There's been some controversy among e-reader enthusiasts about including the NC in B&N's Q1 e-reader sales, which some market analysts are saying beat Amazon's. Most of us on this forum probably agree that marketing the NC as an e-reader undersells its capabilities considerably. Many, but not all, also share my suspicion that we are a minority, however overexposed in the online tech-bubble, and most NC owners do use the device unmodified and primarily for reading.
What I wonder is how many of us who bought the NC with no intention of keeping her stock (and may not have looked twice at e-Ink readers), or those who decided they wanted more out of the NC, are also putting it to its stated use: reading.
For simplicity, we'll include magazines and comics read offline, but no web content. Obviously, we're mostly talking about actual e-books.
I went with the NC over other devices because of the ease of ROM-swapping, the opportunity to explore Android, and the broad media and web capability, but reading is still my #1 use for it by a long stretch: mostly novels, some comics.
I've own (and lost) a first Gen Kindle; replaced it with the first Gen Nook (e-ink); and I handed that off to my wife when the NC came along. The NC was the first that I did anything except read on as a primary activity.
I did root all three but all the Kindle could do was bring up the embedded Linux command line. Pretty boring. I did a little more with the original Nook, but I returned it to stock for the wife. Neither was anything except an e-reader when in use.
I split the use 50/50 on the NC (that should have been the 2nd poll option). I polled as #1, but that is not quite accurate.
I read on mine all the time. I'd even say that reading is my primary use for it. My NC is rooted, with the full Market and lots of other apps installed, but I keep the stock OS, since it offers such a vastly improved reading experience.
I've tried Honeycomb and CM7 on SD cards, and both are great. But for me, the NC is an ereader first. I use it for some tablet stuff like playing games, reading GReader, etc, but primarily for reading.
I'm a little surprised (positively ) to see the poll quite this top-heavy so far.
ryaninc said:
I keep the stock OS, since it offers such a vastly improved reading experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's a matter of opinion. The limitations of the reader were pretty much the main reason I ditched stock. At least, it was the main reason I was eager to ditch it at the earliest convenience; I knew by the time I got the NC that I wanted CM7, but didn't have a chance to install it for another week.
I read on it a LOT. I buy a lot of books from B&N -- far more than I did before I got the NC -- and they have become my primary activity when I travel. I do have CM7, and I use it for my daily task list and calendar, which probably consume more time than the reading so, I voted that way.
My two concerns, which might have tipped me to using it primarily for reading, are that the Nook application has touch sensitivity issues in its upper menu bar and that one cannot read most magazines with it, even though I purchased them from BN and they show up in the application. The former has me looking at other readers; the latter has me using Zinio. Because I like to put my dollars in vendors whom I believe I should support, I would buy more books and magazines from BN if they fixed these two issues.
I do most of my reading on a rooted N2E with the Kindle app. I find eink much more comfortable on my eyes than the NC.
I don't think I've ever read an ebook on my NC! I bought it for the sole purpose of installing a full version of Android on it (I used CM7) in order to "learn" the Android OS... Well, after only three months, I decided that I liked it so much, that I sold the NC and am going to get an ASUS Transformer... I tried resisting it, but it won - I give in!
I currently use an iPad 1 paired with the ZaggMate case/stand/keyboard, which is really nice - just looking forward to all of the connectivity options with the transformer, etc... I do not read any ebooks on the ipad either... maybe a few technical reference .pdf files, but that's about it...
Read a lot
Early on I found the Kindle app on my Droid Inc and loved the enlarged font for reading. Since then I've never looked back and always have a book loaded. I bought the Nook more for the concept of having an Android "tablet" rather than a reader. Once I figured out how to download the Kindle app, the Nook became my primary reader at home (kinda ironic). I love how the app syncs between my phone and nook so when I'm reading at the doctors, then come home, I can pick-up right where I left off on my nook.
In the end, I'd probably do more with my nook but feel stymied by its slow response time when surfing the web and its lack of apps that utilize its screen real estate properly. I'm chomping at the bit for a new Android tablet, but only want something in the same size range. Anything bigger than the nook (I feel) is to big to use for reading or lounging in bed. The Galaxy and HTC flyer offer great sizes, but I'll wait for a dual processor that can better handle web surfing and flash simultaneously for a smoother experience. Maybe Amazon in the near future?
All in all, I'm don't regret for my nook investment. Its been a great experience learning about the rooting process and Android OS's flexibility.
I bought it primarily as an ereader, particularly to read in bed at night without light.
Have since had a great time fiddling with roms and apps.- it was a real intro to android for me.
I also like the 7inch size - easy to transport, but big enough to surf the web, email etc.
Same deal here as frogger55: bought NC for reading in bed and I stumbled on the fact that the NC could be such a great tablet. I got introduced to Android here in the xda NC forum. Everyone has been so helpful and I thank you all for sharing so much knowledge. It took a while for me to get brave enough to root and then put CM7 on sdcard because I had zero experience before joining this xda Nook color community. then I found my phone can produce a wifi signal for when I am on a trip or somewhere away from wifi. Overall I am thrilled with my Nook Color.
