So,
I got my Kindle Fire. I ordered it the minute I first heard about it. Except for the Kindle 1 I order a new kindle every time they introduce one. Largely because I’m a big fan of eInk displays. I’d look at some other readers but… I now have a pretty darn large book collection with Amazon so I’m “tied in”. I really love the way their system works so why move? Again it’s the software.
But I also own an iPad, and I was anxious to see what Android could do. In fact, almost everything I own is Apple if it has a battery now (Phone, Computer, Laptop, Tablet). I’ve head so much about Android – I wasn’t going to buy a phone to check it out, and $500 for a tablet I’d hardly ever use seemed like a waste. But an Android Kindle sounded like a great idea, especially for $200.
So here’s what I learned.
It’s a not an iPad
While that may be obvious, one of Apples real strengths is their attention to detail. They charge a premium but they also deliver for that premium. Excellent screens, snappy response, everything just “works”. Android is becoming the new windows. In other-words, android appears to be the king of it-works-well-enough.
Everyone points to, there aren’t many apps. But it’s more than that. The Kindle Fire is really highly tied to Amazon’s services. Like the original Kindle it is not a general purpose computing device, or even general purpose media device. For example, how do I load personal videos onto the Kindle? And what about my photos? Can I put those on a kindle?
If it is possible it is not obvious. No, the Kindle is a portal into content you buy and manage through Amazon.
Secondly
It’s unresponsive at times. You just get so used to touching the iPad and it responds to you instantly. Most of us use computers crippled by bloatware, or anti-virus filters (Macaphee would you PLEASE JUST STOP!) and crud, and time that it’s really are to have a computing device that responds INSTANTLY to your touch.
There are multiple times where in using the Kindle I thought it had crashed, or hung up, or I wasn’t sure what was going on. It would just sit there unresponsive. It was weird.
But it’s only $200!
Now, I am probably unusual in that I have both units. What’s more, the kindle was cheap enough that it was worth the try. If you don’t have a tablet yet, or an eReader it really does fix some of the things that people didn’t like about the original Kindle and maybe that’s where it should really be compared. In fact, Amazon may consider it a triumph that it is being compared to the iPad and other Tablets instead of being compared to the other products in its family – the eInk readers.
(Cr)Apptastic
Before I move on, I do have one final dig, and it’s more of an android issue than a Kindle issue. The weird thing about buying a new platform is that you are looking for new experiences. New software. New newness. However, very often what happens is that you end up buying the same applications you know from other platforms.
Plants vs Zombies? Got it on my phone, my iPad and now my Kindle. EA Sudoku. First got it on my DS. Now I have it on everything I own. (I just really like their version of it.)
OliveTree Bible reader. Best bible reader I’ve found.
However, one thing about android is that sometimes, stuff doesn’t work. Or it can be confusing. Take plants vs Zombies. There is a kindle fire version! But also a regular version for sale. Why are both available? What’s the difference? Other than the title, it’s not obvious or easy to find out. And take OliveTree’s bible reader. I own several bibles, but when I click on the link for the store more on the Kindle… it doesn’t work. Nothing happens. “What?” They shipped this?
But I digress. I suppose in principle the reason you get a Fire, or a Kindle for that matter is that Amazon is expending tremendous effort to make sure that they media they present on it runs really well. And for the most part, their video, music and book interfaces work really well.
I’m very tempted to sing up for Amazon Prime and while I have it for a Month I’m using to watch some TV episodes. I’ve uploaded a small part of my music library to Amazon Cloud Player so I can try that out as well.
But in truth, I’m tied to iTunes, so this probably won’t make a big difference for me. I have so many ways to listen to my music around my house the fire won’t be how I consume music.
Kindle Fire vs Kindle 3
But like I was saying, the Fire really should be compared to the traditional Kindle. And if you look at it from that point of view it is an outstanding product at an oustanding value.
Display
The main comparisons are obvious. You now have access to video and color content. The presentation of books with images is so much better on the Fire than it is on the Kindle 3 with it’s eInk display it’s not funny. However, in broad daylight the Kindle 3 still rules. Get some direct sunlight on your Fire and you have a hard to read screen. Nothing beats eInk for sunlight. Not that I get to spend a lot of time reading in the sun, but it is one of my favorite things to do, if I can get a sunny day is to read something good on that amazing black and gray screen. The closer it gets to paper the more awesome it is.
Given however that 90% of my viewing is indoors of some kind I have to say…
Advantage: Fire
Size and Weight
The Fire is a comfortable size – 7″, but the weight and thickness are a tad disappointing. I really like the slimness of the Kindle 3 and it is light.
Advantage: Kindle 3
Note: The new Kindle touch should be an improvement over the 3 even extending the difference.
Battery Life
This is a no brainer. One of the things that I love about the Kindle 3 is I can charge it once and use it for a week. The Fire’s battery life is roughly on par with any normal computing device or netbook who’s battery life is measured in hours instead of days.
Advantage: Kindle 3
Keyboard
This isn’t as obvious, but I actually like the Kindle Fire screen keyboard better than the Kindle 3 keyboard. Why? While you may argue that buttons are superior to little virtual boxes, for me the reality is that I type on a kindle so rarily that giving up that much realestate to a keyboard seems like a waste. I would MUCH rather have a bigger screen, and the Fire does that. Plus I’ve just gotten used to typing on a touch screen. What’s more with 7″ of screen, the Fire keyboard feels HUGE compared to my iPhone.
There you when you need it, gone when you don’t.
Advantage: Fire
Web Browsing
Duh…
Advantage: Fire
Ruggedness
I haven’t dropped my Fire yet, but I’m going to guess…
Advantage: Kindle 3
Conclusion
So at the end of the day, if you own an iPad there really is absolutely no reason to buy a kindle fire unless you are a tech nut like me and you could buy one heavily subsidized with Amazon gift card points like I did.
If you don’t own an iPad and you have an old Kindle, it might really be worth taking a look at the thing. It is a pretty awesome upgrade to a normal kindle and it will get you some iPad-”like” features that you’ll probably enjoy.
If you are looking for a real tablet however… The iPad can just do so much more than the Kindle, and it does it better, with more polish, you just have to ask yourself is it worth the extra $300?
By my way of thinking yes. For example, I wrote this on my iPad. Not doing that with a kindle. And this is cheaper and easier to use than my laptop, plus it’s more versatile with a longer battery life.
Now if you’ll excuse me I have some Zombies trying to get into my house. I need to go plant some pea shooters and sun flowers to take them out. That is how you stop Zombie invasions right?