Android Tablets Made Simple

Hacking a Nook

If you're OK with a tablet that doesn't run Android Honeycomb, still has a few quirks, but only costs half the price of many fancier tablets, you could try hacking a Barns and Noble Nook Color e-reader.

This isn't an option for the Android newbie or anyone who worries about voiding his warranty. However, the Nook has developed an active hacking community. The Nook runs an Android variation and can even run Nook-specific apps, but it doesn't have access to the Google Android market. By using a process called “rooting,” you can change the Nook operating system and use the Nook as a more standard Android tablet. I've heard that Honeycomb runs pretty slowly on Nooks, so earlier versions of Android are better.

If you're up for the challenge, ...