location based blog: The Nook Color Makes A Weak Android Tablet, But Your Mom Will Love It [REVIEW] (BKS)

Friday, April 29, 2011

The Nook Color Makes A Weak Android Tablet, But Your Mom Will Love It [REVIEW] (BKS)

nook color android apps

Despite a few initial glitches, the Nook Color update that went live on Monday, effectively turns the e-reader into a fully-functional Android tablet.

Not bad for $250.

Click here to see photos of the Nook Color running Android >

But despite the sweet price, don't expect the same performance or experience as you would from the more powerful Android tablets like the Xoom and Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Nook's relatively weak processor (800 MHz) has some difficulty keeping up with the operating system.

That being said, the Nook Color is still a great option for casual users. The first thing I thought after spending some time with it was "I bet my mom would love this."

If you only plan on doing simple web browsing, emailing, or gaming, the Nook Color may be a good choice for you.

Here's what I thought:

When you first install the update, don't expect your typical Android layout. This is still a Nook, and it runs a heavily-modified version of Android 2.2. You probably won't even notice much has changed at first.

The screen isn't as bright as the iPad or Xoom's but it does make it easier to use outdoors. Touch responsiveness is satisfactory, but not as good as other tablets I've used.

The new web browser is a bit slow. Scrolling through web pages can be jerky, but I love that Barnes & Noble included Flash support. Videos look great.

The email app is nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. I like that there aren't any complicated settings. Just log in with your Gmail or other account and the Nook handles the rest.

The app selection is surprisingly good, considering you don't have access to the full Android Market. The average user will find everything he or she needs like RSS readers and casual games.

I had some problems with rich games like Angry Birds. Animation stuttered, and Angry Birds completely froze the Nook one time when I tried playing it.

The standard, preloaded apps work well. You get a media player, email, and Pandora right out of the box.

Again, this tablet isn't a powerhouse, and it shows in how it handles apps and web browsing. It's hardly a substitute for most tablets out there. But at half the price of the cheapest iPad, I think it's still a good option for casual users.