My Fire HDX 8.9 32GB arrived today. I honestly don't know if I should have bought this, it was kind of an impulse buy because it was on sale yesterday.
But I do like the 9 inch screen size, since most of my Android tablets are 7 to 8.3 inches and I still think 10.1 is a bit too big. And the HDX 8.9 is quite thin and light for it's size.
Also I'm a Prime Subscriber and purchase stuff frequently from Amazon so it makes a nice shopping companion for Amazon stuff and content.
Though the Shield Tablet is $299 also (16GB model) and the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 is $329 (16GB) and are also very good choices.
First thing I did after unboxing it is head to the XDA forums and learned how to root it. I found my Fire HD 2012 to be a very frustrating device to root, but this HDX 8.9 was super easy. I downloaded the KFHDX Toolkit, with this I was able to install the ADB drivers, root with Towelroot, and install SuperSU. And no errors, rooting with super smooth with the latest Fire OS update installed. I was also able to disable the OTA so I don't get unrooted later.
After that I found a post that had me install a couple of files for Xposed Framework, then installed 4 Google APKs and had Google Play installed and working. With Google Play installed, I was able to install Chrome, YouTube, and Gmail.
I also installed Nova launcher and it works great, except you can't use wallpapers or widgets and no custom launcher will allow for that since Fire OS doesn't use those features with it's own launcher and seems to have stripped it out. Though I've gone back to the Fire OS launcher because it actually works fine.
I do have a gripe about Amazon and tablets and the reason I never bought a Fire HDX earlier. I had the Kindle Fire HD 7 back in 2012. And I had it rooted and with Google Play installed and was loving it. Then Amazon comes out with the Fire HDX and new HD tablet in 2013 along with Fire OS 3. The Fire HD 2013 model basically the same specs as the 2012 model except a TI OMAP 4470 instead of 4460. And the new HD got Fire OS 3.0 and the old HD got shown the door.
It pisses me off that a tablet only a year old would be denied the new version of Fire OS. And I am certain the 2013 Fire tablets will get the same rude treatment when the 2014 models arrive this Fall.
So while I really like the HDX I bought on impulse so far, I suspect if I do return it, it'll most likely because I want to avoid this 9 month old tablet being made obsolete feeling by Amazon in just a few months.
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