Should I Root or Un-Root to Sell? - Nook Color General

Guys, I am selling my beloved NC + Case on eBay and I am wondering if I should unroot prior to doing so? I see that a lot of NCs on there come rooted and seem to add a bit more value to the final price. However, I'm reluctant to getting a negative feedback due to instability, etc. What do you guys think?

How much of a premium is it getting? If it's just a couple dollars, I say unroot it to stock 1.2 just to be safe. That way if there are any problems (a) you can't really be held responsible by the buyer, and (b) any problems can be fixed by B&N if necessary.

Put a note in the item description saying that by default you will ship it with the stock 1.2 ROM but you will flash it to whatever ROM the buyer prefers but only if they email you within 24 hours of the sale. Be sure to put your email in the item description for them.
I'd also put a disclaimer about how if they request you to flash it you can't guarantee stability and B&N would not accept it for warranty claims in that state.

That's a great idea! Thanks!
While in the topic, I've noticed that the volume + button takes a lot of pressure to be recognized by the device. Some others seem to have similar issues so I never bothered to do anything about it. I'm concerned that the buyer might notice and give me a negative feedback because of it. Should I mention this issue or no? I was going to be sending it to B&N to get it repaired, but I figured it wasn't that big a deal and the buyer can do it him/herself.

Nooks that are rooted sell for about $40-50 more than unrooted ones on Craigslist (in NH anyway) -- Just an FYI.

I find just the opposite. Unrooted ones tend to sell for less because of the loss of warranty. I would return it to stock and let the seller know that you can root it for them if they want. Give them the option. People like options.

Hmmm... I'll definitely give the buyer the option when I post it. What do you guys think about the volume button issue I posted above though? Should I mention it?

Definitely mention the button. Or, have it swapped out for another unit at BN. If I purchased it from you and felt the button didn't function as intended I'd let you know; and be unhappy as well.
-sent from my supersonic evo

cfrock said:
Definitely mention the button. Or, have it swapped out for another unit at BN. If I purchased it from you and felt the button didn't function as intended I'd let you know; and be unhappy as well.
-sent from my supersonic evo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed with both comments from cFrock. Either mention the button or get it replaced first.

How long does it take to get it replaced? I'm worried that the new Nook will be released (24th of May) before I get my Nook Color back and will significantly reduce the price of this guy?!

I thought the new nook being released is a black and white reader only?

Oh, is it? That's good to hear! Didn't know about that. I'll probably send it in for a repair then. Do they pay for the shipping costs?!

I had to find the article. I can't post links yet.
technology.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474979295988
Barnes & Noble will announce a new black and white Nook on May 24. An updated new Nook will replace the technology-lagging first generation e-reader. The new device will directly compete with the base Amazon Kindle.

