Hey there boys and girls. As most of us, im getting tax return money pretty soon, and im of course thinking of the many way to spend it. Im considering getting the nook and putting Honeycomb on it. And im wondering, for those of you that have been using it, how well does it work, and is it worth it... or should i just get me somthing like the Galaxy Tab and wait for 3.0 there.
I had it installed on mine for about a day, then I went back to Froyo. Even though there has been great progress made by awesome devs in porting it to the nook, it remains very buggy.
The code is driverless and drunk.
I won't go into all the little ones, but a big bug was that it hosed my boot partition. Had to revert back to Eclaire before putting Froyo back on.
Bottom line:
A rooted stock eclaire nook color is damn close to a streamlined tablet. It's just missing Flash, also some performance issues.
Nookie Froyo is day by day closer to being the daily driver OS.
HoneyComb is a ways away from being reliable/usable
Hi everyone. First post here, and I think I may get some 'trolling' flack for what I'm about to say, but I gotta say it anyway: If you're considering buying a Nook Color, I would seriously reconsider and look at an Archos 70IT instead.
I actually own both of these devices, and I have to say that the Archos is hands down the better device. It runs Froyo out of the box, and has amazing media playback support. Basically, there ain't nuthin' the the NC can do that the Archos 70 can't do better and faster.
Now, the major complaint with the Archos is shoddy build quality (at least in comparison to the NC), and there's no doubt that that's absolutely true. But I have to say that contrary to what you might think, this is actually an advantage. Yep, an advantage, and here's why: It's waaay lighter. I use my tablet mostly for reading, both books and internet, and I do a lot of that reading either lying on the couch or in bed. And I do it with one hand. Because of the lightness of the A70, I can hold it up for pretty much as long as if I were holding a paper novel, but I cannot say the same for the NC. It is a veritable brick in comparison. With the NC, I constantly have to adjust it in my hand, or change hands altogether, to avoid cramping.
I pretty much only use the NC for amusing myself with custom firmwares (Honeycomb was fun, but as others report, very buggy). When it comes time to actually pick up a tablet for 'real' use, it's the A70 every time.
It's just too bad the A70 isn't getting anywhere near the love that the NC is (i.e. Honeycomb), but I suppose it's no matter anyway because using a different firmware destroys the A70's superb, factory-supplied multi-media experience.
My 2p. Flame away.
I do not own an Archos, but I tend to agree with the last post. If you want a tablet, buy a tablet.
If you want an e-reader, buy the Nook as it can function as both a tablet and a reader.
The Nook lacks several features that most tablets have.
The Nook is a fantastic and capable device, but it is always best to buy something for its native purpose.
@spikey911: But the Archos also works as an e-reader, and for the reason I stated above (lightness), does it better than the NC. I have 3 reader apps installed: Kindle, Nook, and Aldiko, and they all work great.
Another point about the A70 is that contrary to reason, the plastic body is stickier than the spongy rubber coating applied to the back of the NC, and thus it doesn't have a tendency to slip out of my grasp when holding it with one hand. Go figure, but it's true.
Oh ya, and when I wanna watch a movie in bed, I just swing out the A70's kickstand and plunk it down...no need to hold it up. It's a thing of beauty.
I would get the Nook...cheaper and works great!
Slashdot123 said:
I would get the Nook...cheaper and works great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But not as comfortable to use for reading, has horrible video playback support, and lower CPU speed (without OC). It's cheaper for a reason.
Gotta make sure the OP makes the right decision. Decide what you want to use it for, and if the answer is:
1) as an Android tablet with full Market support
2) as a versatile e-reader
3) as a multi-media device
4) under $300
Then the A70 wins hands down.
My final words. Good luck, Oskiee.
I just got a Nook Color this week and currently have it set up to dual-boot Honeycomb or the stock OS (for video playback). So far I'm pretty happy with it, and it's definitely a very hacking-friendly platform. Honeycomb works surprisingly well and looks slick. It has known issues, but works fine for many essential applications such as the browser, Google Reader, and Fruit Ninja.
According to the Engadget review (engadget.com /2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/ - remove the space, I'm not permitted to make a link) the Archos 70 has a very glossy screen with poor viewing angles and questionable build quality - I haven't seen it myself. The NC screen is excellent and it feels very solid.
Overall, I'd recommend the Nook Color if you enjoy OS hacking and are willing to put up with some glitches, or if you're satisfied with its out-of-the-box functionality (but then you'd probably not be reading this forum). If that's not what you're looking for, you'd probably be happier with one of the alternatives, but you'll have to make compromises either way in this price range.
imacmill said:
Hi everyone. First post here, and I think I may get some 'trolling' flack for what I'm about to say, but I gotta say it anyway: If you're considering buying a Nook Color, I would seriously reconsider and look at an Archos 70IT instead.
I actually own both of these devices, and I have to say that the Archos is hands down the better device. It runs Froyo out of the box, and has amazing media playback support. Basically, there ain't nuthin' the the NC can do that the Archos 70 can't do better and faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lower resolution destroys ever wanting one of them for me. NookColor wins in my opinion because of that.
Also, the nook color weighs less than 1/10th a pound more. Actually im reading conflicting results, so im not really sure on the weight difference
MattJ951 said:
Lower resolution destroys ever wanting one of them for me. NookColor wins in my opinion because of that.
Also, the nook color weighs less than 1/10th a pound more. Actually im reading conflicting results, so im not really sure on the weight difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Granted, the NC has higher rez, but they're pretty close, and in practical terms, the difference is fairly meaningless. How will you make use of that minor rez difference? For video, with software decoding? In that case, the NC's slower CPU will have to push more pixels...not good. Don't get me wrong. I'd love for the A70 to have the NC's screen, but for my money, the difference is not worth worrying about.
As for weight...since I own both, I'm in a position to say, without citing pound values, the A70 is tangibly lighter than the Nook. Enough so to make one-handed reading comfortable on the A70, but untenable on the NC. Of course this is completely dependant on a person'S hand strength, and while i don't claim to have kung fu grip hands, I'm no weakling either. Your mileage will vary.
I firmly believe that if someone was given the opportunity to use each device for 24 hours, the majority would choose the A70. Since this is not an option for most, they will likely fall victim to the A70's 'questionable build quality, crummy screen' argument (neither of which are accurate), and buy the NC.
imacmill said:
But not as comfortable to use for reading, has horrible video playback support, and lower CPU speed (without OC). It's cheaper for a reason.
