Barnes & Noble Cuts Prices on Nook Color, Tablet

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Barnes & Noble Cuts Prices on Nook Color, Tablet

Posted by timothy on Sunday August 12, 2012 @06:20PM from the but-they're-both-color-tablets dept.

In perhaps one answer to the question of how tablet makers will react to a more crowded market for small screen tablets, the L.A. Times reports that Barnes and Noble is dropping the price on its Nook tablet by 10 percent, undercutting the Amazon Kindle Fire by $20. The company's Nook Color is also shedding $20, and will now cost $149. I'm glad to hear it; I've been using a Nexus 7 lately, and finding the size (like a trade paperback, including a protective case) far handier and more often used than any of the 10" tablets I've tried.

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Really? by Mitreya · 2012-08-12 18:23 · Score: 3, Insightful

I have a pretty high tolerance for irrelevant articles, but really?
An article about a 10% discount on a product? How low can /. go?
1. Re:Really? by Naatach · 2012-08-12 18:43 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  One frantic onlooker commented "This makes it much better than that other company's force-feed spoon."
  
  --
  There may be no "I" in team, but there's also no "F" in way.
2. Re:Really? by I(rispee_I(reme · 2012-08-12 19:13 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  Cyanogenmod 7 runs on the Nook Color, making it a full-fledged android tablet, now for 10% less money.
  While technically the Nook Color still something of a content feeder spoon, since the tablet form factor lends itself more to consumption of content than creation, it's not strictly a pipeline for Barnes and Noble content, as your post implies.
  I use mine mainly to read comic book scans. Now, for a modest $149,. you can read every Batman ever.
3. Re:Really? by Tough+Love · 2012-08-12 19:15 · Score: 2
  
  We can hope for the best that this thread becomes a discussion from people who have gotten their Nexus 7's
  I'll bite. I got mine. Now maybe a half dozen people who saw it are waiting for restocking so they can get theirs.
  
  --
  When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
4. Re:Really? by Tough+Love · 2012-08-12 19:16 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Eh, it's a story about a snowballing price war, or don't you quite see that?
  
  --
  When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
5. Re:Really? by gagol · 2012-08-12 19:33 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Feel free to rate articles in the recent link on the upper left of the website. This way you can help filter the crap out like I do. Whining will not stop the crap, rating articles do.
  
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  Tomorrow is another day...
6. Re:Really? by Nerdfest · 2012-08-12 23:20 · Score: 2
  
  B&N also stood up to Microsoft's patent extortion scheme more than pretty much anyone else, so they get some bonus points.
7. Re:Really? by Speare · 2012-08-13 00:51 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  I use mine mainly to read comic book scans.
  
  I first read that as "Comic Book Sans" and thought there'd be a riot of pitchforks coming your way.
  
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  [ .sig file not found ]
8. Re:Really? by mcgrew · 2012-08-13 01:24 · Score: 2
  
  Then submit a story about the Nexus 7. It's offtopic in this thread. A tablet is not an e-reader any more than a computer is a pocket calculator.
  Can you read that Nexus in the sun? You can read an ebook reader there. Can you go for a month without a charge? An e-reader can.
  As to the GP, if you don't like a story you see on the front page, just DON'T CLICK! What's interesting about the topic is that it could signal a price war. As someone who's baeen thinking semi-seriously (until this morning) abouot getting a Nook, this is interesting to me. If it doesn't interest you, GTFO.
  I stopped wanting an e-reaer this morning when I saw a newscast that said that of those who bought that "50 shades of gray" book in e-reader form, only 10% finished the book. God damn it, I don't want every facet of my life tracked by those corporate bastards. I guess I'll stick to paper for my reading, checking to see whether or not you finished a book is WAY out of line.
  You guys who don't like this topic might consider submitting that one.
  
