Database Users

Xoom Resolution Vs. Ipad for Reading

Can owners of both Xoom and Ipad comment on the screen resolution for reading online text or pdf files? That's what I'm gonna use the tablet for most the time. I know Xoom resolution is slightly higher, but is it significant enough to show difference in clarity during reading. Thx.

I can't speak to the iPad, as I haven't read on one.
With that said, I've been pleasantly surprised by just how usable the Xoom is as an e-reader. I bought a book through the book market to use w/the Google reader app as a case-study, and have blown through a majority of it.
I can confirm very little eye strain (though dimming the screen certainly makes it easier).
The anti-aliasing is good -- not too 'blurred' around the edges.
Hope this helps.

There's no significant difference in the displays in terms of "just reading" on them. Not enough to me anyways, I own a Xoom and bought an iPad2 for my wife.
The iPad2 has a very sharp crisp and clear screen though, in terms of general over all brightness I would give it the edge.

i own both....I love reading on my xoom but the ipad2 has better clarity from all angles and just seems clearer despite the xooms superior resolution.....the wife uses the ipad more for her books and I just do more browsing and random crap so I use the xoom more.....my wife never complains when reading on the xoom so I guess both do the trick for her.....but then i can side load epub through the nook app so she is a bit envious of that.....so yah hers is prettier....mine has options....so we use both

k, I have played with both individually just not side by side. I still can't decide . I feel both are great, and neither tablet has any advantage in terms of what I'm gonna use it for.

Don't put large PDF textbooks on the xoom, it's an awful experience. IPad is much faster. Xoom needs a tablet optimized PDF app

I dislike the smooth text on the iPad I have..like windows without clear type. Even with the inferiorscreem, the text seemed to be a bit sharper

bobdude5 said:
Don't put large PDF textbooks on the xoom, it's an awful experience. IPad is much faster. Xoom needs a tablet optimized PDF app
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The Adobe App is not that great at looking at large PDF however Quickoffice in the Continuous View mode renders the PDF correctly and pretty smooth. It works best in portrait though.

I find text is blurry for the first half a second and then becomes sharp... quite sharp actually. I love reading on the lowest light setting.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA App

Are any of you using ez-PDF Reader on the Xoom? If so how does that handle PDF files compared to other reader apps you've used (document handling, sharpness of text, speed, etc.)?

Anyone care to speculate on whether or not we'll be able to use (with the assistance of the good folks here at XDA) Google Books to view PDFs that we load into it?

Is 7" fine for text book reading?

Can someone tell me if a 7" tablet is big enough to read text and view images without having to constantly zoom in at the pics to see clearly.
I'm using this to mainly to read books on php coding.

In my opinion 7'' is enough, but 1024x600 resolution of the Fire is not enough. You could try any 7'' tablet in shop and test it yourself.

MT4G_Slave said:
Can someone tell me if a 7" tablet is big enough to read text and view images without having to constantly zoom in at the pics to see clearly.
I'm using this to mainly to read books on php coding.
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For code the 7 inch on my nc is too small. For standard text it is fine because you can adjust the font size.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

Same here. The Nook Color has been superb for reading all sorts of file types including graphic intensive pdf files.

7-inch for me is the perfect reading size. 10" IMO is too large and heavy for reading in bed for example.
Edit: Oops, didn't see the type of books you were reading - 7" may be too small for your purposes.

Right dudes have 5 inch e-inc reader for novels, and 10.2 tablet for pdf...

Nexus 7 size right for reading pdf's or should I wait for 10" alternative?

