I have a disabled relative who was interested in purchasing an Amazon Kindle Touch for £109 which would allow them to be able to easily read with one-handed operation. But, the Nexus 7 is only slightly more expensive and also has far greater uses. How good do you think the Nexus 7 will serve as an e-Reader for someone who can only use one hand?
Honestly the ui for the kindle is much more accessible.
Sent from my sprintercept using Tapatalk.
Brad387 said:
How good do you think the Nexus 7 will serve as an e-Reader for someone who can only use one hand?
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I would use a phone. Phones are designed for use with only one hand. 7 inch tablets pretty much require 2.
Bring him to a shop and have him try out a couple. Galaxy Note might even be (the largest) possibility.
thebobp said:
I would use a phone. Phones are designed for use with only one hand. 7 inch tablets pretty much require 2.
Bring him to a shop and have him try out a couple. Galaxy Note might even be (the largest) possibility.
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I already have a Galaxy Note, but frankly think the screen is going to be too small as their eyesight isn't fantastic. A 6" Kindle Touch or a 7" Nexus 7 are the two options. The Kindle has better e-Reading capabilities undoubtedly, but the Nexus 7 will still make a good e-Reading device and also has greater capabilities. Ease of use is also important though.
In my mind they are pretty different devices, I have a Kobo Touch (Same screen as the Kindle) that I read all my books on, eInk is much nicer for reading than LCD, unless there isn't a light source.
What kind of disability? Android has numerous accessibility options.
andyln3 said:
What kind of disability? Android has numerous accessibility options.
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Just impaired usage for left arm.
Logan_M said:
In my mind they are pretty different devices, I have a Kobo Touch (Same screen as the Kindle) that I read all my books on, eInk is much nicer for reading than LCD, unless there isn't a light source.
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Is it? I've never thought reading on an LCD to be uncomfortable, so how much better are these eInk screens?
My wife reads about 2 books a week on her galaxy tab so i wouldnt get discourage on reading books on a lcd. Honestly go with the nexus cause for the most part you can tailor the ui to your needs.
I agree. There's also a program called Simple Gestures by Good Mood Droid which allows you to navigate through swipes and pinches, etc. And thats just one option. Nexus 7 all the way.
You really can't choose for your relative, based on what you perceive his problems to be.
Nothing is as good as having him try a couple. Either bring him to them or them to him...
Good luck with it! My current reader is a Sony EInk, which seems like it would be fine one-handed. But then I like a back-lit screen for reading in bed, so I am getting a Nexus 7.
I would suggest the Nexus 7 still and perhaps you can setup the home screen for the person with Desktop Visualizer so there are some bigger buttons and selections (ie the e-reader and play store etc etc). That way it could be easier to navigate to different apps and what not.
Brad387 said:
I already have a Galaxy Note, but frankly think the screen is going to be too small as their eyesight isn't fantastic.
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Enabling large fonts not big enough?
If it's their arm, I think weight would be a big factor (not being able to swap arms or use both to hold), so I guess if you're getting one, could you let them trial it for a day?
Brad387 said:
Is it? I've never thought reading on an LCD to be uncomfortable, so how much better are these eInk screens?
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Click to collapse
The eInk screens are completely different than LCD screens you find on Android devices.
Most of them have no backlights (which can be a good or a bad thing), like old school GameBoy
But this makes them fantastic for reading outdoors if you ever expect your relative likes to read out doors.
LCD's on the other hand are often difficult to read in the bright sun (say if you went to the beach and wanted to read it).
The eInk devices also have faaaaaaaaar longer battery life. Like we're talking days and days (with like a month of standby) of battery life vs hours on a LCD tablet.
They are very different devices, one is of course designed exclusively for reading, they are meant to be more like real books, that's what the eInk screen is supposed to be like, like reading off a page.
Also without the backlight there is generally less strain on the eyes for really long reading sessions.
eInk has no color though, it's just pure black and white (old school GameBoy again)
The eInk devices are also generally lighter weight and more "toss aroundable".
It really is apples and oranges. See if you can find some YouTube vids to give you demo's of eInk screens. They're quite nice for what they're made for, but no good for anything else. Whereas the LCD screens on Android devices are of course far more versatile.
So... it really depends if you want them to be able to do more than just read. If they want to browse the web in full color, obviously the Android devices will be more suitable. The high screen res on the Nexus also makes it a bit easier on the eyes for reading on in terms of pixel strain (not LCD backlight strain).
Lastly, and this is completely dependent on the person and perhaps a weird thing to add in here at the end but since LCD's have backlights and the eInk's don't, if they read right before they go to bed, stareing into an LCD screen could affect one's quality of sleep (or ability to fall asleep immediately after reading). I know this is sometimes an issue for me and is the only reason I mention it.
More on EInk:
I can only speak for my Sony, but battery life is not that great.
It runs down in about a week, whether I am using it or not.
Normally you don't really turn it off - just the screen goes blank.
That gives you sort of an instant-on when you get back to it.
In my case though, it usually means the battery is empty when I want to use it.
EInk is for a static display - no animation of any type. Even a changing clock is a no-no. The entire screen is redrawn on any change.
I would not read mine in full sun in any case - the screen seems to fade out.
I frankly can't picture anyone reading at the beach, in the full sun...
Good device for its intended use. I like mine.
Everyone here is going to tell you to go for the Nexus 7 (which I'm buying, also) but for someone who is only able to use one hand, an e-ink device such as the Kindle or the (much better, in my opinion) Nook with GlowLight are better options. They're smaller, lighter, and much better to read on.
I own a Nook with Glowlight and the only time that you would need to use two hands for it would be when you're making selections on the screen. The person we're speaking of could, of course, set it on his lap when making these selections. Otherwise, if you're reading, it is very easy to use the physical buttons or tap the side of the touchscreen in order to change pages while holding it at the same time. Doing the same thing on the Nexus would be a little more difficult and the UI would be much more complicated for someone who uses only one hand.
Of course, the Nexus 7 is a much better device and easily does more, but if you're buying it for this person to just read on, buy an e-ink device. It feels like reading an actual book. People who read on LCD screens will say that reading on them is fine, but you really don't realize how much better it is to read on an e-ink device until you own one.
So, my recommended device is the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight. It's better than any e-ink device at the moment and you can easily read in the dark or in low light areas. I own one, and it was worth every penny. Plus, I just think that Nook devices are altogether better than Kindle devices. They seem to be built better, plus they are more accessible with MicroSD support which allows a multitude of options when purchasing books online.
Hope I was of some help!
Related
So the others day I made the plunge from an ipad to the Nook Color. So far im pretty impressed, being the huge gadget junkie that I am. With that being said of course I have a few complaints.
1. Android tablets lack polish. Things on the ipad that just worked seem to require solutions on the nook. I do understand that I'm using a hacked device so i take that into consideration but playing decent quality youtube should be a know brainer
2. The speaker is bad. I know this is intended to be an ebook reader but my kindle is louder, no excuse.
On to the stuff I love.
1. 7" is the perfect size for a tablet, apple should take note.
2. The keyboard is amazing and it will allow you to add words to the built in dictionary. Apple clearly dropped the ball on this.
