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Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!

By | November 15, 2011, 6:16pm PST

Summary: Some stores are already showing the Nook Tablet ahead of schedule, and the Kindle Fire is shipping early. The cheap tablet war is on!

Barnes & Noble took it straight to Amazon when it recently announced the Nook Tablet. It was pointed out time and again at the launch event how the Nook Tablet has better hardware components than the Kindle Fire. Amazon responded by shipping the Kindle Fire ahead of schedule, and B&N has retaliated in kind as the Nook Tablet is already appearing in B&N stores.

Early shipments are rare in the consumer electronic space, as it is more common to see delays in getting products into consumer’s hands. It seems the cheap tablet war has left the podium and is now in the trenches, with Kindle Fires and Nook Tablets shipping ahead of schedule.

The Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet are similar in form and function, with a $50 price difference separating the two. B&N is quick to point out the hardware differences that make the Nook Tablet worth the extra price, but that may be a dangerous gambit as most mainstream consumers don’t care about the technical stuff. The cheaper price and familiar Kindle brand may give Amazon a leg up in the cheap tablet war.

It will bear watching how the market reacts to the Nook Tablet once widely available. It is reported Amazon has already sold a million Kindle Fire tablets prior to shipping, and that is a significant start in the race against the Nook Tablet. B&N is not disclosing Nook Tablet sales figures so far.

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Amazon.com Inc., B&N, Tablets, Notebooks, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long.

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James Kendrick

James Kendrick has no affiliations or relationships that need to be disclosed.

Biography

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long. Prior to joining ZDNet, James was the Founding Editor of jkOnTheRun, a CNET Top 100 Tech Blog that was acquired by GigaOM in 2008 and is now part of that prestigious tech network. James' writing has appeared in many print publications: Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, Information Week and Laptop Magazine to name a few. James' coverage of the mobile technology sector has regularly appeared in the New York Times, Salon.com and CNN/ Fortune online. Not just a writer, James has filmed numerous video reviews and how-tos that have garnered well over a million viewers. He has appeared on local news segments and been interviewed by the Associated Press on mobile technology topics. Additionally, James has been podcasting about mobile technology for years.

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I pre-ordered the Nook Tablet
inmypjs69 17th Nov
But I tried to cancel it today thinking that it will not be shipped tomorrow. However, they said that they already processed the order today so I can't cancel it. I would like to wait for the Transformer Pride instead. I thought, if I'm going to get a tablet, I might as well go for the best even though it's double the price. I'm going to play with the Nook Tablet but I'll just return it.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
jglopic 15th Nov
If XDA can get CM7 on a Nook Tablet, it jumps to the top of my Christmas list. Sadly, with a shorter battery life and less memory, the Fire will not make my Christmas list. Yes, I understand it is a streaming device. But sitting on an airplane crossing the Altantic is not conducive to streaming. 16 GB of memory plus an SD card slot is a much better proposition. (Heck, if the Fire had the SD slot, I would probably get it instead, but limited memory is just too limiting.)
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Not the only issues with the Fire
wackoae Updated - 15th Nov
@jglopic If you check around, pretty much every reviewer (even by Fandroids) are complaining about sluggishness .... even worst than normal Android lag.

Here is an example ... fell free to search for more:
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/104945-kindle-fire-flames-have-been-doused
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Having tried the Kindle Fire, its a disappointment
Uralbas 15th Nov
B & N wants to kill the Kindle. Keep the 250 price. Add a 5Megapixel camera and a Mic. Game over.

But at current prices. Asus Transformer is the best buy at 271 along with the Asus Slider at 378 (google shopping). Then I would consider the HTC Flyer or the Sony Tablet S.

Many like the Acer Iconia, its quality is just not enough. The display is subpar compared to the Asus / Sony or HTC Flyer. Updates even though they are there, they are just not good enough. And its HEAVY.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
ckantack@... 16th Nov
With double the RAM, 6x the storage (if you count the SD slot), longer battery life, and the more "open system" than the Kindle Fire (not locked into Amazon only formats), on paper at least, the B&N Nook Tablet is easily worth the extra $50. I'll be interested once actual user reviews hit the street for both these products.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
A.Sinic 16th Nov
@jglopic
In Europe the Kindle Fire is the only game in town. A guy in a US store tried to sell me a Nook, but he was asking me to give a fraudulent address so he could get the sale. I walked away. Still thinking about the Fire, but my current Kindle is only a few months old, and my Windows Phone and ancient iPod Touch do most of the other stuff in the meantime.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
WCarlS 16th Nov
@A.Sinic
Why would you be required (in the U.S.) to give an address to buy a Nook? For warranty purposes? Uh Uh! You do that after the buy. Absent any international treaties limiting the ability to sell a computer device in your country, there is absolutely no valid reason to claim fraud.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tkeller@... 16th Nov
@jglopic For sure. And now, with Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich source released, we may finally see something even better from CyanogenMod for both the NC and the NT. happy
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
Jimster480 17th Nov
@jglopic Nook is going to be a better tablet
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
Bookzilla 15th Nov
Just Picked up the new Nook Tablet. I really want to like this tablet. Being a current satisfied owner of the older Color Nook. I was ready to dig in. Being very familiar with the Older Nook I would think I know how to use the newer one out of the box. It could pass for a twin. Everything is okey-dokey except the Tablet isn't recognized by Calibre. ANY E-Reader MUST be able to communicate with Calibre. It is the most popular E-Book Library out there. The issue must be addressed immediatetly. I called B&N support and they are working on it. The problen isn't with the Tablet or Computer. In my opinion it is a Calibre driver/plugin issue. You might want to wait until this is fixed before proceeding with Nook Tablet order. I will post again here immediatedly when corrected.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
Unusual1 16th Nov
@Bookzilla

