Even though the Nook uses Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), it is a completely different operating environment. It is geared mostly as a reading device with games and apps as an afterthought. The device does not connect to the Google Play store, and instead everything must be accessed via the Barnes & Noble store.
You also cannot download any Free apps without adding a credit card to your account, and as mentioned previously setting credit card protection is a laborious process.
Additionally, there is an amazing shortage of game and app options in the Nook store when compared with Google Play. Google Play offers free demos of many games like Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Bad Piggies and all of the other popular casual games for tablets. The Nook store only has the paid versions of these, and they are always full price. You can usually find a deal on Angry Birds for .99 cents, but it costs $2.99 on the Nook store.
If you like books though, then the Nook is where it’s at. There are thousands and thousands of books, magazines and comics available for the Nook, and it integrates with the desktop very well.