  --
  Free Martian Whores!
9. Re:Really? by CowTipperGore · 2012-08-13 01:55 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Absolutely! Right up until they caved to a Microsoft "investment" of over $600 million. Ask Nokia how their Microsoft partnership is working out.
10. Re:Really? by WaywardGeek · 2012-08-13 05:26 · Score: 2
  
  I love mine, and I've got three tablets in my house: my Nexus 7, my old Motorola Xoom, and my wife's original iPad. The smaller size and weight makes it better for reading, which is why my wife has borrowed my Nexus 7 twice already for two trips. The software and hardware upgrade from the Xoom is such that I have no interest in my $500 Xoom anymore. I've given it to the kids for games, but they keep stealing my Nexus 7. It's great for games, videos, Internet browsing, and e-books.
  The Nexus 7 is far lighter than the Kindle Fire and B&N Nook Color, making it a better e-book reader. It also isn't crippled to only (meaning the non-slashdot crowd have trouble hacking it) allow buying e-books from one vendor. It's great for watching videos, which I'm doing somewhat regularly with the Nexus 7, though I never did with the Xoom.
  I think this is a revolutionary device. With one product launch, Google effectively turns the tide from single-vendor content running on proprietary devices to multi-vendor content running on multi-vendor devices, as Google is giving away the Nexus 7 technology to their Android partners for free, most of whom have said they will offer similar device. At the launch of the Xoom, I told everyone that only an idiot like me would buy such a device. With the Nexus 7, I have to say only an ignorant person would buy a Kindle Fire or a Nook Color. They will still sell well for a while, just because people don't know better. Anyone considering buying an IPod Touch should take a good look at the Nexus 7 as well.
  Now, when are we geeks going to connect keyboards and mice to these things and start using them for native software development, rather than using the crappy emulators?
  
  --
  Celebrate failure, and then learn from it - Nolan Bushnell
e-ink model didn't drop by MSRedfox · 2012-08-12 18:33 · Score: 3, Insightful

The e-ink models didn't drop any. And the regular nook tablets are just outdated tech that are really showing their age next to the Nexus 7; making it just standard price drops to clear out junk. Get back to me when they release a color e-ink reader.
1. Re:e-ink model didn't drop by billstewart · 2012-08-12 18:54 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  E-Ink models had already dropped when the Kindle Fire came out. This is the Android models dropping in response to competition in that market.
  As far as I'm concerned, they're really different applications. E-Ink is wonderful for book reading, but I don't really get the 7" LCD tablet market. 10" is almost big enough to use instead of a laptop, but 7" just doesn't have enough pixels for general use, and is too big to fit in a pocket.
  
  --
  
  Bill Stewart
  New Fast-Compression-only CPR http://preview.tinyurl.com/dy575ks
2. Re:e-ink model didn't drop by ThatsMyNick · 2012-08-12 19:16 · Score: 2
  
  I personally find the 10" ones a bit heavy. I like the weight and the center of gravity of the 7" ones. My current setup is a desktop at work and home. A 11" netbook & a 7" tablet for commute and travel. A 4" phone for quick emails and navigation.
3. Re:e-ink model didn't drop by Anonymous Coward · 2012-08-12 19:48 · Score: 5, Interesting
  
  While you're waiting for a color e-ink reader to show up, if you are near a Target store check their e-reader case.
  
  They're pissed off at Amazon and clearing out the Kindle Fires for 30% off, but the real news is the Kobo. Target seems to have had a falling out with Kobo and recently started dumping their products. I picked up a couple Kobo Touch units (touchscreen, wifi, e-ink pearl, web browser, runs linux, easily root-able if you're into that sort of thing) for $29.98 and a Kobo WiFi (same as the touch, only no touchscreen, no web browsing, slower processor) for $20.98. Kobo sells these on their Web site for $99.99 and $69.99 respectively. For the price Target has them at, buy two, use one as a nice e-reader and use the other one for hardware/software tinkering. All the ones near me are now sold out, but you might still find some.
  The backstory on Target's falling out with Kobo has a bit to do with getting cozier with B&N's Nook, but also Kobo sold them a bunch of e-readers that display ads when they're turned off if you update the software to the latest version. Target says Kobo was playing dirty by slipping that in without labeling the products as such, Kobo says Target was well aware and agreed to label the boxes in the stores and insists Target was neglecting to inform consumers to sell more units. It's really not a huge deal, especially if you're getting a $100 e-reader for $30, and if you don't update the software, it'll never show ads anyway.
4. Re:e-ink model didn't drop by Kazymyr · 2012-08-12 22:12 · Score: 2
  
  7" fits fine in my pockets. 10" doesn't. That's why I use a Nook Color under CM7 instead of a bigger tablet. In fact I just typed this whole reply on it.
  
