Amazon’s new tablet is great value for money. While not as flashy or powerful as the Apple counterpart, it is less than half the price and sports many of the same functions. Here are some accessories to purchase on release day.
- Protective case
The Kindle Fire has a relatively small 7 inch screen, meaning that it is more portable than most of its competitors. A protective cover is vital as protection for your new device and it has the added option of resting the kindle on a 45 degree angle, which is optimal for viewing video. The CEO Hybrid Cover is a stylish and high quality leather cover. While it might cost a little more than the others, it will endure extensive use better than the others. Protective cases are a long term investment, so a more expensive cover could prove to be cheaper in the long run. The old idiom of “you get what you pay for” proves to be true nearly all the time with covers, so don’t go to Ebay and spend a couple of dollar for one from China. There are many alternatives to the CEO Hybrid Cover, some with aesthetically pleasing artistic designs. This is really a matter of personal preference but be careful to buy one specifically designed for the Kindle Fire as those meant for older models may not fit properly. Covers tend to be more practical than sleeves since there is no need to zip it up each time, while also offering protection during use of the device. A final word on protection for the Kindle, many companies are going to be selling screen protectors. This is rather unnecessary as the screen is made of Gorilla Glass. It is extremely sturdy and resistant to scratches and on top of that, the case should provide adequate protection.
- USB keyboard
One of the most prominent shortcomings of the Kindle Fire is a lack of Bluetooth support. This means that you have to resort to a USB keyboard. For those who want to attempt to use the Kindle as a pseudo-computer, this is a very important accessory. The Kindle does have an excellent web browser in the Amazon Silk and while the official virtual keyboard is quite good, there is no replacement for a tactile keyboard when it comes to emailing or writing long messages. However, the Kindle was not designed for heavy document processing and therefore the software is rather cumbersome. This is fine for simply taking notes at a lecture or writing down thoughts on the road, however I still recommend using a computer for anything beyond the basics, such as spreadsheets, folios or presentations. With a keyboard, it can still be a commendable if rather limited travel companion. Having said that, this is definitely not a replacement for a small laptop, keyboard or not. There is no official one released yet but Amazon has stated that most USB keyboards will work with the Kindle.
- Headphones
The Kindle Fire is very good for content consumption and I find that the sharp screen is outstanding despite its diminutive size. A good pair of headphones is essential for an optimal viewing experience. The Kindle has a stock 3.5mm slot so it will be compatible with nearly all headphones. For those intend to frequently travel, a pair of portable headphones or IEMs are recommended.
- Amazon Prime
Another shortcoming of the Kindle Fire is that its store is absolutely incompetent compared to Apple’s App Store or Google’s Android Market. Amazon Prime offers Amazon Instant Video, discounted delivery for purchases from Amazon and also free book loans for £49.00 annually. This is a very reasonable price and should be an excellent package for most as Amazon Instant Video has a large amount content with HD available for most of its movies and TV shows. This should be of some consolation for the lackluster app selection.
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