Gotta make sure the OP makes the right decision. Decide what you want to use it for, and if the answer is:
1) as an Android tablet with full Market support
2) as a versatile e-reader
3) as a multi-media device
4) under $300
Then the A70 wins hands down.
My final words. Good luck, Oskiee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that the A70 doesn't have the market any more than the Nook Color does. And it's not exactly a tablet for gaming, if that's important to anyone. It does have bluetooth at least.
I will chime in on what swayed me to the Nook.
I look at the what ifs as well as the daily uses. If something goes bad with my Nook, I have a 3 physical BN stores within 25 minutes I can return the nook to. On the very unlikely chance that I have a bricked nook, that does me no good. But I could possible feign ignorance and return it anyway.
With Archos...they have a notoriously horrible track record for warranty work. That is the main reason I went with the nook. I have read over and over again horror stories of working with post sale issues on the Archos line...now take that with a grain of salt because I have not had personal experience...just what I read at other places.
All that said...I love my nook and it does 98% of what I want it to do. The lack is the flash. As for video...I have no issues. I already had many pre converted movies I could plop on it and view. As for a kickstand...there are so many cheap or free things you can do for a stand.
On final thing to consider is outputs...the nook doesnt have them...unless you just want 3.5mm headphone jack. The Archos does.
Good Luck
Related
Hey guys I just saw this
(Since I cannot post links go to BJ's website and look up "Elocity 7")
Its specs look pretty good plus it has an HDMI output and it already runs froyo. Do you guys think it would be work returning my nook color for one of these? Or do you guys think that the lack of third party support (meaning xda) means that in the long run the nook would be better than the elocity?
The reasons I was considering it was because of the tegra 2 chip, froyo, and the 1080p hdmi output(it would be nice to hook this thing up to our projector and watch movies off of it). Honestly I don't need those features but they would be nice. Thanks.
That thing is $369.99 according to Amazon.com. Also it is currently out of stock.
The NC is currently available at any Barnes and Noble at the cost of $250
tldr; NC is cheaper and available now.
The nookcolor has a higher resolution screen - something I would consider to be important.
sent from my NookColor using tapatalk
eggman618 said:
That thing is $369.99 according to Amazon.com. Also it is currently out of stock.
The NC is currently available at any Barnes and Noble at the cost of $250
tldr; NC is cheaper and available now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well at BJ's its only 299 which isn't too much more than the Nook.
msid said:
The nookcolor has a higher resolution screen - something I would consider to be important.
sent from my NookColor using tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I have to admit the screen on the nook is very nice... However while I do care about the screen quality I also have to take into account the rest of the features.
mytabletlife.com/2010/12/11/elocity-a7-finally-start-shipping/
I placed an order for one weeks ago from amazon. Hopefully it wont delayed any longer.
dreadlord369 said:
Well at BJ's its only 299 which isn't too much more than the Nook.
Yea I have to admit the screen on the nook is very nice... However while I do care about the screen quality I also have to take into account the rest of the features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While the Tegra 2 sounds nice, if the screen was on par with the NC I would flinch, but it isn't, so the "extras" cant make up the fact its not as readable as the cheaper NC Ereader. I personally have a TV with USB inputs, so HDMI out isn't the happnin feature it all cracked up to be. Once we are Froyo'd, CM6'd, and OC'd to 1.2, I think most of us will be happy as clams
That's just generally the tough call though. While the camera and HDMI are cool, they're not incredibly important. The tegra chip is huge though. If you go for the A7, you're getting a smaller battery and a way worse screen i'm sure. My thing is, I only want to do two things, play games, and read comics. Based on those two requirements alone can anyone suggest which would be better? I'm really torn on this. I think the Nook color is much better looking and the build quality is probably better, but i'm really not interested in reading ebooks at all, comics yes, books no. For me it's purely a tablet device. I know that there is a lot of progress being made on the NC...I guess what i'm asking is, can anyone confirm or deny that they feel the graphics hardware will eventually make me regret picking a NC over the A7?
For that price, you might as well just get Notion Ink's Adam tablet!
$375 for the Wifi only LCD version. Should be shipping out soon too.
Much better specs and a decent screen (10" 1024x600).
Dual Core A9 with Tegra 250, 1GB memory
I don't know about the OP, and i'm not trying to hijack their thread-just looking for similar input. I really like the Adam tablet, but I want a 7 inch tablet. So it's really between the NC and the Elocity for me. I have to decide if sacrificing build quality for a tegra is worth it.
BJs is selling it for $299:
http://www.bjs.com/webapp/wcs/store..._src=14110944&ci_sku=121648111&sc_cid=DF#more
Now, I have a little buyers remorse :T
800x480? What are they thinking, not even a contest IMO.
dvanburen said:
800x480? What are they thinking, not even a contest IMO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I thought about it. I ordered the Elocity, and then promptly attempted to cancel my order. The only category that the elocity beats the nc in my opinion is tegra, but that's because I don't care about BT, camera, or HDMI out. I prefer the build quality, size, bezel, screen, and battery on the NC. So that's the one i'm going with.
I was trying to decide on the same
I ordered the elocity:
Rationale for me is:
I own an iphone. It's biggest failing for me is the absence of flash.
I have owned but will be returning a g tablet from viewsonic that also is tegra 2 based.
The thing is fast and can easily run full screen flash video without a hiccup.
For me I want this device to be a:
internet and i mean full internet browser
an E-reader
mail and office device
and to have many apps like games news productivity....
The Nook color will not have a way of using another keyboard since no bluetooth or usb.
The processor is way underpowered for flash. Heck flash was stuttery on a galaxy tab.
As far as form factor the specs are near identical in size of A7 and nook
The single button for nook is also an issue unless u do a loto of hacking.
The A7 will have the ability to run honeycomb when it is out and so will have a longer practical lifespan.
The only things better on the nook are the screen though it is unclear yet if the elocity screen will be good or very good (videos of a similar device rebranded seemed to show good viewing angles) and 4 vs. 8 gb of storage (for me not a deal breaker with 16Gb sd cards costing 30$). now sure 800x480 is not as good a resolution, but this is a 7 not 10 inch tab so I am not sure it will make much of a difference. After all this is still better than DVD resolution so should be fine for reading and web.