Hello guys, I am very excited about this tablet and didn't believed it was possible to actually offer such great specs at this price point, I take my hat off to google. I am currently looking to buy an android tablet basically for college book reading since most of the books (Science) are sent to us through pdf and reading them with the laptop is very impractical... These books are the typical 7.4" x 9.1" physical book size and my main concern is that the pages will not fit properly on the 7" screen or maybe wont be legible having to use zoom the pages in which is basically what I want to avoid.
So basically do you guys think this tablet could suit me for reading pdf books naturally without having to zoom the pages? or should I wait for the rumored nexus 10 to suit my needs?
Oscar

PDFs are a print format; they look great at 8.5x11.
Every smaller device I have seen has been a compromise; the smaller they get the worse it is.
Pick a commonly available textbook and see how it looks in the Apple store on a 10" IPad. Then drop by Barnes and Nobel and see how it looks on the Nook Tablet at 7". It will look very much the same on the Nexus 7 as on the Nook Tablet.
I won't do PDFs on my readers for that reason; my entire library is EPubs, with changeable font sizes and good text reflow.

It obviously depends on the font size used in the PDFs you intend to view. In general, if you're looking for a reading device, the consensus is that the 7" format is perfect.

I have a number of mags that I use in PDF format. It completely depends on how much text the book/mag printer is trying to squeeze on the page. Some look great, others require a little pinch.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Send us the pdfs (once we get the tablet, of course) and we can try it out for you.

>do you guys think this tablet could suit me for reading pdf books naturally without having to zoom the pages?
This is my main concern as well. Reading PDFs on a Nook is doable, but not optimal. The problem isn't the 7" size so much as the insufficient width of the Nook's 1.7 aspect. I find that if I manually crop the margins (done once per book), then I can read most texts OK in portrait. But it's not comfortable for extended reading. BTW, when reading long-form, the last thing you want to do is zooming in/out per page.
I can of course read in landscape, but again the "widescreen" aspect is suboptimal, necessitating excessive scrolling.
N7 is slightly better with its 1.6 aspect + higher res. Its actual screen is physically about 5mm wider than the Nook's. The higher-res display should improve readability, although I'm not sure how much.
An optimal device for reading PDFs for me would be in 4:3 format. For one-handed use, a 7'ish size is best. The rumored 7.85" mini iPad would be perfect.
If reading PDF textbooks is your main use, the best device is the iPad. It has the optimal 4:3 aspect, and its display is the best hands down. When you're reading books for long periods, the extra space of a 10" is much more important than the portability from a 7". For extended reading, 10" is best used in a stand, though.
>should I wait for the rumored nexus 10
It's futile to chase after gadget rumors. Although I will say that the iPad mini is on my list, if it becomes true.
Edit: I'm looking at the Lenovo IdeaTab S2109 which just hit the retail shelves. Basically a value tab, but it has a 4:3 IPS and good sized battery, important for a reader. SoC is last-gen OMAP4430, same as KF, so not the fastest. But that's good, because it means it'll hit the discount bins sooner than later. Hopefully it'll come up in a BF sale.
http://androidcommunity.com/lenovo-ideatab-s2109-budget-ics-tablet-hands-on-20120702/

There's no doubt that a 10" device is better for viewing most PDFs, but you can get by with a 7", especially if you're able to crop the PDF down before sending it to your device. For a free utility to crop PDFs just search for Briss.
But frankly if you're looking for something to use with textbook PDFs you'll spare yourself a lot of grief if you wait and save up for an iPad2.

Well, after having both 7" (Nexus 7 16GB) and 10" (Ainol Hero 1) - I ended up using almost exclusively the larger one. Its not that neat/cute nor easy to carry every day, but I finally started reading PDF books and PC manuals Ive intended to read for ages ... Debian Handbook for example - great at 10 inches, sucks at 7 inches. Also other stuff like Flipboard is great when using the tablet in vertical position.

I don't know about everyone else but I get a pretty much perfect conversion when I use Adobe Reader, especially in Landscape Mode. The stock reader and a couple of other ones I tried didn't really do it for me

IntelligentAj said:
I don't know about everyone else but I get a pretty much perfect conversion when I use Adobe Reader, especially in Landscape Mode. The stock reader and a couple of other ones I tried didn't really do it for me
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Well, myself, I hate scrolling page when reading. Thats why I love to read it on 10inch tablet in vertical way. I read one page, click right side of the screen, read another page ... etc. ... Using Mantano reader btw.

