Database Develop

NC Article on zdnet this weekend

I thought everyone would be interested. ZDNet is usually pretty Apple happy but this article praises the NC.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/the-first-great-android-tablet-nook-color/8570#comments

richdaley said:
I thought everyone would be interested. ZDNet is usually pretty Apple happy but this article praises the NC.
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/the-first-great-android-tablet-nook-color/8570#comments
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Praises the Nook Color as a full blown tablet (once the App Store opens)... I wonder what the execs at Barnes and Noble are thinking right now? My guess: "Should we try to ride this tiger? Will it eat us in the end or will it help us devour the competition?" I suspect there's a lot of soul searching going on in Barnes and Nobleland.

i think BN knows what they have - i am sure they built the nook as such knowing they will make use of its full capabilities once they have content to offer - to me the nook color offers a conduit for selling not only books but rich media - audio, video, graphic novels etc - BN is aware Amazon is working on their own tablet and that amazon has a robust portfolio of content - so this is a pre-emptive move on their part before amazon launches their tablet - after all, BN also set the bar for pricing the piece ( a low cost high quality tablet) - Amazon will have to also compete on price not only on content
dsf3g said:
Praises the Nook Color as a full blown tablet (once the App Store opens)... I wonder what the execs at Barnes and Noble are thinking right now? My guess: "Should we try to ride this tiger? Will it eat us in the end or will it help us devour the competition?" I suspect there's a lot of soul searching going on in Barnes and Nobleland.
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A problem arises (and likely this is the reason for the apprehension by BN in releasing an "app store") if the NC becomes too successful as a tablet because it undermines its ability to be a successful loss-leader. Considering the CPU, screen, memory (flash and ram), battery and wireless controller I'd estimate the COGS comes in around $170 per unit, add in fabrication costs for the mainboard and housing and distribution/quality control and the NC is a low-margin or possibly negative-margin product. BN is counting on accessory and book sales to make a real profit on these devices, which is why they are probably not going to be too mod-friendly going forward.

This is really an inaccurate story. Stock NC already has email and a web browser on it. All they're really adding is the BN app store. There's no word yet on how many games/apps will be available. The update will bring Flash and the BN app store. It's not going to unlock it as a tablet the way rooting currently does.

mthe0ry said:
A problem arises (and likely this is the reason for the apprehension by BN in releasing an "app store") if the NC becomes too successful as a tablet because it undermines its ability to be a successful loss-leader. Considering the CPU, screen, memory (flash and ram), battery and wireless controller I'd estimate the COGS comes in around $170 per unit, add in fabrication costs for the mainboard and housing and distribution/quality control and the NC is a low-margin or possibly negative-margin product. BN is counting on accessory and book sales to make a real profit on these devices, which is why they are probably not going to be too mod-friendly going forward.
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If, what you are saying is true, they would still get accessory sales and the amount of book sales would not change. Those who buy eBooks would still buy them and those that don't...won't. I also highly doubt they sell these units at a loss. Small profit margin sure, loss...no. So any sales will still be good sales.

mthe0ry said:
A problem arises (and likely this is the reason for the apprehension by BN in releasing an "app store") if the NC becomes too successful as a tablet because it undermines its ability to be a successful loss-leader. Considering the CPU, screen, memory (flash and ram), battery and wireless controller I'd estimate the COGS comes in around $170 per unit, add in fabrication costs for the mainboard and housing and distribution/quality control and the NC is a low-margin or possibly negative-margin product. BN is counting on accessory and book sales to make a real profit on these devices, which is why they are probably not going to be too mod-friendly going forward.
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This is only a problem with rooted nook tablets, though. A stock Nook tablet that has to go through the Nook App store still produces sales revenue for Barnes and Noble.

