Thinking of a Nook Color

[Catsnkites]

My husband bought me a Nook eInk for Christmas and I love it! I love checking out books from the library and I like the versatility of getting books from several sites.

Here's my problem .... husband loves it, too. Now he wants one. Which is fine ... but he's willing to get ME a Nook Color and he'll take my eInk.

Cool, huh?

So .... the whole reason I didn't get a NC to begin with is because I thought the eye strain with the back light would be hard. We don't have a B&N nearby and I was checking these out at the local Best Buy ... Judging from posts, the backlight is not really a big deal as the colors can be changed and the brightness adjusted. Probably should have gotten myself over to B&N in the next town to actually check this out .... but live and learn....

I assume everything I do on my Nook eInk, I can do on a Color .... library books, buy books from several retailers ...

If I've bought books from B&N, can I put them on the new device? If I use ADE, will I be able to side load all my books there, too?

And one more question, if I fall asleep reading it, does it also "sleep" like the eInk ...

Should I take him up on the offer, or just let him get another eInk?

I would most likely NOT root ... if that makes a difference ....

thanks!

[tubemonkey]

Hi, and welcome to the board.

I have both a Nook Color and a Kindle 3. I got the Color to replace my netbook when I travel. I use it to surf the web, do the email thing, watch videos, and read library books. I use the Kindle to read books.

Initially, I was unhappy with the brightness levels of the Color. They wouldn't go low enough for me so I refused to read books on it. My eyes are fairly sensitive and reading on backlit screens really bothers me unless I can get the background levels really low. The latest upgrade partially addressed this issue for me. You can now adjust the levels really low, but only if you do so by using the controls inside the reading app. They didn't fix the levels outside of the app, so they're still too bright for me. I hope they fix it soon, but at least I can now read books on it.

You can do library books, B&N books, books from other sources, the ADE thing, etc.

Your previous B&N purchases will show up if you register the Color on your Nook account. In fact, by keeping both devices on the same account, they can both share the same books.

I don't know about the sleep mode, because I never let it get to that point. Hopefully, someone else can answer that for you.

One thing to keep in mind about switching to the Color is its weight. Its heavy. By way of contrast:

• Nook Color = 15.8 oz
• Nook WF = 11.6 oz
• Kindle 3 WF = 8.5 oz

Add the weight of a quality cover and it's even heavier. Some people don't mind this, but others do.

If all you want to do is read books, is it really worth the added weight and additional $100?

But if you want to use its color features for magazines, newspapers, and children's books or its tablet features to surf the net, post on forums, do your email, pay your bills, watch movies, etc; then I'd say go for it. It's an excellent Android tablet.

If you can, do a side-by-side and hold it for awhile to get a feel for its weight. Also, read on it and adjust the brightness levels to see if your eyes are happy with the backlit display.

Bottom line: for straight reading, I still prefer eInk. Its easier on the the eyes and great for reading in harsh light with no glare. OTOH, a tablet like the Color can do so much more, if its feature set is something you need. After all, the Color is a 7" computer.

Good luck and feel free to ask more questions.

[iandix]

Originally Posted by Catsnkites

My husband bought me a Nook eInk for Christmas and I love it! I love checking out books from the library and I like the versatility of getting books from several sites.

Here's my problem .... husband loves it, too. Now he wants one. Which is fine ... but he's willing to get ME a Nook Color and he'll take my eInk.

Cool, huh?

So .... the whole reason I didn't get a NC to begin with is because I thought the eye strain with the back light would be hard. We don't have a B&N nearby and I was checking these out at the local Best Buy ... Judging from posts, the backlight is not really a big deal as the colors can be changed and the brightness adjusted. Probably should have gotten myself over to B&N in the next town to actually check this out .... but live and learn....

I assume everything I do on my Nook eInk, I can do on a Color .... library books, buy books from several retailers ...

If I've bought books from B&N, can I put them on the new device? If I use ADE, will I be able to side load all my books there, too?

