Do I want a Kindle Fire?

[Quiver0f10]

Ok tell me why I want a KF. What do you use it for besides reading books?

[jelbe5]

I mainly use it to watch Amazon Prime TV shows and movies.

 

You can also download apps to it, so if you have considered a tablet or iPad you may find it to be a reasonably priced alternative. :001_smile:

[runmiarun]

Not to help this any but on the Amazon Daily Deals, for today only, they have fully refurbished Kindle Fires with full one year warranty for $139. It's not helping my desire for one to see that email.

[JudoMom]

I love mine.

 

I use it to check email, FB, here, etc. in bed, I use it to watch netflix while on the treadmill, I use the Cozi app to keep my calendar on the go, I use it to occupy myself while I'm waiting places (I have a hard time reading in noisy places, so I'll do a game if there is no wifi available). I use it for Pandora, and I've used the Audible app as well.

 

I should say I don't have a smart phone.

 

I love that I can read all my kindle books on it, and I love that it's small enough to fit in my purse (I'd be afraid of leaving something the size of an iPad somewhere if I took it out of the house).

[Ruby Rose]

So is it like an iPad?

[Quiver0f10]

I mainly use it to watch Amazon Prime TV shows and movies.

 

You can also download apps to it, so if you have considered a tablet or iPad you may find it to be a reasonably priced alternative. :001_smile:

 

Could you please share what kind of apps are available?

 

Not to help this any but on the Amazon Daily Deals, for today only, they have fully refurbished Kindle Fires with full one year warranty for $139. It's not helping my desire for one to see that email.

 

I know it! Which is making it oh so tempting to click buy! :D

 

I love mine.

 

I use it to check email, FB, here, etc. in bed, I use it to watch netflix while on the treadmill, I use the Cozi app to keep my calendar on the go, I use it to occupy myself while I'm waiting places (I have a hard time reading in noisy places, so I'll do a game if there is no wifi available). I use it for Pandora, and I've used the Audible app as well.

 

I should say I don't have a smart phone.

 

I love that I can read all my kindle books on it, and I love that it's small enough to fit in my purse (I'd be afraid of leaving something the size of an iPad somewhere if I took it out of the house).

 

I don't have a smart phone either so that would be a plus. I'd love to be able to check my email, log into Facebook etc. on the go. So tempting!

Edited March 29, 2012 by Quiver0f10

[Quiver0f10]

I really enjoy mine. I like playing games on it.

 

One thing I don't care for about it though is that it doesn't work well in bright sunlight. So taking it to the park to read, etc. doesn't work out so well. I have a Kindle keyboard and that works fine in bright sunlight. So if you think you will only use it mostly for reading I'd go with the other versions of the Kindle.

 

We do have a kindle keyboard for books so I wouldn't need it for reading.

[Quiver0f10]

Ok, but that's another problem with it. You can't access the web unless you are somewhere that offers free wifi. So if you are at the park or the beach you won't have access to the internet.

 

Good to know, thanks. I still bought one though! I can't wait for it to arrive :)

[nono]

Could you please share what kind of apps are available?

 

Some of mine:

 

1. Audible client (rocks!)

2. Tune In (radio stations from around the world)

3. Calorific (a simple way to track meals and calories)

4. ListMasterPro (to do list)

5. What's for Dinner? (access to food databases & compiles a shopping list)

6. Math Training (dd uses to practice math facts)

7. children's books and animated stories (ds uses when dd's swim practice goes long)

8. Netflix client

9. Airport Mania 2 (I use when dd's swim practice goes long)

10. Better Homes & Gardens e-magazine (haven't subscribed to a mag in a llooonnnggg time. I LOVE this format)

 

HTH a bit. I don't have a smart phone. I like my phone to be itty bitty and well, simply a phone. I don't text long messages, so it works for that too. I have found the Kindle Fire to be the perfect fit between my serious desktop/laptop at home and my phone that is simply a phone.

 

Good luck deciding!

