Budget Tablet Discussion

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Snipeye

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What is the better tablet to buy?

The Barnes and Noble Nook HD+ that is NOW on sale for $179.99 and $199.99 for the 16GB or 32GB version respectively?

Or the Google Nexus 7 for $199 or $249 for the 16GB and 32GB versions respectively? ($299 for 3G enabled with TMobile or ATT)

Last, but not least, the Amazon Kindle Fire 8.9 for $199 or $229 with special offers/ads on lock screen ($214 and $244 without) for the 16GB and 32GB versions respectively. In addition, there is a $20 off sale now with the coupon code FIRE4MOM.

Some quick specifications:

Nook HD+
9-inch IPS display
1920x1280 pixel resolution with pixel density of 256 ppi
Dual-core 1.5GHz Ti OMAP 4470 CPU
1GB of RAM

Nexus 7
7-inch IPS display
1280x800 resolution at 216 ppi
nVidia Tegra 3 CPU at 1.2 GHz
1GB of RAM

Kindle Fire HD 8.9
8.9-inch IPS display
1920x12000 resolution at 254 ppi
Dual-core 1.5GHz Ti OMAP 4470 CPU

Special notes:
Kindle fire has dual rear-grille speakers versus the Nexus only speaker centered in the back, and the Nook's not-centered rear speaker.

Nook HD Plus originally had a closed off ecosystem, with a more limited number of apps approved to be used. That has now changed with B&N announcing that they'll be releasing a patch for Google Play to be fully used on the device. As well as GMail, Youtube, and Google Chrome to name a few.

As far as I'm aware, there is no expandable memory slot for the Kindle Fire or Nexus 7, but the HD Plus does recognize up to 32GB (I've heard 64GB, but I haven't confirmed that). For you hackers, that means you can boot up CM 10.1 on a MicroSD card without overriding the stock OS on the Nook. When you want to go back to stock, just remove the card.

The Kindle Fire HD has a micro-HDMI out whereas the Nexus 7 and Nook HD Plus have none.

Kindle Fire and Nook both use the same CPU, the Ti OMAP 4470 at 1.5GHz (dual-core) whereas the Nexus 7 has the quad core nVidia Tegra 3 1.2GHz.

Being a Google tablet, it's safe to assume the Nexus 7 will have first taste when it comes to updated OS for Android whereas the Kindle and Nook are more likely to be stuck on the same one with ongoing "patches and updates" as time goes on.

Your opinions on the above tablets? What do you like more? Pros and Cons?

This is SPECIFICALLY a non-Apple discussion thread. You try to push Apple as an alternative, I'll have the post deleted ASAP. I'm specifically looking at the above models or another Android alternative as a budget tablet.

Kindle Fire owners will receive a one year subscription to Amazon Prime worth $79. This gives you free 2-day shipping, access to Amazon's video streaming library (which has grown considerably from where it was just a year ago), as well as other features. To match, I believe the Nook HD Plus will give you a 1 year membership to their Barnes and Noble Rewards program (not confirmed), which gives you a discount on any books, magazines, or other products purchased from B&N anywhere between 10% up to 30% on select products. (Personally, I've been a member and the amount of books and magazines I buy, lets just say I got my membership fee worth within just a few months).
 
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If you honestly want my opinion I would probably go with the Kindle.

I use Amazon a lot so the Prime is an immediate benefit.
Plus the micro HDMI has it's uses. To me, when it comes to stuff like this, it is all in your taste. I like the look and the feel of the Kindle itself.
 
well since you're running on a budget and i cant recommend an ipad i would go ahead and take the kindle made by google cant go wrong with that
 
@EasyKill The Kindle is made by Amazon; not Google.

I'm right now rushing all over the place; I actually found out that if you order a Nook HD+ online, AND you use a $90 coupon that was sent out to B&N members, the promotion AND coupon code actually stack. So the 16GB can be had for $89.99 or 32GB for just $119.99 plus tax. I got that booklet with the $90 off, I dont know if I threw it out or not (I remember pulling several tabs to be used, such as $10 off, 20% discount, and a free drink..) Oh I hope I got it at home.

So who wants a pretty solid tablet for just $120 with the highest pixel density on the market?

P.S. Don't try to do it at the store since I also heard the employees will not allow the coupon to be used.
 
Ugh! It's a no-go. B&N realized their error and put in a hotfix on their website. Back to debating...
 
Truthfully I like the nexus 7 specs. It looks very realiable in the long run. I believe it would have google play on it aswell which don't quote me on this but androids use aswell if I'm not mistaken. I could only imagine as a more reputable company that they would also have better customer support if something goes wrong.
 
All Android devices that run on Jelly Bean have Google Play on it (Nexus 7, ASUS Transformer, Inifinity, Toshiba Thrive, Acer Iconia, etc. etc.) The two major exceptions were Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble Nook because they have their own ecosystems (Amazon Marketplace, B&N Marketplace). That's no longer true for the B&N Nook HD+ since they announced (and already patched) the tablet to now allow the use of Google Play and Google software (Chrome, Gmail, Youtube, etc.).

Personally, I think the biggest issue I have with the Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 is the lack of a MicroSD card (or full sized SD Card which the Thrive accepts). I got so many different movies and videos, I actually use several 16GB MicroSD cards with my older Nook Color.

I am eager to see what happens next week with Google's I/O conference. Hoping that they'll announce a new, updated version of the Nexus 7, maybe even with price cut or include the MicroSD slot (and a Mini-HDMI connection, that'd be a double benefit). I'm tempted to like the Kindle Fire, but beyond Amazon Prime, there's not much else for me to like about it. It has a heavier weight (which can make holding it a pain over time), no MicroSD card slot, but it would give me access to Amazon's Lending Library and movies, which has been steadily growing (whereas Netflix has been having issues with their content providers being greedy). (Of course, that's all moot since I actually use Hulu Plus, yay Anime).
 
I own both the Nexus 7 and the Nexus 10. I have absolutely no complaints about either one of them; you can't beat them for the price.
 
Dominion,

What capacity do you have and do you find yourself having problems with it? What's your experience with transferring files on and off, like music and movies? I have 2 16GB MicroSD cards filled with movies that I like to use with my Nook, especially when I'm a passenger on the road.

Also, have you happened to hear any rumors about a 2nd generation or an updated version of the Nexus that may be unveiled at Google's I/O Conference next week?
 
Hi,

If capacity is not an issue I would go for the Nexus 7. The price / quality is extremely well!
 
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