The Mobile Gadgeteer

Matthew Miller & Joel Evans

Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

By Matthew Miller | November 7, 2011, 7:41am PST

Summary: Barnes & Noble just announced their Nook Tablet device that runs $50 more than the Amazon Kindle Fire with better specifications.

The competition in the ereader/tablet space is really heating up and as I watch the live blogs for the Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet I have to admit I was caught up in the moment and was thinking about switching over to it instead of the Amazon Kindle Fire that I have pre-ordered. I have always been a fan of the Nook devices, including the Nook Color and this new one really cranks up the speed, memory, and display quality. However, it is more of an accessory device and not a need for me since I have an iPad 2 and eInk readers.

Image posted on SlashGear.

As you can see on the ZDNet Gadget Reviews blog the specs for the Nook Tablet are very similar to the Amazon Kindle Fire. The differences are in the included storage (8GB vs 16GB + microSD card slot), processor (1 GHz vs 1.2 GHz), RAM (512MB vs 1GB), and the standard EPUB and Office document support in the Nook Tablet. If you just looked at the specs, then you may want to shell out the extra $50 to get the Nook Tablet. However, as we have learned from Apple, mobile is about much more than the specs.

The ecosystem and user experience is what differentiates devices today and Amazon is a major player in the ecosystem for the Kindle Fire. However, Barnes & Noble has partnered with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and others to bring an ecosystem to the Nook Tablet as well. I will rarely use the device for ebook reading since I find a dedicated eInk device with no distractions to offer a far more compelling reading experience.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “The Mobile Gadgeteer”

The Callet: a wallet and iPhone case in one

Jawbone Jambox rocks the tunes and the conference calls (review)

Topics

Spec, Amazon.com Inc., Ecosystem, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Kindle Fire, E-books & E-Readers, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle.

Full Bio
Disclosure
Contact

Vendor HotSpot

The 360° Conversation around Cloud Computing

TECH VISUALIZER brings the social conversation to life... powered by Brocade

Learn More »

Related Discussions on TechRepublic

Did you know you can take part in these discussions with your ZDNet membership?

Ask a Question Start a Discussion

Comments

Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Follow via:: RSS; Email Alert

Just In

sdfdf

jywhy888 7th Mar

View in thread

Please Select
Please Select

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Shmythey 7th Nov

As a Prime member, the services that Amazon provides will keep me with the Kindle Fire. Especially now with the Prime book lending program.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

sdfdf

jywhy888 7th Mar

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

bhartman36 7th Nov

I'm definitely getting the Kindle Fire. Ordered it already. I've got a Kindle, and I use Amazon service a lot (including the MP3 Cloud Player and Instant Video) so this was a no-brainer for me.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Same here. Amazon provides great service

otaddy 8th Nov

@bhartman36

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Choosing between vaporware

ddcfamily@... 7th Nov

is not a choice. Why do you pimp products you haven't tested?

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Vaporware?

richorlin Updated - 7th Nov

@ddcfamily@...
"vaporware /veprwr/
noun
ComputerSlang. a product, especially software, that is promoted or marketed while it is still in development and that may never be produced."

Certainly NOT vaporware. Both products are ready to ship. The Nook next Monday, and the Fire two days later.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

mdemuth 7th Nov

@richorlin
I agree 'vaporware' is the wrong term, but the sentiment is quite correct. How can one say "I like X over Y" when us mere mortals have not had the chance to get our hands on either?
I'll let you know how the Fire is soon. I placed my order the day it was available and chose 2 day shipping.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dsf3g Updated - 7th Nov

I owned a Nook Color before buying an HTC Flyer. The biggest drawback with the Amazon flyer is the lack of local storage (not enough room to store a dozen movies for your next vacation). The biggest drawback with the Nook Color is the limited App market. If B&N could increase its App Market tenfold, the scales tilt much more in the Nook's favor. Right now, I'd say it's a wash.

