It was on sale, so I purchased it! Of course, now I have questions!

[Sooz]

I'm anticipating the arrival of my Amazon Fire 8" Wi-Fi Tablet with 32GB SD, 8th generation, $59.95, free S&H, and it came with a 2-year warranty thing.  It's for DH, who is even MORE tech challenged than I am.       I ordered one of those folding stand covers for it, too.

Do I need some kind of plastic piece to go over the screen itself so the screen won't be full of his fingerprints, and can the plastic piece can be easily cleaned?

It should be easy to set up, right?  I have my WiFi network name (SSID) ready, and also my Network Key Password ready, too.  Is that about all I'd need for a start?

Hubby loves to play games on his cell, and he googles baseball & sports stuff, too, and I'm sure he'll find there will be a lot more he can do with this tablet instead of using his cell phone for these things.

Thanks for any help!
Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

Sounds like a great gift and a big surprise!

Are you sure the screens outer surface is plastic?

Many folk buy very thin but very strong glass screen protectors for the iDevices. I'm sure you can find one for any of the "Fire" models. Of course, they may be as expensive as your purchase... If, indeed, the screen is plastic surfaced, I would encourage purchasing some kind of protector. You might check...
wait for it

...

Amazon!
 

There will likely be a massive amount of finger sliding!

I assume it runs some version of the Google/Android OS, so the first thing I'd do is install some good anti-virus software.

[Sooz]

Ok, Jim, ya got me going now!  Amazon, you say?! That would have come to me sooner or later.   

I have no idea if the screen is plastic or glass, but figured if it's bare glass or bare plastic, it should have some kind of screen protector put on over it, like I ordered for my cell phone.  I guess maybe if it comes with a manual somewhere, I can find out. It also has some kind of person who lives inside it, named Alexa.  That should be fun. I wonder if DH, with his hearing loss, will be able to hear her.

The info online in the promo said it's Android OS customized for Amazon.

What's some good anti-virus software and where do I get them?

I have the web address for getting apps for the Amazon Fire tablet, but have not even gone there to take a peek.

Oh yeah, fun awaits.

[Xairbusdriver]

Alexa is Siri’s cousin.

I suspect the outer screen is glass. It just may not be “tempered” which means it could more easily break. That’s usually the main protection a glass protector gives. With an “adult” user, that may mean a more careful user.

I don’t have any “Android” software nor devices, but there is a huge selection of apps at their own dedicated, but less moderated Store. You might get more help from some kind of ‘Android’ app support/review site. I’m not at my computer right now, or I’d do some searching. I’m struggling with understanding why I need to “rotate the tires” on my wife’s car. I’m pretty sure, even with my ancient study of physics, that the tires rotate every time she drives. Perhaps this is “new physics” similar to the “new math” I heard about when our kids were in school?!

[kimmer]

Anytime you have fingers on screen, you have smears. I'd go buy the Screen Protector that Amazon sells. It's a 2-Pack in Clear for $12.99 and includes a cleaning cloth. ;-) You'll find the link to the one that fits your Tablet on the product selling page over on the right hand size where you can select various things like that warranty.

As far as breakage, on the Fire Tablet page it says it's sturdier then the iPad. I don't imagine your hubby will be tossing it across the room (at least I hope not! HAHA), but if it drops it should survive. I've dropped my Kindle a couple of times and it's fine.

I've not heard of anyone having a problem with viruses, but I'm sure it's possible since it runs a customized version of the droid os. I ran a droid cell phone for years, including a smart droid phone, and I never had a problem--but I didn't visit sites that I shouldn't and I only downloaded software from the approved app store.  And let's be honest, Apple products can be infected if the user downloads garbage they shouldn't. ;-D

If it would make you feel better, Amazon has Malwarebytes available for their gadgets:

https://smile.amazon.com/Malwarebytes-Security-Virus-Cleaner-Anti-Malware/dp/B00GT4V5DM/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_g3905707922?_encoding=UTF8&%2AVersion%2A=1&%2Aentries%2A=0&ie=UTF8

I have a couple of Kindles, and they were easy to connect to my wi-fi. The gadget literally led me through the process, I plugged in my password, and all has been happy since.

My Amazon Fire (replacement for my dying Kindle) is due to arrive on Thursday and I’m quite excited. I'll pop in here and share how hook up to wi-fi goes.

FWIW, I think Alexa is smarter in many ways then Siri, but she's also annoying. Pipes up at the oddest times, and makes me laugh with her idiotic responses to things I haven't asked.

I’m sure your hubby will enjoy this nice gift.

