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Comment by jwillgoesfast | Hacker News Reader

"the $199 Kindle Fire HD 7-inch offers much better value than getting the $329 iPad Mini, unless you need an app that's only available on the latter."

this sentance made me want to rush out and buy one, but I'm curious on how it compares to the also $199 Nexus 7...?

it seems like the nexus 7 is still a much better option.

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It's all about ecosystem, if you have an Amazon Prime account you get the best experience with the Kindle Fire, if you want a more general use tablet with direct updates from Google go for the Nexus 7.

I also found the Fire HD's sound and screen a bit nicer, but not enough to overwhelm the ecosystem choice, which matters more on a daily basis.

Though, frankly, if you care about ecosystem and have had an iOS device before, you'll probably feel pretty let down with either device unless you have _very_ mainstream app interests.

Kindle FreeTime Unlimited for kids seems like a home run for Amazon that Google won't be able to match. (Basically unlimited content for $3/month/kid + $80/year for Amazon Prime which includes lots of other Kindle bonuses.)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?&docId=1000863021

My only reservation is the extra work required to get Google Apps (specifically Google+ Hangouts) up and running.

The FreeTime program is what got a KF in the door of our all-Apple household. As far as I'm concerned, this makes it THE toy for families.

Is any of of this available outside the US?

This is sort of off-topic, but you'd also go for the Nexus 7 if you lived in a country that wasn't serviced by Amazon.

Canada, for instance. I moved to the US (from Canada) over 10 years ago, and even then one of the small things that occured to me during the move was that I could use Amazon.com. Amazon's odd treatment of Canada still baffles me to this day (I suppose there's some bureaucratic paperwork blocking things). Amazon Prime doesn't work in Canada, and Kindle tablets aren't even sold there.

I find it odd that I can drive a few hours and end up in a country that feels like a technological backwater (e.g., Netflix, Amazon, 3-year mobile contracts, etc.) compared to the US.

As a Nexus 7 user, those direct updates from Google aren't much of a selling point. https://www.google.com/search?q=nexus+7+4.2+problems

If your main concern is media, the Fire will better suit you (no Prime Video, no Kindle Library, etc. on Android and Google Play still has a ways to catch up); otherwise IMHO the Nexus 7 has the better build, better software, and better app selection. The Nexus 7 has a 3G option as well if you're looking for that, where the 7" Fire doesn't.

The Nexus is still superior all around. The only thing it is missing is Amazon Prime video - the Kindle app works just fine on it. I think Netflix and MX Player to play local videos more than makes up for that, especially considering Amazon Prime video just doesn't have a lot to offer.

That and it plays more nicely with the rest of the Android ecosystem, it's not even close. I could not recommend the Fire HD over the Nexus 7.

I think Amazon Prime video works on the Nexus 7 with Firebox beta and the Flash plugin.

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