[Q] Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire? - Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet

I'm trying to decide between a kindle fire or a nook tablet. To be honest, the biggest selling point for me is, which will be more like a regular android tablet once rooted and flashed with a new rom eventually. I'm as interested in performance as functionality. I would primarily use it for light gaming, movie watching movies & Netflix, and Playing with apps and live wallpaper lol. Sorry, I'm relatively new to Android but i used to be big in windows mobile and flashing a different Rom every other day. I'm really looking for some personal opinions on this. Thanks a lot guys.

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Nook vs Kindle
I have bought nook . Because it has more ram and more storage and the screen is a bit better. But other than that look that they are the same with kindle. Even though looks like kindle will be a bit more famous so that means that it will little more kindle software support and development.
Nook color the father of nook table . A cyanogenmod was released and also Honeycomb so im expecting Ics to come in Nook Tablet and that's enough for my opinion.

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Buy a Nook Tablet based on what it can do for you today - not what it might do for you someday.
If you are a daily Rom flasher you might want to hold off. There is no way to do that today on the Nook Tablet - and the Fire is inadequate hardware.

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I'm having a good time with my NT, especially since I rooted it. I use it a LOT more than the Dell Streak 7 I just sold. You still can't install custom roms so if that's a biggie, it's probably a deal killer, but I like to tinker with my toys and I'm having fun playing around with all of the launcher options and other tweaks that are available that for the time being, so the lack of roms isn't a big deal. I find it great for light gaming, Netflix and most importantly, I find the SD card extremely useful since I can easily transfer media from one tablet to another.

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Honestly I'm concerned about the nook's bootloader being locked down and from what I've seen, the hardware is near identical to the kindle, but the kindle only has 512 megs of memory, however, the nook does have the sd card slot

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The fire will be more popular, but the nook tablet is the better 7" tablet stock. Even with only root the nook tablet can do everything the fire can do, just a bit better. You can install amazon market,do amazon video etc....just like the fire,plus it has the sd slot

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If you decide to go with the Fire - Enjoy the 6GB's of limited space you will be using, not to even mention the 512MB of ram.
If you decide to go with the nook - Enjoy the 16GB's onboard memory, 1GB of ram, mic and SD slot that adds up to another 32GB's.
Also, watch this video to see what happens when the Fire is dropped on concrete : Goggle Drop Test: Nook Tablet Vs Kindle Fire (Giveaway) : I cannot post links for another 8 posts
The Fire is coated with something that makes the glass very bendable ( or so I've read ) thus making any type of drop on the Fire's screen crack the entire screen rather than part of it - enjoy

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Best tablet for OP
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I used the Kindle Fire and The Nook Tablet side by side for a week. I ended up keeping the Tablet and returning the Fire. But then, I wasn't looking for a color e-reader to be "all things tablet." The nook does all things smoother and has better hardware than the Fire. On the other hand, the Fire is considered "Cooler" than the Nook and has "Amazon" in it's gene pool. The Nook Tablet is locked down tight and there's a good chance you can never do all the uber-cool things you want to do making it into a tablet. From your original post, I'd say get the Fire for your needs as it is open to mods moreso than the Nook Tab. It would be a shame if, after a month or so you were endlessly on the various sites complaining about how the Nook Tablet you own has a locked down bootloader and you can't hack it to your heart's content and make a silk purse out of it. At least with the Fire, you can take it in any direction you want and have no excuses for not making it the tablet you desire.
---------- Post added at 11:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:09 AM ----------
e.mote said:
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Is there an app that I can download to get that homepage on my Nook?

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The Fire may be (at this point) the more moddable, hackable tablet, but why even bother if you can't enjoy smooth video playback? From what I've heard, the stock (rooted, sideloaded) Nook plays Amazon Prime video better than the Fire. The 512MB RAM really killed it for me.

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Now with Ice Cream Sandwich.

