Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet: $249
At a press event in New York City last week, Discovery News caught a first-hand demo of Barnes & Noble's just-released Nook Tablet -- and we're impressed. Its sharp 7-inch multi-touch screen is laminated in a way that keeps out air and reduces reflection. All we saw were vibrant colors -- although we didn't stop to count all 16 million of them -- under some bright indoor lights that might've caused glare. But where the Nook Tablet really shines is in the breadth of popular and family-friendly media that it (dis)plays.
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The requisite conjoined triplets (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora) are stocked for your movie, TV and radio pleasure. In addition to those, Nook Tablet comes preloaded with Sudoku, Crosswords, Chess, Media Gallery, Nook Friends and Email. The rep we talked with told us they've already got 1,000 apps and plan to have 2,000 by Christmas. But he couched that, stating they're not interested in churning out oceans of apps, but rather offering a "curated experience." (If you're tech savvy and happen to want oceans, look into "rooting.")
Just think of the money you'll save on protective plastic keepsake wraps with all the digital comics they offer, including the largest collection of Marvel graphic novels. They also offer the largest collection of best-selling magazines and top newspapers, which automatically pop into the device right when they're released. But the interactive kids' books are what grabbed our attention. They not only feature fun little animations and interactive activities, but also voice recording with page-by-page editing. ("Tonight, do you want to hear mommy's calm, peaceful version or daddy's silly Christopher Walken version of Goodnight, Moon?")
Aside from the content, this 14-ouncer feels like a good size in the hands -- similar to another popular tablet recently released. Nook Tablet has a microSD slot and Wi-Fi. Other fun features include the ability to move and resize icons. And its battery will give you about 10 hours to soak in whichever of its myriad media formats you desire. (Plus or minus about an hour, depending if you're reading or enjoying high-def video.)
Credit: Barnes & Noble, Inc.
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