Related
Hopefully someone here can better explain the differences, pros, and cons of each.
I've been doing some quick research and looking around, even played with the Nexus S at Best Buy, and it seems the main (and ONLY) difference is that the NS has a bigger screen than the N1.
It's my understanding that they both share the same processor, both have the same amount of RAM, both have the same camera, etc.
The only "advantage" to the Nexus S would be the bigger screen and more on-board memory for apps and such, correct?
I can get the Nexus S for $200 through Best Buy and could in turn sell my N1 with it's dock for $400 (already have a buyer lined up). My biggest question, however, is what does the N1 do that the NS does NOT do? Would this be a logical thing to do or is there something that the NS would be lacking by comparison?
Well the NS does not have an SD slot so your stuck with the 16GB of storage.
The NS does have a FFC.
The CPUs are both 1GHz but the NS' is of a newer architecture and is a bit faster especially with games.
The NS touchscreen is better.
I only have an 8GB SD card in my N1 and it's been more than enough, so the "limited" 16GB that the NS has shouldn't be a problem for me.
I'm not sure what "FFC" is...can you define/explain?
Faster or even equal speeds in the processor is fine. I just knew it was close and wasn't inferior to the N1 like a lot of other phones that have come out recently.
And what exactly makes the touchscreen better on the NS? Better resolution or just better responsiveness?
EDIT: I think I just figured out "FFC" means "front facing camera", correct? Not something I'd use, but doesn't hurt either.
It seems that there really isn't a reason NOT to do this exchange. Everything that the N1 can do the NS does and then some. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything that I'd be missing out on if I got rid of my N1 after having gotten used to it for so long. Seems like it would be an easy and smooth transition.
How easy is it to obtain all Google Market apps that have already been purchased when switching devices like this? They're all tied to the account, correct?
Tenacious Steve said:
How easy is it to obtain all Google Market apps that have already been purchased when switching devices like this? They're all tied to the account, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much, yes. You can get some exceptions - eg CoPilot Live is fiddly to transfer, but the Android licence is valid cross-device (you need to deactivate the old device first). In general, if you've purchased from the market and use the same account on the new phone your apps should be available without issue.
I've transferred from G1, to Magic, to N1 without losing any apps to date (although I've sworn a bit at CoPilot )
Keep in mind the Nexus S doesn't have a notification led.
Apart from the glossy plastic i think the Nexus S is a good device. If it doesn't have the screen inaccuracy or power button failure issues of the N1 it could be a worthwhile upgrade.
Depends how affluent you are feeling right now
I asked myself the same question and I came up with these answers.
N1 is better built
upgradeable sd slot
has a notification led
has less a tendency of sliding out of your hand
same specs
and samsung is notorious about never releasing any updates for any of their phones.
Don't forget the nexus s does not have 2 Mic's. There have been some reports of bad call quality on it in noisy environments with background noise.
Having owned them both...
NS has the NFC (near field communication), which one day may be nice.
The 16gb limit does not really present a problem.
The screen is bigger and is supposedly better, but I didn't see anything that really made the new screen stand out, it is nice. It is curved slightly, which is kinda nice.
NS does not have the same build quality, and does not have the unibody, metal design. The Nexus S does feel cheap next to the N1, but it is not showstopper. N1 has a much cleaner design and looks much 'sexier' IMHO.
NS does not have the trackball, much less the lighted trackball of the N1. NS does not even have a charge indicator.
NS does not come with a case or dedicated charger (has the brick and a data cable)
NS with gingerbread is fast, but does not yet have the dev support of the N1.
I felt the cameras were about similar.
NS does not have the second mic (as someone else pointed out). Not sure about call quality of the listener on the other end. I had problems with reboots, but Google knows there is a problem and is working on it.
Why o Why did they change the order of the home/search/menu/back keys in the NS -what a pain.
NS no SD slot.
NS does not have the dock pins on the bottom to use with a car/desktop dock.
NS has a front camera and more RAM
I would wait until Gingerbread comes out for the N1 before you jump ship. You have 30 days to send the phone back to best buy if you don't like it...
Just felt that the new NS was not 'Google' enough for me. Just missing too many little things. It is like they were trying to make a new Nexus that is *more* like the iphone. Kinda a sellout thing to do in my opinion.
My opinion is to keep your N1, the NS is not a real upgrade in my mind.
EDIT:
another difference... Both have 512 of RAM. N1 has 512 of "ROM", while the NS has 16gb of storage, 1gb reserved for apps and OS.
Thanks for all the replies, guys! After reading some and doing quite a bit more research, including watching comparison videos on YouTube, I have decided to wait.
The only "new" feature that I'd use with the NS is the bigger screen, but I don't really feel that should stand alone as a reason to "upgrade".
