Should we get Anand to review these rooted nooks?

[tonygeor]

It has a 800 Mhz ARM Cortex-A8-based TI OMAP3621 CPU and a PowerVR SGX 530 GPU.

Wow...alot better than i was expecting from a 250 tablet

 

[poofyhairguy]

Wow...alot better than i was expecting from a 250 tablet

Add in 512mb of RAM, a 1024x600 IPS screen, Bluetooth, 8GB of onboard storage, and rock solid build quality (its a tank) and you have the Nook Color.

 

[KDOG]

I think B&N kinda "knew" this would be popular like this. They won't say of course - that ebay sale that sold 11,000+ is "eyebrow raising" heheh.... Good job B&N.....

 

[poofyhairguy]

I think honestly the guys who B&N hired to make it are rock stars and B&N has no clue what they have. I showed the local manager my rooted Nook and he acted like I walked on water (until he saw the Kindle app in my drawer).

 

[tonygeor]

Any word if honeycomb made it to AOSP?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Nope. I check here daily:

http://source.android.com/

 

[finbarqs]

even when OC'd, it still feel slower than the ipad. That's the thing, it FEELS slower. Though it may beat the ipad in the spider benchmarks, they just can't get how awesome the screen sensitivity and response time the ipad has!

 

[KDOG]

Well a direct comparison to the iPad is a little unfair to the nook... its the whole "bang for the buck" thing. In which case there is little doubt that the nook wins hands down....

 

[Kabob]

I'd love to see an Anand review.

 

[gorcorps]

even when OC'd, it still feel slower than the ipad. That's the thing, it FEELS slower. Though it may beat the ipad in the spider benchmarks, they just can't get how awesome the screen sensitivity and response time the ipad has!

The fact that you're even comparing an E-READER to a full blown tablet that costs twice as much just shows how much you get in the Nook Color. You're comparing something that was pretty much meant to just read on, to something that was designed from the ground up to basically be a full blown entertainment computer on the go. The Nook was never designed to be a tablet, yet it's one of the best (and lowest costing) Android tablets on the market. It came out of nowhere... I don't think anybody expected such things from an e-reader.

 

[poofyhairguy]

even when OC'd, it still feel slower than the ipad. That's the thing, it FEELS slower. Though it may beat the ipad in the spider benchmarks, they just can't get how awesome the screen sensitivity and response time the ipad has!

Well yeah it feels slower. That is Android. The OS needs WAY more hardware power to deliver equivalent experiences. Gingerbread really helps with that thanks to hardware composite.

And I will admit that the fact that the Nook's screen is not as touch sensitive as iStuff screens can be annoying. But it really only is lacking on the edges.

With that said, for how much less a Nook Color costs you have to expect some trade-offs.

 

[runawayprisoner]

Well, the most obvious trade-off with the Nook compared to the iPad right now would be app selection, and that's not something you can cover up by perfecting Honeycomb or Gingerbread.

Bang for the buck is also really subjectively close now that the iPad 1 is only $100 more expensive than the Nook. ($350 refurbished)

So the way I see it, the more time it takes for Honeycomb or Gingerbread to be perfected for the Nook, the more value it loses over other tablet offerings on the Market. To be fair, it's not because the Nook sucks but because other tablets are being pushed down in price, but that's still something Anand has to take into account while reviewing a tablet solely for its bang for the buck factor, no?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well, the most obvious trade-off with the Nook compared to the iPad right now would be app selection, and that's not something you can cover up by perfecting Honeycomb or Gingerbread.

Today iOS's market beats Android's. That is true.

What is also true is that the iPad pretty much sucked until iPad friendly versions of apps were made, while the Android apps (expecting different screen sizes) behave much better. Out of the 50+ apps I have installed on the Nook Color, 4 fell apart or looked terrible on the big screen. That is pretty impressive.

Bang for the buck is also really subjectively close now that the iPad 1 is only $100 more expensive than the Nook. ($350 refurbished)

Um, where can I buy this $350 iPad? I just checked the Apple Store, its not there!

On the other hand, a Nook Color is available at your local Best Buy for $250 last month, this month, and next month.

The $350 iPad was a one time sale. Which means we should consider the best one time sale price of the Nook- $200. Then, even at its best price, an iPad is $150 more, which is almost twice the price!

So the way I see it, the more time it takes for Honeycomb or Gingerbread to be perfected for the Nook, the more value it loses over other tablet offerings on the Market. To be fair, it's not because the Nook sucks but because other tablets are being pushed down in price, but that's still something Anand has to take into account while reviewing a tablet solely for its bang for the buck factor, no?

You would be correct if something else was nipping at the Nook Color's heels. But as far as I know there isn't a 7 inch (IPS capacitive high res) screened tablet on the market for anywhere near what the Nook Color costs. Even if it takes another month for the Nook Color software to get finished up, there is no sub-$300 tablet competitor on the horizon ready to unseat it. The closest competitor is the Galaxy Tab at around $500!