As for battery life, I think the difference i s 4000 vs 3200 in favor of nook so not a huge difference real life we are looking at probably 1 hour difference, but A7 has ambient light sensor so could be better at battery saving
A7 has ability to output hdmi, so can bring hi def movies downloaded to people homes and watch on their TV
Has webcam to enable videochat
Has bluetooth for connectivity and most importantly the newes latest processor that ensures a much longer time before obsolescence.
Finally from what I read Elocity will have an open source ui which will allow people to really customize it
Yea I would say the biggest thing going for the A7 is the out of box stock froyo so it is easy to customize and things just work for it and the terga 2 is only the second most important. The Nooks processor should be able to watch hd video if it gets optimized.
but wont be able to run flash which for me is a deal breaker
for 399 would rather get ipad with 16gb bluetooth appstore bigger great screen better battery life
but no flash.....
xwint3rxmut3x said:
Yeah, I thought about it. I ordered the Elocity, and then promptly attempted to cancel my order. The only category that the elocity beats the nc in my opinion is tegra, but that's because I don't care about BT, camera, or HDMI out. I prefer the build quality, size, bezel, screen, and battery on the NC. So that's the one i'm going with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree... but BT would be the only thing I wish we had.
Having said that, I feel (IMHO) that Bluetooth is just around the corner. Someone will somehow find a way to use the Droid X drivers and get use of the SoC which presumably has bluetooth capability.
Who knows... maybe B&N might surprise us all and include it in their 2.2 update. Now wouldn't that be a nice belated christmas gift?
Canadoc said:
but wont be able to run flash which for me is a deal breaker
for 399 would rather get ipad with 16gb bluetooth appstore bigger great screen better battery life
but no flash.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My nokia n900 has an A8 clocked at 600mhz (while stock) only 256 RAM, and runs flash like a champ. NC may not run it out of the box, but with 2.2 around the corner, via a custom ROM or an official update from BN, this device will run flash, and it will run it well.
update: crap, BJs already sent out my A7 even though I tried to cancel my order. Well, now I have a boxed NC and A7 for xmas, and one of them has to go back. uggghhh
Canadoc said:
I was trying to decide on the same
I ordered the elocity:
Rationale for me is:
I own an iphone. It's biggest failing for me is the absence of flash.
I have owned but will be returning a g tablet from viewsonic that also is tegra 2 based.
The thing is fast and can easily run full screen flash video without a hiccup.
For me I want this device to be a:
internet and i mean full internet browser
an E-reader
mail and office device
and to have many apps like games news productivity....
The Nook color will not have a way of using another keyboard since no bluetooth or usb.
The processor is way underpowered for flash. Heck flash was stuttery on a galaxy tab.
As far as form factor the specs are near identical in size of A7 and nook
The single button for nook is also an issue unless u do a loto of hacking.
The A7 will have the ability to run honeycomb when it is out and so will have a longer practical lifespan.
The only things better on the nook are the screen though it is unclear yet if the elocity screen will be good or very good (videos of a similar device rebranded seemed to show good viewing angles) and 4 vs. 8 gb of storage (for me not a deal breaker with 16Gb sd cards costing 30$). now sure 800x480 is not as good a resolution, but this is a 7 not 10 inch tab so I am not sure it will make much of a difference. After all this is still better than DVD resolution so should be fine for reading and web.
As for battery life, I think the difference i s 4000 vs 3200 in favor of nook so not a huge difference real life we are looking at probably 1 hour difference, but A7 has ambient light sensor so could be better at battery saving
A7 has ability to output hdmi, so can bring hi def movies downloaded to people homes and watch on their TV
Has webcam to enable videochat
Has bluetooth for connectivity and most importantly the newes latest processor that ensures a much longer time before obsolescence.
Finally from what I read Elocity will have an open source ui which will allow people to really customize it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope it works out for you. Personally, after using my netbook off an on (only used away from the house) I find 1024x600 pretty small for web surfing, much less 800x480. Most phones run this resolution with a 3"-4" screen.
dvanburen said:
I hope it works out for you. Personally, after using my netbook off an on (only used away from the house) I find 1024x600 pretty small for web surfing, much less 800x480. Most phones run this resolution with a 3"-4" screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this little nugget on the elocity a7 website...this is in their FAQ....anyone want to take a shot at WTF they're trying to say? (or NOT saying)
"Q: If I add an emulator for Super Nintendo, is the screen capable of having multi-touch so that I can run with one hand and jump with the other?
A: Yes, you can install the Super Nintendo emulator, but some of the games may not work properly."
or how about this one?
"Q: Is the touch screen multi-touch?
A: The A7 Tablet supports Multi-Touch functions. The built-in browser and photo viewer support zooming in/out by two of your fingers. However, multi-touch functionality on many third party apps is not supported."
I think they are basically saying that it is application dependent, and not to come crying to them for support if/when third party applications don't work as expected.
Looking forward- can anyone explain the potential of the Nook over other Android tablets?
Any thoughts on the Coby Kryos MID7015 compared to the Nook Color?
On paper, it looks like the advantages of the the Nook are:
- much better screen
- more RAM
- faster processor (?)
- longer battery life
But- Is that worth spending $100 more for the Nook?
Is one more sturdy than the the other?
Does one have better Wifi?
Are there other capabilities that are theoretically possible, but not yet available to the android noob (me)?
Thanks so much for any input!
breebauer said:
Looking forward- can anyone explain the potential of the Nook over other Android tablets?
Any thoughts on the Coby Kryos MID7015 compared to the Nook Color?
On paper, it looks like the advantages of the the Nook are:
- much better screen
- more RAM
- faster processor (?)
- longer battery life
But- Is that worth spending $100 more for the Nook?
Is one more sturdy than the the other?
Does one have better Wifi?
Are there other capabilities that are theoretically possible, but not yet available to the android noob (me)?
Thanks so much for any input!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe its just me... but anyone else getting sick of the nook VS X tablet?
as far as this question, I had a lower tier tablet which I stacked up against my nook. While im not the greatest frame of reference as I was content with just using the internet... The screens were generally less responsive, the apps worked so so... In some cases like the Panimage I had even on lan my nook loaded a page faster (and it was a full page and the pan was loading the same site in mobile mode... it just happens to load my blog that way though)
Take my opinion for what its worth... but for the price the nook cant currently be beat (if rooted), I personally prefer it to a straight up tablet as the E-Reader functions are far beyond any singular app.
