Database Users

Iconia A500 or Transformer?

I am debating on which to buy. I've been wanting a tablet for awhile now and have slimmed it down to these two options, but would like some feed back if possible.
I'm looking for s-off and root (quickly glancing at the forums, it looks like both are able to achieve this. I like to toy and tinker with things and having a root, with s-off, is a must for this.
Are there any huge differences between the two? I am liking the additional dock available for the Transformer.
Going to post this in the Transformer forum as well. Iconia people, win me over!

The major differences are that the Transformer has that keyboard dock and a slightly better screen, while the Iconia has built-in USB host and slightly better sound.
I personally greatly prefer having the USB host port built into the device rather than in a bulky dock.
ASUS also appears to be doing a slightly better job of providing software updates than is Acer.

I'll be ordering an Iconia on Friday. I have seen both in the flesh and normal use as at work there's 1 guy with an Iconia and 2 with Transformers. The Iconia seems solidly built and no slower than the Transformer on 3.1, and the screens are almost identical. Not to mention the built in USB.
On the other hand both Transformers have been replaced already, one with a strange screen issue that looked like a liquid under the glass when you touched the screen, and one because the case doesn't line up properly - it creaks noticeably if you hold it landscape fashion.
Also I've been buying Acer kit for years (3 laptops and a netbook so far) and the oldest is still going strong after 5 years, no build quality issues in any of the Acer kit i've bought contrary to popular belief, and they've lasted longer than some of the so called premium brands we use at work.

I have a500 and a Transformer so, I think I can answer to your question... If you want my 2 cents opinion, the a500 is way better. I think the screen is more responsive and more brighten. Plus the transformer's screen get incredibly dirty very quickly. The usb thing has no comparison. Just, for example, I bought a cheap silicon keyboard and it works pretty well with the iconia. Same about the mouse. The transformer has just 2 advantages: 1) it's lighter 2) it has a way better microphone. About all the rest it is inferior or equal to the iconia.
If the mic, for you, is a must then buy a Transforemer. If it's not... then buy a a500.

Try both and decide for yourself. You will be happier.
Don't let others do your thinking for you.

If you can, definitely try both as bungaboy suggests, your own preferences may certainly steer you in a different path. In the end it could quite simply come down to something as off-the-cuff as the location of the front-facing camera.
In terms of companies, I currently have an Acer laptop (very happy with) and an Acer monitor (happy with), and have purchased and installed about 6 ASUS motherboards and video cards over time (only 1 less-than-stellar experience with those) so I'd happily recommend either company in general.

Just a quick reply before I go to work. I live in Japan. I don't have a Best Buy here. They have a Iconia A500 at the BX and I've played with it some, but can't compare to the Transformer.
I'll reply back later today when I have more time. Thanks for all the good input!

inifekt said:
Just a quick reply before I go to work. I live in Japan. I don't have a Best Buy here. They have a Iconia A500 at the BX and I've played with it some, but can't compare to the Transformer.
I'll reply back later today when I have more time. Thanks for all the good input!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. Thanks for all your replies everyone. I am and will decide for myself but since I cannot try out both I was reaching out to the community to give me their pro's and con's so I can weigh them for my own decision.
I'll have to go back to the BX later and play around with the Iconia some more. I didn't really play with the form factor, but what I really like from the Transformer is the keyboard/battery/etc dock. From my understanding it'll be future-compatible too.

why do you like the dock? will you carry with you all the time? if not, pointless. if you want a tab and a keyboard, wait a few more months till the asus eee slide comes out. i got an iconia, and as much as everyone at work bashes me for it, i can do much more than their ipad2

shdw03 said:
why do you like the dock? will you carry with you all the time? if not, pointless. if you want a tab and a keyboard, wait a few more months till the asus eee slide comes out. i got an iconia, and as much as everyone at work bashes me for it, i can do much more than their ipad2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going in with the idea of selling my laptop and leaving the dock at home and use while I'm there. And what is the eee slide? I was also looking at the ASUS W7 tablet they have.

Iconia is my preference... cause of USB port.