But honestly: for $300.00 you can buy an HTC Flyer. Same form factor as the B&N Nook and Amazon Fire. But with the Flyer I've got access to the entire Android market, also Amazon's App Store (including the Free App of the Day). You can install both the B&N Reader App and te Kindle App. You've got a Hulu client as well as a neflix client. In addition, youve got fronta nd rear cameras and bluetooth support for external keyborads. It's $100.00 more than the Fire and $50.00 more than the Nook, but a much better machine over-all.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dsf3g 7th Nov

@dsf3g

BTW: Capable $300 Android tablets like the Flyer and Acer Iconia 100 are teh reason why I think that last month's ZDnet orgy of: "OMG, OMG, The Kindle Fire is going to murderize the Andoird Tablet market!!!" was waaay premature.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Pete "athynz" Athens 7th Nov

@dsf3g You know you can always root the Nook Color via an SDCard - or even dual boot it with full Android and the Stock Nook Color OS. I did the latter with mine so if I ever need a full Android tablet I can pop in the SDCard and reboot.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dsf3g 7th Nov

@Pete "athynz" Athens

My Nook color was rooted within weeks. It was a great tablet. But the Flyer offers everything the Nook did plus stable bluetooth, front and rear cameras, and an optional stylus.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

simul8guy Updated - 8th Nov

@dsf3g - No idea where you found an HTC flyer for $300 but I'd buy a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" which I could get for $299 (if I could find one) before I'd buy a Nook Tablet or a Fire.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

fldbryan@... 16th Nov

@dsf3g People have already found out how to load market apps on the Nook. It won't take long until everyone but the most un-techie will be able to do it.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Content vs. performance

Michael Kelly 7th Nov

History has shown that content will always beat performance (or quality, if you prefer). See Microsoft Windows v. Mac and Linux, VHS v. Betamax, iTunes v. everybody else, and Blu-ray v. HD-DVD for proof. Thus the Nook, while a much better product, hasn't a chance in this battle.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

twall1900 7th Nov

@Michael Kelly

I would hold off on Blu-ray example. The consumer resisted upgrading until now, affordable price finally. HD-DVD had some content but decided to throw in the towel. Finally, Sony used the play-station to pump up the numbers of blue ray players and give away many blue ray disc upon purchase. Despite impressive specs for PlayStation, Nintendo and then Microsoft managed to unseat Sony PlayStation. Personally my next purchase is cheap laptop with blue ray since I am not always guaranteed cloud connectivity.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Pete "athynz" Athens 7th Nov

@Michael Kelly I'd agree with that - maybe - but there is this: However, Barnes & Noble has partnered with Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and others to bring an ecosystem to the Nook Tablet as well.

For 50 bucks more I'd get twice the specs, an SDCard slot that can read up to a 32GB card, and have Netflix, Hulu, and Pandora... as well as access to more e book formats.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

alan_r_cam 8th Nov

@Michael Kelly, you forgot the audience. A product that four billion people can use and afford [about half world population], will do better than a product targeted at only 300 million [USA population].
Barnes & Noble don't sell outside the US. Amazon do.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

alceste007 Updated - 7th Nov

I like having the SD slot availible. I was really surprised that Amazon did not allow local storage so I am going with the Nook.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

terry flores 7th Nov

I bought the original Nook Color and was very happy with it, especially with all of the ebook formats that it supports. B&N probably wasn't so happy, since I never bought any books from them. The Nook is my "airline gadget" because it fits in my coat pocket but is still big enough to read and watch videos. With a $25 16GB microSD card, it holds several thousand books and MP3s, as well as a dozens movies and TV episodes. It even has a couple of games that I play occasionally.

The new Nook may be a bit better specwise, but not enough for me to upgrade from my current device. Now if they gave me like a $50 credit on trading my old one in, it would be a different story ...

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Pete "athynz" Athens 7th Nov

@terry flores Agreed - although I may wind up getting a Nook Tablet and giving my Nook Color to my daughter or putting it on eBay... IF the Nook Tablet can be rooted as easily as the Nook Color.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dachiemom 8th Nov

@Pete "athynz" Athens I don't necessarily want to "root" my NC- I just want to be able to use the N2A micro-sd--hope that doesn't change.

