Barnes & Noble's Nook HD Tablets Face iPad, Kindle Fire HD

Kobo by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:18 · Score: 0

kobo launched their new readers when the kindle's were announced too. Too bad the press missed out, they look like great little units.

Re:Kobo by Dzimas · 2012-09-26 05:40 · Score: 4, Informative

The Kobo Arc looks decent for $199. It's built on Android 4.0x, has a 1280x800 IPS display and 1.5GHz A9 processor.
Re:Kobo by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:54 · Score: 0

Does that company have the most incompetent marketing team on the planet?
"Hey guys,I know we are not a huge name in the market, but let's announce our new product right when the major competitor does"
Re:Kobo by misterooga · 2012-09-26 06:47 · Score: 2

Spec: http://www.kobo.com/koboarc/techspecs/ (kobo.com)
Re:Kobo by fm6 · 2012-09-26 08:02 · Score: 1

These specs are comparable to those for Nexus 7. All other things being equal, I'd rather have a general purpose tablet that I can load ereader software on than a tablet that's primarily designed for one particular use. Also, buying from a major corp is less risky than buying from a struggling eBook retailer.
One thing that really bothers me: neither tablet has a memory card slot. My tin foil hat is buzzing.
Re:Kobo by h4rr4r · 2012-09-26 08:04 · Score: 1

USB on the GO.
SD card slots are going away because SD cards are slow. No one wants you to say their tablet is slow because it has to wait for writes to some SD card.
Re:Kobo by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 08:34 · Score: 0

The customer service from Google on their Nexus is terrible. If you do buy the tablet, buy it from another vendor -- like Amazon.
Re:Kobo by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 08:35 · Score: 0

Also, buying from a major corp is less risky than buying from a struggling eBook retailer.
Kobo is now owned by Rakuten, who are pretty huge.
Re:Kobo by fm6 · 2012-09-26 09:22 · Score: 1

Well, you might be right about the speed issue. But I don't see USB on the GO replacing memory cards. I'm not walking around with a thumb drive dangling from my tablet. People might misunderstand!
Re:Kobo by Golddess · 2012-09-26 10:22 · Score: 1

One thing that really bothers me: neither tablet has a memory card slot.
I'm guessing you're talking about the Nexus 7 and the Kobo Arc, because the new Nooks, just as the old Nooks, have a microSD slot.

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"I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
Re:Kobo by fm6 · 2012-09-26 11:20 · Score: 1

Uh, did you notice that I was replying to a post about the Kobo (see the subject) and comparing it with the Nexus?
Re:Kobo by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-29 12:52 · Score: 0

Uh, did you notice the topic of the thread? i.e.; Nook HD tablets--not Kobo and not Nexus.

not hedging bets by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:18 · Score: 1

You may recall that Barnes and Noble and Microsoft are in a joint venture to do e-bookie things.

Re:not hedging bets by binarylarry · 2012-09-26 05:51 · Score: 3, Informative

You may also recall they forced B&N to take the money at gun point

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Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
Re:not hedging bets by helix2301 · 2012-09-26 06:12 · Score: 2

Barnes and Nobles should just stick with there apps for all platforms and forget about selling e readers there not winning the tablet war but that have chance winning the ebook war at having 25% of ebook sales.

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http://www.thetechnologygeek.org
Re:not hedging bets by pod · 2012-09-26 06:49 · Score: 1

Companies do this often. HW is not B&N core competency. It will never be a premium brand, which means they will be competing in commodity space with thin commodity margins and cutthroat competition. They should concentrate on books, real and electronic, and do better and innovate there.

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"Hot lesbian witches! It's fucking genius!"
Re:not hedging bets by Type44Q · 2012-09-26 10:06 · Score: 1

"Their" and "they're." There. :)
Re:not hedging bets by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 12:34 · Score: 0

It's not so much about winning the ebook war as it is ensuring that Amazon doesn't win. I owned a first gen Nook and to suggest that they can't win ignores who great the platform really is. Whenever you take Nook into B&N you get to read for free for a period of time each day. It's more convenient to get your books from B&N, but you can get books from pretty much anywhere else.
Windows is a stupid move and I don't believe they're going to do that. Android is what they've been using since the first gen model came out and there isn't any compelling reason to water down the brand by introducing something that's not going to be completely compatible with the other tablets. And Windows on an e-ink display really isn't going to work out so well.
Re:not hedging bets by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-27 00:56 · Score: 0

I'm inclined to believe that Microsoft offered them to much money to ignore to make B&N back down, as MS probably didn't want to risk their dodgy patents getting invalidated in court. So perhaps less at gun point and more at chequebook point.
Re:not hedging bets by DuckDodgers · 2012-09-27 02:17 · Score: 1

I think a lot of people will default to using the first eBook reader and eBook store that was installed on their tablet device. Barnes & Noble needs to sell tablets for the sole purpose of getting more people to have the Barnes & Noble eBook store as the default choice instead of Amazon.

And of course, word-of-mouth matters too. If lots of people you know own and love an Amazon eBook reader and you don't yet own an eBook reader, you yourself are more likely to buy one from Amazon. I think it's smart of Barnes & Noble to sell tablets, just for improving their eBook customer numbers and eBook store brand recognition.

Sticking with it by n9uxu8 · 2012-09-26 05:19 · Score: 3, Insightful

Good to see them staying in the game, but my tendency is to favor the Nexus devices, and avoid any of the bookseller ecosystems.

Re:Sticking with it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:27 · Score: 0

I have yet to be unhappy with my Nexus7, over the weekend my mysql server at work had issues, i turned on my wifi hotspot (wifi tether for root users) on my phone, connected my n7 to the hotspot, connected my n7 to the vpn (stock JB vpn), rpd to the server(2x client app), fixed the issue, no fuss no muss.
Re:Sticking with it by naroom · 2012-09-26 05:32 · Score: 2

You can get all the functionality of a Nook tablet by installing the Nook app to a Nexus 7.

I've tried it the other way around - turning a Nook tablet into an Android tablet - but it's an annoying process. Further, B&N likes to un-root your device by forcing you to update. There are ways around this, but you have to be pretty devoted to keep a Nook Tablet rooted. The Nexus 7 is cheaper and does more.