The speed differences in the comparison videos were very, VERY minimal and it appears that the N1 has better graphics handling than the NS. It's possible that the minimal speed differences were simply due to the NS having Gingerbread, so hopefully I'll see an increase with the upcoming update for the N1 although if I don't, it's no big problem since it's still the fastest phone I've messed around with.
Another reason is the battery. I've gone as long as 36 hours on my N1 with a single charge and normal use and usually have 60-70% battery life left after a full 15 hour day of being in use. I hear the NS is barely lasting a day for most people which is more than likely in account for the larger screen.
The MAIN reason I've decided to wait, however, is simply because I don't want to be locked into a 2yr contract for the same phone with a bigger screen when the inevitable dual-processor and expanded function phone(s) come out. The N1 does absolutely everything I want/need out of a phone so I'll be waiting until something comes out and totally blows it away and makes it obsolete.
Tenacious Steve said:
..The N1 does absolutely everything I want/need out of a phone so I'll be waiting until something comes out and totally blows it away and makes it obsolete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too
Hopefully it'll be a new Nexus, made by HTC, with great specs!
I sold my nexus one last week and got a nexus s the same day. I loved my nexus one but my logic for selling my phone is deprecation of the phone when i sell it. Sold the nexus one and dock for 370, not great. So that means I payed $200 for the nexus s. If you are in the market to sell it later you will get less for it. In the next couple of months dual core and 4g is coming out and the value will drop for both phones but i feel that the nexus s will be valued higher. It also seem that the resell market for Galaxy S is bigger then the nexus one, due to the fact that more people know what a Galaxy s phone is.
Some thoughts about the nexus s. The phone seems the same on paper but in actuality its much faster compared the nexus one running gingerbread, this could be that the roms didn't have the drivers. The screen is amazing and i like the look of the nexus s, but miss the dock. NS is a lot lighter in the hand but feels cheap when you're pressing the volume and power buttons. The BIGGEST difference is the responsiveness of the touchscreen.
I have ZERO REGRETS on my purchase of the nexus s.
I have purchased the Nexus S and am still on the fence of whether or not to return it. My previous phone is the Nexus One. The reason that I am on the fence is for the same reason why some people are still trying to decide whether or not to purchase the phone such as there is no led notification, missing sd slot, NFC not really popular at the moment and probably will not be for the next year or two at least in the US, not a dual core phone.
But I will admit it is a nice phone, does have a nice feel, beautiful display, sexy all black face giving it that stealth look, the touchscreen is responsive I don't get all of that wonkiness I used to get with the Nexus one and even with the capacitive touch buttons, those work the way they should. Very responsive in terms of apps seem to respond and open more quickly compared to the N1. It would be nice for google to explain why they chose the phone they chose for there N1 successor, instead of trying to come up with reasons for them.
I have 30 days to decide whether or not to keep the phone. Since I am a T-mobile customer, from as long as I can remember they never really had the hot phones, it was always places like verizon or sprint that had phones that seemed more appealing. And even if t-mobile did end up getting a hot phone it would be like months later after the other networks had that phone for a while ex. razr.
If i had neither an n1 or nexus s and both phones were for sale, I would go for the Nexus S.
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
ColoradoPhoney said:
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good question, and probably the main factor people will use to decide between the two.
for me, i originally liked the idea of the nook because i've wanted an ereader for awhile, and plan on using it to read magazines, books etc pretty often. but i also want to use it as a multimedia device- streaming video/movies etc. i like the idea of gaming on a device that is larger than my phone. i have lots of fun playing games on my droid x (my two faves are gun bros and dungeon defenders) and the potential for using a tablet device as a killer gaming console seems to be limitless. the G tablet seems to fit the multimedia/gaming niche better, but i think it will be inferior for e-reading because of the screen. i guess my question is: does the superior screen/e-reading capability of the nook (and lower price) outweigh the untapped hardware potential and video/gaming prowess of the G tablet?
I was shopping G-Tablet and Nook as well. In the end I wanted a smaller form factor that can be easily held for a period of time for reading. I'm not a big gamer so Nook is my choice.
I think you would miss Nook's screen if you pick the G-tablet! The IPS screen is just awesome.
Did you look at Tmobile G-Slate as well?
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Understandable... That's exactly what i did lol. Also have the Dell streak 7 heh.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I'm coming off the G Tablet and still waiting for my Nook Color to come in, but I'll chime in with why I returned the Viewsonic.
Ultimately, it came down to cost and quality. There is a lot of hardware under the hood of the G Tablet, but for the $400 I paid, I regretted not just getting an iPad. It was really a build quality thing for me. I was willing to look past the horrendous viewing angles and the weird 3D effect in portrait mode, but I started getting some screen rippling, and the unit would kind of "creak" as if cheaply constructed. The rippling was so small that it didn't bother me, but it sure made me paranoid, because it showed up after just a week.
