Classic How does Nook compare to other e-readers in these aspects?

Sylver · 05-06-2010, 10:42 AM

Hi, I have been shopping for an e-reader for a while and Nook was initially not in the list (I wanted something that has native support for both simplified and traditional Chinese and I really don't like the touch screen thing that much). But I saw a nook in BestBuy yesterday and immediately fell in love with the screen - the contrast and the paperlike feel of these black & white author portraits on the screen is unbelievable. I compared side by side with a Sony PRS 300 which some say has the best screen contrast, Nook still looks a little better. Now I am leaning towards getting a nook, however, I hope someone can help me with these questions: 1. Nook, especially with the touch screen, looks a little bit more on the delicate side, I know this is not a frisbee, but for normal daily use (carrying in the packpacks, etc), is it more fragile than other e-readers? 2. Again, due to the touch screen, is it draining the battery significantly faster than other e-readers? how long does one charge last if wireless is off? Some say 2 or 3 days (that is kind of disappointing as the spec says 10 days), can I totally turn the touch screen off and still be able to navigate through the pages? 3. can Nook be used as a web browser at home wireless connection? I dont expect flash will be working, but just browsing news or forums, is it workable? Many thanks. Asthetics wise, I do think Nook is the best looking (and seems best ease on the eyes) e-reader out there, and I plan to do some research on making it support Chinese.

mgmueller · 05-06-2010, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylver

Hi, I have been shopping for an e-reader for a while and Nook was initially not in the list (I wanted something that has native support for both simplified and traditional Chinese and I really don't like the touch screen thing that much). But I saw a nook in BestBuy yesterday and immediately fell in love with the screen - the contrast and the paperlike feel of these black & white author portraits on the screen is unbelievable. I compared side by side with a Sony PRS 300 which some say has the best screen contrast, Nook still looks a little better. Now I am leaning towards getting a nook, however, I hope someone can help me with these questions: 1. Nook, especially with the touch screen, looks a little bit more on the delicate side, I know this is not a frisbee, but for normal daily use (carrying in the packpacks, etc), is it more fragile than other e-readers? 2. Again, due to the touch screen, is it draining the battery significantly faster than other e-readers? how long does one charge last if wireless is off? Some say 2 or 3 days (that is kind of disappointing as the spec says 10 days), can I totally turn the touch screen off and still be able to navigate through the pages? 3. can Nook be used as a web browser at home wireless connection? I dont expect flash will be working, but just browsing news or forums, is it workable? Many thanks. Asthetics wise, I do think Nook is the best looking (and seems best ease on the eyes) e-reader out there, and I plan to do some research on making it support Chinese.

I rank nook in my top 5, I can recommend it.

Concerning your questions:
The ePaper-Scren is more fragile than the touchscreen. In my opinion, no bigger risk for nook than for, let's say, Kindle or Sony.
If you use the touchscreen intensively, for example (theoretically, this can be done) for surfing the web, it drains the battery way faster. But if you just use the touchscreen for managing the content, it's not much of a difference.
You can use nook for browsing the web. With firmware 1.3, this even is a regular implementation. Before, it was a 3rd party hack. I wouldn't expect too much. The LCD screen is too small for surfing the web, the ePpaper display is too slow. It's okay for briefly checking Wikipedia or something like that. But I wouldn't surf intensively. In direct comparison, surfing makes more sense on Alex (similar unit with bigger LCD and syncing between the 2 screens).

Sylver · 05-06-2010, 12:27 PM

Thanks a lot for your input.

scrollert · 05-06-2010, 02:46 PM

I've had a nook for about 3 months - I have a sister with a Sony pocket and a friend with a Kindle (original - not the later ones). I don't think the Nook is particularly fragile, however some individuals have had problems with some of the buttons cracking. I've seen nothing like that though.

My battery life is 5 to 7 days with 2 or 3 hours of reading a day. I have the touchscreen set to go dim at 10 seconds, and usually use the touch screen for turning pages (the "swiping" feature - which only works with the touch screen dark).

You can definitely use the web browser on a home wifi connection. I use it for simple stuff - looking up a word or a historical reference. Mobile sites tend to look a lot better than standard ones.

Finally check around the nookdevs area - there are people who have "soft rooted" their nook and used it for other languages, but I can't help there - I've just seen some of the messages.

Anyway, I'm very happy with my Nook.

Sylver · 05-06-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrollert

Anyway, I'm very happy with my Nook.

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I really like the screen contrast on the nook, to me, that is the most important thing for an e-reader, as its primary function is - a reader.

Joykins · 05-13-2010, 08:25 PM

As far as fragility, I suggest buying a nice padded case for it, you can get the kind that zips shut. It can stand a being moved around that way; I wouldn't throw it at concrete or anything but it can take being tossed lightly onto a sofa or something in the case.

riemann42 · 05-13-2010, 11:03 PM

I can attest to it breaking when tossing it at concrete. Don't do it. Buy the $70 warranty.

