Features –Hardware and Software

The Nook Tablet vastly improves on 4 major areas: speed, storage, screen display, and software.

First, the Nook Tablet’s speed: As far as mock models have demonstrated, the device is noticeably zippier than last year’s model, and this is because of a more robust 1.2GHz dual core processor and 1GB RAM.

Size of onboard storage has doubled up to 16GB (14GB is available to user). Coupled with SD card slot, which supports 32GB cards, the Nook Tablet lets you carry up to 6 times more files than the Kindle Fire. While many applaud Amazon’s Cloud storage for the seemingly infinite amount of files it can store, it can substitute the convenience of having your files accessible at all times, whether you’re in a WiFi hotspot or not. However, if you prefer cloud storage, you can get Dropbox or similar free cloud storage apps to the device.

The Nook Tablet is outfitted with the same 1024 x 600 IPS LCD screen with 16 million colors and 89 percent viewing angle found in the Nook Color. A laminated coating, however, gives the Tablet extra vividness and less glare that makes it great for watching hi-res videos.  It promises to support 1080p HD videos, but Netflix movies will be displayed in 720p only, which some may find disappointing.

While Apple and Amazon use their respective tablets as platform for their multiple products, Barnes & Noble takes a different approach. B&N will be providing eBooks, magazines, newspapers , and apps via its Nook Store, but other digital media services will be outsourced to companies like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Rhapsody. A combination of old and new B&N apps will be made available, such as   Read and Record (for recording custom narration of children books), Nook Kids, and Page Perfect (a PDF reader).

The Nook Tablet promises a record-holding 11.5 hours of reading or 9 hours of video with wireless off.

Pros

The Nook Tablet comes with a compact design. 0.48 inch thin and weighing  14.1 ounces only, it is comfortably light and easy to hold. Combined onboard storage and SD expansion slot allows you to carry thousands of movie, audio, photo, and text files on the go. High resolution screen is great for HP movie viewing.

Cons

Despite the name, the Nook Tablet is not a full-fledged tablet like the iPad or the Galaxy Tab. B&N had to cut corners somewhere to lower the cost of the device, and three items you won’t find in the tablet are: camera, 3G wireless, and Bluetooth support.

The Bottom Line

The Nook Tablet weds affordability and power. If you are looking for an affordable tablet with the storage and speed of an iPad, the Nook Tablet seems to be the only tablet that fits this category. However, this review is based only on the demonstrations and mock models provided by B&N. We’ll update this review once the actual Nook Tablet arrives. Shipping begins November 17.

Features – Hardware and Software

Eschewing its trademark dual-screen design for a single screen design used by most eReaders, B&N has managed to whittle down the Nook Touch Reader a more pocketable size of 6.5 x 5 x 0.47 inches. That there are no hardware controls and physical keyboard cluttering the front of the unit help make the Nook Touch the compact, lightweight eReader that it is. The 7.48-ounce weight is a sweet surprise as the device looks bulky at first glance. The illusion of heft is a result of its contoured back, which may be housing the device’s lithium polymer battery. The contoured back has its use, however: it allows easier handling of device.

The touch display is not capacitive like the Nook Color’s. Rather, the Pearl display is surrounded with an infrared ring that detects touch input. This reliable touch technology, coupled with a fast processor, enables the Nook Touch to offer very fast page turns.

The ultra-responsive touch display is not the only improvement of the Nook 2. The performance-optimized display allows the Nook Touch to turn pages fast without the black-and-white ghosting or flashing seen on other eReaders.  Even more impressive is its battery life: on a single charge you get 2 full months of use!

The Nook Touch still supports ePub and PDF files as well as JPB, GIF, PNG, and BMP images. However, there are now 7 font sizes and 6 font styles supported. Internally, it can accommodate up to 1000 eBooks, but a microSD expansion slot lets you carry up to 30,000 eBooks on the go.

The Bottom Line

The Nook Touch approximates traditional reading experience more closely than ever with its sharp contrast, crisp text, fast page turns, very long battery life, and the ability to turn pages with the flick of a finger.

However, B&N has also made the Nook Color more reader-centric with the addition of applications like Office document viewer, book snippets-sharing via Twitter and Facebook, and Lonely Planet and Dictionary.com. And with its full-color support, you can immerse in the vivid world of magazines and newspapers.

And what potentially gives the Nook Color a more universal appeal is that it is designed not just for adult readers, but also for kids. The device displays children’s picture books in appealing, vibrant colors. Integrated touch technology lets kids interact with their books.  They can also choose to have the book read out loud to them.

Features – Hardware and Software

The Nook Color sports a 1024 x 600 IPS panel from LG; ot can display magazines, newspapers, and web pages in 16 million bright colors. The 7-inch panel is layered with an “optical lamination film” to reduce the glare from the backlight and from external sources as well as to enhance off-axis viewing. B&N says the Nook Color is readable indoors and outdoors, but the outdoor reading experience will likely be not as great as that of eInk readers.  Also, it is not as power-efficient as dedicated eInk readers like the Kindle. The Nook Color offers only 8 hours of use per charge, and that’s with the wireless off. In comparison, the original Nook offers 10 days of use with wireless off.

The Nook Color measures 8.1 x 5 x 0.48 inches, and weighs 15.6 ounces – that’s nearly twice the weight of the Kindle 3. The device comes with 8GB onboard storage, big enough for 6,000 books.  If that’s not enough, you can also amp up the storage up to 32GB via the microSD expansion slot.

Unfortunately, the device has no 3G support. It depends on WiFi network for connecting to the Internet or the B&N store. It also doesn’t have the Android Market, but B&N has announced it will be opening its own app store.