Not read anything more than a page long yet
I began learning about android on a Huawei s7 tablet and then saw the nook color. My wife was looking for a device to surf the web and play a few games so I bought the nook for her. She lost interest in it when she discovered she could not play her facebook games and went back to her netbook leaving me (see the logic here?) The nook as a new toy to play with. It was rooted within 2 hours and I tried out phiremod and UD but then found cm7 and never looked back. As for uses, I read extensively on the nook. I have the kindle reader, aldiko, and the nook reader installed as well as google reader as I use a variety of book formats. As I write using the nook as well, I installed an external keyboard and host mode to allow me access to my flash drives and external hard drives. Far more than an ereader but a really great ereader as well.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
I was interested in e-ink readers awhile ago, but never wanted to take the plunge until they got color screens and could display web content. Well, the NC came out before that tech revolution happened, and I'm glad it did. I would say that reading is one of my biggest time consumers (although angry birds on the NC is the wife's biggest, and that may outstrip my time spent reading.... didn't think about that). So yeah, good e-reader, great for comics as well (which was another venue I wanted a reader to cover), I wanted to get into Android as well w/o a pricy phone data plan, and the nice size (large w/o being huge) were all major pluses. Now that I have it, I really like reading and getting my daily RSS updates in the mornings at the gym.
I got my NC Full time CM7 nightlies ROM - as a hybrid - Reader - and to learn about Tablets / ROM's / ANDROID. Almost bought a kindle - but I wanted a backlit screen to read at night.
I'd say I probably use it 65/35 right now tablet / reader. Its the only reading device I own - and I'm still trying new apps - with it to customize it's use to my liking. I read mainly epub content I create via calibre - .pdf's - and a couple Kindle books. I like the e-magazine option too from Nook - but their app is a little finicky - and the magazine selection is slanted toward more Women publications. I'm looking for other options to get Magazines I like - on the device - b/c I hate throwing out mags with good content - but equally hate storing them..
I expect my uses to evolve as I use it more - but pretty happy as my first tablet. I'd probably prefer a dual core with a little more OOMFFF - but didn't want to pay that for a first tablet - to find a week later - it's an expensive paperweight.
Still don't know if I want a bigger screen or not - the portability and size work well. At times, the font is a little small to read - depending on the app I'm reading.
This is my second ebook reader, the first had an e-ink screen. Since I was 10 years old I always wished I could fit a library in my pocket, in recent years modern technology has granted my wish.
I bought it because I found out what I could do with it aftermarket, but used it in it's stock configuration until the 1.2 update came out. After I updated, I ran my first Android OS from an SD install, preserving the stock Nook Color as-is.
I'd say recently i've been doing more with it then reading, but I still read an average of 3 hours a day on it, with no card installed in it's stock configuration.
I am still going through what I can do with it, I haven't gotten into either the audio or video aspects available, though i've gone a bit app-crazy and dropped almost $500 into google and amazon app markets (yep - finally used up those amazon gift cards)
To say I am satisfied with my purchase would be an understatement.
I can still read with it, just the way B&N intended, which works pretty well .(though I have my gripes, particularly with the library structure - or lack thereof)
In addition, in the time it takes to turn it off and back on I can be in an Android environment of my choosing, set up with as many variances as I have (decent) MicroSD cards for.
My girlfriend has her own MicroSD card, and can use my Nook Color to play all her games with and configure to her hearts content...without affecting any of my own setups.
One of the best parts to me is that this flexibility stems from the fact that it has no cellular service, and so I don't have to worry about being constrained by my service provider. Gone is the worry of being watched all the time by having a constant GPS readout of my location in some database somewhere.
All in all, the Nook Color is probably the greatest technology purchase i've ever made.
I put CM7 on my Nook within an hour of owning it, so obviously bought it to use as a tablet. However, I did read the last 3/4 of The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest on it, having read the first 1/4 of the book on my Desire (3.7" screen). I bought the book while waiting for a delayed flight at the airport, through my phone's Kindle app. (Sorry B&N). I got the Nook about a week later.
I started my E-reader experience with a Pandigital Novel. I wasn't sure I would like reading on an LCD screen and I didn't want to spend a ton of money to find out. I got that Novel for $129. I read a couple of books on it and liked it a lot. I wanted to jump to a NC but $250 was pretty expensive to me for a reader and I was frankly scared of the rooting process.
But now that I have one I absolutely love it and I'm usually messing with it for a few hours a day. I would say my time spent on it is about 50/50 between reading and surfing the net and playing games.
Interesting question! I'd wanted an e reader for a long time but didn't like the "single use" aspect of it, so started looking at the ipad, even though I think apple stinks as a corporation. Then someone clued me on to newer android tablets coming out including the NC. I didn't know whether I'd really USE a tablet, and 500+ was just too much so I kept coming back to the NC. Then I discovered honeycomb, then deeper-blues port of hc to the nook, and that combined with the price sealed the deal.
I hardly ever turn on my computer anymore, and as cm7 matures and the flashing novelty wears off, I find myself reading more too. I'm running about 75 browsing/Modding/playing and 25 reading, but that's changing rapidly. If ice cream gets the cm treatment for the NC though, reading might start dropping again.
I actually started e-reading on a 3lb netbook (MSI Wind) running Windows 7, held portrait like a hardcover, but it got stolen last year. An Amazon ad for the ad-supported Kindle, coupled with the death of my old iPod Video, got me thinking about how to rebuild my e-cology, and I drifted over to mobileread.com, which is where I learned about the Nook Color. I thought about some of the similar-sized no-name Android tablets you can get for $100-150, but the screen, dev community, and nigh-unbrickable configuration sold me on the NC.