Ok, so this is the description I came up with based on your recommendations for the NC I'm about to sell. I'm posting it later tonight. Please let me know if I am missing something:
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I am selling a mint Barnes & Noble Nook Color Wi-Fi with all its original content and box! I had this bad boy for a little over two weeks and decided to part ways since getting another tablet for my birthday. I absolutely love this eReader/tablet. The display is absolutely stunning (7" IPS) and rivals even the iPad 2! Reading books and watching videos on it are an absolute pleasure. There are absolutely no scratches or blemishes on the unit as it has been housed in a Barnes & Noble turquoise case since I acquired it. I paid over $300 for this setup ($249.99 + $29.99 + tax)... my loss is your gain!
I rooted it with CyanogenMod 7 (CM7) about a week ago and have been loving it even more. This makes it feel like a complete tablet. It's as speedy and stable as my friend's Samsung Galaxy Tab and has a much better display. Keep in mind, however, that you must unroot it in order to get it serviced via the warranty. I am not responsible for anything that happens with a rooted device. If you don't want to risk it, just let me know in the PayPal comments that you want it unrooted and I'll send it with the stock software as it arrived.
Please, feel free to contact me via eBay with any questions or concerns. I check my messages pretty regularly.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW IN THE PAYPAL COMMENTS IF YOU'D LIKE THE DEVICE ROOTED. I WILL SHIP IT UNROOTED BY DEFAULT.
I will only ship to confirmed PayPal addresses within the United States (don't even ask me about international shipping).
I have 100% feedback, so bid with confidence. =)
Here are the specs of the device in case you missed it:
PCB: Foxconn ML1 S 94V-0
CPU Processor: ARM Cortex A8-based Ti OMAP 3621 @ 800 MHz (same processor as Droid 2 and Droid X)
GPU Processor: PowerVR SGX530 Graphics Rendering: Open GLES1.1/2.0 Hardware Scaling: 854x480 scaled to 1024x600
Video Formats: .3GP, .MP4, .3G2 ** Video Codecs: H.263, H.264, MPEG-4, ON2 VP7 **
Image Formats: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP ** (same GPU as Droid 2 and Droid X)
RAM: 512MB Hynix H8MBX00U0MER-0EM MCM (Stacked Chips 2x256MB each die mDDR)
Internal Flash: 8GB Sandisk SDIN4C1-8g
Removable Flash: 32GB via microSDHC
Radio: Chip ID Ti wl1271 (kernel reports wl1273) Chip supports bluetooth transmit/recieve and fm radio functions through the same antenna, but is not enabled in software drivers.
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n
Security: WEP/WPA/WPA2/802.1x Mode: Infrastructure
Display: 7" 1024x600 IPS Display w\VividView Cypress Semiconductor TTSP Gen 3 (TMA340) Touchscreen , kernel driver , reference LG Display LD070WS1 (SL)(02) LED Backlight Pixels per Inch: 169
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Colors: 16 Million Viewing Angle: 178° (same as HTC 7 Surround and HTC 7 Mozart)
Audio: Ti TLV320DAC3100 Codec 3.5mm Headset Jack (TRS 3-Pole) - no mic input Single Rear Speaker PWM Headphone Amp Headphone Detection Mic Amp and ADC (Mic input not available)
Audio Formats: .3GP, .3G2, .MP4, .AMR, .MP3, .MID, .XMF, .MXMF, .RTTL, .OTA, .IMY, .WAV, .OGG, .ACC ** Audio Codecs: ACC, ACC+, AMR, MP3, MIDI, LPCM **
Power Management: Texas Instruments TPS65921 PMIC Integrated Power Management IC with 3 DC/DC's, 4 LDO's, USB HS Transceiver
Battery: "Barnes & Noble" labeled 3.7V 4000mAh 14.8Wh Li-ion battery Battery Life: ~8 hours
Physical Specifications Dimensions: 8.1" (205mm) L x 5" (127mm) W x 0.48" (12.2mm) D Weight: ~15.8oz (~422g)
Micro-B USB 2.0 High-Speed
Accelerometer
Input Virtual QWERTY Keyboard On-Screen Soft-Keys ** 'n' Home button Power\Lock button Volume Up\Down buttons
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Thank you so much guys for all your help!

They cross ship if you don't mind securing it on a credit card. So you would have the new one within a few days and then you have like 7-10 (I think) days to ship your defective one in.

Really? Oh well, it's already posted on eBay. I don't think it's an issue as the buttons are working fine. Just require a harder push to get recognized. I figured the buyer can handle that if it bothers them that much. My friend's NC had similar issues, so I don't think it's that unique of a problem to be worth mentioning.

I think it's kind of uncool to not mention the volume button in the listing and if I received it like that, there's no way you'd keep the nice feedback score. The fact that some other people have had the problem is a non-issue. I find it's always worth it to be honest, even if it costs you a few bucks in the end.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

akarol said:
Really? Oh well, it's already posted on eBay. I don't think it's an issue as the buttons are working fine. Just require a harder push to get recognized. I figured the buyer can handle that if it bothers them that much. My friend's NC had similar issues, so I don't think it's that unique of a problem to be worth mentioning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, just came across your auction while browsing for deals on NC. Looks pretty good, not enough people on there give good closeup pictures like that. I think I'll keep an eye on that and see where it goes.

