ALERT: Kindle Fire HD Takes Aim at iPad

I would be reluctant to buy a Kindle since I have a Nook Simple Touch by Barnes & Noble, and Kindles do not support B&N e-books. Since B&N dropped the prices of their Nooks, I am wondering if B&N will be updating their Nooks soon.

For me I just don't see why I would need any tablet, much less shelling out $500 for one, just to play games or watch a show or movie? That why I have a p.c. thats attached to my H.D. television.

As for e-reading; I've got an $80 Kobo that does the job that it was designed to do.

Recession? What recession?

Thank you for a most interesting review, Bob. I noticed you did miss one important feature in comparing Kindles and Apple i-products. The National Federation of the Blind (I work as a proofreader for the NFB) just published a press release on the lack of a feature that prevents many people from buying or using any of the Kindles--from their first machine sold to the newest iteration. Amazon has not built in accessibility for those who cannot read print. (Once again, they are not in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act.) In contrast, Apple products ARE useable out of the box.

This is important because from lower-level schools up through all the levels of college, from our public libraries and places of employment - places that buy Kindles and other inaccessible readers like the Kindle) prevent blind and visually handicapped American children and adults from equally competing with folks who can use Kindles out of the box. This is so unnecessary and so wrong. Accessibility is cheapest when it is built in at the design stage; how to do this is already known; and it is good for a company’s bottom line too. Companies that build in accessibility are not only in compliance with the law and with good civic conscience, they are increasing their market. Every blind person I know either has a simple LG kind of phone or an iPhone. One more point to make, if I may. Here is a story on August 30 concerning inaccessible Kindles and a public library: http://www.nfb.org/national-federation-blind-settles-complaint-against-sacramento-public-library.

Do any of the new Kindles come with a GPS and the other sensors that the Nexus 7 comes with?

Interesting report, but I can wait. I have a Kindle DX and the next thing I will purchase will be after having examined all contenders. I like to read several books simultaneously (at different times of day)and find the Kindle operating system clumsy in terms of supporting having several books open. I would like a browser like option where each tab shows a different book where I am currently reading. I know about using a browser on the Kindle, but I think that means keeping my online continually open. In turn that uses power pretty quickly. I look for later versions of hardware to support easily having multiple open books.

Great article, at a good time. I'm interested in getting a new reader/tablet. New dog literally ate the last one.

I love my I-pad2. All the apps are sensational!!!!
And it gets books from my Kindle and has a nice bright screen.
Inwon't be wooooed away.
What would I gain?

very tempting if it had hdmi and bluetooth capability.

What a truly colossal waste of money! By buying and promoting any of these products, the continued exploitation of people and outsourcing of jobs where these products are manufactured is assured. How many more suicides will be triggered by the future Foxconns in Asia? I prefer spending $30.00 on a pile of used books that I can recycle and pass on to the intellectually challenged. I would like to know the process by which certain titles become approved and available for electronic perusal.

When will I be able to get a Kindle Fire of any type that has external storage. I store a lot of pictures on my Kindle and I've almost filled up my space aloted. I've been sending most of my pics. to my other account that goes to my laptop but that's a real hassle and I've lost a lot of stuff in the transfer.

Was planning on purchasing one for my daughter for college. Probably the Kindle Fire HD with Wi-Fi, 7" screen. I've enjoyed my Kindle, and when the first one was damaged, customer service sent me a new one, no questions asked.

I heard that the new Kindle Fire HD has built in parental controls. Is it true that a parent can limit game time while allowing unlimited reading time? Currently I can only control internet access, through our wireless router.

As a satisfied Amazon customer and Gen 2 Kindle owner, I've been waiting for this week's unveiling of the new kindle Fire. I will definitely purchase one of the new Fires. Who knew we would have so many choices? Thanks for your article, Bob.

Kindle is for me!

Still no SD slot?

One important comparison for some folks that go on the Internet all the time, send emails, and download e-books to read-- Kindles are not useable by blind persons. Apple's iPads and iPhones are useable.

Still no SD slot?

I have had a Kindle Fire for almost a year. I use it mostly for ebooks, but I didn't like the fact that every download had to go through Amazon.
So I searched the web and found out how to root it. I can download Android apps from the Google store, and I get most of my ebooks from my local library.
I realize most people would not feel comfortable rooting their tablet, due to the fact that if done wrong, it could become inoperable. Plus rooting the tablet voids the warranty. But for me, I enjoy knowing I can download any app I want without going through Amazon.
That being said, I doubt that I would buy another tablet from Amazon or Apple for that matter, due to the fact one has to go through them to download apps.