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Dassin4 said:
The Fire may be (at this point) the more moddable, hackable tablet, but why even bother if you can't enjoy smooth video playback? From what I've heard, the stock (rooted, sideloaded) Nook plays Amazon Prime video better than the Fire. The 512MB RAM really killed it for me.
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Yeah, same for me. I tested both devices for a while as well, and tested them against full android 7inch tablets, a few 10inchers, the color, old eInk ones etc. It actually did make a significant different, the memory and slightly faster processor. The microsd slot is really what killed it for me though against the KF specifically.
If you're approaching either device looking for an android tablet to do all things, then both will fail imo. If you're looking for a book/video/comics/browser/note taking device, with lots of expansion space, this is a great device (and for hundreds cheaper than OK 7inchers). The screen is REALLY nice for comics; this is where I noticed vibrant/color differences, and legibility (that is likely stock software comparisons).
Other things I noticed that were better (sometimes a bit better, sometimes a lot better) than the KF, HTC Flyer, Iconia, other 7inchers, etc:
- screen was more response; sometimes too response. This makes it tolerate screen protectors better (sidenote). This was a big factor in "should I get an HTC flyer?" for me, and the response level was surprising.
- screen was a bit more vibrant than the KF; different warmth levels I think? The KF shipped with screens that REALLY varied though.
- the NT grips better in my hands and I actually use the little loop quite often to stabilize it in my hand
- volume buttons. I use them a lot, and more than expected. I've definitely had websites try and blow out my ears with their default audio when I've had earphones on. speaking of audio, the NT only has one speaker so earphones are highly recommended. Probably the biggest minus for the device.
I too watched the KF vs NT dropped onto concrete video and was pretty horrified/amused. The protective frame really seems useful on the NT and it seems sturdier. I DO prefer the darker frame of the Nook Color though. I have already tested it on carpet from 5 feet or so, accidentally :/

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Mines slipped off the bed a few times but did not get hurt considering its only 3 feet or so. Done the same with my phone to many times to count and that survives just fine as well. The screen is starting to get greasy tho so I need to find a way of protecting that. Mom should be getting me a cover or something this xmas considering its around the corner now. I was wondering about the screen on the fire compared to the one on the nook considering I have herd the nook has the better screen and have seen pics where the fire just sucks becuase its to washed out and to blue which means its to cool.

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Nook tablet should be the far superior tablet if you want to turn it into an android tablet.
I can't understand why anyone on this forum would choose a fire over a nook tablet. The ram, the sd card slot, double the built-in storage. The nook's screen is also better--it's brighter, has better contrast, and more lively colors.
The fire also has no volume buttons, which was idiotic. Having a full home button is also pretty important, which the nook has.
The fire will clearly be upgraded in probably 6 months or less. It's a first generation product that is missing so many things. I also echo everyone else who has used the fire--it is laggy in every possible way. The lagginess of the fire is very apparent, and the web browser of the nook tablet is much smoother. I have no idea why the fire sells so well--if the masses knew how easy it is to root a nook and then install the amazon marketplace. The only thing that the fire has for it is that it's smaller footprint. The nook seems too big for a 7" tablet, but it is tapered and more pleasant to hold than the fire.
Best thing to do is to head to Best Buy. There you can try them out side by side.

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You can always get them both from Best Buy and return the one you don't want. That's what I did and they are totally fine with it.
I ended up going with the KF but the NT has plenty of points in its favor as well.
Personally I didn't find the NT to have hugely better performance, despite having double the RAM. This was the one thing I was most concerned about but it really hasn't made a difference for me.
The NT has better ergonomics. It feels lighter (though looking at their specs it's only 13 g lighter than the KF). Probably a function of being larger and thicker so it's a lot less dense. The screen bezel almost feels padded, which is nice. The other advantages are better battery life, the microSD card slot, and physical buttons.
Disadvantages vs. the KF are price, stock software experience, buggy interface at times (there are some places where you get unreadable white-on-white or black-on-black text), and of course the locked bootloader.
I think the biggest deal for most people is the microSD slot. If you want to take a lot of media with you, the NT is the only way to go. If you don't care about that, then the KF is worth considering if only for the lower price. The other thing is I would recommend the KF over the NT for family members who would probably use it stock. The pure stock experience is awful on the NT and merely okay on the KF. Obviously they both benefit a lot from at least sideloading an alternate launcher, but the NT is practically unusable as anything but an e-reader without doing so.

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Hey all. Sorry to bump this semi-dead thread, but I was wondering if I could get an update from you all..
I recently bought a Kindle Fire and have been pretty satisfied with it. I never really took the 512MB of ram into consideration until lately. I've had my fire now for about a month. I rooted it and am currently running CM7 on it with the processor overclocked to 1.2 ghz.
I was playing "scramble with friends" the other day and it did seem a bit laggy.. nothing extreme though, but I'm used to the smoothness. I haven't really played many games on it either to really see how the 512mb ram handles it.
I was wondering for clarification: Is the Nook Tablet's bootloader still unlockable? As in, can't install any customized roms on it?
Is it worth selling this KF to get a NT? I use my tablet for ereading about 5% of the time. 95% of the time I use it for social uses (web browsing, facebook, twitter, etc).
The only negatives I've noticed on my KF are the lack of volume buttons. I installed a widget that lays over the screen to adjust the volume, but I would rather have physical buttons. On the other hand, I don't mind NOT having a home button. I haven't been disadvantaged at all by not having one, so that really doesn't matter to me.
What do you guys think?