Well, the darn thing just came out! Give the Calibre people a chance to get their driver working! As often as they update the software, I would say it will be less than a week before they come out with a new version that works with it.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
faxmonkey 16th Nov
@Unusual1
I agree. It's not a B&N issue really. Calibre will get the driver sorted out in a week. They are very responsive. I love Calibre and use it with my CM7 Nook Color and stock original Nook.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tkeller@... 16th Nov
@Bookzilla Who's the tard who flagged this post?
Sure, Calibre will probably have this fixed pronto, but is the complaint about that flag-worthy?
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
TKodiak 16th Nov
These are bargain-basement dollar store toys. If you just want to read and do some really low level surfin' and email, well ok. But for another 100 -200 bucks you get either an Ipad or Galaxy that will turn either of these offerings into paperweights.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
BoloMKXXVIII 16th Nov
@TKodiak
Spoken like someone who has never used one. I have a Nook Color and use it every day. It is a great device (once rooted).
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I love the qualifier "once rooted". Something that less than 1% will do
rcosby Updated - 16th Nov
@BoloMKXXVIII
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tkeller@... 16th Nov
@BoloMKXXVIII Agreed. the NC is a good value. I was hoping the new Tablet would have GPS though...
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tdogg219 16th Nov
@TKodiak - Math was never my strong suit, but shouldn't the price range be from $250-$300 more you can get an iPad or Galaxy? In both cases, that is at least double the price of the devices in question... That is a significant price difference.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tbuccelli 16th Nov
@TKodiak Really, I can go out and buy a new Ipad2 for $299 - WHERE?! (and don't point to those penny-bid sites as an example).
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
No_Ax_to_Grind 16th Nov
I don't do social, I read real books instead of screens, I don't shop on line. What would I do with either of them?
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
terry flores Updated - 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind - My NC replaced a carry-on full of books and magazines for the weekly plane flights and airport waits. My eyes are not up to doing it on a 3" smartphone, and an iPad won't fit in my jacket pocket. It's been a great little device.

As far as shopping online, you don't know what you are missing. I've purchased everything from cars to office furniture to olive oil online, with selections I could have never found locally. People talk about price, but for me the ability to get exactly the model or feature that I want in something is the main attraction.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
tbuccelli 16th Nov
@terry flores
Another positive over the selection is that you don't have to go to the stores. For some items it is nice, but for others the hassle is not worth it. Our nearest mall is 8 miles away or so, yet it takes 20minutes or more because of traffic. Plus there is the parking hassle, the lines, etc. If you don't need things IMMEDIATELY you can get most things in a couple of days.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
faxmonkey 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind
I don't see how you don't do all those things and still subscribe to ZDNET.com.

We would all love to welcome you to 2011.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
ManoaHI 16th Nov
@faxmonkey
@No_Ax_to_Grind must have found a way to get the print version of ZDnet wink or someone faxes it to him and waits for a fax back and posts has him/her.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
use_what_works_4_U 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind
Sounds to me like it's not the product segment for you. So don't get one.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
dobosconsulting 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind

