Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet for Gaming?

[Demiurge]

I'm torn between these two as an e-reader and game table aid. Anyone have any experience with either?

[Arduin]

No. However, whichever one, make sure that you can get apps onto it from the Android store... Also, a color version of either one is not eInk. So, if you dislike back lit screen for long reading, they aren't good for that.

[Relaxo]

my wife just got a Kindle Fire and we like it.
Havn't tried pdf's or gaming stuff though.
It's android.

Maybe this will help:
http://www.tabletmoz.com/tablets/kindle ... color.html

[serleran]

What kind off gaming? Like for tabletop? I've got some apps but have not tried it. It works well for reading, as its intended, but I prefer to use a darkening app and a screen glare reducer. App-gaming, so far, has been cool... I found a Final Fantasy rip which has been fun.

[Frost]

My wife me bought a Kindle Fire for Christmas and I love it. Not really sure which is better since I have no real experience with the Nook. I always wanted an iPad, but I'm actually thinking these smaller tablets are better for reading. They feel more like the size of a book (link ). I have a mass of gaming PDFs that I had never really used (always hated to use the ink), but now I'm using (and buying) PDFs left and right.

Keep in mind that the PDFs aren't formatted for the screen (unlike, say, an eBook), but some folks use Calibre for that (I think): link Me, I'm fine using the PDFs. I turn the tablet length-wise so as to get the better print size and just scroll. There are plenty of nice PDF Android apps too (I use ezReader instead of the Kindle default PDF reader).

You might check the comments at this blog post: link and here: link

[TheMetal1]

I picked up the Nook Color almost a year ago, primarily because of it's PDF, USB and SD Card ability. I have a ton of game PDFs, but now I can actually use them without having to bring my game laptop to the table. (I know it's weird, we live a world now where Lap Tops are bulky...ugh!)

The PDFs for the most part come out quite well and of course the trolls have a Nook version of the PHB, but I haven't gotten that yet, I'm just using the PDFs. And It has worked out quite well at the table.

The storage was very good, and the color was a big plus for me. Though some PDFs took a short time load (meaning a delay of a few seconds) when turning pages. Though they were heavy graphics PDFs, like Exalted or Shadow Run 4th Edition. No problem transfering between my computer and Nook either, it links in with a USB port it just pops up on the screen like a USB jump drive file. The Nook has a program that leaves an Icon on your computer though I rarely use it except when I'm adding an e-book from another company other than amazon. For example, I've gotten several books and magazines from The Black Library, the GW stuff all looks great on it and reads great as well. Of note, the USB cord is proprietary, meaning much like apple's I-whatever, it's easy to plug into a computer but it will only fit in the nook on the other end, due the number of prongs.

As far as e-ink, meh...I'm quite happy with the color and with the software update, you can have a black background and white text for reading at night which is great. E-books are quite good, naturally.

As far as SD card slots, it can hold up to 32GB, which is massive. IIRC I think I have like 16 GB of internal memory, but with an SD card, I can just add my whole RPG PDF collection to it and I have it anywhere I go.

And of course the added bonus of having wifi and internet Explorer make it great when your using a SRD for pathfinder or something else, or need to look up stuff. I've even added board game rules pdfs to it to make it easy too look up at the table.

My recommendation though would be defintely go Nook, but get the Nook Tab. I just got that for my wife for Christmas and it is much faster and has more internal memory. I notice the difference now, but the Color is still good for what I need it to do,, but it's worth the extra 50 bucks to get the Tab.

[Frost]

I really think it boils down to whether you are a bigger B&N customer or an Amazon one. That is how I decided between the two. I use Amazon a ton, so it made more sense to get the Fire.

[Demiurge]

I picked up the Nook Tablet and so far I'm quite pleased with it.

[redwullf]

Best of both worlds.

[MormonYoYoMan]

My concern with iPad - with Apple in general - is the same as my concern with PDFs from WotC. Whatever I buy from Apple, actually belongs to Apple. If they decide that I cannot play something I downloaded from iTunes (for instance) on anything other than their iTune player, then - by George, I can't.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble are the same way when downloading from their Kindle or Nook stores. However, I - and only I - own the PDFs and epubs that I've bought elsewhere and sideloaded.

