With new contenders entering the tablet market each day, it can be increasingly difficult to discover the machine that’s best suited for your particular needs. This is especially true if you’re looking for a good entry-level device that can gradually introduce you to the tablet world, but isn’t too underpowered that it can’t hold up to your needs once you get a bit of experience under your belt. If you’re on the hunt for a formidable tablet with an incredible price-point, here are 5 reasons why you should be checking out Barnes & Noble’s Nook HD+:

At $149.99 For A 9-inch Tablet, Nook HD+ Is The Best Deal Out There

The recent announcement from Barnes & Noble that they’re ending production of their tablet lines has created a massive price drop for the Nook HD devices. While the 7-inch Nook is a bargain for $129.99, the real steal is the 9-inch HD+, down $120 from its original price to its current $149.99. The Nook HD has always scored well with tech enthusiasts regarding the device’s raw hardware; the main targets of criticism were its somewhat lackluster library of app offerings and its inability to access Android-based content from Google Play, detriments that left the tablet line (particularly the HD+) incapable of offering  the same value as various other Android tablets within the same price range.

However, all that has changed dramatically because of the heavily reduced price of the Nook HD+, as well as the fact that…

Nook HDs Can Now Access Google Play

After facing a storm of criticism, Barnes & Noble did an incredibly consumer-friendly update that radically changed the value of the Nook HD line by giving them access to the Google Play store, and the thousands of Android-based apps within. The Nook HD+ may not be able to tackle every available offering on the Android market—it’s lack of a camera makes it incompatible with many of the video-based apps, for one—but in a single update, Barnes & Noble dramatically increased the usability and attractiveness of its flagship tablet.

Very Little Issues With Cross-Platform Licensing

The global domination of Amazon has steered many towards the Kindle Fire tablet line, especially those concerned about always having access to their digital content stored in Amazon’s cloud. Now, however, the Android-based apps let you access most of your Amazon digital media from any tablet connected to Google Play, and recently that list includes the Nook HD+. You still won’t be able to stream any videos from Amazon directly on your Nook, but you can access your archived music, and—more impressively—your entire list of Kindle e-books. If you were shying away from a Barnes & Noble gadget because you already have an extensive electronic library built up with Amazon, then fear not: the Android Kindle app runs incredibly well on the Nook HD, giving you immediate access to all of your titles.

Access To Barnes & Noble’s Custom Library And Features

Now that the Nook HD is a fully capable Android tablet, you can better appreciate the custom Barnes & Noble offerings, seeing them as an exclusive addition to a wealth of other features, rather than the sole offerings of a device that couldn’t keep up with its more open-sourced peers. The excellent Barnes & Noble library, complete with digital graphic novels and interactive children’s books, can be accessed right alongside the latest Kindle and Google Play offerings, giving the Nook HD an incredible amount of content diversity.

If You’re Looking For An Entry-Level Tablet, This Is It

A 9-inch, fully HD Android tablet for $149.99 is absolutely the best deal currently on the market. Some people may shy away from the Nook HD+ on account of Barnes & Noble discontinuing the line, but remember that you’ll always have access to the incredible range of content offered through Google Play, the prime source for every other Android-based tablet you’ll find on the shelves. It’s not exactly known how much tech support Barnes & Noble will be able to offer after they have shut down their in-house services for the Nook HD+, but considering how much of a steal they are at the current price, you may quickly find that the risk of a hardware issue happening down the road is more than worth the incredible deal being offered today. If you’re interested in stepping into the tablet world for the first time, the Nook HD+ is currently the gadget to beat.

Author bio:

John is a blogger who recently picked up a Nook HD+ when they began their extreme sale around Father’s Day, even though there currently aren’t any children unfortunate enough to call him dad. He writes for Protect Your Bubble, an Internet insurer that can protect your new gadgets from slips, spills, theft, loss, and more.