Database Users

[Q] Reasons for Rooting the NC

I have a question that is eating at me to no end. Every android device (this is my 6th) I've rooted. I tried to use the devices without root and hesitated somewhat to do so, but rooting was inevitable with all of them.
I just received (from a lovely wife) a Nook Color for my birthday. I intend to use this solely as an e-reader. In that, I also like to diversify my e-book collection by using multiple providers (you can see where this is going, I'm sure). I would really like to be able to use B&N, Amazon, and Google Books to download content.
However... I've seen that there are a few things that don't work as they should after rooting. I'm not sure I'm willing to live with that.
After all of that said, how many of you have the same intentions I have? How many of you intend to use this as an e-reader and an e-reader only? I ask because I've seen several threads discussing different uses that clearly go beyond what the device was intended to do. Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking what you are doing. I'm only trying to find out if these additional functions (I also believe in the beauty of open source;-)) serve as additional incentive for you guys to root. If this is the case, is using it as a multi-provider e-reader enough incentive to root? Is is enough incentive to "suffer" with what does not work after rooting?
Please chime in! Thank you for you input. I would really like to root this thing, but I just want to make sure it's worth the hassle.

93 views and no one has an opinion? Is everyone using this device as everything but an e-reader? At least tell me it is a dumb question if you think that.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

Pretty much everyone here uses the nook as a full android tablet that also reads books. I use CM7 myself and i would have never bought the nook if it didn't have any custom roms. I do not know any negatives to rooting the stock OS as I never used it. I would say go for it and if you don't like it you can go back to stock in <5 minutes.
Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk

I'm probably the only one here that recently changed my configuration.
I've been a NC user with CM7 nightly builds installed to the emmc (that's right a bold user willing to risk a brik).
However, over time I'd had the opportunity to pickup another tab for the geek (HP Touchpad for that oh so low price).
Since the Nook Color is now really being used as a e-reader only again (with a few Apps from the BN app store), I've restored it to stock with the 1.3 update.
No root, nothing except a blank SD card for extra content.
The BN stock Nook reader software is night and day in terms of stability and performance in comparison to the "Nook for Android" application. It doensn't have that cool page turn animation, but why does the "Android" app pale in comparison when both technically are Android apps?
Granted, I don't have Amazon or Google book content access any longer, but I can use them on the other tab if I desire. But I've been finding that I prefer to purchase my books on BN and Amazon/Google vendors have only gotten my "Free" book purchases in the past.
I can also get my enhanced books again.
If BN decides it needs to add some services to help compete with the forth coming Amazon Tab, like video and audio rentals/purchases, you might see official support for NetFlix or Hulu as a counter. Reason is that BN would need to build that infrastructure, but providing NetFlix or Hulu Plus might be good enough to compete with Amazon Prime.
I really do like my NC again on stock. Without another tab to root/mod, I'd still be on CM7 (the beauty is I'm watching the CM7 development for the HP, so soon).

perknite said:
I just received (from a lovely wife) a Nook Color for my birthday. I intend to use this solely as an e-reader. In that, I also like to diversify my e-book collection by using multiple providers (you can see where this is going, I'm sure). I would really like to be able to use B&N, Amazon, and Google Books to download content.
However... I've seen that there are a few things that don't work as they should after rooting. I'm not sure I'm willing to live with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had my NC for about six months, and have used rooted stock (versions 1.01, 1.1, and 1.2) and am now almost exclusively using CM7 on the SD card. I use it for a lot more than an e-reader, but I do read a lot on it.
1) The stock reader software is much nicer than any Android reader apps out there. That was why I stuck with the stock software for so long.
2) I don't know of anything that's working on an unrooted Nook that is broken by rooting. Can you elaborate on what you meant by that?
3) If you really want to have an ebook collection that isn't dependent on a single vendor, you should look into Calibre and the tools that are available to strip DRM from books you buy. Then you can buy a book from, say, Amazon, strip the DRM, load it into Calibre, and convert it to any format you wish. This involves a bit of work on the PC side, so you're not able to just download directly to the reader, but it's one way to keep your stock unrooted Nook and still use Google or Amazon to buy books. And it means you'll always be able to read those books, not just when Amazon or Google or B&N decides you can.