Cool!
Well, like I said, it isn't broken or anything. Just requires a strong push. I see it as a common symptom around here and Android Central, so I don't think it's really worth explaining and possibly scaring potential buyers away.

Related

Nook Color vs. Elocity A7

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.

[Q] Nook Color potential and restrictions vs Coby MID7015 & other budget tablets?

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.

Viewsonic Aims Squarely at the Nook

So viewsonic's 7" tablet just hit Amazon, and is priced at $230.00.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=470938631&pf_rd_i=507846
It's an interesting device that's pre-loaded with a bunch of Amazon apps (including teh Amazon App store). Sorta like a pseudo-Amazon Kindle Color.
And Viewsonic is aiming squarely at the Nook with this device, just scroll down to the end of their product page for a spec-by spec comparison:
http://www.viewsonic.com/products/vb730.htm
Funny thing: though the spec sheet mentions that both tablets have a 7" screen, it conveniently fails to list their resolution. (The Viewsonic is just 800 x 480).
Still, the fact that this thing includes built-in stylus technology makes it a serious competitor to HTC's 7" View tablet. If it weren't for the low resolution screen, i might even consider one myself.
Wow for 230.00 bucks i would of bought that.... that's a great priced little tablet.
Yes, the NOOKcolor does have serious competitor.
Feature-wise, so far that Viewsonic has offered a lot more. Few down-side
+ far less superior screen
+ no wireless-N
+ seperate charger port. NC uses microUSB port as charger
+ thicker 14mm (vs. NC 12mm)
But it gains
+ default bluetooth 2.1
+ microphone
+ webcam
+ 1GHz CPU (can it be overclocked?)
+ regular miniUSB
+ miniHDMI
+ 10hrs vs 8hrs battery life (not much diff. i guess)
+ front speaker (better than on the back like the NC, i personal feeling)
+ lighter 15.2oz (vs. NC 15.8oz)
Next question, can this V730 be flashed and run CM7 like we did the NC?
I think if it has IPS screen tech, it will beat the NOOK.
What I've come to learn about Android phones and tablets is, the specs are near meaningless, the real strength of a device is it's community. Imagine the Nook without CM7 or even root... I have a friend who has the Galaxy Tab(CDMA), which pretty much out specs the Nook in every way, but I would never trade, because the Tabs community is basically just a rag tag group with no star action. Matter of fact my friend is jealous of all my Nook can do...
Most device manufacturers load down their android devices with so much crap or don't optimize enough that even dual core devices run like crap...
/end of rant
votinh said:
Yes, the NOOKcolor does have serious competitor.
Feature-wise, so far that Viewsonic has offered a lot more. Few down-side
+ far less superior screen
+ no wireless-N
+ seperate charger port. NC uses microUSB port as charger
+ thicker 14mm (vs. NC 12mm)
But it gains
+ default bluetooth 2.1
+ microphone
+ webcam
+ 1GHz CPU (can it be overclocked?)
+ regular miniUSB
+ miniHDMI
+ 10hrs vs 8hrs battery life (not much diff. i guess)
+ front speaker (better than on the back like the NC, i personal feeling)
+ lighter 15.2oz (vs. NC 15.8oz)
Next question, can this V730 be flashed and run CM7 like we did the NC?
I think if it has IPS screen tech, it will beat the NOOK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
I will knock bluetooth off your list, since it works just fine in CM7 (yes, range could be better, but frankly, i have never had a problem there either).
So, it leaves you with some extra ports and a crappy webcam. Sorry, but i will take the amazing quality IPS screen any day over some extra ports and webcam. (BTW - the "regular" USB thing is silly, since "regular" microUSB plugs in just fine to our port..)
The 800x480 resolution makes it a non-starter for me.
So you're telling me if the VB730 has 1024x600 IPS screen, just like the NC, it is still a bad one, and can't compete to the NC?
Divine_Madcat said:
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. The biggest selling point of the NC for me is the beautiful IPS hi-res display. Viewsonic won't have a solid competitor (IMO) with such a low-res screen.
Stock-for-stock, it'll be a better option for Joe Schmoe in the market for a cheapie tablet, though. That is, unless a Nook owner gets to them first... haha
votinh said:
So you're telling me if the VB730 has 1024x600 IPS screen, just like the NC, it is still a bad one, and can't compete to the NC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IF it had as good a screen as the Nook, then yes it'd be an interesting stock alternative. But as it's spec'ed now with thet 800x480 screen, that probably makes it a negative for a large number of folks. The Bluetooth is a plus vs Stock NC, but not versus CM7 NC. The mini-USB port vs micro is nice in that it's probably a fair bit sturdier than what we've got now, but all in all, not a huge deal.
