It was about a year ago that I started this website with a review of the Kindle Fire. A lot has changed since then. Tablets have grown to a point where the iPad sold more than any BRAND of PC last year. Expectations have been increased to monumental proprtions that few devices have a chance of living up to. Google worked with ASUS to release the Nexus 7, and still didn't capture 10% of the global tablet market. With all of these facts, Amazon announced their new Kindle Fire HD line. The first device to arrive in consumer hands is the 7" version.

The Fire HD improves on every aspect of the original, without increasing the price. The Kindle Fire HD 7" is $199 for the 16GB version, $249 for the 32GB variety. The new Fire HD is much faster, resolving all of the actions attempted more than twice as fast as the original. All of the problems I had with the original have been resolved, much to my enjoyment. The Book app now allows for changing the background color, font size, and font quickly and effectively. The addition of hardware buttons corrects the most glaring flaw of the original. Most importantly, Amazon's app store offerings are now much more robust, with many applications already updated to take advantage of the improved resolution of the HD.

Starting at $299, the new Kindle Fire HD 8.9" is likely to cause the biggest stir when it arrives in November. At the price points Amazon is able to deliver, the competition is not easily going to be able to compete.

Look below for pictures of the unboxing and getting started guidance.