Touch Can The Simple Touch Be Used as a Reliable Web Browser?

Shakenbake158 · 06-26-2011, 06:35 PM

I am trying to decide between the color and the touch. The only reason I would want the color is to have the browser. But I like the battery life off the touch and I have heard the Nook touch had a web browser, could this be used to check email, and forums?

cfrock · 06-26-2011, 06:50 PM

If you're going to rely on the device for web browsing often, you will be quite disappointed with the Touch. The Color is infinitely better for what you're looking for.

Shakenbake158 · 06-26-2011, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfrock

If you're going to rely on the device for web browsing often, you will be quite disappointed with the Touch. The Color is infinitely better for what you're looking for.

I would get the Color, but how is reading on it? It dosent have an e-ink display plus the battery dosent last as long.

taustin · 06-26-2011, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakenbake158

I would get the Color, but how is reading on it? It dosent have an e-ink display plus the battery dosent last as long.

It depends on you. Some people can't read on a backlight LCD screen for very long without getting a headache. Most people aren't bothered. Do you read outdoors in daylight a lot? If so, the color will be difficult, if not impossible to use. Do you read indoors in dim light a lot? If so, the Touch will require a reading light accessory.

Also, from the few moments I play with a Touch in the local store, it seems that the browser in it is far from complete. I could be wrong, but I couldn't get it to work right even to follow links.

Shakenbake158 · 06-26-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taustin

It depends on you. Some people can't read on a backlight LCD screen for very long without getting a headache. Most people aren't bothered. Do you read outdoors in daylight a lot? If so, the color will be difficult, if not impossible to use. Do you read indoors in dim light a lot? If so, the Touch will require a reading light accessory.

Also, from the few moments I play with a Touch in the local store, it seems that the browser in it is far from complete. I could be wrong, but I couldn't get it to work right even to follow links.

So basically the Touches browser would be okay to just check email and stuff. Thats all I need plus the battery and E-ink screen I think the Touch is right for me.

tomsem · 06-26-2011, 08:22 PM

It does not work well at all. For example, you can load a wikipedia page, but I'm not able to scroll reliably (among other things). If you need it to work with email, definitely try it out at a store before buying.

RAH · 06-26-2011, 10:08 PM

I don't really understand the question. The Touch only has a browser because someone stumbled upon it by doing a text search, but putting a webaddress in and this semi-working browser came up. How can you expect it to work well when it is not even a feature tha B&N says the device has. If you want a browser, get the Color.

Shakenbake158 · 06-26-2011, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAH

I don't really understand the question. The Touch only has a browser because someone stumbled upon it by doing a text search, but putting a webaddress in and this semi-working browser came up. How can you expect it to work well when it is not even a feature tha B&N says the device has. If you want a browser, get the Color.

Yeah I understand what your saying, but the Color is not as nice to read on and the battery life is not two months.

afv011 · 06-27-2011, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakenbake158

Yeah I understand what your saying, but the Color is not as nice to read on and the battery life is not two months.

These are 2 different beasts. Although the nook color is sold as an eReader, it is more of a general purpose device, with emphasis on reading. If you to read books, with no fancy stuff, the nook touch is the right reader for you. On the other hand, if you want browsing, email, games and such, the color is the right one.

With the original the line was a bit blurred as it did web browsing and games, but the touch has stayed clear of that, making a clear distinction between the touch and the color.

taustin · 06-27-2011, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakenbake158

Yeah I understand what your saying, but the Color is not as nice to read on and the battery life is not two months.

This is going to sound snarky, but honestly, I think the only way you'll get everything you want is to buy both. Life is full of difficult choices.

Red Alert · 06-27-2011, 11:34 AM

For sure you can expect some reduction in battery life on the Touch, if it operates in browser mode. Gotta power that little radio

I don't understand the hype over a purported 2 month battery life. True my Nookcolor requires charging every other day. So I have the charger on my night stand, and plug the NC in just before I turn out the light to sleep. No hassle. Where are you going to be two months from now when the Touch battery runs out? Most likely you'll have lost the charger by then.

kezza · 06-27-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Red Alert

Where are you going to be two months from now when the Touch battery runs out? Most likely you'll have lost the charger by then.

2 months is probably a lot longer than most people would need, but I have required two weeks of battery life from my eink readers in the past, and will again in the future. When traveling abroad, it's nice to have a device that won't require regular charging.

Mellobob · 06-27-2011, 01:02 PM

I'm thinking of rooting my device ... mostly in the expectation that I might get a usable browser. Waste of effort or worthwhile?

timothyh · 06-27-2011, 02:49 PM

I own both. There is a reason that B&N does not list the browser on the touch. Rather poor at this stage--DO NOT purchase Touch for the present browser. The browser on the color is much better. I've had my nook to China, Europe, Canada, and Mexico--charging during the night. Not a big deal. I prefer reading from the Touch--it really is less eye strain--even though the B&N color is still quite good. PDFs on either are poor (maybe terrible on the Touch?)--eZ pdf viewer is much better on the color.
I also own a Sony pocket edition. Wonderful little reader that fits into a shirt pocket, but the Touch reads easier--much better touch screen. Sony, on the other hand, has a wonderful library system compared to either of the Nooks. Load a tagged book from Calibre and that is the folder that the book will occupy. Also, it has a rather good pdf viewer. Not worth $179--I paid $119--I have recently seen it for $99. Rumor has it that Sony will be selling updated viewers in the near future (probably still overpriced).

