I have used my original Kindle fire for Web browsing and it is fine. I am sure the updated versions are better. But I would generally suggest staying in the Normal Android world if possible unless she plans to do Amazon reading, music, video, etc. Amazon is a bit annoying and I don't completely love the Fire interface. The world seems to think the Nexus tablets are the best choice. I covet the N10.

Gris, do you think someone's mother needs to stay with conventional Android? I think if your use cases are limited what does one need out of the full universe of applications? I wouldn't encourage my parents to spend extra money to get that, even as I'd nudge my sister to do so.

THE nook Hd+ is a pretty fantastic deal right now, possibly because B&N is going out of business soon. So support won't be there but it is a 9" tablet for $149

ita, it is really hard to get the capitalization right on your name with phone typing. Also, in this case it is more an interface thing: the Fires are definitely designed with Media Consumption front and center with all else secondary.

But the Nook HD+ has thr full app store available too which is pretty awesome.

I don't know if Typo's mother is doing much other than media consumption, though:

It would be used for web browsing, reading email, watching videos (including Democracy Now), reading the NY times online and so on

I wouldn't recommend anyone in my family get a Nexus 10--I'm the only one that would start to road test that bitch--my parents have a relatively dialed down experience.

And, FUCK YOU B&N, please don't leave me to Amazon.

ita, it is really hard to get the capitalization right on your name with phone typing

If I'm starting a sentence with it, I just type iita and then delete the "I" that gets capitalised--most editors won't go back and do it again.

Fair points. I think the Nook HD+ is probably the best of both worlds. It uses Chrome as its default browser now which beats the pants off Amazon's browser, has a slightly more generalized interface, and is a larger screen for mega cheap. I am very tempted actually but don't have the $150 available at the moment...

I would recommend making sure you have archived your Nook books and backed them up (possibly cracking any DRM in the process) just in case. You could always use normal Android tablets and Google Books if B&N goes away. And doesn't Kobo have a pretty good store these days?

My Nook books are on everything--all three Android devices, and my laptop and desktop. So all that would be an issue would be DRM, which I hope would be crackable after the fact if I don't get around to it now.

And doesn't Kobo have a pretty good store these days?

I am assuming it's smaller than Nook which is smaller than Kindle. Which is way too small. Thence my disgruntlement. Could be unsubstantiated, though.

I don't know, there are a lot of independent booksellers on Kobo, I am given to understand. If the aggregate of many smaller sources comes to anything like one big source, I don't know. I haven't really looked myself, since I have too many books.

Several reviews say the Nook is a bit sluggish for image rich web pages and media. Anyone here noticed that?

Not to mention, not sure if an amazon gift card can be used for a Barnes and Noble product...