It's simple on devices that have physical buttons won't have virtual buttons on ICS sandwich.

hi guys, need your advice...
i'm looking at the cheapest way to have a decent android tablet and the two contenders are the nook color and the kindle fire... nook's already rooted and has a slot for memory card... aside from the advantage of having a better processor, what else does the kindle have to offer? do you think it's wise to purchase the kindle and wait for the "good news"?
thanks in advance.

Well if you are looking for a budget Android Tablet I wouldn't get a Nook Color or Kindle Fire for the simple fact that they are not Android Tablets, they are pretty much just touchscreen color ereaders that happen to run Android. they lack GPS, Bluetooth, Compass, HDMI, USB Cameras, and all the other goodies included with an Android Tab. Plus you have to hack those devices to get an real amount of functionality. Now I know what your thinking who needs those, well you don't but at time you find that you use them when you think you wouldn't. I would recommend for 150-200 dollars the Haipad M9, x10 Airpad 200 dollars, Archos 80 g9 for 280, Arnova 7 G2 for 170 dollars, or for 300 dollars HTC Flyer, No matter which one of these you choose they will be infinitely better Android experience then either the Kindle Fire or Nook Color.

i actually got the hack-the-nook-color idea from our very own danramos. hehe i'm not really interested in a tablet, it's for my girlfriend. i'm still not sure what she wants it for but in case it's just for reading, then these two options will do. the modifications will come later if she wants it for something else.

EDIT:
she changed her mind. she just wants a big winnie the pooh pillow. hehe great savings! but i would appreciate if you'd still post your opinion.

But the other options enable you to give it to her without modding

yup. i'll look into those other options (the less than 200 tabs) but they're not very appealing for me... they sound like chinese ripoffs... and i'm not sure if the ones i can buy locally are the real deal.

Also the Kobo Vox is a Full Android device just lacks google ecosystem and the Andypad Pro.

So you have dumped your N900? Although I sometimes wish it would be snappier, the N900 still serves my needs perfectly. Is there anything that you miss on the Note that was possible with the N900? Easy Debian perhaps?

I was thinking that if I ever have to give up my N900 I might switch to a dedicated tablet and a dumb phone. How is the Galaxy Note as a phone? Conversely, is it enough of a tablet?

Hello Rebhana, yes the Note is presently my main mobile computer, even if all my NITs are still in my heart (and in my drawer, in good conditions, ready for hacking).

I've copied the debian partition from the Tab to the Note and in terminal mode it's quick; cli programs like imagemagick run very well.
Performances are not as good in emulated X11, and I don't think it's depending on VNC; there might be some problem maybe due to the lack of a swapfile at the kernel level. Or, maybe trying an ubuntu rootfs might give more speed... dunno. Lately I haven't used debian applications that much, given that userland android apps have quite a good coverage of my needs.

I can't comment on the Note as a phone, because I use it exclusively as a tablet, having another sim card with a cheaper plan for voice calls in another phone.
As a tablet, I must say it's lightweight and has a convincing form factor, and I have no nostalgy of the 7-inches Galaxy Tab; the difference in size is not that big to make my presbiopsy cry for new spectacles.
As I wrote some posts above, there are some issues: single speaker only, and display is less impressive than advertised; also, in charge saving mode, display hue cycles between slightly greenish and slightly reddish, which is quite distracting. Hopefully, when excluding this power save function, display tint stabilizes

Android apps I've selected in the last few months run well, without hesitations or stutterings; there is a definite increase in speed in comparison to the Tab, especially in web browsing.
Pen input works well, and is useful in everyday activities like preparing the grocery list or letting my 5-yrs-old daughter sketch same drawing when bored.

All in all, though, I am pleased by the device, and feel like advicing it to friends, especially when costs will drop a few.

Anyone interested in buying a i9100 SGSII ? Unlocked, purchased a month ago, doesn't suit me. PM me if interested. Thanks