First some context. I use computers all the time when I was working and now that I have retired and spend much of my time researching, writing and publishing books. I use a PC much of the time but when travelling find that a tablet is clearly easier to transport and provides the accessibility I need for emails, the Internet, access to film and books/magazines. I initially purchased an Asus Transformer for this purpose, then the more transportable Kindle HD 7" and now the HDX. What I want from a tablet is reliability, good battery life and ease of use to let me do the things I want to do.
The new HDX certainly fulfils those needs. Though I had a slight problem with setup that… Read more
Much of the critical chatter about Kindle Fire HD appears to have focussed on what it does not do. You know, it hasn't got the same facilities as the iPad or the quantity of apps available on the Nexus. This might be because the Kindle Fire HD is not an iPad or the Nexus: a case of complaining about something you haven't purchased. If the Kindle does not suit your needs, and especially if you don't use Amazon very often then buy something that does and stop complaining! With the Kindle you can access your emails and interrogate the Internet but its primary function (and Amazon have always been up-front with this) is as medium through which to access the services Amazon provides. If you… Read more
I have used Windows as my operating system since the 1990s and have upgraded to its different manifestations (good and poor) in the intervening years. Windows 7 is an excellent product, stable, reliable and fast and is a difficult act to follow. The question is whether Windows 8 has met the challenge. The first hurdle is always installation and Windows 8 installed like a dream with no hitches at all. My settings, programs and files survived unscathed (though I had taken the precaution of backing up everything). Windows 8 starts up quickly and closes with similar alacrity. You can tweak the system with relative ease to get it to do what you want it too and, unlike many reviewers, I… Read more
