thinking about getting 2 KF's

[sdtag]

Bear with me here. I eventually come to a point.


For Christmas my wife and I got ourselves a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 wifi only. Just to play with, to keep in the living room. It had issues right away. They have a program called Kies. I think it supposed to let me link a pc on my home network to the Tab. I could never get it to work. I found a workaround though.


I started a word with friends game with my daughter. We got her a Kindle Fire for Christmas and she just loves it. The words for friends app on the Tab started crashing, closing unexpectedly. It got to the point where it wouldn't even play anymore. I installed words on my droid bionic. No problem. It found my games in progress and I picked up from where I left off. Hmmmm...


Then the Tab started developing a power issue. Sometimes it wouldn't wake up. I would have to hold the power button for 12 seconds to reboot it. It got worse and worse. I got a replacement Tab from Amazon. I installed all the updates and the new Tab wouldn't play word, and had some networking issues, but overall I thought it was better. Last night the new Tab did the power thing. Now I am pissed.


I have been all over the boards here and a lot of people are having the same issues on the SGT, well the power issue anyway.


For what we paid for the Tab I could return it and get 2 Kindle Fires, one for me and one for my wife.
I have been lurking here on the KF board and have some questions: (FINALLY)

1. Are you guys happy overall with the KF? And you would recommend it to a friend?
2. What about installing apps? I see that Amazon tries to put a stranglehold on that but some of you have a workaround to install apps from the Android Market. Is it as simple as having a drop box account? Because I do.
3. Is it robust? I saw my daughters KF for a split second on Christmas day. It seemed nice, I remember thinking it felt kind of heavy for such a small unit. To me that's ok, it felt like quality.
4. Coming off of a SGT 10.1 will I have issues with the KF? I know the screen size is smaller. What version of Android are you on? Will it get ICS? Eventually? On the SGT I think it's at 3.2, Honeycomb. (?)
5. I saw a list of apps that work on the KF. Some of these apps on my list are already on the list so I won't have to re-invent the wheel (I hope)
   Here is what I am running on the SGT (in no particular order):
   
   1. WiFi Manager
   2. Fing Network tools
   3. ES File Explorer
   4. AllShare (this app rocks but it might be a SGT thing?)
   5. Dolphin Browser
   6. Netflix
   7. Youtube
   8. Photobucket
   9. PingMe
   10. Etrade
   11. B of A
   12. Quickoffice Pro
   13. DropBox
   14. Google Books, Docs, Music, Calendar, Contacts, News, Google+, Maps, MyTracks, Sky Maps, etc
   15. Torque (this is really cool, an interface to your car's diagnostics)
   16. Evernote and Skitch
   17. Solitaire, Real Blackjack, Slot Machine +

I am kind of a geek if you haven't figured it out yet. But I am hesitant to do any rooting only because I am inherently cheap by nature and I'm not willing to risk bricking an expensive device. Maybe it's fear of the unknown. I am the go to guy for just about everyone I know, they all come to me for their pc/ electronics/toys issues. This SGT is making me look bad and I don't like it. Haha OK so I have an ego!


Thanks in advance and sorry for the long post. I need help. What do you guys think? Will I/we be happy with the KF?

 

[sdtag]

I ordered one of these to play with:

Mini Wireless Bluetooth 2.0 Keyboard for iPad 2 iPhone 4G 4S PS3 Smart Phone PC | eBay
Think it will work with the KF?
Does the KF have Bluetooth?

 

[tstarky]

1. Are you guys happy overall with the KF? And you would recommend it to a friend? I'm plenty happy with mine. I would recommend it to a friend/family member ONLY if their needs fit the Fire. Your needs sound like the Fire would be fine.
   