Is the Iconia capable of good tablet drawing?

bluemax137 said:
I have a500 and a Transformer so, I think I can answer to your question... If you want my 2 cents opinion, the a500 is way better. I think the screen is more responsive and more brighten. Plus the transformer's screen get incredibly dirty very quickly. The usb thing has no comparison. Just, for example, I bought a cheap silicon keyboard and it works pretty well with the iconia. Same about the mouse. The transformer has just 2 advantages: 1) it's lighter 2) it has a way better microphone. About all the rest it is inferior or equal to the iconia.
If the mic, for you, is a must then buy a Transforemer. If it's not... then buy a a500.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol, ignorance is bliss, eh? it is a well known fact that the Transformer screen is the second best android tablet screen on the market right now (after Gtab 10.1) while the Iconia screen is far behind.
OP, just go in store and compare the two side by side with the screen set at max brightness. You'll see the big difference especially when viewing from an angle. The Asus blows the Iconia away in this respect.
my 2 cents:
Asus Transformer
-way better screen (most important feature in a tablet, imho)
-a lot lighter then the Iconia (Iconia is the heaviest Android tablet)
-faster updates
-less freezes & runs smoother
-dock option
Acer Iconia
-USB port (the Transformer only has this on the dock)
-better built? allegedly. (my Asus is also very solid but the Iconia metal back feels stronger)
-better sound
-better camera (with flash)
For me it boils down to needing a USB port or not & to wanting the dock option or not.
If you don't need the USB port, then the Transformed is the obvious choice.
If you do (and don't want to spend the extra $150 for the dock) then go for the Acer.
Also if you really want a better screen and the dock option, again the obvious choice is the TF.
good luck & enjoy your new toy either or!

I just purchased the Iconia myself. But from forum postings of people who have bought both and checked them out, it seems people are generally more satisfied with the Transformer (apart from the people who got bleeding screens).
The guy above summed it up pretty well.

I bought both when the Staples coupon came out (Inconia from staples, TF from Office Depot), and kept them sealed in box for a couple of days while I did my research on which one I wanted to keep.
I spent a couple of hours over a few stores comparing and then read a bunch on forums, etc.
There is really no reasonable argument for Acer screen over the Asus. The TF is brighter and displays more colors, this is a fact, not opinion. I also thought things looked slightly sharper on the TF (perhaps it was due to the better contrast). I did not like the one port pulling all duties and its location (understandable as its for the keyboard as well). I have no intention of using a keyboard with any tab that use (I have laptops for that). The TF design appeals to me more, I like it's shape more.
I chose the Iconia over the TF due to the additional ports, better xda dev support and numerous reports of quality controls issues on the TF. Frankly, the last issue was the biggest factor in my decision.

The one complaint I have about the Iconia is the screen. It leaves MUCH to be desired. I'm not sure if it's a problem with the Iconia or with Android tablet screens in general, but you can easily see individual pixels on the screen if you hold the device closer than usual.
Text also is somewhat blurry, not sure if this is an issue with Android text rendering or with Iconia's screen.
Everything else is great though.

Hi, i'm planning to buy an iconia, but i've read on soms sites that the display can only display 265k colors while other devices have 16million.
Is this true? And if so, do you really recognise it if you compare it directly to another device?
Sent out of my Free Candy Van.

Yes Plestiuc, ignorance is a bliss... Even not being able to understand what's written is a bliss... and even attention lack is. If you re-read what I wrote, hoping you're able to focus on all the world and not just on random ones... you will notice I wrote: "If you want my 2 cents opinion". If you do not know the meaning of the word: "Opinion", I do suggest you to go back to elementary school.
Over

even tho the iconia is heavy keep in mind that all of the tablets are to heavy to comfortably hold with one hand for more than 5 min. soo I dont know how much the little wieght difference matters....
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App

Flussen said:
Hi, i'm planning to buy an iconia, but i've read on soms sites that the display can only display 265k colors while other devices have 16million.
Is this true? And if so, do you really recognise it if you compare it directly to another device?
Sent out of my Free Candy Van.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In all seriousness, you can't see it. I like the colors on both tablets, and the screen on the transformer is superb. But when I play a movie (the guy at the store let me try a video on the display transformer) I don't notice a difference. The black on the TF is a bit darker, and that's about it.
I didn't think that a built in USB was going to matter to me, but I am actually using it a TON. Thank you so much ACER!

What about the Lenovo Ideapad A1- also $199

The major selling point for the Kindle Fire is of course the price. Especially in this forum where all we really care about is the price and hardware so we can put custom ROMs on later.
So as i see it, they both have similar processors, the same amount of RAM and cost the same but the Ideapad has a bunch of other stuff- dual cameras, gps, bluetooth and a microsd slot.
so assuming both devices get rooted why would we choose the Fire over the Ideapad?

cant tell if the A1 has an IPS screen
specs show that the A1 has TI OMAP 3622, which isnt listed on the ti omap page, but the nc is 3621, so guessing its the same chip, @ 1ghz rather than 800mhz.
the A1 also has a smaller battery 3550 mAh vs 4000 mAh (11% smaller or about 7hrs, if NC has 8hr baseline)
so, guessing that if the A1 does have an IPS screen, it would have same performance to an O/C nook color, but with 1hr less battery life. with the NC2 coming out very soon, for the A1 to complete, guessing that sony will have to drop the price for the 16gb model to $200 to be competitive.

