Nook Color apps = tablet?

juniper · Apr 29, 2011

An acquaintance who is very fond of her Nook Color has been waiting for the apps to arrive, which she said would make the unit like a tablet, maybe even an inexpensive substitute for the iPad.

Well, the apps store is open but I can't tell how much they turn the Nook into a usable tablet. Too soon to know?

Nook Color apps arrive

I'm still debating on what to buy for travel purposes. One day I decide to pony up for an iPad, the next day I think "netbook for half the iPad price) and now is a Nook a possibility? I imagine I'll be getting an eReader at some point so if a Nook will suffice then I'll just get that.

maestrowork · Apr 29, 2011

Ooooh, 125 apps! Wow!

One Hundred twenty five!

Seriously, it depends on what you want to do with it. If you just want to read eBooks and maybe run some apps, play some games once in a while, then a Nook could be enough and it is much cheaper than an iPad.

If you just want to write, surf the web and run your Office software, then get a netbook.

I love my iPad so I'm biased.

kuwisdelu · Apr 29, 2011

The Nook Color is probably the best budget tablet around, but as pointed out, it's functionality is pretty limited currently. How useful it may be as a general purpose tablet really depends on how B&N decides to curate their app store and how many developers they can attract.

GothamGal · May 3, 2011

If you crack it, meaning if you get rid of the code, it's an android tablet. I work with someone who got one for his gf. He got Android on there and it was an android tablet. Could install android programs on it no problems.
Also, if you reset the device (it's a hard reset), it resets to factory state and no one is the wiser...
However, think about what you'd be doing on the ipad. Then think about what you want to do on the nook.

cameron_chapman · May 3, 2011

I rooted my Nook Color right after I got it, and I have to say I like it way more than the iPads I've tried. Partly because I find the iPad too big for me to use comfortably (I have child-size hands...). The NC is a great size, fits in my handbag (in a case), and is easy to read on (and battery life is around 8+ hours even with wifi on). With it rooted, I have full access to the entire Android Market. At some point I'm going to upgrade it to Honeycomb (the tablet-specific Android version), but for now I'm just running whatever it came with.

I definitely think it's a much better value than an iPad, especially considering it's half the price of even the cheapest iPad.

kuwisdelu · May 3, 2011

What I still find ironic is that when I suggested a Nook Color to my friend who was looking into getting an iPad as a PDF reader, he wasn't sure about it due to being limited to B&N apps. I said he could always rooted. He replied, "Sure, but why would I want to be bothered to have to do that when I can just get an iPad?" The punchline is that he runs Linux as his main OS and is something of an emacs guru.

maestrowork · May 3, 2011

If you know how to root the NC and make it into an Android tablet, that's great. I still think it's too small.

cameron_chapman · May 4, 2011

maestrowork said:
If you know how to root the NC and make it into an Android tablet, that's great. I still think it's too small.

See, that's where it's going to come down to user preference and intended use, 'cause I always feel like the iPad is too big. But again, I have freakishly small hands... :Shrug:

cbenoi1 · May 4, 2011

Guys,

the display technology differs between an eReader and a tablette PC. eReaders use the E-Ink technology while portable computers use the must faster - but power drain prone - LCD.

Until there is some kind of merge between those technologies - and I know Apple is working on this -, don't expect your eReader to run Microsoft Office any time soon.

-cb

kuwisdelu · May 4, 2011

cameron_chapman said:
See, that's where it's going to come down to user preference and intended use, 'cause I always feel like the iPad is too big. But again, I have freakishly small hands...

Are they small enough that you can two-handed type like on a regular keyboard?

I think I'd like an 11" or 12" iPad.

cbenoi1 said:
Guys,

the display technology differs between an eReader and a tablette PC. eReaders use the E-Ink technology while portable computers use the must faster - but power drain prone - LCD.

Until there is some kind of merge between those technologies - and I know Apple is working on this -, don't expect your eReader to run Microsoft Office any time soon.

-cb

The difference between an ereader and a tablet these days is its capabilities and how it's marketed. The Nook Color is an ereader that uses an LCD display.

cbenoi1 · May 4, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
The difference between an ereader and a tablet these days is its capabilities and how it's marketed. The Nook Color is an ereader that uses an LCD display.

Bring a laptop along for recharing its batteries...

-cb

kuwisdelu · May 4, 2011

cbenoi1 said:
Bring a laptop along for recharing its batteries...

-cb

Huh? The iPad's lasts over 10 hours on battery. I'd assume the Nook Color is similar. That's quite a bit longer than most laptops (which aren't the preferred method of charging tablets anyway).

