Full disclosure here. I have had every version of the iPad to date and love version 3. BUT.. it is just a bit too big so I've been looking for something a bit smaller for quite a while. I've bought and sold a number of 7 or 8 inch tablets, Samsung, Pandigital, Ainol to name a few and ended up selling them on. The Pandigital was the most fun. I just hung on to the coat-tails of the smart boys who hacked the hell out of it and made it more than what it was. When the Nexus 7 was released it looked like I had a new best friend but there was nowhere to try the darn thing so I held off. When good old Jeff announced the Fire HD I was intrigued and when there was one on display at Best Buy I fondled it and bought one.
The one thing I really like about the iPad is the aspect ratio of 4:3. Everything has gone to 16:9 and I detest the bloody ratio. I purposely stayed away from them both at home and work and have Dell 16:10 ultrabrights and love them. I have gone from T-Mobile S2 to Note and refuse to look at the S3 or Note 2 because the screens have become longer and thinner. Don't even get me started on the iPhone 5 :silly: I seldom watch movies on a small screen or monitor and with the iPad it is apps like Zite or magazines or comics and it excels at that.
OK, now before you start saying that the screen on the Fire HD and Nexus 7 are the same.... yes I agree. Same aspect ratio but not quite same colour saturation etc, but where the Fire HD beats the Nexus 7 for me is that the Nexus 7 looks and feels far longer and thinner. In reality it is only a smidgen longer but the decrease of width makes it feel like a sausage. I don't have massive hands and to be honest I don't find there to be much difference holding either the Nexus 7 or the Fire HD.
Initially, the closed wall and adverts of the Fire HD were off-putting rather than annoying, but after rooting, which ultimately needed installing the SDK to get my computer to be able to ADB into it, and now there is a hack to remove adverts, the device has grown on me. I was able to install the Play Store and pull down apps like Bloomberg, Aldiko, Currents, MX Player and Skype. I couldn't get Zite but I pulled it from my phone and sideloaded it. I installed Gmail and set up my personal and office mails. The one thing I couldn't get to work was QQ Launcher. ADW launcher works but I find myself using it less and less as I just go to the Apps tab.
Now I can easily watch videos or read ePub files with no problem. I have pretty much most of the things I have on my iPad and I find the size and weight of the Fire HD to be very comfortable.
There was definitely an extra smoothness with the Nexus 7 but was it a "holy mackrel, that just blew my eyelids off".....? Nope. The Fire HD works and works fast enough. The only real slowness, if you could call it that, is a slight hesitancy in scrolling PDFs which have been zoomed. The screen is definitely better than the nexus 7, and if it was possible to get QQ Launcher to run then for me the darn thing would be perfect.
The Nexus 7 was a nice unit. Fast and hackable to the cows came home but the long and thin of it ultimately killed it for me. Also one thing I noticed was that with Zite for example, the Nexus 7 rendered it slightly different to the Fire HD. Text was smaller and not quite so clear. There was also something that may have been a bit dodgy about the Nexus 7 and it was very reluctant to switch on at times. I had to plug it into a power source and then it fired up. The battery was almost fully charged but sometimes it just refused to wake up.
So there you have it, one guys absolutely, purely subjective, non scientific rational as to why the Nexus 7 went back this morning and the Fire HD is still here. Your mileage may differ.
I have similar prefs. I like iPad's 4:3 AR, and prefer a reader for "print" media rather than videos. But I also want a larger size than 7" since legibility matters more than portability.
Presently, my eyes are set on the Nook HD+ for its 3:2 AR, not quite as good as 4:3, but better than the standard 16:10. Since I want it mostly for reading and web browsing (in portrait mode), I don't need cam/GPS/HDMI. But I don't want to be stuck in B&N eco, so am waiting to see if it can be unlocked, or at a minimum rooted.
I like the Nook HD+'s $269 price, which is about the same as the Nexus 7 16GB. The KFHD 9 is $309 w/ charger, and it has 16:10 AR and no SD expansion.
I have a Nexus 7 and picked up a Kindle Fire HD. I'm thinking about switching for other reasons. But I actually think the feel of the Nexus 7 is one thing in it's favor. Both tablets have the same 16:10 sized screen, it's only the bezel that is more narrow on the Nexus 7. And that narrow bezel makes it a lot easier to wrap my hand around the back on portrait mode. While the Kindle Fire is larger and heavier. I can wrap my hand around the Fire HD too, but it's not as comfortable to hold that way.
PS. Though one thing the Fire HD has in it's favor for people that like 4:3 ratios is it's on screen buttons and menu do a much better job of getting out of the way. So I have more screen spaces on the Fire HD than the Nexus 7.
I went the other way around. I started with the KFHD and about after a week, I picked up the N7 and unfortunately, the KFHD is going back to Amazon. I love the better colors, sound and more solid feel but at the end of the day, KFHD is a severely gimped version of android. Amazon left out enough code that this device will never fully function as a true android device without a custom ROM. Rooting helps but not enough. Different strokes for different folks, it just depends on what you want to use the device for. The Amazon entertainment ecosystem just isn't for me.
P.S. I have smaller hands but I prefer the thinness of the N7 over the KFHD. Its easier to hold with one hand, IMO.
I chose the Fire HD over the Nexus 7 also. Couldn't be happier.
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
It just depends your taste.
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
fuyoo said:
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... For me I'd think the primary reason to get a Kindle Fire HD is if you are an Amazon user. Because you give up quite a bit in the way of customizability and apps with the Kindle OS. However the UI is pretty simple and easy to use and if he's okay with the limited app selection and primarily wants it for music and videos. Then he'll really like the better looking screen and much better speakers.