3. The screen is great, nice and crisp. It's been a joy to read on.
4. The potential, I've grown sick of waiting on apple to add simple features. Android is a blessing. I'm looking forward to new roms and froyo in the near future.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App
I agree the 7" is perfect size for a tab. Walkin around with a 10" tab looks retarded.
Missing #5 You saved a boatload of money by choosing Geico (NC)
I have a 10 inch iPad and a 4 inch Galaxy S Vibrant phone. And now a 7 inch Nook Color that fills the gap inbetween.
My list of issues with the Nook.
1. Slower.
Browsing the web, market place, and some other apps feels much slower on the NC than the iPad, even slower than my Vibrant. This is rooted with Dolphin HD. It's acceptable, but wish it could be quicker. And I expect Android 2.2 will help alot (I'm using a custom Android 2.2 ROM on my Vibrant).
2. Screen is tacky.
The screen feels rough or tacky. It's not very smooth at all. Makes pinching and scrolling a little more awkward than it should be. Wish it was smoother, I suppose it will get a little smoother over time. But I don't think it'll ever feel as smooth as the iPad or Vibrant did out of the box. I guess this is some coating on the phone to make reading easier? I might have to try out a screen shield to see if they can offer a smoother finger gliding experience.
3. Battery life.
Battery life is very poor compared to the iPad (probably average for an Android device). With the iPad I never even think about the battery, I always have plenty. But with my Android phone and NookColor, battery is a constant worry and I need to keep the charger on hand.
This items are both good and bad at the same time.
1. Heavy/Sturdy.
It's heavier than I expected. I read it's heavier than the Galaxy Tab and Archos 70. However it also has a very solid sturdy feeling.
2. Ugly/Comfortable.
The bevel is ugly, mostly because of that hideous loop at the bottom. Also that loop makes accessing the microSD slot more difficult than it should be. Also not a fan of the rounded raised bevel around the screen. However the rounded edges and the rubber back do make it comfortable to hold.
What I like about the Nook over the iPad.
1. It's Android.
I'm not an Apple fan. I've really tried my best to avoid buying any Apple products because I don't like the walled garden, locked down, controlling nature of Apple products. Having an Android tablet means I have much greater freedom to what I want with the OS and apps. I imagine there will be some nice custom ROMs I'll be able to install on the Nook some day that will improve the speed issues I have now and add a lot more features.
2. Screen looks great.
While I don't like the feel of the screen, I do love how it looks. It's definitely not better than the iPad, however it's one of the best on an Android tablet. I imagine only the Galaxy Tab equals or betters it. Looks good from any angle.
3. Price.
I think the iPad is a very quality piece of hardware with very polished software and certainly worth the $500 I spent. But the Nook Color is probably even more impressive for what you get at half the price.
Having owned an ipad until last week and currently own two android devices (captivate and nookcolor)
Here are my observations
-Book apps are not that far from each other but the children books score a big thumbs up for nookcolor (not really important for me since i don't have any kids)
-Magazine apps on ipad are much better laid out and more fluid than magazines on nookcolor (ie. car and driver). Also it's currently free on ipad whereas nookcolor requires subscription
-In general, better selection of apps for ipad than nook (nook doesn't have apps and lack of scalable andoird apps for big screens really shows). Ipad has been out for a while and hopefully with the numerous tablet sized android devices flooding the market will rectify this issue
Here is one thing that nookcolor really outshines ipad.
multitasking, multitasking, multitasking
When the apps are parked in the task manager, most apps will restart when you try to access them again. I've also experienced issues with resource management on ipad trying to open PDF documents (1~2MBs in size) even when i had less than five app running (or inactively running) in task manager.
Overall i'm enjoying the form factor of nookcolor for everyday usage and hope that 2.2/2.3 release will bring some more performance to the device. Device isn't slow by any mean and nook ui may deceive consumers as being sluggish but rooted and running adw for launcher makes the device fly.
Okay so playing video kind of sucks and the youtube app doesn't play hd. Just a thought
Sent from my nook color using XDA App
As far as the screen goes, it is better than the ipad for viewing. From my understanding there are 3 layers to the screen to give it good viewing angles and better viewing for reading. The resolution is also great, similar to ipad but on a smaller screen and better pixel density. Better than the Galaxy Tab resolution.
I have a matte screen protector on mine that I purchased from ebay and it makes the screen really smooth and not the sticky feel you get from stock screen. Although, I heard that it does smooth out over time.
Multitasking is great on the NC compared to Ipad and probably due to the 512 vs 256 ram on the memory. The ipad is slicker looking but you also pay more. Speed wise, all we need is a custom kernel and I am sure we can get this thing 1 or 1.2ghz. And the custom ROM with optimization will make this a lot more fluid.
I love the portability with 7" screen and it is heavier than Galaxy tab but feels sturdier.
wendellc said:
The resolution is also great, similar to ipad but on a smaller screen and better pixel density. Better than the Galaxy Tab resolution.
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Click to collapse
The NOOK and the Galaxy Tab has the same screen resolution, I have both if them. However the Tab seems to scale its interface making every app slightly larger, making them have less usable space. I prefere the NOOKs unscaled interface.
Sent from my NOOK Color using XDA App
Tacky Screen
For those complaining about the screen being tacky, I noticed that myself initially (compared to my Droid X). However, it now no longer seems tacky, so either my fingers have worn off from playing with it LOL, or it comes with some sort of initial coating that wears off with use.
jaydon34 said:
So the others day I made the plunge from an ipad to the Nook Color. So far im pretty impressed, being the huge gadget junkie that I am. With that being said of course I have a few complaints.
1. Android tablets lack polish. Things on the ipad that just worked seem to require solutions on the nook. I do understand that I'm using a hacked device so i take that into consideration but playing decent quality youtube should be a know brainer
2. The speaker is bad. I know this is intended to be an ebook reader but my kindle is louder, no excuse.
On to the stuff I love.
1. 7" is the perfect size for a tablet, apple should take note.
2. The keyboard is amazing and it will allow you to add words to the built in dictionary. Apple clearly dropped the ball on this.
3. The screen is great, nice and crisp. It's been a joy to read on.
4. The potential, I've grown sick of waiting on apple to add simple features. Android is a blessing. I'm looking forward to new roms and froyo in the near future.
Sent from my Nook Color using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Watch the 7" comment, which I totally agree with, as you'll have 10" mavens swoop in claiming that 10" is better for video(yeah right), and another smaller subset claiming that 10" is better for reading some technical documents. I've never had a problem with video watching on 7" nor with tech doc reading on a 7".
YouTube: best experience that I've had with video playback on Android devices so far has been with the lowly Augen GT78 sporting a Telechips TCC8902 ARM11 CPU which apparently had an AWESOMELY superior hw video codec support to just about ANY other ARM SoC available, although Tegra 2 doesn't seem to be doing so badly, yet could apparently, use some further driver updates to better support it's video playback capabilities.
Beyond that, yep basic Android UI is pretty "rough" for Tablets, and is why I presume that many manufacturers attempt to slap on a custom UI of some sort although they haven't had much luck so far(I'm looking at you TapnCrap) beyond specialized book reader front ends, e.g. Nook Color, Pandigital Novel, and Cruz Reader.
