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Originally Posted by rcentros
Has any eInk eReader company really shown a lot of innovation in recent years? I always hear that eReaders aren't very "innovative" but I think hardware quality is as (or more) important. And I also wonder, what kind of innovation are you looking for? What I want is a good screen and the ability to easily navigate through my book. I like the Nook's page turn buttons and their location -- and their screens have been top notch. I can't speak for the GL4, I haven't seen it yet. But both GL+ Nooks and the GL3 all have very good screens.
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B&N e-readers have evolved minimally compared to their competitors. The latest Nook is virtually indistinguishable from its predecessors both in terms of appearance and hardware/software. There are so many features that B&N could add to its devices. Dropbox or Overdrive integration like Kobo and Pocketbook. Or revamping the UI like Amazon recently did.
The design of the Nook has changed little since I owned the SimpleTouch. Flush screen, asymmetrical form factor, color display, and writing features are some things they could experiment with. At the very least, it would help them stand out from Amazon.
They could start by upgrading the performance of the Nook which is rather sluggish compared to Onyx or even Kindle. Software optimization or faster CPU could readily address the issue and improve the user experience. I don’t have much faith in B&N doing anything about it though. They seem less committed to their e-reader business than other companies and it shows.