Rooting--my color is running from an sd card. I love it. Several web browsers are available. I have heard that the nook runs faster when hard rooted--I have seen them, and the speed does seem much faster than my sd. I strongly feel that running from sd and keeping the nook in original configuration is the best way to go. I would also suggest installing a dual boot which is available on the internet. Sd card is very easy to set up with instructions on the internet. If you have the downloaded programs (all free), the setup takes about 10 minutes. I have tried several sd cards--most work poorly (even though good quality and specs.). Try a Sandisk 4gb class 4 card. Best Buy had them, but I cannot locate them recently. I purchased my latest (for my daughter) from Walmart

Touch root--soft root has been accomplished that anyone should be able to follow. Keep the original configuration as well as being able to add android apps. The market works, but not well. Amazon app store works well, and one can obtain several different browsers from them, as well as many different apps. The refresh rate on some of the apps are terrible. I'll stick with only rooting the color, but it would be nice to have a browser and "good pdf viewer" on the Touch.

tomsem · 06-27-2011, 07:33 PM

The browser is actually required to complete Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail registration, as well as to facilitate a proxied wifi connection. In each case, it has to render a bit of HTML and let you type in username/password, etc.

Even that does not always work very well; the keyboard tends to pop up over the field you need to type into. It would be nice if they improved the browser, a little bit of effort could go a long way considering how bad it is now, even compared to Nook classic.

06-26-2011, 06:35 PM	#1
Shakenbake158 Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jun 2011 Device: none	Can The Simple Touch Be Used as a Reliable Web Browser? I am trying to decide between the color and the touch. The only reason I would want the color is to have the browser. But I like the battery life off the touch and I have heard the Nook touch had a web browser, could this be used to check email, and forums?

06-26-2011, 08:22 PM	#6
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,464 Karma: 25996225 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	It does not work well at all. For example, you can load a wikipedia page, but I'm not able to scroll reliably (among other things). If you need it to work with email, definitely try it out at a store before buying. Last edited by tomsem; 06-26-2011 at 08:43 PM.

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06-26-2011, 06:50 PM	#2
cfrock Enthusiast Posts: 47 Karma: 1840 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook STR & K3	If you're going to rely on the device for web browsing often, you will be quite disappointed with the Touch. The Color is infinitely better for what you're looking for.

06-26-2011, 10:08 PM	#7
RAH Guru Posts: 611 Karma: 575652 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Hampton, NH Device: Color Nook; Nook Touch	I don't really understand the question. The Touch only has a browser because someone stumbled upon it by doing a text search, but putting a webaddress in and this semi-working browser came up. How can you expect it to work well when it is not even a feature tha B&N says the device has. If you want a browser, get the Color.

06-27-2011, 11:34 AM	#11
Red Alert Zealot Posts: 114 Karma: 1020754 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Silverdale, Washington Device: NookColor & Nook Tablet. Sony PRS-505 loaned to brother.	For sure you can expect some reduction in battery life on the Touch, if it operates in browser mode. Gotta power that little radio I don't understand the hype over a purported 2 month battery life. True my Nookcolor requires charging every other day. So I have the charger on my night stand, and plug the NC in just before I turn out the light to sleep. No hassle. Where are you going to be two months from now when the Touch battery runs out? Most likely you'll have lost the charger by then.

06-27-2011, 01:02 PM	#13
Mellobob Connoisseur Posts: 77 Karma: 13118 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Wynndel BC Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O	I'm thinking of rooting my device ... mostly in the expectation that I might get a usable browser. Waste of effort or worthwhile?

06-27-2011, 02:49 PM	#14
timothyh Member Posts: 21 Karma: 60 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: South Carolina Device: nook color, nook touch, sony 350	I own both. There is a reason that B&N does not list the browser on the touch. Rather poor at this stage--DO NOT purchase Touch for the present browser. The browser on the color is much better. I've had my nook to China, Europe, Canada, and Mexico--charging during the night. Not a big deal. I prefer reading from the Touch--it really is less eye strain--even though the B&N color is still quite good. PDFs on either are poor (maybe terrible on the Touch?)--eZ pdf viewer is much better on the color. I also own a Sony pocket edition. Wonderful little reader that fits into a shirt pocket, but the Touch reads easier--much better touch screen. Sony, on the other hand, has a wonderful library system compared to either of the Nooks. Load a tagged book from Calibre and that is the folder that the book will occupy. Also, it has a rather good pdf viewer. Not worth $179--I paid $119--I have recently seen it for $99. Rumor has it that Sony will be selling updated viewers in the near future (probably still overpriced). Rooting--my color is running from an sd card. I love it. Several web browsers are available. I have heard that the nook runs faster when hard rooted--I have seen them, and the speed does seem much faster than my sd. I strongly feel that running from sd and keeping the nook in original configuration is the best way to go. I would also suggest installing a dual boot which is available on the internet. Sd card is very easy to set up with instructions on the internet. If you have the downloaded programs (all free), the setup takes about 10 minutes. I have tried several sd cards--most work poorly (even though good quality and specs.). Try a Sandisk 4gb class 4 card. Best Buy had them, but I cannot locate them recently. I purchased my latest (for my daughter) from Walmart Touch root--soft root has been accomplished that anyone should be able to follow. Keep the original configuration as well as being able to add android apps. The market works, but not well. Amazon app store works well, and one can obtain several different browsers from them, as well as many different apps. The refresh rate on some of the apps are terrible. I'll stick with only rooting the color, but it would be nice to have a browser and "good pdf viewer" on the Touch.

06-27-2011, 07:33 PM	#15
tomsem Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,464 Karma: 25996225 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: USA Device: iPhone 15PM, Kindle Scribe, iPad mini 6, PocketBook InkPad Color 3	The browser is actually required to complete Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail registration, as well as to facilitate a proxied wifi connection. In each case, it has to render a bit of HTML and let you type in username/password, etc. Even that does not always work very well; the keyboard tends to pop up over the field you need to type into. It would be nice if they improved the browser, a little bit of effort could go a long way considering how bad it is now, even compared to Nook classic.

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