[bethben]

Can you put any filters on it to keep kids away from smut? I am thinking about one for e-reading and also to get web access so my husband can take the laptop to work. I have a pre-teen boy and really want to at least protect him from random web surfing at home. No filters would be a deal breaker to me.

 

Beth

[Pippen]

What about a calendar?

[JudoMom]

Good to know, thanks. I still bought one though! I can't wait for it to arrive :)

 

A lot of places have free WiFi, though, so while you can't use it everywhere like you could a smartphone, I've used it at Chick-fil-a, at a shopping center, at my boys' gym, at church, etc.

[Quiver0f10]

Some of mine:

 

1. Audible client (rocks!)

2. Tune In (radio stations from around the world)

3. Calorific (a simple way to track meals and calories)

4. ListMasterPro (to do list)

5. What's for Dinner? (access to food databases & compiles a shopping list)

6. Math Training (dd uses to practice math facts)

7. children's books and animated stories (ds uses when dd's swim practice goes long)

8. Netflix client

9. Airport Mania 2 (I use when dd's swim practice goes long)

10. Better Homes & Gardens e-magazine (haven't subscribed to a mag in a llooonnnggg time. I LOVE this format)

 

HTH a bit. I don't have a smart phone. I like my phone to be itty bitty and well, simply a phone. I don't text long messages, so it works for that too. I have found the Kindle Fire to be the perfect fit between my serious desktop/laptop at home and my phone that is simply a phone.

 

Good luck deciding!

 

Thank you! Now to show how stupid I am, where do I find these apps? :blush:

[Quiver0f10]

A lot of places have free WiFi, though, so while you can't use it everywhere like you could a smartphone, I've used it at Chick-fil-a, at a shopping center, at my boys' gym, at church, etc.

 

Thanks! Most of the places we go do have wi-fii.

[nono]

Thank you! Now to show how stupid I am, where do I find these apps? :blush:

 

 

Ah, there's two ways. I use both about equally. First, amazon has a free app of the day. Some are pure junk; some are pure gold. That's usually easy enough to navigate through the "appstore" app that will be on your Fire when you get it.

 

I also like accessing through my PC via the regular amazon website. So, you would select "Appstore for the Android" from "shop by department."

[Princess Peach]

Enjoy your new Fire! We love ours. A few of my favorite apps:

 

1. Angry Birds

2. Angry Birds Space

3. I have the Bible on it and bring it to church to use

4. Plants vs. Zombies

5. Words with Friends

 

I access this board a lot thru my Fire, too!

[Catwoman]

I dislike it.

 

Great! You are the perfect person to talk me out of buying one, so please let me know what's bad, horrible, and/or extremely awful about it! :D If you can save me from spending $139 on something I don't need, I will be very thankful. ;)

 

I already have an iPad, but the Kindle Fire looks like it would be more portable. The only thing I dislike about it is that it has the same kind of glossy screen as my iPad, and I think the matte screens on the regular Kindles look cooler and would have less of an issue with glare.

 

Is the keyboard just a little touchscreen, similar to the one on the iPad?

 

I already have a Kindle Fire in my cart, so someone please talk me out of it (or convince me I can't live without it!) :001_smile:

[nono]

Catwoman, if you have an iPad, I think a Kindle Fire is mostly redundant.

[Catwoman]

Catwoman, if you have an iPad, I think a Kindle Fire is mostly redundant.

 

That's what I was wondering about.

 

I was thinking it would be good to keep in the car because it's smaller than the iPad, but I just realized that even though I looked at the Kindle Fire at BestBuy last weekend, I never picked it up to see how heavy it was. If it's a lot lighter than an iPad, that would be an advantage. The iPad was kind of bulky and heavy in my handbag, so now I carry it in a separate bag, which is kind of a pain.

 

(It's still in my Amazon cart. Must... Resist... Checkout...)

[KarenNC]

That's what I was wondering about.

 

I was thinking it would be good to keep in the car because it's smaller than the iPad, but I just realized that even though I looked at the Kindle Fire at BestBuy last weekend, I never picked it up to see how heavy it was. If it's a lot lighter than an iPad, that would be an advantage. The iPad was kind of bulky and heavy in my handbag, so now I carry it in a separate bag, which is kind of a pain.

