Quote:
Originally Posted by mgmueller
Personally, I found the build quality (gaps between frame and housing) of Nook HD a disaster. Nook HD+ is okay, but nothing special. In direct comparison I very much prefer my both Kindle Fire HDs. But of course all those bargain tablets quality-wise can't compete with iPad or Surface Pro and the likes.
So I think, B&N struggles on both ends: On the bargain side from Google and Amazon, both available globally (you only get Nooks in Europa via direct order from the US = potential problems with warranty and such) and on the high end from Apple, Microsoft and the likes...
I really don't get, why in a global market some players still focus on a single market (albeit the US of course are a huge market, but still only maybe 1/3 of the potential).
|
The Nook HD+ is $149, tops, typically can be found as a 1-yr "refurb" straight from B&N for $129 (I think these are really new/offloaded hardware).
The Kindle HDX is in the $300s and even the old 8.9" Kindle HD is still $229.
Nook HD+ can't be beat for the bang/buck IMO if you want a big tablet. I had one for a while but flipped it - I prefer 7" tablets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by VictoriaP
3. Durability--this one is based on a small sample size, but everyone I personally know who has owned a Nook of any model has seen that device fail after what I'd consider a pretty short lifespan. One friend in particular went through three in three years, while I was still reading on my original Kindle 2. I upgraded out of choice, she did it because she had to. (She's since given up & reads on an iPad; as such, she no longer buys books from BN either.)
|
The person I know with Kindle Fires has 4 of them in her family. 3 of them are basically paperweights at this point (won't hold a charge at all). *shrug* Anecdotal evidence also.
My daughters used Nook Colors as tablets (with CM7 on them) for a couple of years. I saw a Nook color survive almost 2 years (from ~4 to 6), tossed around, dropped all of the time, left on floor, etc. No problems.
IMO I would never buy a Kindle Fire unless I put CM10 on it as I want the Google Play store and gapps. The hardware is a good buy, but Amazon's separate walled-off ecosystem from Google with no Google apps (Gmail, Google Maps, etc) is a no-go in my book. A Kindle Fire is an absolute no-buy in my house for that reason, despite the fact that my wife is basically an Amazon fiend otherwise