I've been running rooted stock 99% of the time since I got the device. I did hammer it very early on (I think I tried installing one of the SD-card targeted froyo builds to emmc) and just so I could at least fiddle, ran the honeycomb off sdcard for a look. I've run cm7 and miui off sdcard, but I've never liked the alternate roms more than I like the stock, enough to flash them to emmc and certainly not enough to run them as daily drivers off of sdcards, since then my sdcard slot is obliged to be full.
I'm not clear on what, in the current rooted stock, isn't working that the OP refers to. For me, all the stock apps work fine, and I have access to Netflix and the free fridays books.
My preferred reader is fbreader - I like true night mode and landcape, and I have no problems with that reader crashing.
I would rather use the Nook for Android app, for the same reason that I like fbreader and for the additional benefit of very simple cross-device sync. I also have an ST, and am using fbsync and fbreader on both in conjunction with Tasker to sync reading positions.
I'm very unimpressed with the 1.3 firmware. In my hands, the device is more sluggish when running it than when running 1.2, but I know there are some folks that it helped to have (networking issues in 1.2.)
But overall, I can't think of anything that doesn't work on rooted stock that does work on vanilla stock, so more input on that would be helpful.

The only thing I'm aware of that doesn't work on rooted stock is the reading now button. I haven't tried the latest enhanced books for 1.3 yet, but everything else I've tested successfully.
My family has 3 nooks - my wife and me, plus my mom. My mom is a voracious reader and has literally read at least 100 books since Mother's Day. I offered to turn it back to stock for her, but she told me that there just a handful of android apps (not available through B&N) that she wants to keep. So she stays rooted.
For my wife, she's a big reader too (not as much as mom) but she has more than a handful of apps she wants, particularly a host of free games from either the market or android appstore, so she stays on rooted stock. Both have zero complaints. Both are also overclocked to 1200 using Dalingrin's OC kernel.
For me, I've been toying with CM7 on sd card for about 2 months now. I love how smooth it runs and I'm extremely satisfied with it. My only knock is the reader. As others have said, the stock nook reader is still the best, although both fbreader and moon reader are very good as well. I'm probably 50/50 on reading vs other stuff on my nook.

Thanks for all of your replies! I saw somewhere (I believe the ManualNooter thread) that there might be crashes with apps that required imei (forgive spelling). I have no idea what apps might require that. I went ahead and took the plunge. So far I like it! I have not figured out how to turn off gmail email sync yet, but I really like being able to access books from all three major providers!
Thank you all for your input!
Sent from my NOOKcolor using xda premium

Perknite, also take a look at using Calibre for book management, and the tools for managing the security of your ebooks discussed at apprenticealf.wordpress.com.
You can read books from each of the vendors both on your computer and in any app you like on the NC, if you configure the tools and have the computer app from the vendor plus a program called Calibre on the PC.
I used to do a lot of this manually, and recently learned that Calibre will do huge amounts of it automatically if it has access to the install data from BN and Amazon.
Information security is a triangle: availability, confidentiality, integrity. DRM breaks your control over availability and integrity in order to deliver confidentiality - not to you, but to the vendor of your files. The tools discussed in the Apprentice Alf blog let you manage the availability and integrity of your data for yourself. You owe it to your ebook vendors to maintain confidentiality -- but you owed them that to start with, and it was in the agreement as you purchased the books.

[Q] Best approach for rooting a 1.3

I have a brand new nook that is running 1.3, and I want to get it rooted (it's a Christmas gift for my son). With 1.4 out now, I'm wondering what my best approach is. Should I wait until I get the 1.4 update and then to the root?
If that is the case, is there a way to force the update to come quicker? If that's not the case and I go ahead and root now, will I eventually get 1.4 (and if so will I have to root again)?

