Root Root or custom ROM?

[MrsJennyK]

Holy crap this is complicated!

I bought a NC (1.4.3) from a friend about a year ago. I have bought maybe 4 books and use it mostly as a tablet I guess. Mostly I use it to surf the web, check email, read forums, FB, tweet, etc. It's bigger than my phone screen but easier to tote around than my laptop.

It is extremely annoying that the only apps I have access to are the ones in the B&N store, a lot of which are crap. For some reason my wifi connection is also crummy. Don't know what that's about.

After reading stuff in here, it seems that maybe I want to do a custom ROM instead of rooting? I'm still not 100% sure I understand either one LOL! I do want to be able to read the books I purchased but if I could read Kindle books on it - OMG that would be the bomb.

I can certainly read and follow directions but I've never been much of a customizer. I'm pretty intimidated by this whole thing but at this point the NC is starting to become a paperweight. What do you think is my best option?

 

[colchiro]

Hi Jenny. First thing you need to figure out is if you have a Nook Color or a Nook Tablet.

See this thread: http://androidforums.com/b-n-nookcolor/652676-frustrated.html#post5242031

If you have the tablet, you're in the wrong forum, since both devices like to call themselves Nook Color. Go figure.

The Nook Tablet is much faster, but in my opinion the Nook Color is too slow to use for anything except a paper weight.

 

[MrsJennyK]

It's definitely a Nook Color - no pinhole

It's a relatively expensive paperweight though, so if I could make better use of it I'd be thrilled!

 

[colchiro]

Considering how you're working with old and slow hardware, I'd recommend you do one of the following, depending on how important the stock B&N software is to you:

• Install CM7, for a tablet that can also read books. See part #3: http://androidforums.com/nookcolor-all-things-root/352736-guide-how-install-cm7-your-nook-color.html
• Root your existing stock reader for a reader that can also install other apps. http://androidforums.com/nookcolor-...rooted-b-n-1-4-1-got-android-market-work.html (This isn't my guide so I won't be much help for support.)

Although you'll find downloads for CM9, CM10, and CM10.1, in my opinion, they are too much for the old hardware you have and I don't feel they will give you the best experience. Others may disagree.


The choice you make depends on how you use your tablet. If you use it primarily as a reader and like the stock B&N software, pick the second option. If you pick the first option (CM7), you can still install the B&N app from Play Store, which will read books, but it's missing some of the features you may be accustomed to. Both can install other readers.


If you have lots of paid apps thru B&N's store, they will not be available in CM7. You can still install the free apps, but for paid apps, you'll have to buy them again, if you choose to install them.

 

[patruns]

This is about as detailed as you should need to turn it into a full Jellybean tablet. Note, the hardware is quite old so do not expect blazing performance. Nonetheless, I just put Jellybean on mine this morning after using it with Gingerbread for a couple of years. You will have full access to the Google play Store where you can find apps for the Kindle and the Nook readers. Good luck! How to install CyanogenMod 10.1 to EMMC on the Nook Color