[redwullf]

My concern with iPad - with Apple in general - is the same as my concern with PDFs from WotC. Whatever I buy from Apple, actually belongs to Apple. If they decide that I cannot play something I downloaded from iTunes (for instance) on anything other than their iTune player, then - by George, I can't.

Amazon and Barnes & Noble are the same way when downloading from their Kindle or Nook stores. However, I - and only I - own the PDFs and epubs that I've bought elsewhere and sideloaded.

You can continue to own and use your sideloaded PDFs and ePubs on an iPad as well. You can import and play music or videos you received from sources outside of iTunes (even in players other than iTunes). I don't think the perceived restrictions are as restrictive as you...well...perceive them to be. Can you play your iTunes-purchased media on other sources? Well, yes, but I admit it's in a round-about way (must be DRM-free items and some conversion will be required). The solution, of course, if you feel strongly about it, is to purchase your content somewhere other than iTunes and import it as you see fit, thus keeping your options open to import into other sources as well.

I have Amazon, B&N, and iBooks ebooks, countless PDFs from many sources, music from iTunes, Google, Amazon, ripped CDs, etc. I can access and use all the content on my iPad without issue. In short, you don't have to buy your content from the iTunes Store, and the content you've bought from outside of iTunes is perfectly usable on the iPad.

[Frost]

Yeah, the iPad is sweet, no doubt. But the Nook and the Kindle are a good value for the buck. I will say this, I'm really surprised how much I like the smaller size of the Kindle. It really does add to the book-like feel and also makes it easier to type (you can basically type on it as easy as typing on a smartphone).

[MormonYoYoMan]

If I read the gazillions of lines of small print (both print and virtual) on our daughter's iPad, it seems as if Apple owns the machine itself. I know that when my mother needed help from Apple's tech folk, they told her that they really owned her Mac. Makes me a little grumpy.

Won't argue with you though, for two reasons. 1) I love the iPad itself, and would get one in a minute if I could add memory cards and batteries, and otherwise fool with it, without voiding a warranty, and 2) there is NO way I will fuss with someone who is making the VERY good decision and performing the VERY hard task of ceasing to smoke. Tobacco took the lives of my grandparents, my baby sister, and my father - and my youngest brother STILL won't stop smoking, though he has three tumors on his throat now.

I saw, first-hand, how tough it was (physically and spiritually) on my dad when he ceased. He gained an extra decade of life that way. For at the time he ceased, he had only one-half of one lung still functioning.

So I applaud and salute your courage!

[kajukenbo]

For the record, Apple's terms of service basically say they still own the hardware that you spent your cash on but they are letting you use it out of generosity.

They can revoke the right for you to use the hardware and software at any time, remotely (presuming it is connected to the Internet) - unless you choose to "root it".
That goes for Macs, iPads, iPhones and anything of the kind.
They also digitally sign the software and hardware which means they can prevent you from running any software on it that they wish.

You are giving up your liberty to use the device on your own terms if you buy Apple products.
They claim it is for your own good because it is "safer" -this supposedly makes it harder for malicious hackers to do bad things to your device or data- but that is a red herring.

It is primarily a way to insure they control the media and media formats on your device and to ensure vendor lock-in once you get attached to using something like iTunes.
For reasons that should now be obvious, they refuse to release iTunes or Quicktime on Open Source platforms.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
If you are OK with that then it is your choice.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

You are better served by purchasing Android (i.e. Linux) based devices in many cases.

[ Full Disclosure: I am an Open Source Advocate & Red Hat Administrator as a day job ]

[Arduin]

For the record, Apple's terms of service basically say they still own the hardware that you spent your cash on but they are letting you use it out of generosity. ...

As Steve Woz recently disclosed, “I love the beauty of it [iphone]. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do. The people I recommend the iPhone 4S for are the ones who are already in the Mac world, because it’s so compatible, and people who are just scared of computers altogether and don’t want to use them. "

[kajukenbo]

As Steve Woz recently disclosed, “I love the beauty of it [iphone]. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do. ... "

Wow. I had not seen that before. Thanks for the quote Arduin.