The 16GB model comes with 12.63GB available to the user. So I don't think there is any need to reallocate space (it's no like the Nook Color).
fuyoo said:
I'm thinking of getting a Kindle Fire HD for my dad. He's not that Android savvy, but appreciates a device he can put his music and videos on. And a simple UI. Is this a better device compared to the Nexus 7 for these purposes?
Also, I suppose I can root the device and increase the space allocated for personal content?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If someone has never used or owned an android device, phone or tablet, then the Nexus 7 will have a learning curve. Not so much for the KFHD, Amazon keeps it pretty simple and easy to navigate. If I just wanted a pure entertainment device, then I would of stayed with the KFHD. Whispersync is great for readers, which you get with the KFHD, not to mention you can send documents and books to your kindle email and hosted by Amazon. The screen and speakers are fantastic. Amazon app store is limited compared to the google play store but there are ways around that.
The N7 is more of a general purpose device (handles video just fine, sound could be better but its fine with headphones) but the world is at your finger tips..
Well I'm not rooted on either and I still prefer using the KFHD to tell the truth. I just installed an alternate launcher on the kfhd so I'm happy to get away from the carousel.
The video quality? No way is the Nexus 7 equal to the KFHd, not to my eyes. As mentioned, the color on the kfhd blows away the Nexus 7 and color is part of the video quality equation as far as I'm concerned. And the audio quality on the KFHD blows the Nexus 7 as well. And is the ppi on the Nexus 7 even equal to the KFHD?
Read reviews. There are enough that mentioned the video quality isn't up to snuff on the Nexus 7.
And the build quality? Well I was fortunate to get a good Nexus 7 from Walmart but there is enough written from folks who have had issues.
Apps? Well I can sideload and I have more than enough to keep me happy with the kfhd. I equate it to channels on a TV. So what if someone has far more than another, as long as you have the ones you want to watch who cares!
If I decide to get the Nook Hd +, the Nexus 7 will be the one I trade in.
Related
I just made the switch from the Nexus 7 to a Kindle Fire HD. I'm not totally sure it's the best decision, but so far I don't feel bad for making the switch.
I love the Nexus 7, it's speedy, feels great in my hand, and I just love having a stock Android tablet with Jelly Bean. But I'm disappointed with the hardware quality, after several RMAs I still have loose glass on the left side, washed out colors, the speaker is almost unusable in some situations, and the wifi isn't that good. ASUS says they had to rush to redesign this for Google and I feel like it shows. I'm pretty disappointed because I so wanted to love the tablet and there are not any other good true Android tablets in this price range (Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is not an option because of it's 1024x600 resolution).
Google was kind enough to give me a refund. And I really appreciate that, because I bought the Nexus 7 two months ago. So I picked up a Kindle Fire HD today.
The main reason why I decided to give the Kindle Fire HD a chance is because I'm an Amazon Prime subscriber, I have bought quite a few ebooks from them, I use their Instant Video service, and I do a lot of other shopping with them. So I figure even if I don't really love it as a tablet, at least it'll hopefully be a nice device from finding new content on Amazon.
My first impressions of the Kindle Fire HD after a few hours of use...
The build quality just feels excellent. The glass is where it should be and isn't moving and that's always a good start. The back side feels slightly more premium. It's wider than my Nexus 7 so not as comfortable to hold like a giant cell phone like I do with the Nexus 7, but it has a wider bezel so easier to hold on one edge. Nexus 7 does win in comfort to hold though because of it's lighter weight as well. But the Fire HD is comfortable enough as well, so no complaints.
My next concern area was the display quality. The colors on the Fire HD are warmer and look much better. The screen also seems to be brighter, so that should help outdoors.
Wifi was not really a concern on my Nexus 7, but my signal strength was a bit weak when I was in the back yard, the wifi connection would drop to 2 bars and 13Mbps strength. The Fire HD remains at excellent strength 4 bars and 130Mbps. I love the dual band and MIMO on this.
Speakers are a vast improvement too. They are louder and clearer on the Fire HD. With my Nexus 7 when I watched YouTube podcasts I'd have to wear headphones because it was difficult to hear dialog clearly sometimes, but everything comes out loud and clear on the Fire HD. Heck I have to turn the volume down a bit even.
I miss having a real home screen, being able able to arrange icons and customize the look. But Kindle OS doesn't seem too bad. And since I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I do like the suggestions they present me with. The OS is where the Nexus 7 shines very brightly and the Fire HD doesn't as I expected. But the OS performance on the Fire HD actually seems pretty good so far.
I had no trouble side loading my favorite Android apps and YouTube. I'm not rooting and loading Google Play at this time. Just in case I decide to return it, I want to be able to return it to stock easily. YouTube runs fine and all my side loaded apps seem to be working. So it seems everything I'd been using my Nexus 7 for I should be able to do on the Fire HD.
In summary I'm happy with the Kindle Fire HD so far. The only nagging concern is should I stick with this 7.0 model or wait for the 8.9 inch model. I like the smaller size, but am missing out on higher DPI and a faster processor, it's pretty tempting.
Once(if) it gets a custom recovery and bootloader, and gets jellybean ROMs, its going to be awesome.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
:good: Good Decision
I also have a Nexus 7, last week it started having whiteout and washed out screen/collor issues. Its been over a month so not sure what to do with it now, but I have really been loving my rooted kindle fire hd with google play store and apps
Josepho1997 said:
Once(if) it gets a custom recovery and bootloader, and gets jellybean ROMs, its going to be awesome.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then I'm going to buy one
I sold my original Kindle Fire to get the Nexus 7. But after going through 2 units, I finally returned it due to hardware failure issues and decided to wait. When the new Kindle Fire HD was announced, I was so excited I ordered the 7 inch model even though I also ordered the 8.9 inch model. For some reason, possibly due to how well they are built, the Kindle Fires hold their value very well. I'm not worried at all about re selling the 7 once I get the 8.9.
