Nook vs. Kindle Fire

The Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire are in many ways similar. They are both tablet devices with a 7-inch (17.8-centimeter) touch-screen display. Both devices run a customized version of Google's Android operating system. Both can run Android apps and both have curated versions of Google's app store. If you want to access the full suite of apps available to Android devices, you're out of luck -- neither the Kindle Fire nor the Nook Tablet can access the full Android store.

The Kindle Fire and the Nook Tablet each have a dual-core, 1-gigahertz processor. Screen resolution for both devices is 1,024 by 600 pixels. They each have a 3.5-millimeter (0.14-inch) headphone jack. Both can connect to WiFi and both lack a cellular antenna. Neither device has Bluetooth support, a GPS receiver or camera.

So far, the two devices seem almost interchangeable. But there are some notable differences. The Kindle Fire has 512 megabytes of RAM, while the Nook Tablet boasts a full gigabyte of RAM. The Kindle Fire has 8 gigabytes of flash memory. The Nook Tablet comes in two models -- one has 8 gigabytes of space like the Kindle Fire, but the other has 16 gigabytes of space. Both models have an SD-card slot that accepts cards with up to 32 additional gigabytes of storage space. However, the Nook Tablet restricts some of this space for content purchased from the official Nook store [source: Barnes & Noble].

Another difference is the presence -- or lack thereof -- of physical buttons. The Kindle Fire has only a power button. The Nook Tablet has not only a power button but also buttons for volume control. To control the Kindle Fire's volume, you have to use an on-screen control. The Nook is also a little longer and a touch thicker than the Kindle Fire. And if you want to record your own book narration, you'll need a Nook Tablet -- it has a microphone, while the Kindle Fire doesn't.

From a hardware perspective, the Nook has the edge over the Kindle Fire. You can buy a Nook with more storage space and memory than what's available from Amazon's tablet. But hardware isn't the whole story. Something else that differentiates the two tablets may be even more important: content.

Customers who purchase a Kindle Fire get a month-long trial of Amazon's preferred customer program called Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime members enjoy perks like free two-day shipping on orders from Amazon's warehouses. They also have access to digital assets like Amazon Prime videos, which include TV shows and movies that may not be found on other streaming services. If you're a Netflix or Hulu Plus customer, you can download apps to access those services on a Kindle Fire as well. After the month-long trial, customers will have to pay a $79 fee to keep their Prime memberships valid.

The Nook Tablet also supports apps from services like Hulu Plus and Netflix. But Barnes & Noble doesn't have a service comparable to Amazon Prime. The company does offer free trials with several providers, including video and audio services. Ultimately, you'll have to pay up to keep your access to the programming.

Another benefit to being an Amazon Prime member is access to a digital lending library. Amazon has more than 140,000 titles in its lending library that you can access for free. And with this library, you don't have to worry about late fees -- you can keep a title for as long as it's available within the library, assuming you maintain your Amazon Prime membership. Amazon carries around 1 million electronic books in its Kindle book store for purchase [source: Amazon].

Barnes & Noble offers more than twice as many electronic books as Amazon. According to the company, there are more than 2.5 million titles in its electronic bookshop [source: Barnes & Noble]. While there's no lending library feature on the Nook Tablet, Barnes & Noble does offer some titles for free every Friday. If you plan on using your tablet primarily to read books, the advantage may swing firmly to the Nook Tablet.

That's what your choice boils down to -- how you'll use your tablet. If you want to watch a lot of video and you enjoy online shopping, it's hard to argue against the Kindle Fire with its wide choice for media options and Amazon Prime perks. If you're an electronic bookworm, the Nook Tablet will give you access to the world's largest electronic bookstore. If you just want an inexpensive Android tablet with all the bells and whistles, you could avoid the question entirely and order a Nexus 7 tablet instead. Which features do you find to be the most important?

When the Nook Tablet debuted, several of my friends jumped at the chance to pick one up. Their intent was to root the device and run a standard version of the Android operating system on the hardware. I held off purchasing my own gadget -- instead, I picked up an e-reader with eInk. I prefer reading on that type of screen. In my electronic book, both the Nook Tablet and the Kindle Fire are good devices, but weren't exactly what I wanted.

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