[Sooz]

Thanks, Jim, for you additional humor and info!  Y'know, about rotating those tires.... ha ha

Kimmer, thanks for the suggestion of the 2-pack and where to find it--great directions for me! ... I just ordered the item.  Nope, hubby won't be tossing it across the room, even if his favorite baseball team tanks!  Thanks for the link about malwarebytes available, and while he shouldn't even know how to download stuff, somehow he got himself in trouble with loads of games on his phone--"it looked interesting so I pressed the button, now it won't stop!"    Egads!

I'll be crossing my fingers! The tablet that was supposed to arrive today has been delayed until the 6th, so we'll see how easy it is for me to hook up to wi-fi...but if it talks me through it, how bad can it be, right?  LOLAM

Thanks also for the heads up about Alexa being annoying, too.

Many MANY thanks!
Smiles,
Sooz

[Paddy]

Um...I don't use screen protectors on any of our iThings. Had one once on the iPhone and hated it. Screen wasn't as sharp and clear and the touch sensitivity went down. On the other hand, my son has his iPhone in an Otterbox which has a screen protector and he is ok with it, but since he has had it since the days of guiding wilderness canoe trips and this summer is working landscape construction, he NEEDS something like this. Most of us don't. And the screen protectors can be a real bear to get on - it's very difficult to do it without trapping some little bit of dust or three under there - particularly with the bigger screens. I'd skip it. Get a good cleaning cloth (like the ones for eye glasses).

[Sooz]

Thanks for the input, Paddy! Since DH is going to be using this tablet, believe me, it will be very helpful to have a screen protector on it! He is Mr. Fingerprints.

He's been banned from using my computer and keyboard because he pounds on *them there* keys!  I'm pretty sure he'll be fine with how he'll be pressing on the screen with the screen protector!   

[kimmer]

My Fire Tablet arrived and it was a breeze to set up. Turned on, selected my wi-fi network, typed in password and it was all set. Then I had to wait on a software update, and that meant I had to move to the other room (I really need a wifi booster thing). Still took only a couple of minutes. I've added a couple of apps and have my current book downloaded and I'm going to go sit and read in just a bit.

Oh, and the screen is glass so I won't be using a protector. It's easy to clean the same way I do my glasses; but let your hubby decide before you put the matt protector on it. He might prefer having the glass and cleaning it on a reg. basis, or he might be like Sneakers was, and prefer the protector that didn't get all messy. It's honestly a personal choice.

[Sooz]

Kimmer and everyone, IT'S A MIRACLE!!!!!!   

My Fire Tablet arrived here in the early afternoon and just like Kimmer said in the post above, I turned it on, selected wi-fi network and password (which I had at the ready), waited on a software update and then ta-daaaah!  Done!

I downloaded a couple of games for DH and I will have to figure out how to do a few more things so he can also enjoy it for Prime books and movies.  As I mentioned, he's more tech challenged than I am, so I want to make this very friendly so that all he has to do is push a button or an icon. 

The protector was a good idea in theory, but not in reality, so he's not getting the protector. As much as I thought it would be better with it, like you mentioned Sneakers preferred the protector, I messed up so yeah, let me LOLAM for a bit. DH won't even know there was a screen protector option. 

Thanks again everyone and if anyone wants to post some other helpful hints about this new device, that'd be great... otherwise, it will be a journey of discovery!  I'm sure I'll run into some kind of problem with Amazon Prime free stuff like books and movies that I have on my Kindle now, and that I may want to put on his Fire--ah yes, fun times ahead! 

Smiles,
Sooz

[Xairbusdriver]

Congrats, ladies! We will now have twin Fire experts!

[kimmer]

Congrats, ladies! We will now have twin Fire experts!

Well, I'm already stumped using Collections in the Kindle app, but I'll research later today to figure out the answer--and I'll happily report back.

[Sooz]

Sing it with me:  "These gals are on FIIIIIRE!!!!!"

Kimmer, thanks in advance for sharing stuff once you figure out about using Collections. You're way ahead of me.  I just put "extra" *carousel* stuff that I don't use/don't want DH to use, in a folder.

Last night, DH had an awesome time with his two fave solitaire games, I kept hearing him mumble "This is great!" 

I'm puzzled about the photos stuff. I have stuff from my phone in my iCloud account, but I have some of the photos on my Fire tablet--that I didn't put there, and they are not the "whole enchilada of photos" that my iCloud account has.  I didn't sign up for the cloud on the tablet but maybe it synced somehow with some kind of time folding in on itself? 

I also want to make sure DH cannot order up a bunch of Amazon movies or books without my PW.  It may already have that step set in place -- the step where anyone would be required to type in the PW--but I don't know yet. I also have an Amazon Smile set up for my fave dog rescue organization. 

I have the Fire charging in the other room. DH loved it so much last night that it was time to charge it today.

I'm taking it step by step with DH, using the guided practice teaching technique, showing him how to use it. I am barely keeping one step ahead of him!!!!   

Smiles,
Sooz