The mini-HDMI is interesting, but again, when paired with the 800x480 screen, it's unclear whether it will push out worthwhile resolution. The thing that will be interesting is if they come out with a version that's got a higher resolution screen, and what the real detail is about their CPU/GPU.
The stylus is a marketing hype positive against a stock NC. You can obviously buy a stylus for any capacitive screen tablet for under 20 bucks. Whether or not the Viewsonic "RiteTouch" is any good, only time will tell.
The rest of the list is pretty much vs the Stock NC, so this is a stock vs stock argument. We have no way of knowing whether or not the hacking community for this device will be as strong as the one for the NC, so again only time will tell.
But right now, with what knowledge we have... I still feel NC is better, at least for my needs.
That's what I stated up there, the VB730 has far less superior screen compared to the NOOK. Also said if it has the same screen tech/resolution as the NC, then it is a serious competitor. Assuming xda-developer as well as cyanogenmod gurus will tackle this little tablet later on like they did for the NC, then this guys would be good.
Don't know why this site has too many hot-head blindly jumped on defending their Nook.
Can they relax and open their mind? Geez
I think it has to do with the unique nature of unlocking an e-reader for use as a full-fledged tablet, and it's great hardware for the price.
Also, I wonder how much a comparable screen would raise the Viewsonic's price.
Have you folk ever actually tried to use a capacitive stylus? I mean, give me a break . . . unless you like writing with a crayon, they are mostly useless. Pretty much impossible to use one to underline *.pdf files (or, for that matter, comfortably write).
For me, depends on the stylus technology. If you're getting something like the HTC Flyer's stylus, I think it would be a good deal, so long as there is more built-in software support. But they're kind of vague about the whole thing on the website. I haven't been able to find more information about "RiteTouch" technology. I'm waiting to see what somebody serious says about how the stylus actually works with the device.
kennyminot said:
Have you folk ever actually tried to use a capacitive stylus? I mean, give me a break . . . unless you like writing with a crayon, they are mostly useless. Pretty much impossible to use one to underline *.pdf files (or, for that matter, comfortably write).
For me, depends on the stylus technology. If you're getting something like the HTC Flyer's stylus, I think it would be a good deal, so long as there is more built-in software support. But they're kind of vague about the whole thing on the website. I haven't been able to find more information about "RiteTouch" technology. I'm waiting to see what somebody serious says about how the stylus actually works with the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Looking for a review. If the stylus works well, I'll probably wait and see if they release an upgraded version with a 1024 x 600 screen and then maybe.
joenathane said:
What I've come to learn about Android phones and tablets is, the specs are near meaningless, the real strength of a device is it's community. Imagine the Nook without CM7 or even root... I have a friend who has the Galaxy Tab(CDMA), which pretty much out specs the Nook in every way, but I would never trade, because the Tabs community is basically just a rag tag group with no star action. Matter of fact my friend is jealous of all my Nook can do...
Most device manufacturers load down their android devices with so much crap or don't optimize enough that even dual core devices run like crap...
/end of rant
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. When the honeycomb/ICS source code launches, we have a strong enough community that we will be seeing a port, and its going to completely transform our ereaders into full fledged tablets. This viewsonic tablet probably wont have that support if previous models are anything to judge by, and the horrible screen resolution means that even if it did, it would be stuck with the phone UI since there simply isnt enough space to show tablet optimized applications.
So the first Amazon reader review is in:
http://www.amazon.com/ViewBook-VB73...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Reviewer claims it has a RESISTIVE screen! Whoa! Hadn't seen that mentioned anywhere. In fact, I hadn't seen any mention either way. But if this is true then it surely makes a big difference (and explains the included pen). The next question is: is it multi-touch? I have to assume it is, because it would be pretty crippling if it weren't.
Now, I'm not going to immediately discount a device with a resistive screen (no doubt the technology is improving day to day) but I'd definitely want to read some in depth testimonials on how it compares to the capacitive screens we've all grown to know and love.