I have been wondering myself how this is all going to fall out.
Supposedly the ideapad may be a minimum 250$ for those of us living in the states with no SD card option.
While the kindle fire is nice.. 16 GB can feel small on a phone.. so I don't know if it is practical for a tab at all without SD card expansion.
If the roms maintain the silk browser and amazon storage.. it may be worth it.
The downsides to the Kindle I see are as follows.
1. lack of buttons.
2. any mods done may be more permanent since it is a more modified version of android.. So once it is rooted/romed.. I worry it may not be able to go "back to stock" which is a bit more damaging.
The only advantage to the kindle I see is the dual core processor..which by itself is sex/tempting..
But, honestly I don't see any other advantage unless the only reason you want a tablet is as an ereader in the first place (which is true of many people)

It does have an IPS display and from what i understand there are is an 8gb version for $200 that wont ship in the US and a 16gb for $250 that will (i didnt see anything about no sd slot in the 8gb version)
Maybe the release of the kindle fire will push lenovo to sell the $200 8gb version in the us.
actually the lack of button seems like a big deal. i mean, we can root it but how functional is android without the home and menu buttons?

IPS display, gorilla glass & price are the only positives.
Oh, one more, it will drive the price down on every other tablet except for the ipad.

ok to lack of hardware buttons Cm7 for the book puts an on screen section on the status bar for menu, back and search.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

The A1 has a single core CPU vs the dual core on the Kindle Fire. That's pretty big for me. I already have a Nook color and it can get a bit sluggish sometimes, even o/c to 1200.

I also have an NC, and it runs fine for what I use it for. I don't use widgets/apps that run continuously. It can play MKV/AVI movies OK at SD resolution, using QQPlayer.
The big question is how good is the KF as a modded device, and lack of an SD slot is a major bummer--not just for ease of modding, but also for storage expansion. 8GB (actually, 5GB) isn't a lot. The unrooted KF can get away with it, since it uses Amazon's cloud services. CM7 can't.
But the Lenovo A1 isn't in the equation, as you can already get the same (except cams & GPS) from the existing NC right now for $150. And the NC is already a CM-supported device, so you don't have to wait around a couple of months for it to get dev support. As for the missing features--cams, GPS, HDMI-out--you have to ask yourself what's important for your use. Those aren't important to me.
I'm looking forward to the NC2, which is rumored to have the same 4430 SoC. Hopefully, B&N will match the KF's $199 price, but if the NC2 is as moddable as the NC, at $250 it would still be a good deal for the SD slot.

I agree, NC is probably still a good deal than the A1. I had a nook color before, I liked it for a while but was disappointed that it didn't have a mic. and the speed was a little bit slow as well, even after OC. then, I sold it and got a 7 inch galaxy tab. I loved the tab a lot, it only costed me 260 (woot deal) and it came with everything and 99% of games and app worked fine after gingerbread upgrade. Then I was stupid enough to trade the tab with the 10.1 tab... the 10.1 tab was good and much faster than the 7 tab but too big and half of my apps didn't work.
Anyways, i am also looking for a 7-8 inches tablet.. I want a dual-core, gps, mic, sd-card, at least 8 hours battery life and under $350. mic and gps are must since I have many apps and games for my sons that they need mic and gps..
I am waiting for the galaxy 7+.. Any other idea?

Eh.. Maybe I will regret it later..
I really like the idea of "cheap, no frills" tabs.
I mean in my phone I get the idea.. GPS is nice since if I get lost odds are I will have my phone.
Bluetooth is nice since I'm using my phone anyway.
In a tablet device.. if I can get it cheaper without frills.. then so be it.
I'm really going back and forth both ways on the kindle fire. I may pick up one if I decide to hop on a tablet yet.
It really depends on whether or not the A1 comes out and what kind of reviews it gets.
I guess what we expect the tablet to do also plays into it a lot though. I mean, I just want a web browsing/manga reading device