 

(It's still in my Amazon cart. Must... Resist... Checkout...)

 

Well, having spent this week doing hands-on comparison between the Fire and iPad (not sure if it's a first or second generation) using my in-laws' devices:

-my husband finds the Fire screen too small for his "middle-aged eyes" ;)

--since they have different operating systems, I don't think you can use exactly the same apps, but I think many of them have similar counterparts on the other operating system (but not sure). If you want it as an "alternate iPad" when you are out, this may be a big consideration. It might be an issue in trying to use material you have in iTunes on the Kindle and vice-versa---again, I'm not sure.

--if you want it primarily for reading, the Fire screen is backlit and doesn't use the e-ink of the regular Kindle, so it's like reading on a laptop or other screen---this is an issue for me in trying to read a book. We've used a regular Kindle and find that much superior for reading (though I still prefer a book in my hand;)).

---Amazon says the Fire is 14.6 oz while the iPad 2 is 1.32-35 lbs and the 3 is 1.44-1.46 lbs (get out the canned goods to compare weights ;))

---the Fire is also a touch screen for the keypad, but the "keys" are smaller than on the iPad. In order to type on it, I have found I really needed to use the stylus (but I have big stubby fingers....). Turning it sideways helps make them a bit larger, as the screen re-orients like the iPad.

 

Honestly, I think I would consider a somewhat larger handbag that will work with the iPad you already have rather than getting the Fire and having to switch between the devices.:)

Edited March 29, 2012 by KarenNC

[Catwoman]

(get out the canned goods to compare weights ;))

 

I am actually going to do this right now. :D

[mazakaal]

I like it for surfing the web and checking e-mail, fb, etc, and I have some apps for the kids - educational games for math drill, geography, anatomy, presidents, etc - and spider solitaire for me :001_smile:. It's very convenient for quickly searching for something on-line if I'm reading and not near our computer or my kids are on the computer. I also loaded WWE on it so I can use it with ds for school.

[Teresa in MO]

How handy do you think a Kindle Fire would be for a student. My dd is considering getting one for college next year. Would it be useful?

[mazakaal]

How handy do you think a Kindle Fire would be for a student. My dd is considering getting one for college next year. Would it be useful?

 

Does she already have her own laptop?

[Teresa in MO]

she has her own laptop, she will be living at home and going to college. Thats why I thought just putting it in her purse and using it instead of her laptop.

[mazakaal]

She would only have internet access in wifi locations, so if her college has free wifi on campus, it might be worth it.

[Corraleno]

Catwoman, if you have an iPad, I think a Kindle Fire is mostly redundant.

:iagree:

 

I thought I'd love the Kindle Fire, but I didn't like it that much even before I got my ipad, and now I don't use it at all. I found typing on the Kindle to be a major PITA. I didn't like reading on it — the regular Kindle screen is much better for reading, and if I'm going to read on a shiny screen I much prefer the ipad's larger format. In fact, I prefer the ipad's larger screen for pretty much everything, it's waaaaaay easier to type on, and IMHO it's not much bulkier than the Fire anyway — I still throw it in my purse and take it with me. Plus the ipad isn't restricted to wifi hotspots.

 

I gave my Kindle Fire to DD, and really regret spending the money on it.

 

ETA: There are persistent rumors that Apple is working on a Kindle-sized ipad, so if I were looking for something like an ipad but a little smaller, I'd wait and see what happens with that. At least with a smaller ipad, all the files & apps could be linked/in the same cloud, as opposed to having to buy both Apple & Android versions of everything.

 

Jackie

Edited March 29, 2012 by Corraleno

[KarenNC]

she has her own laptop, she will be living at home and going to college. Thats why I thought just putting it in her purse and using it instead of her laptop.

 

I imagine it would depend on knowing how she would need to use it to replace laptop access on campus and whether the Fire can do those things adequately. I know I wouldn't plan on using any of the tablets to type up anything of any length whatsoever (though take that with a grain of salt, since I can't text on a phone, either;)). I don't know about being able to use it to write using a stylus to do something like take notes, however.