Same thing you did from some other device... post useless comments to tech news articles that don't apply to you.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
SoYouSaid 16th Nov
@dobosconsulting your totally wrong ....... No Ax is only pointing out that not everyone is stuck with the latest toy to enjoy reading ....... you actually sound like a spoiled kid who is still wet behind the ears .........
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
boomchuck1 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind Not a problem then! Since you don't need one of these then just keep that money in your wallet and everyone will be happy.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
lplympton 16th Nov
@No_Ax_to_Grind
Then why put in your 2 cents worth?
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
jan133 16th Nov
my granddaughter who loves to read wants a kindle - the new one of course but she does do some reading on her iphone - but we will check out the nook at barnes and noble too to see which one has features she can use as she is in college
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
ManoaHI 16th Nov
@jan133
You need to check out the books your granddaughter needs for school and see if it available either as e-pub, rental or outright purchase (Peachpit sends book and has an e-pub downloadable). If e-pub, better to get Nook. For outright purchase of textbooks, Kindle is the better choice. If you get the wrong reader, she will need to buy the book version (which are currently outrageously expensive - last semester the books I needed were not available for rental, I paid $620 for my books, courses used new version of text so no used either; this semester I was able to rent all but one book, I paid $120 for my books).
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I LOVE My Color NOOK!
howard.blake@... 16th Nov
I purchased the original Nook, then the Color Nook when it came out and have HAPPILY used it for months! Now I've got the new Nook - what a joy! Keep the Fire and I'll keep my Nook and be a happy man! happy
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
sorahl 16th Nov
Wrong title... AFFORDABLE TABLET..
and lets be clear these are NOT 'Tablet Computers' They are ENTERTAINMENT 'Tablets' as is the OUTRAGEOUSLY priced IPAD...
this is the price they all need to be. if you are looking for a COMPUTER TABLET then you should pay around the 5-600 price range...
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
S_Deemer 16th Nov
My wife made her Christmas request last week; she wanted a device primarily for reading. After looking at all the options, she decided on a Kindle Touch 3G because it runs longer, costs less, weighs less, can be used outdoors, and has both Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. The KT does less than a KF or a Nook Tablet, but what it does, it does well.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
nbkz81f 16th Nov
@S_Deemer I love my Kindle for reading. I have a tablet that I use for other things but for reading it's the Kindle!
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Nook Tablet looks great
LooseWingnut 16th Nov
Stopped in Best Buy and Barnes and Noble today:

The Fire looked OK, but it was a little boxy, thick and not all that sharp to hold. Looked and felt like a $199 tablet.

The Nook Tablet felt and looked great. I have an original NC running CM7 and love it. There's something about the NC and now NT (the tablet is a bit lighter, otherwise nearly identical), the rounded edges, the rubberized back, that just make much easier to hold.

At $50 more the Nook looks like an easy winner. The only thing going against it right now is the size of the Nook app library. They've got Pulse, Evernote and QuickOffice, but not much else. If they B&N let people tap into the full android app store, I'd probably happily run the thing as is. I know, I know, they want to make money selling apps, but they might sell more devices if the platform was opened.

I bet XDA will have this thing rooted and running CM7 by the weekend.
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Can either be temporary notebook computer?
pwatson 16th Nov
Can either the Nook or Fire be a suitable device to make travel with a notebook computer optional?
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
sbf95070 Updated - 16th Nov
@pwatson As an owner of an Acer A500, I would say that the answer is probably "no". I use the heck out of my Acer and have access to a copy of windows 7 and Office 2010 through Xen Desktop, but a laptop is a whole bunch more convenient for any major content creation.

The tablets are great for consuming content.

Obviously, you may find the tablet meets all your needs, but they are not, in general, ready to be laptop replacements
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
dyoung64063 16th Nov
If HP would re-release the TouchPad at say $199.00 for the 16Gb and $249.00 for the 32Gb, they'd sell a bazillion of them.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
ManoaHI 16th Nov
I just got my Nook Tablet yesterday. But I haven't opened it yet. I got $275 of Barnes and Noble gift card from credit card points, but I reserved the Nook Tablet and had to pick it up in 24 hours or they return it to the queue (I was 3rd person to reserve it). So, I paid with credit card and when gift cards arrive, I will "return" the Nook Tablet so that my credit card charge is reversed and then purchase with the gift card(s). Manager approved it and said not to open it. Ugh! Barnes and Noble beat U.S.P.S. I got Nook Tablet mainly because I read quite a bit, about a book a week. I still keep a high GPA so my reading is for pleasure, not for school.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
ceeotters 16th Nov
@ManoaHI How did you guys get yours already? I preordered mine on the 7th and my order still says Expected Ship Date of Nov 18th. The website still says available the 18th. What's up? I see you got it at your store. Maybe I should see if mine has them. Or I could just wait a few more days.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
bunkport 16th Nov
@ceeotters
I got mine today as well, but could have picked it up yesterday as they arrived in store yesterday. I got an email and a phone call this morning and had to pick it up within 24 hours although there was no stampede of folks looking to buy Nooks so I probably could have waited...but I didn't want to. As I understand it they have not arrived at all B&N stores yet but ought to be there by Friday.
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RE: Nook Tablet already in stores: Let the cheap tablet war begin!
fierogt 16th Nov
my wife's anniversary gift kindle fire arrived today. since she is already an amazon prime member and all her information was preloaded, all is well. apps are easy to install. cloud storage seems to be good for access and storage at this time (but it may get crowded in the future) I see no {android lag} in any operations during the first few hours of use The real test will be if she finds it easier to use than her net-book or her desk top for her usual daily operations. I know she and I will use it for both a book reader and another video input device to the HDTV . She was amazed to find such things as Julia Child original TV shows for free with just a few clicks of the search under available videos. Things like that will be what moves the item forward.
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I pre-ordered the Nook Tablet
inmypjs69 17th Nov
But I tried to cancel it today thinking that it will not be shipped tomorrow. However, they said that they already processed the order today so I can't cancel it. I would like to wait for the Transformer Pride instead. I thought, if I'm going to get a tablet, I might as well go for the best even though it's double the price. I'm going to play with the Nook Tablet but I'll just return it.

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