I've heard they do sell them at a loss. They sell them at a loss with the idea that people who have them will buy ebooks which are basically pure profit. There is no cost in warehousing ebooks, no cost in printing them, minimal cost in changing them from print to digital and minimal cost in delivery. It's been rumored for a while that Amazon would be giving a free Kindle to all their Prime customers just because people who own e-readers buy more books than those who don't and they are better off financially selling their e-readers at a loss and making up for it with the nearly pure profit they get off ebooks.

dsf3g said:
This is only a problem with rooted nook tablets, though. A stock Nook tablet that has to go through the Nook App store still produces sales revenue for Barnes and Noble.
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That is what I am thinking too. If they make them attractive enough as a tablet for Joe Public, he will not be as tempted to root them which means they are running the B&N store exclusively. I think it is a good strategy especially since in my opinion the stock UI is very nice for what it does and with the addition of flash and other features, they have a winner. We nerds don't count because we are going to root it (but some of us are loyal to B&N anyway).
I don't know much about the publishing business but maybe there is also some advantage to just selling a bajillion of these things even at cost. Barnes and Noble cannot get by if they are just going to copy Kindle. They needed to make a bold move, which they did and their stock has been rebounding.

The overhead in ebooks is server space, bandwidth and the big one being copyright licensing to the publishers. It is definitely not pure profit.

cabbieBot said:
The overhead in ebooks is server space, bandwidth and the big one being copyright licensing to the publishers. It is definitely not pure profit.
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And all of that is next to nothing compared to the cost of print media. You're going to have licensing either way so that's a wash. Server space and bandwidth is negligible. An Ebook is nothing more than a few hundred kb. I would bet that a RAID array with just a TB or two of space could store every ebook on Amazon.
Edit: I'm at home on call so I'm bored so I did the math. Amazon claims to have 1.8 million pre-1923 books that are out of copyright plus 850,000 other books. Now, I rounded up allowing for growth and settled on a number of 3 million books. Even at 1 mb a book (which is really pretty big for an ebook), you would need ~2.9 TB of storage space for the entire Amazon library. Amazon can easily afford a series of NAS' holding that much space. Heck, you or I could buy a NAS of that size for a few hundred bucks.

Let's keep in mind a truism of production that the more you buy (make) the less you pay for what it's made of. Now unless the buyers at B&N are absolute morons (and I do doubt they are) the more NC's they order constructed the price to B&N should well drop! Thus increasing the margin of profit while keeping the current price point.

skeeterpro said:
Let's keep in mind a truism of production that the more you buy (make) the less you pay for what it's made of. Now unless the buyers at B&N are absolute morons (and I do doubt they are) the more NC's they order constructed the price to B&N should well drop! Thus increasing the margin of profit while keeping the current price point.
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I have a rooted NC would would love to see Froyo and Flash on the NC supported by BN. However, the arguments are basically the guys in the business "suits" vs the "geeks". Even if the NC are sold at a small profits, the "suits" on Wall St would not like that. The suits want profit margin.
My guess is that the mid-April update will be less than what this forum expects. I do hope I am wrong.

A. Nonymous said:
This is really an inaccurate story. Stock NC already has email and a web browser on it. All they're really adding is the BN app store. There's no word yet on how many games/apps will be available. The update will bring Flash and the BN app store. It's not going to unlock it as a tablet the way rooting currently does.
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Click to collapse
Can someone point to a BN press release indicating Flash? Even the HSN website (which I don't trust) doesn't mention Flash. I am trying to find supporting evidence of Flash.
http://electronics.hsn.com/nook-col...ablet-with-wi-fi-and-ebooks_p-6392436_xp.aspx

I was told by a sales rep that there would be an update with flash support this year. Of course we all know a sales rep will say anything to make a sale. Personally I ignored about everything be said as I walked in knowing I was putting froyo on it.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

New Nook Color May 24th?

According to Engadget B&N (from SEC 8-K form) will be releasing a new Nook on May 24th. Anyone know anything you must tell me, I have to know!!!

Oh noes, not more Nook rumors!!! B&N is slowly turning to Apple.
Seriously, I haven't heard, but that means less than nothing.

when you file it with the Securities and Exchange Commission, rumor is really not the appropriate word.

This is just a guess, but I would bet it is a larger eReader similar to the Kindle DX. I mean really the Nook Color, for what it is designed for, is already hardware overkill, (I mean seriously...its an eReader regardless of what we are doing with it) so even IF its a new color model it will probably be less powerful than the current model to keep the price low.
Anyway...in summary...I'm thinking 10" Nook. Probably eInk.