2. What about installing apps? I see that Amazon tries to put a stranglehold on that but some of you have a workaround to install apps from the Android Market. Is it as simple as having a drop box account? Because I do. Yes, it is as easy as dropbox. Just put the apk in there and install it from your Fire. You will have to download the dropbox apk from their site because it isn't available for the Fire at Amazon.
3. Is it robust? I saw my daughters KF for a split second on Christmas day. It seemed nice, I remember thinking it felt kind of heavy for such a small unit. To me that's ok, it felt like quality. I'm not sure what you mean by "robust" but if you are talking about the quality of the materials, it is robust. There is a video somewhere on the Internet of a guy scratching the screen with all kinds of sharp objects and NO scratches can be seen. The gorilla glass is amazing. He also dropped it from 3 feet on a stone floor without incident. The 6 ft drop was not so successful. It was a very difficult video to watch! LOL
4. Coming off of a SGT 10.1 will I have issues with the KF? I know the screen size is smaller. What version of Android are you on? Will it get ICS? Eventually? On the SGT I think it's at 3.2, Honeycomb. (?)
5. I saw a list of apps that work on the KF. Some of these apps on my list are already on the list so I won't have to re-invent the wheel (I hope)
   Here is what I am running on the SGT (in no particular order):
   1. Dolphin Browser Way better than the Silk browser.
   2. Netflix I don't use Netflix but I understand it has issues.t
   3. DropBox -a must have on the KF
   4. Torque (this is really cool, an interface to your car's diagnostics) Must know more about this for my spouse. He is a car geek and uses a couple programs on his PC.

 

[tstarky]

KF does not have Bluetooth so I don't think this keyboard will work. I know some people have a bluetooth gadget that connects through the headphone jack to allow them to use bluetooth headphones but that is as close to bt as it gets...as far as I know.

 

[sdtag]

Show this to your spouse.
Amazon.com: Elandpower Bluetooth ELM 327 Scanner OBDII PC Car Diagnostic: Electronics

 

[tstarky]

Thanks for the link. I can see that it is probably something he would like, however it will require that I get him an android phone. That scares the heck out of me because he is so hard on phones. I supposed I could let him use my phone but then I might never get it back....

I noticed that it doesn't support windows. I see there is one by Soliport that does. Are you familiar with that one?

 

[androidfonefan]

OK, Before you drop that cash on two Kindle Fires and do what I did. STOP!!!
GO to your local WalMart and look for the Vizio 8 Inch Tablet. They were being sold for 189.00 at my local WM about 1 or 2 weeks after I dropped the cash on the KF.
The Vizio Tablet is a 8 inch screen and is a better tablet than the KF. You can download the KF app from the market and use it as a Kindle reader, DL the Nook Reader, DL any reader you like. The Vizio also has a front facing camera, Kindle has none, Vizio has GPS- Kindle has none, The Vizio has a very plane looking loader, looks like your setting screen, but this is easily fixed with any one of the launchers from the Android Market, and there is a launcher on the Market that is designed for Tablets, which is what I am using, it costs 3 dollars but is worth every penny. The Vizio tablet is a far better piece of hardware than the KF for the money, The KF without lots of BS work will not run the Android Market, It only has the Amazon Android option and some side loaded APKs will work but not all. I got the Nook APK loaded and working without problem but I can't think of anything else that worked.
Don't look for the Vizio to be priced at 189.00 on the WM.com sight because it isn't and won't be, so says WalMart. But it is available at the brick and mortar stores or well..... at the stores that are carrying them.
While my KF has worked perfectly I wish I had purchased the Vizio first and saved the 200.00.
The Vizio does everything that the Kindle can do and more for less.

 

[ovrrdrive]

What exactly makes the vizio better than the kf?

Vizio is a pretty cheap brand. I'd be very wary of buying a vizio anything.

And not to pick a fight, but a 5 minute root session and our kf has run everything I've ever loaded onto it except for launcherpro. It runs the android market and aftermarket launchers. It does everything we need it to do.

Look at the bright side, if your kf is that bad you should be able to dump it on craigslist or ebay and get almost back what you paid.

