Is it worthwhile buying an Amazon fire tablet if you are not buying a lot of content from Amazon?

[Karnn]

First of all, I'm sorry that this is not related to windows phones in any way, although I have been a windows phone user. But I was considering buying the new fire tablets mainly for media consumption since they seem to be so cheap. My only fear is if the tablet will end up being cast aside as a toy after I buy it, if I don't purchase all my media from Amazon. Of course I may buy Amazon kindle books, but I also own a lot of music and videos which I might want to use on the device instead of getting majority of my content from Amazon. What do you guys think? Anyone here who have owned a kindlefire tablet?

 

[xandros9]

If you can load normal Android onto it like some older models, then it may be worth it.

Even without it, its still a capable device, although you are playing by Amazon's rules. You can load your own content, Amazon's just the primary service obviously. Would I get it for the money? Eh, probably not, probably would spring for a Nexus or Dell, but it really depends on you.

 

[kwright62]

It is an Android tablet. It is a pass, get a Windows tablet instead.

 

[jmshub]

I bought my wife a Kindle Fire tablet a few years ago for Christmas. If you are using your tablet for typical web/email/facebook/games, then the Kindle Fire tablets aren't bad. Since they were launched back when, vanilla Android tablets got cheaper and better. I may have just bought her a Nexus 7 if I were doing it now.

 

[kingenu]

It is an Android tablet. It is a pass, get a Windows tablet instead.

at least you'd get a chance to install apps on a sd card on an android tablet

 

[luxnws]

Unless you are buying or selling on amazon.com, their Fire tablets or phone doesn't make much sense to use. Their hardware is all about is making buying and selling from the amazon.com site more convenient.

That's why it may seem like Amazon doesn't care about market share for their tablets or phone. As long as a core group of their repeat customers use Fire tablets and phones, they pretty much lock-in future purchases unless prices, delivery options, etc. change drastically. Little things like these are why Amazon is wiping the floor with the competition.

 

[LockOnTech]

I bought my wife a Kindle Fire tablet a few years ago for Christmas. If you are using your tablet for typical web/email/facebook/games, then the Kindle Fire tablets aren't bad. Since they were launched back when, vanilla Android tablets got cheaper and better. I may have just bought her a Nexus 7 if I were doing it now.

I have never owned an amazon fire device of any kind, with any tablet you can do typical email, facebook, web browsing for much less; for instance HP's 7 inch tablet is sufficient and you get to save some money. You can always download amazon's applications to it with a trip to amazon website themselves or by google play. As mentioned there are other alternatives than to just have an amazon fire tablet.

 

[kwright62]

Pretty much every Windows tablet I've ever seen has an SD card slot. Mine are all empty as Onedrive has way more capacity that I'll ever use.

 

[doob9911]

You can delete kindle os and install cyanogenmod. It's not difficult.
But if you want android tabelt, it's better to buy galaxy tab/note for quality or wait new nexus tablet for cheap price.

 

[LockOnTech]

You can delete kindle os and install cyanogenmod. It's not difficult.
But if you want android tabelt, it's better to buy galaxy tab/note for quality or wait new nexus tablet for cheap price.

+1 on the samsung tablet, because it would not make much sense for the average user to buy the amazon fire tablet to spend time flashing custom rom (difficult or not) and have the possibility of having a amazon fire paperweight if done incorrectly. Most users would just leave the device stock and just want it to just work.

 

[fdalbor]

All of the Fire Tablets can run normal Android apps on them if you just check the get apps from other sources button. You just can't run Google Android apps. I own a Moto G let and don't have a single Google app on it. Get apps from 1 Mobile Market, Amazon Market, Mono Market or any of the dozens of other Android app stores out there. Google would have you think you cannot run Android without their Play Store. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ash the millions of users in China.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Moved to Other OS's and Devices forum.

 

[fatclue_98]

If the most you'll buy is Kindle books, you can get that app on just about any device or desktop. I think for the money, there are better Android choices available.