(EDIT: The Tiger Direct page lists "resistive screen" in the specs: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=782735&CatId=6957 So this Nook competitor is becoming less impressive the more I read about it.)
Depends on if they are using new multitouch resistive controllers.
h t t p://w w w.designnews.com/document.asp?doc_id=230884&
dsf3g said:
So the first Amazon reader review is in:
http://www.amazon.com/ViewBook-VB73...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Reviewer claims it has a RESISTIVE screen! Whoa! Hadn't seen that mentioned anywhere. In fact, I hadn't seen any mention either way. But if this is true then it surely makes a big difference (and explains the included pen). The next question is: is it multi-touch? I have to assume it is, because it would be pretty crippling if it weren't.
Now, I'm not going to immediately discount a device with a resistive screen (no doubt the technology is improving day to day) but I'd definitely want to read some in depth testimonials on how it compares to the capacitive screens we've all grown to know and love.
(EDIT: The Tiger Direct page lists "resistive screen" in the specs: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=782735&CatId=6957 So this Nook competitor is becoming less impressive the more I read about it.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it has a pen input, then resistive is really the only way to go there. As said, writing with a capactive stylus is annoying at best.
As for multitouch, usually that is NOT possible on resistive but I don't think it's impossible either.
Really, the advantage of capacitive touchscreens is probably a little overstated. I currently have two resistive touchscreen tablets. The T91MT was one of the first cheap tablet devices on the market, and it has a pretty sensitive screen with multitouch features. Most people would have trouble telling the difference between that and a capacitive screen. My Pocket eDGe has a much less sensitive screen, although its ability to use a stylus makes it much more useful than most recent Android devices. I'm not entirely convinced that a capacitive touchscreen is the best option, especially when you consider that the technology has likely advanced over the last couple years.
So . . . a resistive touchscreen . . .
(1) can have multitouch support;
(2) can be used at any temperature;
(3) can be used with any object that applies pressure;
(4) is extremely accurate;
(5) is cheap.
I'd still like to see how the stylus works. It would be really neat if it had palm rejection.
That amazon review is mine .. I had a gift card to amazon so i ordered this instead of the nook.
Since writing that review initially the amazon market has more annoyed me as I am lacking things I wish i had from the google market and I can't seem to find any drivers to support this device to make any attempt at rooting it so I can get the google market on it.
Hulu+ runs on it though thats a bonus i think.
The screen is difficult to tell if it is truly a resistive screen or something else, as why i put in the review it appears to be a hybrid of some kind. Using my Bamboo Capacitive Stylus I am able to control the screen and all just the same as using the included Rite Touch stylus, which as far as i can tell is nothing but a regular old resistive plastic tip stylus. On the Multi-touch issue I've read it is but it doesn't appear to be as I can't pinch to zoom and the usual multi-touch gestures although the double tap to zoom I use more even on cap screens than the pinch.
Divine_Madcat said:
Why would it beat the nook? Even if it were an IPS screen (and knowing Viewsonic, it will be the cheapest crap they can find; already demoed by the pathetic 800x480 screen), the other "extra" features really aren't that great.
I will knock bluetooth off your list, since it works just fine in CM7 (yes, range could be better, but frankly, i have never had a problem there either).
So, it leaves you with some extra ports and a crappy webcam. Sorry, but i will take the amazing quality IPS screen any day over some extra ports and webcam. (BTW - the "regular" USB thing is silly, since "regular" microUSB plugs in just fine to our port..)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have problems with bluetooth keyboards, runing nightly 126 and 131. I have a Xoom bluetooth with a modified qwerty.kl file to enable most of the android special keys to work. The three annoying issues with Xoom keyboard is that it will stop working while typing long messages, have to hit power button on it to restart; a key will stick kkkkkkkkkk; and not easy to get out of pop-up for accent keys. You do not see these problems? The best feature is that I can leave power adapter plugged in with bluetooth.
When I use my Logitech wireless usb combo keyboard and mouse I only seem to get the pop-up accent box. The negative is even with a y cable it does not seem to charge nook while in host and v-bus mode. The combination arrow and keyboard interface is really slick.
Anybody else notice these flaws with bluetooth and usb keyboards?