Also - why in the heck does processor speed and RAM matter on a device whose primary function is to read books?!
Re:Sticking with it by tlhIngan · 2012-09-26 06:09 · Score: 1

You can get all the functionality of a Nook tablet by installing the Nook app to a Nexus 7.
I've tried it the other way around - turning a Nook tablet into an Android tablet - but it's an annoying process. Further, B&N likes to un-root your device by forcing you to update. There are ways around this, but you have to be pretty devoted to keep a Nook Tablet rooted. The Nexus 7 is cheaper and does more.
Also - why in the heck does processor speed and RAM matter on a device whose primary function is to read books?!
True, but the Nook HD+ has a nicer screen (1440x900 in a 7" form factor). And the 9" is 1080p+ already (1920x1280 - vs. 1920x1200 for Kindle HD). That 9" Nook has a higher screen resolution that most laptops out there (even the ones with 1920x1200)!
It's funny they're concentrating on the specs and yet ignore the screen - but then again, specs seem to matter to geeks and people who complain about the lack thereof on Apple products. Though you do need some pretty good one to drive all those pixels.
Re:Sticking with it by ryanmc1 · 2012-09-26 06:21 · Score: 1

> The Nexus 7 is cheaper and does more.

Umm, they are the same price (the $199 version), and the Nook has expandable memory and the Nexus does not.
Re:Sticking with it by cdrudge · 2012-09-26 06:23 · Score: 1

Also - why in the heck does processor speed and RAM matter on a device whose primary function is to read books?!
Because if all people wanted to do on them was read a book, they would have gone with a e-reader that's cheaper and has a screen that's easier to read but not as colorful. I bet in most cases that the primary function of the tablet e-readers isn't to read books, but more traditional table functionality (surfing, games, video, etc).
Re:Sticking with it by jd2112 · 2012-09-26 06:29 · Score: 1

Some of us like to play a game of Angry Birds between books.

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Any insufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology.
Re:Sticking with it by cayenne8 · 2012-09-26 06:32 · Score: 1

True, but the Nook HD+ has a nicer screen (1440x900 in a 7" form factor). And the 9" is 1080p+ already (1920x1280 - vs. 1920x1200 for Kindle HD). That 9" Nook has a higher screen resolution that most laptops out there (even the ones with 1920x1200)!
I wonder how long it will be before you can root the new nook HD+...and put cyanogenmod on it? Does it have an microSD slot on it? I've become annoyed that all the newer tablets coming out seem to be lacking this....hell, I'm looking at maybe getting a slightly older Xoom ....for the stuff you can still do and connect to it....

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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Re:Sticking with it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:32 · Score: 0

" but you have to be pretty devoted to keep a Nook Tablet rooted."
not true, at least in my experience, i got one for the gf, rooted it, and she loved it, never had to touch it again until i wanted to rom it is as well, so i did that. but at no time was it ever forced back to stock. i think in the early days the original root method was undid by a system update, but even that was fixed before most of the devices i have done got bumped to 1.4.1 (i think). I have done 2 other nt's for coworkers and ask them from time to time if they are still liking it, and they all are. BTW all also hated the original software.
So ive done 3 or 4 of these things and never had one be forced back to stock. and these were all done more than 6 months ago.
Re:Sticking with it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:35 · Score: 0

unless you plan on root and rom, its 7 all the way, and even then, unless your getting a 4.1 mod on it, it not going to be anywhere as smooth as the 7.
Re:Sticking with it by naroom · 2012-09-26 06:37 · Score: 1

Umm, they are the same price (the $199 version), and the Nook has expandable memory and the Nexus does not.
Quite right! My mistake, I misread the price. Thanks for catching that.
Re:Sticking with it by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:47 · Score: 0

I'm still looking at the TF700 for when I retire my TouchPad, as I want to ditch my bluetooth keyboard, but I'm glad, too -- the more 7" devices for sale, the more likely Asus will make a 7" transformer. If they play it slim enough with the bezels, a 7" screen could fit in coat & cargo-pants pockets, and finally give me a full replacement for my aging U2010 -- and if I get an upgrade from 5.6" 1280x800 to 7" 1440x900, that's just dandy.
Re:Sticking with it by Cinder6 · 2012-09-26 06:52 · Score: 1

They do have an SD card reader.
I really like the look of the new devices. They certainly stand out in a sea of black rectangles (I'm including the iPad here). I'm tempted by it (9" is cheaper than the big Fire), but I already have the Kindle Paperwight on preorder. Not sure how much ecosystem juggling I want to do.

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If you can't convince them, convict them.
Re:Sticking with it by interval1066 · 2012-09-26 07:05 · Score: 1

I read books on my Moto Droid X2. Yeah, its a little small, but it works for me and I'm not buying fifty different devices for tasks that are little more than variations on a theme.

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Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Re:Sticking with it by blind+biker · 2012-09-26 07:07 · Score: 1

Good choice, considering that neither the Amazon nor the BN tablets have GPS.
The Nexus 7 does, though!

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"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.
Re:Sticking with it by Rogue+Haggis+Landing · 2012-09-26 07:46 · Score: 2

The microSD card is a huge plus to me. Assuming the build quality is similar to the previous generation of Nooks, the big Nook will be the first 9"+ tablet with a microSD card, bluetooth, a solid build quality, an a debut price under $300. You can get an Asus EEE Pad Slider for $299, but it sold at ~$400 before this, and the build of the Archos and Le Pan devices didn't impress me when I played with them at my local MicroCenter.

I think that this is a really big deal -- bluetooth, the expansion slot, and a solid build quality will finally mean that there's a proper netbook replacement in the budget range. The Nook Color sort of worked like this, but the bluetooth required Cyanogenmod and is pretty wonky even then, and it's only a 7" device. The Nexus is nice, but you're stuck with the 7" model and there's no microSD slot. Samsung has a $250 device with most of what I want, but it's only a 7" device and there you're effectively paying a $50 premium over the Nexus just for the microSD. So the large Nook really does feel like a big deal to me. If it takes after the Nook Color more than the Nook Tablet in terms of being easy to root and to mod then I'll buy one the day it gets released. Even if it isn't I might buy one anyway.
Re:Sticking with it by fm6 · 2012-09-26 08:35 · Score: 2

I share your prejudice for Nexus and similar devices. But I have to point out that you can't completely avoid bookseller ecosystems. The best you can do is buy a device that lets you participate in multiple ecosystems. Nexus 7 and Kobo Arc both fit the bill; Kindle and Nook do not.
Also not all bookseller ecosystems are equal. Such an ecosystem is determined by the combination of file format and DRM. (Non-DRM support is nice to have, but 99% of the books that are available for sale are DRMed.) Amazon uses AZW, which combines the old MobiPocket format (now their property) with proprietary DRM. This is the only DRM format Kindles support, which gives amazon.com a nice monopoly on content for it.
The biggest competing ecosystem uses a combination of ePub format and Adobe DRM. This is vendor neutral: it's what most eBooks that aren't sold through Amazon use. And it's available on a lot of different devices, including Kobo's. So there's competition and alternatives, both notably lacking in the Amazon ecosystem. Unless DRM goes away completely, this is the ecosystem I most want to suceed. I'm not optimistic though: Amazon has shown itself very hard to beat in this kind of market war.
Absurdly, B&N has decided it wants an ecosystem all its own. There goes any chance I'll ever buy a Nook.
Re:Sticking with it by Golddess · 2012-09-26 11:23 · Score: 1

Do the new Nooks have bluetooth? I don't remember seeing it listed in the tech specs, and Barnes & Noble's website is throwing fits now.