Yeah, eInk ereaders can last for weeks, but I don't often go on month-long vacations without any access to power sources. eInk does have an advantage as far as battery life goes, but as long as you can get a full day out of a tablet, I think it's a fairly trivial one.

maestrowork · May 4, 2011

The iPad's battery lasts for about 8-10 hours with continuous use, so I really don't see it as a problem... I mean, who would use the iPad for 10 hours straight? The "long battery life" thing about eReaders sounds great on paper, but in reality, it's just a convenient thing (so you can forget about charging it for days or weeks). Eventually, though, you'd still have to charge and and sync it.

GothamGal · May 5, 2011

Barnes and Noble is probably releasing a new nook at the end of this month (May 24th). May be worth the wait.
I've read hints about Honeycomb as well as new screen size...
Here's one link about it.

maestrowork · May 5, 2011

Why won't BN just release as an Android tablet with an eBook reader? I think that would be more attractive to more people.

kuwisdelu · May 5, 2011

maestrowork said:
Why won't BN just release as an Android tablet with an eBook reader? I think that would be more attractive to more people.

My guess is that their specs aren't competitive with the other tablets, which isn't surprising given the price at which they're selling it. On that basis, it's a lot easier to compete as an "eReader, plus" than a "tablet, with unimpressive specs." Obviously, Apple has shown that specs alone don't make a good tablet, but if you're competing against other Honeycomb tablets, there's not much else you can do to differentiate yourself without going a completely different route, which is what B&N seems to be doing.

maestrowork · May 5, 2011

The problem is, as an e-Reader, it's too expensive (considering the Kindle is only $140). As a cheap 7" Android tablet, it's more attractive. As far as specs go, I don't think it's that bad, compared to the sub-$300 tablets I've seen at the stores.

kuwisdelu · May 5, 2011

I think the marketing angle still stands. It's easier to differentiate themselves this way than becoming just another Android tablet. Not that I'm saying it's the right or better choice for anyone, but it makes sense to me.

maestrowork · May 5, 2011

I suppose, since it's Barnes & Noble that is selling it. Still, they could expand their market beyond e-Book readers.

GothamGal · May 5, 2011

I want to say that they want to remain true to their commitment to books.
I dunno, I've noticed a LOT of bad customer service since thanksgiving. They used to have fewer phone people that had a lot of product knowledge. Now they have a ton of phone people with less product knowledge.
I love my nook, and would love to upgrade to a color, but with the changes (and the lack of customer service) I am having a hard time.
Also, between you and I, someone MIGHT work part time at the nook desk...
:

:

cameron_chapman · May 5, 2011

kuwisdelu said:
My guess is that their specs aren't competitive with the other tablets, which isn't surprising given the price at which they're selling it. On that basis, it's a lot easier to compete as an "eReader, plus" than a "tablet, with unimpressive specs." Obviously, Apple has shown that specs alone don't make a good tablet, but if you're competing against other Honeycomb tablets, there's not much else you can do to differentiate yourself without going a completely different route, which is what B&N seems to be doing.

Actually, the Nook Color has specs that are very good for a tablet, especially in its price range, and it's not all that less powerful than the original iPad (800Mhz processor compared to a 1Ghz processor, though you can overclock the NC's processor for faster speeds).

kuwisdelu · May 5, 2011

cameron_chapman said:
Actually, the Nook Color has specs that are very good for a tablet, especially in its price range, and it's not all that less powerful than the original iPad (800Mhz processor compared to a 1Ghz processor, though you can overclock the NC's processor for faster speeds).

I didn't say they were bad. Just "unimpressive."

Deleted member 42 · May 5, 2011

The new device referenced in the B and N filing after the market closed last night has me intrigued; it sounds like it is going to be multi-format friendly, and might even take away some of the ereader market going to the iPad.

I'm very curious to see what Apple's iBooks store does in the next 18 months in terms of will they /won't they allow non-iPad purchasing.

Remember what a difference opening up the iTunes store made for sales, and again, what removing the DRM did.

I'm even a little hopeful . . .

Tirjasdyn · May 6, 2011

Rumor came out yesterday that Amazon's next kindle is an android tablet.....should be an interesting year all around!

Synovia · May 6, 2011

cbenoi1 said:
Guys,

the display technology differs between an eReader and a tablette PC. eReaders use the E-Ink technology while portable computers use the must faster - but power drain prone - LCD.

Until there is some kind of merge between those technologies - and I know Apple is working on this -, don't expect your eReader to run Microsoft Office any time soon.

-cb

The Nook Color doesn't use e-Ink. Its an LCD. Just like the iPad.

Plus, you can surf web pages on the Kindle (although they're a bit slow, but thats more of a processor issue than screen issue.) I see no reason a kindle couldn't run an old version of Office.

I really hope the next Kindle ISNT another android tablet. The best part of the kindle is the screen. Putting an LCD on it would ruin it.

Nook Color apps = tablet?

Always curious.

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Deleted member 42

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