[Arduin]

As Steve Woz recently disclosed, “I love the beauty of it [iphone]. But I wish it did all the things my Android does, I really do. ... "

Wow. I had not seen that before. Thanks for the quote Arduin.

The interview was just a couple of days ago. I was and wasn't surprised by it. Woz is a VERY practical guy.

[kajukenbo]

The interview was just a couple of days ago. I was and wasn't surprised by it. Woz is a VERY practical guy.

Yeah, I just read the whole thing.
He says an iPhone is still his primary device, but the Android has some features that are better.

Normally that sort of thing hits the front page of Slashdot [tech-geek central].
Somehow this news seems to have gone under the radar.

[Arduin]

Normally that sort of thing hits the front page of Slashdot [tech-geek central].
Somehow this news seems to have gone under the radar.

I'm surprised. I haven't been up there for a few years (retired) but, even news stories where I was interviewed would invariably show up there.

[redwullf]

For the record, Apple's terms of service basically say they still own the hardware that you spent your cash on but they are letting you use it out of generosity.

They can revoke the right for you to use the hardware and software at any time, remotely (presuming it is connected to the Internet) - unless you choose to "root it".
That goes for Macs, iPads, iPhones and anything of the kind.
They also digitally sign the software and hardware which means they can prevent you from running any software on it that they wish.

You are giving up your liberty to use the device on your own terms if you buy Apple products.
They claim it is for your own good because it is "safer" -this supposedly makes it harder for malicious hackers to do bad things to your device or data- but that is a red herring.

It is primarily a way to insure they control the media and media formats on your device and to ensure vendor lock-in once you get attached to using something like iTunes.
For reasons that should now be obvious, they refuse to release iTunes or Quicktime on Open Source platforms.

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Ben Franklin
If you are OK with that then it is your choice.

http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html

You are better served by purchasing Android (i.e. Linux) based devices in many cases.

[ Full Disclosure: I am an Open Source Advocate & Red Hat Administrator as a day job ]

I believe the ToS you're referring to is probably for the iOS software, OS X, or iTunes and not actually the hardware itself. There may be some terms and conditions regarding the Apple logo as it appears on the hardware, but I don't believe that you do not own Apple hardware when you buy it. Of course, I haven't read *all* of the thousands of lines of Terms of Service agreements for every Apple product (they vary), but I'd be curious to see text that actually states Apple retains ownership of the hardware you buy. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, I'm just saying...prove it.

If the text you're referring to is, indeed, in regard to Apple software, then yes, that's normal. In this regard, Apple's ToS wouldn't be much different from any other consumer/commercial (for profit) software developer.

Even assuming I'm wrong...so what? Apple agents aren't exactly kicking down people's doors and taking their hardware. What I'm saying is, we're not exactly seeing headlines about people having their hardware shut off or forcibly taken by Apple for, well, any reason at all (lost prototype iPhones found in bars aside). I've been using Mac since '90 (for hell's sake, has been 22 years already?!?) and iPods/iPhones since they came out. Not once have I felt that my liberties and freedoms as a consumer have somehow been violated because of Apple's small print, and I've never heard of anyone else suffering such a fate.

Lastly, having said all of this, I believe Kindles and Nooks to be fine products. I've played with both and have done the minimal amount of consumer research to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each. It just so happens that the iPad (in my most humble opinion) sidesteps any weaknesses, because if, say, Kindle exhibits a failing that Nook does not (or vice versa) I have access to both in the iPad (with the added bonus of also having access to the iBooks store). In short, I get all worlds on one device, along with all the other nifty things the iPad can do.

If you were to take my iPad and smash it on the ground, put a gun to my head and scream, "Choose one now, Kindle or Nook!" I'd probably choose Nook, because for all of Amazon's mighty reach, B&N still has a larger selection of titles. That would be the only reason.

[kajukenbo]

I believe the ToS you're referring to is probably for the iOS software, OS X, or iTunes and not actually the hardware itself. There may be some terms and conditions regarding the Apple logo as it appears on the hardware, but I don't believe that you do not own Apple hardware when you buy it. Of course, I haven't read *all* of the thousands of lines of Terms of Service agreements for every Apple product (they vary), but I'd be curious to see text that actually states Apple retains ownership of the hardware you buy. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, I'm just saying...prove it.