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dachiemom 8th Nov

@terry flores keep an eye on Best Buy trade-in program- they are currently offering an $80-85 trade-in value on the Nook Color--if they get the Tablet for sale (&they probably will), it may be worth the shot

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

attempts at building a platform

philsimonsystems 7th Nov

Give B&N credit. As you correctly point out, B&N isn't really branded as a hip company for developers. Its partnerships with Hulu, Netflix, Pandor, etc. will be essential if it is to compete with the 800-lb gorilla that is Amazon.

Phil Simon
www.theageoftheplatform.com

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Peter Perry 7th Nov

@philsimonsystems The cost of having the two video services is more than twice what Amazon Prime is.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

hayneiii@... 7th Nov

I currently own the Nook Color. I am more impressed with the Amazon ecosystem and the Nook tablet. I have a Prime membership with the Kindle app on my laptop, it is good, but not compelling. I prefer watching movies on a larger screen than the iPad, so both fail badly on movies.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

Mobutu2 7th Nov

hmmmm, lets see, what can I do on my iPhone...Take pictures, videos, listen to music, make phone calls.

What does my iPhone not do well due to it's tiny screen?
Movies, Ebooks, Web browsing.

I got the fire to bridge the gap between my phone and a tablet/PC. I don't need a full fledged tablet, I need what the Fire does well.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

The Nook Reads epub files the Kindle can't

jnheroy@... 8th Nov

The Nook reads epub files and the Kincle can't. The nook has storage space on it to store my personal documents and doesn't have to find a connection that might not be there to get them as could be the case with a Kindle. I'll stick with a Nook anyday!

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

srebmob@... 8th Nov

The storage comparison is misleading. The Nook has 16Gb, yes, but there is only 1 Gb that will be available for anything that isn't from the Nook store.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dachiemom 8th Nov

as long as I can use my N2A micro-sd on the Nook- I will get the Nook Tablet. I love having the flexibility of using either the Nook software or the N2A depending on how I need to use it at any given time.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dachiemom 8th Nov

as long as I can still use the N2A microsd on the Nook Tablet- that's what I will be buying. I've loved having the flexibility of using either the Nook software or the N2A, depending on what I need to do at any given time. The specs for the new Nook Tablet are very appealing compared to the Kindle.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Prefer? Eschew!

ka5s@... 8th Nov

No! Not with a couple of hundred books (maybe more) not available in that format.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

dgoo 8th Nov

The Nook Tablet. I have a rooted Nook Color, and it has performed very well: stable and very useful.
I have a 10" tablet, but still prefer to read using the Nook.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

Nook Tablet... of course...

rtrujillo@... 8th Nov

Nook Tablet of course. However, because I would use it also for work (taking pictures of errors, settings, etc), a camera would be very useful. I'll look for other options.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

cammie0530 8th Nov

I have researched and done both of the tours and, I have to say, I am going with the nook. First of all, it has twice the gb as the Fire and with a 32 gb memory card, it brings it up to 48gb. And the Nook Tablet has a protective sheen sprucing up the colors even more and keeping glares off the screen. They both do the same things, carry apps and books at your fingertips, but these things about the Nook Tablet make it worth the extra $50.

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

gregnewm7 14th Nov

The kindle fire is a winner with me because Amazon has more entertainment content

Reply
Flag

0 Votes

+ -

RE: Which do you prefer, the Amazon Kindle Fire or B&N Nook Tablet?

I am The Kingsman 16th Nov

I've been using a ZT 180 ver. 2 for 8 months now. This is a 10. 2" Android tablet with full android market and the eco system also includes everything the NOOK Color has. I paid less than the cost of the Kindle Fire originally for it. It's very powerful and very reliable. As it is, one of my primary apps gives me all kinds of help in storing, writing, and displaying my music while I am playing my music. The latest version, the ZT280 is cheaper than either the NOOK or the Kindle and frankly I don't know why, given the option, anyone would trade down to either one of these lightweights, the NOOK or Kindle.