Girevik said:
I have a brand new nook that is running 1.3, and I want to get it rooted (it's a Christmas gift for my son). With 1.4 out now, I'm wondering what my best approach is. Should I wait until I get the 1.4 update and then to the root?
If that is the case, is there a way to force the update to come quicker? If that's not the case and I go ahead and root now, will I eventually get 1.4 (and if so will I have to root again)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming it's a Nook Color since you mention 1.3. You can download the 1.4.1 update today directly from B&N. Root on 1.4.1 doesn't fully work yet. You can't install anything from the Android Market. I suspect that will change very soon, but there's no guarantee it'll be done by Christmas.
The B&N walled garden offered by 1.4.1 is very compelling. The reader is very nice now -- a huge improvement over 1.3 -- and the B&N integration is very nice. 1.4.1 is also required for some of the Conde Nast magazine subscriptions such as Wired. The presentation of these magazines on the B&N firmware is gorgeous, with lots of "post print" interactive features. Presumably other magazines and papers will begin incorporating these features.
The reason I mention this is that you lose these features if you wander off of the B&N firmware, at least today. That said, there are alternate firmwares that make the NC much more of a general purpose tablet. You can run the B&N Nook reader on these, though alternatives such as Aldiko are superior (IMO). You lose the B&N integration and, for now at least, rich content features of the B&N firmware. You gain in ease of access to other applications and features, as well as Amazon, Kobo and other book sources.
On the Nook Tablet I purchased for my wife for Christmas, the 1.4 software is fully rooted, so I've been able to get it set up nicely as a reader focused around the B&N apps, but still with access to others (with a bit of work). As of today (Dec. 14), I can't get to that same level with my Nook Color. Rooted 1.3 is also very clunky (again IMO), so I'm running Cyanogenmod 7.1 (CM) on it.
If your son is after an Android tablet, I'd suggest trying out CM. If he want's the e-reader experience and/or the B&N integration, then 1.4.1 is a winner. If he wants the best of both worlds, we're not quite there yet. I'd suggest running CM off of an SD card and leaving 1.4.1 unrooted for now. That way, he can sample both, and if he prefers the B&N experience, you can always root it later when the details are worked out.

bobstro said:
If your son is after an Android tablet, I'd suggest trying out CM. If he want's the e-reader experience and/or the B&N integration, then 1.4.1 is a winner. If he wants the best of both worlds, we're not quite there yet. I'd suggest running CM off of an SD card and leaving 1.4.1 unrooted for now. That way, he can sample both, and if he prefers the B&N experience, you can always root it later when the details are worked out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's prettyf much exacty what I've settled on. I think for now, he'd mostly want the tablet, but I DO really like the read to me feature. I'll just have to teach him how to boot back and forth if he wants (he's pretty sharp for a mildly autistic 7 year old when it comes to tech). When and if I can just add the market and the apps he wants to stock nook software, I'll look at rooting it then.
Thanks for confirming what I had in mind. I was half afraid a root would be required even to boot off of an SD card.
One more question. Once I do go that route, what happens to apps that I install? Are they saved to the SD card and just dissapear when I boot to the nook? Or do they take up the nook internal memory?

When you dual boot, the two environments remain separate. Anything installed on one is not visible to the other, except maybe storage. I need to check, now that you ask. This is good, in that your BN setup remains pristine, but does require some duplication of effort if you jump back and forth often.
Once everything's installed, you can select which to boot by holding down the big 'n' key as you power on the device. No need to flip the SD slot door open and eject.
I'm hoping the 1.4.1 reader functionality comes to the BN Android Nook app. It's pretty slick, and I'd like to have those features regardless of what platform I'm using at any given moment.

[Q] Direct me to a good place to root nook with 1.4.1

My mom has asked me if i can root her nook. It is currently on 1.4.1 and as I have browsed through the many threads im left without an idea on which method i should use to root. I have rooted my phone several times so I am somewhat familiar with the process i would just hope that someone can point me in the right direction so i can get a good stable rom, and method to root the device. thank you.