For the price the NC has a lot going for it now that it has the market enabled, and almost all of the tablet qualifying apps working. The fact that the screen is sharper than an Ipad and the price/performance ratio vs the galaxy tab is fairly close means its a good value... Go pick one up and compare yourself.. I suspect that any similar price tablets won't give you a better screen as costs are spread out to other tablet features (hdmi out, cameras, gps)...
I have the original. ?..m001.....it's now my 9 year old's. I can't even begin to describe just how much more the the nook does....The nook color is worth 350 imho.....
Go to the store, have them take rhe device oitside diring the day....you'll be sold....very few color devices, ar any price, can be viewed outside. ?...
I think in this case what you are really paying for is build quality, which is kind of difficult to quantify. The Nook Color was designed to compete straddling the niches of the Kindle and the iPad, and accordingly was built very well. A budget tablet companies are competing for a different space in the market and though they may boast a lot of features (HDMI, Bluetooth, cameras) if you don't need these features then paying the same amount for a NC means it goes to build, design, and overall finish.
Edit: I forgot that there may be latent Bluetooth on the wifi chip. We'll just have to see if someone can coax it out.
having owned lots of cheap Chinese imported Android tablets, the Nook is leaps and bounds above them all.
1) Build Quality: It's like comparing a Toyota to a base model Daewoo. I had so many build quality issues with the import tablets it was crazy! Things like the memory card slot spring would break after a week.
2) Screen: Most import tablets are resistive and you're lucky to have multi touch. Trust me, resistive screens suck for finger inputs.
3) Speed: Ok, so my phone is faster than the NC, but the NC is faster than any of those tablets.
You pay for what you get. I had a XPad 701 and a G10+ which was $200 and near the "best" of what you could get at the time. Both pale in comparison to the NC.
Well MID or budget means probably Chinese so not only is it an "eh ok" touch resistive screen, awkward enough for sliding, the manufacturer is out of state so a problem is a month+ waiting for shipping.
B&N has the 1yr warranty and a big reputable place so just knowing i can go get another without waiting is nice.
Let alone the NCs specs beating it, can be rooted, an potential for roms later down the road. B&N has said January theres the update to 2.2 an market (tho thats still a wait an see thing) so thats only a usb2.0 an hdvia output to look forward to.
IMO NC FTW build quality, specs, potential.
Malk3rs said:
Edit: I forgot that there may be latent Bluetooth on the wifi chip. We'll just have to see if someone can coax it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know about that- Bluetooth would be a nice bonus!
HotShotAzn said:
1) Build Quality: It's like comparing a Toyota to a base model Daewoo. I had so many build quality issues with the import tablets it was crazy! Things like the memory card slot spring would break after a week.
2) Screen: Most import tablets are resistive and you're lucky to have multi touch. Trust me, resistive screens suck for finger inputs.
3) Speed: Ok, so my phone is faster than the NC, but the NC is faster than any of those tablets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
camwinnn said:
Let alone the NCs specs beating it, can be rooted, an potential for roms later down the road. B&N has said January theres the update to 2.2 an market (tho thats still a wait an see thing) so thats only a usb2.0 an hdvia output to look forward to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok- that sounds promising. If B&N is already releasing an update, that makes me feel like this won't be something that will be almost obsolete in 6 months.
I've been Best Buy and other stores 4 times looking at the Nook, the Coby 7015, and the Huawei S7. The screen on the Coby was kind of a turn-off, since I'm used to staring at my iPhone4. The S7 seemed nice, but not necessary, since I have an iPhone.
Build quality is very important to me- I'm looking for something to use while traveling though Indonesia next month.
I just wanted to make sure the Nook won't be one of those things that I bought, because I thought I needed it, but wound up in a drawer after a few months for whatever reason.
Thanks!
In the end, for me at least, it's also about community support. If you look around, you'll see the Nook Color has it.
IMHO it's useless to have a super duper whopper that you're stuck using stock, no dev support, no manufacturer's support, at 2.1 without a market..
-CC
clockcycle said:
In the end, for me at least, it's also about community support. If you look around, you'll see the Nook Color has it.
IMHO it's useless to have a super duper whopper that you're stuck using stock, no dev support, no manufacturer's support, at 2.1 without a market..
-CC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Xpad was orphaned by the community because the seller stopped selling it after a few weeks. I vowed that I would only buy a tablet that had a huge backing (Samsung Tab or NC were on the top of the list).
To me, the two real competitors out there now (other than iPad) are B&N & Archos. The Archos 70 is about the same price as the NC. It has way better connectivity and is real Android out of the box. It also has the best video drivers out there. I have an Archos 101 and it is very good. I also have an NC. I bought it for the quality of the screen. Basically I bought it as soon as I was convinced I could root it because the base software would be unusable for me. It also works great and it is much better to read with than the Archos. I use ezPDF and Moon Reader on both.
Both Archos and B&N seem to have pretty strong communities. For Archos, this is Gen8, and the folks in that community go way back with Archos. B&N seems to be solidly behind their eBook readers and they have built two very solid products with the NC and Nook Classic, In fact, the NC is now replacing my Nook Classic as my eBook reader.
Beware of companies that will be a flash in the pan. They will be dropped by the early adopter community as soon as the next big thing appears.
The biggest difference to me is the hi-rez IPS capacitive screen. Most of the cheapie tablets have resistive screens and/or cheap TN LCD screens with crummy viewing angles.
I have both a rooted Nook Color and rooted MID7015 running stock OS.
The price difference is < $100 ($250 vs $180 in my case).
The out-of-the-box experience for the (rooted) MID7015 is very poor. It doesn't have multi-touch, a LOT of apps don't work or don't work properly, it maps its extra storage space as /sdcard thus screwing with inserted SD memory mapping, the WiFi is horrible (I found myself having to constantly disable/renable in settings), it runs a 800x480 (I think) resolution, and it's a bit clunky. I have not tested the HDMI. I DID try Cynanogen on it. It improved some things, but a lot of apps still did not work (Angry Birds, Slice It, etc), and WiFi performance was even worse.
By comparison, the rooted Nook has none of these deficiencies, runs at a full 1024x600 res, has multi-touch, apps working correctly, and is a pleasure to use. My only negative experience with the Nook Color so far is that I sometimes see behavior like this which power cycling fixes (and my unit may just be messed up - dunno yet): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiHH6mdH0WU&feature=related
So, in my book, the Nook Color is the clear winner.