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
Ravynmagi said:
I just made the switch from the Nexus 7 to a Kindle Fire HD. I'm not totally sure it's the best decision, but so far I don't feel bad for making the switch.
I love the Nexus 7, it's speedy, feels great in my hand, and I just love having a stock Android tablet with Jelly Bean. But I'm disappointed with the hardware quality, after several RMAs I still have loose glass on the left side, washed out colors, the speaker is almost unusable in some situations, and the wifi isn't that good. ASUS says they had to rush to redesign this for Google and I feel like it shows. I'm pretty disappointed because I so wanted to love the tablet and there are not any other good true Android tablets in this price range (Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 is not an option because of it's 1024x600 resolution).
Google was kind enough to give me a refund. And I really appreciate that, because I bought the Nexus 7 two months ago. So I picked up a Kindle Fire HD today.
The main reason why I decided to give the Kindle Fire HD a chance is because I'm an Amazon Prime subscriber, I have bought quite a few ebooks from them, I use their Instant Video service, and I do a lot of other shopping with them. So I figure even if I don't really love it as a tablet, at least it'll hopefully be a nice device from finding new content on Amazon.
My first impressions of the Kindle Fire HD after a few hours of use...
The build quality just feels excellent. The glass is where it should be and isn't moving and that's always a good start. The back side feels slightly more premium. It's wider than my Nexus 7 so not as comfortable to hold like a giant cell phone like I do with the Nexus 7, but it has a wider bezel so easier to hold on one edge. Nexus 7 does win in comfort to hold though because of it's lighter weight as well. But the Fire HD is comfortable enough as well, so no complaints.
My next concern area was the display quality. The colors on the Fire HD are warmer and look much better. The screen also seems to be brighter, so that should help outdoors.
Wifi was not really a concern on my Nexus 7, but my signal strength was a bit weak when I was in the back yard, the wifi connection would drop to 2 bars and 13Mbps strength. The Fire HD remains at excellent strength 4 bars and 130Mbps. I love the dual band and MIMO on this.
Speakers are a vast improvement too. They are louder and clearer on the Fire HD. With my Nexus 7 when I watched YouTube podcasts I'd have to wear headphones because it was difficult to hear dialog clearly sometimes, but everything comes out loud and clear on the Fire HD. Heck I have to turn the volume down a bit even.
I miss having a real home screen, being able able to arrange icons and customize the look. But Kindle OS doesn't seem too bad. And since I'm an Amazon Prime customer, I do like the suggestions they present me with. The OS is where the Nexus 7 shines very brightly and the Fire HD doesn't as I expected. But the OS performance on the Fire HD actually seems pretty good so far.
I had no trouble side loading my favorite Android apps and YouTube. I'm not rooting and loading Google Play at this time. Just in case I decide to return it, I want to be able to return it to stock easily. YouTube runs fine and all my side loaded apps seem to be working. So it seems everything I'd been using my Nexus 7 for I should be able to do on the Fire HD.
In summary I'm happy with the Kindle Fire HD so far. The only nagging concern is should I stick with this 7.0 model or wait for the 8.9 inch model. I like the smaller size, but am missing out on higher DPI and a faster processor, it's pretty tempting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
vzwty said:
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good!
Thank you for your sharing, I need it!
Another thing I'm liking about the Kindle Fire HD is it's soft keys. I side loaded Dolphin and enabled full screen mode and I really have FULL SCREEN. I love how the soft keys minimize to a small little overlapping tab on the edge. I have so much screen space for viewing pages. The Nexus 7 has those huge honking ever present soft keys that rarely go away.
I am on the same boat. Nexus 7 would be awesome it it wasn't for the build quality. I am thinking about the nook HD+, it sounds awesome.
KFHD = locked. N7 = unlockable
Good luck with CM10 on the KFHD. The bootloader is locked. It's not necessarily impossible to work around it, but will be a major headache/inconvenience, and many CM folk I know are steering clear just on principal.
fattire said:
Good luck with CM10 on the KFHD. The bootloader is locked. It's not necessarily impossible to work around it, but will be a major headache/inconvenience, and many CM folk I know are steering clear just on principal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not impossible for amazon to do it. But there's no chance they will.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
vzwty said:
This applies to me also. I just traded my Nexus 7 for an unopened Fire HD plus $40. My Nexus had similar issues to yours. So far I'm very pleased with my decision. You can have a home screen if you install ADW launcher. It's the only launcher I could get to work. If you hit the home button it does not give you the option to choose a new launcher, it defaults to the Amazon launcher. Also, the Kindle app won't open from ADW. I made ADW a favorite and avoid the home button unless I need to get to my Kindle App. Not the ideal situation but gives you the option to not use the carousel, change the wallpaper, use widgets, etc.
Once CM10 is out for the Fire HD it will make things even better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im trying to do something similar to what u did.is there a way i can side load google music w/o rooting?
Tswig said:
im trying to do something similar to what u did.is there a way i can side load google music w/o rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I backed up the Google Music app from my Nexus 7 using ES File Manager. Then copied it to my Fire HD and installed it. It seems to be working just fine, I'm streaming my music from Google.
I was on the same boat as you. After returning two nexus 7s due to raised screen, I was hoping for a better build 7 inch tablet. I end up buying an excite 7.7. I was able to get the excite for 360$. I think it is a good deal considering the superb screen, build quality and features....