[mazakaal]

Great! You are the perfect person to talk me out of buying one, so please let me know what's bad, horrible, and/or extremely awful about it! :D If you can save me from spending $139 on something I don't need, I will be very thankful. ;)

 

I already have an iPad, but the Kindle Fire looks like it would be more portable. The only thing I dislike about it is that it has the same kind of glossy screen as my iPad, and I think the matte screens on the regular Kindles look cooler and would have less of an issue with glare.

 

Is the keyboard just a little touchscreen, similar to the one on the iPad?

 

I already have a Kindle Fire in my cart, so someone please talk me out of it (or convince me I can't live without it!) :001_smile:

 

I love my Kindle Fire, but if you already have an iPad, I wouldn't bother with the Fire. Yes, it has a little touchscreen keyboard. It would be more portable, but I'd have to have a whole lot of spare cash to spend $139 for 'more portable.'

[Quiver0f10]

Ah, there's two ways. I use both about equally. First, amazon has a free app of the day. Some are pure junk; some are pure gold. That's usually easy enough to navigate through the "appstore" app that will be on your Fire when you get it.

 

I also like accessing through my PC via the regular amazon website. So, you would select "Appstore for the Android" from "shop by department."

 

Thank you!

 

Enjoy your new Fire! We love ours. A few of my favorite apps:

 

1. Angry Birds

2. Angry Birds Space

3. I have the Bible on it and bring it to church to use

4. Plants vs. Zombies

5. Words with Friends

 

I access this board a lot thru my Fire, too!

 

Thank you!

 

I like it for surfing the web and checking e-mail, fb, etc, and I have some apps for the kids - educational games for math drill, geography, anatomy, presidents, etc - and spider solitaire for me :001_smile:. It's very convenient for quickly searching for something on-line if I'm reading and not near our computer or my kids are on the computer. I also loaded WWE on it so I can use it with ds for school.

 

Ohhh! How did you load WWE onto it?

[mazakaal]

 

 

Ohhh! How did you load WWE onto it?

 

It wasn't difficult, but to be honest, I don't remember the exact procedure. I somehow had to load something onto my computer that would allow "Kindle" to come up as a possible printer. This wasn't difficult; I did it through the Amazon websit. Then I could click 'print' on any document and choose 'Kindle' as the printer, and it got sent directly to my Kindle.

[Catwoman]

Thanks to everyone who helped talk me out of it! I resisted the temptation and got to keep my $139. :hurray:

[jennsmile]

After spending several days playing with my new Kindle Fire, i found it is really superior to its competitors like Nook Color, BB Playbook ...

 

:spam:

[Quiver0f10]

It wasn't difficult, but to be honest, I don't remember the exact procedure. I somehow had to load something onto my computer that would allow "Kindle" to come up as a possible printer. This wasn't difficult; I did it through the Amazon websit. Then I could click 'print' on any document and choose 'Kindle' as the printer, and it got sent directly to my Kindle.

 

 

Thanks! I will have to try that!

[Pippen]

Some HTH a bit. I don't have a smart phone. I like my phone to be itty bitty and well, simply a phone. I don't text long messages, so it works for that too. I have found the Kindle Fire to be the perfect fit between my serious desktop/laptop at home and my phone that is simply a phone.

 

Good luck deciding!

 

Thanks to whoever gave us the heads up about the $139 Kindle Fire's as well as to everyone who contributed to this thread. I went ahead and ordered one and I'm really liking it. I'm in the same position as nono in that I have a simple phone and desktop, so this really fills the gap for me, especially when the kids are using the family computer.

[Quiver0f10]

Thanks to whoever gave us the heads up about the $139 Kindle Fire's as well as to everyone who contributed to this thread. I went ahead and ordered one and I'm really liking it. I'm in the same position as nono in that I have a simple phone and desktop, so this really fills the gap for me, especially when the kids are using the family computer.

 

Mine arrived yesterday. I love it! Thanks to whoever mentioned the sale!