On Tuesday, Barnes & Noble's unveiled the $199 7-inch Nook HD and the $269 9-inch Nook HD+ to compete with the recently launched Kindle Fire HD.
While Amazon's Kindle Fire HD has been praised for its content "ecosystem," critics have questioned its viability as a standalone tablet. B&N is coming out swinging with a price advantage and an impressive screen, already conjuring an overwhelmingly positive reception. B&N CEO William Lynch told ABC News, "We did create the category. We are going to do reading better than anyone else-with the weight of the product, the ergonomics, and the screen-this display is unprecedented."
He adds, "We are competing with better content consumption specs and adding content types."
For a look at how the Nook HD compares with the third-generation iPad, click here; for the 7" Kindle HD tablet comparison, click here; and for the 8.9" Kindle HD comparison click here.
Specs
Both the Nook HD and Nook HD+ carry a dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and microSD slots. The Nook HD sports a 1440 x900-resolution screen, 8GB of storage, weights 315 grams, and is half an inch narrower than the Kindle Fire. The Nook HD+ shows off a 9-inch, 1920 x1080 resolution screen and weights 515 grams, while carrying 16GB of storage at its base model. Neither version of the Nook HD features a camera.
Display
According to Business Insider, "The 9-inch model is nearly as sharp as the third-generation iPad's Retina display." Site editor Steve Kovach "barely noticed a difference between the two devices." Kovach notes that the Nook HD seems to have the "sharpest display of any other 7-inch tablet," with a "clearer and brighter" screen than the Kindle Fire HD.
OS
The Nook HD runs on a customized version of the Android OS, just like the Fire HD. Kovach touts that "B&N's new OS has a much cleaner look than before, a cool gray background that apps, magazines, and other content seem to float on top of." Amazon's device drew criticism at the announcement of the Fire HD when the company revealed that, on its default setting, the device sends a barrage of ads at users unless a fee of $15 is paid. Nook promises that its device will be ad-free.
Durability
The Nook HD and HD+ "feel incredible," says Business Insider. The site clarifies that the hardware and software were crafted at the same time, allowing for a harmony in the device that results in a form that "isn't just another cookie cutter Android tablet."
Content
B&N naturally has a store of its own for media files, but Kovach laments that absence of a "way to wirelessly beam content from your tablet to your web-connected TV."
Both the Nook HD and HD+ will launch on November 1 and are currently available for pre-order.