Sent from my AT270 using xda app-developers app
Hi! I did get my KFHD a week ago. I wanted to buy Nexus 7, but Fire HD looks better for the same price. Rooted, G Play, all work awesome! The only problem is - I can't start any launcher from the google market. It is downloaded, installed, but there is NO open button and it doesn't show up in apps... What am i doing wrong?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Melodycd said:
Hi! I did get my KFHD a week ago. I wanted to buy Nexus 7, but Fire HD looks better for the same price. Rooted, G Play, all work awesome! The only problem is - I can't start any launcher from the google market. It is downloaded, installed, but there is NO open button and it doesn't show up in apps... What am i doing wrong?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Ravynmagi said:
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do root, you can put go launcher ex apk in the system/app folder, install and reboot. Go launcher will work and you can set it to default, the kindle will ask what you want to use when it boots from that restart. Then you'll be good to go. I had it working perfect on my KFHD but its back in the box and going to UPS tomorrow.
Ravynmagi said:
I've heard only ADW Launcher seems to work. And if you press the Home button you'll go back to the Amazon launcher instead, so I guess you need to put ADW Launcher in your favorites and avoid hitting the home buttons. That sounds like a PITA to me, so I haven't messed with it myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its really not that big of a pain
Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2
I got a Kindle Fire HD the other day - at first I loved it but the mods amazon have done to android are starting to annoy me now. I've rooted it and installed another home screen (go launcher HD) but getting simple things done involves messing about and hacking that I would rather not have to do. I'm considering buying a Nexus7 now - not sure if i'll be able to take the kindle back for a refund or just have to take a financial hit there. My question is, is it worth doing? Is the Nexus a lot better?
Cheers
Dean
I went from the regular Kindle Fire to the Nexus 7 [gave the Fire to my mom...]. I was torn between the Fire HD and the Nexus, but decided on the Nexus to give me a full Android experience. I can still use the Kindle app to read books and Amazon's MP3 app to give me access to my music which is all stored on Amazon's cloud. For me, this was the right choice.
PromaneX said:
I got a Kindle Fire HD the other day - at first I loved it but the mods amazon have done to android are starting to annoy me now. I've rooted it and installed another home screen (go launcher HD) but getting simple things done involves messing about and hacking that I would rather not have to do. I'm considering buying a Nexus7 now - not sure if i'll be able to take the kindle back for a refund or just have to take a financial hit there. My question is, is it worth doing? Is the Nexus a lot better?
Cheers
Dean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus 7 will give you all the pure Android experience, and all the freedom that goes with it, but you may find the screen on the Kindle Fire HD to be better:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=33755719&postcount=68
I have a Nexus 7 and it was a no-brainer for me. The kindle HD is nice, but I like the full Google experience. Plus you're more likely to see updates because you won't have to go through proprietary companies before Google pushes an update. I got my wife the HD and she loves it. But she reads mostly and she likes Amazon Prime's free book per month thing. We compared video playback using Netflix. The HD was just a tad brighter, but the colors and resolution looked better in the Nexus. The HD is a nice tablet...but if you like customization and care about updates - the Nexus is the way to go.
There may be someone like you that had a Nexus and wants the HD...try CL to see if someone will trade. Otherwise, sell the HD (you should still be able to get a good price) and if you have some Xbox out PlayStation games you don't want, trade them in at GameStop and use the credit towards a Nexus. Yes, they sell the Nexus there. That's where I got mine and used the game credit to get the 16GB version.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Thanks everyone - I think I'll go for the Nexus and either sell the kindle or give it to a family member - Guess you'll be seeing a lot more of me around this section once I get it
Been comparing these two for ages.
Differences are:
1. Build quality. Kindle appears to be a better build (I've used both).
2. Screen. Kindle is better, especially for reading and at different angles
3. WiFi. Kindle is dual band and is faster
4. Sound. Kindle is dolby stereo and better
5. Innards / CPU. Nexus has a faster CPU and GPU, with some games specifically optimised for it. Kindle I used appeared to have significant lag at times.
6. OS. Kindle uses a skinned version of an earlier version of Android. It cannot do everything the Nexus can and is not as compatible with things the Nexus is. The Nexus is likely to get the latest android updates, the kindle may never get them.
7. Play Store: The Kindle uses its own store and has less apps in it. Many apps will not work with the Kindle.
8. Google Play Music: This is not supported currently on the Kindle
9. Camera. The camera on the Kindle cannot be used as a camera as no app currently exists for it. This is not the case with the Nexus
10. GPS. The Kindle does not have a GPS in it (Kindle Fire HD does, but has no apps to use it as yet)
11. HDMI Out: The Kindle has this. The Nexus does not.
12. Charger. The Nexus comes with a charger. The kindle you have to buy one seperatley or use a slower USB to microusb charger.
13. Size. The Kindle is a little larger. This makes it harder to hold in one hand or pocket easily. However, it gives a nice bezel to hold while reading
14. Battery. Kindle battery life is on paper slightly better than the Nexus. (11.5 vs 9.5 hrs)
15. NFC. Nexus has it. Kindle does not.
16. Magnetometer. Nexus has it. Kindle does not
17. Bluetooth. Nexus has it. Kindle does not - bit odd leaving that out.
So... the Nexus is better, but possibly not as well built and does not have as good sound or screen. Its also possibly going to be stuck on its current OS level and not get all the new and nice upgrades. Your favourite apps may not work on it.
If it annoys you, then you will be happy with the N7!!!!
I was in the exact same shoes and I'm extremely happy I made the switch. No matter how you say it, the KFHD is nothing but a gimped android device with the amazon system running, including using custom launcher.
Dev's are working on a boot strap for the KFHD but it's still in early development and not to mention waiting for (stable) rom.
You'll be happy with the N7 out of the box.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Went out and got the 32gb n7 today and gave the kidnle to the gf. I LOVE the nexus! Really happy that I got it! Thanks to everyone who helped me make the choice
I'm now the proud owner of a Nook HD. It's my second android device (phone is a GS3) and my fourth device for which I have sought guidance in this incredible forum. After perusing the Nook section of this site, I felt like I needed to reflect on why I chose this device.