E-books were my top priority the whole time, but like some others, I was hesitant to get a single-use device, and what I really wanted was an e-reader and casual browser for home and around town that would also serve as a portal to all my media when I'm on the road. The NC fills those gaps nicely, with the bonus of being a great platform for exploring Android.
A large portion of my time on the NC is reading ebooks. I loaded CM7 so that I could access and use Google Market/Amazon Apps and be able to choose which ebook client/seller on a whim. I thought I'd play a lot more of the games I've downloaded, but really I'd say my usage is about:
70% reading - 25% netflix videos - 3% web browsing - 2% games and misc.
I'm still quite happy with it, but I'll probably upgrade in the future to a somewhat larger tablet for better web browsing (the widescreen format is great for movies but sucks for my bad eyesight for reading website text) as well as full-on support for videos, i.e. probably whatever Android tablet Amazon comes out with.
Related
I think I am ready to make the leap. I've been reading reading and reading some more. I will root it of course. My main objective is to have a tablet-like device, running a droid os. I am priced out of the "real" tablet market. Waiting for a tablet with Honeycomb might cost me 3x what a NC will cost. From what I've gathered on xda, I can make my NC function as a tablet (for the most part).
One of my concerns/questions is - I am actively searching for a job. I need to be able to send out my resume, go to job applications, fill in forms, etc. I have my resume saved as a google document. Will I be able to open and edit my google documents? I am currently running Froyo on my Evo and am able to do so there. It's a huge plus that my Evo can serve as a wifi connection to a NC as well.
Any tips, cons, "be careful of..." tips you care to share would be much appreciated. It appears as though there are two ways to root?
I've used Google Docs on my NC just fine.
Sent from my Nook Color
eyecrispy said:
I've used Google Docs on my NC just fine.
Sent from my Nook Color
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been able to access google docs, but haven't figured out how to edit. Forms haven't been an issue so far.
I believe the only thing the NC lacks is camera and GPS, having said that the the NC is an awesome cheap powerfull tablet. Drop one of those swipe keyboards it would be great for editing documents. When it comes to rooting I would suggest the autonooter for 1.0.1, couldn't be any easier.
Sent from my rooted Nook Color
To slugbug2010:
If you're serious to actually bring Droid 2/X Android 2.2.x (or maybe even AOSP 2.3.x) to NookColor, don't forget to port their "hardware" accelerated 2D/3D drivers and overlay.
Though I suspect it's exactly what CM7 for NC team is struggling with since January 10 (when NC was reported as booting and running CM7).
aludal
----------------------------
fineoils.blogspot.com
slugbug2010 said:
I think I am ready to make the leap. I've been reading reading and reading some more. I will root it of course. My main objective is to have a tablet-like device, running a droid os. I am priced out of the "real" tablet market. Waiting for a tablet with Honeycomb might cost me 3x what a NC will cost. From what I've gathered on xda, I can make my NC function as a tablet (for the most part).
One of my concerns/questions is - I am actively searching for a job. I need to be able to send out my resume, go to job applications, fill in forms, etc. I have my resume saved as a google document. Will I be able to open and edit my google documents? I am currently running Froyo on my Evo and am able to do so there. It's a huge plus that my Evo can serve as a wifi connection to a NC as well.
Any tips, cons, "be careful of..." tips you care to share would be much appreciated. It appears as though there are two ways to root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only tip I can think of, right now, is to either order one now (they're still backordered on BN.com at least from my browser. And most BB's and Wally world's are sold out). Try to find a place local, that has some left.
I take that back. Some of the Walmarts that were showing out of stock back when I got mine are now showing as stocked. Meh.
Dang. My local b&n had tons left. Im sure your local store will have some in stock.
I'm considering buying a Nook Color, and I want to hear from those who have bought one and rooted it.
Tell us your stories of cool things your Nook Color does and how you use it from day to day. Convince us that the Nook color is worth buying, especially for the low cost. Also, tell us what the Nook Color didn't do well. Mention specific apps that worked well on the Nook if possible.
TheGeek007 said:
I'm considering buying a Nook Color, and I want to hear from those who have bought one and rooted it.
Tell us your stories of cool things your Nook Color does and how you use it from day to day. Convince us that the Nook color is worth buying, especially for the low cost. Also, tell us what the Nook Color didn't do well. Mention specific apps that worked well on the Nook if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used froyo, and Honeycomb on mine... so ill touch lightly on that.
I originally rooted my Nook because, I hated looking at the home screen. I wouldn't mind it if I could add my own books... but that limit annoyed me, since it would cost more than the device to make it look nice.
Anyways I was quite excited to see what I can do, something like Quickoffice HD (ink app). Works amazingly well, I was editing a power point on it... and I had full control over everything. It worked really well, I could see all the slides on the side. It really was a great app to play with, perhaps not to make it, but completely possible to if I had to.
I have been using the pure widgets, and they help a lot with School and keeping life in check. Since I dont need to swap screens to look into it... It looks really nice, and works very well.
Email apps sorta suck... Using the Gmail or the "Email" app it feels lack luster. Its enough to work... but not enough to make you feel like its better than a phone. Mail'd works well, but HTML emails crash it, and theres a lot of loading and buttons dont appear on it.
Movies, and Google maps... Help a lot with looking for something to do. If you have wifi you can get a general location. Its not enough to be very helpful (unless you know the area) but it really is helpful. If you were to use this feature in bulk there would be more enough enough space to see everything.