Dream Tablet/Reader?

I've got a nook because I feel like it's the best combo of features. Still its a little small, a little slow, and I cant read it in the sun (I primarily use it to read).
What I would piss my pants for is a 8-8.6" transflective screen, with a current generation single core processor, 10+ hours of battery life, wifi-only, and of course rootable. I don't want to pay for a camera. I don't want to pay for a GPS receiver. I want this for $300.
I'd like to mention that dead trees are the best, before recommending the Amazon Kindle. I have a k2i and find it excellent for reading.
I attacheda matte screen protector. It makes a world of difference.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Dream Tablet? Ok here we go:
Looks the same as my Nook Color does now. The aesthetics are great, its easy and comfy to hold and very thin. Here is what I would add if physics would allow me to
Tegra2 <-- Although I am very happy with the CPU that it has now.
2GB RAM (Sure 1GB is fine, but the chipset can address 2GB so why not?)
USB Port (full sized)
2nd MicroSD slot because, well, we can.
Kickstand
Nook OS (Stock) based on Honeycomb, but with full market access.
Bluetooth enabled at the factory - B&N to sell a nice looking bluetooth keyboard.
This is key: I do not want the dimensions altered in any way. It must be the exact same W H L that it is now, just with a few extra ports and some real power under the hood.
filterxg said:
What I would piss my pants for is a 8-8.6" transflective screen, with a current generation single core processor, 10+ hours of battery life, wifi-only, and of course rootable. I don't want to pay for a camera. I don't want to pay for a GPS receiver. I want this for $300.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if it's breaking 10 hours or has root yet, but it sounds like the Vizio tablet comes a bit closer to what you want than the NC. Reviews mention lag in the UI, but reports are that a software update smoothed things out considerably.
inportb said:
I'd like to mention that dead trees are the best.....[snip]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with dead trees and the print thereon is that you can't find all of the NY Times 100 best sellers just lying around in the street, in the way you can find epubs floating on the interweb thingy.
filterxg said:
I've got a nook because I feel like it's the best combo of features. Still its a little small, a little slow, and I cant read it in the sun (I primarily use it to read).
What I would piss my pants for is a 8-8.6" transflective screen, with a current generation single core processor, 10+ hours of battery life, wifi-only, and of course rootable. I don't want to pay for a camera. I don't want to pay for a GPS receiver. I want this for $300.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're in the right area.
If that's all what you asked for, then the NOOKcolor is the perfect one for you.
It's single core processor, it's wifi only, it's nootable, it has no camera, it has no gps, it's $250 new. If you turn everything off but reading, you will get 8 to 10 hours run. It's only 7" but the tradeoff is it's surely lighter than 8+" one.