1. I need to read more...again. I used to read all of the time. I'm a high school English teacher, so I have a passion for reading. However, like so many of my teenage students, I am easily distracted. I thought that I would read on my iPad, but that didn't happen since there are so many great games out for tablets. As a father of a 3-year old, my time and energy has seemed to be more prone to go to a mindless video game for a few minutes of gameplay rather than delve deep into a classic from one of my favorite authors. So, I'm hoping my Nook HD is the answer I need for this. Since it is smaller, maybe I'll have it along with my more often so I can read more often. Also, since B&N doesn't seem to have any intention of competing with iOS on the scale of game offerings, I won't be tempted to play N.O.V.A. or Modern Combat over reading Eliot.
2. 7" seems to really be the perfect size for a reading tablet. Sorry HD+ owners, you're not going to like this point. If that HD+ is your first tablet, I hope you will at least heed or remember my thoughts here. My iPad (or any 10" screen) is too big to read on enjoyably. I've had an iPad for almost 2 years and I have spent many hours reading on it. It's an amazing device for things like producing writing, annotating essays, playing games, or watching movies, but the size of the blessed thing is just not ideal for reading*. Think about it, why are most paperbacks around 6-8" tall? I think it's because you naturally read faster and more easily when your eyes don't have to travel too far up an down the pages. A 7" tablet has the same effect. After reading on my HD for a while today, I can honestly say that the reading experience seems easier and more natural. Plus, being able to hold it with one hand makes it more convenient as well.
*I also looked at a couple magazines on my Nook HD and I will say the 10" screens are more suited for that. Looking at Entertainment Weekly caused some eyestrain. I suppose that's one reason B&N invented Article View.
So, that's my spiel. Feel free to concur or show obloquy as desired.
I got the HD because:
1) It had faster benchmarks than the Nexus 7
2) It had a better resolution and an overall better screen than the Nexus 7
3) It was rootable
4) I originally paid $180, but then returned it and got it for $149 at Staples
5) Nexus 7 16GB was not available anywhere.
Overall, I am very happy with the little tablet. I got my wife the HD+ at Staples for $199. She's not so happy with it, so I'll have two tablets and she'll end up getting the iPad Mini when the retina version comes out since her first gen iPad is getting outdated. Both the HD and HD+ were rooted but updated to 2.0.5, but Play still works. I was able to sideload Chrome since Play shows it incompatible. I also have them both booting to CM10 which has been pretty stable so far.
I agree about the 7" size. I have a 10" android tablet for playing games and surfing the web. I got the HD for reading. I rooted it to put other reading apps on it and so it can be more of an all-around device when necessary.
I get the HD+ for the size and resolution. I use the size for reading manga, smaller would just make it not very readable. Also I already have a Note II which is 5.5inches. So getting HD is kinda redundant. Also I found that using the HD+ connecting to my notebook using iDisplay to show my pictures when I'm working on them is quite useful.
Obviously 7inch and 9inch are aim at different type of consumers.
someone0 said:
I get the HD+ for the size and resolution. I use the size for reading manga, smaller would just make it not very readable. Also I already have a Note II which is 5.5inches. So getting HD is kinda redundant. Also I found that using the HD+ connecting to my notebook using iDisplay to show my pictures when I'm working on them is quite useful.
Obviously 7inch and 9inch are aim at different type of consumers.
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Those are good points. Like I said in my op, magazines are a bit small on the HD, so I'm sure the HD+ is better for anything illustrated.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2
Great briefing now there is thread to point out to confused potential buyers
Sent from a hybrid phablet !
The HD+ gives a quite nice two-column reading experience in landscape. I would have stuck with something smaller if comic books and magazines were lower on my priority list, but my old Nook Color always felt a bit cramped for those. I've honestly been on a comic book and audio book jag ever since I got the HD+ and not reading much in the way of straight text.
nikufellow said:
Great briefing now there is thread to point out to confused potential buyers
Sent from a hybrid phablet !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good idea. Title changed to help that type of buyer searching.
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Even if the title weren't change it just mean people would look at the remarks and can tell, that maybe there is something they want to do and HD isn't good at but HD+ does better. It's no confusing at all. Reasons to buy alone isn't very informative w/o reasons not to buy. Information is information, period.
I went from Sony Reader to Kindle 3 to Nook Tablet to Nook HD+.
Nook Tablet is perfect size for reading books and bringing along with me--I agree with you there.
I read lots of magazines in PDF format. That's the main reason I went with the bigger HD+. I've grown accustomed to the size now and like the bigger screen.
Hardback books are about the size of the HD+, and I have always liked Hardback covers over paperbacks. So my yin to your yang.
However I have yet to use this thing for anything but video and some light music.
migrax
Has anyone here tried the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 also?
I'm on the fence between a Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and a Nook HD+. I wasn't sure if I wanted a 7" or 9" at first but I think I need a 9" because I mostly will want to use it to look at PDF tech manuals and CAD schematic drawings when I'm on the go crawling around in areas where it is inconvenient to carry a laptop. Aside from that, its nice to have something to use on the plane or sitting around at the airport.
The main differences I see are:
Kindle: thinner (barely), has mimo wifi (don't know if its a real diff), camera (already have a phone camera), micro usb (don't have to buy proprietary connectors), ambient light sensor (might save some batt)
Nook: lighter (not by much), higher ppi (barely), external storage (although I'm not sure if I really need it)
Price is about the same if I look on ebay. Software is the same if I put on CM10, although I'm not sure if the kindle is as far along.
For me, seems like the biggest diff is the micro usb vs the external storage, and maybe the weight, hard to know how important 2.4oz is. I suspect that the external storage won't really be needed so if the weight isnt a big diff, I think I may lean towards the kindle.