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"I'm not sure I like the fugnutish tone you used in your post!" -RogL (608926)-
Re:Sticking with it by cayenne8 · 2012-09-26 13:09 · Score: 1

I'm actually looking now at a Motorola Xoom...a slightly older one that has 4G with Verizon, wifi, bluetooth...etc.
You can get these for about $230....32GB, and microSD.
A friend showed me his..rooted, etc...and what I liked about it was..that you can set THAT to be a wireless hotspot for other devices.
I know it is a bit older, but so far, I've not found a tablet that has ALL that functionality in one package....rooted and with cyanogen on it....seems right now to me to be the best of all worlds.
I've been disappointed that so many of the new tablets coming out don't have the microSD slot anymore...??
What's up with that?

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Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
Re:Sticking with it by dj245 · 2012-09-26 14:34 · Score: 1

Have you looked at the Chinese tablets? There are many which have pretty much everything you want. I just got a Novo 7 Fire, which has a MicroSD slot, a 1280x800 IPS 5-point multitouch screen, bluetooth, etc. I am satisfied with the build quality. It is hard to compare build quality since it is somewhat subjective, but I would put it at slightly less than Apple products, but not much less. I flashed the firmware with a different rom which someone put together, and it is behaving exactly like a Nexus 7 now.

There are a multitude of different chinese tablets made by Ainol, Onda, Ramos, PiPo, etc. I found Merimobiles a good site to browse and shop for these chinese tablets, but I didn't buy from them so I can't say anything about their service and I don't recommend for or against them.

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Even those who arrange and design shrubberies are under considerable economic stress at this period in history.
Re:Sticking with it by DuckDodgers · 2012-09-27 02:20 · Score: 1

The Nook is a pure eBook reader. The Nook Tablet and upcoming Nook HD are skins on Android, so you can listen to music, surf the web, play games, and watch movies. The specs matter for anything aside from reading.

Fixed that for you by captaindomon · 2012-09-26 05:21 · Score: 4, Insightful

"It's proven a busy month for mobile-device releases. Knowing Apple would be releasing the iPhone 5 to crazy acclaim from news organizations, and not wanting to be smothered, Nokia quickly shipped the Lumia 820 and 920 before they lost the lime light. The next day, Amazon, worrying over persistant rumors the Apple release could include a small form-factor iPad, quickly announced the Kindle Fire HD. Barnes & Noble, not to be outdone by Amazon, threw something out there to compete as well." It's all about marketing and timing, folks. Have you ever noticed how movie releases are carefully planned to compete for attention in the same way?

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Just because I can hook a shark from a boat, I do no offer to wrestle it in the water.

Re:Fixed that for you by AmiMoJo · 2012-09-26 07:04 · Score: 1

Perhaps everyone is just launching in time for Christmas wish lists.
Or maybe they were hoping that the iPhone 5 would disappoint and leave a waste of cash burning a hole in many people's pockets for them to grab.
Could also just be coincidence.

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const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC

Launching with Android 4.0... uh oh by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:28 · Score: 0

Where is Michael Degusta with a lengthy troll, er "insightful commentary" about how doomed Android is since a device has the audacity to go to market with an operating system that is "3 months out of date"?

Re:Launching with Android 4.0... uh oh by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:10 · Score: 0

Can we assume that you think launching a product with an older version of the OS, particularly when the newer one is noticeably better, is a good thing then?
Re:Launching with Android 4.0... uh oh by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:38 · Score: 0

its not, but does it hurt android, no. i mean its not like people are getting a true android experience anyway, so who cares what version its "built" off of.
Re:Launching with Android 4.0... uh oh by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 12:38 · Score: 0

Apple solves that problem by holding the release hostage until they have their hardware ready to go. Android developers don't have that luxury. But, you can be damned sure that Apple products are similarly out of date compared with when the OS is ready.
Same presumably goes for pretty much every other manufacturer.
Re:Launching with Android 4.0... uh oh by Grave · 2012-09-26 12:44 · Score: 1

As long as it ships with 4.x, it is not tough to move up. 4.0 was a nearly complete re-write of major parts of the OS from 2.3/3.0. CyanogenMod took nearly a year to get 4.0 done, and now has nearly complete versions of 4.1 going.

stick with what made you good... by Eyezen · 2012-09-26 05:30 · Score: 3, Interesting

My family has a Nook glow light version and we absolutely love it. The e-ink IMHO makes a world of difference when READING BOOKS. We also like the Barnes and Noble method of purchasing and lending books. Having said that I don't know why they would want to try to complete with the other tablets already on the market where you can get the B&N app.

Re:stick with what made you good... by mr1911 · 2012-09-26 06:31 · Score: 1

e-ink is great for reading books, but for the ultimate experience you have to pick up a book!

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Any offense taken to this post is at your sole discretion.
Re:stick with what made you good... by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2012-09-26 06:41 · Score: 1

I can pick up a book. I can't pick up nine hundred of them and put them in my pocket. That's really the key advantage of e-ink readers.
Re:stick with what made you good... by wonkey_monkey · 2012-09-26 07:01 · Score: 1

but for the classic experience you have to pick up a book!
FTFY.

