What to replace a Nook HD with?
December 2, 2021 9:52 PM   Subscribe

I need to replace a Nook HD with something newer, but basically the same size. I'm looking for other advice from other Nook users / former Nook users

We have a Nook HD which is basically a 7" (? not sure of size but not 10") Android tablet with a Nook interface, as near as I can tell. We'd like to replace it, but we do _not_ want to switch to a Kindle for this device, because of the Nook content we already have.

As far as I can see, it's either: A) replace it with a Nook Glowlight Plus 3 or 4, which will allow us to read the content, but it's E-ink so other applications might not work so well; or B) replace it with a 7" Android tablet and install the Nook app .

If you owned a Nook and replaced it, what did you replace it with? If you used the Nook app, how did it compare to the actual Nook?

And to repeat for emphasis: we have nothing against Kindles, we own two (one is retired but still works), but a lot of content was purchased for this Nook and to have that content on a Kindle would require conversion and side-loading or re-purchasing. We'd like to avoid that.
posted by TimHare to Technology (8 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
The third option would be an iPad mini, which also has a Nook app available.
posted by kickingtheground at 10:00 PM on December 2, 2021 [2 favorites]


I had a Nook HD years ago and replaced it with just reading stuff on my phone, mostly, so I can only comment on the quality of the app. It's not quite as good as the Kindle phone/tablet app—just has some "jank" to it, for lack of a better term—but it's totally usable. (I love reading on e-ink, but for me it's as simple as the best ereader being the one I'm carrying around all the time.)
posted by Polycarp at 10:46 PM on December 2, 2021


I had a Nook Color, but now I use the Nook app on my iPad and it works well. I did like the bookstore setup a little better on the actual Nook than on the app, but that’s no big deal. Absolutely no problem getting to my content.
posted by SisterHavana at 10:49 PM on December 2, 2021


Skip this comment if you're tech averse!

Since you already have a Kindle tablet, if you want to check out how well the Nook app actually works on a non-Nook device, you could try sideloading it onto the kindle. [That just means copying the app's installer file (which is called an apk) to the kindle and tapping on its icon there to install it.] You could download the apk from somewhere, or if you want to be sure you're not getting some sketchy apk, you could use an apk extractor app on your existing nook and then copy the extracted apk to your kindle.

Then, depending on how well the app runs, you can have a better idea of what your options are.

(Fwiw, you probably know this but just in case you're not sure, converting and sideloading lots of books does take time, but it's a process you can just set to run overnight or whatever using something like calibre - you don't have to manually convert and copy each book.)
posted by trig at 1:11 AM on December 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


I have both nook and kindle devices. I use calibre for managing my resources. It supports most of the hardware out there, can easily manage multiple file formats of a book. The last time I bulk converted several hundred books it took about 30 seconds a book on my 6 year old Mac air. Some of the formatting was a mess but in ~200 items only a couple resulted in books that weren’t readable. Most were the same, but a few lost their cover art.

In terms of hardware, I’m not at all impressed with the kindles and when my nook glow light finally gives out I am looking at the Kobo's Clara HD, which includes a blue light reducing option.
posted by zenon at 7:42 AM on December 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


Note: I am using e ink devices exclusively for reading and for that my nook glow light (second or third gen?) is absolutely tops. So easy to just pick up and read, and even though I don’t often use the lighting feature I will never get another one without it. Love having the six or so books always on the go to read.

I use highlighting a little but love taking notes, which a hassle on the touch keyboard and a further headache to export. That’s it. Otherwise I have mothballed my old nook tablet and just got an iPad. It is fab- I’m typing this out on it right now, and I never thought this would be us but we are getting a second one for Xmas. It’s simply the most used device in the house.

At least this time I won’t have to buy Minecraft. For like the 7th time
posted by zenon at 7:54 AM on December 3, 2021 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks everyone. To trig and zenon - I'm not technologically averse, though I might be considered dinosaur-like since my tech cred is from supporting mainframe software up until this year. I handle Windows tech issues pretty well, at home (although their recent removal of HomeGroup from our home network is giving me fits).

I've used Calibre for other purposes before although it's mostly on an occasional basis. The Nook is used by my wife more than myself. I was concerned about her losing the tablet functions but in discussions it seems she's only using it for reading - so that has me leaning toward either the new Nook Glowlight 4 _or_ a Kindle Paperwhite and converting her content. While iPads look great, we are completely Android and Windows so far, and I don't think I want to introduce the Apple infrastructure pieces into the mix
posted by TimHare at 11:00 AM on December 3, 2021


Myself - I have been a Kobo fan for years. You can load whatever you want (Calibre to convert as required), and the hardware has been top-notch since 2015.

Cannot stand reading fiction on an LED/OLED screen - so loading a Kobo/Nook/Kindle app on an iPad (or other) tablet is - for me - not a pleasant experience when I want to read for many hours - too much eyestrain.
posted by rozcakj at 1:52 PM on December 3, 2021 [2 favorites]


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