Rich_D · 05-14-2010, 12:39 PM

I recharge mine every Saturday and I read an average of 2 hours a day. I carry mine in a backpack to and from work, at first I just used a cloth bag to protect from scratches, but now I have an industriell cover - no issues. I don't use my touchscreen much - only to navigate to the book I'm reading and maybe to check the B&N store. I've tried the web browser and in a pinch to check email or google something, it's o.k. but beyond that I don't use it. Heavy browsing or touchscreen use does impact battery life.

bleugh · 05-14-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riemann42

I can attest to it breaking when tossing it at concrete. Don't do it. Buy the $70 warranty.

Yep, these e-paper screens are fragile, you wouldn't even know the nook had been dropped!, just an ever so slight stress crack on one side of the broken e-ink display!

Joykins · 05-17-2010, 03:51 PM

I would treat it as a laptop--if it's in an nice, padded case it can take some jostling but it won't take a jarring crash. Don't step on it. Don't put it next to your rocking chair, wiggle around a bit and rock. (I lost a laptop screen that way...)

boswd · 05-21-2010, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylver

Thanks for the input. Yeah, I really like the screen contrast on the nook, to me, that is the most important thing for an e-reader, as its primary function is - a reader.

yeah the screen contrast is remarkable. On my way home the sun was shining right the train window directly on the Nook and hte background seemed to get whiter and the text seemed to get darker and sharper.

This really is an unbelievable e-reader. gorgous screen.

05-06-2010, 10:42 AM	#1
Sylver Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 40 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: The Nook, iPad	How does Nook compare to other e-readers in these aspects? Hi, I have been shopping for an e-reader for a while and Nook was initially not in the list (I wanted something that has native support for both simplified and traditional Chinese and I really don't like the touch screen thing that much). But I saw a nook in BestBuy yesterday and immediately fell in love with the screen - the contrast and the paperlike feel of these black & white author portraits on the screen is unbelievable. I compared side by side with a Sony PRS 300 which some say has the best screen contrast, Nook still looks a little better. Now I am leaning towards getting a nook, however, I hope someone can help me with these questions: 1. Nook, especially with the touch screen, looks a little bit more on the delicate side, I know this is not a frisbee, but for normal daily use (carrying in the packpacks, etc), is it more fragile than other e-readers? 2. Again, due to the touch screen, is it draining the battery significantly faster than other e-readers? how long does one charge last if wireless is off? Some say 2 or 3 days (that is kind of disappointing as the spec says 10 days), can I totally turn the touch screen off and still be able to navigate through the pages? 3. can Nook be used as a web browser at home wireless connection? I dont expect flash will be working, but just browsing news or forums, is it workable? Many thanks. Asthetics wise, I do think Nook is the best looking (and seems best ease on the eyes) e-reader out there, and I plan to do some research on making it support Chinese.

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05-06-2010, 12:27 PM	#3
Sylver Addict Posts: 234 Karma: 40 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: The Nook, iPad	Thanks a lot for your input.

05-06-2010, 02:46 PM	#4
scrollert Junior Member Posts: 6 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2010 Device: B&N Nook	I've had a nook for about 3 months - I have a sister with a Sony pocket and a friend with a Kindle (original - not the later ones). I don't think the Nook is particularly fragile, however some individuals have had problems with some of the buttons cracking. I've seen nothing like that though. My battery life is 5 to 7 days with 2 or 3 hours of reading a day. I have the touchscreen set to go dim at 10 seconds, and usually use the touch screen for turning pages (the "swiping" feature - which only works with the touch screen dark). You can definitely use the web browser on a home wifi connection. I use it for simple stuff - looking up a word or a historical reference. Mobile sites tend to look a lot better than standard ones. Finally check around the nookdevs area - there are people who have "soft rooted" their nook and used it for other languages, but I can't help there - I've just seen some of the messages. Anyway, I'm very happy with my Nook.

05-13-2010, 08:25 PM	#6
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	As far as fragility, I suggest buying a nice padded case for it, you can get the kind that zips shut. It can stand a being moved around that way; I wouldn't throw it at concrete or anything but it can take being tossed lightly onto a sofa or something in the case.

05-13-2010, 11:03 PM	#7
riemann42 Zealot Posts: 121 Karma: 506 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Spokane, WA Device: eSlick,nook	I can attest to it breaking when tossing it at concrete. Don't do it. Buy the $70 warranty.

05-14-2010, 12:39 PM	#8
Rich_D Fanatic Posts: 581 Karma: 1314896 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA Device: Android phone, Kobo Glo HD, nook ST with Glo (backup)	I recharge mine every Saturday and I read an average of 2 hours a day. I carry mine in a backpack to and from work, at first I just used a cloth bag to protect from scratches, but now I have an industriell cover - no issues. I don't use my touchscreen much - only to navigate to the book I'm reading and maybe to check the B&N store. I've tried the web browser and in a pinch to check email or google something, it's o.k. but beyond that I don't use it. Heavy browsing or touchscreen use does impact battery life.

05-17-2010, 03:51 PM	#10
Joykins Wizard Posts: 1,609 Karma: 9211856 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindle Oasis 2018, kindle 4 NT, kindle PW2, iPhone, iPad mini	I would treat it as a laptop--if it's in an nice, padded case it can take some jostling but it won't take a jarring crash. Don't step on it. Don't put it next to your rocking chair, wiggle around a bit and rock. (I lost a laptop screen that way...)

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