Thinking of trading Nexus 7 for a Kindle Fire HD

[comma, splice]

Anyone else enticed by yesterday's offering from Amazon?

I have a 16gb Nexus 7, but I just got it and could return for a refund, and for $50 more I could get a 16gb Kindle Fire HD with the 8.7-inch screen.

Bigger screen and better wi-fi plus Amazon content...

But I am keeping an open mind. What would you suggest I do?

 

[wysts43]

Have you ever used the Kindle Fire interface before? In my opinion it is god awful. Keep the Nexus 7

 

[comma, splice]

I haven't used it, no.

I assume it's decent for consumption but terrible for anything else?

 

[Claghorn]

I'm pretty sure you can install the amazon app store on the nexus, but I know you can't install the google app store on the kindle, so amazon cuts off the largest source of android apps. I really don't like the kindle fire for this reason.

 

[Crafty]

The Fire has a highly modified version of android, to the point you wouldn't actually notice. It locks you in to amazon content only.

If you want amazon content just download the kindle app and/or their app store to the Nexus7.

 

[skelms]

You can get access to all of amazon's ecosystem (except amazon prime video) on any android device, it's just not pre-installed. But with the kindle fire you can't access the play store unless you root it. A few minus's that nexus has is no sd card slot and no hdmi slot. It sounds like the kindle still won't have an sd card slot (but the nook has one) but it will have some sort of hdmi out.

If you want a bigger screen then that's a different story. I like the 7inch size since it can fit in my jacket pocket.
final thoughts; Kindle fire is probably nice IF you root it. The original fire seemed pretty easy to root, time will tell if the newer models have the same story.

 

[wysts43]

If you want a bigger screen then that's a different story. I like the 7inch size since it can fit in my jacket pocket.
final thoughts; Kindle fire is probably nice IF you root it. The original fire seemed pretty easy to root, time will tell if the newer models have the same story.

Exactly how i feel. Most likely you will be able to Root and ROM a Kindle Fire (i had the original Fire and found reasonably decent ICS ROMs for it), but rooting is not for everyone. In it's stock form, the same Android Flexibility that you have probably grown to love on the Nexus 7 is completely absent from Amazon's heavily customized OS skin. You wont even recognize it as Android. I just read this article on Gizmodo.com. Check it out:

7 Great Android Apps You Can't Get on the Kindle Fire

 

[Deleted User]

Also keep in mind that Amazon is unlikely to stay on top of updates very quickly.

I'd say if you're heavily tied to the Amazon ecosystem and your tablet is exclusively a media consumption device plus a web browser, then the Fire is an excellent tablet.

For those who are more heavily invested in the rest of the Android ecosystem (apps, development, updates, etc.), the N7 is probably still the way to go.

 

[strollin]

Also consider the fact that all of the new Kindle Fire HD models include a feature called "special offers and sponsored screensavers". In other words, they have ads on top of the ads you already see when using free Android apps. There is no way to opt out of the ads.

I'm sticking with my N7.

 

[JD914]

Enjoy the lag and the intrusive ads.

 

[wysts43]

I'd also like to note that you are probably going to see some biased opinions within this particular sub forum, and absolutely no one here has actually touched/seen a new Kindle Fire yet. I'm sure there are certain individuals that will LOVE these new devices, and I'm sure they will perform perfectly fine... that being said, once you get a taste of vanilla android, how could you possibly go to anything else. I cannot stand any of the skinned versions of android... give me stock every single day.

Now if you root/ROM and you can get more memory, storage, better specs, etc and have stock android all at a lesser cost, then go for it... but i dont think that will be the case here

 

[stridermt2k]

No matter how good a device is there will always be someone tempted by the latest thing simply because it is the latest thing.

Seriously, a slightly bigger screen and "better" wifi makes for "tempting"?

I'll ignore the Amazon Market thing since every Android device known can run that.

Here's some advice: Stick with your nexus 7 and put that kindle money away towards a higher end tablet that won't be so easy to be tempted away from.