lapdock 500

Im going to purchase the lapdock 500. The reviews on the 100 seem so-so, so Im hoping that the 500, being more xpensive, is higher quality, and works better. anyone have the 500, or expirence with both that they can share?
I can't provide a review yet, but it's on sale for $150 right now!!
I got this from slickdeals:
1. Go to Verizon’s site.
2. Click the big “Shop” button up top.
3. When the page loads, scroll down and click “View All” next to Accessories.
4. Click on the “DROID 4.”
5. LapDock 500 should be the first option, simply click “Add to Cart” from that page.
6. Go straight into your cart and you should see it for $149.99 rather than the $249.99.
7. Checkout and enjoy.
Good luck.
I ordered it from Amazon for $349, sooooo when I saw that deal, I about crapped! Gut on Verizon, ordered one, and have the one from Amazon all boxed and ready to go back!
For what it's worth, it's very nice, high quality, so I can't wait to get the new one here and start playing!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
So, I finally got mine.
The performance is ok... kind of like using a netbook. I wish the camera would work. Also, playing youtube is a little choppy. Perhaps it's not hardware accelerated or anything.
Does anyone know if there is any work being done on the webtop 3rd party people? Is there supposed to be an update for that soon???
So IMHO, if you are on the fence for getting this, I would vote NO.
I bought this for $150 during the recent sale and was very excited, especially because I denied on the Atrix lapdock deal in Dec. for $50.
Anyway, as noted earlier, the screen is not very good. I tried to watch streaming video and it not pleasant. The bad "refresh" rate or something resulted in a sort of jittery show. That defeated my primary purpose.
The touch pad was also poorly implemented. Pressing it often moved the cursor.
Another factor although not a huge one was the software/interface was not that intuitive or impressive. I'm sure that would have improved over time (updates and my own experience) but the effort didn't seem worth it. The device is also somewhat heavy. For $50, I might have kept it, but for $150 just wasn't worth it.
Good news, I returned it at the Verizon store without any restock fee or hassle.
I am thrilled that I got the 500 during the Verizon $150 deal. The 500 makes using the Bionic for any lengthy amount of time quite usable. It is not meant to be a substitute for a laptop or netbook. I feel it perfectly complements the Bionic by extending the capabilities of the phone. I would advise using a mouse with the 500.
I've had mine now for 2 days and have done nothing but mess around with it and honestly..imho i love it! Yea the sd card, ethernet, camera and monitor out dont work but there is an update so the bionic can use the 500 to the fullest so thats great news..there are as many cons as there are goods but the cons will get fixed thru updates except for the touchpad..that really did suck..but all else is great..the screen could be better but its still great..
Cons- cant use the pull out dock idk why just doesnt work well which has to do with the software so a update fix
Touchpad sucks- use mouse
Camera, ethernet, sd card and monitor out functions dont work YET but will soon
Phone has to sit flat and cant be moved or the lapdock will shut down- dont know why but once again an update fix
Pros- everything...surf internet fast, play your games on lapdock from phone, make calls from lapdock, 7 hours battery life, charges phone while using lapdock, good speakers, nice screen and just a lot if fun...better than carrying a heavy full on laptop for simple things...one of the better investments in my life funny thing is that i also got mine for 150$ but thru CL and brand new still sealed..the guy had no clue how much this thing was actually worth!
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium
how would you compare it to the Bionic branded lapdock itself (anyone test out both of these)? i'm assuming all the missing functionality you speak of now is simply a USB device driver to be implemented in future patches..
IMO the lapdock can essentially replace your last full sized laptop, assuming your not a hardcore gamer, audiophile, A/V troll etc lol. i am all of the above, but seriously if your using a laptop for all that get a tower ffs. screen is acceptable, viewing angle is so so, webtop itself is unimpressive but 3.0 will change all that. only complaint is the keyboard, keys feel like cheap plastic and aren't very sensitive.

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