Last Monday the Kindle Fire launched ahead of its scheduled date of release, which was supposed to on Tuesday. And its number one contender, the Nook Tablet, launched days ahead of its schedule as well. It seems early product launch is the key to gaining traction in this crowding market, especially with the holiday season upon us.

People started pre-ordering the respective tablets weeks ago, egging on the hype that’s been building around the publisher industry.  Some who got the Kindle Fire are quite disappointed with its apps and video function, with certain content having been stretched to fit the screen.  Now, with the Nook Tablet out, people who are still waiting for their Kindle Fire are thinking of canceling their order and jumping ship.  But at $249, is the Nook Tablet a better device than the Kindle Fire?

Let’s look at what the Nook Tablet has to offer: It measures 8.1 inches in height, 5 inches wide, 0.48 inches thick and weighs 14.1 ounces.  It has a 7-inch screen that boasts of the VividView Color Toucscreen that delivers crisp images for watching videos, reading and enjoying apps.  Font size is adjustable so you don’t have to strain your eyes reading your favorite book or magazine.  Web browsing is enhanced by an Adobe Flash Player, and comes with parental controls.  The Nook is Wi-Fi ready and it features a microphone for interactive reading, among other things.  It has a 1GHz TI OMAP4 (dual-core) processor with 1GB RAM, 16GB (up to 10,000 books) built-in memory, which can be expanded up to 32GB with microSD memory card.  The B&N tablet also comes pre-loaded with apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora,  Chess, Crossword, Sudoku, Media Gallery, NOOK Friends, and e-mail.  It has a universal 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack, charging port and the microSD slot.  When you buy the Nook Tablet, it comes with a USB cable, power adapter, and a User Guide.

To get those coveted apps, just visit the Barnes & Noble store and download any app you wish to try or purchase.  Like the Kindle Fire, though it’s an Android tablet, you don’t go directly to the Android Market for your app needs.

The edge of the Nook Tablet over the Kindle Fire is probably on the reading aspect, as it features PagePerfect reading, so reading on it feels almost like you’re actually reading a magazine or a book without the extra weight.  It’s also running a later version of Android, though neither feature the most recent version, ICS, which promises to resolve screen “stretching” issues.

Condé Nast will be launching 17 out of their 18 magaznes in the Nook Tablet. Titles included with the launch are Allure, Architectural Digest, Bon Appétit, Brides, Condé Nast Traveler, Details, Glamour, Golf Digest, Golf World, GQ, Lucky, Self, Teen Vogue, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, W, and Wired while Vogue will be available by 2012.

As for the Kindle Fire, though it lacks that certain ‘umpf’ that people are looking for, it’s not about to give up.  It looks like Amazon paid Discovery a settlement, as the case was dropped this week.  Discovery sued Amazon for allegedly using their technology on their e-readers.  And with people already starting with their holiday shopping list, Amazon made sure that no one, especially Discovery, would block their way to a great holiday revenue kick.

So what are you getting for the holidays?  A tablet or an e-reader?  Or both?  There are lots to choose from and a lot of them can satisfy your hunger without breaking your bank.  So just one tip before you go out and spend your hard-earned money: make sure you try these devices in the store so you know what you’re really getting. :)