Why the Samsung Nook Tablet Is Worth a Second Look

By Don Reisinger

It’s hard to find fault with the value Samsung and Barnes & Noble are delivering in the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. As discussed, the device costs just $179, making it one of the cheapest options on store shelves today. To put it into perspective, Apple’s iPad—the benchmark by which all other tablets are judged—starts at $499.

One of the big advantages to buying the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is the device’s reading experience. Barnes & Noble has for years been offering books in full color that deliver outstanding reading experiences in both low light and direct sunlight. Reading a book through the Nook platform is quite appealing and shouldn’t be overlooked, even though the tablet is now made by Samsung.

The design of the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is appealing and aesthetically pleasing. It’s not any different from the Galaxy Tab 4 itself, as Samsung and Barnes & Noble realized that to change the device’s already strong looks would be a mistake. The bezel around the screen is thin, the black and white versions are nicely colored, and the device fits easily into a purse or bag for traveling purposes. From a design perspective, it’s hard to find fault with the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook.

Barnes & Noble is smart to offer some freebies with the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. As noted, customers who buy the device will get $200 worth of free content, including access to three ebooks, three free TV show episodes, and a 14-day free trial for a selection of magazines. Not only is Barnes & Noble making the prospect of buying the tablet more appealing, it’s getting customers to buy into its content, which is a key component in any plan to keep owners engaged.

As both Samsung and Barnes & Noble pointed out, the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is based on Android. What that means is customers will find the full Android experience in the device, including access to all of Google’s services, like Gmail and Google Docs, as well as the Chrome browser and other items typically found in a standard tablet. While reading might be the focus with the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, it’s by no means the only feature to check out.

Nook Profiles comes with the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook. What that means is everyone in the home can create their own unique profiles on the device and see only the content they’ve purchased or are interested in. Since tablets are often shared in the home, having unique profiles for family members to see only their own content is very important.

Although Amazon’s ebook selection gets the most attention, Barnes & Noble’s collection of titles is nothing to scoff at. Just about every major title is available as an ebook, as well as old-time classics, kids’ books and more. Barnes & Noble even offers catalogs and newspapers for users to subscribe to.

One of the big selling points for Amazon’s tablet line has been its 24/7, on-device support. While Barnes & Noble doesn’t offer that with the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook, the company has said that the tablet can be brought into any of its brick-and-mortar stores for support or service. That puts Barnes & Noble on the same level as Apple in terms of support, which should satisfy those who want one-on-one contact with support people when something breaks down.

All of this talk of the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook leaves out one major component: Samsung. The mobile firm has been making solid tablets for a long time, and the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is certainly no different. With Samsung, Barnes & Noble has a reputable partner that can attract customers with solid designs, quality components and a massive marketing platform. The Samsung component in this deal is very important.

Although the Galaxy Tab 4 Nook is competing in a broad marketplace with many competitors, the sales pitch that the device is ideal for readers seems like a good one. Barnes & Noble’s chief ebook (and e-reader) competitor, Amazon, has moved away from the focus on reading, thinking that tablet features reign supreme. By bringing the focus back to reading—and having the features built in to back that up—Barnes & Noble is positioning the device for success.