ExploreMN said:
This is just a guess, but I would bet it is a larger eReader similar to the Kindle DX. I mean really the Nook Color, for what it is designed for, is already hardware overkill, (I mean seriously...its an eReader regardless of what we are doing with it) so even IF its a new color model it will probably be less powerful than the current model to keep the price low.
Anyway...in summary...I'm thinking 10" Nook. Probably eInk.
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I agree with this. I am sorry, but people, the nook color only really hit stores in November.. in no way is it ready for replacement.
Now, I CAN believe that the original nook could be getting a replacement. Not everyone want an LCD eReader, and the classic nook is old enough that it is a due for a replacement.

I'm pretty sure they just launched a new ad campaign for the current NC. It'd be odd to be coming out with an updated model at the moment.

Divine_Madcat said:
... the nook color ... in no way is it ready for replacement.
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B&N first needs to see what Amazon will do with their color reader anyway.
BTW thanks for resurrecting HC for Nook.

Divine_Madcat said:
I agree with this. I am sorry, but people, the nook color only really hit stores in November.. in no way is it ready for replacement.
Now, I CAN believe that the original nook could be getting a replacement. Not everyone want an LCD eReader, and the classic nook is old enough that it is a due for a replacement.
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Ditto
My Nook 3G isn't the greatest e-ink reader - good but not great. I'd swap it for a Sony reader if I had money to burn. I was wondering when they would release a new e-ink Nook.

Perhaps it might be a 3G Nook Color?
although I'm leaning towards it being a new e-ink version of the somewhat out-dated nook.
We shall all wait and see

Just about everyone has been selling the original nooks (e-ink version, new and refurbished) at seriously discounted prices over the last few months. I believe B&N has been trying to clear out their stock in preparation for a replacement to the original nook.

picopir8 said:
Just about everyone has been selling the original nooks (e-ink version, new and refurbished) at seriously discounted prices over the last few months. I believe B&N has been trying to clear out their stock in preparation for a replacement to the original nook.
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Absolutely. Sub $100 everywhere.
*maybe* we get a color e-ink Nook based on Mirasol tech or something. Would be great for comic books and kid's books. That's about the best we can expect.

I'm betting on a 10" NC.

new Nook?
Hope so.. I think now that B&N have an apps store for their current NC, I think they want to go the whole hog like amazon..
Thankfully I just put my NookColor order on hold

asantaga said:
Hope so.. I think now that B&N have an apps store for their current NC, I think they want to go the whole hog like amazon..
Thankfully I just put my NookColor order on hold
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You are silly if you think it is in any way a Nook Color replacement. And I really don't see them bringing out a 10" either...

ringbolo said:
According to Engadget B&N (from SEC 8-K form) will be releasing a new Nook on May 24th. Anyone know anything you must tell me, I have to know!!!
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B&N filed a form 8-K which states:
"In a meeting with investor analysts on May 4, 2011, Barnes & Noble, Inc. (the "Company") indicated it expects to make an announcement on May 24, 2011 regarding the launch of a new eReader device."
An announcement regarding a launch is not the same thing as a release of something new.
Most of you know much more of the technology behind this than I ever will, but from a business standpoint it's unlikely that this new eReader would be an upgrade to the NC. Based on what I do know, it's more than likely an upgrade to the Nook Classic with e-ink pearl at a lower price point.

Well since there is only a 14 day return policy and I bought mine last saturday, I guess I am taking mine back this weekend and will wait for the announcment.

wpbear said:
Well since there is only a 14 day return policy and I bought mine last saturday, I guess I am taking mine back this weekend and will wait for the announcment.
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Really...? You are really going to return a new, working device, on the possibility that they are replacing it, despite the fact that the device is barely 6 months old, has just received a major software update(froyo and new kernel), and still has no serious equal competition?
Or ignore the fact that the classic nook has been going on clearance all across the US, including online, and that it is the classic nook, not the color, that is due for replacement?
What a sad waste of good hardware..