The Nook Color is the world's first tiny margin Android tablet because it technically competes in a MUCH more price competitive and mature market (ebooks). It might not be till the end of the summer until we see a low-cost competitor to the Nook Color-maybe longer- because tablet makers are wanting to keep those margins high.

 

[Ns1]

Um, where can I buy this $350 iPad? I just check the Apple Store its not there!

because it's out of stock. 350 is standard pricing for refurb iPad, just need to wait until it's in stock.

 

[poofyhairguy]

because it's out of stock. 350 is standard pricing for refurb iPad, just need to wait until it's in stock.

There is no standard pricing for a refurbished iPad 1 because Apple isn't making any more iPad 1s! The whole point of the $350 iPad was to dump inventory, it might never be in stock ever again! That is why you can't buy new iPad 1s from Apple.

What we will see, in a year, is iPad 2's for $349 when they are being dumped. But that is not a stable price point for the iPads- it is a one time, once a year dump when the new models come out while supplies last.

 

[Ns1]

There is no standard pricing for a refurbished iPad 1 because Apple isn't making any more iPad 1s! The whole point of the $350 iPad was to dump inventory, it might never be in stock ever again! That is why you can't buy new iPad 1s from Apple.

What we will see, in a year, is iPad 2's for $349 when they are being dumped. But that is not a stable price point for the iPads- it is a one time, once a year dump when the new models come out while supplies last.

uh....customer buys a 16gb unit TODAY, has a problem with it, sends it back, it'll be on apple refurbs in a few months. Don't matter if they're making them or not.

I have seen it in stock SEVERAL TIMES since the iPad2 launched.

see: 2009/2010 MBA's/MBP's in refurb store.

 

[runawayprisoner]

What is also true is that the iPad pretty much sucked until iPad friendly versions of apps were made, while the Android apps (expecting different screen sizes) behave much better. Out of the 50+ apps I have installed on the Nook Color, 4 fell apart or looked terrible on the big screen. That is pretty impressive.

What you just said about the Nook is true, but not true about the iPad, dear sir. The iPad came out and it already had native apps so unless it's some alternate reality, the iPad couldn't have sucked until iPad-friendly apps came out... because iPad-friendly apps came before the iPad itself came.

I'm not sure you have tried out the iPad yourself, but I haven't heard anyone complain about iPhone apps on iPad, and I definitely didn't hear anyone complain about lack of iPad-native apps when it first came out. If anything, I heard more complaints about price and mediocre OS features.

Um, where can I buy this $350 iPad? I just checked the Apple Store, its not there!

On the other hand, a Nook Color is available at your local Best Buy for $250 last month, this month, and next month.

The $350 iPad was a one time sale. Which means we should consider the best one time sale price of the Nook- $200. Then, even at its best price, an iPad is $150 more, which is almost twice the price!

The $350 iPad is not a one-time sale. It was available until people came and bought it all. It'll soon be available again as Apple gets more stock. The iPad is just out of stock because at $350, it's too much of a steal. The Nook is available because not a lot of people wants to buy it.

You would be correct if something else was nipping at the Nook Color's heels. But as far as I know there isn't a 7 inch (IPS capacitive high res) screened tablet on the market for anywhere near what the Nook Color costs. Even if it takes another month for the Nook Color software to get finished up, there is no sub-$300 tablet competitor on the horizon ready to unseat it. The closest competitor is the Galaxy Tab at around $500!

Well, as far as "you" know. Check out Archos 70. No IPS screen but sub-$300 price for sure. SmartQ is also one to look out for since they are announcing a 9.7" tablet with IPS screen. It's true that there is no other Android tablet with a 7" IPS screen, but to say that there was no sub $300 Android tablet before the Nook is just...

The Nook Color is the world's first tiny margin Android tablet because it technically competes in a MUCH more price competitive and mature market (ebooks). It might not be till the end of the summer until we see a low-cost competitor to the Nook Color-maybe longer- because tablet makers are wanting to keep those margins high.

This is actually kind of wrong. Archos came out with the first tiny margin Android tablet before the Nook Color came around. Archos 5 was its name. The Nook Color is the first 7" Android tablet to actually be available as a commodity is more like it since Archos offerings were only available at select stores.

But Archos was first with their Archos 5. And if you are interested, here is a review of both the 70 and 101, which came only a bit later than the Nook:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/24/archos-70-and-101-internet-tablet-review/

 

[poofyhairguy]

What you just said about the Nook is true, but not true about the iPad, dear sir. The iPad came out and it already had native apps so unless it's some alternate reality, the iPad couldn't have sucked until iPad-friendly apps came out... because iPad-friendly apps came before the iPad itself came.

My point is that iPhone apps looked TERRIBLE on the iPad until they were updated for the iPad, while Android apps (made for Android phones) look not bad on a larger screen because the Android environment has to target a large array of resolutions.

The $350 iPad is not a one-time sale. It was available until people came and bought it all. It'll soon be available again as Apple gets more stock.

