Amazon’s Kindle Fire is on store shelves now for $199. And at that price, you can expect to get a pretty solid tablet that runs Android, comes with a 7-inch display, and allows access to the many Amazon services, including the Kindle e-book store and Prime Instant Video. But should you buy the Kindle Fire? After all, no tablet is perfect, and considering there are so many tablets on store shelves, including the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, among others, making that decision is becoming increasingly difficult. Here’s a look at five positive features of the Amazon Kindle and five drawbacks to the Amazon tablet.
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1. Good: Design
The Amazon Kindle Fire comes with a solid design, featuring a great, black bezel and a non-slip back that ensures it won’t fall off the desk when you’re not careful. Plus, at just 0.45-inches thick, it’s nicely thin and mobile.
2. Bad: Screen Size
That said, in my time with the Kindle Fire, I’m disappointed with the device’s 7-inch screen size. As an iPad owner, I like the 9.7-inch screen, and to look at the 7-inch option in the Kindle Fire is less than desirable. It’s not a deal breaker, for sure, but it is something you’ll want to keep it in mind before you make your decision to buy the Kindle Fire.
3. Good: Outstanding Software
One of the nicest things about the Kindle Fire is that it comes with an operating system that is totally unique. The layout is fantastic and the ability to flip through previously opened applications is a treat. All in all, the Kindle Fire has the best non-iOS software experience in the tablet space.
4. Bad: Slow Responsiveness
That said, I was a little displeased with the Kindle Fire when it comes to responding to touch gestures. At times, the animations skip a bit, and in other cases, it doesn’t recognize my gesture as quickly as it should. That’s just something you won’t find in the iPad, and it’s a major mark against the Kindle Fire.
5. Good: Integrated Services
Since I’m a committed Amazon customer, I like the device’s integrated services, which include the Kindle e-book store, Prime Instant Video, and access to the company’s MP3 store. However, for those who don’t use those Amazon services the Kindle Fire may just seem like any other tablet.
6. Bad: Speaker Quality
Overall, I wasn’t very impressed with the Kindle Fire’s built-in speakers. At times, the sound seemed “tinny” and at other times, it wasn’t nearly as loud as it could be. Listening to audio with headphones is fine, but if you’re hoping to use the device’s built-in speakers when watching a movie, don’t expect to be impressed.
7. Good: Web Browsing
The Web browsing on the Kindle Fire was stellar, in my experience. Thanks to the Silk Browser’s reliance upon Amazon’s Elastic Cloud Compute, pages load quite quickly. Plus, it’s easy to zoom in on content and scroll through pages. I don’t think the Silk browser is on par with Apple’s Safari browser, but it comes close.
8. Bad: Lack of 3G
I need mobility with all the products I buy. Therefore, I typically like to have a 3G connection available to me, so I can connect to the Web wherever I am. Unfortunately, the Kindle Fire doesn’t support 3G connectivity, which is an issue for me. It looks like the Kindle Fire will be the tablet I use at home, and my iPhone will be my companion on the road.
9. Good: Price
One of the best things about the Kindle Fire is its price. For just $199, you can get your hands on a solid device that justifies the price tag. Is the Kindle Fire an iPad 2? No. But for $199, who cares?
10. Bad: It’s Still Android
At the end of the day, one of my biggest concerns with the Kindle Fire is that it’s based on Android. Yes, Amazon skin placed on top of Android is a winner, but at its heart, this is an Android-based device that brings with it all the security flaws inherent with the operating system. Keep that in mind as you make a determination on the Kindle Fire.
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