I will try to post after I've rooted my Nook and played with it a little while to give a comparison, but I'm pretty confident the screen is going to blow away the G Tablet. Probably build quality, too. I don't want it to come off as me hating on the G Tablet, because I really wanted to love it (it was a sweet cbr reader), but I couldn't risk having the thing crap out on me once the warranty ran out. For the money, if the NC dies after a year, I won't feel as duped out of my money and will still be able to replace it with whatever the new thing is.
I should also comment that I'll probably buy an iPad 2 later in the year so I have a big tablet for comics, movies and games and a smaller tablet for e-reading and light multimedia use. Because I do miss my G tablet for the multimedia uses.
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen. Dell streak 7 has a crappy 800x480 resolution and also bad viewing angles.
I returned the g tablet because of the screen and weight. I could have looked past the weight or delt with it but the screen angles were so bad it was a chore to use. anything beyond black text on white was almost impossible to see unless directly in front of your eyes. I really wanted it to work too...
now that I picked up a nc and running honeycomb I'm glad I made this choice. I am also really liking the size and portability of the nc. for $250 I just dont see how you could go wrong
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ta2025 said:
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quadrant isn't an appropriate benchmark to use when comparing these two devices. besides, when apps start coming out that take full advantage of the tegra 2 it won't even be a discussion. that's not even taking into consideration what the dev's around here will be able to get out of the xoom.
Mikroft said:
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Having owned one for a week, I'd say calling the screen mediocre is waaaaay too nice though. The NC is so much better.
While the Tegra2 destroys the NC's 530, it wasn't meant for that. I'd wait for the LG G-Slate pricing, etc. The XOOM is already a fail IMO due it's pricing, data plans and crippled wifi (until someone here at XDA remedies that). If either Tablet were to appear in a WiFi only capacity that'd be sweet too.
cwininger said:
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me reading in portrait mode on gtablet was horrible.Was too long and the horrible viewing angles made it impossible to get proper screen without weird viewing artifacts.....returned it and got the nook.
For flash though, the gtablet ran as well as my laptop
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to disagree with this. Hardware is hardware, but unless there is software and a medium for the user to take advantage of the hardware it is as good as a piece of poop in your hands.
Perhaps, with better software, the GTab is a great option, but the screen is still lacking, big time.
For $249 you can NOT do better than the Nook Color. And with the 1.1gHz OC, it flies! As far as a gaming it runs everything I throw at it currently. That being said I still game more on my iPhone and iPad. Not because of the hardware but because of the software selection.
When we start seeing games like "Infinity Blade" on Android ... then I will sell my Apple products, until then I keep both.
The screen and portability won me over
I currently own an ipad and nook and did own a gtab. The screen on the gtab was what killed it for me. It was blazing fast, but get a tiny bit off center and the colors go straight to hell, a little further off center and it becomes unusable. The ipad and nook have amazing screens. I prefer the nook though for its hackability and size. Both the ipad and gtab are a bit heavy and awkward to hold for any length of time. For the money, you really can't do better than the nook right now.
OP: Just curious what you ended up doing, as I'm in a similar situation.
I want an android tablet but I'm tired of waiting for the "really good" tablets to come out. I would like to get something in the mean time until my ideal tablet is released sometime in the future.
I feel like the G tab could last me longer because it has Tegra 2 and a 10 in. screen, but the screen isn't great and is missing gps. The NC has a great screen but older slower processor and the screen is smaller. I plan on using a tablet in a variety of ways. Probably about an equal amount of reading, browsing, gaming and video watching. Another reason the NC is tempting is because it's cheaper and I'm not sure spending more on the G Tablet is necessary if I'm just going to upgrade again in the near future.
Anybody have insight on which one has better battery life?
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I own both. If I were constrained to use only one, it would be the Gtablet. Here are the reasons:
1. Froyo is not stable on the NC. Some ROMs are okay but it's not completely stable.
2. The wifi is buggy. If you haven't encountered problems yet it's because you haven't been to a site with incompatible wifi routers. When I travel, I can't afford to have a device that won't allow me to connect. Do a search and you will see all the wifi problems. Here's one recently: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=986133
3. NC is stock eclair while Gtablet is stock froyo. Makes a big difference when it comes from the manufacturer. I know there are smart XDA guys/gals hacking at making froyo work on the NC. I doubt BN will have an update to Froyo - there's no business reason for them to do it.
4. Gtablet has a microphone and camera plus bluetooth.
5. If honeycomb (and I mean if) comes to NC and Gtab, the Gtab will have it in performance.
Good points. What is the most popular rom on the Nook Color?
I think froyo may be the most popular mainly because its safe. I for one love honeycomb. Even with all its little quirks and stuff but the pros far outweigh the cons to me
Sent from one of those missing Droids
Hey there boys and girls. As most of us, im getting tax return money pretty soon, and im of course thinking of the many way to spend it. Im considering getting the nook and putting Honeycomb on it. And im wondering, for those of you that have been using it, how well does it work, and is it worth it... or should i just get me somthing like the Galaxy Tab and wait for 3.0 there.