So the others day I made the plunge from an ipad to the Nook Color. So far im pretty impressed, being the huge gadget junkie that I am. With that being said of course I have a few complaints.
1. Android tablets lack polish. Things on the ipad that just worked seem to require solutions on the nook. I do understand that I'm using a hacked device so i take that into consideration but playing decent quality youtube should be a know brainer
2. The speaker is bad. I know this is intended to be an ebook reader but my kindle is louder, no excuse.
On to the stuff I love.
1. 7" is the perfect size for a tablet, apple should take note.
2. The keyboard is amazing and it will allow you to add words to the built in dictionary. Apple clearly dropped the ball on this.
3. The screen is great, nice and crisp. It's been a joy to read on.
4. The potential, I've grown sick of waiting on apple to add simple features. Android is a blessing. I'm looking forward to new roms and froyo in the near future.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App
I agree the 7" is perfect size for a tab. Walkin around with a 10" tab looks retarded.
Missing #5 You saved a boatload of money by choosing Geico (NC)
I have a 10 inch iPad and a 4 inch Galaxy S Vibrant phone. And now a 7 inch Nook Color that fills the gap inbetween.
My list of issues with the Nook.
1. Slower.
Browsing the web, market place, and some other apps feels much slower on the NC than the iPad, even slower than my Vibrant. This is rooted with Dolphin HD. It's acceptable, but wish it could be quicker. And I expect Android 2.2 will help alot (I'm using a custom Android 2.2 ROM on my Vibrant).
2. Screen is tacky.
The screen feels rough or tacky. It's not very smooth at all. Makes pinching and scrolling a little more awkward than it should be. Wish it was smoother, I suppose it will get a little smoother over time. But I don't think it'll ever feel as smooth as the iPad or Vibrant did out of the box. I guess this is some coating on the phone to make reading easier? I might have to try out a screen shield to see if they can offer a smoother finger gliding experience.
3. Battery life.
Battery life is very poor compared to the iPad (probably average for an Android device). With the iPad I never even think about the battery, I always have plenty. But with my Android phone and NookColor, battery is a constant worry and I need to keep the charger on hand.
This items are both good and bad at the same time.
1. Heavy/Sturdy.
It's heavier than I expected. I read it's heavier than the Galaxy Tab and Archos 70. However it also has a very solid sturdy feeling.
2. Ugly/Comfortable.
The bevel is ugly, mostly because of that hideous loop at the bottom. Also that loop makes accessing the microSD slot more difficult than it should be. Also not a fan of the rounded raised bevel around the screen. However the rounded edges and the rubber back do make it comfortable to hold.
What I like about the Nook over the iPad.
1. It's Android.
I'm not an Apple fan. I've really tried my best to avoid buying any Apple products because I don't like the walled garden, locked down, controlling nature of Apple products. Having an Android tablet means I have much greater freedom to what I want with the OS and apps. I imagine there will be some nice custom ROMs I'll be able to install on the Nook some day that will improve the speed issues I have now and add a lot more features.
2. Screen looks great.
While I don't like the feel of the screen, I do love how it looks. It's definitely not better than the iPad, however it's one of the best on an Android tablet. I imagine only the Galaxy Tab equals or betters it. Looks good from any angle.
3. Price.
I think the iPad is a very quality piece of hardware with very polished software and certainly worth the $500 I spent. But the Nook Color is probably even more impressive for what you get at half the price.
Having owned an ipad until last week and currently own two android devices (captivate and nookcolor)
Here are my observations
-Book apps are not that far from each other but the children books score a big thumbs up for nookcolor (not really important for me since i don't have any kids)
-Magazine apps on ipad are much better laid out and more fluid than magazines on nookcolor (ie. car and driver). Also it's currently free on ipad whereas nookcolor requires subscription
-In general, better selection of apps for ipad than nook (nook doesn't have apps and lack of scalable andoird apps for big screens really shows). Ipad has been out for a while and hopefully with the numerous tablet sized android devices flooding the market will rectify this issue
Here is one thing that nookcolor really outshines ipad.
multitasking, multitasking, multitasking
When the apps are parked in the task manager, most apps will restart when you try to access them again. I've also experienced issues with resource management on ipad trying to open PDF documents (1~2MBs in size) even when i had less than five app running (or inactively running) in task manager.
Overall i'm enjoying the form factor of nookcolor for everyday usage and hope that 2.2/2.3 release will bring some more performance to the device. Device isn't slow by any mean and nook ui may deceive consumers as being sluggish but rooted and running adw for launcher makes the device fly.
Okay so playing video kind of sucks and the youtube app doesn't play hd. Just a thought
Sent from my nook color using XDA App
As far as the screen goes, it is better than the ipad for viewing. From my understanding there are 3 layers to the screen to give it good viewing angles and better viewing for reading. The resolution is also great, similar to ipad but on a smaller screen and better pixel density. Better than the Galaxy Tab resolution.
I have a matte screen protector on mine that I purchased from ebay and it makes the screen really smooth and not the sticky feel you get from stock screen. Although, I heard that it does smooth out over time.
Multitasking is great on the NC compared to Ipad and probably due to the 512 vs 256 ram on the memory. The ipad is slicker looking but you also pay more. Speed wise, all we need is a custom kernel and I am sure we can get this thing 1 or 1.2ghz. And the custom ROM with optimization will make this a lot more fluid.
I love the portability with 7" screen and it is heavier than Galaxy tab but feels sturdier.
wendellc said:
The resolution is also great, similar to ipad but on a smaller screen and better pixel density. Better than the Galaxy Tab resolution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The NOOK and the Galaxy Tab has the same screen resolution, I have both if them. However the Tab seems to scale its interface making every app slightly larger, making them have less usable space. I prefere the NOOKs unscaled interface.
Sent from my NOOK Color using XDA App
Tacky Screen
For those complaining about the screen being tacky, I noticed that myself initially (compared to my Droid X). However, it now no longer seems tacky, so either my fingers have worn off from playing with it LOL, or it comes with some sort of initial coating that wears off with use.
jaydon34 said:
So the others day I made the plunge from an ipad to the Nook Color. So far im pretty impressed, being the huge gadget junkie that I am. With that being said of course I have a few complaints.
1. Android tablets lack polish. Things on the ipad that just worked seem to require solutions on the nook. I do understand that I'm using a hacked device so i take that into consideration but playing decent quality youtube should be a know brainer
2. The speaker is bad. I know this is intended to be an ebook reader but my kindle is louder, no excuse.
On to the stuff I love.
