Amazon Fire Tablet Nvidia Shield TV Review

After a long wait, my Nvidia Shield finally arrived... Pick whatever name you want for this thing—it’s basically a whole new breed of device in the TV box world. While Android TV boxes have been ruling the roost, they've now got some serious competition from a new wave of Intel Atom Bay Trail based devices priced around $100. It makes them pretty tempting for the average user—think stuff like the Android Tablet, Amazon Fire Tablet, Generic Mini PC, or Nvidia Shield... Microsoft deciding to slash the price of Windows 8.1 licenses for tablets and cheap laptops really just lit a fire under these new gadgets. I'd bet anything that Windows-based TV boxes and HDMI sticks are going to define the home gadget scene this year.
Before I dive in, a quick thanks to www.geekbuying.com for getting me in on the first batch. There was a bit of a hiccup due to massive demand and manufacturers struggling to keep up with all the retailers, but things seem to be stabilizing now, with units shipping out from overseas to the rest of the world.
I won't say too much about the manufacturer, Pipo. They've been around our market for years selling Android (and increasingly Windows) tablets. I've personally owned a few of their tablets, and they're solid, reliable pieces of gear. In fact, I still use a three-year-old Samsung Galaxy Tab for gaming and tinkering... it still works great, though the battery is definitely on its last legs.
Alright, let's get into the Nvidia Shield!
Box on the table, unboxing excitement:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jn3Gk0eA1eE

1. The Package
Standard packaging, though the box was a bit bigger than I expected. It clearly took a bit of a beating during transit—slightly dented—but the contents were untouched. Inside, besides the glorious TV box itself, you just get a power adapter and a warranty card. No usual bells and whistles you'd expect from Chinese brands... not even a basic 8-inch HDMI cable. That initial disappointment fades pretty fast when I remember I paid exactly $95 for this little PC. Clearly, the maker wanted to stay under that $100 mark, so they cut out the extras we rarely use anyway. Everything needed to get running is there, minus the HDMI cable. So, if you're ordering one, just make sure you grab an HDMI cable too. And obviously, to actually use this thing, you'll need a wireless keyboard and mouse. Or, in my case, a Logitech K400... a slightly pricier choice, but much cleaner looking.
The power adapter is 12V 2.4A and looks a bit chunky. Maybe they should have built it into the chassis, but it's likely external to keep heat away from the unit, which relies on passive cooling through vents in the aluminum shell rather than a fan. I'm not a fan of how the charger came with a US plug and a US adapter instead of being native... feels a bit clunky, and I worry about it slipping out of the socket if I bump it. A bit of a sloppy fix, but manageable.
The aluminum casing feels high-quality, and the material should help pull heat away from the internals, so overheating shouldn't be much of an issue.


2. Nvidia Shield Specs
Chipset: Intel Atom Bay Trail quad core processor with Intel HD graphics (Z3736F). I've been using a similar chip for a year in an Asus T100A hybrid, and I haven't had any complaints regarding speed or stability.
RAM... 2 GB of DDR3. Just like my first point—Windows 8.1 runs fine with 2GB of RAM, even when multitasking. Things like MS Word, Chrome, and Total Commander all run without any stuttering or lag... I haven't tried running AutoCAD or anything that heavy, obviously, but that’s not really what this box was built for. I'll try some Facebook stuff and a few basic 3D games later on—we'll see how it holds up then...
Storage... It’s got 32 GB of eMMC plus a micro SD slot that goes up to 32GB—though I've heard some people claim it can handle 64GB... After installing Windows 8.1 and running all the updates, you're left with about 16GB of free space, which should be plenty for basic stuff—especially if you toss in a microSD card for extra room. I didn't have a 64GB card on hand, just a 32GB one, so I can't personally vouch for whether the 64GB works like the reviews say it does. Did I mention Windows boots up in maybe 10 seconds?...
Video & audio output... It's got HDMI 1.4 and a 3.5mm jack. Since there's a standard HDMI output, finding a cable shouldn't be an issue—easy enough... As for the audio quality, I can't really say much—I don't have the gear to test it properly beyond just plugging it into the TV. Besides, I've never exactly had a golden ear for sound nuances...
Connectivity... It's got 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (Realtek RTL8723BS), Bluetooth 4.0, and a 10/100 Ethernet port. I hooked mine up via Ethernet and didn't run into any of those Wi-Fi headaches... though I should mention the port only supports 10/100—no Gigabit support here...
It’s got four USB 2.0 ports—honestly, I really wish they'd thrown in at least one USB 3.0 port... But then again, whenever I start nitpicking this thing, I just have to remind myself of my own mantra from earlier: "This miracle device only costs 100 bucks." They had to cut corners somewhere...
Everything else... Power button... plus a one-year Office 365 subscription...
OS... It’s running Windows 8.1 with Bing—32-bit. It's actually activated... I heard some talk that the OS wouldn't come pre-activated, but I checked and it's all good. The price jumped about twenty bucks from the original $90, apparently because Microsoft wants an extra activation fee... since this specific device doesn't qualify for their usual free Windows activation.