And one more question, if I fall asleep reading it, does it also "sleep" like the eInk ...

I had an eye infection a few years ago, so do have a few problems with my eyes. But I find reading on the NC fine, plus I can adjust the brightness down pretty low to a point where it's too dark to see things.

I rooted mine so I could install a different reader that allows what they call night reading ..black screen white writing ... in the dark room ..it's very easy to read with. I read for hours on the NC without any problems and I have a e-ink that I use less and less.

you can side-load your adobe DRM books without any problem using ADE or Calibre and yes it reads B&N DRM books as well, if you have purchased them on your B&N account they will appear when you register the reader :-) and yes you can also read library books.

the screen will go to sleep and uses very little battery power when it is asleep.

[waffleman]

Originally Posted by iandix

I rooted mine so I could install a different reader that allows what they call night reading ..black screen white writing ... in the dark room ..it's very easy to read with. I read for hours on the NC without any problems and I have a e-ink that I use less and less.

You didn't need to root the NC for night reading. It has had night reading mode from day of release (IE when reading a book, tap bottom of screen, then tap "text").

Regarding the OP's question:

The NC goes to sleep after a few minutes. You can change the setting to 2, 5, 15 minutes or 1 hour.

I've had absolutely no issues with eye strain. I will adjust the contrast depending on light condition. The darker the room, the lower the contrast I'll use.

My opinion for you is to get the NC for versability. I don't think you'll regret the decision.

[Lastblade]

I have both, and if you spend over 90% of the time reading with good lighting, then Kindle/Nook Classic is all you need. If, however, you do a lot of night reading and don't like book lights like me,t hen NColor is perfect. I know you said you don't want to root, but it is so easy with the autonooter, and it allows you far more flexibility (different reader/pdf programs, comic reader, etc) that it is really worth the 1/2 hour to do.

[jbcohen]

Hay tube monkey how would you compare your Nook Color to your Kindle 3? Not only which is better than the other but what features does the Kindle have that the Nook Color does not and what features does the Nook Color have that the Kindle 3 does not? If one cost more than the other does the more expensive one warrant its price?

[deborahjeanne]

I have considered the nook classic a few times, but every time I tried it (admittedly very briefly) I found the little touch screen at the bottom annoying, and I kept trying to use the rest of it as a touch screen as well. If you are used to that, then that's half the battle.

As to the weight, the color is heavier, but I find the weight more evenly distributed and so more comfortable than the classic where most of the weight seems to be at one end. (to me)

I can adjust the lighting so it is comfortable to read, but I do find when I read on e-ink it "feels" more like a book. I read a lot at night when my husband is sleeping though, so the backlit screen is useful for me. I would seriously considered the classic if it wasn't for my issues with the touch screen. I may even take another look at it.

[SCION]

Originally Posted by waffleman

You didn't need to root the NC for night reading. It has had night reading mode from day of release (IE when reading a book, tap bottom of screen, then tap "text").

...

I believe he and many others prefer a "traditional" night reading mode with white on black (not dark gray). It would be better if you could choose the color of text and background. The choices are surprisingly limited compared to ereader apps like Aldiko, Moon+, CoolReader, etc.

[travfar]

I have a Nook Color and a Kindle 2. I use the Nook for reading and the Kindle for web browsing. LCDs are easy on the eyes and E-Ink gives me a headache in a few minutes. I'm very pleased with the Nook Color for $128. I would get rid of the Kindle 2 if it wasn't for the free web access.

[boswd]

Hi Cat, I like you was also skeptical about reading novels on the nook color. I originally bought one simply as a cheaper alternative to surf the web and reading magazines and books that had pictures etc.

I was shocked at how quickley I not adapted but how very little I was initially i was affected by the lcd screen. I own both and I the nook color has become my primary ereader.

