E-book readers these days are made for more than just reading e-books on the go. This is true especially for the high-end device segment. Something like the Barnes & Noble Nook HD is kind of in a league of its own already. And in some ways, it is. For starters, it comes with one of the highest resolution 7-inch displays ever released, with a native resolution of 1440x900 pixels. Also, its default operating system is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. In other words, a good modern operating system with which you can download apps galore.
The default amount of on-device RAM on the Nook HD is 1GB. And as for the internal storage space, you get either 8GB or 16GB depending on your configuration of choice. In the end, though, it doesn’t really matter since you can easily add extra storage through microSD cards. It’s really more than just another e-book reader; B&N knows what kind of stuff consumers like to spend their time on nowadays, and the Nook HD is equipped to support all kinds of multimedia content: books, music, movies, games, and so on.
Users are sure to find the 10-hour battery life for reading e-books very useful. It also lasts 9 hours for video playback, almost enough to get through the Lord of The Rings trilogy. Speaking of which, there’s an HDMI-out port that can be used to connect to external monitors and enjoy whatever type of media content on a much bigger screen.
Overall, the Nook HD is pretty well-equipped. However, it does have a few missing features, such as a built-in camera, NFC, and 4G LTE. It can also cost much more than many other models available in the 7-inch market segment.
For those who would like an e-reader with the added bonus of an entire content ecosystem, it’s an excellent choice. But it should be noted that more affordable alternatives exist.
Need to Know: Barnes & Noble Nook HD
1. Comes with a 7-inch 1440x900 touchscreen display. (The Good)
2. Default OS is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. (The Good)
3. Battery life could be longer, especially for reading e-books. (The Bad)
4. No cameras. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Jonathan Bray, PC ProAside from those obvious weaknesses, however, the Nook HD still represents a fantastic buy. It has a great screen, decent performance, very good battery life and a good all-round design, yet it costs a mere £99. The Fonepad's smartphone features and 3G capability keep it on top, but if you don...
- Jim Martin, Tech AdvisorWe can hardly find fault with the hardware, but UK-specific content - including magazines, newspapers, books and apps - is sorely lacking. Much is promised, but you're taking a risk if you jump in and buy a Nook HD right now. As with the Kindle Fire HD, the Nook HD will be good option for anyone wan...
- K. T. Bradford, Digital TrendsThe Nook HD is still a worthy tablet contender, even though there are now many more Android tablets that match its low price. Cost isn’t everything, and the Nook’s features are compelling, especially for people who love to read and use their tablet mostly for that purpose. We like that t...
- Basil Kronfli, Know Your MobileIf we had someone else’s credit card, we’d absolutely love the Nook HD. It doesn’t have the best design out there and it uses a proprietary charger, but its a powerful tablet with a gorgeous screen and expandable memory. That you can have profiles and child locked content also makes it a perfect sha...
- Basil Kronfli, Know Your MobileIf we had someone else’s credit card, we’d absolutely love the Nook HD. It doesn’t have the best design out there and it uses a proprietary charger, but its a powerful tablet with a gorgeous screen and expandable memory. That you can have profiles and child locked content also mak...
Prices (Where to Buy)
Resources
Manuals / User Guides
- NOOK HD Quick Start Guide (PDF)
- NOOK HD Manual (PDF)
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