Amazon Tablet May Cost Hundreds Less Than iPad

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

In a practical sense, how?

I like the NC hardware much more than the stock software. The openness of the hardware platform allowed me to replace the firmware with one better suited to my needs in a matter of half an hour.

For me, that greater level of customization in operating system is an advantage, and it's made possible by the more open hardware of the Nook Color.

[Lemurion]

Originally Posted by SCION

I've encountered this with 7.03. This is no longer the case with 7.1.0.-RC1. I didn't use the device for two weeks (standby mode, wifi on) and it was at 87% when I picked it up again.

I guess I'm going to have to upgrade the OS

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by RockdaMan

...errr, how are you measuring 'half'?

Not to disagree, but there are lots of (rooted) Nook Color fans that simply wanted a very good tablet without compromises and were happy that the iPad was not the only way to get one.

I'm thinking from the standpoint of the average user, not the geeky type who can " root" the NC and get unauthorized access to the Google Market-access that Google might decide to turn off at some point.
Even if you get access to the GM, part of the iPad experience is access to the superior IOS ecosystem.
Finally, the bigger screen ( twice as big) just gives a better experience for games, video , and just about anything visual. Reading magazines are better: reading PDFs are better.
I think a lot of people with rooted NCs really like their devices ( and can pat themselves on the back for circumventing , for the moment, Google's restrictions) but they are pretty much getting what they paid for- about half the iPad experience , IMO.

[djulian]

They're getting the half of the iPad experience that everyone wants, and not suffering through the other half.

[RockdaMan]

Originally Posted by Lemurion

The openness of the hardware platform allowed me to replace the firmware

Oh, ok, I understand. But that's something most users of these devices will never do. Just us techies...

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by stonetools

I'm thinking from the standpoint of the average user, not the geeky type who can " root" the NC and get unauthorized access to the Google Market-access that Google might decide to turn off at some point.
Even if you get access to the GM, part of the iPad experience is access to the superior IOS ecosystem.
Finally, the bigger screen ( twice as big) just gives a better experience for games, video , and just about anything visual. Reading magazines are better: reading PDFs are better.
I think a lot of people with rooted NCs really like their devices ( and can pat themselves on the back for circumventing , for the moment, Google's restrictions) but they are pretty much getting what they paid for- about half the iPad experience , IMO.

1- there's always Amazon's Appstore if access to Google's stops

2- the only element of any ecosystem I use is the apps, so Apple has no advantage

3- a 10" screen means the tablet stays home because it's too big

4- my rooted NC is getting 100% of the iPad experience

[stonetools]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

1- there's always Amazon's Appstore if access to Google's stops

2- the only element of any ecosystem I use is the apps, so Apple has no advantage

3- a 10" screen means the tablet stays home because it's too big

4- my rooted NC is getting 100% of the iPad experience

1- Well, until amazon closes that off. They are much less likely to tolerate unauthorized access to their ecosystem than Google, IMO.

2- Well, that's you. With most other consumers, Apple has huge advantage .
Even with apps, IOS tends to have the better apps
3- Well, it goes to work every day with me. Lots of people carry around their
IPads. I've seen far more iPads out on the street than any other tablet-
Including any 7" tablet.
4- i'm sorry, but if you don't have an iPad, you don't have an iPad . More seriously, your point seems to be that if you are a techie who can hack the NC into something it wasn't designed to be ( thus voiding your warranty) and if you are happy accepting compromises like watching movies on a smaller screen , having an inferior ecosystem, and living with the possibility that Google or Amazon might shut off access to that system with their next upgrade, well then the iPad is exactly the same as the NC for half the price.

I think when you lay it out like that, it's pretty clear that a rooted NC doesn't really give you the iPad UX. What it gives you is kind of enough of an iPad experience to satisfy a geek, which is OK for some people, but not for the average consumer.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

1- there's always Amazon's Appstore if access to Google's stops

2- the only element of any ecosystem I use is the apps, so Apple has no advantage

3- a 10" screen means the tablet stays home because it's too big

4- my rooted NC is getting 100% of the iPad experience

2: Really? oookayy.

3, 4: well if the smaller size is better for you, then you're getting 150% of the iPad experience, aren't you? That's great.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by stonetools

2- Well, that's you.

