Until the Amazon Kindle Fire came along it looked like Apple would enjoy the same blowout in tablets it did with MP3 players.
But a 7� tablet for under $200 bucks from a company you trust -- that got your attention.
But that doesn�t mean you don�t have issues with it.
I�m B.C. with the Top 5 gripes you have with the Amazon Kindle Fire, according to a survey of 2,600 Kindle users by ChangeWave research.
--------------- #5 is the one you see first: The screen size.
7� is, well, a lot less than 10.
10% of owners notice it and I bet most when watching -- or sharing -- a movie or video when that immersion in the action is just sort of impossible to obtain, unless you want to hold it 10� from your face.
And that looks like you�re into tablets way too much.
#4 is a tie at 12% of replies: Lack of 3G/4G and the limited or �curated� selection of apps.
Fire is Android based but that doesn�t mean you have the whole Android app selection awaiting you.
And the lack of 3G/4G means you�ll be working a cold sweat whenever you�re away from a hotspot.
Combine that with the small 8GB of internal storage, and that�s a lot of time spent sweaty.
#3 15% of you said the battery life is too short.
You�ll be lucky to get the promised 8 hours, where we readily got 12 on the iPad 2 in our tests.
Again, smaller device, smaller price, smaller battery.
But this and the Wi-Fi only thing conspire to keep you looking out of the corner of you eye for a place with wi-fi and a plug and that takes some of the mobile out of mobile.
#2 21% of you said No Camera?
I don�t get this one.
Who carries a Fire and not a smartphone that is imminently easier and less dorky to handle as a camera?
Before we get to #1, what is the top thing Kindle Fire owners love about it?
The $199 price.
59% pointed out that.
A distant #2 was color screen cited by 31% who clearly came to the device from either a Kindle or the 19th century.
The #1 thing that irks Fire folks about it is: No volume buttons!
Seriously.
27% of you HATE having to go on screen to control volume -- gets old reall fast.
Even button-hating Apple gives you volume rockers in iPad.
When you head into a more button free territory than Apple, you know you need a second opinion.
For lots of Kindle Fire How To tips, including Sharon Vak�s battery extending tips, head to howto.cnet.com.
And for more...