Nexus 7 is very cool phablet for reading docs...
But you need to zoom a bit on any 7` tablet...
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

michalurban said:
Well, myself, I hate scrolling page when reading. Thats why I love to read it on 10inch tablet in vertical way. I read one page, click right side of the screen, read another page ... etc. ... Using Mantano reader btw.
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I actually don't mind the scrolling too much which is funny since I came over from a Kindle Touch. I'll try that app though. Do you have to zoom or does it do a good job of re-sizing the PDF?

IntelligentAj said:
I actually don't mind the scrolling too much which is funny since I came over from a Kindle Touch. I'll try that app though. Do you have to zoom or does it do a good job of re-sizing the PDF?
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Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. Dont know what it depends on. But on the 10-inch I dont zoom at all ...

michalurban said:
Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesnt. Dont know what it depends on. But on the 10-inch I dont zoom at all ...
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Alright I'll give it a try on my Nexus 7. I just don't want to deal with the hassle of converting my PDF files. My ebooks I use the kindle app and it works great

IntelligentAj said:
Alright I'll give it a try on my Nexus 7. I just don't want to deal with the hassle of converting my PDF files. My ebooks I use the kindle app and it works great
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Yes, me too. I managed to buy some books for Google Books even in my unsupported country, but now they really shut the access down for us so I moved to Amazon Kindle and its great.

Can anyone recommend the Nexus 7 for comics?

Planning on either getting the N7 or the ipad3 real soon but I'm really hesitant because of the better screen of the ipad. I'm getting a tablet mainly for light sufring, music, media and comic book reading.
Does anyone use their N7 for comics? What app do you use for CBR files? How's the screen and hows the usability and feel of reading from a much smaller screen? I'm guessing it can get annoying to read from such a small device because you'd constantly have to flick around just to read.
I'm all for the N7 but the only thing that's holding me back is that beautiful screen and itunes mp3 integration which is the best! Although I hate having to convert videos just to view them on my device.

I use ComicRack on my Nexus 7.
I am able to read comics in portrait mode without having to zoom in. The 1280x800 resolution is high enough for text to be displayed clearly. I don't need to zoom in and out.
The new iPad is still better for comics though. Reading comics on the Nexus 7 isn't bad, but sometimes you want a bigger screen (since comic text can be pretty small).

I'm pretty much using the N7 for email, texting and reading books and comics. I find that it works fine as a comic reader. After trying different comic apps, I've settled on two.
Comics by Comixology
This is great for buying and viewing comics. The guided view is superb. Try it out. They offer free comics so you'll be able to see how it works. I do still buy comics to offset all the ones that I download for free.
Perfect Viewer
This is the one I use for my cbr/cbz files. It works great and has a nice bookshelf feature to easily keep track of your comics and what's been read. There's plenty of customization available but not so much that it's overkill. I prefer reading in landscape with comic scaled to width. Tap the right side to scroll down a configurable amount. If you're at the bottom of the page it goes to the next page.

i love my nexus 7 for reading manga. it's great. i've always used jj comic viewer. 7 inch screen is way more convenient than 10. i can fit it in every single pair of pants pockets. i usually read them in landscape mode so you have to navigate your finger up and down to see the whole page, but it really isn't that bad. you just start from the top of the page and work your way down. it's what you would do anyways. potrait mode works too, but it gets kinda small. i think its perfect.

It's actually very good for comics.
http://www.techhive.com/article/2000315/what-s-the-best-way-to-read-comics-on-your-nexus-7.html

I found the screen way too small for comic reading, but that is just personal preference. I couldn't condone the price of the Ipad3 for what I use tablets for so I got the Asus TF300. It is great, a lot of great development going on, and great screen for comics.