I've been looking at these too. The IdeaPad is supposed to have a GPS, which is really nice. I'm not sure what the screen is going to be like.
Anyway, I think the Fire is going to appeal to the common man, but the IdeaPad is going to appeal more to the hacker. I'm shopping for my wife, so I'm suck in the middle.
Either way, I welcome the device. Android doesn't really have a main stream tablet. The Transformer is highly tech cool and the Galaxy 10 is pretty and refined, but nothing has really come along to put Android into the main stream tablet world. Sure it's most likely 2.3, but the Fire is going pull a ton of attention to the Android tablet world.
I think an unexplored angle is that it could even break into Apple's bread and butter iPod touch market. If game developers pick up on it, it becomes a very attractive touch competitor. Better browser, better CPU, better screen, same price. I'm sure it will run Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja. In 6 months the reburbs will be $150, fairly close to the magic $100 disposable tech line.

israel102 said:
The major selling point for the Kindle Fire is of course the price. Especially in this forum where all we really care about is the price and hardware so we can put custom ROMs on later.
So as i see it, they both have similar processors, the same amount of RAM and cost the same but the Ideapad has a bunch of other stuff- dual cameras, gps, bluetooth and a microsd slot.
so assuming both devices get rooted why would we choose the Fire over the Ideapad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because of the integration with Amazon media services and their Cloud storage. I already have a Xoom 10.1 tablet so I'm not looking for the benefits of a tablet. The Fire will be a convenient device to read, email, watch an occasional movie and wait for the hackers to do their thing.
If I were buying a tablet it would not be a 7 inch one regardless of the capabilities.

1215kids said:
Because of the integration with Amazon media services and their Cloud storage. I already have a Xoom 10.1 tablet so I'm not looking for the benefits of a tablet. The Fire will be a convenient device to read, email, watch an occasional movie and wait for the hackers to do their thing.
If I were buying a tablet it would not be a 7 inch one regardless of the capabilities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Though I see the logic in the point you mention for your planned usage, I still do not see much point in a rooted Fire. Kind of a rat in the cage, due to the lack of storage expansion. Not to mention the Amazon interface and their closed app system would be compromised (not seeing Amazon letting that happen). In short, a person will have a few GB of space and that is it. Android market? What is the point? No room for apps & media
Seems the price is not worth the trade-offs, IMO.

I also have a KK which I paid $139 and for $60 more I will have a much more capable device. Also currently have 20gb of storage in the cloud that includes pics, docs, etc. plus the hundreds of songs. The music doesn't count against the 20gb.
My wife uses the KK exclusively.

Looks like the A1 is up on the Lenovo site, but at $229 for the 2GB model. The 16GB is $250.
Has anyone seen this for $199 anywhere?
The magic $199 price has me looking for a table to add as a remote control & some light couch surfing, emailing and occasional travel use. I like the fact that the Fire is dual core, but think the sd card, cameras and gps would be nice to have.

it was 199$ on the lenovo site for a while..
The release date has been pushed back twice already.
I am guessing they are selling well.

Its 229 and that's on SALE! It retails for 350!!! It also only has 2 gig internal. NO IPS, no dual core... same or worse RAM.... the only redeeming factor in my mind is that I think it has an expansion slot??? Also I don't like lenovo for bussiness or home..

s0m3f00l said:
Its 229 and that's on SALE! It retails for 350!!! It also only has 2 gig internal. NO IPS, no dual core... same or worse RAM.... the only redeeming factor in my mind is that I think it has an expansion slot??? Also I don't like lenovo for bussiness or home..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will probably always be "on sale".

What are the chances of an internal SD in the Fire?
There's bound to be a moderately simple way for Amazon to flash the thing, and I doubt it would take long to replicate once it's released.

Snow_fox said:
it was 199$ on the lenovo site for a while..
The release date has been pushed back twice already.
I am guessing they are selling well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw that too... other colors were available at the time as well, now it is only Black or White.
Also, the employee discount is only $10, which seems odd, so that means $239 for me - but I am still not sold on it at that price. If I could have gotten the discount on the lower spec one priced @ $199, I prob would have bit.
Estimated ship date is 11/8, but the rep I am chatting with now claims it will ship before then.
He has also stated that it does not have Gorilla Glass (which I think I read elsewhere in this thread that it has).
ETA: the rep I am talking too also says that the A1 ships with android 3.1... and just offered it to me for $219.
ETA2: he backtracked on the 3.1, and is also unable to confirm the release of 2.3
ETA3: I ordered a white one @ the $219 price: bonus = Free Shipping!

why did you choose this over the acer iconia and galaxy tab 10.1?