All this said I still haven't gotten around to picking up a NC yet, as I'm still kind of waiting to see what pops up next year, but may break down next week and just buy one as the gTab(10") is a bit much for comfortable portability and use as a reader... plus the NC has a WAY better screen from what I could tell playing around with a demo unit at B&N the other week...
cutterjohn said:
Watch the 7" comment, which I totally agree with, as you'll have 10" mavens swoop in claiming that 10" is better for video(yeah right), and another smaller subset claiming that 10" is better for reading some technical documents. I've never had a problem with video watching on 7" nor with tech doc reading on a 7".
YouTube: best experience that I've had with video playback on Android devices so far has been with the lowly Augen GT78 sporting a Telechips TCC8902 ARM11 CPU which apparently had an AWESOMELY superior hw video codec support to just about ANY other ARM SoC available, although Tegra 2 doesn't seem to be doing so badly, yet could apparently, use some further driver updates to better support it's video playback capabilities.
Beyond that, yep basic Android UI is pretty "rough" for Tablets, and is why I presume that many manufacturers attempt to slap on a custom UI of some sort although they haven't had much luck so far(I'm looking at you TapnCrap) beyond specialized book reader front ends, e.g. Nook Color, Pandigital Novel, and Cruz Reader.
All this said I still haven't gotten around to picking up a NC yet, as I'm still kind of waiting to see what pops up next year, but may break down next week and just buy one as the gTab(10") is a bit much for comfortable portability and use as a reader... plus the NC has a WAY better screen from what I could tell playing around with a demo unit at B&N the other week...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Other thing to note about ipad is the aspect ratio
I'm so used to seeing widescreen ratio on both tv and pc that when i was watching hulu on ipad, it was somewhat akward
I have to agree with many points of this discussion. I went from an ipad to a rooted NC and am very happy.
1. Love the size, Ive always felt the ipad was too big. I sure ipad 2 will be smaller.
2. I connect alot easier to public wifi, especially when there is a sign in screen. My ipad always had trouble with those.
3. Screen is nice, but sometimes a little too sensitive I think. Opens apps when scrolling through them for example.
4. Love using Google services, Google Talk, Gmail, and live wallpaper. And get latest Google Maps and navigation. Apple always tried to lock them out.
My wishes.
1. Froyo to enable beach live wallpaper. Coming soon, I hope...
2. Microphone. Can one be added on via 3.5mm jack? Would love to make sip calls, but no dice so far.
3. Static wifi, that doesnt sleep. Or at least the option to turn it on and off.
Benny1234 said:
3. Static wifi, that doesnt sleep. Or at least the option to turn it on and off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wvcachi said:
1. How do I keep wifi from turning off when the screen goes to sleep?
- download Spare Parts from the market and set wifi sleep policy to never.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope that helps.
i agree with most observations comparing an iPad to NC.
I have both right now, and I definitely think when compared to iOS Android lacks polish and is behind in terms of apps.
10 characters
For the most part the apps are almost the same for what I do. Apple just really has a nice way of dummy proofing products with the exception of flash everything works right out the box.
Sent from my Nook Color
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
ColoradoPhoney said:
How are you planning on using it?
I went with the Nook because I like the form factor, it has a great screen, and more than enough power for what I want it for (e-reader, browser, portable multi-media, simple games, etc). Lacking a mic port and decent sound are the only two real negatives, but headphones do sound quite good.
I don't yet consider tablets to be replacements for PC's or Laptops so far as doing any heavy lifting, but the NC can probably handle the majority of business and entertainment needs for most people (minus phone features, which *may* be partially remedied is Blutooth support is worled out by the awesome XDA people working on custom ROM builds...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good question, and probably the main factor people will use to decide between the two.
for me, i originally liked the idea of the nook because i've wanted an ereader for awhile, and plan on using it to read magazines, books etc pretty often. but i also want to use it as a multimedia device- streaming video/movies etc. i like the idea of gaming on a device that is larger than my phone. i have lots of fun playing games on my droid x (my two faves are gun bros and dungeon defenders) and the potential for using a tablet device as a killer gaming console seems to be limitless. the G tablet seems to fit the multimedia/gaming niche better, but i think it will be inferior for e-reading because of the screen. i guess my question is: does the superior screen/e-reading capability of the nook (and lower price) outweigh the untapped hardware potential and video/gaming prowess of the G tablet?
I was shopping G-Tablet and Nook as well. In the end I wanted a smaller form factor that can be easily held for a period of time for reading. I'm not a big gamer so Nook is my choice.
I think you would miss Nook's screen if you pick the G-tablet! The IPS screen is just awesome.
Did you look at Tmobile G-Slate as well?
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Understandable... That's exactly what i did lol. Also have the Dell streak 7 heh.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I'm coming off the G Tablet and still waiting for my Nook Color to come in, but I'll chime in with why I returned the Viewsonic.
Ultimately, it came down to cost and quality. There is a lot of hardware under the hood of the G Tablet, but for the $400 I paid, I regretted not just getting an iPad. It was really a build quality thing for me. I was willing to look past the horrendous viewing angles and the weird 3D effect in portrait mode, but I started getting some screen rippling, and the unit would kind of "creak" as if cheaply constructed. The rippling was so small that it didn't bother me, but it sure made me paranoid, because it showed up after just a week.
I will try to post after I've rooted my Nook and played with it a little while to give a comparison, but I'm pretty confident the screen is going to blow away the G Tablet. Probably build quality, too. I don't want it to come off as me hating on the G Tablet, because I really wanted to love it (it was a sweet cbr reader), but I couldn't risk having the thing crap out on me once the warranty ran out. For the money, if the NC dies after a year, I won't feel as duped out of my money and will still be able to replace it with whatever the new thing is.
I should also comment that I'll probably buy an iPad 2 later in the year so I have a big tablet for comics, movies and games and a smaller tablet for e-reading and light multimedia use. Because I do miss my G tablet for the multimedia uses.
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen. Dell streak 7 has a crappy 800x480 resolution and also bad viewing angles.
I returned the g tablet because of the screen and weight. I could have looked past the weight or delt with it but the screen angles were so bad it was a chore to use. anything beyond black text on white was almost impossible to see unless directly in front of your eyes. I really wanted it to work too...
now that I picked up a nc and running honeycomb I'm glad I made this choice. I am also really liking the size and portability of the nc. for $250 I just dont see how you could go wrong
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
ta2025 said:
The Quadrant benchmark for the Xoom is 1826. With Honeycomb and 1.1GHz overclocked kernel, I just got 1728 running the same benchmark on the Nook Color, so i'm not sure I'd call that "shredded"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
quadrant isn't an appropriate benchmark to use when comparing these two devices. besides, when apps start coming out that take full advantage of the tegra 2 it won't even be a discussion. that's not even taking into consideration what the dev's around here will be able to get out of the xoom.
Mikroft said:
Side by side the NC screen destroys the gtabs mediocre screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Having owned one for a week, I'd say calling the screen mediocre is waaaaay too nice though. The NC is so much better.