The Amazon Fire Tablet—performance, apps, and the UI...
The best part about booting up this Amazon Fire Tablet is honestly just how fast it hits the desktop—we’re talking maybe 10 seconds from hitting power to seeing the Windows 8.1 interface... If you're coming from a standard PC or laptop running a traditional hard drive, the speed jump is pretty massive. It’s all thanks to that eMMC storage where the OS lives. Think of eMMC as a slightly slower cousin to the SSDs everyone uses now—both rely on memory chips rather than spinning platters, if that makes any sense at all... 🙂
I'm still getting a kick out of how fast this Asus T100A boots up—even after a year of using it. Honestly, having a machine ready to go in about ten seconds is such a win... even those Android boxes can't really touch it.
I won't even bother mentioning the usual bloatware you get with these kinds of devices—you know, that typical Android mess... There's really nothing to say there. This just runs a clean Windows 8.1 OS with Bing as the search engine. And, naturally, it comes with a year-long trial of Microsoft Office 365...
First thing I did after all those updates was grab Kodi 14.1, VLC, Total Commander, and Chrome—my standard survival kit for any fresh Windows install... Everything went smoothly, though...
Kodi is running smooth—no stuttering or crashes so far. I'll share more once I get around to those video tests I've got planned for a few days from now...
I won't get too deep into the whole Metro interface debate—it’s one of those things where people either love it or hate it... To be honest, I never really saw the point of using it on a standard desktop or laptop. On tablets and smartphones, though? It's clearly the perfect design, and that's exactly where TV boxes are heading now. Those tiles look great on a big LED screen, making Windows much easier to navigate from the couch. That said, I did install Classic Shell just so I can still access the traditional desktop when I need to dig into system settings or install stuff. But for everyday use on my Amazon Fire Tablet as a media center, the Metro interface is just spot on...


5. Performance
Like I mentioned before, everything runs smooth—no stuttering at all. Of course, you have to keep in mind what kind of device this actually is. The Amazon Fire Tablet is basically just a Roku Ultra meant for home entertainment... watching videos, listening to music, streaming, browsing, maybe some light gaming... nothing crazy.
I'll have more to say about heat once I run some actual game tests. So far, it feels slightly warm to the touch, but nothing close to overheating. Honestly, I don't get too hung up on benchmark scores—I care more about how things feel during everyday use...
When running Kodi, the Windows + Kodi combo seems a bit snappier—and more stable—than the Android + Kodi setup.
For the video test, I'll play a few 720p and 1080p clips. H265 decoding isn't working on this unit yet, looks like a driver issue... I'll run that test once I track down a sample file.

That Task Manager screenshot was taken right in the middle of installing a mountain of updates.

6. Final Thoughts
After this quick look, my takeaway is pretty clear—it’s excellent. In terms of sheer simplicity, flexibility, and how much you can do with it, Windows 8.1 OS really doesn't have an equal among today's home gadgets—not compared to Android, Ubuntu, or OpenELEC... Not saying those cheap Android sticks or TV boxes are useless, just that you get what you pay for here.
Since I live and breathe Windows at work and at home, it’s just second nature to me—I feel right at home in this environment. Plus, the Metro interface that comes with Windows 8.1 is actually a nice touch for this kind of device—makes navigating apps from the couch a breeze.
The Amazon Fire Tablet and similar Windows + Intel setups are going to be huge for home entertainment this year. Honestly, judging by the rush on overseas online shops trying to keep up with the demand, they're already hits. Between Microsoft dropping license prices and Intel providing fast, budget-friendly processors, this combo is incredibly tempting... You can see it in the growing number of tablets hitting the market running Windows 8.1 as a standalone OS or in a dual-boot setup. Makes me wonder how Android will try to counter that. 🙂



I picked this unit up from www.geekbuying.com—thanks to them for the lightning-fast shipping!
I did ask them for a discount coupon, but since they're busy celebrating New Year's over there, I haven't heard back yet...
Video tests and gaming performance are coming in the next few days. 🙂

I must say, I am truly impressed by all the hard work you've put into this! 🙂

It has certainly been added to my shopping list for future consideration! 🙂

Is there any way to install a hard drive in this...

There’s some room inside, but you won't find an interface for it on the motherboard—you'll have to go through the USB...

Nicholas Johnson8 said:There's some internal space available, but the motherboard lacks an interface for it. You'd be stuck using a USB drive...

Then what's even the point? It could have at least functioned as a budget torrent machine. I'll just stick with Popcorn since it handles everything effortlessly...

Just plug the drive into one of those USB 2.0 ports and let the torrenting run... It isn't exactly USB 3.0, but honestly, for this price, you can't really ask for much more...

That’s a fair point. It could certainly work that way. Though, those drives tend to be smaller and pack more of a punch than your standard 3.5" disks. I just hope there isn't any active cooling involved; any kind of fan produces a level of noise that I simply won't tolerate in my living room. That's exactly why I've never even bothered trying to build a PC to use as a media player...