these 2 seem to cover opposing needs which overlap with transformer. You need good display and weight then tab. You need expandability, iconia is there and cheap.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

acers too heavy and video playback is gash, otas havent been as frequent and its filled with bloat.
samsung price is too high, connectivity is rubbish, lack of support from samsung, screen problems, touch wizz.
i would have another 7" gtab gtp1000 though, good roms for it and its great for its spec.

put them side by side, looks at the screen transitional rate. Alright, transformer it is.
well long before the TF was out, was xoom and acer iconia. Both of them didnt have a smooth screen transition rate, when android was still at 3.0 honeycomb. so I decided to wait a little longer and see what the TF got to offer. Samsung galaxy tab 10.1 came too late into the market for me =\

I've owned both Asus Transformer and 10.1 and design, weight, and screen goes to Galaxy Tab 10.1. However the lack of ports was a major turn off so I've stuck with the transformer instead. I'm glad I did because its seems to be one with the most development and traffic in terms of tablet in this forum.

At the time I bought my TF the Acer was more expensive. Also, no dock and a cruddier screen almost as bad as the Xoom's.
The Galaxy 10.1 hadn't been announced yet but price, dock and a general dislike of Samsung would still have led me to the TF.

For me it was only ONE reason: The dock-to me it's a total no brainer. These tablets are all pretty much the same, with the only differences being the hardware. Having a built in, removeble, foldable keypad makes the Transformer miles ahead of all the others. Interesting enough, I find that I haven't even uncovered, much less used the USB ports or the HDMI out, as well as the external micro SD slot

Much like fldude99 I bought the Transformer for the dock.
In my look at the time (pre-A500), the Tab was pretty much the cream of the crop when I did research. Especially since I could get a version from my carrier instead of the WiFi only version; although now that I look, it seems they have stopped carrying them :-/. So if I just wanted a typical "Tablet", I would have bought a Galaxy Tab 10.1 or held out for Xoom II. While owning an Android phone, I don't have much use for a tablet unless it can do whatever I can do with my existing system. The ASUS Transformer is almost exactly like the EeePC I have been using, and except for the Android SDK, seems to let me do everything I've been doing in straight Linux (courtesy of a Debian chroot and the Market).
Since I got the EeePC earlier this year, what made it worth my while to upgrade to the Transformer -- excessive of battery life due to the dock.
Which is just good, because I can both work on code longer if the power goes out, and as my fiancee lives 4200+km away -- it is much better suited to plane travel then any other system I could get. Short of buying several battery.

keyboard dock and price.

The iconia was actually my first choice while I was deciding between the TF and the iconia. After using the iconia for a while, I realized the huge advantage of having a keyboard dock option with the TF.
I paid about $300 for the iconia. I paid $380 for the TF+dock. So, money wasn't an issue.

TF over Iconia:
TF not as bigger/fatter
TF not as heavier
TF not better looking
TF screen was nicer
The dock was a very nice option.
TF over 10.1:
TF offered MicroSD card slot (single biggest reason)
TF was $100 cheaper
FT offered a better dock option

I've always hated acer so I don't even look at their stuff. The samsung was too expensive for the same hardware(plus the screen on the galaxy tab is oversaturated)

keyboard and price for me too. and now you lucky late-adoptors can get the keyboard at the tablet's original price point. all the tegra 2 tablets are basically the same...what sets them apart are build quality and accessories.
TF isn't neccessarily the top in terms of build quality (although it's pretty good)...but with the keyboard dock, it's #1 at accessories.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

The dock is the reason I got the TF. If I only needed to consume media than the 10.1 would have been my choice. But the dock moves the TF to a different level of usefulness to me. Typing much more than a sentence or two without a dock is a pain.

I use this as a laptop replacement.
1) USB : Ethernet, 3GB, External Harddrive
2) Dock : Battery, PERFECT RDP client
Neither Acer(usually bad support) nor Samsung (no dock back then)
Asus wins!

1) dock
2) screen
3) never had problems with an Asus product, the only Acer product I've owned was rubish
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium

Comparing, in my opinion:
-Acer: looked cheap, felt bulky and heavy, great connectivity and expandability
-Motorola: looked great, felt heavy and bulky, expensive
-Galaxy Tab 10.1: looked great, thin & light, felt fragile, lack of connectivity and expansion
-Asus: looks good, good connectivity and expansion options, size and weight is fine, it feels good in my hands
Also after looking a bit, it seemed that those tabs aren't having a great support from the makers, while Asus was getting the updates and seemed to care more about its product.

The price and the dock.
Right now if I were buying, i'd maybe consider the Xoom due to the price drop.