I personally use manga watcher app for my manga needs. I think the n7 is a perfect size for manga. The reason being, the n7's screen size is pretty close to your average takobon volume, whereas American comics tend to be printed on bigger paper size.
I don't really read American comics that much, so I can't really comment much about it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Makaijin said:
I personally use manga watcher app for my manga needs. I think the n7 is a perfect size for manga. The reason being, the n7's screen size is pretty close to your average takobon volume, whereas American comics tend to be printed on bigger paper size.
I don't really read American comics that much, so I can't really comment much about it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
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Thanks guys! You have a new convert! I'm getting my unit tonight and hopefully it doesnt come with issues!

My mate is on the stand-up circuit and he loves his.
I don't read comics on mine but I do subscribe to Wired! Magazine and read that. It's a little small when showing the full page on screen so you have to zoom in to read, then zoom out to turn the page. I'm used to reading it on an iPad so it took a little getting used to but it's not a huge problem.

I tried Perfect Viewer, but the user interface is too ... ugly. And it's quite annoying to have to click every time to go to next page.
Did you try "Challenger comics viewer" ?
It's a FREE comics viewer available on Android Market (no ads).
You don't have to click to go to next page, all pages are automatically loaded.
Try it in landscape mode, it's really awesome !
It support local files (cbr/cbz/pdf/jpg/png) and network files (Samba/CIFS/Webdav/Ftp/SFtp).
I also tried Comicrack, it's quite OK but you still have to click to go to next page.
Use "Challenger comics viewer" and you will be addict ! Really !
Here is a short video of "Challenger comics viewer" :

I bought my one just for reading comics and web/gaming,
Comicrack is a must have,
Comic reader mobi is also alright and work well

Why I Got a Nook HD (or Why You Got an HD+) (Real-world Comparisons)

I'm now the proud owner of a Nook HD. It's my second android device (phone is a GS3) and my fourth device for which I have sought guidance in this incredible forum. After perusing the Nook section of this site, I felt like I needed to reflect on why I chose this device.
1. I need to read more...again. I used to read all of the time. I'm a high school English teacher, so I have a passion for reading. However, like so many of my teenage students, I am easily distracted. I thought that I would read on my iPad, but that didn't happen since there are so many great games out for tablets. As a father of a 3-year old, my time and energy has seemed to be more prone to go to a mindless video game for a few minutes of gameplay rather than delve deep into a classic from one of my favorite authors. So, I'm hoping my Nook HD is the answer I need for this. Since it is smaller, maybe I'll have it along with my more often so I can read more often. Also, since B&N doesn't seem to have any intention of competing with iOS on the scale of game offerings, I won't be tempted to play N.O.V.A. or Modern Combat over reading Eliot.
2. 7" seems to really be the perfect size for a reading tablet. Sorry HD+ owners, you're not going to like this point. If that HD+ is your first tablet, I hope you will at least heed or remember my thoughts here. My iPad (or any 10" screen) is too big to read on enjoyably. I've had an iPad for almost 2 years and I have spent many hours reading on it. It's an amazing device for things like producing writing, annotating essays, playing games, or watching movies, but the size of the blessed thing is just not ideal for reading*. Think about it, why are most paperbacks around 6-8" tall? I think it's because you naturally read faster and more easily when your eyes don't have to travel too far up an down the pages. A 7" tablet has the same effect. After reading on my HD for a while today, I can honestly say that the reading experience seems easier and more natural. Plus, being able to hold it with one hand makes it more convenient as well.
*I also looked at a couple magazines on my Nook HD and I will say the 10" screens are more suited for that. Looking at Entertainment Weekly caused some eyestrain. I suppose that's one reason B&N invented Article View.
So, that's my spiel. Feel free to concur or show obloquy as desired.