While the Tegra2 destroys the NC's 530, it wasn't meant for that. I'd wait for the LG G-Slate pricing, etc. The XOOM is already a fail IMO due it's pricing, data plans and crippled wifi (until someone here at XDA remedies that). If either Tablet were to appear in a WiFi only capacity that'd be sweet too.
cwininger said:
uggh... this sucks. i feel like i'm right in the middle of these two categories. maybe i should buy both and see which i like better...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me reading in portrait mode on gtablet was horrible.Was too long and the horrible viewing angles made it impossible to get proper screen without weird viewing artifacts.....returned it and got the nook.
For flash though, the gtablet ran as well as my laptop
Bandage said:
I've owned both... And honestly its hard to compare. Main reason is the size factor. That will ultimately be the deciding factor...
Reading on a 10 inch had its benefits, as well as drawbacks. Holding the Gtab for extended amounts of time is tedious. The quality of the screen (viewing angles) really does not affect ebook reading etc. Honestly unless its laying in your lap flat, you won't notice the loss of angle.
For gaming... There is no comparison. Tegra2 @1 ghz rocks even the most graphic intensive games.
So... I'd say the following in summary=
For heavy reading and light gaming, coupled with moderate productivity and light media... Go with the NC
For light reading, heavy gaming and moderate productivity & media... Choose the Gtab.
Its really a matter of personal preference... Depending on what your ideal usage looks like.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to disagree with this. Hardware is hardware, but unless there is software and a medium for the user to take advantage of the hardware it is as good as a piece of poop in your hands.
Perhaps, with better software, the GTab is a great option, but the screen is still lacking, big time.
For $249 you can NOT do better than the Nook Color. And with the 1.1gHz OC, it flies! As far as a gaming it runs everything I throw at it currently. That being said I still game more on my iPhone and iPad. Not because of the hardware but because of the software selection.
When we start seeing games like "Infinity Blade" on Android ... then I will sell my Apple products, until then I keep both.
The screen and portability won me over
I currently own an ipad and nook and did own a gtab. The screen on the gtab was what killed it for me. It was blazing fast, but get a tiny bit off center and the colors go straight to hell, a little further off center and it becomes unusable. The ipad and nook have amazing screens. I prefer the nook though for its hackability and size. Both the ipad and gtab are a bit heavy and awkward to hold for any length of time. For the money, you really can't do better than the nook right now.
OP: Just curious what you ended up doing, as I'm in a similar situation.
I want an android tablet but I'm tired of waiting for the "really good" tablets to come out. I would like to get something in the mean time until my ideal tablet is released sometime in the future.
I feel like the G tab could last me longer because it has Tegra 2 and a 10 in. screen, but the screen isn't great and is missing gps. The NC has a great screen but older slower processor and the screen is smaller. I plan on using a tablet in a variety of ways. Probably about an equal amount of reading, browsing, gaming and video watching. Another reason the NC is tempting is because it's cheaper and I'm not sure spending more on the G Tablet is necessary if I'm just going to upgrade again in the near future.
Anybody have insight on which one has better battery life?
cwininger said:
just looking for some input here. what does everyone think about the pros/cons of these two tablets? after everything's all said and done, which would you rather invest in?
The nook seems to have a much better screen and a more appealing form factor. it's also $130 cheaper.
the G tablet appears to have a mediocre screen but it already has the horsepower/expandability of tablets that will cost twice as much (ie. xoom). i know the xoom will shred this thing in benchmarks, but for all intents and purposes the g tablet can handle anything software-wise that's currently available with flying colors.
i'm assuming both will have a fully functioning port of honeycomb in the near future (whether official release or custom rom) so software-wise they will probably be pretty similar.
is the tegra 2 and added expandability of the g tablet worth the extra $ and putting up with the marginal display, or is the lower cost/better build-quality of the nook worth accepting the limited hardware? am i missing something in my comparison of the two?
would love to hear from the community on this debate.
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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 people. I've been thinking on the idea of trading my Nook Color for an E-ink powered e-reader for a few days now. The Nook Color still retails for $150 and mine is rooted and in great condition so should still be reasonably valuable.
I'm looking for opinions on the whole E-ink vs LCD display for reading. I have found that with my year+ with the rooted NC that the apps and games are just distractions. I have a decent Android phone if I really want that kind of stuff. All that matters to me is the reading experience. I have never personally used an E-ink reader, but the LCD does not seem to bother me that much except for the lower battery life an LCD screen device has.
Also, do you guys think trading a Nook Color for something like the Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch is a reasonable trade? If I'm lucky I could try for a Kindle Keyboard, or is that pushing it? I'm not looking to rip people off or to be ripped off too much. I just want an E-ink reader I think.
Lastly, if I were to find a person I wanted to trade with, does anyone know a secure way to trade items with someone on the internet? How would we both be able to mail our devices off knowing that we will get the other device? Is there a website to do such a thing?
agemyth said:
Hey people. I've been thinking on the idea of trading my Nook Color for an E-ink powered e-reader for a few days now. The Nook Color still retails for $150 and mine is rooted and in great condition so should still be reasonably valuable.
I'm looking for opinions on the whole E-ink vs LCD display for reading. I have found that with my year+ with the rooted NC that the apps and games are just distractions. I have a decent Android phone if I really want that kind of stuff. All that matters to me is the reading experience. I have never personally used an E-ink reader, but the LCD does not seem to bother me that much except for the lower battery life an LCD screen device has.
Also, do you guys think trading a Nook Color for something like the Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch is a reasonable trade? If I'm lucky I could try for a Kindle Keyboard, or is that pushing it? I'm not looking to rip people off or to be ripped off too much. I just want an E-ink reader I think.
Lastly, if I were to find a person I wanted to trade with, does anyone know a secure way to trade items with someone on the internet? How would we both be able to mail our devices off knowing that we will get the other device? Is there a website to do such a thing?
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Click to collapse
I like the look of e-ink screens better than any LCD, but I really like being able to read in the dark or low light. If they can figure out how to light the letters (not the background) I'll switch, but until then I'm sticking with LCD. (BTW- I got both a NC and an NST with the ebay deal a few weeks back. Gave the NST to mom...).
agemyth said:
Hey people. I've been thinking on the idea of trading my Nook Color for an E-ink powered e-reader for a few days now. The Nook Color still retails for $150 and mine is rooted and in great condition so should still be reasonably valuable.
I'm looking for opinions on the whole E-ink vs LCD display for reading. I have found that with my year+ with the rooted NC that the apps and games are just distractions. I have a decent Android phone if I really want that kind of stuff. All that matters to me is the reading experience. I have never personally used an E-ink reader, but the LCD does not seem to bother me that much except for the lower battery life an LCD screen device has.
Also, do you guys think trading a Nook Color for something like the Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch is a reasonable trade? If I'm lucky I could try for a Kindle Keyboard, or is that pushing it? I'm not looking to rip people off or to be ripped off too much. I just want an E-ink reader I think.