About a year ago I got the now infamous ZTE Blade, which still is an awesome bit of hardware given how cheap it is and was at the time. Ended up becoming a major Android fan, trying out half a dozen different ROMs and generally playing with it. It's still a cheap and cheerful device though - plasticky, doesn't do Flash - numerous drawbacks. I still use it, and still love it though.
I started salivating over the TF when it first came out - I loved the look of Honeycomb, and really wanted to get my hands on a tab running it properly - not a bargain basement number with it hacked on. I just couldn't financially justify it - I'm not rich, and although any spare income tends to go on PC upgrades or gadgetry, the price of most Honeycomb tabs was way beyond my means. Ultimately, a very kind relative gave me a large cheque for my birthday last month and I found a cheap open box TF+dock on the site I most often use for computer related purchases and figured I was sick of obsessing about it and the should just buy the damned thing.
There were a few things that swung it for me - mainly it was the dock which had the potential (and did in practice) turn a tab from being something that seemed purely luxurious and geared towards media consumption into something that could be used productively. The full size USB ports played a part, as did the price compared to other, similar specced tabs (which all seemed to have less options, storage wise) and the fact it was ASUS hardware - all my self-build PCs have had ASUS motherboards, and I've had a couple of their graphics cards too.
So mainly the dock and the price. I've had it for under a fortnight (I was lucky - got a B05) and I don't regret it in the slightest.

it was simple for me... it had MicroSD right on it, and the propietary dock was not needed with the keyboard in order to use a SD card, external HDD, thumb drive, etc

Price and availability where key points against Samsung tab. Didn't even bother with acer as I'm not very satisfied with acer stuff.
Also the dock and speedy update where an plus for tf
Sent from my LG-P920 using Tapatalk

Kindle Fire vs. Nook Tablet

I am looking at buying either one of these. I like the way the kindle fire looks better, but I don't like it's lack of sd card support. They both seem to have good development for rooted users and I plan on rooting. I am leaning towards the Nook, but haven't decided for sure yet. Please offer your opinions and why you would choose one over the other.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using xda premium

Nook = locked bootloader. Not for me.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

It's also $50 more. I like the Gorilla Glass the Kindle has a well. Does the Nook have that?

Yup
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

hrbib21 said:
Nook = locked bootloader. Not for me.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader has been unlocked for a while now

Nook has a microscope so you can duel boot.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

Personally I would go nook tablet. I have a fire because I bought it from some kid on craigslist for 100 dollars. Actually a 50 dollar bestbuy giftcard and 50 cash

This week at Walmart B&M stores only, you can get a Fire with a $50 WM GC, so basically paying $149 for the Fire. The Nook Color is $249 (but there is also a $25 GC if you are a MasterCard holder).

mic213 said:
The bootloader has been unlocked for a while now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And I still have no interest in it. My Nook Color was great to mess around with but the tablet doesn't do it for me (had one for a week, grew tired of waiting).
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

If the bootloader is truly unlocked, then go with the device that has the better Dev support. Check out both forum's and make your choice.

In my opinion the only real downside of the kindle-fire is the way too little 512mb of ram. Apart from that's its a gorgeous device. Its cheap, it feels good in hands, kinda pocket, it will fit in your pocket while the nook is fairly bigger, and it has pretty much the same hw as the nook has, apart from the 500mb of ram more (which is a damn good thing) and the SD slot which is definitely good if you need to increase storage. Although that doesn't really bother me much as 8gb are more than enough for me on a tablet, especially when you can benefit of 2.5gb of drop box, 50gb of box.net along with every other Google cloud services such as picasa, docs, Gmail etc.
Also, the kindle-fire has a better dev support so far, CM7 is way too damn good, we have a pretty stable ICS rom and it's still an early alpha, while the nook only offers an early CM7 alpha (for sure the locked boot loader had significantly slowed down the development).
So my advice is to go cheaper and actually to go for at some points a better device, indeed the kindle-fire

Maybe you are interested in reading some detailed comparison of the two:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/kindle-fire-vs-nook-tablet-fight/
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7-57330571-251/kindle-fire-vs-nook-tablet-how-to-choose/

Having a Fire myself I'm somewhat biased. The fire, quite frankly, is a bit heavy. I don't know how it compares to the Nook, but having played with an iPad2 before, the iPad _seemed_ lighter - maybe that was just my compensating for the larger form factor; the Fire feels like a brick in my hands - too heavy for its size.
But, I purchased it for a cheap tablet to play with Android, so really no major complaints.
And THANKS to all the devs that are working tirelessly to put ICS on the Fire - even as it stands now it looks/works great. Yes, yes, there are a few missing pieces, but I'm quite willing to overlook them for the moment.