Youtube, and Pocketcloud... Both work really well, nothing above the top here, but enough to make them viable.
Browser is nice, it loads quite nice. You can get a nice view of screen, and all of that. Not a ton to say here, but completely possible to post on a site on the go.
Games, I dont have a ton of them, but they're far easier to control on the bigger screen. I tried angry birds on my phone and feels too small. On the nook or a nook size device... its very good.
Overall... Theres not a lot that my phone can do, that my Nook cant. A lot of apps are either part of the overlay, but as a whole you can get a lot out of the nook. If you dont mind using exact programs, you will be set. Things like the messenger I use, required wifi off (for whatever reason). So I had to find another, things like this are quite common.
Till honeycomb comes around, which made the nook feel less like a big phone... Tablets are not going to be amazingly above a phone either. With something like the nook, you're getting a really good E-Reader, which can do the rest. If you want some reading, think of it as a cost split.
50% = Good E-Reader
50% = Tablet
A small E-Reader app is nice, but the Nookcolor one looks very professional and sleek.
I bought mine specifically to root, and for one reason: the ability to carry technical documents, and to be able to edit them. Since then, I've found the NC strengths to be the above, plus simple web browsing, calendar/appointments, gmail, RSS, and News feeds. The major drawbacks, IMO, are screen sensitivity on the right hand side and the lack of hardware keys (although Button Savior or softkeys are mostly adequate). Also, some apps can't be used if a popup box is required for setting options; the background and foreground text are displayed in the same color so you just get a blank screen.
Some Good Apps: Google Reader, Documents to Go, HanDBase, Jorte, ColorNote, Evernote, Widgetsoid 2.x, Repligo, Weatherbug
As you can tell, my NC is set up for "business" use...
I ordered the nook before I knew that it can be easily rooted. Now I 'm running froyo from the sd and it's really fast and stable. I 'm still using it primarily to read e-books but it's nice to have a fully functioning tablet around.
I have 3.0 running on it, and it's quite stable. I'm loving this. It's far better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab, and for a fraction of the price. The screen is much nicer and it seems to run faster.
I would like to overclock this in 3.0, but I'm running into some major stability problems. I found this link saying it should work just fine, but I'm not having luck. When I looked at the "official" thread here, it says that it's causing issues and they're trying to fix it. Does anyone know if that's still the case? I found the article on addictive tips dot com.
Anywho, I got rid of my EVO a couple months ago as I simply couldn't justify the large bill every month. For less than 2 months of my cell phone bill, I can buy a Nook Color and get better functionality (easier for presentations with a client, and the larger screen makes it quite easy to navigate and use apps). I'd jump onboard. It can only get better, and it's already pretty freakin amazing.
One app make it entirely worth it... OverDrive. Free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. Love it.
As a straight reader, I would use my nook a few times a week when I had spare time to read. As a rooted Android tablet, I use it daily and LOVE it. In places were I have wifi - which is around 80-85% of the time, I use it instead of my phone.
Most used apps: K9Mail, Facebook, Twitter, Engadets, XDA, Aldiko, WeatherBug, reading news and playing games like Angry Birds, MathDuko, Tomeno HD. I use Zeam and Softkeys for launcher and back/home buttons. I watch movies occasionall converted with HandBrake.
Missing - hardware home/back button - though Softkeys does a pretty good job. I agree that the screen sensitivity in the corners can get frustrating.
I wish I could more easily tether it to my cell phone. I'd either have to upgrade my phone or try to root my HTC Eris. I could live with messing up my nook but not my phone.
horsemom said:
As a straight reader, I would use my nook a few times a week when I had spare time to read. As a rooted Android tablet, I use it daily and LOVE it. In places were I have wifi - which is around 80-85% of the time, I use it instead of my phone.
Most used apps: K9Mail, Facebook, Twitter, Engadets, XDA, Aldiko, WeatherBug, reading news and playing games like Angry Birds, MathDuko, Tomeno HD. I use Zeam and Softkeys for launcher and back/home buttons. I watch movies occasionall converted with HandBrake.
Missing - hardware home/back button - though Softkeys does a pretty good job. I agree that the screen sensitivity in the corners can get frustrating.
I wish I could more easily tether it to my cell phone. I'd either have to upgrade my phone or try to root my HTC Eris. I could live with messing up my nook but not my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted my Eris just fine. Running a CM7 Gingerbread ROM and works great!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=945324
Thanks to everyone who shared their Nook Color stories!
I've just sold my netbook and now i'm buying a tablet.
Here is the best place to ask this because you guys unlock the full potential of the devices, so: should I get an Ipad or a Nook Color?
I have decided for an Ipad 2 long ago because IOS has the best support for medical apps (that I use a lot). For example I have an android phone (Defy) but keep carrying my ipod touch just for the medical apps that simply doesn't exist on Android Market. This week i'm in doubt because someone offered me a new Nook Color for HALF the price of the Ipad 2 32GB Wifi.
I've searched for NC capabilities and now it's running Gingerbread and soon Honeycomb, and it's pretty snappy (same specs of Defy), so now i'm just lost.
So, should I get a Nook Color? What about medical apps, battery life, multimedia capabilities, browser performance?
Thanks in advance!
Sadly I don't think the Nook Color competes with the Ipad2. And I honestly don't know if it's going to have the medical apps you need, being you have a defy shouldn't you know what it does or doesn't have?
