I elected to keep the unit. I could sell it for $500 easily enough but I've already waited two months and have at least three more business trips before mid-January that I'd like to have an e-reader with me. Getting to use the unit in a B&N the other day solidified that I do like the unit.
So here we are, with pictures!
From top to bottom, left to right...
1. Box the unit comes in. Very stylish.
2. Remove cardboard sleeve for plexiglass frame that holds a suspended Nook. It's a little weird and classy at the same time. Gotta be expensive, too! It's not Apple-levels of stylish but definitely a cut above your average consumer packaging.
3. Freed from its prison I thought the display was a sticker unit...duh!...its an e-reader and they can put whatever they want on the default screen!
4. Initial boot up from cold start. Took about 90 seconds.
5. Loads into default random B&N author screensaver.
6. Waking up Nook for the first time displays the Welcome and registration screen.
7. Registering took all of about 20 seconds. Totally painless.
8. Success!
9. Take a tour?
10. Tour is simply a 10 page document on how to use the Nook along with graphics.
11. Default Home screen when you press the Nook button. My Nook button is more sensitive than the one I used in the B&N demo unit. That's a good thing.
12. Default books that come loaded on the Nook.
13. Go online, browse new content, specials listed at the bottom.
14. Library view, this time with Cover Flow on.
15. Off the Daily page, a small blog entry from B&N on your Nook. I like that on the Nook, the User Guide, and even the website that the tone is very casual and friendly.