Reasons to Root a NOOK Color

Android Operating System

The factory NOOK Color runs a trimmed-down version of the Android operating system. It has limited capability for downloading applications from the Android Market. Root access to the NOOK Color lets you download a full Android operating system, giving you a complete electronic tablet for the price of an e-reader.

E-Book Applications

The NOOK Color is locked to the NOOK bookstore. You do not have access to your Kindle library or E-Reader library. This means you have to re-purchase e-books if you want to read them in your NOOK library. Rooted NOOK Color running Android can access the Market to download the Amazon Kindle and E-Reader applications. This lets you read these books on your NOOK Color.

Android Market and the Amazon App Store

A factory NOOK Color can access games in the Android Market. Rooting your NOOK Color opens up the entire Android Market. This means you can download any applications that you want and use them on your NOOK Color. An even better option is to gain access to the Amazon App Store. This is an excellent alternative to the Android Market. They give away a free Android application every day.

Android Debug Bridge

Android Debug Bridge is a development tool that lets you interface with your NOOK Color. For the NOOK Color, ADB lets you move, copy and delete files on your NOOK Color. ADB also lets you download applications from the Internet and install them on your NOOK Color. You need to download the Android SDK package. ADB lets you customize your NOOK Color even more by opening up your NOOK Color to the entire Internet for applications.