I was anxious to receive the new amazon Kindle Fire that launched last week. There are many reviews so I won’t bore you with the bullet points. My decision to “acquire the Fire” was one of curiosity much more so than business decision. Let’s be blunt, it’s not a business device nor does Amazon position it this way. Can it handle basic business tasks? For sure.

The Kindle Fire is a minimalist’s dream and excels at being a hyper-portable media device. Starting on the outside, the face is flush-flat with no buttons. In fact, the only button on the Fire is the power toggle tucked nicely along the bottom edge. Thanks to the device’s backside texture it’s easy to grip with one hand and has a very solid build quality.

Amazon has customized the user experience to feel like your home entertainment media cabinet. As an existing Kindle owner, my new Fire’s bookshelf was automatically filled with my active Amazon Kindle book library. Other Amazon applications and services were also automagically configured for my Amazon services, like the Prime Video service and new amazon Lending Library.

Within ten minutes my trusted faithful apps were installed and ready to go. My mobile apps tend to focus on cloud functionality and include: Evernote, Quickoffice, Box.net, Dropbox, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody and Netflix. The basic email, contacts and calendar are also covered but I have alternatives that are browser based. Might I add that MobileTM looks fantastic on the Fire!

All in all the Fire is an excellent utilitarian device. I wouldn’t call it a substitute for an iPad but it makes an excellent intermediate device for cloud-based functionality. I keep mine on the nightstand or coffee table and take it with me to the coffee shop. I’m extremely pleased with the purchase and would highly recommend the product to existing Amazon Kindle or Amazon Prime customers. It would also make a great gift, especially for less tech-savvy family members. For non-Amazon customers, a comparable product would be the new Barnes and Noble Nook which comes slightly better equipped for $50 more.