From a girl who has both an ipod touch and a NC, I prefer the NC.I love the screen size.It makes a big difference when browsing the web and reading books.It isn't quite as smooth on zooming as the ipod touch but the touch is so little that it drives me crazy surfing the web.The nookcolor is pretty simple to use not as easy as the itunes set up--like I have been trying to get movies on my NC and for the life of me I can't figure it out even when I think I am doing it right with handbrake.??But you sound like you know how to do tech stuff so you could show her.I think she would be impressed with it and with you

. I like the size of it-can fit it in my purse and not feel too weighed down and it doesn't draw as much attention as having an ipad. I like the book-size of it. Just my perspective after owning it for two weeks.