Don’t know much about the Galaxy, but bought my daughter a Fire...and find myself continuously stealing it from her. Lots of bang for the buck, easy to use, a winner in my opinion.
I love my Kindle Fire!!! I’m able to get apps, and surf the internet on it just fine.
I have a Galaxy tablet 8.9. The tablet comes with a amazon kindle app (connetcion to Amazon library). You can still read books from Amazon.
The real question then, do you want a Tablet WiFi or Tablet 4G? You have to decide since neither are backward capatible. I have the Wifi. You can get free wifi at most hotels, Hooters, starbucks, Mickey Dees and chickfila.
If you want you to buy your tablet without a plan, you can get 4G (2Gb) for $25 per month without a contract or a wifi mobile hotpot for $50 with a two year deal, both are from ATT.
I have a home computer and right now the free wifi works. Remember you also can get “drop” insurance for about $100 p.a. or $150 for two years.
Not sure if you’ve seen or read this review of the Fire. The reviewer is an Amazon vine member meaning he’s done literally hundreds of reviews and he got his Kindle Fire early from Amazon (7 days use before return) specificially to do the review. I do not know him but have read many of his and he doesn a great job.
This review compares the Fire to the iPad, but what he had to say made my husband and I hold off on purchasing the Fire. We’d considered it for the same reasons you are. Hope this helps!
His is the first review - Scott is his name.
I’m looking into the Fire as well. Can you do crossword puzzles on a Kindle?
I’ve been looking at the Fire as well. I bought a Kindle WiFi with keyboard a few months ago, but still have problems with my eyes, even though the screen has better contrast than the Sony EReader I had.
While I can surf the net, check email, play games, maintain a calendar, as well as read books, the Kindle WiFi is most of what I need except for the BW screen. The Fire has a much better color presentation, but the big killer (for me) is the battery life, which is rated in hours and not weeks like the WiFi.
These decisions come down to what you want to do with it. They’re not computers in that computer “work” is not what they’re suited for. So, if you’re looking for a work environment, don’t waste your time. But if you’re looking for entertainment, look at the price, look at the size of the unit, look at the memory, and look how the various units have been consumer rated. I’m not much help, but that’s about if for buying one of these things.
BTW, I’m sticking with my Kindle WiFi. At least for some time.
Had a Kindle for year and half and was able to travel anywhere in the world with no problem getting internet access.
Just got Kindle Fire and love the touch screen, color, features, and apps. Downside, wasn’t prepared for need to have Wi-fi for use. (Solution: subscribed to mobile HotSpot service)
Check out youtube for demonstrations. I saw several for the Fire. There are probably some for the Galaxy too.
I still recommend the Xoom. That said, we got the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. It is pretty cool! I still love my Xoom, but the Tab is comparable, so I imagine the 8.9 is, as well. My SO is not sure if he will keep it, only because he uses his laptop so much. I have a laptop, but love the ease of portability of the Xoom. He may end up with the Fire eventually as an e-reader. Cost-wise, it makes sense for us.
If you buy the Tab at Costco, you get 90 days to decide. You can return it if it is not what you need.
Kindle Fire is probably the most adopted android “tablet”.. problem is its not running a tablet OS.. its running Android 2 which is not a tablet OS at all, but a phone version of Android.
To my knowledge Fire has no direct access to the Android Market.. and lord knows what apps the Fire will run if you buy them and try to run them.
I as a developer have ZERO intention of releasing any of my apps on the Kindle Market, because Amazon requires that if you put your app there, they get to set the price and that you must offer ALL your apps through their space.
My honest opinion, if you are going to buy a tablet, iPad is the king, without question. If you want a true table, get something other than a Fire.. if you want an overpriced small tablet running a phone OS, buy the Fire.
However I am a technoguy, so I get angry at bogus marketing.. you can buy Android 2 tablets all over the place for sub $200... Kindle brings nothing to the table other than some personalized coding ontop of android 2. But it is portrayed and being sold as a game changer.. its not.
However, if the Fire does what you want, go for it. But of the two you have listed I’d probably personally opt for the other device. However, from a users perspective Kindle is more controlled, so it may be a better fit for you.
Kindle Fire! I’m no tablet fanboi but have some experience with iPad/iPad2, Tab10.1 and wasn’t impressed enough to buy one. After using my sister’s Fire, I may have found my first tablet.
ping
Rubik’s Cube or Pet Rock?
I know that it is an always moving target, but you have to think about the electronic environment. If your house has Macs and iPods, stay with Apple (iPad 3 almost certain for Spring - will push other prices down). Contrary, if Android smart phones then the Galaxy may float your boat. If you have an Amazon account, well ‘Fire’ away.
It is going to be a wonderful buyer’s market by summer if Google also enters the Tablet wars with their own device.
So far I like my Kindle Fire, but you can’t use Skype or any other VOIP and to me that’s a bit of a drawback. I don’t need the camera so that’s no big deal. You now can visit the Android Market Place but still can’t download. All apps have to come via Amazon so your choicce is limited.
The other issue on readers is the Fire doesn’t have E-Ink and like most full color backlit screens it’s harder on the eyes for reading a long time. I change the background on the book to the tinted one and it seems to help (kind of a pinkish beige.). The color screens are harder to read out in full daylight (example at the beach).
I’ve watched some movies and the resoltion is excellent for the small screen. If you have Amazon Prime then the Kindle is a really good deal because of all the free movies which will also stream to your TV or other computers.
Last thing the Kindle Fire is WiFi and if you have unlimited 4G on your account that would give you more flexibiity where you travel with it.
Overall I’m pretty happy with mine which I got for Christmas.
I love my fire. It makes keeping up with scripture in Church a breeze. You can also play word games, and Angry Birds!
Responding to this post on a Kindle Fire. It’s pretty cool. Got it for the wife for Christmas but she never gets a chance to use it now:). Hard to beat for only $199, despite not being a full tablet.
If those two are your only choices, then it’s got to be the Samsung...hands down.
Amazon’s Fire does not include cameras, GPS or Bluetooth and has just one micro-USB socket and no way to output HDMI;it also has less RAM and just 8 Gb of storage space.
Where’s the decision?
If you’re looking at paying more to get more, you don’t need to. Take a look at Pandigital’s SuperNova 8” Dlx, w/32gb, Bluetooth, WiFi, HDMI, Multi Touch, USB (OTG), 2 cameras, accelerometer, Flash enabled, and access to a very large selection of FREE Android apps. It’ll cost you less than a Fire and the Samsung. I paid $158 on a QVC hourly special.