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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?
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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!

Should I get this, or another tablet?

Considering picking one up used for $120 or less (BTW, any deals better than the $135 certified pre-owned on B&N's site would be appreciated). I've considered loads of other tablets (mostly 7"), but fact is, I don't want to spend much, at least not on the tablet itself.
Anyway, at $120 or less, is it worth picking up, or should I look at something else? The things that draw me to the Nook Color are price (obviously), screen type/quality (not super glossy = awesome), USB OTG (considering plugging in a keyboard and using it for notes), Bluetooth (for headphones), and support/dev community.
My main uses would be reading books/comics, watching videos (nothing high-res), and possibly taking notes as mentioned earlier; there'd be very light gaming, as anything more serious would be reserved to an Xperia Play when I get one later. I doubt I'd install much just to try and keep it running as smooth as possible.
Expandable memory is nice, but not necessary, and I could live without either USB OTG or Bluetooth if the other was present. Camera/GPS/etc. definitely isn't necessary. Don't care for dual-core and whatnot as I know I won't really use/need the power.
Also, quick question about the Nook Color - are there any major issues left with CM7 for it, or is it basically complete? And how is CM9 in comparison (at the moment)?

nookcolor is a great tablet for $130 (give or take in price) but im ruuning cm7.1 for months now with no bugs or problems at all, it is a very stable rom. Screen is very nice, not to bright or to dull.

I got mine new for around $120 too. It is a great value although it does not have camera or other peripheral options.

tourist2 said:
I got mine new for around $120 too. It is a great value although it does not have camera or other peripheral options.
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You get what you pay for
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using xda premium

Android311 said:
You get what you pay for
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Sometimes, you just pay more because you're an idiot.

The Nook Color has an exquisite screen, and it's better than the Kindle Fire (which I also own). Also, the Nook Tablet screen is exactly the same. It's the right resolution and sharpness. The iPad 3 is probably too much, especially since it runs very hot and eats the battery.
Even if you don't want to root or replace the ROM on your Nook Color, it's still a great tablet with a screen that is better than any other.

I love the color Nook. I f only it had a microphone , it could do everything I need

DigitalMD said:
I love the color Nook. I f only it had a microphone , it could do everything I need
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Some success in that area. Check out this thread:
http://www.androidtablets.net/forum/nook-color-technical/15172-headset-microphone-nc.html

Money
vote Kindle Fire

Forgot to update, ended up getting one for $100 in great condition on Craigslist. Immediately popped in a 32GB microSD and loaded CM7.2, lowered the screen density to 120, and I love it.

Definitely go with the Nook Color
I bought it when it was originally priced at $250. I live in Canada and drove down to the States to pick it up since BN doesn't ship to Canada. Even with the release of newer tablets, I'd buy another Nook Color over the others simply because it's the best bang for the buck.
I use it for my commute -- reading PDF books, listening to MP3s, watching videos, and the occasional game.
FWIW, I've owned an Ipad, Ipad2, and Blackberry Playbook. However, I couldn't justify the $400-600 price tag and sold them.

CM 7.2 is very functional, assuming you can live with the fact that apps won't recognize it as a full-on tablet. Within that limitation, it does everything just fine that you'd expect. The only shortcoming on your list is bluetooth support, as ranges can be limited.
At anything below $150, I'd says it's definitely worth a buy. You can blow that much with a night on the town, and have nothing but a headache and a strange rash to show for it.

Just to let everyone know that for some reason (good or bad), CM7.2-RC1 KANG on my NC is last FOREVER
I don't even know I should smile or not. It has been left idle (with virtually no use, screen off) for a WEEK and still has roughly 65% left in the tank.

Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my NC for some time and still continue to do so (as I already own it and it's just good enough to still do what I need, namely play around with new OS code ala CM9).
That said, even at $199.00, it's way slow compared to the competitions products at the same price ranges. NT is much better but doesn't even have BlueTooth at all, from my understanding and shown in it's tear down.
This means that if you need BT, albiet with a less than 10 inch range, the NC is probably the only "eReader" with BT using CM7 or CM9 at that range.
If you are thinking of the tape for gaming? Don't, it's opengl is good enough to entice you with some titles running, but it'll be lag city once there is enough onscreen action.
Thinking of it for Video? Semi-don't. Sure it's IPS screen will impress, but 720P video will not be 100% smooth and it doesn't have the video processing to do anything higher. Pretty much 480P res when you use NetFlix.
Can't buy new? While you can get a cheap NC off of Ebay, keep an eye out for several of the top end earlier generation tabs as the new ones entice users to upgrade.

