Nook Tablet vs Kindle FIre

[rcjordan]

Reviews are saying that B&N definitely outdid the Fire with their new release.  I just pre-ordered one which I plan to set up and then give to a handicapped family member who needs some access to the web for infotainment.  More info once it arrives, but the specs look decent.

http://www.geek.com/articles/gadgets/nook-tablet-vs-kindle-fire-how-the-specs-compare-2011117/

[Brad]

Decent starter list of apps available for the Nook tablet.  I guess my question is how good is the Nook browser?  Other than that the SD card slot and extra memory could be very handy if that is your only tablet and you use it heavy.  Good article thanks.

[grnidone]

The one thing I don't like that the kindle/ fire did figure out better than anyone else is the non-reflective screen.  I swear, looking at that screen is like paper, and no matter how you hold it, it *never* reflects.

For reading, hands down, that does it for me.

In fact, I prefer having a little tablet JUST for reading...it takes me away from the internet and I need that.

[rcjordan]

OK, I've had an hour or so on the Nook. I have some complaints but, overall, it's a good browsing machine.

You do not have to enter any credit card info in order to register the machine and begin browsing. You DO need a credit card on file if you want to buy apps.

The browser can be accessed fairly easily from the launch page.

Web pages load pretty quickly. I didn't notice any long lags on any of the news sites I visited.

Bummer: Sites recognize it and switch to their "mobile" format.

It seems to do flash and videos OK elsewhere, but Hulu wouldn't run.

All but about 1g of storage is pre-allocated to Barnes & Noble purchased content.  ...However, this thing has an sd card slot, so add your own space.

Once you've had a 10 inch tablet, a 7 inch screen is simply too small for decent reading.

The Kindle Fire, OTOH, is having some problems.
"A few of their many complaints: there is no external volume control. The off switch is easy to hit by accident. Web pages take a long time to load. There is no privacy on the device; a spouse or child who picks it up will instantly know everything you have been doing. The touch screen is frequently hesitant and sometimes downright balky."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/12/technology/personaltech/amazons-fire-some-say-may-become-the-edsel-of-tablets.html?_r=1

From the git-go, my #1 concern with Amazon was that they are TOO good at selling.  Since this was for someone who cannot manage even small amounts of money, I definitely did not want Amazon getting its claws into the credit cards.  Apparently, others are finding that buying an Amazon sales kiosk disguised as a tablet does cause some problems.

Amazon's Kindle Fire lets kids charge up a storm
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/Amazon-Kindle-Fire-lets-kids-rsg-3752604696.html

[Brad]

It sounds like if you want a really cheap little tablet go with Nook, but if you want a front end for Amazon go with Kindle Fire.

A lot of people will go with Fire tho, because they are already locked into Amazon's eco-system: they rent their movies from Amzn, buy TV shows and music, etc.