Nearly all tablets can be used with an external keyboard, there are numerous folio cases with built-in Bluetooth keyboards. A few Android models have wired keyboard connections. Many Android tablets also support external pointers (mouse or trackpad), but the iPad does not (unless jailbroken). This is more important than you might expect when using the tablet with an external keyboard, it's awkward to switch between the keyboard and the touchscreen.

There is an Amazon Prime Videos application for iPad and for the Kindle Fire, but not for other Android tablets. It is possible to watch Prime Videos on Android tablets using the browser, but this requires Flash which has been removed from the most recent version of Android.

If the Fire could be tethered, I'd buy one just for the data plan. If that data plan could be used outside the U.S., I'd get it shipped ASAP.

Pretty sure that PDANet will work on any Android phone or tablet with a data plan. Doesn't require jailbreaking, although may require a phone that allows sideloading (which most but not all phones allow) if the carrier has blocked it from the market (don't know whether it's in the Amazon market at all, or if it the Google Play market loaded onto the Fire shows it.)

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I meant to say, "use the Fire as a SOURCE" for tethering. Not as a device to tether to a phone with a data plan.

Amazon have now said that an extra $15 will get an ad free version.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09...d_slab_of_ads/

Yes, I understood that. I would expect that a tablet with a data plan would be able to run the Phone version of PDAnet, which would apply to the Kindle Fire HD 4G unless somehow the Amazon-specific customizations break it.

It does not require jailbreaking, or for wired/bluetooth tether, any phone support (at least with my particular Sprint phone, the Wifi tether does not seem to work.)

Well that's enough to get me thinking about staying w/ the wifi version then. I'm already paying a bloody fortune between my ATTUverse (phone, i-net & telly) & my mobile phone (ATT). I don't need to add on $15/month, given I'm not traveling as much anymore.

Good point.

Thanks. I think I understood that.

The extra $15 will be worth it. I did have to laugh when the Amazon guy in the article said most customers appreciate the ads.

On a dif note. I'm going to wait until W8 has been out a month or two to get the bugs worked out, then get a new laptop (unless there's some great Xmas pricing).

There's another thread in this forum re: smartphones w/ keyboards, so will take a look at that.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Cheers.

I have a couple of the e-paper Kindles. My first was before they came up with the ad-supported ones.

The ads honestly don't bother me. I think they're only on the static screen saver so I see them for 1/2 second every time I read my newspaper. There are no ads when you're actually reading anything so it doesn't bother me at all.

One of the ads was a pretty good deal that I took advantage of so I suppose you *might* put me in the category of "ad appreciator". LOL

Thanks - good to know. My current Kindle is 2nd gen, so before the ads. I suppose in the overall scheme of things it doesn't matter if I'm looking at a picture of an author on the screensaver vs. an ad.

Cheers.

Are there no longer Amazon-specific ads on those Kindles?

Back when it was released, Amazon used to release very lucrative coupons via Special Offers (decent % off certain categories, like computers). These coupons were so lucrative, in fact, that people bought multiple kindles to get those offers and resell the coupon codes.

LOL! Now that is capitalism!

Regards

I am gonna wait for Google Nexus Tablet with LTE

3G isn't, unless you're willing to settle for some serious compression, but 4G LTE on Verizon works great for video streaming to handheld devices. What DL rate do you need for your videos?

Definitely the case. I don't know of any device that has caps on how much data you can use via WiFi.

I was too, but with the Nexus 7 refresh cycle about to happen and a 16GB version likely available for $150, I'm going to buy a few because they blow away the Kindles at a slightly lower price point and should be on par with the upcoming iPad Minis but at half the price. I suspect, however, we'll see an LTE N7 for under $350 very soon.

With $200 used Ipad 1's available, what would u rather have? A new Kindle Fire or a iPad 1? I bought an iPad 1 from Cowboom for $200 and it was in brand-new condition. I think they're those extended warranty returns with fixed screens. I'd rather have a slightly used iPad than a new Kindle Fire. I also wonder when the mini comes out, if iPad 1's will be even cheaper. Maybe the iPad 2 will drop to $200!

For the $200 range, I've been very pleased with my Toshiba Thrive refurb, picked up from one of the "deals" sites for $199. I subsequently picked up an iPad 2, but on a recent trip to Asia for a few weeks it was the Thrive that came along. It's not as sleek as the iPad, but the SD card & USB inputs plus an HDMI output were features that came in quite handy.