The Nook Color also supports ePub and PDF files, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, but B&N has also added QuickOffice software that lets you create, edit, and read office files.

The Bottom Line

The Nook Color is a tablet rather than an eReader, and it looks pretty solid for what it is. It is a device best suited for people who read casually, people who frequently read magazines, young readers, and people who want a cheaper alternative to the iPad. The Nook Color will be available on November 19 for $249.

The Nook WiFi may be stripped of 3G, but if you are looking for a device that gives you great flexibility and freedom, the Nook WiFi is your go-to device. This ultra lightweight eReader lets you access you access any AT&T WiFi hotspot in the country for free.

Nook 3G – $199, Nook Wi-Fi – $149, Nook Color – $249

Features – Hardware and Software

The Nook WiFi shares the feature set of the first generation Nook. There’s the dual screen design (6-inch eInk screen for reading and a 3.5-inch color touch pad for navigating the library), the compact size,  (it measures 7.7” x 4.9” x 0.5 inches), the 2GB storage space that can accommodate up to 1500 ebooks or 26 hours of audio. Peripherals include a microSD slot for those who want to carry extra books, USB port for sideloading content, and a headphone jack for listening to music. Formats supported are varied, and include PDF, ePub, BMP, PNG, and MP3 formats. Each charge brings about 10 days of reading (with wireless off).

Barnes & Noble did bring some changes to design and feature but they are very minor. At 11.6 ounces, the Nook WiFi is half an ounce lighter than the Nook 3G. It also differentiates itself from its 3G twin by sporting a white back panel instead of gray (however, this can also be interchanged with a color back panel available from B&N).

While the Nook WiFi does lack free 3G that its predecessor enjoys, it makes up by extending the use of free WiFi beyond the walls of B&N stores.  Nook WiFi owners can enjoy complimentary access to any AT&T WiFi hotspot in the country for fast web browsing or accessing online stores.

No need to leaf each page to reach a certain page. Another Nook WiFi, enhancement, the Go-To page feature, lets you skip pages in an ebook to reach a specific page number.

For people with low vision, the new extra large font size is also welcome addition.

Nook 3G – $199, Nook Wi-Fi – $149, Nook Color – $249

The Bottom Line

The Nook WiFi is best suited for people who live outside 3G network areas.  Anyone looking for a feature-rich device without the big price, the Nook WiFi is already available for pre-order from the B&N store.

On the other hand, the device has set new standards, trends even, in the world of eReaders. The Nook is the first eReader to run on Google’s Android OS and the first to offer AT&T 3G + WiFi combo. It is also the first to successfully pack two screens in one device – a 6-inch eInk screen and a 3.5-inch LCD screen. This has, however, got Barnes & Noble into legal trouble with Spring Design over intellectual rights infringement issues. Spring Design, its former business partner, accused B&N of copying the Alex’s dual screen design.

Nonetheless, the Nook continues to attract fans. Packed with a lot useful features such as ebook loaning and perks such as free in-store browsing of full texts and books discounts when inside B&N stores, the Nook is for heavy readers looking for extra fun ways to save on books.

Nook 3G – $199, Nook Wi-Fi – $149. Buy Now!

Features – Hardware and Software

Various prototypes of dual-screen devices have been shown this year, but none has reached retail yet. For now, the Nook’s dual-screen design makes it stand out from the current pack of eReaders.

Despite housing two screens, the Nook maintains a compact size, making it convenient to bring around. At 7.7 inches tall x 4.9 inches wide, it is even narrower and smaller than the single-screen Kindle (8.0 x 5.3 inches). And while it is thicker at 0.5 inches than the Kindle (0.36 inches), its slightly curved cross section makes it easier to hold than the flat Kindle.

Buttons for page turns are built on the left and right bezel, which makes the device suitable for one-handed use by either right or left handed users. An N logo sitting between the two screens is used to wake up the LCD screen. (You can save on battery power by setting the device to sleep mode if it becomes inactive for 10, 30, or 60 seconds). All other device commands are handled by the Android-powered touchscreen.

The Nook’s secondary LCD screen is used for main input and navigation. It houses the QWERTY keyboard for typing notes, and displays up to five color thumbnail book covers when browsing your library. The LCD screen works seamlessly with eInk screen. When you click a title from your library, the book automatically opens in the eInk screen.

Nook 3G – $199, Nook Wi-Fi – $149. Buy Now!

While it is powered by Android 1.5, the device doesn’t offer any Android Apps onboard. However, it gives you access to a million free ebooks from Google Books. With 2G storage, you can store 1500 ebooks on your device. The device’s upgraded web browsing capability easily beats the Kindle’s, although you need to go to classic setting if you want to access your Yahoo Mail. You can also visit blogs and news sites such as NFL.com. The device support Flash, however, ruling out YouTube and other Flash-based videos.

It’s easy to get ebooks from non-B&N retail sites as the Nook supports a wide range of formats including ePUB, PDF, PFD, DRM and non-DRM Adobe, LIT, and Sony’s LRZ or LRX. However, It doesn’t support Amazon’s AMZ format, Doc, TXT, and MOBI files.

Barnes & Noble has created apps for various devices, allowing you to read your purchased books on Blackberry, PC, Mac, iPhone, iPod, and other gadgets.

Nook 3G – $199, Nook Wi-Fi – $149. Buy Now!

The Bottom Line

Now sold at a more competitive price of $259, Barnes & Noble’s entry level device offers more intuitive design than the Kindle and access to Google’s million free classics. It’s the ideal eReader for those who want the best of both color LCD and B/W eInk worlds.

Looking For The Nook Wi-Fi? Read Our Review Now