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systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
Re:stick with what made you good... by Cinder6 · 2012-09-26 07:22 · Score: 1

For me, eInk has the following advantages (plus more):
1. The words are always at an even angle with your eyes. I'm a bit OCD about keeping my books in pristine condition, so I tend not to open them much more than I have to to see the words, and this means that the type closer to the spine is harder for me to read.
2. eReaders weigh less than a paperback, and are thinner than the paperbacks I read (and don't get me started on hardcover).
3. eReaders now have built-in lights which work well.
4. Carry hundreds of books with you at once, and easily acquire more if you need to. I used to pack about a dozen books for long trips. I don't have to do that anymore.
However, paper books have one huge advantage: You never have to worry about a bookstore revoking access to your paper book. (Bonus advantage: No batteries!)

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If you can't convince them, convict them.
Re:stick with what made you good... by RoverDaddy · 2012-09-26 07:45 · Score: 2

Books are great for reading, but for the ultimate experience you have to unroll a papyrus.

Papyrus is great for reading, but for the ultimate experience you have to carry a clay tablet.

Books -are- great, but they're not the be-all and end-all of carrying words and pictures around. I was just on vacation and took 4 library books and 8 to 10 of my own purchased books with me, basically for no 'physical' cost because my phone, tablet and laptop were coming along anyway. No chance I could forget any of those library books on vacation either, and have to pay for them to be replaced. And of course I could have had 500 books to choose from instead of a dozen or so just as easily.

And another advantage nobody else mentioned yet is that all my devices tracked my place in each book automatically so I could switch devices depending on what was most convenient at the time, and pick up right where I left off.

I'm really looking forward to the day when I'm carrying around my entire library, all the time. I only wish there was a way to replace all my existing paperback books (save for a few sentimental items), with digital copies for cheap (and legal of course).

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RETURN without GOSUB in line 1050
Re:stick with what made you good... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 08:21 · Score: 0

really? you won't open a book for fear of damaging it? It's made to be read! sigh.
another ebook advantage: you can easily have the same book in many different readers at the same time for no more cost. (depending on the licensing)
also, you can search ebooks
Re:stick with what made you good... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 13:41 · Score: 0

I can pick up a book. I can't pick up nine hundred of them and put them in my pocket.
ITYM "nine hundred trashy novels".
e-books are a phenomenon primarily restricted to the fictive publishing arena
Re:stick with what made you good... by Cinder6 · 2012-09-26 17:27 · Score: 1

Nope. It's my one bit of OCD. I may be overstating it a bit, but not by much. I sometimes buy books used specifically so it won't bother me.

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If you can't convince them, convict them.

B&N Store is a ghost town by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:33 · Score: 2, Interesting

B&N Store is empty. If Nook HD suffer the same store and restrictions, nothing can be done. Sure, rooting the devices helps, but for Joe Blow, when angry birds is $5.99 from B&N store or $0.99 from Amazon or Google Play (or even an ad supported free version is available), why would you select B&N?

Re:B&N Store is a ghost town by RabidReindeer · 2012-09-26 05:52 · Score: 1

B&N Store is empty. If Nook HD suffer the same store and restrictions, nothing can be done. Sure, rooting the devices helps, but for Joe Blow, when angry birds is $5.99 from B&N store or $0.99 from Amazon or Google Play (or even an ad supported free version is available), why would you select B&N?
Why buy expensive domestic pet food when you can get it cheaper from China^W Wal-Mart and watch Kitty and Fido keel over from liver failure?
I like low prices, too, but 6 bucks isn't going to kill me. The stuff they peddle that I REALLY don't like the price of, I simply don't buy. Like eBooks at hardbound prices.
Re:B&N Store is a ghost town by nedlohs · 2012-09-26 06:13 · Score: 1

Because the Angry Birds at B&N isn't the same software. Right? It's much better than the CHina^W Wal-Mart version of Angry Birds on Google Play that is going to give your pet liver failure when you play it. Right?
Re:B&N Store is a ghost town by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-26 06:16 · Score: 1

Fail analogy, since the "paid" version of Angry Birds are the same as the overpriced Nook version.
In fact they're likely to be better since they're not a hacked version for a device not compliant with the Android CTS.

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:B&N Store is a ghost town by Jethro · 2012-09-26 06:51 · Score: 1

I go to B&N every now and then, and it's always pretty damn crowded when I'm there. I don't think there are less people in there than there were 10 years ago.

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In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
Re:B&N Store is a ghost town by Bucky24 · 2012-09-26 10:49 · Score: 1

I don't think anyone has ever gotten liver failure from playing Angry Birds. Then again people have died playing video games so I could be wrong about that.

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All the world's a CPU, and all the men and women merely AI agents

Great bang for the buck by oic0 · 2012-09-26 05:33 · Score: 3, Interesting

From the tech specs and price, it seems like a solid tablet for $200. Would be the one I would reccomend. The chip is fast enough that everything should be fluid unless they did a crap job putting together their android distro. 1gb of ram is enough. Screen is big enough. Seems like a good deal. Just like their previous products which were also very underrated IMO. Most likely it will go mostly unnoticed just like their previous products did too lol.

The law of money hats by BitwizeGHC · 2012-09-26 05:34 · Score: 1

Microsoft just plowed a lot of money into BN. The law of money hats virtually guarantees us a Windows 8 Nook.

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N4st0r, trixx0r h0bb1tz0rz! Th3y st0l3 0ur pr3c10uzz!

Re:The law of money hats by RabidReindeer · 2012-09-26 05:44 · Score: 1

Microsoft just plowed a lot of money into BN. The law of money hats virtually guarantees us a Windows 8 Nook.
I fear you are right. But not yet, fortunately.

No Windows Nook, Sorry by fm6 · 2012-09-26 05:36 · Score: 4, Informative

The links are messed up, but the actual job posting is here. Job description (italics mine):

Define the product strategy and roadmap for Nook on Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8
Collaborate with internal teams and Microsoft to define innovative products for desktop, tablets and smartphones
Develop clear, detailed requirements and user stories by conducting customer and competitive research
Ensure that products meet delivery schedules and budget by coordinating all of the required resources
Serve as the internal and external evangelist for the Nook Windows 8 products

To me this is about Nook software on Windows, especially Windows-based mobile devices. And jeez, why would B&N want to junk theirt existing Android-based platform and start over from scratch?

Especially since its days are probably numbered. It's hard to see why anybody would buy a specialized eReader tablet when you can get a general purpose Android or Windows 8 RT tablet for about the same price and just load eReader software on it — like the software this person is being hired to develop.

The ePaper tablets might survive, provided enough people are willing to put up with their limitations in order to get something relatively cheap with very long battery life. But the specialized color tablets are mostly toast, though I guess Amazon might have the marketing muscle to keep the Kindle alive.

Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by CosaNostra+Pizza+Inc · 2012-09-26 05:46 · Score: 1

Yeah, for avid readers it makes sense to have a dedicated e-paper reader. I love my Kindle-keyboard I bought two years ago. I only need to recharge after reading 2-3 novels.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by fm6 · 2012-09-26 06:25 · Score: 1

Just the thing for long flights. I almost got sent to Shanghai by my employer once — 13 hours in the air! An epaper reader would have been the first thing I bought in preparation.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2012-09-26 06:55 · Score: 1

It's hard to see why anybody would buy a specialized eReader tablet when you can get a general purpose Android or Windows 8 RT tablet for about the same price
Its harder to read on a general purpose device. To be honest I don't see tablets having the staying power, I need a keyboard to do work of any sort, I'd rather get a netbook. I guess for commuters they have value.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by fm6 · 2012-09-26 07:44 · Score: 1

Why would a device be harder to read on if the screen is the same? Or are you referring to epaper reader? I already said those have their niche, but most people are buying LCD tablets.
If you want a decent keyboard, do not get a netbook. Those have keyboards to economize on space above all else. Netbooks were invented for the kind of casual use now dominated by tablets — which is why they're dieing off. If you need a portable device with a decent keyboard, get a laptop. Or if you want a really portable device that works with your favorite keyboard, get a tablet.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by Intrepid+imaginaut · 2012-09-26 08:02 · Score: 1

What? eReader tablet = epaper/eink. I have a netbook, a neat little Samsung, and the keys are perfectly usable, widely spaced, its great. I take it with me on day trips, vacations, anywhere I won't have to do heavy lifting in terms of coding. For office stuff it zips along, six hours battery life, and honestly is an all in one communicatons hub. If I need a tablet (ie for cramped commuting) I'll just use my phone.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by fm6 · 2012-09-26 09:19 · Score: 1

What? eReader tablet = epaper/eink
Ok, whatever works for you. A little dumb to bring that attitude to a discussion on color tablets and assume that everybody else you're talking to shares it.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 09:31 · Score: 0

Maybe you have really big hands or just haven't used a netbook long enough to get used to the keyboard. For the first week or so after I bought my netbook I had trouble typing on it. After that, it was perfectly fine. (Note that if you get a BT keyboard for a tablet/phone, then it's probably also going to be small like a netbook keyboard, so small keyboards aren't going away with the death of the netbook form factor.)
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by petermgreen · 2012-09-26 12:28 · Score: 1

Personally I find the keyboards on my 13 macbook and my 10 inch HP mini to be about the same comfort wise. Mostly because the keyboard on the HP mini goes very very close to the edge of the machine meaning the keyboard size difference isn't actally that great even though the overall machine is quite a lot smaller.
Both of them are masively better than trying to type on the onscreen keyboard of a tablet.

--
note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by fm6 · 2012-09-26 12:34 · Score: 1

Certainly no sane person would try to do serious input with an on-screen keyboard. But as I just pointed out, you can use a regular keyboard with a tablet. I personally find that much better for writing (which I do for a living) than your typical laptop keyboard.
Re:No Windows Nook, Sorry by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-27 01:16 · Score: 0

I think all these devices fail in ability for me to annotate & enter my own data. Maybe that's a "real computer" but I don't think so. Consider the student's life: books, class, NOTES, music, homework. Nothing beats the keyboard for doing that paper but a tablet could sweep up all the rest of the tasks if it only had a decent (palm-pilot style) interface capability. (Please don't anybody offer that Stupid iPad foam finger.) I believe there are some new thinkpads or something...?
As soon as these are available, I think despite their cost, just having one thing to lug will be a big advantage.

Forked by ISoldat53 · 2012-09-26 05:36 · Score: 0

I don't know why BN doesn't use a straight up Android OS. I have several nooks and I like them but it's frustrating that they limit the apps that will run on them by not having android support. App stores see it as android but then won't install the app.

Re:Forked by RabidReindeer · 2012-09-26 05:42 · Score: 1

I don't know why BN doesn't use a straight up Android OS. I have several nooks and I like them but it's frustrating that they limit the apps that will run on them by not having android support. App stores see it as android but then won't install the app.
I wish they would support that as an option - at least to the point of making it more easily rootable. However, DRM apparently is a part of it, as is B&N's stated purpose that the Nook is intended primarily as a reader/media player. So I guess if you want a real table, you have to buy a "real" tablet.
Shame, though. The Nook devices have been pretty solid, one and all.
Re:Forked by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:49 · Score: 1

They want to sell books, not provide you with a cheap all purpose device to "abuse". And as with every ebook reader, you knew this in advance, but still bought "several" of them. Eighter accept it or install a custom Android, but stop complaining.
Re:Forked by ISoldat53 · 2012-09-26 06:11 · Score: 1

I would like an app to let me keep track of my library. There are some android apps out there but they don't run on BN's version. I can use a N2A card to boot up in android but it would be nice to have a library management app that integrates with the nook's library. I use the excellent app, Book Crawler, on my iPod but it's another device to carry.
Re:Forked by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 09:49 · Score: 0

That's why I won't buy another Nook or Kindle regardless of how good the hardware is - they ruin the OS.
People got full Android running on them and what do B&N and Amazon do?
Force change the OS back to their broken old version and lock it.
The official B&N web browser doesn't even work right on the official B&N web site.
The Kindle is running versions of the OS that have documented security problems that allow your credit card # to be stolen.
They take other people's open source work, cripple it and put their name on it to make money.
Nook and Kindle are malware.

MicroSD!! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:38 · Score: 0

Finally someone got enough sense to put in expandable storage. The extra screen resolution is nice too.

Re:MicroSD!! by kiriath · 2012-09-26 05:51 · Score: 1

The NOOK tablet had a microSD slot, I believe the NOOK Color did as well.
Tons of other tablets have expandable storage (xoom for one), noticeably lacking are the iPad and the Kindle Fire.
Re:MicroSD!! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:57 · Score: 0

I wonder if the exFAT licensing cost isn't just as off-putting as the cost of the hardware.
(Yes, just as we were seeing the end of the FAT patent farce once and for all, someone let Microsoft put their penis in the SDXC standard, for no conceivable benefit to anyone except themselves.)

amazon video app by CosaNostra+Pizza+Inc · 2012-09-26 05:42 · Score: 1

not to try to hi-jack this thread or anything but I'd really like to see a standalone amazon video app for Android and Apple phones/tablets. Kindle Fire seems to be the only tablet that does this. Google, Netflix, and Hulu have apps.