To put a custom rom on there follow the guide linked to in my sig. (I recommend this)
To root the stock firmware follow the instructions here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1438212
I am not sure how stable the 1.4.1 root is.
Sent from space

The first question you need to answer is whether she'll need or want the B&N content. Here are the "B&N required features" from the Target Audience portion of the howto koopakid pointed you to:
Read to me (mostly children's book)
Enhanced content (e.g. Conde Nast magazines such as Wired, New Yorker, though some of these are becoming available via 3rd party sources.)
Newpaper or magazine subscriptions (auto-update)
B&N Free in-store reading
Support from friends with stock Nooks or B&N (conditional upon being rooted)
The B&N reader experience and shell. The B&N Android Nook app is not the same thing as their firmware experience, at least not yet. Someday, they may update the B&N Nook Android app, but it is pretty poor right now. If you want to read B&N stuff, then 1.4.1 is a big deal.
Keep in mind that, if you root, she may have a hard time getting support at her local B&N. Unless you are prepared to be her full-time support, that may be a big deal. Does she really need root for what she wants?
If you decide she will actually benefit from root, the guide should get you set up. I've been running rooted 1.4.1 for a month now with few issues. My NC works like any other as far as B&N is concerned, though I know some of the employees raise a stink if they figure out you've rooted. I get infrequent Sleeps of Death, though I also got those with CM. Battery life is pretty good. I can leave it unused for a couple of days and do some casual reading. If I really bang on it, it uses about 10% per hour, so a solid day of reading and watching movies is possible.
If none of these factors apply, then there's little reason to stick with B&N firmware. Loading other firmware will give her more "tablet" functionality than B&N's. Koopakid's got a good summary on the various non-B&N options. For a non-B&N user, I'd recommend eyeballer's guide to installing to eMMC, and use CM 7.2 RC0 Mirage. It's very stable, despite being based on a nightly. Set her up with Aldiko for reading and Overdrive for library books and she'll be in good shape.
Ask her a few more questions about why she wants to root before doing anything dramatic. I've been in the "family tech support" mode for years, and it can be a real hassle if they get in over their heads.

Thanks
Well thanks guys, ill have to dig in a little bit more. I feel kind of spoiled with the simpleness and ease of the rooting process with my evo, who would of thought the NC would involve so much to root. But im going to give it a shot
thanks.

If she wants the basic Nook Color just with a couple of apps that B&N doesn't have, a manual noot is pretty straightforward. I used the TeamWin Recovery Project image, copied the manualnooter from the Nook Color Android Development thread on "[NC][1.2][1.3] ManualNooter 4.6.16", page 175, post 1745. I installed that and it was rooted with no apparent problems.
Follow the main instructions at the opening post in "[NC][1.2][1.3] ManualNooter 4.6.16" to use NookColorTools to select install third party packages ~ do a search for Zeam, run it from search, use the apps widget to get to the full range of apps available ~ and then run the Android Market to download Nook Color App Manager to put apps downloaded from the Android Market into the stock Home pages.
The caution on the stock++ approach is to be careful of updates ~ don't let Android Market update apps that are actually from B&N, for example.

I rooted my nc with manual nooter 5.1.12.20 or something like that. I cant remember the version but it starts with 5 and ends in 20 I flashed ics on it with no problems
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

smurphdogg said:
I rooted my nc with manual nooter 5.1.12.20 or something like that. I cant remember the version but it starts with 5 and ends in 20 I flashed ics on it with no problems
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flashed ICS on it, then why would you need to root your device?

I recommend using verygreens installer for sd card with cm7 so you can easily go back if she doesn't like it. Easy to find in the development thread.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

I'd suggest burning clockwork mod recovery to an SD and flashing cm7,that is, assuming she is sure she wants to stick with that rom. Just beware of the blue dot, i rooted my blue dot 1.4.1 nc this way and had a few issues.

1.4.1 vs 1.4.2

I plan to flash 1.4.2 through CWM then root with MN. Is there any downside to flashing 1.4.2 vs. 1.4.1? With 1.4.2 will I lose market capabilities, non B&N app install capabilities?
Thanks.