If the 24 May release is not what I want I will re-buy the NC since I like it. But If the new device is better then I am stuck with an outdated device and $250 because of the 14 day policy. It is the cost of the company doing business, I am sure it will be one of their manufacture refurb units on ebay for $225 in a few days.

wpbear said:
If the 24 May release is not what I want I will re-buy the NC since I like it. But If the new device is better then I am stuck with an outdated device and $250 because of the 14 day policy. It is the cost of the company doing business, I am sure it will be one of their manufacture refurb units on ebay for $225 in a few days.
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I know this sounds horrible but now I'm secretly hoping that the update is an unrootable NookColor that immediately replaces all existing stock. Good luck!

I don't see the big deal. The company makes the rules of 14 days. I play within their rules.

Refurbished Nook Color $199

Looks like Overstock has some Refurbished Nook Colors for $199
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Nook-Color-by-Barnes-Noble-Certified-Pre-Owned/5924200/product.html

use code 207397 for discount to 185.07.
free shipping and no tax in CA.

I ordered one of these yesterday...can't wait to get a NC and flash CM7 on it!

Just ordered one! Can't wait to put CM7 on it. Thanks for the discount code!

Thanks for the code. Bought a new one from B & N for my son, and had a blast putting CM7 and OC to 1325 Mhz. Very usable and fun device.... I want one for myself!
Was thinking maybe I'd wait for a cool Honeycomb tablet ... after price drops. But after looking at some reviews and PRICE$, why wait? For someone who moves around, 10" is too big.
Was kind of looking for one on craigslist or something, but this works great!

...hmmm. Slight buyer's remorse:
Meritline has the refurbished Samsung SGX540 Galaxy Tab 16GB 7" WiFi Android Tablet for $319 - $49 off with coupon code MLC61J0QTNL1 [100 uses] = $270 with free shipping.
http://www.meritline.com/samsung-p1000-galaxy-tab-smart-media-device---p-64126.aspx
$90 for radio, gps and camera seems like a nice upgrade?

sweet, just picked one up. will be a nice compliment to my atrix and be a fun toy for quick browsing when i dont want to power up the laptop

domin8 said:
sweet, just picked one up. will be a nice compliment to my atrix and be a fun toy for quick browsing when i dont want to power up the laptop
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Nook or Tab?
Not sure if that tab requires some kind of activation or not? Read some reviews/videos lastnight comp Tab vs. Nook and the tab usually wins on most based on "out of box" exp. Don't think they had the latest tweeks on the nooks though. And most where comparing the Tab wi-fi only which is actually downgraded frim 3G one in a few ways.
Can live fine w/ GPS tether, no camera. Get by without actual buttons ok. Better dev here and build quality, and I'm getting used to the dpi and actually like it.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

akenis said:
...hmmm. Slight buyer's remorse:
Meritline has the refurbished Samsung SGX540 Galaxy Tab 16GB 7" WiFi Android Tablet for $319 - $49 off with coupon code MLC61J0QTNL1 [100 uses] = $270 with free shipping.
http://www.meritline.com/samsung-p1000-galaxy-tab-smart-media-device---p-64126.aspx
$90 for radio, gps and camera seems like a nice upgrade?
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Click to collapse
AT&T is selling a refurbished galaxy tab for $250, no contract. The only requirement is you have to buy a month of service, which can easily be canceled and refunded with a polite call to AT&T customer service.
My conclusion: DON'T BUY THE WIFI VERSION. Just don't. It is a scaled down version of the cellular version. So for the same price as the wifi one, why not? Also, both the nook and galaxy tab have great hacking communities so ROMs are plentiful in both cases, it just depends on whether the spec bump is worth it.

aardvarkr said:
AT&T is selling a refurbished galaxy tab for $250, no contract. The only requirement is you have to buy a month of service, which can easily be canceled and refunded with a polite call to AT&T customer service.
My conclusion: DON'T BUY THE WIFI VERSION. Just don't. It is a scaled down version of the cellular version. So for the same price as the wifi one, why not? Also, both the nook and galaxy tab have great hacking communities so ROMs are plentiful in both cases, it just depends on whether the spec bump is worth it.
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Click to collapse
Yeah...def no wifi only from what I've read. My NC is sitting in a box on my fron poorch!
I made a thread "so would you trade for a Galaxy Tab"... and got a bunch of responses. Still a tough call... and now $65 diff? I think I can live with my Nook...
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

