The Nook Tablet is very much like its predecessor,
the Nook Color, in terms of looks, except for what’s on the inside. The new
Nook Tablet is more powerful, has more memory storage, has a microphone, and
has a re-designed user interface. Although the Nook packs a powerful punch in
terms of storage, overall, critics say that it is no match for the Kindle Fire,
which has more multimedia capabilities and costs $50 less. True, if you are
looking to watch movies or listen to music, Kindle wins. The Nook Tablet,
however, has its strengths in other areas…
Are you tired of reading on the Kindle’s e-ink gray
scale format and want something a little more vibrant, with more color? The
Nook Tablet has less glare on the screen and is sharper than the Kindle Fire
when it comes to rendering text. Furthermore, the Nook Tablet has a better user
interface when it comes to selecting font sizes in book reading. If you want to
read some magazines, keep in mind that the Nook has more periodicals to choose
from and has viewing options which make reading magazine text a lot easier.
Much has been made of Amazon’s custom designed OS
because it rivals Apple’s iOS in terms of ease of use. At the same time, if you
are looking for a more custom user experience, the Nook Tablet allows you to change
your wallpaper on its home screens and lets you move your apps, magazines, or
books anywhere you want.
Despite the Nook tablet’s better reading experience
and customizability, the Fire wins in terms of its overall user interface, Silk
web browser, and multimedia capabilities …
The Kindle Fire runs on a modified Android OS whose
user interface was custom made for the Kindle. The Fire, hands down, beats the
Nook Tablet from an easy of use standpoint. The Fire has consistent design and
adjusts itself well in landscape or portrait mode. The Nook Tablet, on the other
hand, has its main navigation options in portrait mode at all times and its
navigation doesn’t feel nearly as refined as the Kindle’s.
The Silk web browser from Amazon Fire works as well
as advertised. Although the Fire has nothing impressive about its hardware, it
manages to create a snappy web browsing experience. The Nook tablet sports a
web browser, albeit one which need a lot more taps to go from point A to point
B.
Do you already have account with Hulu or Netflix?
If you do, the Nook Tablet comes with both Apps pre-installed, letting you
stream video. However, only the Fire will allow you to rent the latest movies, an option
that Hulu and Netflix don’t have.
If you want to download music, the Kindle Fire is your
best option because its music store is seamless and very easy to use. Although
the Nook Tablet lets you download music from its Rhapsody App and play
individual songs offline, the App is convoluted compared to Amazon’s music
store.
Bottom Line:
If you want a device mainly for music and video,
the Kindle Fire is your best choice. If you are looking for a color reading
device for books and magazines, the Nook Color is the winner.