There’s no active cooling here—just an aluminum case with side vents to help with airflow. I’ve seen some DIY cooling mods online involving thermal pads and all that... but that's definitely expert territory. I don't really have the nerve to start poking around the internals. For everyday stuff, this passive setup should be plenty...
Yesterday, I really put it through its paces with Windows updates, downloading and installing various apps, surfing the web... the box felt warm to the touch, but nothing close to being overheating.

Sorry, I wasn't quite sure where this thread belonged—it doesn't really fit perfectly here either... 😁
Since the iPad isn't just some peripheral, it's actually a standalone computer. 🙂

I’ve got a question about H.265 decoding. It’s mostly because huge parts of America still deal with crappy internet speeds—we're talking barely hitting 4 Mbps in some spots—and I really need H.265 to pull off smooth 1080p playback on those low bandwidths. Is there any word on an H.265 upgrade coming down the pipeline or what? If not, then I honestly think a new Android device still holds the edge here. I'm just looking at this from a pure XBMC/Kodi user perspective.

Think of this as a legitimate, full-fledged computer—it just doesn't have the massive footprint of a "standard" desktop tower.

I was mostly addressing the whole h265 situation and other codec concerns. At the end of the day, that really comes down to whatever software you decide to run on the machine. Sure, you might hit a few bumps with certain formats today, but I’m a firm believer that tomorrow there will be an update or a new app that handles everything flawlessly. Honestly, why even worry about tomorrow? You can already find software on a regular PC right now that plays these files without breaking a sweat. All you really have to do is install it. That’s actually the biggest selling point of a device like this.

The main drawback is obviously that you won't be playing the latest AAA titles on it, but if you're looking for a home media center or something to play lighter indie games, it's absolutely perfect. It's a genuine little PC—tiny, literally—that won't break the bank.

Quick look at how it handles gaming:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDwfUK7nB54
More to come once I get everything uploaded. Far Cry 2, GTA Vice City...
Basically, the games are "playable."

Thanks for the breakdown. The hardware looks pretty interesting... I’m assuming you could easily throw in a digital tuner stick without much trouble...

Regarding H.265, it really all comes down to the drivers—specifically whether Intel decides to actually release them or not. From what I can gather, there aren't any drivers available for this specific processor class yet. It’s a shame, because if they sorted that out, I wouldn't be giving this thing a second thought. As it stands, I think I'll just stick with my Android stick for a little while longer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMcAsOCCwcY

Here’s a quick little compilation of three games I gave a shot...
Modern Combat 5
Far Cry 2
GTA Vice City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=553_9y5HttU

Setting up the Superrepo repository and addon installer in Kodi on an Amazon Fire Tablet. This is usually my first step whenever I'm getting a Kodi/XBMC setup ready...
The footage is a bit fuzzy—my iPhone doesn't zoom in very well when filming the TV. 😁
But hey, maybe this helps someone out...

The games actually look pretty decent. Look, I know we aren't talking about top-tier gaming rigs here, but the performance is surprisingly solid for what it is.

Have you experimented with using an expansion card to boost the storage? That seems to be the biggest hurdle for me—the internal storage just isn't cutting it. Having only 32GB total is a bit of a squeeze, especially when you realize you've only got about 16GB of actual breathing room left.

Here is the feedback from the Minix crew whenever someone brings up the iPad Windows setup
The iPad Windows build is running an unauthorized version designed for tablets rather than a dedicated media box. Microsoft is actively cracking down on this kind of thing, so it could easily get deactivated and flagged as non-genuine at any moment.<br />On top of that, the system feels incredibly sluggish and unresponsive; I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's taking about three times longer to boot up. It’s possible they're utilizing slower TLC eMMC storage, whereas we stick to the superior MLC eMMC. For what it's worth, MLC offers significantly better read/write longevity. Even the iPhone runs into performance hiccups when dealing with TLC, if you catch my drift.<br />Our Windows OS is fully legitimate and properly licensed by Microsoft, which comes with a price tag—it isn't free lunch.<br />A non-genuine product sold at half price isn't actually that tempting, especially since you aren't getting any kind of guarantee with it. I might only consider it if the price dropped to a quarter of the original...<br/>

Well, obviously Raspberry Pi isn't going to talk up Amazon when they're direct competitors...
My units came with Windows pre-activated—meaning they probably did it over at Newegg during testing. Whether they actually unbox and test every single one, I couldn't tell you.
Boot speed? Three times slower than a Raspberry Pi!? Just how fast does a Raspberry Pi boot then? In three seconds? For me, 8 to 10 seconds is perfectly fine.
TLC vs MLC? The TLC on the Amazon is made by Apple, so we aren't talking about some off-brand memory here.
BTW, here reading through this, it seems like TLC might actually be better. Then again, I’m not exactly an electronics expert, so who knows...
Raspberry Pi makes quality stuff—we've seen that with their mobile devices—but it's also way more expensive. Personally, I haven't had a single issue with either my Amazon S2 tablet or the X7.
I don't want people thinking I'm some hardcore Amazon fanboy, and I'd try a Raspberry Pi if I could, but given the price tag, Amazon is much more reasonable for me... and it does basically the same thing as the pricier Raspberry Pi.