Classic Will they stop support of the Classic?

[RAH]

Originally Posted by pl001

If they don't bring back "go to last read page" or some other easy way to go back and forth from references I just may ditch the thing.

It's very irritating not to have that function anymore.

I agree that it is very annoying without it, although I am getting used to setting a bookmark before I do any searching.

This happens to me when I'm for example reading a novel where they've introduced a character early on and then haven't mentioned him in 300 pages, and then mention him again. I go to the beginning and do a search to find the first mention, to see who the hell he is. Then I need to get back to where I was reading. It used to be so much easier!

I kind of expect that function to be back with the next software update, although I don't have any info about it. Guess I'm just an optimist, and a lot of people have been complaining about its absence.

[jocampo]

In IT, there is a magic number for firmware upgrades or patches: five. In about 5 years (maybe less) usually the company starts pushing for a newest software, instead of continue upgrading the previous one. Examples: Ubuntu, Windows, MS-SQL, even Oracle.

For ereaders which are hardware with software on top of them, time is even more critical. You can upgrade the firmware, but no way to do the same with the hardware.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by RAH

-will e-ink devices continue to be made and improved, or will the LCD color screens take over? .

Actually, I think both will continue their development without one taking over. They will, in my opinion, evolve at parallel. They are totally different technologies for different markets.

[KDawg]

My bet is they converge on something like a Pixel Qi: fast, easy color that can be read with a backlight or outdoors.

[IrishEyes]

I assume there will be a new e-ink nook for next Christmas that will put the K3 to shame plus a nice upgrade for the nook1 (that is meant to reassure us they are not abandoning it but then they will stop support a few months later).

I didn't want to wait that long so I bought now. The nook does everything I want it to. Sure it's a bit bigger and heavier than the K3 but I love love love the touchscreen even though it's an energy hog. I only plan on storing a couple hundred books on there at a time and nook bookshelves does a good job of organizing that many. Calibre is where I store my books permanently.

There will always be a place for dedicated e-ink readers. Most of us have computers, laptops, and smart phones already; we don't need another device to send email or browse the internet. Millions of us just want a device that mimics paper, that will store and organize a large amount of books easily, and will allow us to look up words, take notes and maybe allow us to take part in book club discussions online.

Some people want color tablets but a lot of us don't. We don't buy the nook or K3 because it is cheaper, we buy it because we can read the type easier.

[Shades]

Originally Posted by IrishEyes

Some people want color tablets but a lot of us don't. We don't buy the nook or K3 because it is cheaper, we buy it because we can read the type easier.

Exactly. E-Ink and color LCD are two different markets really. A consumer that wants a like-paper screen to read books off of will not go and buy a nook Color. When I got my nook classic, I saw the ads for the then upcoming nook color, but I disregarded them since I wanted a paper like screen. If I wanted to read off of a portable LCD screen, I already have a laptop for that too.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by IrishEyes

I assume there will be a new e-ink nook for next Christmas ...

I'm waiting to see what they come out with. I hope it's touchscreen like the Sony models. Since they have the NOOKcolor now they might get rid of the LCD at the bottom. I just want the user interface to be more natural. In addition to not being visually appealing (to me), I found maneuvering to be awkward.

If NOOK 2 doesn't capture my interest, I'll return to Sony and get a 950. I'm guaranteed tag/collection recognition for my epubs. I don't want to have to root a NOOK as well.

[jhempel24]

Yeah we'll see. I think the navigation on the Nook is pretty user-friendly, and I love the LCD at the bottom. I think having a design that's unlike the others is still beneficial. I'm just wondering if they will even do a Nook 2 eInk if Nook Color stays doing as well.

[RAH]

I'm not a big fan of the touch screen at the bottom. I do love the swipe page turning, but trying to get a long list to scroll up and down is absolutely murder. If you swipe too fast you fly by the entry you want, too slow and you don't get to it. Plus, you cannot swipe the scroll bar itself - you must swipe within the text entries. So if you're not really careful, you'll PICK an item instead of scrolling the screen. Drives me crazy. If the main panel was scrollable, it would eliminate many of these problems.

I am wondering, however - can an e-ink screen have touch-sensitivity like the Color Nook and the iPad? Perhaps the display technology of e-ink makes it not possible? Anyone know?

If it is possible, I'd much rather have one big screen, especially when they come out with color e-ink.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by RAH

I am wondering, however - can an e-ink screen have touch-sensitivity like the Color Nook and the iPad? Perhaps the display technology of e-ink makes it not possible? Anyone know?
.

No. Not om the same way LCD screens works.

The current eink touch-screens use laser technology. The position of your finger on the screen will stop or block those laser beams and that's how the device can know your position.

Because eink does not have same supports layers (and order) than LCD, they can't rely on same detection technology.

There are tons of resources explaining the concept, it is quite interesting, but you can find some good info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_Ink

[jhempel24]

don't the new sony's have some sort of touch screen capability

[SCION]

Originally Posted by RAH

I'm not a big fan of the touch screen at the bottom. I do love the swipe page turning, but trying to get a long list to scroll up and down is absolutely murder. If you swipe too fast you fly by the entry you want, too slow and you don't get to it. Plus, you cannot swipe the scroll bar itself - you must swipe within the text entries. So if you're not really careful, you'll PICK an item instead of scrolling the screen. Drives me crazy. If the main panel was scrollable, it would eliminate many of these problems.

I am wondering, however - can an e-ink screen have touch-sensitivity like the Color Nook and the iPad? Perhaps the display technology of e-ink makes it not possible? Anyone know?

If it is possible, I'd much rather have one big screen, especially when they come out with color e-ink.

The new Sony models (350, 650, 950) are touchscreen eink that don't sacrifice clairity (as the previous generation did). I hope the NOOK 2 is something similar. I was ready to buy the Sony 950 for $299, but I stumbled upon the NOOKcolor when I visited the B&N website. Would consider buying the Sony if the price comes down to $199 and no NOOK2 of interest.

[RAH]

Thanks for the info, folks!