I'd be interested in any other important differences people have noticed.
There is more difference between the Nook HD and Nexus 7 than some people think. The Nook HD provides the main essentials like good screen etc but has very limited sensors.
The nexus 7 is like a phone and has a full collection of sensors like an ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, compass, proximity sensor, camera + more.
These sensors can be useful in some circumstances. Gyro is good for games and alot better than an accelerometer
sorrowuk said:
There is more difference between the Nook HD and Nexus 7 than some people think. The Nook HD provides the main essentials like good screen etc but has very limited sensors.
The nexus 7 is like a phone and has a full collection of sensors like an ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, compass, proximity sensor, camera + more.
These sensors can be useful in some circumstances. Gyro is good for games and alot better than an accelerometer
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Click to collapse
Yes, if you only have one tablet/smartphone device the choice is harder. However, I have a smartphone and a 10" android tablet. I wanted a light reader with added functionality. I fell in love with the nook HD screen as I am a screen-o-phile and can't go back to TN displays with poor color representation. The Nook HD has fantastic colors as well as a good resolution. Images just pop. I think it has over 90% adobe RGB gamut which is better than the nexus 7 (86% if I recall correctly) along with a better resolution.
Now resolution is not everything. The next gen ipad certainly has a ridiculous resolution that requires an overpowered GPU for most purposes ... that is all purposes except reading where every bit of resolution helps to discern text. Likewise, the extra bit of resolution on the Nook HD really makes it a good reader.
The Nook HD is also very light and has removable storage which is a HUGE plus for me. All the major tablet/phone manufacturers charge like 100-200 bucks more for pennies worth of Nand. 720p screens require at least 32gb to enjoy videos and media at that resolution IMO.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. B&N produced a quality product at a good price. They did shortchange in certain areas (no camera, no sensors), but I don't care about camera as almost all of them suck anyways in 7" tablets (especially the front ones) and the sensors are kind of a pain but I already have a smartphone so what do I care?
The Nook HD is a fantastic reader and secondary tablet. Hopefully with some more work on CM10/10.1, it will be a better primary one too.
Diogenes5 said:
720p screens require at least 32gb to enjoy videos and media at that resolution IMO.
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Can you clarify what you mean by this?
a 720p video file certainly isnt 32gb. maybe 1gb per movie depending on quality
It may take more memory to play it but the memory has nothing to do with the 32gb storage.
As for sensors, I dont care about the camera. GPS would be nice but the kindle doesnt have it either.
I don't see the use of a proximity sensor. The gyro is needed for some games. and the light sensor is somewhat important to output the right amount of brightness.
enricong said:
Can you clarify what you mean by this?
a 720p video file certainly isnt 32gb. maybe 1gb per movie depending on quality
It may take more memory to play it but the memory has nothing to do with the 32gb storage.
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Click to collapse
A decently compressed feature-length 720p movie will range from 1.5-4GB depending on encoding, and a straight rip without decent compression might run 6-8GB or more. If you want to have more than one such movie on your tablet and maybe a couple of TV episodes as well as other media (magazines, PDFs, comics) it piles up fast. I don't even watch many videos on my tablet, and getting by on less than 32GB for what is essentially a media portal would be a pain.
Most 720p movies I've watched are in the 1-1.5 range. Beyond that I havent noticed alot of difference but maybe that's just me. Regardless, I don't see myself watching alot of movies on this and I wouldn't need to store more than one or two at a time. My primary purpose would be using it when it is inconvenient to carry my laptop like when I'm out in the field and need to pull up a pdf manual and/or cad drawings. This does not require much storage space.
It does sound like the trade is between the piece of mind of being able to upgrade storage and having a couple more sensors + the convenience of a microUSB.
i agree that 7" is a darn good size for reading and on hand holding, but i occasionally do things other than reading and 7" kinda limited me. i upgraded my galaxy tab 8.9 to this device. i do have a 10.1 galaxy note but do find that one too big for reading most of the times. it's not heavy, just awkward holding with one hand while laying down reading.
The 7" form factor is great, but even as much as I like expandable storage and getting every last possible pixel per inch, the Nook HD just doesn't stand up to the Nexus 7 in that market. The 32GB N7 is at least adequate in storage, and only $20 more than a 16GB Nook HD. The PPI difference is not that major, they're about the same weight with equally generic design, but the N7 has considerably more powerful innards, a full sensor array, and it's already a Nexus device: no hacking required. You'd have to really, really like the Nook HD display and see limited functionality as a positive thing--I could maybe see it if you were buying with young children in mind.
The HD+, on the other hand, has only one competitor within 30-40% of the asking price, and that one (the Kindle 8.9") is still asking more for less. Like the Nook Color when that device came out, the HD+ is the best screen for the money right now and also happens to have a distinctive design, not just because there's a hole in it but because it has a unified aesthetic other than "fat black bezel."
Taosaur said:
The 7" form factor is great, but even as much as I like expandable storage and getting every last possible pixel per inch, the Nook HD just doesn't stand up to the Nexus 7 in that market. The 32GB N7 is at least adequate in storage, and only $20 more than a 16GB Nook HD. The PPI difference is not that major, they're about the same weight with equally generic design, but the N7 has considerably more powerful innards, a full sensor array, and it's already a Nexus device: no hacking required. You'd have to really, really like the Nook HD display and see limited functionality as a positive thing--I could maybe see it if you were buying with young children in mind.
The HD+, on the other hand, has only one competitor within 30-40% of the asking price, and that one (the Kindle 8.9") is still asking more for less. Like the Nook Color when that device came out, the HD+ is the best screen for the money right now and also happens to have a distinctive design, not just because there's a hole in it but because it has a unified aesthetic other than "fat black bezel."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Barnes & Noble Nook HD using Tapatalk HD
This had way top many overgeneralizations for me to ignore. For one, the storage difference is significant. For the same price I can get a nook HD with a 64gb micro SD card as a 32gb nexus.