I had it installed on mine for about a day, then I went back to Froyo. Even though there has been great progress made by awesome devs in porting it to the nook, it remains very buggy.
The code is driverless and drunk.
I won't go into all the little ones, but a big bug was that it hosed my boot partition. Had to revert back to Eclaire before putting Froyo back on.
Bottom line:
A rooted stock eclaire nook color is damn close to a streamlined tablet. It's just missing Flash, also some performance issues.
Nookie Froyo is day by day closer to being the daily driver OS.
HoneyComb is a ways away from being reliable/usable
Hi everyone. First post here, and I think I may get some 'trolling' flack for what I'm about to say, but I gotta say it anyway: If you're considering buying a Nook Color, I would seriously reconsider and look at an Archos 70IT instead.
I actually own both of these devices, and I have to say that the Archos is hands down the better device. It runs Froyo out of the box, and has amazing media playback support. Basically, there ain't nuthin' the the NC can do that the Archos 70 can't do better and faster.
Now, the major complaint with the Archos is shoddy build quality (at least in comparison to the NC), and there's no doubt that that's absolutely true. But I have to say that contrary to what you might think, this is actually an advantage. Yep, an advantage, and here's why: It's waaay lighter. I use my tablet mostly for reading, both books and internet, and I do a lot of that reading either lying on the couch or in bed. And I do it with one hand. Because of the lightness of the A70, I can hold it up for pretty much as long as if I were holding a paper novel, but I cannot say the same for the NC. It is a veritable brick in comparison. With the NC, I constantly have to adjust it in my hand, or change hands altogether, to avoid cramping.
I pretty much only use the NC for amusing myself with custom firmwares (Honeycomb was fun, but as others report, very buggy). When it comes time to actually pick up a tablet for 'real' use, it's the A70 every time.
It's just too bad the A70 isn't getting anywhere near the love that the NC is (i.e. Honeycomb), but I suppose it's no matter anyway because using a different firmware destroys the A70's superb, factory-supplied multi-media experience.
My 2p. Flame away.
I do not own an Archos, but I tend to agree with the last post. If you want a tablet, buy a tablet.
If you want an e-reader, buy the Nook as it can function as both a tablet and a reader.
The Nook lacks several features that most tablets have.
The Nook is a fantastic and capable device, but it is always best to buy something for its native purpose.
@spikey911: But the Archos also works as an e-reader, and for the reason I stated above (lightness), does it better than the NC. I have 3 reader apps installed: Kindle, Nook, and Aldiko, and they all work great.
Another point about the A70 is that contrary to reason, the plastic body is stickier than the spongy rubber coating applied to the back of the NC, and thus it doesn't have a tendency to slip out of my grasp when holding it with one hand. Go figure, but it's true.
Oh ya, and when I wanna watch a movie in bed, I just swing out the A70's kickstand and plunk it down...no need to hold it up. It's a thing of beauty.
I would get the Nook...cheaper and works great!
Slashdot123 said:
I would get the Nook...cheaper and works great!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But not as comfortable to use for reading, has horrible video playback support, and lower CPU speed (without OC). It's cheaper for a reason.
Gotta make sure the OP makes the right decision. Decide what you want to use it for, and if the answer is:
1) as an Android tablet with full Market support
2) as a versatile e-reader
3) as a multi-media device
4) under $300
Then the A70 wins hands down.
My final words. Good luck, Oskiee.
I just got a Nook Color this week and currently have it set up to dual-boot Honeycomb or the stock OS (for video playback). So far I'm pretty happy with it, and it's definitely a very hacking-friendly platform. Honeycomb works surprisingly well and looks slick. It has known issues, but works fine for many essential applications such as the browser, Google Reader, and Fruit Ninja.
According to the Engadget review (engadget.com /2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/ - remove the space, I'm not permitted to make a link) the Archos 70 has a very glossy screen with poor viewing angles and questionable build quality - I haven't seen it myself. The NC screen is excellent and it feels very solid.
Overall, I'd recommend the Nook Color if you enjoy OS hacking and are willing to put up with some glitches, or if you're satisfied with its out-of-the-box functionality (but then you'd probably not be reading this forum). If that's not what you're looking for, you'd probably be happier with one of the alternatives, but you'll have to make compromises either way in this price range.
imacmill said:
Hi everyone. First post here, and I think I may get some 'trolling' flack for what I'm about to say, but I gotta say it anyway: If you're considering buying a Nook Color, I would seriously reconsider and look at an Archos 70IT instead.
I actually own both of these devices, and I have to say that the Archos is hands down the better device. It runs Froyo out of the box, and has amazing media playback support. Basically, there ain't nuthin' the the NC can do that the Archos 70 can't do better and faster.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lower resolution destroys ever wanting one of them for me. NookColor wins in my opinion because of that.
