Kindle Fire: Post Here

[haven]

It's clear that the public accepts $199 as a fair price for a 7" Android tablet. Amazon.com's management reported today that "millions" of Kindle Fires have been sold in 4 weeks, and demand is rising (probably as holiday gifts.) Analysts predict between 5 and 6 million Kindle Fires will be purchased before year-end.

That's bad news for Amazon in this sense: Estimates of the cost to build the Kindle Fire cluster around $202. So Amazon may lose $3 a tablet, or $15-$18 million. My guess is that the actual cost to build is closer to the sales price of $199 because Kindle Fire production is running such big numbers. In the long run, it's good for Amazon because every Kindle Fire owner will be inclined to use the device to shop on Amazon.com, and to use Amazon's online music and video store.

 

[haven]

A new program called Kindle Fire Utility has been developed by hackers (oops, I mean programming enthusiasts). the utility makes it simple to gain root access to the Fire and perform other tasks. The utility software can be easily installed from a Windows PC. Read more here
http://liliputing.com/2011/12/kindl...-updating-tweaking-amazons-tablet-a-snap.html

 

[haven]

VMWare has released a version of its virtual Windows desktop software for the Kindle Fire. This software permits you to connect to an application running on a server via the Internet. Your Fire appears like a PC to the application.

The VMWare View software is available for purchase from the Amazon App Store.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/vmware-view-delivers-virtual-windows-machines-on-linux-os-x-and/

 

[Smksignals]

Bought one for my daughter for Xmas. Keep the info coming haven. Good stuff !!

 

[Fireman78]

Well, I bought one of these for my wife for XMAS, but I caved and gave it to her two weeks early. She LOVES it.. it is fast, clear, no problems at all with home wifi, is easy to manuver through has a great battery life and is just fun to use. The entire family wants one now. (ugh). Only complaint would be the speakers are kinda weak, but thats being nitpicky. After seeing a buddy of mine recently break an 800 dollar IPAD, I'm OK with the 199 dollar Fire.

One thing we JUST found out, with a local library card, one can "rent" online books and download them, five at a time with this Fire (must have home WIFI for this). This is saving me a bundle because the wife was buying books like crazy before we found out about the rentals.

 

[haven]

A comparison of the color displays of the Kindle Fire, Nook Tablet and iPad2 puts the Fire in last place. The Fire was dinged for its high screen reflectivity and the strange color performance of its Gallery photo viewing application.
http://www.displaymate.com/IPS_Tablet_ShootOut_1.htm

 

[Scott Brady]

The screen is really the only disappointing thing of the Fire for me so far. Lots of glare and an odd size. The size issue really surprises me, given Amazon's proclivity towards book reading. In portrait mode, a standard book size does not properly fill the screen.

 

[haven]

http://slickdeals.net/f/3893016-Kindle-Fire-for-200-50-Walmart-Gift-Card-at-Walmart

$200 will buy the Kindle Fire and a $50 gift card at Wal-Mart starting Feb. 5. In-store only.

 

[Corey]

I got mine less than a month back, and so far I am liking it.
It has already gone through one system auto update.

There are a few things I do not like:
1. Sound volume is weak, my Droid Bionic is way louder for playing back YouTube videos through its speakers than the Fires dual speakers.
2. Sometimes a webpage such as here on a forum it will not let you click a link, and I have to go back a page then try the link again.

So far these are my only complaints on it.

Much nicer surfing sites while watching TV or the news than surfing on my Droid.

 

[lwg]

I picked up one of the Wal-Mart deals on the Kindle Fire. Mainly wanted it for reading books and easily doing work email when on the road. But am curious if any of the Navigation Software/Apps that are available are of any use? Probably have to get an external GPS for them but I'm guessing that problem has been solved already (read: haven't researched it yet).

So far I'm impressed given the $199 price point.

 

[OutaFocus]

I've been using an iPad since they came out, but about a month ago I received an email from Amazon saying if I subscribed to an Audible Gold account for 12m, they would give me $100.00 to spend on a device that could play audiobooks. I used my $100 credit on a Kindle. I figured for $99, if i didn't like it, I could easily get my money back.

It's certainly not an iPad, but I really like it. I find I carry it with me much more that my iPad. I like the size for reading and other basic stuff. I have a Joy Factory mount in my truck for the iPad along with a Dual GPS receiver and 4G Wifi Hotspot. I now leave the iPad in the truck and carry the Fire with me.

 

[haven]

That gift card deal is back on at Wal-Mart. Purchase a Kindle Fire in-store for $199, and receive a $50 Wal-Mart gift card. Offer good through Feb. 14. The offer may not be available in all stores, and is good while supplies last.

http://localad.walmart.com/Walmart/...2494766&promotionviewmode=2&promotionid=75841

 

[haven]

Amazon is selling refurbished Kindle Fire models for $139, shipping included. I'm not sure about the warranty on Amazon refurbs.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...qid=&sr=&seller=&colid=&condition=refurbished

 

[Phreak480]

when i bought mine a month or so ago it cost a bunch more than that, but the important thing is that the refurbs by amazon come with a full warranty. the only thing you can't do with the refurb is buy the addon extended warranty. When I received the unit i couldn't tell it from a brand new one.