I do love having both though, when the weather warms up and I'm outdoors reading, my nook eink will be there. But overall the User Interface, the features and the sharp crispness of the text makes the nook ereader at least IMHO, the best ereader on the market. 4 months ago I would have not have said that, I was clearly in the eink corner and scoffed at the Ipad etc. Not anymore.


but to answer your questions

1. yes the nook color does go to sleep and you can customize it's time out period
2. In order to keep the same books on your nook color that you have already purchased on your nook eink, you just register your nook color on the same account as the nook eink.

Now if you husband keeps the nook eink, he'll have two options.
1. Stay on your account, this will give you both access and the ability to share your entire library with each other. Big Plus but it can expose how much and on what each spend on your respective books.
IOW's You can use up to 5 devices on one account. So your nook color and the nook eink would be two devices, a smartphone would be 3 so on and so on.

2. He can unregister the nook eink and create his own separate account.

I hope this helps and good luck.

I myself, just love them both and I do truely believe they are the best overall ereaders available.

[Grimm]

I'd go for the Nook Color without thinking twice! I've had the the e-ink Nook and the Kindle 3, I prefer the Nook Color hands down.

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by jbcohen

Hay tube monkey how would you compare your Nook Color to your Kindle 3? Not only which is better than the other but what features does the Kindle have that the Nook Color does not and what features does the Nook Color have that the Kindle 3 does not? If one cost more than the other does the more expensive one warrant its price?

Not tubemonkey here but I also have had both of these and would take the Nook Color over the Kindle 3 again without hesitation. It's so ridiculously versatile I love it. Even with all the extra bells and whistles I totally think it is indeed worth the extra cash.

What does the Kindle 3 have over the Nook Color? Battery life and it's lighter. As far as I'm concerned, that's it. No, I don't not consider e-ink better than LCD so I don't see it as a win for the Kindle 3.

As for what the Nook Color has over the Kindle, well, to many to list, the device is awesome.

Oh, and no crappy push button keyboard like on the Kindle 3

[orb9220]

Yep was turned off by the clickety-click buttons and the in the way keyboard of the kindle line. Went with a nook classic and what a gem. as didn't even use the buttons on it but used page swipe on color lcd at the bottom. And was a great little device. But the downside was textbooks,pdf's and magazines were clunky and no color. The browser left something else to be desired. If all you do is read paperbacks then it is a great device. Also if a lot of reading outside,traveling or camping then would have one just for that.

But the Nook Color does take me to the next level and rooting it to the next level after that. Now can read magazines,technical manuals, Surfing the web,email is a breeze. Can watch movies or listen to music and is a more general all around use device. The negative of course is battery life as am having to charge everyday when using games,video or a lot of web surfing. To once ever 2 or 3 days if I am mostly reading.

But now with a rooted nook color. I have weather,google street,Notebook,Journal,Notepad,Calendar,More games and many specialized apps to chose from. In other words now have a functioning tablet. Which means no need for netbook,laptop,ipad as this little gem does it all that I require of it.
.
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[Care]

Because we are all different with lcd eye strain, I would suggest getting a NOOKcolor and testing it out. At B&N you have 14 days to return it and at Best Buy you have 30 days. That way if it does strain your eyes you can return it and get the Nook Classic.

I find my eyes do get strained sometimes, but I have very light sensitive eyes. I can read for a couple hours comfortably with the NC though and I did read a book in one night after buying it, but I had one heck of a headache after. My eyes could have been strained even if I used my Classic Nook since I read until 4:30 am.

[jocampo]

If you don't read Magazines, Photographic Manuals or anything with color (most of the time) I see no reason for a Nook Color. Any eink device can do exactly the same using less battery, lighter and even less expensive.

A novel or short tale will read exactly the same on both, so besides a browser there is no advantage at all (please understand that I am giving my statement based on pure text books only, again, novels and similar)

I had issues reading with the Nook Color, one of the reason why I returned it. Changing the contrast did nothing in order to improve that.

Get another e-ink!

@deborahjeanne:
If you don't like the Nook classic mini touch screen, you should check a Sony or Kindle 3. They have better eink technology thank Nook and they are really good pieces of software, besides extremely good battery life.