 

[comma, splice]

This is great advice. That Kindle Fire HD is looking less tempting.

Does anyone think they'll bring Amazon Prime streaming to non-Amazon devices?

 

[PlayfulGod]

I got the Nexus 7 for 2 reasons, one its the best 7" tablet out atm esp for the money, two for the freedom of a Google Nexus device.

I enjoy the freedom so much I will now be getting a GNexus over a S3.


but as you can see I fit into the android dev, eco system bracket.


I have no doubt the Kindle HD is/will be a great device, but will be limited in its use and ability w/o modification.

 

[AlkiDweller]

You can get access to all of amazon's ecosystem (except amazon prime video) on any android device

That's not exactly true. I've got the Kindle streaming video app on mine and it's not rooted.

Streaming Amazon Instant Video with app pulled from Fire - xda-developers

 

[RichSz]

I am a tech addict. I love the latest stuff! Paid close attention to yesterday's news about the new Kindles and considered getting one. I read this today and it cured me:

Amazon's Kindle Fire HD: The other side of the story | Computerworld Blogs


If anyone want's one, I'm not judging. The article doesn't paint a picture I'd want to be a part of.

 

[sean76]

No way IMO...as somebody said, Android is almost non existent on that thing.

Loving pure ,straight forward, unmolested Jellybean on my 7...

 

[dportal2006]

I haven't used it, no.

I assume it's decent for consumption but terrible for anything else?

Yes. Also I don't know if they improved it but the last kindle fire was very laggy.

 

[Voynix]

Depends what you want from a tablet. Think of the Fire as way of buying Amazon content rather than as an Android device. It's probably a great device if that's what you want.

 

[JanComputerman]

I have the fire from Christmas time and it's been pretty good. One of the things that Amazon does is protect you from bad applications. The browser is very fast. And their interface is actually very easy to use and you can very easily install applications that they do not allow you to download. All you have to do is copy the downloaded app into the fire and then run it and it will install. the other nice thing about it is a have a keyboard that actually works really well unlike this Nexus 7 which screws up so bad it's not funny.

 

[Trimbaud]

Can't you stream amazon prime from a flash browser?
I loved the Fire. It was a high quality tablet...not many bugs. I had to deal with the limitations of the Amazon ecosystem. Had to download volume control, and so I didn't have to use the settings to turn volume up, and had to download a touch sensitivity app. Also had to side load some apps. But I like amazon and I liked the tablet.
However, you I live the nexus. It is all the fire had, and more. The only possible reason I can see to opt for the Fire is if you really want cellular.

 

[saptech]

Off topic, I decided to purchase the Galaxy Tab 2 SE over the N7 for the keyboard and USB adapter included. I haven't played with an N7 in person but will and may buy one for Christmas time and give the SGT2 to the wife.

So far I'm liking the T2 and think it's a pretty good tablet. But then again, I'm fairly new with Android, tablets and smartphones...

 

[FlyingPigL]

I have the fire from Christmas time and it's been pretty good. One of the things that Amazon does is protect you from bad applications. The browser is very fast. And their interface is actually very easy to use and you can very easily install applications that they do not allow you to download. All you have to do is copy the downloaded app into the fire and then run it and it will install. the other nice thing about it is a have a keyboard that actually works really well unlike this Nexus 7 which screws up so bad it's not funny.

I have had a different experience with their browser. I found it slow as molasses. The fire is okay for Amazon content, and but for browsing and other apps, and I want my Nexus.

 

[val88]

At first I thought it was nice. But I think that of a lot of new toys. Then I scrutinized it more and I think it is decent for most people but its inferior to the N7. Here is why.
- Until it gets jelly bean it will have a huge handicap
- GPS is a big deal for me since my N7 will do a lot of traveling.
- flexibility of a nexus. Rooting. Easier to side load.
- Google never interferes with unlocking or modification while amazon fought it with the first fire.

 

[blink182]

If you want ads on your lock screen, go for it

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