1. 7" is the perfect size for a tablet, apple should take note.
2. The keyboard is amazing and it will allow you to add words to the built in dictionary. Apple clearly dropped the ball on this.
3. The screen is great, nice and crisp. It's been a joy to read on.
4. The potential, I've grown sick of waiting on apple to add simple features. Android is a blessing. I'm looking forward to new roms and froyo in the near future.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Watch the 7" comment, which I totally agree with, as you'll have 10" mavens swoop in claiming that 10" is better for video(yeah right), and another smaller subset claiming that 10" is better for reading some technical documents. I've never had a problem with video watching on 7" nor with tech doc reading on a 7".
YouTube: best experience that I've had with video playback on Android devices so far has been with the lowly Augen GT78 sporting a Telechips TCC8902 ARM11 CPU which apparently had an AWESOMELY superior hw video codec support to just about ANY other ARM SoC available, although Tegra 2 doesn't seem to be doing so badly, yet could apparently, use some further driver updates to better support it's video playback capabilities.
Beyond that, yep basic Android UI is pretty "rough" for Tablets, and is why I presume that many manufacturers attempt to slap on a custom UI of some sort although they haven't had much luck so far(I'm looking at you TapnCrap) beyond specialized book reader front ends, e.g. Nook Color, Pandigital Novel, and Cruz Reader.
All this said I still haven't gotten around to picking up a NC yet, as I'm still kind of waiting to see what pops up next year, but may break down next week and just buy one as the gTab(10") is a bit much for comfortable portability and use as a reader... plus the NC has a WAY better screen from what I could tell playing around with a demo unit at B&N the other week...
cutterjohn said:
Watch the 7" comment, which I totally agree with, as you'll have 10" mavens swoop in claiming that 10" is better for video(yeah right), and another smaller subset claiming that 10" is better for reading some technical documents. I've never had a problem with video watching on 7" nor with tech doc reading on a 7".
YouTube: best experience that I've had with video playback on Android devices so far has been with the lowly Augen GT78 sporting a Telechips TCC8902 ARM11 CPU which apparently had an AWESOMELY superior hw video codec support to just about ANY other ARM SoC available, although Tegra 2 doesn't seem to be doing so badly, yet could apparently, use some further driver updates to better support it's video playback capabilities.
Beyond that, yep basic Android UI is pretty "rough" for Tablets, and is why I presume that many manufacturers attempt to slap on a custom UI of some sort although they haven't had much luck so far(I'm looking at you TapnCrap) beyond specialized book reader front ends, e.g. Nook Color, Pandigital Novel, and Cruz Reader.
All this said I still haven't gotten around to picking up a NC yet, as I'm still kind of waiting to see what pops up next year, but may break down next week and just buy one as the gTab(10") is a bit much for comfortable portability and use as a reader... plus the NC has a WAY better screen from what I could tell playing around with a demo unit at B&N the other week...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other thing to note about ipad is the aspect ratio
I'm so used to seeing widescreen ratio on both tv and pc that when i was watching hulu on ipad, it was somewhat akward
I have to agree with many points of this discussion. I went from an ipad to a rooted NC and am very happy.
1. Love the size, Ive always felt the ipad was too big. I sure ipad 2 will be smaller.
2. I connect alot easier to public wifi, especially when there is a sign in screen. My ipad always had trouble with those.
3. Screen is nice, but sometimes a little too sensitive I think. Opens apps when scrolling through them for example.
4. Love using Google services, Google Talk, Gmail, and live wallpaper. And get latest Google Maps and navigation. Apple always tried to lock them out.
My wishes.
1. Froyo to enable beach live wallpaper. Coming soon, I hope...
2. Microphone. Can one be added on via 3.5mm jack? Would love to make sip calls, but no dice so far.
3. Static wifi, that doesnt sleep. Or at least the option to turn it on and off.
Benny1234 said:
3. Static wifi, that doesnt sleep. Or at least the option to turn it on and off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wvcachi said:
1. How do I keep wifi from turning off when the screen goes to sleep?
- download Spare Parts from the market and set wifi sleep policy to never.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope that helps.
i agree with most observations comparing an iPad to NC.
I have both right now, and I definitely think when compared to iOS Android lacks polish and is behind in terms of apps.
10 characters
For the most part the apps are almost the same for what I do. Apple just really has a nice way of dummy proofing products with the exception of flash everything works right out the box.
Sent from my Nook Color
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
ColoradoPhoney said:
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good question, and probably the main factor people will use to decide between the two.
for me, i originally liked the idea of the nook because i've wanted an ereader for awhile, and plan on using it to read magazines, books etc pretty often. but i also want to use it as a multimedia device- streaming video/movies etc. i like the idea of gaming on a device that is larger than my phone. i have lots of fun playing games on my droid x (my two faves are gun bros and dungeon defenders) and the potential for using a tablet device as a killer gaming console seems to be limitless. the G tablet seems to fit the multimedia/gaming niche better, but i think it will be inferior for e-reading because of the screen. i guess my question is: does the superior screen/e-reading capability of the nook (and lower price) outweigh the untapped hardware potential and video/gaming prowess of the G tablet?
I was shopping G-Tablet and Nook as well. In the end I wanted a smaller form factor that can be easily held for a period of time for reading. I'm not a big gamer so Nook is my choice.
I think you would miss Nook's screen if you pick the G-tablet! The IPS screen is just awesome.
Did you look at Tmobile G-Slate as well?
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Understandable... That's exactly what i did lol. Also have the Dell streak 7 heh.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I'm coming off the G Tablet and still waiting for my Nook Color to come in, but I'll chime in with why I returned the Viewsonic.
Ultimately, it came down to cost and quality. There is a lot of hardware under the hood of the G Tablet, but for the $400 I paid, I regretted not just getting an iPad. It was really a build quality thing for me. I was willing to look past the horrendous viewing angles and the weird 3D effect in portrait mode, but I started getting some screen rippling, and the unit would kind of "creak" as if cheaply constructed. The rippling was so small that it didn't bother me, but it sure made me paranoid, because it showed up after just a week.
I will try to post after I've rooted my Nook and played with it a little while to give a comparison, but I'm pretty confident the screen is going to blow away the G Tablet. Probably build quality, too. I don't want it to come off as me hating on the G Tablet, because I really wanted to love it (it was a sweet cbr reader), but I couldn't risk having the thing crap out on me once the warranty ran out. For the money, if the NC dies after a year, I won't feel as duped out of my money and will still be able to replace it with whatever the new thing is.
