Technology Review: Kindle Fire

It has a 7 hour and 42 minute battery, Android user interface, and measures in at 7.5 by 4.7 inches. It streams videos and stores e-books, music, and magazines. I’m talking about the new, sleek, and simple tablet from Amazon.com—the Kindle Fire. The holidays are coming up, and chances are you have a tablet of some sort on your wish list. Should the Kindle Fire be the one on your list?

What Is the Kindle Fire?

The Kindle Fire is the first tablet from Amazon that provides an intimate feel along with a unique Android-based user interface. Utilizing the universe of Amazon Prime content, this tablet serves as an incredible nexus for today’s information addict.

Should I Buy One?

With so many tablets in today’s market, does the Kindle Fire hold its own? Today we will look at the Kindle Fire through the lens of Form, Function, Feel, and Finance.

Form: 2 1/2 out of 5:

In its raw form, there is nothing flashy about this tablet. In person or online, this device is crafted with simplicity in mind. The Kindle Fire doesn’t embody an ergonomically beveled back like the iPad 2, or a Minority Report-like design akin to the Motorola Xoom. What this device lacks in its tame design is made up for with innovative access to rich Amazon.com content.

Function: 4 out of 5:

Despite the Kindle Fire’s lackluster form, it still packs quite a punch. The trick up Amazon’s sleeve with their debut tablet: access to Amazon Prime, an Amazon service providing instant access to streaming videos and free 2nd-day shipping.

The home screen comes in the form of a shelf, displaying your videos, magazine purchases, and recently read books. This cozy home screen presents content in a visually appealing way via a shelf. Simply look at your shelf to see your most recent book, TV episode, magazine issue, or song. This home screen makes accessing your content as simple as turning the device on.

One thing that is missing from the Kindle Fire is a camera. However, the point of the Kindle Fire is not to connect people to people, but to connect people to content. With that in mind, the Kindle Fire fulfills its purpose in its function and form. Buy this device if you love to learn and share content with others.

Feel: 3 1/2 out of 5

Where many tablets have gone wrong with their clunky feel, the Kindle Fire steals the show with a clean and comfortable rubber back. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get your hands on the Kindle Fire, here is what Tim Stevens of Engadget said:

“This thing feels incredibly solid, as if Amazon simply put a chisel to a big piece of slate, gave it a good whack and then put the resulting slab into a Frustration-Free box.”

Finance: 5 out of 5

The best part of the Kindle Fire tablet is its price: $199. For what you are getting with this device, this is an incredible deal. Plain and simple, the Kindle Fire is currently the best buy on the tablet market.

So there you have it—the OLE review of Amazon’s latest tablet, the Kindle Fire. Have you added the Kindle Fire to your wish list? If you already own one, leave a comment about what your experience has been.