SeaFractor said:
Don't get me wrong, I've enjoyed my NC for some time and still continue to do so (as I already own it and it's just good enough to still do what I need, namely play around with new OS code ala CM9).
That said, even at $199.00, it's way slow compared to the competitions products at the same price ranges. NT is much better but doesn't even have BlueTooth at all, from my understanding and shown in it's tear down.
This means that if you need BT, albiet with a less than 10 inch range, the NC is probably the only "eReader" with BT using CM7 or CM9 at that range.
If you are thinking of the tape for gaming? Don't, it's opengl is good enough to entice you with some titles running, but it'll be lag city once there is enough onscreen action.
Thinking of it for Video? Semi-don't. Sure it's IPS screen will impress, but 720P video will not be 100% smooth and it doesn't have the video processing to do anything higher. Pretty much 480P res when you use NetFlix.
Can't buy new? While you can get a cheap NC off of Ebay, keep an eye out for several of the top end earlier generation tabs as the new ones entice users to upgrade.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, Bluetooth was one of those things I just can't live without, even with the limited range. I definitely wouldn't have picked it up for any more than $100 (I would have just gotten the new NT if it wasn't much more expensive). Video hasn't disappointed me - standard/non-HD video is good enough for me and plays just fine. As for gaming, I intend to get an Xperia Play to use exclusively as a gaming device and just use that - although I may skip it at this point, as I have plenty of PC games, and the tablet is taking up a lot of the free time I had previously.
And I don't mind the lack of tablet apps on CM7 - I find CM9 a bit too sluggish to consider the switch at least for now.

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.

Father's Day Sale - HD+ $149

Barnes & Noble have started Father's Day Sale
Nook HD+ 16 GB - $149
Nook HD+ 32 GB - $179
Nook HD 8 GB - $129
Nook HD 16 GB - $149
Free shipping on all devices.

shadabt said:
Barnes & Noble have started Father's Day.
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Thanks...I should have waited to save $30. But it has been fun playing with it for a month so time is money.

shadabt said:
Barnes & Noble have started Father's Day Sale
Nook HD+ 16 GB - $149
Nook HD+ 32 GB - $179
Nook HD 8 GB - $129
Nook HD 16 GB - $149
Free shipping on all devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw this and started to poke around this forum. Seems like it's a pretty decent little tablet. I'd ask how you folks feel about it but since you're already owners the opinion may be a little biased.
Seems like too good of a deal to pass up!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app

Hmmm... Maybe now my wife can have the iPad.

My wife decided to get the HD+ 32GB for me as an early Father's Day present. She was worried that they'd fly off the store shelves at that price.
The tablet updates twice after initial install to get to the latest version. Google Play is an awesome addition, however a lot of the really popular apps already have Nook versions. So if you install the version from the Play store, you'll see two version in the apps menu.

just picked up another 32
Great deal on these.

Just got one Saturday also.. too good of a deal to pass up. enjoying it for the most part so far... i like that google play come with it now.
my only real issue is trying to rearrange items on the screen is terrible! You cant tell when its ready move (like with iPhone/iPad.. they wiggle.. this.. nothing) and its hard to line them up . i have other questions, but will start a new thread

Just heard about this promo. I was going to get a Kindle Paperwhite for Father's day. But, for $10 more (I didn't want to deal with the ads, or hacking it at all, so I was going to get the $139 version) the Nook HD+ seems like a much better value.
I have a HP TouchPad, don't use it as much as I did when I first got it. I have my phone for apps and web browsing. I was going to replace an aging 1st gen Nook I got at a yard sale for $10. My main use is as an eReader. I wasn't looking forward to converting all my epubs to the Kindle format. With Google Play access I don't really even see a need to Root and CM the tablet, but I would need to use the device to make that decision.
Those that have one already, how are they for eReading? I was looking forward to better battery life on the Kindle, because the Nook I have needs to be charged at least once a week whether I use it that week or not. I can put up with that battery life on a tablet that can browse the web, watch videos etc, but as an eReader that has been a pain.
But, for $149, worst case is the kids no longer have to fight over the TouchPad.

quarlow said:
Those that have one already, how are they for eReading?
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That's the best part of this tablet. I feel B&N intentionally downgraded the capabilities of the hardware to make it more a reader and less a tablet.
If you only use it for reading you may be able to tolerate the stock rom. (Though you may get 30%-40% boost on some web browsing with CM10.1) For book reading you can check this review at 7:14 or so (try the HD version of the video--more accurate)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtTvNsgJR4I
I use it mainly for reading and web but tried online streaming videos for few minutes(on CM10.1) and they seem to work fine.
Battery life is also very good (was told the deep sleep is a strong feature in stock rom, the feature was later implemented in the CM builds)
I really love the nice screen for reading books and tech manuals. Mobi and epub books work the best. PDF books are good but could be better...