Re:amazon video app by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:57 · Score: 0

not to try to hi-jack this thread or anything but I'd really like to see a standalone amazon video app for Android and Apple phones/tablets. Kindle Fire seems to be the only tablet that does this. Google, Netflix, and Hulu have apps.
Amazon is on my ipad. Works great thanks!
Re:amazon video app by tilante · 2012-09-26 06:10 · Score: 1

Well, as recently as a couple of months ago, Amazon didn't have an iPad video app, and since this is the first I've heard of it, it seems they didn't try to advertise much that they do now. Still, happy that they do!
For anyone else who might want to actually *get* the app, its name is "Amazon Instant Video".
Re:amazon video app by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-26 06:18 · Score: 1

The iPad app is fairly new, and if I recall correctly, there were rumors of work on an Android version.
Amazon Instant Video is the ONLY thing that the Kindles give you access to which you can't get on a normal Android device.

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:amazon video app by Karlt1 · 2012-09-26 12:00 · Score: 1

"not to try to hi-jack this thread or anything but I'd really like to see a standalone amazon video app for Android and Apple phones/tablets"
There is already one for the iPad.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amazon-instant-video/id545519333?mt=8

If you asked me.... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 05:48 · Score: 0

Well then id tell you that there is no way the barnes tablet will Match this one.....

The Amazon ecosystem seems pretty good by SuperKendall · 2012-09-26 05:53 · Score: 1

my tendency is to favor the Nexus devices, and avoid any of the bookseller ecosystems.

If you have a family the Amazon ecosystem is pretty compelling. Really impressive parental controls and thoughtful ways of sharing a device in a family, plus Prime and access to lots of media for free.

For books especially the Kindle is hard to beat in terms of places you can read kindle books, and they have a really nice standalone Kindle eInk reader now.

You even get a more carefully moderated app store from Amazon, which would appeal to a lot of non-technical people.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley

Re:The Amazon ecosystem seems pretty good by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-26 06:15 · Score: 1

Here's the breakdown:
Nexus 7 can access Amazon ecosystem content (except Prime Instant Videos), B&N ecosystem content, and Google ecosystem content
Kindles can only access Amazon ecosystem content
Nooks can only access B&N ecosystem content
It's a no-brainer...

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:The Amazon ecosystem seems pretty good by Cinder6 · 2012-09-26 06:59 · Score: 1

One compelling aspect of the Nook is that it has multi-user support. Do the others have that? (Honest question.)

--
If you can't convince them, convict them.
Re:The Amazon ecosystem seems pretty good by SuperKendall · 2012-09-26 07:29 · Score: 1

One compelling aspect of the Nook is that it has multi-user support. Do the others have that?
The new Kindle Fire has an interesting take on that, it has backups to the Amazon cloud, and then you can switch users on device to use different stores for the apps that you have (as I understand it). You should watch the intro video.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley

There's more to it than just money by Chibi+Merrow · 2012-09-26 05:53 · Score: 2

The money was the carrot, the huge smothering patent lawsuits were the stick. B&N wasn't given a choice in the matter, they either accepted Microsoft's money and agreed to do Windows 8 stuff with them, or Microsoft promised to keep suing them 10 patents at a time until they were out of business.

--
Maxim: People cannot follow directions.
Increases in truth directly with the length of time spent explaining them

Re:There's more to it than just money by exomondo · 2012-09-26 18:17 · Score: 1

why would you need a carrot if you've got a stick?
Re:There's more to it than just money by Chibi+Merrow · 2012-09-27 04:17 · Score: 1

Sometimes using only the stick on a really stubborn horse just leaves you with a dead horse.
B&N had made a point of fighting these lawsuits rather vigorously. More vigorously than any other Android manufacturer. And they had refused to sign NDAs and were dragging all of Microsoft's dirty laundry out into the public. Microsoft would still have won eventually, but the costs (financial and otherwise) would have been enormous.
Offering a large lump of cash to "partner" with Microsoft probably managed to convince several B&N executives to overrule their legal team that wanted to fight to the death.
Plus, now Microsoft has B&N on the hook to provide eReader stuff for Windows 8.

--
Maxim: People cannot follow directions.
Increases in truth directly with the length of time spent explaining them

Weird pricing? by rjejr · 2012-09-26 05:58 · Score: 1

So, the 7" screen and 16GB costs $299, and the 9" screen with better specs and 16GB costs $30 LESS at $269? I know smaller is better but that's weird. Though I guess once the iPad mini comes out cheaper than the base $299 iPod Touch 5 it will all make sense. I am glad they got rid of that hook/notch/hole on the 7", it just looked stupid. For those of you about to make fun of it for being advertised as 1/2" less wide than the Kindle HD 7", that 1/2" makes a difference for people with small hands, and the Kindle Fire HD looks stupid that wide. No GPS and no camera means no sale for me, but I like all the options now at the 7" size. The Tab 2 7" still seems the best option wise, but it could really use a screen and CPU upgrade. Hopefully all the competition will force Samsung's hand.

Re:Weird pricing? by spire3661 · 2012-09-26 06:27 · Score: 1

There is no way Ipad mini comes in under $299 when you have 4" ipod Touch starting at that price point.

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Good-bye
Re:Weird pricing? by synapse7 · 2012-09-26 06:30 · Score: 1

The 7" 16GB nook hd is 229.
Re:Weird pricing? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 08:30 · Score: 0

I guess once the iPad mini comes out cheaper than the base $299 iPod Touch 5 it will all make sense.
Are you an insider who has actual knowledge that not only is the mythical iPad mini coming out for sure, it's also going to be under $299?
No, you're not. When will people give up on this notion of an iPad mini? I thought certainly after this last product release, people would drop it. I also was SURE that once all these other tablet makers started releasing 8"+ models, everyone would think it would absolutely kill the notion of a smaller iPad.
Hate to crush the dreams of everyone still deluded into thinking there will be an iPad mini (hint: there already is - it's called an iPod Touch) but it's not going to happen. GET OVER IT! If you want one, create your own and hack iOS onto it. Just please stop talking like it's a sure thing, you all sound like idiots.

Side-by-side comparison by saveferrousoxide · 2012-09-26 06:15 · Score: 2

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the Nook HD, Fire HD, and Nexus 7 (and the Fire, but who cares) on Huffington Post.