 

[androidfonefan]

What exactly makes the vizio better than the kf?

Vizio is a pretty cheap brand. I'd be very wary of buying a vizio anything.

Actually, while Vizio is a new and fairly unknown brand and their prices are lower than most, I have noticed that their products are not lacking in any way, my ex-sister in-law and nephew have a Vizio flat screen and it has as good a picture quality, sound and all accessory ports as well as build quality as anything else I have seen on the market at a higher price.

And not to pick a fight, but a 5 minute root session and our kf has run everything I've ever loaded onto it except for launcherpro. It runs the android market and aftermarket launchers. It does everything we need it to do.

And for those who can do this, who have the know how or are willing to spend the 200.00 on the KF and chance bricking the device, rooting the KF is an option.
But for those who buy the product as is for use pretty much as is and are looking for a tablet that can do everything the KF can do and more, the Vizio tablet is a better option. With a larger screen.

Look at the bright side, if your kf is that bad you should be able to dump it on craigslist or ebay and get almost back what you paid.

I'm not saying that my KF is bad, it's not. It does everything it was advertised as being able to do, I'm just saying that for the money the Vizio is a much better all around product. It does everything the KF can do and more, for less.
As for the build quality the Vizio tablet is built every bit as solidly as the KF.
Since I have already spent the money on the KF and there is nothing wrong with it I'm going to keep it, I'm just pointing out that since the Vizio tablet is a well built product and might still be found at a better price than the KF and can do everything the KF can do and then some, why spend 200.00 on a product that is limited in capabilities (because of hardware that is not built in to them, mind you, the KF is built for the purposes of a E Reader with extended capabilities because it is built on the Android OS, it was not built as a quote unquote tablet, to be compared with things like the Xoom, Tranformer, Acer etc, and while the Vizio is still nothing compared to the afore mentioned tablets, it is still much more a tablet than the KF can ever be because of its physical hardware limitations) compared to the Vizio when you can have so much more for less money.

 

[brounmoney]

Ok SDtag it really does come down to what you want your tablet to do. I have the fire and love it. I also had the Samsung galaxy tab 7 inch. The first tab they put out. I was very disappointed with the tab. Half the apps that would be really cool on a tablet would not work. I have not once missed the samy.

Lots of people seem to be trashing the Fire, but I think they are going into buying it with the wrong idea. I wanted something I could watch Netflix on and surf the interwebs. The fire does very well with both now that the update for Netflix has gone through. Also if you like games they have some cool one. If you are looking for a Android tab look else where. Yes you can root it and make it one, but really it is an entertainment device. Like I said before I love it, and it is very easy to use.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Actually, while Vizio is a new and fairly unknown brand and their prices are lower than most, I have noticed that their products are not lacking in any way, my ex-sister in-law and nephew have a Vizio flat screen and it has as good a picture quality, sound and all accessory ports as well as build quality as anything else I have seen on the market at a higher price.

And for those who can do this, who have the know how or are willing to spend the 200.00 on the KF and chance bricking the device, rooting the KF is an option.
But for those who buy the product as is for use pretty much as is and are looking for a tablet that can do everything the KF can do and more, the Vizio tablet is a better option. With a larger screen.

I'm not saying that my KF is bad, it's not. It does everything it was advertised as being able to do, I'm just saying that for the money the Vizio is a much better all around product. It does everything the KF can do and more, for less.
As for the build quality the Vizio tablet is built every bit as solidly as the KF.
Since I have already spent the money on the KF and there is nothing wrong with it I'm going to keep it, I'm just pointing out that since the Vizio tablet is a well built product and might still be found at a better price than the KF and can do everything the KF can do and then some, why spend 200.00 on a product that is limited in capabilities (because of hardware that is not built in to them, mind you, the KF is built for the purposes of a E Reader with extended capabilities because it is built on the Android OS, it was not built as a quote unquote tablet, to be compared with things like the Xoom, Tranformer, Acer etc, and while the Vizio is still nothing compared to the afore mentioned tablets, it is still much more a tablet than the KF can ever be because of its physical hardware limitations) compared to the Vizio when you can have so much more for less money.