JeauxAdam said:
I saw this and started to poke around this forum. Seems like it's a pretty decent little tablet. I'd ask how you folks feel about it but since you're already owners the opinion may be a little biased.
Seems like too good of a deal to pass up!
Sent from my LG-LS970 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been looking for a tablet to use to transition from iOS development to Android development, so I snapped one up Sunday when I saw the deal. Liked it enough that I picked up another for my daughter today. Will leave her's stock, but mine is running CM10.1 and works great.

Thoughts on Nook HD+ after owning it for 8 hours.
Screen: 9.5/10. 8.9" IPS Panel with 1920x1280 Resolution. Gorgeous screen. Sensitivity does not seem to the best. 10/10
Performance: 7/10. Solid enough with OMAP 4470. Feels lightly sluggish in operation, possibly due to the amount of pixels that needs to be pushed. Someone comment? We all know that OMAP 4430/4460 can push out CM 10.1 flawlessly in many devices. Is it our pixel count or the lack of optimization the builds?
Build/Design: 8/10. Plasticity but refined.
OS: 6/10. CM 10.1 for this device is mature enough, but lacks polish. Stock OS lags to high noon. Might need another few months to work out more kinks.
Value: 9.5/10 at $150. I bought this tablet for the screen and was satisfied.

The End of the Nooks

That's it folks.
B&N is pulling the plug on its Nook line of products.
Still love my emmc CM10.1 Nook HD+... Hope it will still get some love from verygreen and other great devs!
Source:
businesswire.com/news/home/20130625005839/en/Barnes-Noble-Reports-Fiscal-2013-Year-End-Financial
(Sorry can't post links yet...)

Not exactly the end. "the company’s tablet line will be co-branded with yet to be announced third party manufacturers of consumer electronics products" means there's at least a possibility that Nooks will just go a sort of Nexus route, i.e. the new manufacturer covers the hardware and gets hardware profits but the device still has B&N branding. Of course, it could just be a normal tablet with the Nook app preinstalled, but we shall see.

My only question would be extended warranties what will they do if a unit needs replacement in the next two years?

Should be an even bigger price drop to sell off the stock. May snap up a few more if the HD+ goes to $100 or less.

Ardent_V said:
Not exactly the end. "the company’s tablet line will be co-branded with yet to be announced third party manufacturers of consumer electronics products" means there's at least a possibility that Nooks will just go a sort of Nexus route, i.e. the new manufacturer covers the hardware and gets hardware profits but the device still has B&N branding. Of course, it could just be a normal tablet with the Nook app preinstalled, but we shall see.
Click to expand...
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This will most likely be with Microsoft and a Windows RT or Windows 8.x product. They put $300m USD into B&N in April 2012, and they are looking for a way to grow the ailing Surface RT business.
Although B&N says they are committed to supporting NOOK HD & NOOK HD+ owners, you see how quickly NOOKcolor & NOOK Tablet owners were left in the wind. Give it a year to wind down the Android business and expect a new, Windows based product sometime holiday season this year or early summer (reading season) next year.

It's not 100% clear if the Nook range will end or not. What is clear however, is that Nook will stop manufacturing Nook's. The two statements I have just made are not the same.
Nook will stop manufacturing their Nook tablets, and are looking for a partner to manufacturer new tablets. Since manufacturing takes a big bite of their operating costs, manufacturing will be withheld. So perhaps the HD and HD+ will continue to sell, but will no longer be manufactured by Nook, but by another manufacturer. They may replicate the Nook HD and HD+, or they may manufacture completely different Nooks for B&N.
Or perhaps, the new tablet range will no longer be called "Nook" by B&N? Only time will tell, but this isn't the end. I believe it's the start of something new.
My sources:
http://thenextweb.com/gadgets/2013/...tners-with-third-party-manufacturers-instead/
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...ok-on-its-nook-tablet-manufacturing-business/
http://www.geekosystem.com/no-more-nooks/

At the VERY tail end of inventory depletion they MIGHT push the balance out at $100 for a 16GB HD+, but I doubt it. They will bleed stock at the current loss of margin, but not seeing them eat any more than they are now. The device is selling fairly well now.... which will also result in more loss for the next quarter at the current price. They would be nuts to drop more unless already accrued as a bigger loss, but not likely.
The next Nook related device would be a Microsoft product, so no more Android regardless.