It is actually more insidious than that but (without getting too deeply into the DMCA) because they are using encrypted signing keys in the Apple software, it is technically a federal crime to modify Apple's software or operating systems without their permission.

Furthermore, because there are Encrypted Digital Signing keys INSIDE Mac hardware (MacBook Pro, Macs, iMacs, PowerMacs, etc.) via the use of EFI / UEFI (aka BIOS), the same federal statues (DMCA) apply to it.
It is a felony to tamper with the hardware because you could be altering the keys.
In fact, to make it work properly, you actually have to.
Try to boot from an "unsupported" USB device on a Mac that works in a Linux or even Windows PC.

On top of it there is "Hardware DRM":
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardware_r ... le_devices ]

Or how about firmware that prevents you from performing your own hardware upgrades:
[ http://blog.macsales.com/10146-apple-fu ... -new-imacs ]

If it makes you feel better, last time this came up Apple *promised* never to sue again. Do you trust them? I don't.
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OdioWorks_ ... s_v._Apple ]

[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_signing ]

Make your own decisions. Just try to make well-informed ones.

For the record, I OWN a Macbook Pro that I got used, just for testing.
It runs Snow Leopard fine, but it runs Linux a lot better.

[redwullf]

If it makes you feel better, last time this came up Apple *promised* never to sue again. Do you trust them? I don't.

No more or less than any other corporation, which is to say not much. Make no mistake, I'm not a consumer whore. I just like the form, function, security, stability, and aesthetics of Apple's OS and their hardware. It suits me...pleases me, even.

Make your own decisions. Just try to make well-informed ones.

Generally, I do. But I won't "nerf" my computing experience just to avoid the potential of the Evil Corporation (yes, I consider Linux, in all its flavors, a reduced computing experience when compared to OS X or even the latest Windows regurgitation. My experience extends only to Ubuntu, which is a fine product when you consider it's price, and will certainly do the job in many situations. However, Ubuntu is no Mac OS X - not even close.

For the record, I OWN a Macbook Pro that I got used, just for testing. It runs Snow Leopard fine, but it runs Linux a lot better.

See "Ubuntu" above. My iMac ran it very well. My iMac also runs Windows extremely well. It also runs OS X flawlessly.

[kajukenbo]

However, Ubuntu is no Mac OS X - not even close.

Ubuntu is a joke. It is not a well-respected Linux distribution and is used for little else than introducing people who are accustomed to a clicky, GUI user interface to "Linux".
Serious Linux distributions such as Red Hat and SUSE are used by major corporations as less expensive -and usually superior- alternatives to the likes of Solaris, AIX or HP-UX.
In other words systems and machines that do serious work and can have no downtime or problems.
Things like the New York Stock Exchange, for instance.
Ubuntu is about in the same league as Windows XP.

If you thought of Ubuntu as a kids bicycle with training wheels then Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a Tesla Roadster.
[ http://www.teslamotors.com/roadster ]

I do not mean to sound like an elitist but implying you know something about Linux -and are therefore are qualified to judge it when talking to someone like myself- because you installed Ubuntu on your Mac is pretty condescending and insulting.

Linux runs on 91.4% of the worlds SUPERCOMPUTERS.
As far as I can tell, Mac OS/X runs on NONE of them.
[ http://www.top500.org/charts/list/38/osfam ]

Sorry. Serious pet peeve here.
Ubuntu is not "Linux". Ubuntu is a Linux distribution - and a pretty poor one at that.
What you think you know as "Ubuntu" is a GUI, not Linux.
There are about a dozen different GUIs for Linux and each one is more customizable than the last.
I can boot a Linux box and you would have trouble noticing that it was not OS/X at first glance.
The fact is that Linux does not need a GUI at all.

For the record, when I referred to my Macbook Pro running Linux better (which I am typing on now, in fact) I meant it runs and boots faster, it stays cooler, consumes less memory or CPU resources and it is a lot more versatile.

Thanks and sorry if I sound too grumpy.

[Frost]

My Kindle Fire plays Angry Birds.

[kajukenbo]

My Kindle Fire plays Angry Birds.

LOL