The nook color is smaller and easier to use on the go.
With a custom rom (cm7), battery life isn't the best (4-7hrs continuous use).
Browser is very nice with Opera Mobile.
Videos play very nicely on it in my opinion, others are still having trouble with it or care far more for hardware acceleration on 720p videos =\.
The nook color is $250 retail... So if you're getting it for half of what the Ipad 2 is going for (depending on where you're getting it, you're getting it for the same price as retail or ripped off.)
That said, if apps are your thing, IOS has had more time to mature. If customizability and price are your thing, nook color all the way.
But, at the Ipad2 price point a Xoom (wifi) or the Asus EEEtransformer (not out yet) would be a better comparison for price.
Edit: I see you're not based in the U.S, so I understand now that the Ipad 2 or NC could be far more where you live. In that case, you might want to get the Nook Color (apps from ios are continually making their way to android) and just wait for the apps. And just keep using your ipod touch for what's not available yet.
Gin1212 said:
Sadly I don't think the Nook Color competes with the Ipad2. And I honestly don't know if it's going to have the medical apps you need, being you have a defy shouldn't you know what it does or doesn't have?
The nook color is smaller and easier to use on the go.
With a custom rom (cm7), battery life isn't the best (4-7hrs continuous use).
Browser is very nice with Opera Mobile.
Videos play very nicely on it in my opinion, others are still having trouble with it or care far more for hardware acceleration on 720p videos =\.
The nook color is $250 retail... So if you're getting it for half of what the Ipad 2 is going for (depending on where you're getting it, you're getting it for the same price as retail or ripped off.)
That said, if apps are your thing, IOS has had more time to mature. If customizability and price are your thing, nook color all the way.
But, at the Ipad2 price point a Xoom (wifi) or the Asus EEEtransformer (not out yet) would be a better comparison for price.
Edit: I see you're not based in the U.S, so I understand now that the Ipad 2 or NC could be far more where you live. In that case, you might want to get the Nook Color (apps from ios are continually making their way to android) and just wait for the apps. And just keep using your ipod touch for what's not available yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick answer!
You're right, here in my country the gadgets are MUCH more expensive than in the US, the taxes over these products are over 60%! And the only tablets officially available here are Ipad 1 and GalaxyTab.
And here the Ipad is the gold standard for everything, brazilian magazines and newspapers are released only on Itunes, no Android support here...
But it's good to know that the Nook is getting so neat, coming from a cheap reader to an almost full fledged tablet.
What in the medical field do you do? I have friends in medical school that swear by the iPad and its app, specifically the anatomy ones. I'm about to start and settled on the nook due to my personality. I know the iPad will distract me into another level. While the nook is hacked together enough where it gets my tasks in order and allows me to read PowerPoints but doesn't make me want to play games on it all day long. The fact that it's 300 dollars cheaper and only 7 inches didn't hurt either. The only thing I've been wishing for is Google body.
scl23enn4m3 said:
What in the medical field do you do? I have friends in medical school that swear by the iPad and its app, specifically the anatomy ones. I'm about to start and settled on the nook due to my personality. I know the iPad will distract me into another level. While the nook is hacked together enough where it gets my tasks in order and allows me to read PowerPoints but doesn't make me want to play games on it all day long. The fact that it's 300 dollars cheaper and only 7 inches didn't hurt either. The only thing I've been wishing for is Google body.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a physician, working with primary care/family medicine and applying for residency.
My use for a tablet will be internet browsing, medical apps, ppt viewing, pdf/ebook reading and some music apps in my spare time.
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
The iPad is better hardware by far. If you jailbreak it you can do all sorts of good stuff.
The screen on an iPad can be written on with a stylus easily. I love android but apple hardware is sexy.
hirano said:
I'm a physician, working with primary care/family medicine and applying for residency.
My use for a tablet will be internet browsing, medical apps, ppt viewing, pdf/ebook reading and some music apps in my spare time.
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About to start residency do you think you have time to worry about following forums, troubleshooting, doing workarounds, flashing and tinkering? If you think you do, then grab the nook Color. The thing about Android for me is, it's never been set it and forget it. I'm always changing something. To be frank, if you expect to use your device in your profession and not just after hours and not have to worry about it not booting because you overclocked it too high, I'd spring for the iPad. This is coming from someone who can't stand Apple, owns none of their products, and is typing this on a nook Color.
To muddy he waters a bit more, my NC running CM7 is pretty much set it and forget it. Even overwriting with nightlies every few days takes about 10 minutes and I'm back to running my NC perfectly afterwards.
My counterpoint is that if you use a tablet for any document that is rich in illustrations/graphics, the NC's screen and hardware will not cut it. I would suggest an iPad above all else for that reason.
scl23enn4m3 said:
About to start residency do you think you have time to worry about following forums, troubleshooting, doing workarounds, flashing and tinkering? If you think you do, then grab the nook Color. The thing about Android for me is, it's never been set it and forget it. I'm always changing something. To be frank, if you expect to use your device in your profession and not just after hours and not have to worry about it not booting because you overclocked it too high, I'd spring for the iPad. This is coming from someone who can't stand Apple, owns none of their products, and is typing this on a nook Color.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lack of time is an issue for sure, but I love tinkerin with my gadgets.
Are the custom Nook roms stable?
Can it run Froyo, Gingerbread or Honeycomb 100% functional?
