let me take it back.

Either way, I will never buy a Kindle again. For me or anyone else. It's proprietary nature makes Apple look open source! No thank you, Amazon!

 

[giacomini]

The only kindle I'd get is the basic one, with no oled display and no touch features, just that simple one that actually can be read under sun light. Any other tablet won't let you read under bright light....

 

[tplyons]

We got one for my Mom last year and my sentiments were the same. If you want a good e-reader with color, it'll do the trick. If you want to use it as a tablet, look elsewhere.

That's why I love my iPad Mini. Only a little bit bigger, much lighter, does all the things a tablet will and when all is said and done, I can use iBooks or the Kindle app for my reading.

 

[BluesyCat]

I have the same 8.9 Fire HD and the iPad 2 currently. I also paid the $15 to remove the ads and I paid $50 for a years worth of service for the Kindle (Internet anywhere via AT&T).

The iPad 2 is wi-if only and only used at home. I mainly use this for games, surfing, music apps at home. Apple's internet anywhere service costs too much money to get a years worth of service.

iPad w/retina display is $729 for the 32gb and the Kindle Fire 32gb is $499.
It would be $180/year for the iPad versus $50/year for the same coverage on my Kindle Fire.

The Kindle I can take anywhere and do the same things I would do on the iPad and I can read my books. (I do not read books on my iPad even tho I could if I wanted.)

So, I have both and they are used differently. And to top it off, I have the little Paperwhite reader too for when I just want to take the reader and not the tablet.

I agree the Kindle browser is not great but it works as I expect & when I want/need out of the home.