Lastly, if I were to find a person I wanted to trade with, does anyone know a secure way to trade items with someone on the internet? How would we both be able to mail our devices off knowing that we will get the other device? Is there a website to do such a thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Kindle e-Ink keyboard, Nook Color and TouchPad and smartphone. For me, if I am reading a book it is always the Kindle; best display for pure reading, easy page turning to avoid distractions, lightweight and superb battery life. However, only good for reading, I have used the browser in desperation for its 3G connectivity but not a pretty experience. The Nook Color remains my choice device for portable general tablet use, browsing, email and general apps. The Touchpad performs the same role but mainly around the home. Although the phone can perform similar role to Nook I don't like the limitations of the smaller screens.
Instead of swapping maybe the easiest way would be to sell your device on eBay and similarly buy the Kindle the same way. The prices seem comparable so would end up like a swap but give you extra flexibility and security.
Obviously there are dedicated swap sites like swap.com but they rely on ratings to identify trustworthy swappers and therefore are a bit limited in finding one-off swappers.
agemyth said:
I'm looking for opinions on the whole E-ink vs LCD display for reading. I have found that with my year+ with the rooted NC that the apps and games are just distractions. I have a decent Android phone if I really want that kind of stuff. All that matters to me is the reading experience. I have never personally used an E-ink reader, but the LCD does not seem to bother me that much except for the lower battery life an LCD screen device has.
I just want an E-ink reader I think.
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Click to collapse
It also depends on how you get your books. If you have been buying from B&N, stay with B&N (epub). Same with kindle (mobi). You want to keep your library. Also you want to have a device easy to sideload your books if you have another source.
And I would for sure go for some kind of touch screen. My friend has the 2nd generation kindle that is easy on the eyes, but horrible to operate. The screen flashes when you turn pages. I know the new generations are better, but be warned. I'm kind of intrigued by the new nook touch with glow light.
Thanks for the good input guys.
The word on the internet is pretty unanimous about the e-ink and lcd debate for simply reading. E-ink is the way to go.
There is a good sale on Kindles going on just for today here:
http://1saleaday.com/flash/
If I can make a decision before they sell out I could end up with one of those. The Glow Light Nook Touch would be nice though since I would not have to feel the need to buy an expensive case with a light in it.
Is there a place on XDA to sell devices? If anyone is interested, here's my Ebay auction:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120910008857&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:1123
Thanks again for the help guys.
Go for the Nook Simple Touch with LED back light. Nothing better right now and you should break about even cost wise. You'll get a better pure reading experience and still be able to read in low light conditions. Good luck
I've had my NC for a little over a year and a few months ago I bought a Nook Simple Touch. I found that for pure reading, I like the e-ink screen much better. Also the fact that the NST is much lighter and the battery life is super long were big pluses. I picked the NST over the Kindle and other versions because the NST can be rooted. I like having SOME of the perks of customizable launch screens (I'm using go launcher) and running some apps that I use when I travel (like Tripit, weather, etc). But I use the NST primarily for reading. I use the NC now mostly for news apps (such as Pulse), calendar management, some financial apps and the occasional game during a long flight.
But now that the NST with the glow light is available, I am salivating over that since the only downfall to my NST is that I can't read in the dark (or on a plane without disturbing everyone sitting around me on a TPAC flight).
So if reading is your number one activity, I would say e-ink is definitely worth it. But I would hang on to the NC unless you really have zero use for it.
If all you care about is the reading experience, e-ink wins hands down. My Nook Simple Touch is easy to read anywhere, goes months on a charge, and has expandable storage. Amazon Kindles don't have sd capability, which isn't a big deal on the e-ink readers (e-books are tiny) but it just annoys me enough to not want to buy from them. Maybe I'm petty.
agemyth said:
[...] I'm looking for opinions on the whole E-ink vs LCD display for reading.
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I've had both a NOOK Color (~1.5 years) and NOOK Simple Touch (~6 months), and use them both extensively for reading. While the NST is unbeatable for battery life and direct sunlight reading, it does require lighting to read. If I were looking at an eInk device again, I'd definitely consider the new NST with GlowLight to handle low light situations. I have not found the clip-on LCD lights satisfactory at all.
Choosing between one or the other exclusively is also tough. The NC screen is gorgeous. With careful selection of settings, battery life is not bad. Unless I'm reading outdoors in direct sunlight, the display is quite readable. The screen size is also well suited to ebook reading. I don't think I'd like dumping the NC altogether.
The NST is definitely handier. I like reading on it. Just not as much as on the NC. The screen flicker of eInk is definitely a tradeoff. The smaller size is another. Just be sure you really like the eInk experience before selling your NC at a loss.
[...] Also, do you guys think trading a Nook Color for something like the Kindle Touch or Nook Simple Touch is a reasonable trade? If I'm lucky I could try for a Kindle Keyboard, or is that pushing it? I'm not looking to rip people off or to be ripped off too much. I just want an E-ink reader I think.
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Click to collapse
As a direct 1:1 trade? It's a good deal for someone, just not you! You might be as well off just selling your NC, then picking up a NST refurb.
Hi all,
I am a big Android fan. I currently have a new Note 2 that I replaced my iPhone 5 and iPad mini with (had an S3 and Tab 2 before that). I bought this in the hopes of using the "phablet" as an all-in-one device instead of having both a tablet and a phone. So far its been awesome. Here is my dilemma....
I have just become an avid e-book reader. I gave up paper books when I got the iPad mini. I am finding that the Note 2 is just a little too small to read e-books on. Plus I feel kind of stupid trying to read a book on a phone.
I went out and bought a basic kindle. A button was broken out of the box, and my house doesn't have good enough lighting to see the screen well, so I exchanged it for a kindle paperwhite. I love the paperwhite, and it is insanely easy to read on, especially at night, but I am a little miffed that I spent $120 on something that does one task only, and berates me with advertisements. For $80 more I could have a N7.
That being said, I bought an N7 when it first came out, and wasn't too impressed. The device itself is awesome, but I noticed I kept going back to my laptop to get any real work done. I only used it to check emails occasionally or watch netflix in bed. It was too small to read PDFs on for class, or do any intense internet browsing/research. Essentially it was a $200 toy, so I got rid of it. I thought it was stupid to have a smartphone, tiny tablet, and macbook air. Now I am seriously considering getting rid of the paperwhite and picking up an N7 instead.
Budget is a real issue here, as I am a student. I have read on here and other forums that people felt having a note 2 and N7 was pointless as the devices are pretty redundant, and the difference in screen size is negligible. Does anyone here have both? If so, how do you feel you use the two devices? Do you regret purchasing them together?
Also, how much bigger is the N7's actual, usable screen space? With the nav buttons at the bottom and the status bar at the top, they seem to take up a pretty big chunk of an already small tablet screen.
Mainly though, how is the N7 as an e-reader? No one can seem to agree on whether or not there is an eyestrain problem with LCDs and whether they cause insomnia when compared to e-ink, so its hard to really make that determination. Is it really worth the extra $80 to get the N7 over the kindle paperwhite, or would I be wasting money as the size is essentially the same as my note 2?