Pretty sure V 1.4.2 is un-rootable at the moment. B&N is hard at work on putting boot lockers.
Although developers are capable of breaking that lock I think B&N's stuck up attitude is getting on people's nerves and I won't be surprised if developers just flat out say it was a great run and now bye bye. I mean why would you want to develop for a company that is so interested in making their own device limited.
The way I see it developers of Nook Color are pretty much helping B&N make their device great for free and of course doing a hak of a better job than their paid developers. No offence.

You can root 1.4.2 on a NC just fine with GMPOWER's latest ManualNooter. Be sure to follow the procedure for getting full app visibility in Market. Other than that, I haven't had any issues, at least not in the last 24 hours.
You do not need to flash 1.4.2 via CWM. I don't think you can successfully. Just copy the update file to the MyNookColor folder (the INTERNAL storage) mounted via USB and let it update itself via B&N's normal Get Version 1.4.2 Today procedure. Then you can apply MN. This works even if you've rooted 1.4.1 previously.
With the new tablets set to hit at the near-$250 mark, and the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus dropping to below $300 (depending on the day), I'm not overly worried about B&N trying to lock down their device. The NC is imminently rootable, and worst case, I can always overwrite the B&N firmware with CM. The new B&N Android app, currently in beta, may add the B&N functionality currently missing, in which case, I have no reason to stick with their firmware. The NC will serve until I get "the tablet I want".

AirplaneCrazy said:
Pretty sure V 1.4.2 is un-rootable at the moment. B&N is hard at work on putting boot lockers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since NT v1.4.2 was rooted 4 hours after release, I was "pretty sure" that the NC v1.4.2 would be rooted as or more easily. And as it turned out, and reported over in the developer forum before you posted, the existing manual nooter already works just fine, so we can say that NC v1.4.2 was rootable from the moment of release.
Although developers are capable of breaking that lock I think B&N's stuck up attitude is getting on people's nerves and I won't be surprised if developers just flat out say it was a great run and now bye bye. I mean why would you want to develop for a company that is so interested in making their own device limited.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The two reasons that come to mind are (1) for the fun of solving the puzzle and (2) to expand on the capabilities of products sold at a loss by their retailer, since more open systems will normally not be available at a subsidized price.
The way I see it developers of Nook Color are pretty much helping B&N make their device great for free and of course doing a hak of a better job than their paid developers. No offence.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The two groups are doing different jobs. The B&N developers are developing for a device to carry an ereader to buy ebooks with proprietary extensions to normal ePubs. Their success is measured in whether after-purchase media sales per Nook media tablet covers the loss taken on selling the devices and goes on to generate a profit on top.
Independent devs success is measured on how much joy they deliver to users, rather than how much joy they deliver to stockholders ~ its no surprise they deliver more joy to us, since that's a goal, rather than collateral damage.
In my opinion, B&N really is trying to put a hurdle on rooting the NT, to reduce the numbers sold at a loss to people like me who mostly use it to read Project Gutenburg ebooks, read indie non-DRM manga from Gen Manga, and watch anime at Crunchyroll and Crackle. Of course, as long as they sell the NT8G at a loss leader price, the effort is doomed to fail, but they seem to be at least putting on a show of trying.
But I don't think they've made any serious efforts to lock down the Nook Color ~ since the Kindle Fire at $200 spoiled their strategy of selling them at a small profit margin while providing an upsell opportunity for the NT, they look like they want to keep selling them at cost and hope for as large a share of unit keeping direct access to the B&N store as possible.

I bought the NC 16 gig straight from a Barnes & Noble and saw it was 1.4.2 (I think), I found a downgrade to 1.4 then rooted it. Shouldn't be that hard.

RazoE said:
I bought the NC 16 gig straight from a Barnes & Noble and saw it was 1.4.2 (I think), I found a downgrade to 1.4 then rooted it. Shouldn't be that hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is NO NC 16G on the market since it doesn't exist.
You might have thought of the NT

votinh said:
There is NO NC 16G on the market since it doesn't exist.
You might have thought of the NT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thanks for that clarification. Could have seriously screwed things up if I went too indepth with customization. I have just basic root.

