Kindles, man.

[impy]

Anyone got any thoughts on Kindle Fires? The Widget wants one for his birthday (he's saving up and I told him whatever he doesn't have, I'll throw in) but I was thinking it might be wise to finally get off my duff and order one myself.

But there are options and then those options have options. I did finally pony up for Prime if that matters. Do you have one, and if so how do you feel about it? Do you have something else and want to weigh in on that instead?

Seriously, even if your weighing in is just, "Yeah, I was curious too, and here's why..."

Comments

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

Having owned a Kindle Fire with Amazon Prime, I have an opinion!

The Kindle Fire is a wonderful "Walled Garden". It's super-safe because Amazon keeps a tight lid on what you're allowed to download. The only Apps you'll be getting are those that are in the very specific Amazon Kindle App Store, which is (last time I checked) about 1/3rd the size of the Google Android App Store (more on that later). Free videos, free books, and the assurance that you'll never accidentally download a virus or a buggy app.

HOWEVER, for right around the same price you can have a Google Nexus. The Nexus is what I currently use and i LOVE IT. Front and rear-facing cameras, full access to both the Amazon AND the Google Play app stores, lighter, sturdier... all around a much better tablet!

SO! If you want a nice, safe toy? Kindle Fire. If you want a useful multimedia tool, go with the Nexus :)

[snarky-imp.livejournal.com]

That IS super helpful and just the sort of thing I was wondering. Thank you!

[captain-slinky.livejournal.com]

YAAAY you're welcome :)

[irishgypsie.livejournal.com]

Listen to captain_slinky. I was just coming on here to say that I don't have any kind of tablet because I'm a snob and prefer real books, haha. :P

Actually I have an older Kindle that's just the reader and not a full tablet which I've liked decently enough, but I just never really use it. I don't like that you have to keep it charged just to read a book. Books should be accessible all the time.

I think I resist the idea of tablets because I'm crotchety and a wee bit anti-technology. I hate that nobody seems to have any real creativity anymore - kids just sit around glued to electronic devices, and adults always have headsets stuck in their ears so you can never have a real conversation anymore. I have a smartphone but I couldn't tell you most of the things it's probably capable of. I use it to make calls, send some texts, and take pictures. I also use it for Facebook, and I have a white noise app I use at night to help me sleep. Anywaaaaay, I have no valid opinion here. :D

[snarky-imp.livejournal.com]

Heheh, I'm actually less interested in it for the reading of books (though I'll admit that I do use the Kindle app on my phone when I'm in the middle of nowhere and need something to read, or when it's 2am and I'm all out of books.) and more for watching movies/TV and the occasional game or internet usage.

The downside to this place is that the computer went from being in it's own room to being in one of the family rooms, so it complicates using it for me a bit. Also, it would have been super useful yesterday when my phone's battery laughed at me and I got left alone in someone else's house for an hour by myself. (The one time I didn't bring a book!)

I still firmly subscribe to the "books should be tangible and smelly" Giles philosophy on reading.