The PPI difference is still significant. I compared both devices directly and the nook HD had better color accuracy and sharper text. 900p is actually over 25% more pixels than 800p. It is a huge difference for reading and text-based media consumption.
Weight is also very important for me at this form factor and given my usage patterns. The nook HD is the lightest device in its class and feels even lighter than my phone. I feel weight definitely matters especially for a device meant to be held and used as a replacement novel unlike say an iPad which can reasonably be expected to be laid down or held upright by a case instead.
Powerful is relative. The tegra 3 GPU is seriously underwhelming to adreno and mali. I know, I own a transformer infinity. For most virtually every process the nook HD is just as smooth as the nexus 7 which is all that really matters, not epeen statements about power. Devices need only be powerful enough for their intended use.
Nexus devices are definitely nice but so is cynmogen mod. Nook HD definitely takes more work to enjoy. Sensors are also irrelevant if you use them. How man people do you know actually use the cameras on their tablet for example. How about GPS? Having the option is definitely nice but irrelevant in most cases to the vast majority of people.
Its ironic that you mention the hd+ as being better. I found using it underwhelming. After having owned the infinity, I know how hard it is for current gen tech to power full HD displays. The nook HD+ was very slow at loading PDFs in store and kind of clunky in terms of performance. Understandable as even my infinity lags with an over clocked tegra 3. A nook HD was however completely smooth for me.
To each his own, but I think the nook HD is a much better device for me than a nexus 7. Even if I didn't ave a larger tablet, I would have gotten a nook.
In my opinion tablets are all about screen first, practicality second, and smoothness second. The nook HD does a better job at being a media consumption device than the nexus 7 across many metrics.
I've not posted in this forum yet. I've used xda to root several android devices. I've owned or still have nooks, fire, Acer 500, Asus prime, and Asus infinity. I got the hd fully knowing what I was getting. I wanted a media tablet. I'm doing about 90% of my computer time on tablets and wanted to play media and compute at the same time.
Why the hd 8.9?
7 in tablets are good for a lot of things . They are easy to hold and typing is easier. They are easier to carry. However I'm in my sixties and my vision is not what it used to be. I like a bigger screen and wanted something that is easier to type on than 10in. Tablets. I also wanted something a little easier to carry. I wanted hd playback and really wanted something close to my infinity in screen quality. I didn't want to spend $500.I use Amazon prime. I am not an Apple fan. I heard a review about sound quality, that impressed me. With its price the hd was not a hard decision.
What I like.
I am not disappointed. The biggest wow is the sound. I use volume boost on my other tablets and the hd blows them out of the water. Both in volume and sound quality.
I played a hd video on YouTube, comparing hd with infinity. I believe both have 240 resolution. Video looked great on both tablets. Flesh tones looked better on hd. Again no disappointment.
Lots of selections in Amazon app store, and its not that hard to side load apps. I would guess 90% of programs I've downloaded work fine. I use dropbox to transfer programs. Amazon has box app, but I have had no problems with dropbox so that's what I use. Go to their site and download app using silk. Since I have access to Google play with other android tablets, I just upload and download through cloud storage. Use a friend's tablet to do what I'm doing.
I like the email app. Email and calender sync to gmail and its simple to use. Silk web browser works just fine. It's not the fanciest but works just fine. I've had lots more problems with other tablets web browsers. Predictive text is working pretty good on this thing.
WiFi is another reason I like hd, and I was pleasantly pleased when I realized it can operate on the 5000 band.
What I don't like
I'm not going into the Amazon skin issue because it is what it is, and it does a good job front ending Amazon. If you don't like it you can root it. Don't know if I will, but someday when I'm board I probably will.
I would like a hair more grip on the back. This is better than my other tablets but little more would be great.
Sometimes I'm getting poor or no key response. Probably will get fixed in upgrade.
My favorite keyboard sideloaded but the side menu didn't close and blocked part of the keyboard and I couldn't use to. I wish option bar collapsed or I could move it to the bottom having said that I like where the back key is. It's really handy where it's at both exposed hidden. Easy thumb operation.
I wish charging port and hdmi was on the side. Their in the way if you use some sort of bracket or want to rest bottom on something. Not all apps rotate all the way around.
Overall I'm very happy with kindle fire hd 8.9. In its simplest form it's easy to use. Most applications people will use are already here. Not having YouTube is a problem but YouTube downloader app in Amazon store will work. Elsewhere on hd threads there is a instructions to get YouTube without root that works.
What makes this tablet different than anything in its price range is the high performance features. I would have no problem getting this for my mom or recommend this to anyone that wants a tablet to just work. There is a kids mode that I don't need but have heard is very good as well.
No buyers regret here, even though I'm watching ces. Chuckle, always ces envy. I am very happy with my hd.
Woody
Sent from my KFJWI using Tapatalk 2
Review 8.9" Kindle Fire HD
woodsonmh,
Very nice review. Some of this review reflects my experience with the Kindle 7" HD. I completely agree with
your review regarding the sound. We own about 40 Tablets (company wide) and the Kindle is by far the best
sounding tablet out of the group when watching movies. I am sure this is in part due to Dolby running in the
background. I am also impressed with the coating over the glass. They have something embedded that
reduces glare to an absolute minimum. So when we use the Kindle outdoors, we are not overcome with sun
glare and reflection. Thank you again for the review and welcome to the Kindle General forum.
Gotta say the sound is awesome on the kindle 2nd gen (non hd)
Even without the dolby... i really think it's the speakers above the dolby since i compared the sound with the hd model and found very little difference in quality and volume.
Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk 2
Kindle Fire 2
mindmajick said:
Gotta say the sound is awesome on the kindle 2nd gen (non hd)
Even without the dolby... i really think it's the speakers above the dolby since i compared the sound with the hd model and found very little difference in quality and volume.
Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mindmajick,
Wow, even the Kindle Fire 2? When I really notice Dolby is when I use headphones. We just purchased a Nexus 10
and Note II when comparing a Movie against the Kindle 7" HD, the sound and clarity on the HD clearly surpasses
the Not II and the Nexus 10. There is absolutely no noise when cranked up, whereas the Nexus 10 has a hiss when
it is cranked up. This is great stuff mindmajick, good to know and pass onto our customers. I really love the XDA
Community.:good:
Yup. Even on the kindle 2
I was actually gonna buy a 7" nexus tab but when i went to the store there were 10 in stock. All returns for faulty hardware. I bought the kindle 2nd gen KNOWING it would be hackable and with solid hardware.
Cyanogenmod will come in time. My current phone is the skyrocket. Again i bought it for the hardware and not the stock os.
Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk 2
Hi. I currently own an LG G2 and an iPad mini Retina but i'm missing having an Android tablet because of the vast customisations that you can do with an open OS.
I'm kinda exploring the new Kindle Fire HDX but with a lack of the Google Plays Store for me its a sort of big deal.
What is the best/easiest way to sideload apps on the FHD? Is it better to just install .apk files? Where do i get .apk files?
What if the app has an update? Do i need to re-install the new .apk file?
Or is it best to just buy a "normal" Android tablet?
Pls advice. Thanks.
Imo buy a nexus 7
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk
gino_76ph said:
Hi. I currently own an LG G2 and an iPad mini Retina but i'm missing having an Android tablet because of the vast customisations that you can do with an open OS.
I'm kinda exploring the new Kindle Fire HDX but with a lack of the Google Plays Store for me its a sort of big deal.
What is the best/easiest way to sideload apps on the FHD? Is it better to just install .apk files? Where do i get .apk files?
What if the app has an update? Do i need to re-install the new .apk file?
Or is it best to just buy a "normal" Android tablet?
Pls advice. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From everything you said, I wouldn't even consider an hdx. Check out the nexus 7.
StAlfonzo said:
From everything you said, I wouldn't even consider an hdx. Check out the nexus 7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem with the Nexus 7 is the small 7" screen. Not big and wide enough for viewing/surfing/watching stuff. The big bezels on the side doesn't help at all and speakers ain't loud or clear enough.
What i like about the KIndles are the build quality, amazing speakers sound and a friendly/unique OS (which i happen to know is a forked Android OS).
If i can sideload apps and or download .apk files off a third party app store(s) then maybe i can live with that.
gino_76ph said:
Problem with the Nexus 7 is the small 7" screen. Not big and wide enough for viewing/surfing/watching stuff. The big bezels on the side doesn't help at all and speakers ain't loud or clear enough.
What i like about the KIndles are the build quality, amazing speakers sound and a friendly/unique OS (which i happen to know is a forked Android OS).
If i can sideload apps and or download .apk files off a third party app store(s) then maybe i can live with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounded like customization was key to you wanting an Android tablet at all. Nobody has even unlocked the bootloader yet for the kindle, so I was basing my advice off that.
I love my kindle, but I have been frustrated with its lack of being able to customize anything. You cant even change the date and time, as Amazon didn't allocate any memory for that.
I generally recommend the tablet for people who have Amazon Prime and would utilize all of Amazon's streaming services. For others, it's more of a 50/50. I agree with you about the build quality, and the all-around amazing hardware stats of the device. That's why I bought one, even though I don't have Prime.
I guess I forgot to ask which size you were looking at. I was recommending the nexus over the hdx 7", cos that's what I have and what most people around here have, as it was less than half the price of the 8.9" for a long time around Christmas. Also, the bezel on the hdx is pretty big, too. It's meant for you to fit your full thumb there so you can hold the device easier.
You can sideload apps easily now that google apps are up and running, so customization is a little better than I led you to believe. That date/time thing just really got to me when I was playing candy crush and couldn't get more lives.
I got the HDX 8.9 and finally had to return it, the hardware was great but the limitation of the software that hurt the most was how some side-loaded apps and games would ignore the onscreen buttons.
Then samsung's Tab Pro 8.4 was announced and has play store, micro sd slot and mhl combined with a non pentile 2560x1600 screen finalized my decision.
As someone who has owned several tablets in the past 4 years (HTC Flyer, Galaxy Tab 1, Tesco Hudl, old & new Nexus 7, iPad 2, Acer Iconia B1, old Kindle Fire HD, iPad mini) i can say i'm pretty much experienced when it comes to prices, specs...basically what i really need on a tablet.
At the moment i have the iPad mini with Retina display. What's amazing about the device is the size seems just about right for reading, viewing and watching movies, amazing build quality, you have the App store, speakers are just about average loudness and the simplicity of the OS. But i prefer Android OS more as i have an Android phone and i feel i can do more and i feel "not constrained" to the overall ecosystem and OS that is Apple's.
My current choice of screen size is at least more than 7-inch. Problem with my 1st choice (the Galaxy Note 8.0) is Samsung products tend to have a "premium" price, slow updates and near-abysmal customer support. My second choice is the LG G-pAd 8.3. Specs looks amazing on paper and it will compliment my G2 very well. If you can ignore the poor/slow updates of LG phones in the past 2-3 years then one can live with it i think. Reviews of the G-pad has so far been amazing and i feel the screen size is almost perfect even more better when watching a movie or the football. My 3rd choice is the Asus Memo Pad 8 but again poor customer support in the UK and poor reviews have put me off somehow.