MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Touch Nook Touch impressions

jocampo · 06-02-2011, 07:42 PM

OK,

Let's set some expectations, so I won't have to reply back or justify my below comments

-I just spent 20 min using it (wanted more, but there was an old lady already looking funny, lol ... they had just two on display)
-I did not test a PDF file, not loaded on the demo Nook
-Did not play around with Wifi settings (but have some interesting comments)

Ergonomics
I know this is a subjective matter (depends of hands size, way to hold, etc) but this new Nook feels awesome. I have small hands, so keep that in mind, but it is very easy to hold with one or two hands. I also like the feeling; the back it is really smooth and a true pleasure to hold, better than my Kindle 3.

Page turn and speed

The Nook Touch it's really fast! Faster than Kindle turning pages.You can also navigate via touchscreen and use the slider to move back and forth; both ways to turn pages, via screen or buttons were responsive and fast.

The sensors are really good and fast when touching. For being eink I am really impressed. What I noticed tough, which I am not so sure if that's good or bad, it's that looks weird after changing 6 or so pages fast. A slow refresh stops the page turning for a second or so and looks weird after being turning pages so fast. I do not know how they implemented that but maybe they are buffering next 5 pages or so on RAM to make it look faster, I don't know.

Weight

Feels really nice! I love my Kindle 3 for being light but this is way much better than Nook classic. I immediately noticed the difference after sold Nook classic and moved to Kindle, but this device feels really nice on my hands. I you own a Kindle 3, won't be a huge difference, but if you own a Nook classic you will notice it, it is really light and comfortable to hold, even with one hand.

Additional features

No idea how landscape looks on PDFs and of course, did not test it (no PDF was pre-loaded). I asked a B&N representative and said there is no landscape mode at all, not even for PDF files, but don't take my word on it, I just don't know.

The highlighting feature is responsive and fast. To my surprise as accurate as my iPad 2, but I am not so sure better than my Kindle 3 and using a button. I did not test with my Kindle 3 there, I did not want to look weird or freak

I also did not find the touchscreen/dictionary feature extremely fast; it is a two way process: touch the word, then touch the "lookup" option, lower right, so not sure how that can be faster than Kindle 3. On Kindle you get the meaning immediately when you move or where you point the cursor. You get additional information pressing another button. I guess for some people is more convenient via touchscreen.

A wifi comment

Something freak me out! The B&N wifi signal went up and down several times. No way to confirm if that affected the connectivity, because when you read you're reading from disk, but that was strange. I was not moving at all and I usually have strong signal there with my Kindle 3. It could be an access point issue, but I can't confirm.

Summary

I am impressed. It was a huge change and for good. No ugly LCD screen, really light, no physical buttons prone to cracks (the new buttons are rubberized, not exposed plastic) it just feels great!

Should you get one? If you read pure text books (novels, fiction ) and this is your 1st eink device, it could be an awesome choice.

But .... If you read computer books or PDFs or you just have a Kindle or Sony, the absence of landscape mode will hurt you. B&N does not sell as much computer books as Amazon (talking by experience) so if you read those type of books, think twice or you won't get what you need from B&N.

If the B&N guy was right about the landscape mode, it's a real shame. But I did not test or use a PDF file, so can't really comment about it. I'm dying for know how it looks like or how the Nook renders those kind of books.

For those USA customers looking for a Sony device, I strongly recommend to visit a B&N store instead and check this one. I see no reason why spend +200 on a new Sony, honestly ...

I really like it. I would not change my Kindle 3 because I really need and use Amazon's store, but I will invite my wife this weekend for a coffee there, so she can play a bit too. She was looking for her 1st eink reader.

If Amazon implements something similar I will probably think about it. I guess I can wait, I am satisfied with my Kindle at this moment.

06-02-2011, 07:42 PM	#1
jocampo Layback feline Posts: 3,034 Karma: 6980745 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA Device: Oasis 2nd gen, Sony DPTS1, iPad Pro 10.5"	Nook Touch impressions - Quick review using "on display" device OK, Let's set some expectations, so I won't have to reply back or justify my below comments -I just spent 20 min using it (wanted more, but there was an old lady already looking funny, lol ... they had just two on display) -I did not test a PDF file, not loaded on the demo Nook -Did not play around with Wifi settings (but have some interesting comments) Ergonomics I know this is a subjective matter (depends of hands size, way to hold, etc) but this new Nook feels awesome. I have small hands, so keep that in mind, but it is very easy to hold with one or two hands. I also like the feeling; the back it is really smooth and a true pleasure to hold, better than my Kindle 3. Page turn and speed The Nook Touch it's really fast! Faster than Kindle turning pages.You can also navigate via touchscreen and use the slider to move back and forth; both ways to turn pages, via screen or buttons were responsive and fast. The sensors are really good and fast when touching. For being eink I am really impressed. What I noticed tough, which I am not so sure if that's good or bad, it's that looks weird after changing 6 or so pages fast. A slow refresh stops the page turning for a second or so and looks weird after being turning pages so fast. I do not know how they implemented that but maybe they are buffering next 5 pages or so on RAM to make it look faster, I don't know. Weight Feels really nice! I love my Kindle 3 for being light but this is way much better than Nook classic. I immediately noticed the difference after sold Nook classic and moved to Kindle, but this device feels really nice on my hands. I you own a Kindle 3, won't be a huge difference, but if you own a Nook classic you will notice it, it is really light and comfortable to hold, even with one hand. Additional features No idea how landscape looks on PDFs and of course, did not test it (no PDF was pre-loaded). I asked a B&N representative and said there is no landscape mode at all, not even for PDF files, but don't take my word on it, I just don't know. The highlighting feature is responsive and fast. To my surprise as accurate as my iPad 2, but I am not so sure better than my Kindle 3 and using a button. I did not test with my Kindle 3 there, I did not want to look weird or freak I also did not find the touchscreen/dictionary feature extremely fast; it is a two way process: touch the word, then touch the "lookup" option, lower right, so not sure how that can be faster than Kindle 3. On Kindle you get the meaning immediately when you move or where you point the cursor. You get additional information pressing another button. I guess for some people is more convenient via touchscreen. A wifi comment Something freak me out! The B&N wifi signal went up and down several times. No way to confirm if that affected the connectivity, because when you read you're reading from disk, but that was strange. I was not moving at all and I usually have strong signal there with my Kindle 3. It could be an access point issue, but I can't confirm. Summary I am impressed. It was a huge change and for good. No ugly LCD screen, really light, no physical buttons prone to cracks (the new buttons are rubberized, not exposed plastic) it just feels great! Should you get one? If you read pure text books (novels, fiction ) and this is your 1st eink device, it could be an awesome choice. But .... If you read computer books or PDFs or you just have a Kindle or Sony, the absence of landscape mode will hurt you. B&N does not sell as much computer books as Amazon (talking by experience) so if you read those type of books, think twice or you won't get what you need from B&N. If the B&N guy was right about the landscape mode, it's a real shame. But I did not test or use a PDF file, so can't really comment about it. I'm dying for know how it looks like or how the Nook renders those kind of books. For those USA customers looking for a Sony device, I strongly recommend to visit a B&N store instead and check this one. I see no reason why spend +200 on a new Sony, honestly ... I really like it. I would not change my Kindle 3 because I really need and use Amazon's store, but I will invite my wife this weekend for a coffee there, so she can play a bit too. She was looking for her 1st eink reader. If Amazon implements something similar I will probably think about it. I guess I can wait, I am satisfied with my Kindle at this moment. Last edited by jocampo; 06-02-2011 at 07:51 PM.