I got the HD because:
1) It had faster benchmarks than the Nexus 7
2) It had a better resolution and an overall better screen than the Nexus 7
3) It was rootable
4) I originally paid $180, but then returned it and got it for $149 at Staples
5) Nexus 7 16GB was not available anywhere.
Overall, I am very happy with the little tablet. I got my wife the HD+ at Staples for $199. She's not so happy with it, so I'll have two tablets and she'll end up getting the iPad Mini when the retina version comes out since her first gen iPad is getting outdated. Both the HD and HD+ were rooted but updated to 2.0.5, but Play still works. I was able to sideload Chrome since Play shows it incompatible. I also have them both booting to CM10 which has been pretty stable so far.

I agree about the 7" size. I have a 10" android tablet for playing games and surfing the web. I got the HD for reading. I rooted it to put other reading apps on it and so it can be more of an all-around device when necessary.

I get the HD+ for the size and resolution. I use the size for reading manga, smaller would just make it not very readable. Also I already have a Note II which is 5.5inches. So getting HD is kinda redundant. Also I found that using the HD+ connecting to my notebook using iDisplay to show my pictures when I'm working on them is quite useful.
Obviously 7inch and 9inch are aim at different type of consumers.

someone0 said:
I get the HD+ for the size and resolution. I use the size for reading manga, smaller would just make it not very readable. Also I already have a Note II which is 5.5inches. So getting HD is kinda redundant. Also I found that using the HD+ connecting to my notebook using iDisplay to show my pictures when I'm working on them is quite useful.
Obviously 7inch and 9inch are aim at different type of consumers.
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Those are good points. Like I said in my op, magazines are a bit small on the HD, so I'm sure the HD+ is better for anything illustrated.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Great briefing now there is thread to point out to confused potential buyers
Sent from a hybrid phablet !

The HD+ gives a quite nice two-column reading experience in landscape. I would have stuck with something smaller if comic books and magazines were lower on my priority list, but my old Nook Color always felt a bit cramped for those. I've honestly been on a comic book and audio book jag ever since I got the HD+ and not reading much in the way of straight text.

nikufellow said:
Great briefing now there is thread to point out to confused potential buyers
Sent from a hybrid phablet !
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Good idea. Title changed to help that type of buyer searching.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Even if the title weren't change it just mean people would look at the remarks and can tell, that maybe there is something they want to do and HD isn't good at but HD+ does better. It's no confusing at all. Reasons to buy alone isn't very informative w/o reasons not to buy. Information is information, period.

I went from Sony Reader to Kindle 3 to Nook Tablet to Nook HD+.
Nook Tablet is perfect size for reading books and bringing along with me--I agree with you there.
I read lots of magazines in PDF format. That's the main reason I went with the bigger HD+. I've grown accustomed to the size now and like the bigger screen.

Hardback books are about the size of the HD+, and I have always liked Hardback covers over paperbacks. So my yin to your yang.
However I have yet to use this thing for anything but video and some light music.
migrax

Has anyone here tried the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 also?
I'm on the fence between a Kindle Fire HD 8.9 and a Nook HD+. I wasn't sure if I wanted a 7" or 9" at first but I think I need a 9" because I mostly will want to use it to look at PDF tech manuals and CAD schematic drawings when I'm on the go crawling around in areas where it is inconvenient to carry a laptop. Aside from that, its nice to have something to use on the plane or sitting around at the airport.
The main differences I see are:
Kindle: thinner (barely), has mimo wifi (don't know if its a real diff), camera (already have a phone camera), micro usb (don't have to buy proprietary connectors), ambient light sensor (might save some batt)
Nook: lighter (not by much), higher ppi (barely), external storage (although I'm not sure if I really need it)
Price is about the same if I look on ebay. Software is the same if I put on CM10, although I'm not sure if the kindle is as far along.
For me, seems like the biggest diff is the micro usb vs the external storage, and maybe the weight, hard to know how important 2.4oz is. I suspect that the external storage won't really be needed so if the weight isnt a big diff, I think I may lean towards the kindle.
I'd be interested in any other important differences people have noticed.

