What do I want?

**Salodin** · 2012-03-13 00:51

So, I want either an ebook reader, a tablet, or just pony up for a laptop. I know the differences, but I'm having a hard time deciding what I want.

I really want an ebook, and eink is awesome on its own, but the more I think about it, the more I kinda of want an ebook reader that can multitask with apps like facebook or netflix. That sounds more like a tablet, but after playing with an ipad, I think I either don't want a tablet, or I just don't like ipads (I don't have much experience with other tablets).

Second, I wanted to use it for school. Im going back to college soon, and I wanted to download books instead of buy them. Is this more successful in more feature rich ebooks like the full color, web enabled ereaders? Does the idea even work on the bare bones eink offerings? Or are tablets pretty much the only way to go? Also, laptops. I like laptops, but they're heavy, don't last as long w/o power plugged in, but as a plus I can game on them lol.

Third, just need opinions on what machine to get, based on what ya'll think would work best for me. I dont want to pay for seperate 3g internet access for any device i get, so i plan on ghetto rigging my phone to act as an access point for whatever i get, if that helps any. Thanks in advanced.

**Mugekuge** · 2012-03-13 08:46

I like the Kindle Fire (good price and probably work for what you need), also the new Galaxy Note 10.1 is nice but a bit expensive.

**Ketna** · 2012-03-13 16:41

I picked up a HP Touchpad for 100 and it was worth every penny. For my usage, mostly comics/books, I would have never paid the 400+ where most tablets are priced. I think the Kindle Fire is a great price point/performance if you are looking for a reader with some extras (web/fb/video). Just my 2 cents.

**Intervention** · 2012-03-13 17:19

Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet are great products to look into, it would lean more toward the Kindle but both products are great. I used to use a Nook Color personally til I got my Xoom, my wife (Ksandra) made a posting in Buy Sell Trade if interested. Its a rooted tablet with normal Android on it.

**Kerberoz** · 2012-03-13 22:08

I don't quite understand the point of color/full-featured e-readers. Isn't the entire point of an e-reader that it lasts forever between charges and looks like paper?

**Ksandra** · 2012-03-13 22:14

Originally Posted by Kerberoz

entire point

major point? yes. entire? definitely not. some other pluses: much easier to carry around (especially as a woman, I like to carry books in my purse, much easier to have an e-reader than say Game of Thrones), way easier to buy books (can just buy off the website from the nook and it gets d/led right then and there instead of having to go to a store). For the "tablet" side of things it's wayyyy cheaper to have a rooted e-reader than a tablet, they are just a little smaller, but function the same way.

**Overburn** · 2012-03-13 22:28

Rooted Nook Colors (and probably by extension Fires and NT) aren't meant to be an e-readers on their own as far as I can tell, even if they're advertised to be able to do it. The battery life is probably around 7 hours, which is pretty low compared to other e-readers. They're basically cheap, limited tablets.

**xerodok** · 2012-03-14 07:31

Spend $150 on Craigslist, get a touchpad, put android on it.

**Intervention** · 2012-03-14 11:23

Originally Posted by Overburn

Rooted Nook Colors (and probably by extension Fires and NT) aren't meant to be an e-readers on their own as far as I can tell, even if they're advertised to be able to do it. The battery life is probably around 7 hours, which is pretty low compared to other e-readers. They're basically cheap, limited tablets.

Well the biggest point of rooting a product like a Nook or Fire is to open it up to Android Market, which in turn allows you to make use of all ereader apps. Personally I did mine so I could use it for Google books, but if I wanted to I could easily install the Nook or Kindle readers. As for the battery thing, the sheer fact that the product has a backlit screen kills battery life. There was initially stand by issues killing battery life when they where first rooted, but they were fixed as time went along. I was personally happy with the product considering that Samsung equivalent at the time was twice the price.

**Salodin** · 2012-03-14 16:32

When you root an ereader to be a pseudo tablet, how much power do they have? Can I run the things my droid 3 does, and not have to worry about slow down or it not working at all?

**Overburn** · 2012-03-14 17:20

Originally Posted by Intervention

Well the biggest point of rooting a product like a Nook or Fire is to open it up to Android Market, which in turn allows you to make use of all ereader apps. Personally I did mine so I could use it for Google books, but if I wanted to I could easily install the Nook or Kindle readers. As for the battery thing, the sheer fact that the product has a backlit screen kills battery life. There was initially stand by issues killing battery life when they where first rooted, but they were fixed as time went along. I was personally happy with the product considering that Samsung equivalent at the time was twice the price.

The Nook and Kindle apps look terrible on my NC. They both have a border which can't be passed, giving a weird spacing compared to just reading on the Nook boot.

**Caylene** · 2012-03-14 22:26

Have you considered the Lenovo X220 tablet laptop. I'm in <3.

**Salodin** · 2012-03-15 08:38

No, I haven't. I'll take a look, thanks.

**Dantrag** · 2012-03-15 09:13

I'm also trying to decide between an e-reader and a tablet D;

**Intervention** · 2012-03-15 16:44

Originally Posted by Dantrag

I'm also trying to decide between an e-reader and a tablet D;

First I'd base it if you want color screen or e-ink. E-ink is pretty much a quick answer. If color, as mentioned by Overburn native apps are generally better. Honestly full on tablets, android not B&N or Kindle, are generally over priced if all you do is just read. Because they have things like GPS, cameras and various other things built in. If you happen to use all the features then tablets, if you do more reading than anything then E-reader.

Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet (Color) are extremely powerful for their prices and should easily be able to handle most android apps if rooted if you happen to want to go that route.

**Intervention** · 2012-03-15 16:47

Originally Posted by Overburn

The Nook and Kindle apps look terrible on my NC. They both have a border which can't be passed, giving a weird spacing compared to just reading on the Nook boot.

For sure, Native apps are alot better on their corresponding gadget. I generally use Google books more than Nook or Kindle apps, at least I have the option to if need be.

**Salodin** · 2012-03-15 19:13

On the tablet side, any other recommendations?

**Intervention** · 2012-03-15 20:22

Originally Posted by Salodin

On the tablet side, any other recommendations?

Asus IMO. Mainly cause they seem to be on top of android updates. Transformer Prime is the top of line currently.

Samsung is good, not a fan of skinned Android.

Stay away from Motorola, they are extremely slow on updates.

Though the new ipad sounds pretty awesome.

**Dantrag** · 2012-03-16 10:28

For the Kindle fire can it be dual booted for say reading just boot into the native app and then for all the other normal app stuff you can use the android based OS?

**Intervention** · 2012-03-16 13:58

I'm not super familiar with Kindle Fire custom rom stuff, but I believe someone is working on making a dual boot set up.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1547715
Here is a list of available roms.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1467013

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