  --
  I hadn't known there were so many idiots in the world until I started using the Internet -Stanislaw Lem
5. Re:e-ink model didn't drop by cduffy · 2012-08-13 01:16 · Score: 2
  
  Bloody hell you have enormous pockets! That's like claiming a readers digest fits right in your pocket.
  I'd argue that you have tiny ones -- I have a Nexus 7 (in a case), and it fits into the pockets of my slacks -- snugly, but nonetheless. (The utilikilts, by contrast, it fits into easily -- but for a garment whose manufacturer boasts 20-beer-bottle cargo capacity on their premium line, that should hardly be a surprise).
  This definitely makes a big difference in terms of whether I'm going to have a device with me; I don't see a 10" tablet being of much use except as a laptop replacement, and I don't use/want/need a laptop right now, except for rare occasions that I know of ahead of time (working in colo, attending a Clojure meetup, etc)... but the 7" tablet is great; it's far better for gaming, e-mail, reading, showing people photos, etc. than my phone.
Re:In other news... by Doctor_Jest · 2012-08-12 18:43 · Score: 5, Funny

Local fire department saves cat stuck in tree with help from Deep Blue, but the city government gets a DMCA takedown notice after the youtube video of the rescue was posted. It seems Rick Astley is not appropriate background music for a cat rescue. Steve Ballmer still throwing chairs at the tree, and the EFF is investigating if Microsoft is using private citizens' chairs without their consent. Apple users still indignant that the app "Kitty Rescue 10.0" came out on the Android marketplace first.
--- better headline. :)

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It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
Tablet prices are diving by Animats · 2012-08-12 18:54 · Score: 2

Acer is begging Microsoft not to price the Microsoft Surface tablet at $199. Acer would like to see it priced around $499-$599. Otherwise it will "seriously impact the existing PC ecosystem".
Meanwhile, ARM tablets on Amazon start around $60, and ones with decent reviews start around $80. Most run the open source version of Android. Google's Nexus 7 costs $199, and that's the price point Microsoft will probably have to match, if not beat.
From a marketing perspective, once the price of something drops below $100, sales go way up.
1. Re:Tablet prices are diving by Tough+Love · 2012-08-12 20:05 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  I actually like the look of the Surface far more than that of the Nexus 7 and, if it actually comes in at 200$, with the keyboard-cover, that's quite the deal!
  Well, until you consider that you get to choose one of two models: A) the one running ARM that can't run standard Windows apps b) the one running Intel with 3 hour battery life.
  
  --
  When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
2. Re:Tablet prices are diving by ChunderDownunder · 2012-08-12 22:25 · Score: 2
  
  Not being able to run Windows apps some might consider a feature. :)
  Further, the ARM version will have MS' locked down bootloader, so you won't be able to load Android nor Plasma Active.
Re:In other news... by Taco+Cowboy · 2012-08-12 19:10 · Score: 2

I love this part:

Steve Ballmer still throwing chairs at the tree

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Muchas Gracias, Señor Edward Snowden !
I would prefer enlargement, not shrinking by sapphire+wyvern · 2012-08-12 19:11 · Score: 2

