[Kindle Fire General] chemo1191:
To basically agree with the first two posts...

When installed will all the games, apps, etc work like on any other tablet?

I know that hash's JB rom has everything working except for Google Now (not a critical app) and HW acceleration (which means no youtube or Netflix currently). CM9 ROM's that I've tried on the fire work very well, minus the occasional lag. Basically go to the development thread and take a look at what is/isn't working. That should help.

What should i expect when installing such early builds currently available?

Expect some instability, but most betas shouldn't have MAJOR issues, unless something completely unexpected happens (which it can). Alpha builds are more risky, flash at your own discretion.

How is the battery life, does having Jelly bean drain the battery. should i expect decent use per charge?

Jelly Bean so far has decent battery life, but can be increased by using SetCPU to underclock the device when screen is off, certain apps used, etc. JuiceDefender also supplies limited battery life extension, but IMO nothing to write home about. My previous CM9 ROM had somewhat poor battery life, depends on each ROM.

Would you say performance on a stock kindle is better then having say Jelly bean or ICS?

Pardon my language, but I think hot excrement would have better performance than the stock kindle UI. I got mine as a gift, so I can't complain too much, but I didn't realize what I was missing until I flashed a custom ROM. The Kindle functionality remains, you can still read books and access the Amazon App store if you so choose, so I'd say get the best of both worlds and flash a custom ROM.

Will any app install from google play store on this custom jelly bean built? is there limitations i should be concerned about. possible glitches maybe? i know its early

Since JB is so new, some apps have not been optimized for it yet. This applies to all JB devices, not just the KF. ICS should have no problem running apps, unless there is something in the ROM stopping it. From what I've seen in JB and ICS however, there is almost no app that consistently force closes (minus Google Earth in ICS roms). Give it a few weeks and most all major apps will run on JB no problem.

Will i have the ability to go back to stock kindle fire if i do not want to use jelly bean anymore?

Yes, and you should make sure that you can do so. Do your research if you haven't already, and download the Kindle Fire Utility. This allows you to permanently root the device, then flash a custom recovery and the FireFireFire bootloader. Once in recovery, make a backup of your current system before you do anything else. That way, if you hit a snag you can always revert to the old UI no problem. If this doesn't make sense, you haven't done enough research yet. :p

Will the device itself charge via USB or Plug in wall while operating jelly bean?

KF will charge when plugged into a wall outlet, however it will not appear to do so. The battery icon is sketchy in this department on both ICS and JB ROMs, but may be fixed soon. I wouldn't count on USB charging, although it may work occasionally. USB storage mounting is also currently not working, which sucks. But there are alternatives to moving files around (learn to use ADB or use a cloud storage app)

What would you say the benefits are for having a custom android on the kindle fire including - Jelly Bean/ICS etc

Essentially you are unleashing the true power of the KF. This is a great device, and is made much better by flashing custom ROMs IMO. Smoother experience, more apps available, you can sync a lot of things with your android phone and PC much easier, and the whole thing is 100% prettier. I was hesitant to flash at first as well, becoming comfortable with this kind of stuff takes a bit of time and research, but is absolutely worth it in the end. You will not regret it. The best part is, you can always go back if you don't like it, and you can try out as many ROM's as you like. My advice is to read through forums, threads, reviews, video reviews, anything you can get your hands on and then make a decision. It's intimidating at first I know, but you can do it, trust me. Good luck and happy flashing!