I have a Kindle Keyboard I bought in mid-2011. The main things I hated about it were A) no backlit screen making reading in the dark with a little booklight a chore, 2) inability to display photos and pics in books (some drawings display, but often too small to be useful). I did like the long battery life and the anti-glare screen, but eventually I wanted something that did more. I mostly got the N7 for books and magazine reading, but being able to play games and fly my drone with it are a major bonus. I would never waste money on a dedicated reader again. I gave the Kindle to my mom since she's easily overwhelmed by anything with multiple uses.
Miami_Son said:
I have a Kindle Keyboard I bought in mid-2011. The main things I hated about it were A) no backlit screen making reading in the dark with a little booklight a chore, 2) inability to display photos and pics in books (some drawings display, but often too small to be useful). I did like the long battery life and the anti-glare screen, but eventually I wanted something that did more. I mostly got the N7 for books and magazine reading, but being able to play games and fly my drone with it are a major bonus. I would never waste money on a dedicated reader again. I gave the Kindle to my mom since she's easily overwhelmed by anything with multiple uses.
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I agree that the kindles without a built in light are very difficult to read on. The paperwhite is an entirely different beast though. My main problem with it is that I don't want ads when I paid a $120 for a product, yet Amazon has managed to really squeeze every last little inch of the screen with ads, which is extremely frustrating. I am just hesitant to drop $80 more on a device that may not be as good for reading on, and is not that much bigger than my Note 2. Do you happen to know what the usable screen size is on the N7?
I read a lot on my seven. I like it. Easy to read on... I like it although it don't mind reading on my s3,either with the aldiko app. It's a solid device, but rasping outside or stain the Beach or whatever is easiest on the reading devices.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
As far as reading goes, the usable screen of the N7 is larger than that of a page in the average paperback book. At night I like to use white text on a black screen because it is easier to read in the dark and causes less eye strain. I don't think the Kindle offers that option.
Miami_Son said:
As far as reading goes, the usable screen of the N7 is larger than that of a page in the average paperback book. At night I like to use white text on a black screen because it is easier to read in the dark and causes less eye strain. I don't think the Kindle offers that option.
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Click to collapse
Do you think it would be redundant with a Note 2? The Kindle is technically only .5 inches bigger than the Note 2, but the square screen makes it easier to read than a 16:9 aspect ratio where you are constantly moving your eyes vertically.
Nexus 7 for sure. You have more options and more media
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
androidairlinepilot said:
Do you think it would be redundant with a Note 2? The Kindle is technically only .5 inches bigger than the Note 2, but the square screen makes it easier to read than a 16:9 aspect ratio where you are constantly moving your eyes vertically.
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I don't read with the N7 horizontally, only vertically, because I wear progressive lenses and a wide screen makes me have to turn my head from side to side or my eyes will move beyond the reading portion of my glasses. The Note 2 is only 5.5", so I'm not sure why you're comparing the N7 to it. The only advantage I can see is that the Note is also a phone, but my N7 does not require a separate data plan and I can easily tether it to my S2 by turning it on as a wifi hotspot. I forgot to mention that white text on black also uses less battery on the N7.
If you're wanting something that can do more but don't wanna spend $200 for a nexus 7,get a nook color and put cm10 on it. My wife asked for a simple ereader for christmas and I instead got her a nc and put cm on it and she loves it. Granted it won't give you the same level of performance the n7 will, but it is a great ereader and has a screen designed to reduce eyestrain. Advantages of cm? Simple 1 bookstore vs all bookstores, and you can rent books through amazons library system on it and overdrive.
Hardware is a bit dated for extreme web browsing and high definition media but if you just want an ereader with a little more punch than a simple e ink one, a cm powered nook color is perfect! I got hers refurbished for $100 off overstock.com.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Well if your leaning towards the nexus 7, and only going to do reading and simple stuff. It might be worth it look around craigslist for a eight gig model.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
If you want to read books mainly on your device, get a kindle, any kindle. Because reading on a tablet (or a pc) ruins your eyes, that is a fact.
So you need to decide your purpose about buying the device you'll buy. If it's for book then get a kindle or nook. If it's for apps and little amount of reading get Nexus.
I hope you don't ignore my warning about eyes, any screen other than e-ink ruins eyes, you'll end up with glasses before you're old.
Another option. You can pickup a refurb NookColor for $140 or less.
Its an old platform, for sure, but its still getting Dev support on XDA. I am currently running 4.1.2 on my 2yo NC. Build quality is outstanding.
This is a very versatile device. You can run dual boot from a SD card, you can Manual Nooter (run stock & android from internal ) or you can just run a custom ROM from internal. If you're lazy, you can buy an SD card already programmed for you.
And it accepts an SD card up to 32gb. Plus you have the option of OTG storage for movies.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Dharkan said:
If you want to read books mainly on your device, get a kindle, any kindle. Because reading on a tablet (or a pc) ruins your eyes, that is a fact.
So you need to decide your purpose about buying the device you'll buy. If it's for book then get a kindle or nook. If it's for apps and little amount of reading get Nexus.
I hope you don't ignore my warning about eyes, any screen other than e-ink ruins eyes, you'll end up with glasses before you're old.
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Actually
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22762257
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I'm using my N7 to read books and it is in no way straining my eyes (I could tell if it did, my eyes are very sensitive to brightness, too much of it and they physically hurt).
Cool Reader is the program I go with in terms of reading, and I set it to a black background and light grey letters on screen.
Granted, that makes it harder to read in sunny conditions, but when I go to work it is usually still dark, so that is not really a concern for me.
Dharkan said:
If you want to read books mainly on your device, get a kindle, any kindle. Because reading on a tablet (or a pc) ruins your eyes, that is a fact.
So you need to decide your purpose about buying the device you'll buy. If it's for book then get a kindle or nook. If it's for apps and little amount of reading get Nexus.
I hope you don't ignore my warning about eyes, any screen other than e-ink ruins eyes, you'll end up with glasses before you're old.
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Really? And by what authority do you make such a statement? Are you an optometrist? Do you have some clinical studies to back up your broad statement? What a crock.
From Brian's link above:
CONCLUSIONS:
It is not the technology itself, but rather the image quality that seems crucial for reading. Compared to the visual display units used in the previous few decades, these more recent electronic displays allow for good and comfortable reading, even for extended periods of time.
© 2012 The College of Optometrists.
Yeah I never have suffered eyestrain from my phone or tablet.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Kindle or N7? Neither
From what it sounds like, your only real beef with the Kindle is the ads. Get yourself a Nook Touch With Glowlight. 1 - no ads. 2 - it's Android based - so if you want to root it, and do some goofy stuff with it (or just clean it up to look as nice as possible using whatever reader you want - like I did) you have that option. It's also more comfortable than the Kindles, less likely to slip out of your hands (with rubberized back). I've seen a *slight* difference between the screens, as far as contrast, but either will look perfectly fine.
As far as the eye strain is concerned. To each their own, I suppose, but I've noticed when I stopped reading on my Nook, and started reading on my N7, my eye strain did increase. After my 2 hour reading sessions are over, the N7 did make my eyes feel a little bit more worn. To be fair, it could be the font size, or spacing, or any of a number of other issues, but I tried to set the N7 to have the most comfortable sizing, just like on my Nook, but I still feel like the Nook is the better way to go between the two strictly for reading. Now my N7 is delegated to gaming, watching Netflix, and helping me with writing ideas on the go (was doing that with my phone, but the N7 is easier to mess with in that regard).
