Just played with one of these at the B&N in Tempe, AZ (at the Tempe Marketplace).
Thoughts:
- I actually love the touch experience, even the page turns. I thought I would not like this, but the IR touch setup is smooth and easy to use. I'm very surprised and happy with this feature. Honestly, this took me by surprise.
- I do not like the physical page turn buttons. They seem awkward (to me) and less responsive than those on the original Nook or the K3. They feel like they've been buried and you have to hit them hard to get a response.
- I miss the web browser. I know others disagree with this, but I download free classics on MobileRead and Manybooks pretty often, and I miss this feature. It basically means that I need another PC in order to get and transfer these free books.
- I also miss the 3G. I don't have a smartphone and I don't intend to ever get one--I had an iPod touch and spent a half a day playing Angry Birds and I decided I want gadgets that serve me rather than control me. That's my own issue, I understand, but it made the 3G web browsing on an ereader a treat--anywhere I go, I can get my e-mail, access my facebook, check my twitter feed, review my task list, get maps, and get back to life. No games, no videos, no time sinks. (This is a little off-topic, but I also wish B&N would have offered the same international 3G that comes with the K3.)
- The screen is very nice, very crisp, and the page turns are beautiful. Even swiping the page turns is beautiful.
- I'm not a fan of the size/shape. I like the look & feel of the portrait "shape." Maybe it has something to do with the golden rectangle, for you math nerds/wizards/people-who-make-me-jealous.
CONCLUSION: I have enough B&N books that I might buy one even though I've got a K3. It's a very good ereader, and I don't think I would regret the purchase at its current price. I already have the 3G that I wanted in my K3, but I also have about 160 B&N ePub classics that would fit nicely on that little screen.