I would like to have is more like "szeretnék" (szeret = love, like). I might translate "I want X for Christmas" to "X-et szeretnék karácsonyra". Kérni is to ask for literally, akarni is to want. I hope that helps a bit (akarni would have been more consistent I guess).
Yes. And the English sentence does not specify whether it is an "asking for" situation or just a general statement of, for example, what I need in my office. Without context, "akarok" seems to be the more correct translation.