That's the point! This is all individual. What works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by stonetools

4- i'm sorry, but if you don't have an iPad, you don't have an iPad . More seriously, your point seems to be that if you are a techie who can hack the NC into something it wasn't designed to be ( thus voiding your warranty) and if you are happy accepting compromises like watching movies on a smaller screen , having an inferior ecosystem, and living with the possibility that Google or Amazon might shut off access to that system with their next upgrade, well then the iPad is exactly the same as the NC for half the price.

Or you get a friend to hack it for you. I did that to a friend's NC.

My warranty is STILL intact! All I need to do before sending it back for warranty work is to undo the root. That's not rocket science.

What compromises? I'm quite happy watching videos on a 7" display. Who are you to say otherwise.

What ecosystem? If you read my post, then you should note that the ONLY part of anyone's ecosystem I use is the appstore.

Cutting off access to Google or Amazon is a big if. There's no indication at this time that either company would do it, so it's totally irrelevant to this discussion.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Barty

2: Really? oookayy.

3, 4: well if the smaller size is better for you, then you're getting 150% of the iPad experience, aren't you? That's great.

2- yes; really! I have an iPod touch 4 and the ONLY part of iTunes I use is the App Store. I don't do music, movies, TV shows, books, or podcasts. Apple doesn't have my credit card and I have no intention of ever spending any money on Apple content.

3, 4- size is the single most important feature for me in getting a tablet. 7" means I'll travel with it; 10" means it'll stay home. If I can't travel with a tablet, then what's the point in getting one? (unless it's a $99 HP TouchPad which will sit on a coffee table in the living room as a second tablet because it's so cheap)

[elcreative]

Funny how different strokes for different folks really manages to wind people up...

For me, "travelling with it" now means a smartphone which goes everywhere with me (together with my 505 ereader) and is easier for this than any size tablet... the tablet now stays home usually where it's 10" size is exactly what I want for browsing in the armchair (with a heat pad to relieve back pain), reading comics and some other media stuff when I don't care to watch my wife's preference (or anything else) on the TV... but it'll still travel with me on occasion and it meets my needs far better than an iPad - I want an iPad but I don't need one and these days want has slipped down the list of financial priorities, if I win the lottery then I'll get everything I want as well as need...

See my choices are a Galaxy II S and a cheap 10" Chinese Android tablet with lots of ports, tubemonkey's choices would be rubbish for me but his choices work fine for him just as mine do for me, so why all the fuss and insistence on "the one true way" of doing things... after all, if we're taking that track then there is only one true way and that's mine...

[OtterBooks]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

7" means I'll travel with it; 10" means it'll stay home.

I also like the 7" tablet size, and if Amazon releases multiple sizes that is the size I'd be interested in. It just seems more comfortable to hold, and is big enough for comfortable text reading.

Just curious though: what does a 7" tablet fit into that a 10" does not? Neither one will fit in your pocket (at least not my pockets), and even the smallest backpack/messenger bag is big enough for a 10" device with room to spare. The weight difference doesn't seem significant unless I had to hold it in my teeth. So far as portability goes, I just don't see a significant difference between the two sizes.

[elcreative]

Originally Posted by OtterBooks

I also like the 7" tablet size, and if Amazon releases multiple sizes that is the size I'd be interested in. It just seems more comfortable to hold, and is big enough for comfortable text reading.

Just curious though: what does a 7" tablet fit into that a 10" does not? Neither one will fit in your pocket (at least not my pockets), and even the smallest backpack/messenger bag is big enough for a 10" device with room to spare. The weight difference doesn't seem significant unless I had to hold it in my teeth. So far as portability goes, I just don't see a significant difference between the two sizes.

Just so... which is why, for me, 10" works better for my usage... 7" is pretty much the same for portability when travelling...

[joenunya]

Amazon needs a BIG color tablet to sell more of their formatted for a large screen content many of which demand full color to be of any actual use to the reader.

I am figuring there will be a smaller 7" as well as a 10.1" 16:10 screen tablet.

I don't get the ideas about the hardware will be worse, whatever that means, than the iPad. It has at best marginal hardware. I do see a Tegra 3 in the near future if for no other reason than for the improved video hardware it provides which would benefit Amazon's video rentals and sales.