Also, the nook color weighs less than 1/10th a pound more. Actually im reading conflicting results, so im not really sure on the weight difference
MattJ951 said:
Lower resolution destroys ever wanting one of them for me. NookColor wins in my opinion because of that.
Also, the nook color weighs less than 1/10th a pound more. Actually im reading conflicting results, so im not really sure on the weight difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Granted, the NC has higher rez, but they're pretty close, and in practical terms, the difference is fairly meaningless. How will you make use of that minor rez difference? For video, with software decoding? In that case, the NC's slower CPU will have to push more pixels...not good. Don't get me wrong. I'd love for the A70 to have the NC's screen, but for my money, the difference is not worth worrying about.
As for weight...since I own both, I'm in a position to say, without citing pound values, the A70 is tangibly lighter than the Nook. Enough so to make one-handed reading comfortable on the A70, but untenable on the NC. Of course this is completely dependant on a person'S hand strength, and while i don't claim to have kung fu grip hands, I'm no weakling either. Your mileage will vary.
I firmly believe that if someone was given the opportunity to use each device for 24 hours, the majority would choose the A70. Since this is not an option for most, they will likely fall victim to the A70's 'questionable build quality, crummy screen' argument (neither of which are accurate), and buy the NC.
imacmill said:
But not as comfortable to use for reading, has horrible video playback support, and lower CPU speed (without OC). It's cheaper for a reason.
Gotta make sure the OP makes the right decision. Decide what you want to use it for, and if the answer is:
1) as an Android tablet with full Market support
2) as a versatile e-reader
3) as a multi-media device
4) under $300
Then the A70 wins hands down.
My final words. Good luck, Oskiee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Except that the A70 doesn't have the market any more than the Nook Color does. And it's not exactly a tablet for gaming, if that's important to anyone. It does have bluetooth at least.
I will chime in on what swayed me to the Nook.
I look at the what ifs as well as the daily uses. If something goes bad with my Nook, I have a 3 physical BN stores within 25 minutes I can return the nook to. On the very unlikely chance that I have a bricked nook, that does me no good. But I could possible feign ignorance and return it anyway.
With Archos...they have a notoriously horrible track record for warranty work. That is the main reason I went with the nook. I have read over and over again horror stories of working with post sale issues on the Archos line...now take that with a grain of salt because I have not had personal experience...just what I read at other places.
All that said...I love my nook and it does 98% of what I want it to do. The lack is the flash. As for video...I have no issues. I already had many pre converted movies I could plop on it and view. As for a kickstand...there are so many cheap or free things you can do for a stand.
On final thing to consider is outputs...the nook doesnt have them...unless you just want 3.5mm headphone jack. The Archos does.
Good Luck
I've read many many many threads and web articles about this topic but I can't seem to find one that is really close to today's date (September 3, 2011) I'm sure everyone has had enough of these threads already but I really could use the advice and help but I don't have any friends with the knowledge to call on.
Here is my problem... I bought a Nook Color about a week ago without doing nearly as much research as I should have (and normally do). I haven't rooted it yet but I'm still happy with my NC, which I've just been using to read and browse the web now and then. Today as I was looking at best buy's website and I came across the Samsung Galaxy Tab for only $30 more than what I paid for the NC... so that leaves me with the options of keeping my NC and rooting it or returning it and getting the Galaxy Tab.
I've never had a tablet before and this is the first real spend on myself in a really long time, so I want to make sure I make the right decision and don't regret it once it's too late. I'm looking for like an all around good e-reader/tablet but not looking to spend a whole lot of money on it, and at the time the NC looked like I wouldn't even have a doubt in my mind, until today. The cameras and gps and other random things the Galaxy Tab can do aren't really my main concerns but it sure factors into the whole picture. I'm thinking I'm ready to take that step into either starting the rooting today or getting the tab and just start playing around with it.
I guess what I'm looking for in an answer would be should I keep my NC and start going about the rooting process or should I just return it and get the tab and basically be good to go right out of the box?
That being said, I also saw that the next NC could be coming out really soon. But that doesn't really matter too much to me as I'm looking for of a more "right now" than a "near future" haha.
Thanks!!!
Edits - Really, any help/opinions/suggestions are greatly appreciated. And I guess another of my concerns and reasons for making this new thread was to maybe get insight about this topic in the "now" with the recent release of the 1.3 update and next nook color coming out "soon."
It all comes down to what you plan to do with it, knowing that the more you learn about it, and play with it, that could change.
We have 3 Nook Colors and love them. The price, the ease of use, the great screen, are all benefits of the NC. I am not happy with the speaker or the sound from the NC, so headphones are a must. We don't have any Galaxy Tabs so I can't really tell you about them.
We use the NCs primarily as eReaders, with a few apps/games for the kids. They are (or were until BN pushed the 1.3 update) rooted so that takes a little bit of set up and maintenance time. We don't need the the cameras or the gps so we really don't miss that. We love the original NC eReader app (not the market one) so for us, I think that puts the NC over the Galaxy Tab.