I should also comment that I'll probably buy an iPad 2 later in the year so I have a big tablet for comics, movies and games and a smaller tablet for e-reading and light multimedia use. Because I do miss my G tablet for the multimedia uses.
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen. Dell streak 7 has a crappy 800x480 resolution and also bad viewing angles.
I returned the g tablet because of the screen and weight. I could have looked past the weight or delt with it but the screen angles were so bad it was a chore to use. anything beyond black text on white was almost impossible to see unless directly in front of your eyes. I really wanted it to work too...
now that I picked up a nc and running honeycomb I'm glad I made this choice. I am also really liking the size and portability of the nc. for $250 I just dont see how you could go wrong
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ta2025 said:
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quadrant isn't an appropriate benchmark to use when comparing these two devices. besides, when apps start coming out that take full advantage of the tegra 2 it won't even be a discussion. that's not even taking into consideration what the dev's around here will be able to get out of the xoom.
Mikroft said:
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Having owned one for a week, I'd say calling the screen mediocre is waaaaay too nice though. The NC is so much better.
While the Tegra2 destroys the NC's 530, it wasn't meant for that. I'd wait for the LG G-Slate pricing, etc. The XOOM is already a fail IMO due it's pricing, data plans and crippled wifi (until someone here at XDA remedies that). If either Tablet were to appear in a WiFi only capacity that'd be sweet too.
cwininger said:
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me reading in portrait mode on gtablet was horrible.Was too long and the horrible viewing angles made it impossible to get proper screen without weird viewing artifacts.....returned it and got the nook.
For flash though, the gtablet ran as well as my laptop
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to disagree with this. Hardware is hardware, but unless there is software and a medium for the user to take advantage of the hardware it is as good as a piece of poop in your hands.
Perhaps, with better software, the GTab is a great option, but the screen is still lacking, big time.
For $249 you can NOT do better than the Nook Color. And with the 1.1gHz OC, it flies! As far as a gaming it runs everything I throw at it currently. That being said I still game more on my iPhone and iPad. Not because of the hardware but because of the software selection.
When we start seeing games like "Infinity Blade" on Android ... then I will sell my Apple products, until then I keep both.
The screen and portability won me over
I currently own an ipad and nook and did own a gtab. The screen on the gtab was what killed it for me. It was blazing fast, but get a tiny bit off center and the colors go straight to hell, a little further off center and it becomes unusable. The ipad and nook have amazing screens. I prefer the nook though for its hackability and size. Both the ipad and gtab are a bit heavy and awkward to hold for any length of time. For the money, you really can't do better than the nook right now.
OP: Just curious what you ended up doing, as I'm in a similar situation.
I want an android tablet but I'm tired of waiting for the "really good" tablets to come out. I would like to get something in the mean time until my ideal tablet is released sometime in the future.
I feel like the G tab could last me longer because it has Tegra 2 and a 10 in. screen, but the screen isn't great and is missing gps. The NC has a great screen but older slower processor and the screen is smaller. I plan on using a tablet in a variety of ways. Probably about an equal amount of reading, browsing, gaming and video watching. Another reason the NC is tempting is because it's cheaper and I'm not sure spending more on the G Tablet is necessary if I'm just going to upgrade again in the near future.
Anybody have insight on which one has better battery life?
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own both. If I were constrained to use only one, it would be the Gtablet. Here are the reasons:
1. Froyo is not stable on the NC. Some ROMs are okay but it's not completely stable.
2. The wifi is buggy. If you haven't encountered problems yet it's because you haven't been to a site with incompatible wifi routers. When I travel, I can't afford to have a device that won't allow me to connect. Do a search and you will see all the wifi problems. Here's one recently: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=986133
3. NC is stock eclair while Gtablet is stock froyo. Makes a big difference when it comes from the manufacturer. I know there are smart XDA guys/gals hacking at making froyo work on the NC. I doubt BN will have an update to Froyo - there's no business reason for them to do it.
4. Gtablet has a microphone and camera plus bluetooth.
5. If honeycomb (and I mean if) comes to NC and Gtab, the Gtab will have it in performance.
Good points. What is the most popular rom on the Nook Color?
I think froyo may be the most popular mainly because its safe. I for one love honeycomb. Even with all its little quirks and stuff but the pros far outweigh the cons to me
Sent from one of those missing Droids
I've read many many many threads and web articles about this topic but I can't seem to find one that is really close to today's date (September 3, 2011) I'm sure everyone has had enough of these threads already but I really could use the advice and help but I don't have any friends with the knowledge to call on.
Here is my problem... I bought a Nook Color about a week ago without doing nearly as much research as I should have (and normally do). I haven't rooted it yet but I'm still happy with my NC, which I've just been using to read and browse the web now and then. Today as I was looking at best buy's website and I came across the Samsung Galaxy Tab for only $30 more than what I paid for the NC... so that leaves me with the options of keeping my NC and rooting it or returning it and getting the Galaxy Tab.
I've never had a tablet before and this is the first real spend on myself in a really long time, so I want to make sure I make the right decision and don't regret it once it's too late. I'm looking for like an all around good e-reader/tablet but not looking to spend a whole lot of money on it, and at the time the NC looked like I wouldn't even have a doubt in my mind, until today. The cameras and gps and other random things the Galaxy Tab can do aren't really my main concerns but it sure factors into the whole picture. I'm thinking I'm ready to take that step into either starting the rooting today or getting the tab and just start playing around with it.
I guess what I'm looking for in an answer would be should I keep my NC and start going about the rooting process or should I just return it and get the tab and basically be good to go right out of the box?
That being said, I also saw that the next NC could be coming out really soon. But that doesn't really matter too much to me as I'm looking for of a more "right now" than a "near future" haha.
Thanks!!!
Edits - Really, any help/opinions/suggestions are greatly appreciated. And I guess another of my concerns and reasons for making this new thread was to maybe get insight about this topic in the "now" with the recent release of the 1.3 update and next nook color coming out "soon."
It all comes down to what you plan to do with it, knowing that the more you learn about it, and play with it, that could change.
We have 3 Nook Colors and love them. The price, the ease of use, the great screen, are all benefits of the NC. I am not happy with the speaker or the sound from the NC, so headphones are a must. We don't have any Galaxy Tabs so I can't really tell you about them.
