Kindle HD 8.9 vs TF101

[IndyColtsFan]

By clunky I mean in the context of navigation.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm a little unsure of this point myself. I had an HD 8.9 in my cart and ready for preorder but decided I'd wait to see reviews before I committed.

It is not my opinion it is from reviews of the HD (and in that context not the 8.9 as apparently no one has been allowed to touch it yet)

I would consider an ipad 3 but I really do not like iOS. I used to use apple back in the apple IIe days but I have not been thrilled with anything by them since about 1995 or so. Honestly I cannot say I have given their tablet a fair shot.

How nice does it play with windows, can I use wifi to access a shared directory of pdfs, mp3s, etc from a home server without much headache?

FWIW, I have an iPad3 and Transformer Infinity on loan from work for some testing, and while my wife recognizes the iPad's superior screen and build, she likes the Transformer better because she couldn't stand iOS. I have an iPhone and can't stand iOS either.

For those who have a Kindle, how "locked down" is the Android load on it? Are you still able to get plenty of productivity and cool apps? I was kind of disappointed when talks between HP and Amazon for webOS failed (or, at least, those were the rumors). I REALLY like webOS.

 

[s44]

I had an HD 8.9 in my cart and ready for preorder but decided I'd wait to see reviews before I committed.

I think anyone on this forum should at least wait for the next Nook announcement before buying Amazon.

 

[digitaldurandal]

Personally I would grab a TF700

Yea but 488 bucks minimum. I can buy a nexus 7 and a fire hd 8.9 for ten bucks more, plus I really would like to avoid eating ramen to buy electronic devices - just because i am back in college doesn't mean I want the authentic experience

 

[digitaldurandal]

I think anyone on this forum should at least wait for the next Nook announcement before buying Amazon.

I would never choose the Nook. I am already invested in Amazon market, although I own a 1st gen nook and a 2nd gen kindle, the nook is really my wife's and the kindle mine.

 

[digitaldurandal]

For those who have a Kindle, how "locked down" is the Android load on it? Are you still able to get plenty of productivity and cool apps? I was kind of disappointed when talks between HP and Amazon for webOS failed (or, at least, those were the rumors). I REALLY like webOS.

The originals have ROMs already, but the new ones are supposedly locked down better.

 

[Ravynmagi]

imagine an exaggerated example of a 1 inch device running 1280x800 vs a 12 inch display running 1280x800. Of course they have the same information on the screen, but it size does matter too. Especially if I need to sit and read for hours and hours. It is difficult enough to get myself to sit there for an extended period of time doing it, eye strain is the last thing I will need. My eyes are pretty good, I do not have glasses or anything, but I find even on my computer when I am doing extending reading I turn the text size up. This allows me to adjust my viewing position and not be limited to sitting with the screen a specific distance at all times as well.

Again I hope I am wrong. 200 bucks for a tablet that comes with a 25 dollar credit to the google play store and has state of the art hardware? I am in... except for the reading part. I wonder if I can go somewhere and try one out, load a book on it and fiddle with it.

Well like I said, I don't want to twist your arm. I am pro 10 inch tablets myself. But I've been really impressed with the 7 inch form factor and am really happy with it. With 10 inch tablets I usually hold them about 18 inches from my eyes and because of their weight I'd need to brace my elbow on an arm rest while reading. With the 7 inch Nexus 7 I'm able to hold it comfortably in one hand without bracing my arm, and I usually hold it closer about 8 inches, so the screen looks as big, if not bigger because of the closer proximity to my eyes.

Though the stock Nexus 7 UI is a bit big and gets in the way a bit, more than on a 10 inch tablet. It's basically a phone UI with a notification bar at the top and the soft keys on the bottom. That isn't bad in portrait mode, but in landscape mode some apps can feel a bit crunched for space, mostly the Chrome browser. The fix for this is pretty easy, but you need to root and change the DPI. So there is that con against the 7 inch size that I imagine is exactly what you are fearing.

I still find the screen to be great for reading because of it's high DPI and think it's by far the best choice at $200 or $250. Nothing else really looks worth it unless you spend $400 on the Transformer TF300.

 

[Monster_Munch]

I think the Kindle HD 8.9" will be worth waiting for. It's the only affordable tablet with a 1080p or higher screen.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I think anyone on this forum should at least wait for the next Nook announcement before buying Amazon.

I'm not interested in the Nook to be honest. I have a lot of different reasons to buy an Amazon product over a Barnes and Noble product unless the Nook severely outclasses the Amazon product, is cheaper, and can be rooted.

I would never choose the Nook. I am already invested in Amazon market, although I own a 1st gen nook and a 2nd gen kindle, the nook is really my wife's and the kindle mine.

This. I have a Kindle, my wife has the Kindle Keyboard, I'm a Prime member, and also have the Amazon Rewards Visa card. There would have to be incredible circumstances for me to buy a Nook over an Amazon product.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The originals have ROMs already, but the new ones are supposedly locked down better.

Well, I guess what I'm saying is this -- is the included OS powerful enough and flexible enough to do most of the things a standard Android load can do, or are there severe limitations? As I'm getting older, the thought of having to use custom ROMs/firmware/etc on a device is getting less and less appealing.

 

[digitaldurandal]

Well, I guess what I'm saying is this -- is the included OS powerful enough and flexible enough to do most of the things a standard Android load can do, or are there severe limitations? As I'm getting older, the thought of having to use custom ROMs/firmware/etc on a device is getting less and less appealing.

From reading reviews that are coming out I believe that the Fire UI is seen by some as its biggest weakness, it adds extra overhead to the tablet which seems to be noticed by reviewers. Some people will enjoy it for what it was made to do, entice you to consume more products purchased by Amazon. I do not imagine waiting long before a root is out.

I imagine in your case you will be avoiding the Fire HD.

I was looking last night at older refurb tablet PCs, I would have pulled the trigger by now but the only ones in the price range have a pretty poor resolution of 1024x7xx. It seems difficult to find a refurb that is not four or five years since manufacture as well. My wife has a tablet pc I got her two years ago for school and she loves it, but I don't have 1200 bucks in the budget to grab a decent modern one.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Yeah, I think Best Buy will stock them so maybe I will just go take a look at one when it is in stock before deciding. By then, I would've hopefully had some time with Surface as well.