Amazon Fire Tablet
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on June 23, 2015, 7:03 a.m. by -Fulcrum
My Chromebook is just about to bite the dust, and I need a replacement device. Something lightweight and portable. I've been thinking heavily about the Amazon Fire HDX 8.9. The reviews say it's an amazing device. Can anyone say anything about it?
It is a laptop, kinda. But it's lightweight and portable, which is kinda the general rule of what I need. Something to take with me on the go, and to class. Class is kind of the big thing here. This is something I'll be saving up for myself for the next few months or so, probably resulting in a Christmas purchase. So, as far as I'm concerned, there isn't really a budget. But I would like it to cost less than a Vintage deck, so don't go too far off the handles.
If my metaphors are strange, it's because I've been awake for far too long. I can't really remember which ones go where.
June 23, 2015 7:36 a.m.
What are your functionality needs. As in what do you want to do with the device?
June 23, 2015 7:39 a.m.
Browser based activities (like TappedOut, YouTube, and the like), note taking for class, a music application. Access to digital books/textbooks would be convenient. Email. A large enough screen that I can have it sit a couple feet away from me. The detachable keyboard would be nice, but not entirely necessary. Light enough for comfortable use in bed.
June 23, 2015 7:55 a.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #6
What other devices do you have? Do you have an operating system preference?
Something like the Microsoft Surface tablet might be a good fit, or something like the Lenovo Yoga?
June 23, 2015 9:09 a.m.
I don't much like Apple devices. iTunes is too finicky for my tastes. I do like Amazon's Fire OS, but I also like Windows. I looked at the Microsoft Surface series, but they're pretty expensive. Still not out of the race. Just assessing my options.
June 23, 2015 10:35 a.m.
Hjaltrohir says... #8
I would definitely recommend the iPad Air/iPad Mini from what you said but if you don't like Apple that much then I would recommend Samsung Galaxy Note, Ive heard they are pretty good.
June 23, 2015 11:45 a.m.
ipad mini would have been my recommendation as well. do not invest in a surface, unless you get the surface pro, which runs around $1300. i use one myself and its worth every penny, albeit being a bit expensive. the commercials are correct, it did replace my laptop and i have not looked back since. OS aside, the apple tablets are far superior in every aspect to their competition in the market. I am not an apple fan, but they have their tablet game on point from my experiences. I am an IT program manager for a global distributor, so i have had my fair share of experiences with devices. if you are looking for a mobile tablet: ipad is the best in the industry. if you want a laptop for medium gaming, that also is light and portable and you can use for work / school etc, then the microsoft surface is the beast of choice.
June 23, 2015 1:08 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #10
I hear ya, vault. I refuse to purchase any Apple products. I get that some people like them and respect that, but they're not for me.
I think the Kindle Fire is a fine choice if you're just looking to browse/take notes for school/etc. I personally cannot imagine not having a solid laptop, but that's because I need to run CAD software and am a light-medium gamer. I'm not sure how well the Kindle Fire interfaces with a connectable keyboard, though. I sure as hell wouldn't want to type up an essay using a touchscreen keyboard.
Another option (I can't believe I forgot about this one) is the Google Nexus tablet. Both of my parents have older versions of it and love the interface; my mom uses the tablet for everything, ditching her laptop. I have a Nexus 5 mobile phone and love it as well. Here is an article that discusses the tablet and notes some comparisons between it, the iPad Air, and the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9. It looks like it will run you about $400, and another $100 for the "official" keyboard (see next paragraph).
I do notice through quick skimming that the official Google Nexus 9 Keyboard Folio got rather poor reviews for its price; the quality and battery life is there, but the price is over the top. It gives some alternatives at the end of the piece.
Knowing the Google products I have (and religiously using Gmail (now Inbox) and Drive), I would highly recommend their products.
June 23, 2015 2:43 p.m. Edited.
google software works on all tablets (inbox, drive, etc), the difference between the ipad mini and kindle fire is about $120. well worth the extra $120 imo, but to each their own. I am an avid android supporter as well, but their devices do tend to slow down every 18 months or so. they do a fantastic job with OS updates, however the problem with many of these updates is that the technology available on the tablet itself becomes outdated, so the new software updates tend to do more harm than good. apple has similar issues, but at a smaller scale. if budget is not a concern, definitely pick up the surface pro 3, they are less expensive now with the new one coming out, but pack a punch. currently i can run starcraft 2, guild wars 2, MTGO, heroes of the storm, team fortress 2 without hiccups on the surface pro 3, and it obviously runs all my other work related applications as well.
June 23, 2015 4:05 p.m.
I should have mentioned I have no interest in gaming. The only games I play are for my Nintendo 3DS. Additionally, I DO have another laptop, it's just slightly too bulky to take to class. It's a couple years old and runs Windows 7, but works perfectly for what I need it to do. I'm essentially looking for a glorified phone. That being said, I don't really want it to be connected to my phone calls/texts. I'm a bit surprised you guys went into so much detail over this, thank you.
June 23, 2015 7:19 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox, according to that review, Amazon has the best device when it comes to media. If that's true, I may end up picking that one after all.
June 23, 2015 7:34 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #14
I never said it supported my recommendation ;P I don't think there's a bad choice here.
My summer internship is basically staring at the specs of these devices all day, so I figured I'd put that to use.
June 23, 2015 8:11 p.m.
So based on specs versus price compared to what I'm looking for, what would you say is the best deal? (Not necessarily the best device overall.)
June 23, 2015 9:56 p.m.
ducttapedeckbox says... #16
I'll have to do a little looking later today. Drop me a note on my wall if I forget.
Khanye says... #2
What is your budget? And your functionality needs? Isn't the chromebook more of a laptop?
June 23, 2015 7:12 a.m.