gadgetman13 said:
Having a Fire myself I'm somewhat biased. The fire, quite frankly, is a bit heavy. I don't know how it compares to the Nook, but having played with an iPad2 before, the iPad _seemed_ lighter - maybe that was just my compensating for the larger form factor; the Fire feels like a brick in my hands - too heavy for its size.
But, I purchased it for a cheap tablet to play with Android, so really no major complaints.
And THANKS to all the devs that are working tirelessly to put ICS on the Fire - even as it stands now it looks/works great. Yes, yes, there are a few missing pieces, but I'm quite willing to overlook them for the moment.
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I can second that. I actually bought a Nook Tablet first, then returned it and got the Kindle Fire instead. My wife still has a Nook Tablet of her own.
Looking up the specs, the Nook Tablet is only a tiny bit lighter than the Kindle Fire (400 g vs. 413 g), but it is lighter, and larger. It feels much lighter because of the materials they use - it has a nice soft, almost padded edge around the screen, and the screen is set in from the face of the device so you won't accidentally touch it. All in all the Nook is probably a better device for reading or if you value ergonomics highly.
I ended up with the Kindle mainly because I wanted the larger developer community, the lower price, and because I don't need SD card storage. Some people need it, but I don't. I didn't notice any difference in performance so apparently the lower RAM on the Kindle doesn't actually change much.
They're both good though. I think the largest, most important distinctions are the price and the SD card slot. Take those into account before anything else.

robertesteele said:
I am looking at buying either one of these. I like the way the kindle fire looks better, but I don't like it's lack of sd card support. They both seem to have good development for rooted users and I plan on rooting. I am leaning towards the Nook, but haven't decided for sure yet. Please offer your opinions and why you would choose one over the other.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using xda premium
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The Kindle Fire is miles ahead in terms of the speed of homebrew development, thanks to its unlocked bootloader. You could root it and install a custom ROM today if you went and purchased it. The locked bootloader on the Nook Tablet slowed development down a lot, but I'd say the developers working on it have done amazing things so far; it shows promise.
My Nook Tablet is running the CM7 alpha that Celtic released a few days ago but the ROM was taken down because Celtic wants a more polished ROM to be available to users. Both have unlocked bootloaders but the Kindle, having been more hack-friendly, already has a full CM7 release and the Ice Cream Sandwhich/CM9 development seems to be going swimmingly as well. The previously-locked bootloader is indeed what slowed down Nook Tablet homebrew devs.
The NT dev community's catching up, but if you're a bit more impatient and want a cool 7-inch Android tablet right away, go with the Fire. If you're more patient and don't mind waiting, the Nook Tablet has better hardware all around and is well worth the $50 more that it costs. It weighs a little less, its battery lasts a little longer, it has double the RAM and expandable micro-SD storage. I'm also told that the screen resists glare better than the Fire's, but I haven't had a chance to play with the Fire much myself so I can't judge that aspect.
tl;dr: If you want a great hacked Android tablet right now, go with the Fire. If you can stand the wait a little longer, go with the Nook Tablet. The Nook Tab devs have been making amazing progress so a release of CM7 is probably not far off (maybe this month!) but like I said, you could have CM7 on a Kindle Fire today.

I looked at both devices before I made my purchase, and price was not a considering factor cause when I went shopping the NT was on sale for the same price as the KF, I just like the look of the KF better, plus I like Kindle as a name, my name being kinda close to it too. That and some of my friends have the KF and they love it, and they told me the Dev section on XDA was ahead of the NT. Support is a major factor for me when I get a device.
My dad has a 200 dollar 'tablet' with a bigger screen and all that, but the support for it is awful. He plays order and chaos online like I do and he can't get it to run on his device, or other gameloft games, where as I have the game on mine.
Sent from my KINDLE FIRE using xda premium

Sorry, I meant micro sd. My kindle Auto corrected.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using xda premium

why get a nook? "a nook can't read so a nook can't cook. so what good to a nook is a hook cook book?" -Dr Seuss

I actually traded my Dell Streak 7 for the Fire and like it, but if I was buying it, I would go with the Nook Tablet. I just got a coupon good till the end of the month for $50 off either a Nook Color OR Nook Tablet (so $149 and $199). Dang tempting, but I gotta quit buying tablets until one comes out that fits all my needs...and honestly, as fun as the Fire is and the Nook probably is...without a front camera for Skype and stylus support, neither will cut my mustard. Also, I've had a Nook Color and I really like the feel of the Fire better. I'm pretty sure the Nook Tablet feels the same as the Color...for what that's worth.

