"While it is pre linked to my Amazon account it has two options for content -"CLOUD" or "DEVICE"
and while gives me great mobile access to the  Massive Amazon ecosystem
I am glad it works as nice stand alone device when I am not in a wi fi hot spot. meaning I can read my own PDF books & Documents  or watch my own local Video content in HD MP4 format that I load on it Via its USB port from my Mac or run my own local android apps ."

 

the amount of software and games that are shipping recently that require uninterrupted internet access to run their DRM is alarming.  perhaps im just more sensitive to it since i have to closely monitor my bandwidth usage, but DRM schemes are getting quite oppressive.  cloud computing is DRM's wet dream.  a situation where vendors control the content, distribution and hardware can be a particularly disadvantageous one for the consumer. ie: running only vendor approved software on vendor approved hardware over a vendor approved distribution network.

look at the iphone as just one small example of how a company with a closed system can take advantage of its customers. it is an overpriced device with oppressive limitations on its usability and interaction with other devices, deliberately designed hardware upgradeability limitations (no user replaceable battery, no microSD slot, etc), etc.  (unless you jailbreak and/or use unapproved 3rd party apps), its intentionally designed so that simple operations like putting a photo album on your phone has to go through an apple approved application. look at how apple abuses the closed platform and you will see where cloud computing is headed.