Re:Side-by-side comparison by synapse7 · 2012-09-26 06:34 · Score: 1

As much as I would like vanilla android, the prominent difference to me is the expandable storage.
Re:Side-by-side comparison by saveferrousoxide · 2012-09-26 06:46 · Score: 1

agreed, the expandable storage is kind of a big deal to me too
Re:Side-by-side comparison by naroom · 2012-09-26 07:19 · Score: 1

The Nexus 7 also has a GPS, which I believe the others do not.

Sideload ecosystem by tepples · 2012-09-26 06:25 · Score: 1

Both my Nexus 7 and a Kindle Fire owned by an elder of my church can access sideload ecosystem content, as both have a checkbox to allow installing applications from unknown sources. Is the B&N app available as an APK or exclusively through Google Play Store?

Shoot the /. "editors"! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:26 · Score: 0

They keep getting shit wrong!

Linux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:29 · Score: 0

Anyone ported Linux to these type tablets? With real filesystem, gcc, etc? I presume that kind of functionality isn't available in Android.

Re:Linux? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:38 · Score: 0

It is. Just search in the play store, there are plenty of such options available.

I love my Nook by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-26 06:48 · Score: 0

I love my Nook tablet, it does exactly what i bought it for. Reading Books with occasional web use.
I Refuse to support amazon for a whole host of reasons. I don't want them pwning the ebook market is the biggest.

I have setup Kindle fire for customers, not impressed at all. Personally i think they suck.

Anyhow, if B&N switches to Windows 8 for the Nook, I won't buy another Nook,
Windows 8 = ME all over again.

No GPS? by blind+biker · 2012-09-26 07:08 · Score: 2

No thanks. The GPS in the Nexus 7 makes it a much more useful device, for people on the go such as me.

Especially if you have the tendency to get lost while bicycling around town.... as I do :/

--
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.

Not as clear as you make it by SuperKendall · 2012-09-26 07:34 · Score: 1

Nexus 7 can access Amazon ecosystem content (except Prime Instant Videos), B&N ecosystem content, and Google ecosystem content

If the Nexus 7 can do all that, why not the Fire - or indeed any of them?

You can side-load stuff on the Fire too...

Once you realize you can run anything on any of the devices, but you can only get stuff like Prime instant videos on the Fire, it leans more that way to me (but then I also have Prime membership).

The only thing is though the Prime video selection is kind of sparse, so I'm not sure how much of a value add it really is. Access to the Amazon App Store + Amazon user accounts / cloud backup is way more interesting and useful to most people.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley

Re:Not as clear as you make it by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-26 09:49 · Score: 1

"If the Nexus 7 can do all that, why not the Fire - or indeed any of them?"
Because they are not compliant with the Android CTS, and can't reliably run all Android applications. They cannot also access the Play Store (and any content available on it.)
I wasn't talking about sideloading - There are Amazon apps, available from the Play Store, that can access any Amazon content. (The only thing that needs sideloading is the app for Amazon's own app store - note that not all of the apps on Amazon's app store available for standard Android devices will run on a Kindle.)
Nexus 7 can access Amazon books and music WITHOUT SIDELOADING.
Nexus 7 can access Nook books WITHOUT SIDELOADING. (B&N doesn't really offer anything else. There is not a single B&N app that isn't available cheaper directly from the Play Store)
Nexus 7 can access all Play Store content WITHOUT SIDELOADING.
Nexus 7 can access Amazon's app store with sideloading.
The only thing the Nexus 7 can't access are Prime Instant videos, which as you said, is kind of sparse.
Technically, everything above applies equally to any Android device that passes the Android CTS, but the Nexus 7 is the most common example in this price/size class.
Kindle Fire cannot access any Nook content, period. (DRM...)
Kindle Fire cannot access any Play Store content, period. (DRM for videos, probably DRM for books, Kindle doesn't pass CTS for most apps)
Nook cannot access any Kindle content, period. (DRM...)
Nook cannot access any Play Store content, period. (DRM for videos, probably DRM for books, Kindle doesn't pass CTS for most apps)
You CANNOT run anything on any of the devices - Android devices that pass CTS are the ONLY devices that can access anything from the other ecosystems and all Android content.

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:Not as clear as you make it by SuperKendall · 2012-09-26 10:04 · Score: 1

Ok, I see your point - but it seems like a user would be better off being able to access all Amazon content (including videos, sparse as they are) than they would Play store content. I know I'd rather buy from Amazon than from Google, making Amazons device more attractive.
Is there any media you can buy on Play and not through Amazon? It seems like Amazon would have the same range of media for purchase.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Re:Not as clear as you make it by farble1670 · 2012-09-26 10:45 · Score: 1

If the Nexus 7 can do all that, why not the Fire - or indeed any of them? You can side-load stuff on the Fire too...
who not? if you want an APK that's on google play but not amazon's market,
1. install APK on device 1 that has google play
2. install android SDK
3. connect device 1 to a computer
4. use ADB to pull the APK off of device 1
5. connect device 2 to computer
6. use ADB or USB to push the APK to device to
7. use a file browser on device 2 to locate the APK and install it
not to mention, the app installed on device 2 is not going to get updated. you have to manually track updates and re-apply that process each time.
w/ the nexus, you get the google play market (which is better for apps), the amazon store (which is better for books, and in general better for all digital media), and the nook "store", if you for some reason like B&N better.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by MDMurphy · 2012-09-26 10:57 · Score: 1

That's why my approach is to reject any hardware that is intended to restrict your access to content from other sources (or stuff you might already own). Now if it was free and they were hoping to make money on me buying new content, maybe I'd be tempted. But if the price is close to the same as an open device, no reason to encourage them to keep making these devices.
I'm OK ( if not happy ) with Amazon selling DRM'd Kindle books that can be accessed via Kindle apps on wide range of platforms. But I might want to get a book from B&N or Google and I'd prefer my device didn't restrict me to purchasing from a single store.
Unfortunately there's enough sheeple out there to make hardware that's intentionally crippled to restrict choice a viable business model.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by MDMurphy · 2012-09-26 11:04 · Score: 1

Can you "buy" anything from the Play store? I know I can get music as MP3 from Amazon, but haven't tried music from Play. Anything else is DRM'd and not easily transportable, is it? I don't pay for books or movies from Amazon for that reason.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by DuckDodgers · 2012-09-27 02:26 · Score: 1

I want a bigger screen than 7 inches, so the 9 inch Nook HD Plus still appeals to me. But I'm going to wait until it comes out and then see if other people can easily root it and put their own Android ROM on it.