1.4.2 Not bootable from sd card
bobstro said:
You can root 1.4.2 on a NC just fine with GMPOWER's latest ManualNooter. Be sure to follow the procedure for getting full app visibility in Market. Other than that, I haven't had any issues, at least not in the last 24 hours.
I doubt you can. Booting from SD card seems not to be possible on a NC stock 1.4.2.
I think you guys rooted 1.4.1 and then - afterwards - updated to 1.4.2, right?
I did'nt get a way to boot from SD card on my new NC 1.4.2 so far. And I tried hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You can definitely root 1.42 using GMPOWER's method.

brushless1 said:
bobstro said:
You can root 1.4.2 on a NC just fine with GMPOWER's latest ManualNooter. Be sure to follow the procedure for getting full app visibility in Market. Other than that, I haven't had any issues, at least not in the last 24 hours.
I doubt you can. Booting from SD card seems not to be possible on a NC stock 1.4.2.
I think you guys rooted 1.4.1 and then - afterwards - updated to 1.4.2, right?
I did'nt get a way to boot from SD card on my new NC 1.4.2 so far. And I tried hard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it is a NOOKcolor and not NOOK Tablet? Check the model#
I've seen a lot of members mistake the new NT as the NC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I am sorry. You're right. It's a Tablet and not a Color (BNTV250A, Mic, 8GB):
My dealer has terribly confused me: He sold me a Color and delivered a Tablet.
I'm thinking about bring it back.

brushless1 said:
I am sorry. You're right. It's a Tablet and not a Color (BNTV250A, Mic, 8GB):
My dealer has terribly confused me: He sold me a Color and delivered a Tablet.
I'm thinking about bring it back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much did you pay for it?
If the same LOW price, I would keep the NT and call it a bargain.
Yes, we know, NT hackable thingy is not up for prime yet but it will be.
a. Rooting is completely doable and has been done. Not sure about the 1.4.2 though.
b. Installing custom ROMs? Last time (was at least 2 months ago), I've heard they are at the pre-alpha stage, don't know how far they go since. You might want to pop a few questions in the NT forum.

Is there any compelling change that should make me consider updating from 1.4.1 to 1.4.2 if I already have a comfortable 1.4.1 rooted environment with GO Launcher totally configured, the status bar hack installed, OTA updates disabled, Dalingrin's OC kernel installed, etc.?
These days I primarily use the Nook Color as an eReader (both B&N and Amazon) and for lightweight browser/email/Words With Friends usage, and I have a TouchPad with ICS for my tablet duties. As a result my tinkering on the NC has gone down CONSIDERABLY. If there's something really interesting in 1.4.2 I'll do it, but if it's just some small bug fixes, I'll stay put. I don't have many/any real issues with my current setup.
Thanks!

[Q] Nook Color performance vs Tablet?

My wife had a Nook Tablet a while back and I believe it was the 8gb version, but I could be wrong. We had returned it for personal reasons. We are now looking to get her another reader. First off here's a few bits of info:
1. She will be using it primarily as a book reader.
2. She may use some apps but not many.
3. We will not be rooting it.
As far as apps go she will use whatever she can get from the B&N store. With the tablet she had previously she bought some Susan Salon game and the Angry Birds games. She would also use weather apps, Facebook if it's available, and possible Netflix. It comes with a free month of Netflix I believe and she has expressed interest in that, but not sure whether it will be long term or not. She does have a Macbook to use for everything that this device can't.
So with all that said is the performance gain from the dual core processor in the Tablet worth the extra $50 for what she would be using it for?

mhuffman_81 said:
My wife had a Nook Tablet a while back and I believe it was the 8gb version, but I could be wrong. We had returned it for personal reasons. We are now looking to get her another reader. First off here's a few bits of info:
1. She will be using it primarily as a book reader.
2. She may use some apps but not many.
3. We will not be rooting it.
As far as apps go she will use whatever she can get from the B&N store. With the tablet she had previously she bought some Susan Salon game and the Angry Birds games. She would also use weather apps, Facebook if it's available, and possible Netflix. It comes with a free month of Netflix I believe and she has expressed interest in that, but not sure whether it will be long term or not. She does have a Macbook to use for everything that this device can't.
So with all that said is the performance gain from the dual core processor in the Tablet worth the extra $50 for what she would be using it for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Given how you plan to use it, I would say yes it is worth it.