We use the NCs primarily as eReaders, with a few apps/games for the kids. They are (or were until BN pushed the 1.3 update) rooted so that takes a little bit of set up and maintenance time. We don't need the the cameras or the gps so we really don't miss that. We love the original NC eReader app (not the market one) so for us, I think that puts the NC over the Galaxy Tab.
I am still in search of a good music/video player, and overall, while the NC does what we need, my wife still has iPad envy so we will probably be getting an iPad 2 in the near future.
Hope this helps.
I agree with madman.
I like my NC (just got it a few days ago) and love it so far.
Somehow, I doubt the Galaxy Tab would measure up now. It seems like it would be a bit bulkier, maybe heavier... and it doesn't seem like it bring much to the party... the hardware may be a little better though (ram/cpu). The NC doesn't have any outputs though to hook up to a TV or anything like that... For some reason I want to say that the Galaxy Tab does have some sort of hdmi out, I could be mistaken though.
But, it's a matter of opinion I guess.
@madman390:
Try MoboPlayer I use it for AVI files that I stream over the network for my daughter. It works great, and has a library poster layout feel to it. Though, it won't load your files unless you enable the "software decoding" for them. You can set it in the options though, to always use it.
Yoinx said:
I agree with madman.
I like my NC (just got it a few days ago) and love it so far.
Somehow, I doubt the Galaxy Tab would measure up now. It seems like it would be a bit bulkier, maybe heavier... and it doesn't seem like it bring much to the party... the hardware may be a little better though (ram/cpu). The NC doesn't have any outputs though to hook up to a TV or anything like that... For some reason I want to say that the Galaxy Tab does have some sort of hdmi out, I could be mistaken though.
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I just have to correct some misstatements here. I have a rooted CM7 Nook color and a stock Galaxy Tab. The NC is great, and very functional as a low cost, no frills, easily customized tablet with a nice screen.But where it lacks the Tab undeniably shines. The Tab is lighter, smaller, and has a wonderful Gorilla glass screen. The cameras and video capabilities are sharp and convenient. And with HDMI output, I'm able to share the contents of my Tab on a larger screen easily. And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
For only $30 more, the bang-for-the-buck in me outshouts the geek in me and says the Galaxy Tab wins out.
cymoze said:
I just have to correct some misstatements here. I have a rooted CM7 Nook color and a stock Galaxy Tab. The NC is great, and very functional as a low cost, no frills, easily customized tablet with a nice screen.But where it lacks the Tab undeniably shines. The Tab is lighter, smaller, and has a wonderful Gorilla glass screen. The cameras and video capabilities are sharp and convenient. And with HDMI output, I'm able to share the contents of my Tab on a larger screen easily. And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
For only $30 more, the bang-for-the-buck in me outshouts the geek in me and says the Galaxy Tab wins out.
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Like I said... ionly have the nook color. I wasn't trying to spread misinformation... just giving my speculative opinion. Like I said.. the HDMI would be worth it. And the NC speaker suck without nook tools boosting sac.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Im with Cymoze. I own em both and the Gorilla Glass and the "feel" of the Galaxy Tab make it my go to device. The added hardware and the drop in price make it even more appealing.
I will say this. Flashing the tab with better then stock firmware is a bit more troublesome although not impossible. The Nook Color cant be fubar`d and that appeals to alot of folks.
Not to mention making phonecalls on the tab just friggin ROCKS.
If your able to follow instructions buy the tab.
For those who have used them side-by-side, what do you think about the reading experience on the Samsung? Is it radically different or worse than the NC (I'm just talking screens here, really--I mostly read in Aldiko, sometimes Kindle)? I'm hoping and assuming the Samsung has better audio...am I right?
I have a line on a GSM Galaxy Tab 7" at a decent price, but I couldn't afford to keep both devices. Reading is a high priority, and I'm just a little concerned that if that experience suffers much, the Samsung won't feel like an upgrade.
ETA: I guess this answers one of my questions:
cymoze said:
And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
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assuming it also applies to the 3G model.
I dont hqve a problem reading on the tab. But i cant say i do it for extended periods of time.
Id do spend a lot of time on it vs. The nook color. I just dont like the feel of the nook and that bezel drives me crazy.
I don't own a Galaxy Tab (however I do own a Samsung Captivate). Just based on Samsung slowness to put out firmware updates, I think B&N wins in the customer support category. However I do wish the NC had HDMI (or usb) video out. Also the NC struggles with HD video (I'm running CM7 nightly 160 and haven't had luck with any video player with HD...also struggles with youtube HD). I think if you have the patience you can tweak the NC to perform just as fast as the galaxy.
I think for $30 I might go Tab. However, check Ebay or Buy.com....NC refurbs can be had for $160-$169 (I got one I swear it looks brand new...I think B&N is just dumping them to get ready for the NC2).
I bought a NC back in March I believe and I love it. Yes, the speaker sucks, the screen, while works okay, is a little unresponsive, but other than that I prefer it over the tab 7 WIFI! I stress this because I got the Galaxy tab 7 WIFI version for FREE and after using it only twice I got rid of it. If you're going to get the tab, the WiFi version is a NO GO! It lacks in every way compared to it's counterpart. It's slower, less ram, no HDMI out possibilities, bluetooth is locked down, and there is virtually no community support (you cannot use the GSM or cmda roms). Touchwiz SUCKS on any device and even more so on the bigger screen of the Tab.
If you don't care about the GPS, camera, etc. then the NOOK should be your choice. You can do so much more with it and, to me, it feels like a budget tablet should feel. The galaxy tab, to me, just felt like a childs toy.
I read on my nook color ALL the time using Aldiko and I love it. I didn't like the way the Tab 7 felt in my hands, it did feel bigger and more bulky. It was thicker by a lot, although not quite as tall due to the n button area on the nook.
Call it a bad experience, but I'd still rather have a nook than a galaxy tab 7 any day. I love samsung as a brand, but their tablets have not impressed me at all (although I do like my rooted gummycharged Droid Charge).
Another general warning about Samsung android devices....they lock down their bluetooth so that you can't use a lot of the things that you could on other devices like the PS3/wii controller, HID devices, etc. Some say they did it on purpose, others say it is just the way it happened. I hear HID is unlocked with the gsm/cdma galaxy tab 7 but I cannot confirm this.