Comparing Apples and Fire: iPad Vs. Kindle

Let the Tablet Wars Begin: Best (and Worst) of 2011

From Androids to Apples, from Samsung, RIM and more, 2011 will be the year of the tablet.

When the smoke cleared this week, Amazon revealed its Fire.

The price alone on Amazon.com's new Kindle Fire tablet computer is enough to warm the buying public's response: an eye-popping price tag of just $199. That's without a two-year contract, ads or any other subsidizing gimmick.

Still, even that low price may be a bit much for what you get in return.

As with any tablet, the Fire is going up against the mighty iPad 2, and everyone is asking for a comparison of the two. I can tell you right now, the Fire doesn't begin to come close to being an iPad-killer.

For example, the hardware on the Fire is lacking. It has a dual-core processor, which is nice. However, the screen is only 7 inches, it has a mere 8 gigabytes of storage and there are no cameras or microphones. Battery life is 8 hours. Additionally, there is no 3G version, only Wi-Fi.

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Even when comparing only to iPad 2's Wi-Fi version, the Apple product offers so much more: a 9.7-inch screen, a minimum of 16GB of storage, two cameras and a microphone, for starters. Battery life is slightly better at 8.5 hours. When the iPad 3 debuts, it will widen the hardware gap even more.

If Amazon isn't taking aim at the iPad, what's the Fire all about?

Amazon is using the Fire to take on Apple. This is Amazon's opening salvo on Apple's mobile business as a whole.

Apple's dominance in the mobile arena isn't just about the iPhone and iPad's hardware. It's about Apple's entire ecosystem. The iPhone and iPad are portals to iTunes, where you can get movies, music, books, apps and more.

The cloud-based nature of the ecosystem means it's both simple and powerful. That's why no other tablet can beat the iPad 2. Many other gadgets have better software and hardware. But they don't have that cohesive ecosystem.

That's why Amazon has set its sights on Apple's ecosystem. Amazon already has instant movie streaming and a music store. It has the Android app store and, of course, the Kindle book store. Plus, Amazon has a massive cloud-based network for processing information. All it needs is a mobile gadget to tie everything together.

Enter the Kindle Fire. The low price is the first clue to Amazon's plan. Apple's iPad 2, by contrast, starts at $500 for the basic model.

And Amazon has another trick up its sleeve.

For software, Amazon is using its own special version of Android. Amazon has scrapped the usual Android interface and created its own easy-to-use system. This is one of the simplest and most responsive tablet interfaces created to date.

The reason for all this is that Fire has a very specific purpose. It is first and only an entertainment tablet. The interface helps you find and enjoy movies, music, games, apps and books. There's also a robust Web browser.

As you can see, Amazon put a lot of thought into this move. I'll admit the background technology is impressive. So, the big question is: Should you buy the Kindle Fire?

At this point, I'm going to say no. I usually recommend waiting a few months to see how any new gadget or system works in the real world. This is Amazon's first major foray into tablets and mobile ecosystems, so I'm sure hiccups will occur.

I'm also not sold on the hardware. I think a 7-inch screen is a bit small for an entertainment gadget. Additionally, it is Wi-Fi only, which makes it fine for home use. Travelers, however, won't get far on the 8GB of storage.

This tablet wasn't Amazon's only announcement. Amazon also refreshed its line of Kindle e-readers. And rumor has it that Amazon has more tablets on the way. These will likely have larger screens and perhaps improved hardware. I'd wait to see what they offer. There's nothing wrong with having more options.

For now, if you want the best all-around tablet, the iPad 2 is still your best choice.

Kim Komando hosts the nation's largest talk radio show about consumer electronics, computers and the Internet. Get the podcast or find the station nearest you at komando.com/listen. Subscribe to Kim's free e-mail newsletters at komando.com/newsletters.