I am still in search of a good music/video player, and overall, while the NC does what we need, my wife still has iPad envy so we will probably be getting an iPad 2 in the near future.
Hope this helps.
I agree with madman.
I like my NC (just got it a few days ago) and love it so far.
Somehow, I doubt the Galaxy Tab would measure up now. It seems like it would be a bit bulkier, maybe heavier... and it doesn't seem like it bring much to the party... the hardware may be a little better though (ram/cpu). The NC doesn't have any outputs though to hook up to a TV or anything like that... For some reason I want to say that the Galaxy Tab does have some sort of hdmi out, I could be mistaken though.
But, it's a matter of opinion I guess.
@madman390:
Try MoboPlayer I use it for AVI files that I stream over the network for my daughter. It works great, and has a library poster layout feel to it. Though, it won't load your files unless you enable the "software decoding" for them. You can set it in the options though, to always use it.
Yoinx said:
I agree with madman.
I like my NC (just got it a few days ago) and love it so far.
Somehow, I doubt the Galaxy Tab would measure up now. It seems like it would be a bit bulkier, maybe heavier... and it doesn't seem like it bring much to the party... the hardware may be a little better though (ram/cpu). The NC doesn't have any outputs though to hook up to a TV or anything like that... For some reason I want to say that the Galaxy Tab does have some sort of hdmi out, I could be mistaken though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just have to correct some misstatements here. I have a rooted CM7 Nook color and a stock Galaxy Tab. The NC is great, and very functional as a low cost, no frills, easily customized tablet with a nice screen.But where it lacks the Tab undeniably shines. The Tab is lighter, smaller, and has a wonderful Gorilla glass screen. The cameras and video capabilities are sharp and convenient. And with HDMI output, I'm able to share the contents of my Tab on a larger screen easily. And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
For only $30 more, the bang-for-the-buck in me outshouts the geek in me and says the Galaxy Tab wins out.
cymoze said:
I just have to correct some misstatements here. I have a rooted CM7 Nook color and a stock Galaxy Tab. The NC is great, and very functional as a low cost, no frills, easily customized tablet with a nice screen.But where it lacks the Tab undeniably shines. The Tab is lighter, smaller, and has a wonderful Gorilla glass screen. The cameras and video capabilities are sharp and convenient. And with HDMI output, I'm able to share the contents of my Tab on a larger screen easily. And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
For only $30 more, the bang-for-the-buck in me outshouts the geek in me and says the Galaxy Tab wins out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said... ionly have the nook color. I wasn't trying to spread misinformation... just giving my speculative opinion. Like I said.. the HDMI would be worth it. And the NC speaker suck without nook tools boosting sac.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Im with Cymoze. I own em both and the Gorilla Glass and the "feel" of the Galaxy Tab make it my go to device. The added hardware and the drop in price make it even more appealing.
I will say this. Flashing the tab with better then stock firmware is a bit more troublesome although not impossible. The Nook Color cant be fubar`d and that appeals to alot of folks.
Not to mention making phonecalls on the tab just friggin ROCKS.
If your able to follow instructions buy the tab.
For those who have used them side-by-side, what do you think about the reading experience on the Samsung? Is it radically different or worse than the NC (I'm just talking screens here, really--I mostly read in Aldiko, sometimes Kindle)? I'm hoping and assuming the Samsung has better audio...am I right?
I have a line on a GSM Galaxy Tab 7" at a decent price, but I couldn't afford to keep both devices. Reading is a high priority, and I'm just a little concerned that if that experience suffers much, the Samsung won't feel like an upgrade.
ETA: I guess this answers one of my questions:
cymoze said:
And the speakers are much much so much better than those on the NC it is not even funny.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
assuming it also applies to the 3G model.
I dont hqve a problem reading on the tab. But i cant say i do it for extended periods of time.
Id do spend a lot of time on it vs. The nook color. I just dont like the feel of the nook and that bezel drives me crazy.
I don't own a Galaxy Tab (however I do own a Samsung Captivate). Just based on Samsung slowness to put out firmware updates, I think B&N wins in the customer support category. However I do wish the NC had HDMI (or usb) video out. Also the NC struggles with HD video (I'm running CM7 nightly 160 and haven't had luck with any video player with HD...also struggles with youtube HD). I think if you have the patience you can tweak the NC to perform just as fast as the galaxy.
I think for $30 I might go Tab. However, check Ebay or Buy.com....NC refurbs can be had for $160-$169 (I got one I swear it looks brand new...I think B&N is just dumping them to get ready for the NC2).
