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I agree completely! I've been thinking about why the rise of the ultra-cheap Fire tablets haven't created a new maker revolution so to speak. They can be had fo

I agree completely! I've been thinking about why the rise of the ultra-cheap Fire tablets haven't created a new maker revolution so to speak. They can be had for cheaper than the RPi for Black Friday with a built in screen!

mindslight 8y ago
I thought those things were defective-by-design, and nobody had really succeeded in fixing them?
djrogers 8y ago
Well it’s not as if Amazon lets you hack around around on them or side load apps - you’re stuck with the Amazon store unless you try a dodgy exploit based unlocking method - which leaves you with a questionable tablet.
- dawnerd 8y ago
  Exactly. And they sneakily auto update before you realize it. My older one apparently can’t be rooted now and because they pump new ones out there’s no one really caring about the old ones. Hard to complain for the price but ya know still sucks. They make great gifts at least.
- superflyguy 8y ago
  If you find the risk of hacking your tablets unacceptable to then use for banking/shopping etc can't you just use them (as intended) for youtube, browsing etc? Worst case scenario - you have to create a few new logins for sites such as this. It's not a compelling reason to avoid at £35 tablet if you ask me.
- opless 8y ago
  * looks at nexus 7 with play store on it * Seemed fairly easy and - importantly reversable. Okay, google mail doesn't work - but I can almost forgive that.
- buckminster 8y ago
  I've got a cheap Amazon fire tablet. To install software you download the apk and click on it, and it asks if you want to allow the installation of untrusted apps. No hacking required.
digi_owl 8y ago
Likely a lack of physical IO. These things have a single micro-USB port, and it will be dedicated to charging more often than not. an RPi by comparison have ethernet, multiple A style USB ports, and dedicated video out (never mind the pin array).

mindslight 8y ago

I thought those things were defective-by-design, and nobody had really succeeded in fixing them?

djrogers 8y ago

Well it’s not as if Amazon lets you hack around around on them or side load apps - you’re stuck with the Amazon store unless you try a dodgy exploit based unlocking method - which leaves you with a questionable tablet.

dawnerd 8y ago
Exactly. And they sneakily auto update before you realize it. My older one apparently can’t be rooted now and because they pump new ones out there’s no one really caring about the old ones. Hard to complain for the price but ya know still sucks. They make great gifts at least.
superflyguy 8y ago
If you find the risk of hacking your tablets unacceptable to then use for banking/shopping etc can't you just use them (as intended) for youtube, browsing etc? Worst case scenario - you have to create a few new logins for sites such as this. It's not a compelling reason to avoid at £35 tablet if you ask me.
opless 8y ago
* looks at nexus 7 with play store on it * Seemed fairly easy and - importantly reversable. Okay, google mail doesn't work - but I can almost forgive that.
buckminster 8y ago
I've got a cheap Amazon fire tablet. To install software you download the apk and click on it, and it asks if you want to allow the installation of untrusted apps. No hacking required.

digi_owl 8y ago

Likely a lack of physical IO. These things have a single micro-USB port, and it will be dedicated to charging more often than not. an RPi by comparison have ethernet, multiple A style USB ports, and dedicated video out (never mind the pin array).