I see your points but I just don't understand your argument. Vizio has been around since 2002 and is a very newcomer to the tablet market. Vizio is a cheap brand, and there tablets haven't been around long enough to build a track record any more so than the KF has been. Honestly I would trust the amazon brand more than vizio even though they are a retailer and not a manufacturer at all because they have a track record to stand behind their products.

Btw, the kf is a true android tablet. Amazon just deleted software in it to tie it to the amazon market to subsidize the cost of the tablet. If it wasn't an android tablet a simple 5 minute root and a sideloaded market wouldn't give it android functionality. A launcher just resides on top of the operating system, it doesn't replace it.

edit. I just searched specs on the vizio vtab (admittedly I had never even looked at it) and it seems it is using a single core processor. That's a big drawback for longevity in my opinion. I'm surprised they didn't utilize a more modern processor. If they ever get the onboard bluetooth chip working on the kindle you'd have the ability to add everything the kf is missing.

To each their own. I can see one group leaning towards the vtab and another towards the kf. For what my wife is doing with the kf I think it was a better choice. If it were me buying I'd have to do a lot more research...

 

[skilaufen]

The KF to be brief:

- Has a dual core processor which runs well for me (very robust)
- Runs Gingerbread 2.34 with a heavily customized UI skin
- Netflix works fine for me
- I have not experienced any lag running anything
- I use wifi explorer to connect to my PC and it is outstanding IMHO
- Will run some Google apps if you sideload googleservicesframework.apk (very easy to do)
- Been well worth what I spent considering I can't justify the cost of a Xoom right now.

I don't know much about Vizio but if you decide to try one buy it at Costco if you have one nearby since you can easily return it if you don't like it.

Those are my thoughts, hope they help.

 

[Guardsix]

At $200 you can't go wrong buying a Kindle Fire. Using it right out of the box is a good experience. I used mine that way for about two months. Didn't have a single problem but I knew it was lacking some apps that my Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone was able to get from the Android Market.

So, I rooted my KF. I'm not real technical and very inexperienced when it comes to rooting anything, especially Android devices. Still, I followed several good set of instructions available on YouTube and XDA Developers web sites and I rooted without a single problem. I added the Android Market and am using ADW Launcher EX and everything is just great with my Kindle Fire.

I can also read all the books I previously read and can access my Amazon Prime account just as easily as before. I don't look at Amazon videos so I'm not too worried about loosing the ability to do that since I'm rooted. Anyway, if I wanted there's a way to temporarily unroot so I could do that if I wanted.

Thing is, I don't have an Android tablet to compare this rooted KF against so I don't know if it's truly acting like any other 7" Android tablet. I think I would prefer some thing just a little larger, around 8" or 9" but again I don't have anything to compare it against.

So, if you get rid of your Tab, then get a Kindle Fire and play around with it. If you don't like it, sell it and get something else. You don't have to keep the stuff you buy forever! Plus there's always something better coming to market.

 

[grvthang]

From now until 2/14, Walmart is offering a $50 gift card with the purchase of a Kidle Fire for $199. So, in effect, you're paying $149 for a Kindle Fire. A great deal!

Someone who's thinking of getting one ought to run over there before they're all gone.

 

[bdal1]

Kindle fire is very user friendly.
If all you want to do is root and turn it into an android tablet, skip it and get the vizio.

This is my 6th android device so far (3 phones and three tablets) and it is the only one i havent rooted. I love the out of the box UI that much.

The integrated book store, music store, video store and app store are fantastic.
If you don't like these things or dont want to start spending more money on Amazon media, I would say go with something else.

Any app (almost any) I cant find in the amazon market, i just email to the device via my Droid razr. (all i do is backup the app with astro and email the backup. really easy)