There is more difference between the Nook HD and Nexus 7 than some people think. The Nook HD provides the main essentials like good screen etc but has very limited sensors.
The nexus 7 is like a phone and has a full collection of sensors like an ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, compass, proximity sensor, camera + more.
These sensors can be useful in some circumstances. Gyro is good for games and alot better than an accelerometer

sorrowuk said:
There is more difference between the Nook HD and Nexus 7 than some people think. The Nook HD provides the main essentials like good screen etc but has very limited sensors.
The nexus 7 is like a phone and has a full collection of sensors like an ambient light sensor, gyroscope, GPS, compass, proximity sensor, camera + more.
These sensors can be useful in some circumstances. Gyro is good for games and alot better than an accelerometer
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Yes, if you only have one tablet/smartphone device the choice is harder. However, I have a smartphone and a 10" android tablet. I wanted a light reader with added functionality. I fell in love with the nook HD screen as I am a screen-o-phile and can't go back to TN displays with poor color representation. The Nook HD has fantastic colors as well as a good resolution. Images just pop. I think it has over 90% adobe RGB gamut which is better than the nexus 7 (86% if I recall correctly) along with a better resolution.
Now resolution is not everything. The next gen ipad certainly has a ridiculous resolution that requires an overpowered GPU for most purposes ... that is all purposes except reading where every bit of resolution helps to discern text. Likewise, the extra bit of resolution on the Nook HD really makes it a good reader.
The Nook HD is also very light and has removable storage which is a HUGE plus for me. All the major tablet/phone manufacturers charge like 100-200 bucks more for pennies worth of Nand. 720p screens require at least 32gb to enjoy videos and media at that resolution IMO.
Overall, I am very happy with my purchase. B&N produced a quality product at a good price. They did shortchange in certain areas (no camera, no sensors), but I don't care about camera as almost all of them suck anyways in 7" tablets (especially the front ones) and the sensors are kind of a pain but I already have a smartphone so what do I care?
The Nook HD is a fantastic reader and secondary tablet. Hopefully with some more work on CM10/10.1, it will be a better primary one too.

Diogenes5 said:
720p screens require at least 32gb to enjoy videos and media at that resolution IMO.
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Can you clarify what you mean by this?
a 720p video file certainly isnt 32gb. maybe 1gb per movie depending on quality
It may take more memory to play it but the memory has nothing to do with the 32gb storage.
As for sensors, I dont care about the camera. GPS would be nice but the kindle doesnt have it either.
I don't see the use of a proximity sensor. The gyro is needed for some games. and the light sensor is somewhat important to output the right amount of brightness.

enricong said:
Can you clarify what you mean by this?
a 720p video file certainly isnt 32gb. maybe 1gb per movie depending on quality
It may take more memory to play it but the memory has nothing to do with the 32gb storage.
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A decently compressed feature-length 720p movie will range from 1.5-4GB depending on encoding, and a straight rip without decent compression might run 6-8GB or more. If you want to have more than one such movie on your tablet and maybe a couple of TV episodes as well as other media (magazines, PDFs, comics) it piles up fast. I don't even watch many videos on my tablet, and getting by on less than 32GB for what is essentially a media portal would be a pain.

Most 720p movies I've watched are in the 1-1.5 range. Beyond that I havent noticed alot of difference but maybe that's just me. Regardless, I don't see myself watching alot of movies on this and I wouldn't need to store more than one or two at a time. My primary purpose would be using it when it is inconvenient to carry my laptop like when I'm out in the field and need to pull up a pdf manual and/or cad drawings. This does not require much storage space.
It does sound like the trade is between the piece of mind of being able to upgrade storage and having a couple more sensors + the convenience of a microUSB.

i agree that 7" is a darn good size for reading and on hand holding, but i occasionally do things other than reading and 7" kinda limited me. i upgraded my galaxy tab 8.9 to this device. i do have a 10.1 galaxy note but do find that one too big for reading most of the times. it's not heavy, just awkward holding with one hand while laying down reading.