Ultimately I want that my gadgets "just work".
lechiffre said:
To muddy he waters a bit more, my NC running CM7 is pretty much set it and forget it. Even overwriting with nightlies every few days takes about 10 minutes and I'm back to running my NC perfectly afterwards.
My counterpoint is that if you use a tablet for any document that is rich in illustrations/graphics, the NC's screen and hardware will not cut it. I would suggest an iPad above all else for that reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know that Cyanogen is THAT stable on the Nook. And what do you mean by "won't cut it"? The Nook can't handle PDFs or image rich documents in a snappy way?
id say Ipad 2 or Xoom
hirano said:
Good to know that Cyanogen is THAT stable on the Nook. And what do you mean by "won't cut it"? The Nook can't handle PDFs or image rich documents in a snappy way?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct.
If you're reading epub then NC is the way to go. If you're doing PDFs then you'll definitely want a bigger screen.
The real question is, do you need a tablet right now? and do you mind being locked down to iTunes?
If waiting is an option you might be interested in the Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 that's set to come out in June. Stock Honeycomb. No Apple lock-down.
FYI CyanogenMod 7 is perfectly stable and I just used my NC (running CM7 nightlies) for a month-long vacation abroad without issues. On iPad I find typing a chore because the slab is so huge, and you can't travel without fearing an iPad will be crushed or torqued.
I personally find that the 7" screen is far more portable. As far as PDF's go, so long as it's not heavily illustrated (as in the book is just scanned in and is 500mbs, not ocr'ed, etc.) then it will do fine. In fact I love reading on the nook color with Ezpdf reader.
But Ipad has the software right now... In the end though, it's just a big Ipod touch.
Right now and for the foreseeable future (the next 12 months) iOS is the way to go if you need a polished machine for real work. The application library is simply going to blow away anything Android has, not to mention Honeycomb. And because of the Apple "cachet" one would expect that medical and legal applications would find a much larger market on the iPad than any given Andoroid device.
The Nook Color, right now is one of two things:
1) A nice, highly portable e-reader that can surf the web (for those who don't root)
2) A cheap tweakable hobbyist machine for those who want to explore the ponetial of tablets without dropping five bills on an iPad.
I love my Nook Color, but I don't actually expect to get "real work" done on it.
I love my NC. It is just more portable than the ipad or ipad 2. plus the price is much more acceptable to me. However, like other users have said, ios is more mature. I use my NC for lots of things, but some medical applications are currenly available only for ios (for now, many are getting written for android with the increased popularity of android tablets). I have CM7 running off of an sd card and have had no stability issues.
I use docs2go for my doc and pdf files and they seem to render pretty well on it. I have medscape, lexicomp, and epocrates on my nook and they run quite well (medscape and epocrates are free). On my android phone i have some skyscape applications (skyscape is one of the best sources for medical texts in my opinion). Look at skyscape.com for their selection. They are not cheap, but they are very thorough and can find may of the texts that you will be required to have are in full version on that site. They also make apps for ios.
dsf3g said:
2) A cheap tweakable hobbyist machine for those who want to explore the ponetial of tablets without dropping five bills on an iPad.
I love my Nook Color, but I don't actually expect to get "real work" done on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No offense, but perhaps you need to give you NC another shot. Frankly, aside from updating CM as they com out with better builds (which takes 10 min, and is nothing more than an update like in Windows, which does not destroy anything), i haven't tweaked in some time. But what i DO use it for, is checking mail while out of the office, looking up things online, reading and editing work documents anywhere (thank you Quick Office), having fun with it when i need some R&R, and having quick access to both my calendar and gmail.
Why you don't think you can get "real work" done on it is beyond me...
I think the samsung gtab will be 350 for work only if your not interested in bn reader for magazines
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
mjb413 said:
I love my NC. It is just more portable than the ipad or ipad 2. plus the price is much more acceptable to me. However, like other users have said, ios is more mature. I use my NC for lots of things, but some medical applications are currenly available only for ios (for now, many are getting written for android with the increased popularity of android tablets). I have CM7 running off of an sd card and have had no stability issues.
I use docs2go for my doc and pdf files and they seem to render pretty well on it. I have medscape, lexicomp, and epocrates on my nook and they run quite well (medscape and epocrates are free). On my android phone i have some skyscape applications (skyscape is one of the best sources for medical texts in my opinion). Look at skyscape.com for their selection. They are not cheap, but they are very thorough and can find may of the texts that you will be required to have are in full version on that site. They also make apps for ios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like you're doing with your nook all the things that I want to do.
I have tried medscape, isilo and pdf reading (repligo) on my Android phone that is fairly similar to the Nook Color (Defy, 800mhz, 512MB ram) and the performance and usability are quite good.
hirano said:
On IOS I use Lexi-comp, skyscape, medcalc and isilo reader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of those apps are in the android market most of the better medical content providers have made their products available on both iOS and android. Medscape took a long time to get there
The Nook isn't as good as the iPad for reading PDFs and powerpoints however, mostly due to the smaller screen. This is esp. true for documents with two or more columns.
If money is a concern, you may be better off looking for a cheap 10" android tablet or a first generation iPad. If money is NOT a concern, I don't think you'll be unhappy with an iPad 2
What specific applications do you need?
If you don't need proprietary reference materials, then android has everything you need. I use Epocrates and some medical calculators, and hit Wikipedia if I want to refresh my memory on something. UpToDate is always an option for more in-depth reading.