Then I declare the ebay Nook sale to be the same thing, it will be available again when B&N needs some press.

Check out Archos 70.

I have, the screen is garbage.

No IPS screen but sub-$300 price for sure. SmartQ is also one to look out for since they are announcing a 9.7" tablet with IPS screen. It's true that there is no other Android tablet with a 7" IPS screen, but to say that there was no sub $300 Android tablet before the Nook is just...

There are $100 Android tablets in Walgreens, so I wasn't saying that there wasn't ANY sub-$300 Android tablets.

What I was saying is that until the Nook Color there was no decent sub-$300 Android tablets, and there aren't any certain models on the horizon ready to take over that moniker.

This is actually kind of wrong. Archos came out with the first tiny margin Android tablet before the Nook Color came around. The Nook Color is the first Android tablet to actually be available as a commodity is more like it since Archos offerings were only available at select stores.

I should have put the world "decent" before I said "low-margin tablets." I stand corrected.

 

[Ns1]

Then I declare the ebay Nook sale to be the same thing, it will be available again when B&N needs some press.

...except that's not why apple refurbs exist (to get press). srsly dude, I can reliably count on the fact that Apple will have 16gb refurbs for 349 in a few days. I cannot reliably count on B&N blowing out more CN's @ 200.

 

[ponyo]

For people looking for cheap iPad 1, check your local Verizon B&M retail stores. They are liquidating all their iPad 1 inventory. New 16gig wifi version for $299. Check the threads at HD, FW, and SD.

 

[Ns1]

For people looking for cheap iPad 1, check your local Verizon B&M retail stores. They are liquidating all their iPad 1 inventory. New 16gig wifi version for $299. Check the threads at HD, FW, and SD.

....in which we find out SD'ers/FW'ers are buying up 10+ 16gb iPad1's at a time.

rumor mill

"I grabbed 3 from Lansing mall store. Lady that checked me out said if I wanted more they can order them and have them sent to my house with free shipping. "

 

[runawayprisoner]

iPhone apps didn't look horrible. What was horrible was the feel of using an interface made for a 3.5" device on a 9.7" device. That was quickly remedied, though, and by May, not a lot of people complained about it anymore, short of a native Facebook app.

And we are still lacking a native Facebook app.

It's really hard to consider eBay a legitimate sale source since you can almost never get the same device for the same price twice unless it's from the same listing or at least from the same seller.

And if we have to resort to eBay, then I saw an iPad selling for $220 on there last time...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bran-New-Apple-...80642820870?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item2a0f26b306

Or here was a buy-it-now listing:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...peW%252FvsNfKlkyquXZ72w%3D#ht_1872wt_1138

And I don't suspect it'll hit that low when refurbish iPads appear again on Apple's website. It's just inevitable.

And when you consider that an iPad 1 is only a few dollars more expensive than a Nook...

So... not to be downers, but really, time is not doing anything any favor when it comes to value.

 

[Ns1]

And if we have to resort to eBay, then I saw an iPad selling for $220 on there last time...
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bran-New-Apple-...80642820870?pt=US_Tablets&hash=item2a0f26b306

A quick search of completed listings shows a median price of ~330 for a used 16gb ipad1

 

[runawayprisoner]

A quick search of completed listings shows a median price of ~330 for a used 16gb ipad1

Yep. But that doesn't mean there weren't any at sub-$250. Those happen occasionally when another reseller tries to break the price, or in this case, when Apple suddenly offered refurbished for $350.

Buying refurbished from Apple actually gives you the benefit of warranty. One-year "limited" warranty as usual. So... aside from physical blemishes and scratches, if the screen fails or if battery doesn't hold charge, you can still exchange for a new device within a year. That's the charm of it, and that's why smart buyers won't buy into $330 eBay deals, and eBay sellers will have to drop their prices some to appeal.

 

[poofyhairguy]

iPhone apps didn't look horrible. What was horrible was the feel of using an interface made for a 3.5" device on a 9.7" device. That was quickly remedied, though, and by May, not a lot of people complained about it anymore, short of a native Facebook app.

The problem with the iPad 1 when it released was that many apps used bitmap images for the program's interface because all iPhones had the same resolution. Those apps on an iPad looked terrible, as did they on the eventual iPhone 4. This quickly got fixed after the release of both devices.

I was not commenting on this to dog on the iPad 1 (and I will admit there were plenty native apps day one), but just to point out that on Android almost every decent program seems to use vector images that scale well to higher resolutions without modification so the need to have tablet versions of apps is alleviated somewhat compared to the early iPad days.

But in no way will I say that iOS doesn't have a better overall market, or that there is some benefit for making tablet specific apps.

So... not to be downers, but really, time is not doing anything any favor when it comes to value.

Agreed, you have to take it as it is. That is the way it goes.

With that said, I still believe that considering how close the CM7 guys are to good final release with 100% working stuff that Anandtech could still wait to review the Nook Color with a decent Gingerbread build (or an official Froyo build from B&N) while the Nook is still the best Android device at its price point.