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I can't comment on the KF due to never having used one. I did however just get done installing CM7 on a friend's NC (somewhat similar to the KF except processor) with it clocked to 1.2 Ghz and I own the NT running CM7 Alpha final and there is a very noticeable difference. The apps took longer to load vs NT. They didn't run as smooth on the NC vs the NT. There was not much available RAM left after loading the basics whereas the NT having 1 Gb of ram there was plenty left after running basics. Also, the main killer for me, and at first I was going to get the KF and now glad I didn't, is the sd card slot. I have kids and it is really nice to have that 32 Gb card to put all the movies I want on it. Plus I have repartitioned my internal to give myself 10 more GB of personal storage space. I do like the KF gorilla glass, that is pretty nice. I think though in the end it is all about personal preference. The KF and NT are both good devices in there own right and price point. The NT is still not completly on par with the straight android tablets in some features, but it is adequate for everything that I want to do. You may want to wait though if they do release the Asus memo370?? 7" tablet. The rumors are going both ways at the moment, but if they do release it at a $249.99 price point it appears it would a very good buy. Just my 2 cents.

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tmjohnsonfse said:
I can't comment on the KF due to never having used one. I did however just get done installing CM7 on a friend's NC (somewhat similar to the KF except processor) with it clocked to 1.2 Ghz and I own the NT running CM7 Alpha final and there is a very noticeable difference. The apps took longer to load vs NT. They didn't run as smooth on the NC vs the NT. There was not much available RAM left after loading the basics whereas the NT having 1 Gb of ram there was plenty left after running basics. Also, the main killer for me, and at first I was going to get the KF and now glad I didn't, is the sd card slot. I have kids and it is really nice to have that 32 Gb card to put all the movies I want on it. Plus I have repartitioned my internal to give myself 10 more GB of personal storage space. I do like the KF gorilla glass, that is pretty nice. I think though in the end it is all about personal preference. The KF and NT are both good devices in there own right and price point. The NT is still not completly on par with the straight android tablets in some features, but it is adequate for everything that I want to do. You may want to wait though if they do release the Asus memo370?? 7" tablet. The rumors are going both ways at the moment, but if they do release it at a $249.99 price point it appears it would a very good buy. Just my 2 cents.
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Thanks for replying. From my understanding, though, is that the Nook Color and the Kindle Fire both have 512MB ram.... but the KF has dual-core processor, as the NC isn't. I suppose this helps the KF with the overall smoothness.

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is the bootloader still unlockable...yes...and no. the bootloader is still locked however, you can SKIP IT ENTIRELY on bootup. currently the NT has 2 different basic roms avail in either alpha or beta form
android 4.0(cm9)- alpha- status update the team is plugging away getting the 3.0 kernel ported (updating from the 2.6.7? kernel) before releasing another rom- all they have to do now is sound- and tweak hw video acceleration i think. i am not sure if this version works on the 8gig NT yet
android 2.3.7?(cm7) early beta/late alpha form- 2 identical versions- one installed internally, one installed via microsd card- both work very well for where they are at.-both also work for BOTH versions of the NT
so if i was to choose between the fire and NT- i'd get the NT(16gig).
jask0 said:
Hey all. Sorry to bump this semi-dead thread, but I was wondering if I could get an update from you all..
I recently bought a Kindle Fire and have been pretty satisfied with it. I never really took the 512MB of ram into consideration until lately. I've had my fire now for about a month. I rooted it and am currently running CM7 on it with the processor overclocked to 1.2 ghz.
I was playing "scramble with friends" the other day and it did seem a bit laggy.. nothing extreme though, but I'm used to the smoothness. I haven't really played many games on it either to really see how the 512mb ram handles it.
I was wondering for clarification: Is the Nook Tablet's bootloader still unlockable? As in, can't install any customized roms on it?
Is it worth selling this KF to get a NT? I use my tablet for ereading about 5% of the time. 95% of the time I use it for social uses (web browsing, facebook, twitter, etc).
The only negatives I've noticed on my KF are the lack of volume buttons. I installed a widget that lays over the screen to adjust the volume, but I would rather have physical buttons. On the other hand, I don't mind NOT having a home button. I haven't been disadvantaged at all by not having one, so that really doesn't matter to me.
What do you guys think?
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jask0 said:
Thanks for replying. From my understanding, though, is that the Nook Color and the Kindle Fire both have 512MB ram.... but the KF has dual-core processor, as the NC isn't. I suppose this helps the KF with the overall smoothness.
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Click to collapse
Yes the KF is smooth from what I have seen. I would say that the dc processor is helping, but the 1 Gb of ram in the NT helps the most I would think. Like I stated though, they are both good devices with pros and cons with each. For me after everything the better hardware and the expandable memory is the most important and that is why I chose the NT.