I bought a NC back in March I believe and I love it. Yes, the speaker sucks, the screen, while works okay, is a little unresponsive, but other than that I prefer it over the tab 7 WIFI! I stress this because I got the Galaxy tab 7 WIFI version for FREE and after using it only twice I got rid of it. If you're going to get the tab, the WiFi version is a NO GO! It lacks in every way compared to it's counterpart. It's slower, less ram, no HDMI out possibilities, bluetooth is locked down, and there is virtually no community support (you cannot use the GSM or cmda roms). Touchwiz SUCKS on any device and even more so on the bigger screen of the Tab.
If you don't care about the GPS, camera, etc. then the NOOK should be your choice. You can do so much more with it and, to me, it feels like a budget tablet should feel. The galaxy tab, to me, just felt like a childs toy.
I read on my nook color ALL the time using Aldiko and I love it. I didn't like the way the Tab 7 felt in my hands, it did feel bigger and more bulky. It was thicker by a lot, although not quite as tall due to the n button area on the nook.
Call it a bad experience, but I'd still rather have a nook than a galaxy tab 7 any day. I love samsung as a brand, but their tablets have not impressed me at all (although I do like my rooted gummycharged Droid Charge).
Another general warning about Samsung android devices....they lock down their bluetooth so that you can't use a lot of the things that you could on other devices like the PS3/wii controller, HID devices, etc. Some say they did it on purpose, others say it is just the way it happened. I hear HID is unlocked with the gsm/cdma galaxy tab 7 but I cannot confirm this.
Hi,
I thought I'd share my thoughts on the Galaxy Tab S 8.4 I got last week. It's the LTE model, but UK so still uses the Exynos processor.
Firstly, I've been an Android user for quite a while. Started with the second generation of phones, and got a tablet shortly after. Had a wide range of cheap and cheerful devices , on which I always installed custom roms before becoming settled on Nexus devices a few years ago, and been happy with stock - had a nexus 4 and both generations of nexus 7.
I currently have an LG G3 for my phone (which is great btw)
I tend to prefer a clean, close to stock android experience, and I have always steered away from Samsung - never fancied touchwiz, wasn't keen on the oversaturated and blue hued screens, plus I like being different!. But based on the reviews, and after a quick play in the shop I took the plunge with the Tab S.
Firstly - form factor. I toyed with getting the bigger one, would have been better for work stuff, and watching tv/films at home, but I also use it a lot as an ereader. So the 8.4" form factor was best for me. I have big enough hands to comfortably hold it one handed on the train etc, and it is nice and light. Still sometimes wish I had got the bigger one though.
Interface - I actually like Touchwiz now.... I've not experienced too much lag, and I like the extra bells and whistles. The Notification bar is a little messy, but also has extra functionality so I will let it off (putting the IR blaster remote in there is a great idea) . The quick settings panel on the 2 finger scroll is a little cluttered, but functional too. I have replaced the launcher - I've used Apex for years and have got too used to the control it offer. Lets me get rid of the useless magazine ux too. Main thing about Apex is that it lets me use a much finer grid on the homescreens - I use widgets a lot, and like a lot more control over size and placement.
Screen - It's great. I'd like the whites to be a bit crisper, but the rest of the plusses make up for it. I actually like the active display mode - I keep trying it on basic, based upon other reviews and display tests, but keep turning it back. I like the wow factor. Maybe I will tire of it eventually and want something a bit more reserved, but for now I love it. Even on the active/AMOLED Cinema mode it is nowhere near as garish as early Galaxy displays.
If you want to show off the device, play someone the sample video that comes with the device. Obviously overtuned up to show off the screen but it is impressive.
Software - A lot of rubbish on the device obviously, but some is actually useful. The office viewers are handy, and the pdf viewer is a lot quicker than others I have tried, or using kindle which is very clunky.
Papergarden is actually quite impressive - it's the magazine experience I expected to get on a tablet (And annoyingly you can get more on an ipad...) - not sure how many magazines I will actually buy with my own money though.
Battery - It's ok, doesn't seem as good as my old nexus 7, but maybe I'm using it more, and probably cranking up the screen brightness too (And the 4g must use some too). I'll try it with some more reserved usage. Might try juicedefender on it too (which will probably help my data usage as well).
I also got a dud charger, which I will take back tomorrow - charging on a low power charger (supplied one is 2A) is pretty slow, but that's not the tablet's fault.
In conclusion - It's the best tablet I have had (Also the most expensive so you would expect it to be!). Performance is fine, the form factor is almost perfect for me, UI is good after some tweaking and the screen is great. Will post an update after I've been suing it for a month or two, see if I still feel the same.
Carl
interesting. very similar to me, coming from a N7 and using it a lot for media etc.
I was a very reluctant buyer, only the £50 play voucher pushing me over the edge as there were no other quality tablets out there to replace my nexus 7. I tried it out in john lewis and I was instantly impressed by the size and weight, not much different to the n7 but with the bigger screen.
so bought it, half expecting to just sell it in a year when something better came out. but the more I use it, the more I liked it. Switched out the launcher to nova and I was all set. I had no prior experience of amoled screens before, but as a big media watcher, I am now really glad I accidentally have one. I wouldnt bother so much on a phone, but on the tablet its perfect, I really notice the difference when using my partners regular tablet. I also went about downloading 2k youtube videos and putting them on the tablet and the quality was amazing, now of course its built into the app so even better!