For documents, I recommend converting all of your old material to text format, and using any of the myriad notepad apps on android. Or you could use Google Docs.
The NC is very stable, even with a modded ROM. I use rooted stock - it does everything I need and is trivially easy to do. I keep Froyo, CM7, and Honeycomb on SD cards to play with. The stickies may installing these ROMs quite easy. You can always install onto an SD card, in order to keep the NC itself stock.
The main disadvantage to the NC is the 7" form factor, which is also its main advantage. I played with an iPad in the store, and it is sooo much more cumbersome to hold than the NC. However, even if you wanted the larger screen, I would strongly consider an android 10" tablet.
I searched the forums for this, but I never found any straightforward (or in plain and simple English) answers that helped me. I don't know how to root or how to mod my devices or even some of the terminology. I also know that some of you might laugh at me for my lack of knowledge, but I get that anyway for how I walk sometimes (I have MS) LOL.
I just bought a New Nook Color today (yay for me!). I have a Samsung Epic 4g. I used an app called Application backup that gets all of the APK files into a zip file on the SD card. I have a 16gb SD card. I transferred my info from my 16 GB card to another 16 GB card via my computer. I put the 2nd SD card into my Nook and the Nook did not recognize any of the Apps from my phone. I figured that since they are both running Froyo, that it would work. What did I do wrong?
Also, I figured that since I upgraded the Nook to B&N's new Froyo, that I would be able to get onto the Android Market, not just B&N's somewhat crappy App store. How can I access the Market from my new Nook Color?
Also, can I run Google Voice and make calls from my new Nook? Just wondering, it's not necessary, but I would like to at least text message from it, if possible. Also, can I really get that Playon app and play Netflix and Hulu content as well? That would be amazing!
Thank you in advance for taking the time to help this big ol' dummy!
There's plenty of easy to follow guides about how to root, flash custom ROMs, etc all over this part of the forum, just gotta go looking. You'll need root to watch the Netflix app on your NC, same with getting the market.
There's an easier way to install the apps on your NC. Just download the Appbrain app on both NC and your phone, then you can see the list of apps on your phone and install them on your NC as well.
I've got a rooted NC with phiremod installed, so I can't tell you how to access the market on any unrooted device. Hope someone else can help you with that.
holgalee said:
There's an easier way to install the apps on your NC. Just download the Appbrain app on both NC and your phone, then you can see the list of apps on your phone and install them on your NC as well.
I've got a rooted NC with phiremod installed, so I can't tell you how to access the market on any unrooted device. Hope someone else can help you with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A completely stock NC can't access the marketplace.
OP, look for the "manual nooter" thread, probably in the Dev subforum. Nootering is the closest to stock you can be and use the non-B&N marketplace.
so i just got a gtab and was playing around with it. got a custom mod on there(vegan 5.1.1, love it) and my mom saw me saying "is that an ipad?". told her no, showed her some of the features and she suggested we get something like that for my grandma. without knowing really much about the nook color at all i do know this would probably be a better option for her than an ipad or gtablet.
just wondering if there are stable enough roms out there where i could do everything at once when i buy it and kind of show her how to navigate websites, email, watch videos, etc(pretty much basic computing, shes old lol) over a weekend when shes here(she lives 6 hours away and coming to visit next week)? because once she leaves i won't be able to update or help her troubleshoot it till like Christmas.
nuttybardude said:
so i just got a gtab and was playing around with it. got a custom mod on there(vegan 5.1.1, love it) and my mom saw me saying "is that an ipad?". told her no, showed her some of the features and she suggested we get something like that for my grandma. without knowing really much about the nook color at all i do know this would probably be a better option for her than an ipad or gtablet.
just wondering if there are stable enough roms out there where i could do everything at once when i buy it and kind of show her how to navigate websites, email, watch videos, etc(pretty much basic computing, shes old lol) over a weekend when shes here(she lives 6 hours away and coming to visit next week)? because once she leaves i won't be able to update or help her troubleshoot it till like Christmas.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This might be better in its own thread if you want more replies, but I can tell you my own experience with customized tech devies as gifts to people who aren't tech savvy and can't or have no interest in learning. Never works out well, for me.
If your grandma likes to keep up with and learn about the latest gear, or if she's interested in starting, a rooted or moded NC would be good. But if she's not, you need a device you can set up for her once and have it run without need for updates or maintenance for a long period of time. Something she can just use. In that case the extra expense is worth it.
Also, a screen larger than the NC's would probably be easier for her, depending on her sight.
Nora D said:
Also, a screen larger than the NC's would probably be easier for her, depending on her sight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a very good point. I thought about getting a tablet for my dad, and the same considerations occurred to me. If your grandmother is using it primarily to read books, then the small screen isn't as much of an issue, since the fonts can be sized up in the reader app without much detrimental effect. But scaling up a large font in the web browser will likely make the web browsing experience painful, since many websites are so tightly formatted. "Zoom in and pan around" is a horrible way to use the web... Also, the smaller the screen is, the finer the motor control necessary to operate the touch screen controls, which may be another issue for an older person.
I came to the conclusion that a 7-inch tablet just isn't going to be very useful for an elderly person, and the Nook has enough little quirks when used as a tablet that it would likely be a frustrating experience for a non-techie person.