All that said, I *LOVE* my N7, and am always finding new fun uses for it, and will continue to enjoy it until it stops getting updates from Google (prime reason I GOT the Nexus instead of another tablet), nor would I ever give up my Nook, unless it's to get a better e-ink reader.
There's one other PHENOMENAL reason to have an e-ink reader... my Nook 7 has about an 8 hour battery - ish... my Nook - I only have to charge it every few weeks, and even then, it's just because I don't like fully discharging Lithium Ion batteries... I do believe the eink displays are fully capable of 2 month battery life.
androidairlinepilot said:
I agree that the kindles without a built in light are very difficult to read on. The paperwhite is an entirely different beast though. My main problem with it is that I don't want ads when I paid a $120 for a product, yet Amazon has managed to really squeeze every last little inch of the screen with ads, which is extremely frustrating. I am just hesitant to drop $80 more on a device that may not be as good for reading on, and is not that much bigger than my Note 2. Do you happen to know what the usable screen size is on the N7?
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I got both the paper white and Nexus 7. I prefer reading on paperwhite.
As for the add you can pay $20 the difference between the add free and add paperwhite to get ride of ads
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
I've read lots of books on the Kindle Paperwhite, the Nexus 7 and the LG Nitro HD. All have strengths and weaknesses depending on the reading conditions.
The Kindle Paperwhite is outstanding in the daytime both outside and inside. It can be jailbroken and alternate fonts can be added. I like Chinacat and Koorkin Pro fonts (and yes, I purchased a license to the latter). They both have a smooth line texture. I don't like the LED color. It is too blue. Amazon should use warmer color LEDs which cost only a few more pennies. Additionally, the lux distribution is not uniform like a backlit LCD. Hopefully Amazon will obtain newer better light pipe/films on future models.
The Nexus 7 is good at night with white or gray characters on a black background. I don't really like the black letters or the sepia setting. The letters don't seem very sharp... Lots of jaggies... However, for browsing online articles it is great.
The LG Nitro HD is superb indoors in low light or at night. The color scheme is precise and accurate. The fonts are pristine - maybe the 326ppi is the reason. I wish LG would release a 7 inch tablet with a similar quality IPS display. I don't care about looking geeky. I wish I was ignorant so that I could experience sustained bliss.
I must be getting old because I'm about to say - I've been reading on computer monitors for 30 years without any eye strain or vision deterioration. My vision is 20/15 in both eyes. All of these devices are excellent. I read with all of them.
In other words, you can't go wrong with any of these devices...
Tl;dr - N7 is a good buy if you want to do more than read books. If you want to continue using your note 2 for that, just use the paperwhite. ALSO. Make sure you go and play around with the N7 in store for a while before deciding. That might change your mind.
Oh snap. I was about to post this exact topic 2 days ago. I caved and ended up getting a n7 last night. It's just better in my opinion and a few reasons I decided on it. I am an avid reader. I tend to read light novels, manga, novels, textbooks etc. I was all for the paperwhite, but it doesn't seem to handle pdfs all that well and it also can't run the kindle edition of one of my books which is a print replica. So that pretty much threw me towards the n7. The eink display and battery life was really what had me going for the paperwhite, but I charge my devices once a day anyway and if it can last me the day then it's fine. The main purpose of the n7 I bought for myself is to read textbooks in class as well as using it at home instead of my phone. Even though I have a galaxy note, the difference in the screen size is very noticeable. I would recommend the eink reader if you really want something that lasts for 80 hours, want a screen that can be read in any lighting, and do not want to do anything besides reading.
Budget is a real issue here, as I am a student. I have read on here and other forums that people felt having a note 2 and N7 was pointless as the devices are pretty redundant, and the difference in screen size is negligible. Does anyone here have both? If so, how do you feel you use the two devices? Do you regret purchasing them together?
Also, how much bigger is the N7's actual, usable screen space? With the nav buttons at the bottom and the status bar at the top, they seem to take up a pretty big chunk of an already small tablet screen.
Mainly though, how is the N7 as an e-reader? No one can seem to agree on whether or not there is an eyestrain problem with LCDs and whether they cause insomnia when compared to e-ink, so its hard to really make that determination. Is it really worth the extra $80 to get the N7 over the kindle paperwhite, or would I be wasting money as the size is essentially the same as my note 2?
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Click to collapse
I'm also a student and bought the N7 over the paperwhite. The screen size difference is definitely NOT NEGLIGIBLE. Whoever told you that probably has not used both of them side by side. Although I feel I might switch out my galaxy note for a s3, but I might already be used to the size of the phone to downgrade the screen size. I do not regret purchasing and owning both.
I think someone said it's like 60% bigger or something like that (off the top of my head what I remember seeing in another thread). Also, if you use expanded desktop mode, you can get "hide" the nav buttons and if you're using paranoidandroid, you can use PIE which should help. I already said I use the N7 primarily as a e-reader. I use mantano reader and feedly most of the time and to reduce eye strain, I use lux auto brightness (you can also use screen filter). If you think that computer screens give you eye strain, you probably don't use f.lux on your computer. I wish there was a android version of it, but Lux auto brightness is the closest thing. Also, from the pricing that I saw, they came out to be equal so I went with the n7 (paperwhite 3g + no ads vs n7 16gb).
Hi Everybody!
So after 4 years with my iPhone 4, I think it might be about time to get a new phone. The Z3 Compact looks and sounds like the a really great phone for me, I like almost everything such as the speed, water-resistance, design, Sony skin etc.
BUT, I'm really not sure about the size. I'm just not sure it it's too small for me or just right. Consider this: The vast majority of the time spent with my current iPhone 4 (3.5') I use it for browsing the web (reading stuff) one-handed (either because the other hand is doing something else or just because it's more comfortable). So being able to use it one-handed is important to me, but then, so is easy readability. One of my worries going with a huge new phone is that it won't be as comfortable in one-handed use. I'm not the only person who has a smartphone in this world, so I did get to use the Nexus 5 (4.95') and found that while it isn't as comfortable as my iPhone 4 it is perfectly usable with one hand. The Galaxy Note 1 (5.3') I used on the other hand, not so much. If I decide I go with a bigger phone it will be the Galaxy S5 (5.1'), the LG G2 or the big Z3 (both 5.2'). I probably will be able to use these regularly with one hand (especially since I don't think these device are as big, chunky and clunky as the original Note), but nevertheless it won't be as comfortable, wheres with the Z3 Compact (4.6') I'm sure it'll be perfectly comfortable to use one-handed.
So what I'm wondering is - is the sacrifice in comfort even worth it? I mean, the vast majority of the time I use my phone not for playing games or watching movies, but rather for reading stuff, whether it's browsing the web or messaging (although I'm also thinking about starting with reading ebooks). When I use my teeny iPhone 4 (3.5') I don't really think "wow this is so small I can't read anything" (especially since almost all websites nowadays have a mobile view), although when I use a bigger device I defiantly notice that reading is easier. But will the half an inch difference (and 1080P resolution, whether that makes a difference or not) between the 4.6' Z3 Compact and bigger devices with 5.1'/5.2' displays really make a significant difference in reading? That's what I'm wondering and hope you guys and gals can help me figure out. However keep in mind that I want to make this discussion purely about what size is better for me, not about the features and prices of all these different phones which I am well aware of.