The only lag I notice is sometimes on clicking the home button and I have had others tell me the tablet is bad as it does badly in benchmarks. which to me is crazy but its their call. the battery is not as good as the n7 but if you have the love the extra pixels, they draw more power. Luckily more than enough time for a good solid days usage but the n7 was better.
Active display mode?
I think the OP means "adaptive". The dynamic display mode that puts color and contrast into some kind of super overdrive. Eye candy in my opinion, but not for extended periods of time.
2k screen display consume alot of RAM and battery. Not redcommend for gaming
Seems good but some frustrations
Absolutely the main reason to buy this tablet is the screen. I don't think anything out there can touch it. My biggest issue is the SD card. I have a Patriot 64 GB microSD UHS-1 card and it just doesn't seem to work in this device at all. Tried formatting in Windows (ExFAT) - works great. Put it in my ASUS TF700 tablet - works great. Put it in the TAB S - mounted the card with no trouble but then when I try to write to the card (using the Myfiles app), it locks up. Sometimes it freezes solid and I can't get it to do anything until I pop the card out - then everything immediately starts working again. Obviously a card problem of some sort. So I tried another identical card I had for another tablet...same problem. Tried formatting in the tablet - it locks up. I left it for half an hour and came back - it was formatted but it didn't work at all. Tried a 16 GB FAT32 card - it works flawlessly. So...is it the card or is it the tablet...? Still working on this...
I'm not a fan of the Touchwiz interface but I'm adapting to it slowly. Removed most of the panels that were not useful and it's getting better. I'm really frustrated at how much storage is being used with crapware that I can't uninstall. Like WatchOn - I finally ran it to see what it was all about and there's a message that pops up saying that this service will no longer be in operation after December 31, 2014. Really? So I can't remove the app and I can't even use it now...that is NOT COOL! I've never had a tablet with less than 32 GB before (because the 32 GB version of the tab S seems to be a myth - in Canada anyway). There really needs to be a way to remove some of this stuff...especially since I can't get the SD card to work.
I mainly use a tablet for video - and that's where this really shines. Netflix, MKV files, streaming from my server, etc...works flawlessly! It looks amazing and that's why I bought it! I just wish I could get the storage thing figured out.
I really don't like the dedicated buttons for Home, Back and Recently Used Apps. Why they would reverse the buttons from the Android buttons, I really can't figure out. Often, when I'm in Netflix, I hold the tablet in landscape mode and my finger/thumb keeps hitting the Back button and then I have to reload the movie again...what a pain! I can't see the buttons in the dark either...don't like them! KitKat lets you run apps fullscreen so I don't get the dedicated buttons anymore!
The sound has been okay - probably on par with my Nexus 7 2013...but it distorts at full volume (subtly). Battery life is okay but not great - seems on par with the Nexus 7. The size is good - still fits in my inside jacket pocket like my Nexus 7 did - but has a much larger screen. My eyes aren't great these days so the web page text is fairly small but I'm getting by.
I see no issues with performance at all...not sure why people complain about lag - if there is any it's so subtle...it certainly doesn't affect the usage whatsoever.
I really don't like that you HAVE to use the Samsung charger and you HAVE to use the Samsung cable it came with...they're really acting like Apple in this way. I have 10' micro USB cables I use for all my other devices to charge and they've never had a problem...until I tried them on this tablet. So now I'm stuck with the 5' cable again and the single charger. Looking for options on eBay...
I need to find a case tomorrow...the Samsung book cover is on sale so I'll try it out.
Eventually, I'll get everything working! Still happy with the purchase (it was $50 off) but I'd like to get these little problems resolved!
I hear ya on the WatchOn thing. Waiting a week or two before I start learning to strip the bloatware out but right now I am okay with the stock ROM. Have disabled non-used items for now but as you said with only 16GB to work with I also want it as clean as possible
Will not lie, scared of voiding the warranty. Wishing I had bought the LTE version through Bell becaise through them you can buy insurance...
I picked up a 64GB card (AData) on sale for $30. Working with no issues. Possible the Patriot card is buggy? NCIX.com is a good place to shop
What's up with the USB charger and cable? They're standardised items, no? The whole idea with USB, or so I thought. One usb cable can't differ from another - that doesn't make any sense what so ever...!? Sure, the charger may vary in regard of ampere and volt, but why am one forced to use the supplied Samsung charger / cable?
No idea about the charger. I am using the OEM one for now but have always used a BB one for my S4. Strange
USB cables do vary. Some will only charge, and not carry data. Some will carry more current than others, and will therefore charge more quickly.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Free mobile app