I see a lot of praise for the "paperback" size 7" tablet form factor. I can see why it would be pretty awesome for reading novels etc, as well as the gameplaying/web/movies task load. Although if I had an unlimited gadget budget, if I wanted something to specifically to replace paperback books, I'd get a specialist device with an eInk screen.
However, what I would personally love is a tablet with more than a 10" screen. I play a lot of tabletop RPGs, and the iPad 3 is fantastic for reading RPG-type PDFs. These are books laid out for printing in a 8.5x11 or A4 page size, with multi-column text layout, embedded illustrations, tables & charts, and often in full colour. I also read business documents with similar characteristics (design documents, specifications etc).
On a 7" tablet, you would have your choice of unreadably small text or having to scroll within a page (urgh). The iPad 3's ridiculously awesome 2046x1536 screen has enough pixels that you can get a very readable full-page view of any single page of books with this kind of content. And the 4:3 aspect ratio fits very neatly in the gap between 8.5x11 aspect ratio and A4 aspect ratio, so there's very few wasted pixels for electronic versions of either common paper format. (Unlike the Android tablets, which are almost entirely 16:9, and therefore suck for paper-like layouts in portrait mode).
However, the 10" diagonal measurement means that even though the text is quite sharp, it's still a little on the small side compared to a hardcopy of the same book. In landscape mode, viewing two pages at a time, the text is still incredibly sharp (I love that screen so much) but is basically too small to comfortably read at all. Since a 7" tablet is about half the size of the iPad, that means it's not gonna be very usable for reading full-page document layouts.
I would absolutely jump at the chance to order a table with the same or better pixel count and 4:3 aspect ratio as the iPad 3, but with a diagonal measurement similar to a standard sheet of paper (say, approximately 13"-14"). That would be an awesome device. I know it's far too large for pocketability, but it would slip into a briefcase or carry bag very nicely since it would be the same size as standard documents. And if it ran Android 4+ rather than iOS.... it would be perfection. (iOS's approach to file management drives me f'in crazy.)
Re:In other news... by kamapuaa · 2012-08-12 19:39 · Score: 4, Funny

It's hilarious, right? Hey there's some other great new jokes on Slashdot if you look around...wait until you see poll results, where "Commander Taco" is cleverly worked into one of the answers!!! Or, 80 comedian Yakoff Smirnoff's trademark line is appropriated to talk about how much we hate copyrights or the USA! It's so funny!!!

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Slashdot: providing anti-social weirdos a soapbox, since 1997.
Nexus 7 Blows it Away by FranTaylor · 2012-08-12 19:52 · Score: 4, Informative

I have both a Nook Color and a Nexus 7.
It's not even close! If the Nexus 7 is $200, then the Nook is worth no more than $100.
The Nook has no camera and no microphone, useless for video chat. Video chat is SO easy on the Nexus 7, even my mom can do it.
Nexus 7 is much smaller and thinner and it's the same size screen.
Performance: on this score the Nook is worth maybe $50 compared to the Nexus 7.
The ONLY advantage of the Nook is the micro-SD card slot.
Re:/. utilizes mods control to censor criticism by OolimPhon · 2012-08-12 21:35 · Score: 5, Funny

Use of -1's to hide
Collection of IP's for anonymous users
Whimsical & arbitrary silencing of these IP's, including discrediting censorship complaints as spam
Sorry, that's not how you write a Haiku.
Security can be a concern on tablets by SternisheFan · 2012-08-12 21:43 · Score: 4, Interesting

I have had a 7" sub $100 tablet, no complaints. It worked great until one day I noticed an extra icon on the screen that had never been there before. When it wouldn't let me perform a 'factory reset' I realized it had been 'hard' hacked, and turned into a listening device. That was the end of that tablet, it got smashed into a hundred pieces! I won't have another android tablet until I've learned how to secure it down completely. It's too bad, I really liked having that tablet around, too. Anyways, here's a link to a 11" Samsung tablet that should be out this year, it might have a screen that equals Apple's... http://www.slashgear.com/samsung-is-moments-away-from-a-true-ipad-alternative-11242611/
1. Re:Security can be a concern on tablets by Andy+Dodd · 2012-08-13 02:07 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  So wait - you had a cheap Chinese knockoff with Chinese spyware and you blame Android for it?
  
  --
  retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:/. utilizes mods control to censor criticism by Hillgiant · 2012-08-13 01:16 · Score: 3, Informative

Use of -1's to hide
Collection of IP's for anonymous users
Whimsical & arbitrary silencing of these IP's, including discrediting censorship complaints as spam
Sorry, that's not how you write a Haiku.
Yes, but your haiku
also fails to follow the
agreed upon form.

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