The 7" form factor is great, but even as much as I like expandable storage and getting every last possible pixel per inch, the Nook HD just doesn't stand up to the Nexus 7 in that market. The 32GB N7 is at least adequate in storage, and only $20 more than a 16GB Nook HD. The PPI difference is not that major, they're about the same weight with equally generic design, but the N7 has considerably more powerful innards, a full sensor array, and it's already a Nexus device: no hacking required. You'd have to really, really like the Nook HD display and see limited functionality as a positive thing--I could maybe see it if you were buying with young children in mind.
The HD+, on the other hand, has only one competitor within 30-40% of the asking price, and that one (the Kindle 8.9") is still asking more for less. Like the Nook Color when that device came out, the HD+ is the best screen for the money right now and also happens to have a distinctive design, not just because there's a hole in it but because it has a unified aesthetic other than "fat black bezel."

Taosaur said:
The 7" form factor is great, but even as much as I like expandable storage and getting every last possible pixel per inch, the Nook HD just doesn't stand up to the Nexus 7 in that market. The 32GB N7 is at least adequate in storage, and only $20 more than a 16GB Nook HD. The PPI difference is not that major, they're about the same weight with equally generic design, but the N7 has considerably more powerful innards, a full sensor array, and it's already a Nexus device: no hacking required. You'd have to really, really like the Nook HD display and see limited functionality as a positive thing--I could maybe see it if you were buying with young children in mind.
The HD+, on the other hand, has only one competitor within 30-40% of the asking price, and that one (the Kindle 8.9") is still asking more for less. Like the Nook Color when that device came out, the HD+ is the best screen for the money right now and also happens to have a distinctive design, not just because there's a hole in it but because it has a unified aesthetic other than "fat black bezel."
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Sent from my Barnes & Noble Nook HD using Tapatalk HD
This had way top many overgeneralizations for me to ignore. For one, the storage difference is significant. For the same price I can get a nook HD with a 64gb micro SD card as a 32gb nexus.
The PPI difference is still significant. I compared both devices directly and the nook HD had better color accuracy and sharper text. 900p is actually over 25% more pixels than 800p. It is a huge difference for reading and text-based media consumption.
Weight is also very important for me at this form factor and given my usage patterns. The nook HD is the lightest device in its class and feels even lighter than my phone. I feel weight definitely matters especially for a device meant to be held and used as a replacement novel unlike say an iPad which can reasonably be expected to be laid down or held upright by a case instead.
Powerful is relative. The tegra 3 GPU is seriously underwhelming to adreno and mali. I know, I own a transformer infinity. For most virtually every process the nook HD is just as smooth as the nexus 7 which is all that really matters, not epeen statements about power. Devices need only be powerful enough for their intended use.
Nexus devices are definitely nice but so is cynmogen mod. Nook HD definitely takes more work to enjoy. Sensors are also irrelevant if you use them. How man people do you know actually use the cameras on their tablet for example. How about GPS? Having the option is definitely nice but irrelevant in most cases to the vast majority of people.
Its ironic that you mention the hd+ as being better. I found using it underwhelming. After having owned the infinity, I know how hard it is for current gen tech to power full HD displays. The nook HD+ was very slow at loading PDFs in store and kind of clunky in terms of performance. Understandable as even my infinity lags with an over clocked tegra 3. A nook HD was however completely smooth for me.
To each his own, but I think the nook HD is a much better device for me than a nexus 7. Even if I didn't ave a larger tablet, I would have gotten a nook.
In my opinion tablets are all about screen first, practicality second, and smoothness second. The nook HD does a better job at being a media consumption device than the nexus 7 across many metrics.