Maybe if they supported developers and opened their system up and not lock in down in the beginning, then their profits wouldn't be so low. People don't want corporations making the choices of what you can/can't install on your device.

9v9 said:
Maybe if they supported developers and opened their system up and not lock in down in the beginning, then their profits wouldn't be so low. People don't want corporations making the choices of what you can/can't install on your device.
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As folks have mentioned, the model for this device was sell at near loss at current price and make it up with their locked in app store. It was a Catch 22, since your point and the market option was key in the device failure. That said, the build, display, general performance and battery life make it IMO the perfect tablet for comics, books, emulators, games and media. For the price and using CM 10.1, it is a no-brainer.
For emulators, it is better than than my two tablets with the Tegra 3 chipet and sleep mode battery drain is FAR better. The only tablet that is better in the sleep mode regard is the iPad. For Android, this is the best tablet I have owned for sleep mode drain and I had or tested about every main-stream tablet that exisits at one time or another. Most Android tablets are not too good for sleep mode drain- especially Tegra 3.

gharlane00 said:
Should be an even bigger price drop to sell off the stock. May snap up a few more if the HD+ goes to $100 or less.
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Click to collapse
just depends on how well they are selling at the current prices. HD+ at $149 is an absolute steal. I just picked one up yesterday. Google has waited too long to announce the Nexus 7. This may prevent me from getting one.

It's a shame it hasn't been making them money as it really is a quality bit of kit for the price point.
I was for the Nexus 7 for a long time but when this got google apps the extra screen real estate was a big plus (I read mags/comics on it) for not much extra weight.
Hopefully they get a quality third party to continue the manufacturing.
I also think though that they need to advertise the device better. I knew nothing about the HD+ until google apps appeared on it and was across more mainstream tech news sites that I read.

tyepye said:
It's a shame it hasn't been making them money as it really is a quality bit of kit for the price point.
I was for the Nexus 7 for a long time but when this got google apps the extra screen real estate was a big plus (I read mags/comics on it) for not much extra weight.
Hopefully they get a quality third party to continue the manufacturing.
I also think though that they need to advertise the device better. I knew nothing about the HD+ until google apps appeared on it and was across more mainstream tech news sites that I read.
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I agree. The extra screen real estate is great. Also, I love that they used a wider (in portrait) screen than most (who are using 16:10). For tablets, it makes much more sense. I actually wish they would take it a step farther and go 4:3 like iPad. Currently, the only tablets I aware of that do this is the Archos tablets. Tablets really are best for use with a 4:3 ratio.
My only annoyance is the settings for density. Everything seems WAAAAYYY too small for my eyes on this puppy. I'm definitly going to be adjusting it once I get CM loaded up.

Poke_N_PDA said:
I agree. The extra screen real estate is great. Also, I love that they used a wider (in portrait) screen than most (who are using 16:10). For tablets, it makes much more sense. I actually wish they would take it a step farther and go 4:3 like iPad. Currently, the only tablets I aware of that do this is the Archos tablets. Tablets really are best for use with a 4:3 ratio.
My only annoyance is the settings for density. Everything seems WAAAAYYY too small for my eyes on this puppy. I'm definitly going to be adjusting it once I get CM loaded up.
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Dont have that problem myself. Everything seems crisp and clear.

Not dead yet?
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/08/barnes-noble-not-giving-up-on-nook-tablets-after-all/

Nice!! I totally agree with what the new CEO said.

Another big reason is TI is out of the game. So I am wondering what will be the CPU of next Kindle? Snapdragon? BTW I love my NOOK HD+, perfect device for pdf, ebook and comics!!!

I bought a Nook HD + a week ago... for tablet use, not for reading books (I prefer paper in my hands), the Nook HD+ is a great device for my intended use... and the price was right! Found a Microsoft BT keyboard (mobile keyboard 6000) that works perfectly with the HD+. I give it 2 thumbsup!