I got the Fire because:
- neither it or the nook is a full featured tablet and the fire is cheaper (nook is too "middle ground" price/features)
- it doesn't weigh more than my hardcover copy of Harry potter 7, and is thinner and much smaller besides
- amazon sold a ton of them and isn't going anywhere, meaning lots of aftermarket support
- my phone and camera make up for the features it lacks; mainly I just wanted browsing, email, and IM without being stuck at my desk or at a wall (with my short-battery-life laptop)
I never do any videoconferencing.
A bluetooth keyboard would've been nice, but for the price I can do without.

New Kindle Fire Coming this Fall

Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet will get a new and larger version this fall, according to a new report. Reuters states via unnamed sources that the new version of the Kindle tablet will have an 8.9 inch screen, compared to the seven inch screen that's on the current Kindle Fire tablet. That will still make it smaller than the current iPad from Apple which has a 10 inch screen.
There's no other details on the new Kindle tablet, such as its processor, operating system or even if it will keep the Kindle Fire name. Amazon has yet to comment.
The same report claims that Amazon is working on a new version of its Kindle eReader device that will include a front light. That version is expected to be released sometime in July. Barnes and Noble recently launched a version of its Nook Simple Reader device with a front "Glowlight" that allows users to read eBooks in the dark. That product sells for $139.
One of the concerns for Amazon in adding such a front light feature is that the battery life of the device would likely be reduced. As far as pricing, a front light for the Kindle eReader would only generate a slight price hike for the device; in fact, the article claims that Amazon might not raise its price at all.
Barnes and Noble recently announced a partnership with Microsoft that might lead to the Nook business spinning off from the bookseller. There has been much speculation that a future version of the Nook tablet could run on a port of Windows 8.

I will buy one for sure !

Yea, I think I may have to upgrade to the new version as well.

I would have to hold it. I like that I can wrap one hand around the current Kindle Fire and carry/hold it like a phone. 8.9" is getting pretty big unless they just cut down on the bezel. That is one thing I disliked about my Tranformer Prime. I felt like I had a lot less secure hold on it and because of that didn't like using it on the train or at work. It always felt on the edge of falling out of my hand. With the fire I can hold the thing very securely.

Evo_Shift said:
I would have to hold it. I like that I can wrap one hand around the current Kindle Fire and carry/hold it like a phone. 8.9" is getting pretty big unless they just cut down on the bezel. That is one thing I disliked about my Tranformer Prime. I felt like I had a lot less secure hold on it and because of that didn't like using it on the train or at work. It always felt on the edge of falling out of my hand. With the fire I can hold the thing very securely.
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I've had the similarly sized Galaxy 10.1 for a while, and for the most part I feel the same way as you do with the Prime. 10.1 is unwieldy in any packaging for single-handing like you would do with the Fire. But I've also used the Galaxy Tab 8.9, and it's much easier to hold.
I'm hoping that Amazon may even go to a 4:3 format like the iPad or Touchpad. IMO larger 16:10 screens are too long to scan a page without major head contortions when you hold them in portrait mode.

I may consider upgrading as well, depending on price, or getting one for my wife as she loves mine. However, I kind of like the size it's at now, so I will also have to see how it feels...

Depends on price, processor, and whether they start locking it down.
Probably not though, as I already own a Tab 10.1 and will likely get the Note 10.1

If it comes with anything better than the stock 2.3.4 junk, it will sell way faster. But it is not likely...
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

shravbits said:
If it comes with anything better than the stock 2.3.4 junk, it will sell way faster. But it is not likely...
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
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It could come with a modified Honeycomb or ICS operating system.

I prefer a 7" device with a smaller bezel.

veeman said:
It could come with a modified Honeycomb or ICS operating system.
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Unlikely, but possible
Sent from a blaze of amazon using Tapatalk

Sounds cool, but I lover my fire it the perfect size. I'll have to take a look at it first.
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire using xda premium

As long as it has bluetooth I'm sold!

Only thing I wish mine had was Bluetooth as well. Besides that, perfectly content with my Fire.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2

It is worth to upgrade *IF* the new Kindle will be much lighter with the same or better battery life. Size is ok, screen ok, OS doesn't realy matter.

Remember the Nexus tablet!
Nightly Suicide said:
Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet will get a new and larger version this fall, according to a new report.
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Personally, I just want to see what the galaxy tablet will look like. I hope it will have a microphone and bluetooth 4.0. A front-facing camera would be nice but I don't really need one.