NC is an awful reader

[Avenarius]

Originally Posted by TheJohnNewton

I agree the stock Nook Color PDF viewer is pretty poor so If for some reason you're unlucky enough to be stuck using a PDF then install a better PDF viewer but really the better solution is to not use PDF.

Unfortunately, I read a lot of technical articles and books that aren't available in any other format.

[t3l01v]

Originally Posted by volwrath

yeah but this entire post is just a bitch session.

If OP wants some help, just post some questions in the forums so we can help his NC experience

Not to participate in the mud slinging, but I have to agree with Volwrath. I see a lot of opinionated comments but nothing really to support them.

I'm a staunch iPhone/iPad/iOS supporter. And I _hate_ Apple.

This is my first experience in an Android environment. I've seen and messed with a LOT of eReaders, and the NC is by far the best I've seen. It supports WAY more formats than any other device. The OS is uncomfortable, but you can easily adjust to it.

I rooted for the first time a few days ago after having my device a whole month. My biggest fear was that I was going to get lost, and not be able to use the BN store or get my magazines automatically downloaded.

Just like anything else, you have to be willing to make the device work for you. I hated the original apps that came with rooting my NC. When I learned how to change them and configure the device to suit me, I was ten times happier with it.

I can read my sideloaded books, I can buy and view books from the BN store. All my downloaded comic books (CBR/CBZ) work fantastically. All my PDFs and Word docs look great too.

[t3l01v]

Oh! And to address the second quote- I had no clue what the hell I was doing. I posted questions here, got answers quick, and am having a fantastic experience. This is a great community.

[jhempel24]

Originally Posted by Avenarius

As far as I know, there's no way while reading epubs on a stock NC to hide the status bar at the bottom of the screen and the book information displayed at the top. This might be a minor issue for some, but I find it annoying. I think if an ereader is going to simulate a book, then there should be nothing on the screen except the actual text and maybe the page number.

Every eReader has a status bar of some sort.....just stick to paper books you'll be much happier, oh wait, those have book titles and page numbers cluttering up the page.

[Avenarius]

Originally Posted by SCION

I guess if someone doesn't use a computer then the device could be a stumbling block. What instructions do you need for these apps?

I don't know, maybe basic file management and the like? Many of these apps don't even tell you what the screen icons represent. It's basically tap and hope.

It sounds as if you have some personal limitations that prevent you from enjoying the device. It's evident by your statement "the device is hard to use once rooted". You took the time to post your rant, but didn't take the time to ask for help in overcoming your lack of knowledge?

I see no reason to get personal over criticism of a reading device. Rooting the NC creates an overlap between Android and Nook functions, which I would imagine can cause some degree of confusion even in those without *personal limitations.*

[Avenarius]

Originally Posted by jhempel24

Every eReader has a status bar of some sort.....

Using Aldiko, Adobe Reader, or basically any other pdf viewer on a rooted NC, nothing is displayed except the actual page of a pdf file - the status bar is hidden. There's no reason the stock device couldn't work the same way, or at least provide you with the option.

...just stick to paper books you'll be much happier, oh wait, those have book titles and page numbers cluttering up the page.

It's amazing how snarky some people can get simply over criticism of an ereader. Do you all work for B&N or what? I mean, if you don't think the criticisms I've made are legitimate, then why not just explain why you think they aren't legitimate rather than go ad hominem?

[slayda]

Originally Posted by Avenarius

As far as I know, there's no way while reading epubs on a stock NC to hide the status bar at the bottom of the screen and the book information displayed at the top. This might be a minor issue for some, but I find it annoying. I think if an ereader is going to simulate a book, then there should be nothing on the screen except the actual text and maybe the page number.

Every paper (fiction) book I have has a status bar at the bottom with the page number and at the top with author and book title.


Now What is a "universal" ereader?

IMO there is no such thing. They all have strengths & weaknesses. Not one can read all ebook formats. The best I've seen in that regard is the Hanlin family (i.e. Hanlin, iBook, lBook, Bebook, EZ Reader) with OpeninkPot firmware. Even it can not read DRMed formats of any kind.

I really like my EZ Reader with OpeninkPot & would love having that reading capability on the NC. But I have found my EZ Reader seems to stay on the self since I got the NC & have it rooted. It gives me more options for other non book-reading tasks. It is much more than a good reader.

Maybe someday there will be such a thing as a Universal Ereader but with world wide competition I doubt it. Everyone wants you (us) to only buy their ebooks so they use their own formats, creating the tower of ebabble.

Fortunately there are many helpful & curious folks that venture into the dangerous world of rooting and help the rest of us get there. They probably get more fun out of that than they do reading books. They make it easier for us to read books.

BTW I currently have a NC, EZ Reader, Cybook, and Kindle and I had a Sony reader but sold it. I also read on my Palm PDA and my Droid phone as well as my computer & the occasional paper book. I guess that tends to make me a 'universal reader'.

[jhempel24]

I do not work for B&N, and I am overly NOT fond of the employees, they give the company line, and can handle no question that isn't in their "book", it ticks me off.

I'm not talking about just the Nook....Sony has a status bar, Nook, Kindle....if it's rooted that's something different...I'm talking stock software too, not rooted.

Aldiko also has a chapter staus bar at the bottom....maybe 2.0 doesn't...I don't remember I went back to the earlier one because it wouldn't format my epubs correctly even using the Status sheets.

It just sounds like you didn't do your research before buying, and therefore are blaming the device for your shortcomings and expectations.

[jocampo]

Avenarius,

How good or bad a PDFs document displays depends on how they were made, instead of the software which you use to read those. Why? because the format itself. PDF was designed to display documents (not books) in the exact way they were created, "as is".

Right now, they are two good devices for reading PDFs: iPads and Kindle DX (because the size) But to be fair, just iPads can provide an "ok" experience and that's because third party applications, not just the iPad itself.

On my Galaxy Tab I use ThinkFree and is not too bad.

Sony devices are also good but the small screen size (compared to Kindle DX) is annoying; they do have great annotations and zoom capabilities though, not bad for an eink device.

Sorry for being honest but I think that you did not do your homework before buying the Nook Color.

[Avenarius]

Originally Posted by jocampo

How good or bad a PDFs document displays depends on how they were made, instead of the software which you use to read those....

Sorry for being honest but I think that you did not do your homework before buying the Nook Color.

Actually, its functionality as a pdf viewer was praised in every review I read. The problem is none of those reviews mentioned that there are a lot of pdfs the built-in Quickoffice viewer won't open.

It's really absurd that B&N didn't include Adobe Reader with the NC, given that AR is a free app and is much more functional than Quickoffice. I mean, why limit the pdf capabilities of the device when that is one of its main selling points over the Kindle? It makes no sense.

[Ohbjuan]

Wow, I love mine. No problems at all.