I really would not recommend CM7 NC or even rooted stock NC for an elderly person or technologically illiterate person for a couple of reasons:
1. The default UI is nowhere near as non-techy-user-friendly as iOS (I'm OS-agnostic, hate proprietary software, but hey, it's true) and there's no locking down of features (admin mode vs limited user, etc) to prevent someone accidentally damaging the install or removing something they shouldn't. Maybe you could find a heavily modded theme to be friendlier.
2. The screen is, at 7", perfect for me as a reader but my (elderly) mother complained about the small screen size (needing much bigger fonts). You can fix that somewhat by (obviously) using bigger fonts in CM7 and also by editing the lcd density, but the latter can cause issues with some apps. It's not exactly difficult to fudge fingering through the menus and opening apps by accident, or just mistyping because of the smaller keyboard.
I told my mother, who was liking my (CM7) Nook despite complaining about eye strain and fingering issues, that she was probably better off spending $100 more on the upcoming 9.7" Amazon tablet this fall if she could wait. While it's probably going to be as locked down as the iPad to begin with, I won't have to worry about bugs in nightlies (or even stables, e.g., no deep sleep in pre-.32 releases) or whether or not she'll accidentally break some app etc. While it sucks to be limited to 1 ereader store (technically), if Amazon allows generic ereader apps like Bluefire or Aldiko she could still have access to epubs from competing stores if she needed it. If it ends up being rootable to allow 3rd-party apps and Google Android Market then it's a win-win with a polished, user-friendly modded android OS from Amazon.
I'm not bashing the Nook or CM7 - I love mine and I love being able to tweak and experiment with it, but it's not something that a non-techy would be able to tread fearlessly in -- look how many threads here are posted with people being lost about doing a basic SD CM7 install or following one of the step-by-step rooting guides.
Responding to the grandma tangent, I think everyone is underestimating the appeal of the stock Nook Color for people who don't know what they're doing. There are plenty of non-tech-savvy people over at mobileread (well, tech savvy enough to post on a forum, but otherwise...) who are thrilled with their stock NCs. Three-million-plus of these things have sold, and most of those people are not rooting them or putting on custom ROMs.
Someone familiar with Android devices who goes into it expecting an Android device might find it limiting, but for someone with no clue, the fact that it only does a few things is a pro, not a con.
Skunkeye said:
But scaling up a large font in the web browser will likely make the web browsing experience painful, since many websites are so tightly formatted. "Zoom in and pan around" is a horrible way to use the web...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't remember just how the NC stock browser works, but most Android browsers are smarter than that. Often a double-tap on a column of text will get it centered at a manageable size, and if not you can zoom to the desired text size and double-tap again to reflow it just like a book. Whenever I come to an article of more than a few paragraphs on my PC, I stop and pick up the NC for a more comfortable reading experience (or send the link to the NC for later, depending on what I'm doing).
I don't think anyone is underestimating the stock Nook Color for what it is. But the original question was about "stable ROMs" and the comparison of the Nook vs. a full Android tablet or iPad. I'd have no problem giving almost anyone a Nook Color if it was left as an unrooted, stock device (because tech support would then be B&N's problem!), with the understanding that it was going to be used as intended: as an excellent e-reader that happens to do a little bit of internet stuff sort of passably well.
But if you're talking about putting Cyanogen or something on the thing and sending it to grandma's house six hours away and hoping for everything to go smoothly (which was, I think, nuttybardudes's intent), I think that's very likely to end up in frustration for everyone involved.
Agreed. I'm saying he's overthinking it--just buying a NC and handing it to her (well, maybe helping her register it) may be his best option. .
I know this may seem like an odd question, but let me explain. Since getting a 10" tablet (initially a TouchPad running ICS, but my wife bought an iPad3 for me a few weeks ago) I only use the Nook as an eReader. I really like it in that role, but I also still find it kind of unstable in all but stock form. This includes rooted stock 1.4.2, CM7, and CM9. For the most part this instability takes the form of SODs.
Anyway, the other day I reverted to stock 1.4.2 and think that will work well for me given how I use the device now with one exception...over half of the books that I read are for Amazon Kindle Reader, not B&N Nook. Of course, I can read these on my iPad, but I do like the form factor and portability of the Nook for reading. I could root 1.4.2 again and stick with the stock kernel to avoid SODs, but in a perfect world what I'd like to do is just flip the config setting that tells Android to allow external apps to be installed/run and leave everything else stock. Then I'd like to put on just the Amazon Kindle Reader app.
Does anyone know if there's a way to do this without committing to the full rooting approach?
Thanks!
Nope, you would have to root.
Sent from space
If
SOD's come because you've let the unit go into deep sleep with WiFi turned on...
And
You are only using the NC to read Kindle books...
Then
Rooting the NC then turning WiFi off after you've loaded the Kindle app will avoid the SOD's.
Yes?
Why not convert your Kindle mobis into epubs with Calibre. Short learning curve, and good results.
Check out page 4 in this thread. It works
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1050520
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA
another vote for "download your library using nook for pc, convert to an open format" - works great for me.
I'm not a big fan of reading (or listening music or watching movies) online. I'd rather convert all my paid ebook to pdf, epub, mobi, or whatever the format is then save them on my local eMMC or uSD.
Thanks for the info! I've actually decided to get a Nook Simple Touch Glowlight for my eReader duties and sell the Nook Color. I've really enjoyed the NC while I've owned it, but at this point since I really am just using it as an eReader, I like the digital ink display, battery life, and form factor of the NST for that dedicated purpose.