Electronics

[gardenman]

@SouthernBee 

If you're used to Android then you wouldn't have an issue with a Fire tablet. The Fire OS is based on Android. The only issue might be the availability of the apps you're used to using. Amazon's app store isn't as robust as Apple's, but they have most of the more popular apps. You can see the apps available there before deciding. You can sideload the Google Playstore following online/YouTube directions, but I haven't done it. That would give you access to more apps, but I've got the apps I want.

[tends2dogs]

@gardenman , @SouthernBee   HSN has a two pack of Amazon tablets today for their TS.  It looks to be a larger version of the 8 inch that QVC had the other day for their TSV.  It might be worth looking at.

It is $169 for two.  Does this look to be about the same as what QVC offered, @gardenman ?

[SouthernBee]

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@gardenman wrote:

@SouthernBee 

If Amazon has the apps you like in their app store, there won't be a lot of difference for you. Everything pretty much works the same. You point, you tap, and stuff happens. I use my tablets for some games, lots of Internet surfing, reading emails, and occasionally reading using the Kindle app. I'll open up a book I'm writing from time to time to see how it looks someplace other than my computer. I watch YouTube, Sling TV, Paramount+ on it. A tablet is a tablet these days. 

I'm very happy with the existing (2020) version of the 8" Fire Tablet so I grabbed another one at $45 the other day. There is a newer, faster, better screen one coming in October for $99 that would be better, but I saved the $55 by getting the older one that I already know and am happy with. I had the 10" Fire Tablet and used that a lot, but it died a few months ago. (I had it since 2017 so I can't complain a lot.) Once I got the 8" version though I found the 10" to be a bit too big. The 7" is a bit too small (and their latest 7" one, at least the one I got, was junk.) The existing 8" Fire tablet is perfect for me. A nice size. Good enough screen. It does what I need a tablet to do.

I turn on my tablet after getting up in the morning. Once turned on I simply swipe up to unlock it. (I haven't set a passcode or password.) Then I swipe down from the top to view any notifications. At this moment, my notifications show that my Aunt has posted on Facebook, I can see the receipt from this morning's Acme shopping trip, and learn I have 21 new messages in my email folder. Then I can either clear the notifications by hitting the "Clear All" message, or just swipe up if I don't want to erase them. Then my Home screen pops up with all of my various apps available. (I have 43 apps on it currently.) To open an app, I simply tap it, and there it is. To close an app, I just hit the circle at the bottom of the screen. Easy-peasy. I'll typically play a fast game of Solitaire (mostly Pyramid these days) and then do whatever first thing in the morning. When I'm done, I just hit the power button, and off it goes. The Fire Tablets don't have the best camera in the world, by a long shot, but it's functional. Not as good as most phone cameras, but in a pinch, it'll do.

I've been tempted by the Samsung Galaxy tablets, but the price difference scares me away. This little tablet does what I need it to do and what I want it to do and for the price I paid, I can't complain too much. 

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@gardenman : 43 apps- how many GB? Runs fast with no issues?

[gardenman]

@SouthernBee 

Mine's a 32 GB and I still have  over 17 GBs unused for anything else I want. I could add lots more stuff but these are the apps I use the most. It's fast enough for me. The new one coming in October is said to be 30% faster. I'm just happy with this one, so getting one for half price this past week was too good to pass up. At $45 with five easy pays, it was just too good to pass up. (I'm typing this on my existing 8" Fire tablet.) If you see me online anytime between say before about 7:30 AM and after 11:30 AM ET I'm probably on the 8" Fire tablet. Between 7:30 AM and 11:30 AM I'll be at my desktop computer, but the rest of the time I'm on the tablet.

[gardenman]

@tends2dogs 

Yeah, they're very similar. I had the 10" (2017 version) but I prefer the 8".

[SouthernBee]

Trying to respond on my cell phone . Dh using iPad to watch college football not on TV. This is difficult. Right now wishing  I had another tablet .I have the  MLB, ESPN and ESPN plus app for DH to watch on iPad when not available  on TV. I will look more about the Amazon apps later.

[gardenman]

@SouthernBee 

While the TSV is over, QVC is keeping the 8" tablet at $49.99 for now. That's $5 more than it was as the TSV, but still $40 less than full price at Amazon.

[cindyNC]

I'm going to stick my 2 cents in here.  I get most of my books from the public library online........I belong to Orange Co FL, Charlotte NC, Monroe NC and Queens NY.  

Amazon tablets, I believe, use Libby but not Overdrive.  Overdrive will be phasing out next year for public libraries. 

I've had Android tablets, Fire Tablets and now my first iPad.  I love my ipad but have considered getting a small fire tablet to take traveling as any photos would be taken with my iphone. The quality of the ipad is far superior to any other tablets that I've owned. 

That said, we do a fair amount of cruising on Carnival (or did pre-pandemic).  The Carnival app will not work on an Amazon tablet. For me, it's just too tied in to Amazon.  I want more flexibility. And I love that I can "airdrop" photos between my ipad and iphone. 

LOL - but I still do own a Windows Desktop too.

[SouthernBee]

@cindyNC : DH wants me to stay with IPad. I was considering the Amazon tablet for days like today when DH is using the IPad. I am concerned about the IPad cost but DH said to be concerned about the difference in the two products.

[cindyNC]

@SouthernBee The products are very different. It's such a personal decision and if you are really invested in purchasing books from Amazon, that might be the best way to go.  I rarely purchase ebooks.