TL;DR: I want to know if a bigger display will make reading significantly easier and better - enough to sacrifice a little in one-handed use comfort.
Buy a Kindle, your eyes and you will thank me later.
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Tuberomix said:
...purely about what size is better for me
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Why you asking us then?
geronimoid said:
Why you asking us then?
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I'm asking you people because since I haven't used any new device extensively I'm really not sure how much half an inch difference and 1080P resolution (such is the difference between the 4.6' Z3 Compact and larger devices such as the 5.1' S5) can make reading easier, so I'm asking you people who have more experience and might know.
And I'm not going to buy a kindle because I need a smartphone for reading web stuff on-the-go.
Where are you based?
In the UK phone shops have the Z3C in store, often with working wifi so you could pop in and compare reading an article on your favourite online publications on that and other phones such as the Z3 or S5 to decide if the difference bothers you.
I *personally* believe 4.6" is a large enough, in fact the 4.3" screen that the Z1C had was one of the few things that bothered me about that phone. And this is from someone who owns the LG G2 and still loves it - the extra screen area is only noticeably better when watching youtube videos or playing games.
I've used the following phones as daily drivers, in this order, primarily for reading ebooks, forums, and general web browsing:
IPhone 4
Note 2
Note 3
Nexus 5
Z3 Compact
My opinion is the Z3c is so far the best of the lot due to a nearly ideal mix of size, power, and battery stamina.
I wouldn't willingly go back to any of the other devices except the Nexus 5, which I intend to keep as a backup phone.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Obviously they scale fonts/images/icons for the smaller screen. Some things appear smaller, and other things are sized fine but you just can't get as many on the screen. You have to decide for yourself, but it is entirely a matter of comfort and not function.
As for me, I wanted a phone that I couldn't feel in my pocket with top-tier speed and a strong battery and a decent camera. As a plus, the daylight readability and weatherproofing make it a very nice go-anywhere phone. I sampled a lot of phones this year, and I'm very satisfied to settle with this one for a while.
TJCacher said:
I've used the following phones as daily drivers, in this order, primarily for reading ebooks, forums, and general web browsing:
IPhone 4
Note 2
Note 3
Nexus 5
Z3 Compact
My opinion is the Z3c is so far the best of the lot due to a nearly ideal mix of size, power, and battery stamina.
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I am well aware that the Z3 Compact is awesome feature-wise. However, didn't you feel that going down in screen size in comparison to the larger phones is kind of downside, and a detract when reading web-content/forums/ebooks? When you say that the Z3c is "nearly ideal mix of size..." do you mean it feels slightly too small for your everyday use (which is going to be pretty similar to my everyday use)?
Tuberomix said:
I am well aware that the Z3 Compact is awesome feature-wise. However, didn't you feel that going down in screen size in comparison to the larger phones is kind of downside, and a detract when reading web-content/forums/ebooks? When you say that the Z3c is "nearly ideal mix of size..." do you mean it feels slightly too small for your everyday use (which is going to be pretty similar to my everyday use)?
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Not at all. I went up in size after the IPhone because I thought it was too small, and, after experiencing the advantages and disadvantages of the larger phones, found myself moving back down in size, first to the N5 and now, smaller still, to the Z3c.
At this point I found I've gone nearly full circle, with a device somewhat larger than my original iPhone, but significantly smaller than the other Androids, and I'm finding this size to be the best overall experience for my use cases.
Specifically, for me, that means I want to read on a comfortably pocketable device with a bright, clear screen and not run out of power before I get back to a charger.
I believe this device meets that mix of my requirements better than any of the previous ones I have owned.
I haven't been bothered in the slightest by the downsize in physical screen dimensions or resolution when reading books, forums or websites.
The only adjustment I've had to consciously make is to change my typing style from my previous "tap each letter individually" preference to the "slide continuously to each letter in the word" style due to an unacceptably higher error rate of the former style on the smaller keyboard - a change I probably should have made a long time ago anyway.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk
Hi there I had similar concerns when I was looking for a new phone. Here's my thought process:
- When you are talking about one hand usability you can't only talk about screen size.
1. Example: While the 4.7" screen of the iphone6 is basically operable with one hand (provided you have big hands) the space that you need to be able to reach with your thumb is actually quite alot bigger, because of the homebutton placement. So when you're talking one hand use the iphone6 has actually a over 5" space that you need to be able to reach, which really is too big for "normal" sized hands.
2. Example: HTC Mini 2 (almost bought that one), the screen is 4.5" with on screen buttons meaning you only have to operate a 4.5" surface which is perfect for my hands. BUT the only way to power up the phone is with the power button on the top making it uncomfortable to use. You basically need to move your hand upwards to reach that button, while holding it with one hand and then back down again. Very risky maneuver if you ask me.
--> Z3C has none of these issues. You wake up by double tap, and control everything on the 4.6" screen. No need to reach any buttons which means you never have to adjust your hand while using the phone. That's way more comfortable and you reduce the risk of dropping it while adjusting.
Btw: Most of the time I'm using an app to switch off the phone (screen off and lock), swipe up from the on screen home button = screen off. If you don't wanna use those features: the power/lock button is placed perfectly for your thumb (right hand) or your index (left hand), whenever i grab the phone the button is right under my finger without me thinking about it.
-Now obviously in terms of actually using the phone to browse, read, game, do whatever the screen needs to be as big as possible while still being operable by one hand. But "handed" use means the furthest you will hold your phone away from your eyes is one arm length. Fully stretching your arm isn't really comfortable so let's say its a bit less than a full arm length. I personally am usually resting my arm on my belly while holding it, so thats not even half a meter (~20"). And I have to say with regular font settings the screen and more importantly the font sizes are almost too small. Coming from a 4.8" SGS3 i had to get used to the smaller fonts and screen, then I found the setting to increase font size and now it's not an issue anymore
-->I'm always able to rest comfortably when using it, without having to pull it in front of my face (iphone syndrom) to actually see anything... And that is the important factor for me. But I have to add: I also have a tablet. When I spend more than ~10min reading or writing stuff I usually switch to it. That was the main reason for me to get a "smaller" phone- no need for a phablet here. (4 Years ago people were laughing at my HUGE 4.3" DesireHD )
-In conclusion Sony did a really good job here IMHO. Comparison: The phone has a much bigger screen than the iphone 5S, but the size of the surface you need to operate is actually about the same because of very small bezels and intelligent button placement.
But it also really depends on what you want to do with it and on your hand size. For watching the occasional movie the Z3C would be definately too small for me. If you have really big hands I guess you could easily operate a 4.8-4.9" screen if the button placement doesnt get in the way. But for me the Z3C has that sweet spot in terms of size and great hardware... When I read the specs I instantly knew that was going to be my next phone.
Another little thing: The Z3C has exactly the same weight as the iphone 6, almost the same screen size but a 2600mAh battery compared to a 1810mAh in the iphone...