Amazon Kindle Fire: My First Impressions
Amazon Kindle Fire
Last week the new Kindle Fire was delivered to my doorstep. I decided to use some Amazon gift certificates to make the purchase, so I only ended up paying for the cover. It’s my first “tablet,” since I don’t own an iPad. I’ve been hesitant to purchase a tablet, because I couldn’t figure out how I would use it differently than I already use my smartphone and my laptop.
After using the Kindle Fire for a week, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a fantastic device for consuming content, but it’s not a good solution for productivity. My phone and laptop are still better solutions for getting work done. But, frankly, I don’t think Amazon designed the Fire to be a productivity tool. Ultimately, they just want to sell more content. That’s why they’re willing to take a loss on the device.
Here’s what I love about the Kindle Fire:
- It’s a great tool for reading books and other documents I’ve uploaded (like the draft of a new book from Tim Stevens).
- The gReader app syncs with Google Reader and makes it easy to scan and read content from blogs I follow.
- The Seesmic app allows me to keep up with my Twitter lists, replies and DMs.
- I’m using the YouVersion app to use the Fire as my primary Bible.
- I love being able to plug in my headphones and stream TV shows and movies using Netflix and Hulu Plus. Though I’ve not used it yet, I also have access to a number of “free” video streams thanks to my Amazon Prime membership. (By the way, the free two-day shipping pays for the membership.)
- The price is obviously very competitive if you’re in the tablet market.
Though it will never compete with the iPad, here are a couple of tweaks I’d like to see to make the Fire a more useful device:
- In future models, having a 3G/4G option would obviously improve its use as a portable device especially for those of us who travel.
- Though the Fire operates on Android, it’s missing a number of key apps including all the Google apps (Gmail, Calendar, Voice, Docs, etc.). Just adding those apps would significantly improve its usefulness as a productivity tool rather than just a tool for consuming content.
- I’m currently using Spotify for my music, and that app isn’t available either.
- I’d prefer to remove the “carousel” from the home screen, but I don’t think that option exists in the OS to this point.
All that to say, if you’re looking for a tablet to keep up with email, your calendar and tasks, this doesn’t yet fit the bill. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a relatively cheap tablet to read books, online content and stream videos, the Kindle Fire is a great option.
Here’s my Amazon link for the Kindle Fire if you’d like to learn more.
This is great! I have been going back and forth between the Nook and the Kindle Fire. (I can’t justify the price for the iPad…no matter how cool it is). Thanks!
Since Amazon has their own marketplace for Android apps, they leave out a lot of the basic Google stuff. Are you paying for Spotify? I think that is the only way you can get an app for it.
No, I’m still using the free version of Spotify. Even if I was paying, though, the Spotify app is not available in Amazon’s version of the Android app marketplace. In other words, many of the Android apps are not available for the Kindle.
Yea. I would like to get one for my wife to use as a reader and for basic internet stuff like email and browsing. I guess with Amazon having their own MP3 store, they are limiting what gets put in. I read on one site that you can side load it but parts of the Fire interface covers it up at times. Again I ask though, you can only use the Spotify app if you are paying for Spotify right?
That’s correct. It’s free on the desktop/laptop and you have to pay to use the Android app…which I don’t.
Ok. That’s what I thought. I use the desktop app some to hear music that I don’t have myself.
A couple more notes: The physical build of the hardware is great. The screen is scratch resistant. It seems pretty tough and has a substantial weight, which I like because it doesn’t feel like a toy, but I don’t mind letting my soon to be 3 yr old play games with it. Very minimalistic design with only one physical key being the power button. Personally though, I wouldn’t mind having physical volume controls instead of having to access the on-screen menu.
Warning: There is no parental lock out features on the device. So with a couple of clicks following an in-app ad, my daughter can easily purchase apps or really anything on amazon with the one-click purchase option.
I’m really liking mine so far. I’m using it primarily as an e-reader with the other media options as an added benefit.
You may want to turn the one-click purchase off in your settings. :-)
It’s too convenient to turn off & definitely not Dave Ramsey approved.
Have you seen Marco Arment’s review of the Fire? http://www.marco.org/2011/11/17/kindle-fire-review
What are your thoughts on it, since his review is quite different from yours?
Thanks. This is probably the best review I’ve read on the Kindle Fire. Since I just received the “old” version last Christmas, I’ll be waiting… and if they hit any of your recommendations, the next version should be great.