I keep hearing how it is difficult to transfer books to the iPad, but I have not encountered that problem. I've got both tablets and if anything transferring books to the iPad is just as easy if not easier than with the nookcolor. Calibre is NOT required. A simple drag and drop method from computer to iTunes works very well. Of course 99% of my books are deDRMed so I cannot really speak for transferring DRMed files to apps like Bluefire, iBooks, eReader, etc. It is certainly the same process on both tablets to download books to apps like Nook and Kindle when making purchases through their respective bookstores.

As far as portability, in my situation I never carry the nookcolor or iPad when away from home unless I'm going to a meeting where one or the other would be useful. BTW, both tablets work quite well for viewing meeting agendas and reports. The iPad has an edge in that it can be connected to a projector through a VGA adapter for presentations, but this only works with apps that have specifically programmed that ability. I don't think the nookcolor can be connected to a projector. But I digress as my point was going to be that travelling around town to such places as a doctor office will find me carrying neither tablet as I prefer my Sony PRS-350 for its uber portability and its ability to read in bright light situations.

So in my case, I use a tablet when at home and quite often while sitting at my desk. I work from home so that is my office, though I'm semi-retired. Thus for me the size of the tablet doesn't have as much of a portability issue as a how mch can I get on the screen issue. If I'm merely going to read ePubs the nookcolor would make more sense as it is easier to hold and has a sharper screen for reading. However, if I'm going to read PDFs, view office documents like spreadsheets and PPT presentations then the iPad wins hands down as 7" is not large enough. The same holds true for web surfing. Plus the iPad browser (Safari) is very functionable and websites look like they do onmy computers, whereas the nookcolor stock browser is a not good at all IMO.

I guess I'm kind of unique in this forum as I'm not a "fanboy" of any company or OS. I certainly don't think much of Android, nor do I care for Apple or Sony as both keep their products overpriced and pretend to be way more cutting edge than they really are. To me what matters is what works. Frankly I get easily annoyed by those who always defend a specific company or OS simply from a perspective of prejudice, and Android, Apple, and to a lesser degree, Sony fans tend to do that to the exclusion of common sense in many cases. And they tend to wear the feelings on their sleeves. How silly is that. I reserve that kind of loyalty for friends, family, and country, and in that order.