Since its release in November of last year, the Kindle Fire has been one of the more popular new tablets to hit the scene – at least before the latest iPad came out.
Unlike Amazon’s former products, though, it is largely billed as a budget-priced tablet computer.
For those that want a tablet that can seemingly do it all, the question of is the Kindle Fire worth it is often brought up.
The answer to the question is not as simple as it may seem, as the device actually handles a number of functions well, yet fails in other areas.
If you are looking into buying this device, you may want to consider both the positive and negative aspects of the Fire’s performance.
The Pros
The good news about the Kindle Fire is that it is a great tablet for the price.
At under two hundred dollars, there is very little legitimate competition for the tablet at that price point. It handles media very well, and its access to the Amazon store means that it is quite easy to download movies and music at a fairly reasonable price.
It still works well as an e-Reader, of course, and one-touch access to Amazon’s library means that it is easier to buy and read books than ever before.
It should also be pointed out that the tablet itself has access to Amazon’s App Store, leading to a fairly robust selection of applications that are priced competitively with Apple’s own store. In short, it does work quite well as a low-priced alternative to most of the media consumption-based tablets available.
The Cons
Unfortunately, there are a few major downsides to the Fire.
First and foremost, one should take a look at the battery life – where one could read on a standard Kindle e-reader for over a month without a charge, the Fire only holds a charge for six to eight hours.
It is great for media consumption, so how about being productive?
Do not expect to get much work done during that charge, though – the smaller size of the unit makes it more difficult to work on than even an iPad, and the lack of keyboard accessories makes it almost impossible to use as a productivity tool.
Finally, one should be aware that the device only makes use of apps from the Amazon store, which leaves it bereft of many of the more popular apps available from the Android App Marketplace.
Conclusion
Is the Kindle Fire worth it? If you are looking for a media device with which games can be played, books can be read and media can be consumed, it is absolutely worth the price and really is in a market of its own.
It does make for a great way to introduce someone who has not used a tablet in the past to the wonderful world of mobile tablet computing. For $199, it is a great to see if it is something that works well for a particular user’s situation.
However, it is not much of a productivity tool, though, and it still cannot quite compete with some of the more robust tablet options on the market. If you want something that can provide you with fun on the go, though, it is very much worth the relatively low price.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Yes, it is not much of a productivity tool, just like the iPad, and it does have a smaller screen and lack of features compared to other tablets, just as other tablets have smaller screens and lack features compared to a laptop or desktop PC.
I think most consumers are savvy enough to understand how they would find tablets useful, that they are good for portability and having convenient access to the internet when traveling or when you need to walk around or don’t have much room, not as a replacement for a desktop PC.
As for apps, I have MapQuest and Angry Birds – what more do you need?
I suppose it would be nice to have more apps available, though I can’t think of one that I really want but is not available on the Kindle Fire. To other Fire users, what apps do you really wish were available but aren’t currently?
I am just a dumb consumer but find the Fire worth the $200 expense. I do not view any tablet (including the I-pad) as a laptop or desk top replacement.
The Fire provides me with an e-reader, wifi connectivity and apps in a light weight affordable package.