The Kindle Fire tablet computer has just been announced at an amazing price of $199.00.  But, will it be available in the Philippines and will it work in the Philippines?

The Fire  is not available for purchase outside of the U.S. at this time.  But, if you can obtain one, will it work in the Philippines?  Will you be able to buy apps and content such as books, music, movies and magazine and newspaper subscriptions through Amazon?

While many are thinking that the Kindle Fire is a bargain price alternative to the Apple iPad or other tablet computers, it’s really much closer to the Barnes and Noble Nook Tablet and the similar but less expensive Nook Color, devices intended to display content bought from Barnes and Noble.  Both are 7″ tablets based on highly customized versions of the Google Android operating systems.  Neither is really intended to be a general purpose tablet computer.  Neither has a camera.  Neither has GPS. Memory is limited to 8GB, although the Nook Color has a memory expansion slot, a significant advantage over the Fire.  The Fire has a customized “Silk” web browser which is geared to working with Amazon’s own cloud service. It’s our understanding that neither the Fire or the Nook will allow downloading Android applications from Google’s app store.  Instead, you’ll have access to the much smaller Amazon and BN app stores.

The Nook Tablet and the Kindle Fire are sold cheaply to the U.S. market  on the assumption that you will buy content (books, movies, music)  from BN and Amazon. Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble discourage use outside of the U.S.    Due to complex international licensing and royalty issues, Amazon, and BN, make buying content difficult.   First of all neither Amazon or BN will ship their devices to the Philippines so you’ll have to figure out how to get one delivered.  To purchase content you’ll have to have a U.S. credit card account.  That said, we have a Nook Color which can be had for as little as $130.  We are very happy with ours.  We are especially happy that BN is regularly supplying excellent system and application updates automatically.  We have not had a problem buying Nook content (newspaper and magazine subscriptions, books) in the Philippine.  However, buying applications requires a U.S. internet (I.P.) address.  We have a virtual private network which returns a U.S. I.P. address so we have not had a problem buying Nook content (or watching Netflix movies!)

There are dozens of general purpose tablet computers available now, from the $500 iPad to sub-$100 Android tablets.  If you are looking for a general purpose tablet computer, one of these may be best, but we find the Nook suits us very well.  For any real computer use we use one of our laptop computers but for reading overseas books, magazines and newspapers the Nook is excellent and very affordable.  Why?  The magazines and newspapers we really like to read are impossible to find in the Philippines, at least outside of Manila, but they are available from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.    We can overcome  problems in buying and using a Nook or Kindle.  We  have US credit cards, US address and even a VPN account to make it look like we are physically in the U.S.  But, don’t bother with all this unless you can’t live without your home country publications!  Just buy a general purpose tablet.   If you want a Nook you’ll find some tips and work-arounds HERE.   Our Nook shipping experience HERE.

TIP: BN is offering the Nook Color at $150, a great deal.  The Nook can be used as a Android tablet.  See http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2391517,00.asp#fbid=b_81cM97ij3

and http://n2acards.com/how-it-works

Related posts:

1. Using a Nook or Kindle Fire in the Philippines
2. Shipping computers, cameras and other gadgets to the Philippines – Our experience with Johnny Air Cargo
3. Netflix in the Philippines (or anywhere outside of the USA)
4. Our Philippine House Project – Building, Zoning, Fire Protection Permits