akenis said:
Nook or Tab?
Not sure if that tab requires some kind of activation or not? Read some reviews/videos lastnight comp Tab vs. Nook and the tab usually wins on most based on "out of box" exp. Don't think they had the latest tweeks on the nooks though. And most where comparing the Tab wi-fi only which is actually downgraded frim 3G one in a few ways.
Can live fine w/ GPS tether, no camera. Get by without actual buttons ok. Better dev here and build quality, and I'm getting used to the dpi and actually like it.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
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Click to collapse
I got the nook, and so far am very happy with it. Does everything I have needed it to, with speed. Threw on the b&n hard shell case and a screen protector and it feels solid and protected now.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

domin8 said:
I got the nook, and so far am very happy with it. Does everything I have needed it to, with speed. Threw on the b&n hard shell case and a screen protector and it feels solid and protected now.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Got mine too...
Aegis screen and hard/silicone case...nice
CM7 and OC kernel (102 and 1200Mhz)
Zeam Launcher
Netflix
Netflix fixer
Nook tweeks
Great little toy! Tool!!
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

Thanks to the OP for this thread. I received the NC on Wednesday and had it up and running with CM7 stable the same night. I've added dozens of programs from both Android Market and Apps for Android Amazon.
I purchased many that I liked in the demo version.
Sling Mobile for Android (which allows me to watch Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and MLB on my Roku, plus everthing on Directv)
Moon+ Pro
PowerAmp
XDA
Thumb Keyboard
ezPDF
When my ATT contract comes up in August I'm giving up on my Blackberry and switching to an Android Phone.

Hubmanx said:
Looks like Overstock has some Refurbished Nook Colors for $199
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Click to collapse
I just took advantage of a similar deal from Buy.com
** I was going to post a direct link but it won't let me because I'm new here. **
Mine shipped direct from B&N, not sure if the Overstock deal is the same. Just got it last night, and haven't had much time to play with it yet. I plan to get CM on it ASAP.

dirtysox said:
I just took advantage of a similar deal from Buy.com
** I was going to post a direct link but it won't let me because I'm new here. **
Mine shipped direct from B&N, not sure if the Overstock deal is the same. Just got it last night, and haven't had much time to play with it yet. I plan to get CM on it ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good buy, the one I got from Barnes and noble shipped direct fromxthem also
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

I received mine last week and registered it at Barnes and Noble. Then I received an email saying that I could buy the extended warranty, which covers breakage.
I stopped by BN last night and was told that you have two weeks from date of purchase to pick up the two year warranty. For $55 it sounds like a good deal to me!!!

Just curious if anyone with a refurbished nook has noticed any screen defects like dust under the screen or stuck pixels. I know I went through 4 nooks with screen defects before I got one without any problems. I know others have had similar issues. Wondering if a lot of these refurbished nooks are these returned ones.

vtmike said:
Just curious if anyone with a refurbished nook has noticed any screen defects like dust under the screen or stuck pixels. I know I went through 4 nooks with screen defects before I got one without any problems. I know others have had similar issues. Wondering if a lot of these refurbished nooks are these returned ones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Returned a new one with a row of greenish pixels. My refurb is fine.... like new.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

is there a huge difference in "new" and "certified preowned"? besides the obvious price tag.

eungholee2 said:
is there a huge difference in "new" and "certified preowned"? besides the obvious price tag.
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Click to collapse
Mine was like new, which is what I expect of retailed pre-owns. If I didn't mind something with a few scratches or dents, I'd buy eBay used.

$250 Amazon Tablet?

This article says Amazon will be entering the tablet market with a $250 tab. Although I can't tell you how reliable the source is. I thought I would just post this here and see what you guys think.
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

yeah, lower pricing and ice cream, is going to hurt apple's ipad

All depends on specs.

I'm interested if it's a 10" and lighter than the NOOKcolor. Willing to pay no more than $400. After playing with the 10' Galaxy Tab the NOOK is indeed too heavy.

SCIONTX said:
I'm interested if it's a 10" and lighter than the NOOKcolor. Willing to pay no more than $400. After playing with the 10' Galaxy Tab the NOOK is indeed too heavy.
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Click to collapse
No microSD slot on any device is a no-go for me though.

"Analyst" is business speak for bull**** artist. Which is about as much credence as I lend to this article.