Yes, the Nook Tablet is definitely better at running video. However, I'm not sure how much better the 8GB Tablet is since it has the dual core processor but only 512MB of RAM. On my 16GB Tablet with the 1GB of RAM the video performance is clearly better and the overall speed just a little faster.
Although you say you will not be rooting I would highly recommend running a bootable SD card on either. The changes to being a real tablet are significant. You are also able to access the Google Play store, Amazon App store and others where there are many more apps than B&N has and you can even find the same ones for free or for as little as 1/4 of the price that you will be charged in the B&N app store.
Books and Magazine subscriptions through B&N are still readable using their Android app. Even if it is mainly for reading and only a few apps are downloaded these and other reasons make using something other than the stock OS highly compelling. Since you can do it from a bootable SD card that leaves the internal Nook OS totally stock why wouldn't you give it a go?
JP

If you're not going to root it, you're probably asking the wrong forum. This is XDA; the whole purpose of these forums is for development There's plenty of enthusiast sites out there with users more like you.

Get the regular Nook Color. Even if you get the Nook Color with rooting should be sufficient. Nook Color vs Tablet is speed/ram different. Good Luck.

Id like to make a suggestion for the Galaxy Tab 2 7inch model. It's only 250$ like the Tablet and you will get a far more complete tablet/ereader device than the nook tablet/color.

crimson12 said:
Id like to make a suggestion for the Galaxy Tab 2 7inch model. It's only 250$ like the Tablet and you will get a far more complete tablet/ereader device than the nook tablet/color.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seconded. No working around what B&N think you should be able to access. Ability to access both Google Play Store and Amazon App Store at will. No need to dread OTA updates.
I've got 3 NC and a NT in the family, but am now very happy that I have my own SGT2.

mhuffman_81 said:
My wife had a Nook Tablet a while back and I believe it was the 8gb version, but I could be wrong. We had returned it for personal reasons. We are now looking to get her another reader. First off here's a few bits of info:
1. She will be using it primarily as a book reader.
2. She may use some apps but not many.
3. We will not be rooting it.
As far as apps go she will use whatever she can get from the B&N store. With the tablet she had previously she bought some Susan Salon game and the Angry Birds games. She would also use weather apps, Facebook if it's available, and possible Netflix. It comes with a free month of Netflix I believe and she has expressed interest in that, but not sure whether it will be long term or not. She does have a Macbook to use for everything that this device can't.
So with all that said is the performance gain from the dual core processor in the Tablet worth the extra $50 for what she would be using it for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Item 1, where do she get the book from? Buying directly from B&N?
If so, get the refurbished NOOKColor, not new one, not Nook Tablet for roughly $100, $120. It will do just that.

I bought a nook color as a fun toy when it came out for me to learn about android and tablets. My wife ran off with it and used it as a reader. The nook color turned her into an e-book enthusiast from a skeptic.
We got her a nook simple for xmas and she is way happier with that. Why are you looking at the tablet instead of the simple w/light if she doesn't use apps much? The simple has a great form factor, no glare screen, and weighs less than half of a color plus GREAT battery life.
I still like my nook color but the batter life is still suboptimal if you are using it as a reader only. I couldn't buy myself a simple because I just like the extra bells and whistles, but for her needs it rocks. Just double check your wife's needs/perspective before you lay down the cash.
my 2 cents

I hope this doesn't side track this thread. Is it as easy to get the tablet to run on a bootable SD as the color is?

calixt0 said:
I hope this doesn't side track this thread. Is it as easy to get the tablet to run on a bootable SD as the color is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. The Nook Tablet has a locked bootloader. The devs have found a loophole that makes it work, but it is not as straight forward as the Nook Color. But for the user, it is probably transparent and you would not know the difference.
Sent from my Nook Color running ICS and Tapatalk