I still intend to purchase most of the content from Barnes & Noble and Google's Play store instead of Amazon, because I fear Amazon is on a path to becoming the undisputed 800 pound gorilla of the electronic content industry. But maybe my impression is incorrect.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by DuckDodgers · 2012-09-27 02:31 · Score: 1

I was under the impression with previous Nook tablets that Barnes & Noble actively encourages owners to root the device and had a good relationship with the Android ecosystem as a whole. But I just did some web searches to back that up, and it appears that newer device firmwares try to block root access. Dammit.

I want my first tablet with a screen larger than 7 inches. I had already decided against Amazon. I guess Barnes & Noble is out too, unless they change positions on root access to their operating systems between now and when the Nook HD Plus launches. Maybe I'll catch the next ASUS Transformer whatever it is.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-27 02:35 · Score: 1

Every Android app available on the store, free or otherwise?
Amazon's App Store has a more limited selection. In addition, a large number of these apps are not Kindle Fire compatible - Fire-compatible apps are a limited subset of the Amazon App Store.
It's already well established that B&N's application selection is EXTREMELY limited, with even less compatibility, and frequently significant price increases.

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:Not as clear as you make it by Andy+Dodd · 2012-09-27 02:38 · Score: 1

Rooting is usually not too difficult, however root is only a tiny part of the equation. People get WAY too happy when someone manages to get root on a device with a locked bootloader. If the kernel/system image/ramdisk/frameworks break Android compatibility, the locked bootloader will stop you from fixing that.
All Nook LCD-based products since the Nook Tablet have had locked bootloaders. So do new Kindle Fires (original Fire was unlocked).
Say No to Tivoization.

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retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
Re:Not as clear as you make it by DuckDodgers · 2012-09-27 12:54 · Score: 1

Thanks. I only recently got interested in tablets, and it's mostly just a "new and shiny toy" fixation, not a real need. But I want to do my research first and get something that's as open as possible - although I'll accept proprietary device drivers under some circumstances.
Re:Not as clear as you make it by sh00z · 2012-10-01 07:48 · Score: 1

The only thing the Nexus 7 can't access are Prime Instant videos, which as you said, is kind of sparse
Mine can. I just had to sideload Flash (no root necessary), and pick up the xScope browser from the play store (Firefox beta works, but not quite as well). I hadn't been paying much attention, but the last two DVD's I bought from Amazon also included "Instant" streaming licenses. Which is kind of cool.

Great specs on the Nook HD+ by JDG1980 · 2012-09-26 07:38 · Score: 2

A 9" tablet with a 1920x1280 screen and SD card storage for $269? That's definitely worth considering... if they can get CyanogenMod running on it.

I have both the Nexus 7 and the Nook Tablet by renfrow · 2012-09-26 07:56 · Score: 2

I bought the Nook the week they came out, after researching the hardware available at the time, and after seeing the screen at the store. It had, at the time, a really nice screen, and I still like the screen. However, I didn't realize that only the B&N app store was going to be available. As someone said, above, the B&N app store is a ghost town... though I must admit they do have, literally, hundreds of apps. The browser interface, to be charitable, sucks. The book app periodically freezes necessitating a hard reboot. It did not come with a calculator! To be fair, the book app IS fast, and pleasurable to read with. I've heard that you can copy and paste from some of the apps, but, none of the apps I have have copy and paste.

I wanted a tablet so that I could retire both my Sony eReader and my iPod Touch, having just one device that would fit my back pocket. The Nook sucked so much that I was not able to retire my iPod... When the Nexus 7 was announced I was a little more careful in evaluating it. With it having Android 4, and access to a large app store, I was satisfied that I'd found the replacement for the Nook. I pre-ordered it, and have been happily Nexusing since. It doesn't have quite a 'retina' display, but, very dense, and quite pleasing to use. I was able to get all the essential apps that tied me to my iPod. I bought the 16GB version, and was not irked by the lack of addon memory.

Postscript: However, it got run over last week by a car and the screen protector failed to protect it... And I discovered that all the data that I had on the device was now locked inside a brick. NEXT device I get will either have addon memory for all user data, or some kind of cloud sync for ALL user data.

Re:I have both the Nexus 7 and the Nook Tablet by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-27 01:21 · Score: 0

it got run over last week by a car and the screen protector failed to protect it...
So... a failure of the screen protector then?
As in, if the screen protector hadn't failed when the car ran over the tablet, all would have been ok.
Sounds like you have a claim against the manufacturer of the screen protector. Might want to ring em up -- replacement tablet/data recovery -- and please let us now how it turns out.
Re:I have both the Nexus 7 and the Nook Tablet by Anonymous Coward · 2012-09-27 05:24 · Score: 0

If you really want your data, so long as the internals are intact, then you could buy another one, and swap the circuit board over. Unfortunately I don't think replacement screens are available yet, and getting the screen repaired by Asus costs $170, which is pretty close to the cost of a 8GB model.

this is a big deal for me by Chirs · 2012-09-26 09:14 · Score: 1

We have one tablet for a family of four. I really wish they'd support something like "slide to your user icon to unlock as this user", where each user would have their own preferences for visible apps, brightness, etc.

I know they want use to get one tablet per person, but that's not going to happen. (By choice, not lack of ability.)

Netflix does the same thing--really hard to share an account between young kids and adults.

there are android backup apps by Chirs · 2012-09-26 09:23 · Score: 1

but I guess you didn't use any of them.

*yawn* by nurb432 · 2012-09-26 10:11 · Score: 1

No really, 'yet another low end tablet' in an already saturated market. Yes i understand they need to push their device to maintain access to their 'ecosystem', but its boring and everyone is doing it now.

Now if they came out with some color e-ink, that would be cool. Otherwise its just more of the same, incremental upgrades like everyone else is doing.

--
---- Booth was a patriot ----

Content available in ebook form by DragonWriter · 2012-09-27 11:38 · Score: 1

ITYM "nine hundred trashy novels".
e-books are a phenomenon primarily restricted to the fictive publishing arena

ePub and similar formats may be most popular for that, but electronic books more generally, well, tech publishers were all over that even before fiction publishers got into it.

But, I mean, if this was a tech-focussed forum, I'd expect everyone to know that already.

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Barnes & Noble's Nook HD Tablets Face iPad, Kindle Fire HD

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