As cell carriers like verizon and AT&T continue to restrict and impact cloud content models like IPAD and IPhone with their data rate restrictions and higher data cost, a Amazon tablet could become even more viable as a competitor using pre-purchased stored content vs. cloud content. Go Amazon....

.........with the hopes of getting their money back with sales from the Amazon app store. It is expected that they could recoup the loss from each tablet within 6 months and make a profit of 10 to 30 percent per tablet over the next 18 months.
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And therein lies the rub. B&N turned a blind eye when developers started rooting it to take advantage of the Android Market. Why? Maybe because they were more interested in selling books than apps. How many here with a Nook Color have the Nook Reader Android app and still buy books from B&N?I know I do and now my wife shares them with me on her NC. I also have the Kindle app but I have yet to buy a book from Amazon. They are pretty much the same price so why should I give my book money to Amazon when B&N has been so good about the whole thing?

I've read an article from somewhere, indicated that Samsung will release their 2nd-gen 7.0" tablet with 1280x720 TFT screen running either HC3.2 or ICS. Don't know the price though.

nook color for $179 at Overstock

Overstock has the refurb nook color with 1 year man. warranty for $179 today.
http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Nook-Color-by-Barnes-Noble-Certified-Pre-Owned/5924200/product.html

Great deal! See this post for an extra $10 off via Buy.com: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1220388

all these deals make me feel like something new is coming
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk

koopakid08 said:
all these deals make me feel like something new is coming
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is a run to get as many out as possible before Amazon releases a tablet.

patruns said:
I think this is a run to get as many out as possible before Amazon releases a tablet.
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Click to collapse
thats my vote.

Are you guys wrongly comparing Brand-new NC vs. Refurbished NC?
Amazon tablet has nothing to do with those price-dropping NOOKC.
If the brand-new NC is dropping price then it's legitimate to say because of the impact of the Amazon tablet, this is not, this is refurbished, people.

votinh said:
Are you guys wrongly comparing Brand-new NC vs. Refurbished NC?
Amazon tablet has nothing to do with those price-dropping NOOKC.
If the brand-new NC is dropping price then it's legitimate to say because of the impact of the Amazon tablet, this is not, this is refurbished, people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 2 that do not look at all to be anything but new. I suspect that B&N is flooding the market and you may get new or refurb. Have you ever seen any tech gizmo that was this popular and had this many refurbs floating around? Unless you have some solid inside info from either Amazon or B&N I take your advice as simply an opinion.

votinh said:
Are you guys wrongly comparing Brand-new NC vs. Refurbished NC?
Amazon tablet has nothing to do with those price-dropping NOOKC.
If the brand-new NC is dropping price then it's legitimate to say because of the impact of the Amazon tablet, this is not, this is refurbished, people.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the nook color price hasnt dropped, its been $249 for a while now
the nook color refurbished price has dropped, from $225 to $169.
the reason for the glut of refurbs? no idea/opinion.
is B&N reselling refurbished NC's for cheaper and cheaper, an attempt at saturating the channel before amazon releases their tablet(s)? perhaps.
i got mine about a month or two ago for $189 from b&n through ebay; so could read books, comics, study, and do light surfing (reading the tech news). i only got it b/c i could root it, which i did via microSD card and run android/CM7. my wife has been "borrowing" it during the day to read books while at work (she is a nanny). she also will be "borrowing" it to read books when she stays home with our first child, in the fall. she finds being able to read a book with one hand and turn the page with a finger MUCH easier, especially when holding a baby. she loves the quality of the screen and is getting used to the touch screen interface.
will any other tablet de-throne the NC for the sub $200-250 tablet market segment - only time will tell. competition is a good thing for all consumers. i look forward to new tablets, but i will probably stick with my $250 investment (NC, 16gb microSD card, silicon cover, screen protector, neoprene bag) for at least 1-2 years unless anyone comes out with a tablet that is as fast as my workstation/desktop for surfing for approx. $250, which will probably happen in 1-2 years at the rate we are currently moving. that, or the battery fails to maintain a charge after doing 50% drain every day. The question is, will tablets hit the metaphorical wall, as we did with computers and the current 3-4ghz processor "cap"? only time will tell.