Will there be a new eInk nook?

[boswd]

Originally Posted by apastuszak

I have both in my house. The eInk Pearl gets you more than battery life. The contrast is way better and the screen is faster. Put both screens side by side and the pearl just looks better.

Sony's new reader also has an eInk Pearl display. I think they need a Pearl reader, or the nook is going to look like a second class citizen in Best Buy when people compare it to the Sony or Kindle.

Even the Best Buy Sales guy can't tell the difference in the pearl screen, I've thrown the updated nook against the kindles Pearl Screen and I have to tell you the Pearl Screen is THE most overated spec. Bar NONE, Pearl screen was slightly better but by a hair and how all the Kindlebots rave about it as if we just put Man on Mars as this ooohh sooo fantastic innovation is mind boggling.

Let's all these Pearl screen junkies shoot back down from the moon, it's a slightly better contrast, THAT'S IT.

And if Eink doesn't do something dramatic and soon all these tablets coming out will swallow it up.

[RAH]

Originally Posted by boswd

And if Eink doesn't do something dramatic and soon all these tablets coming out will swallow it up.

I'm not so sure. I think a lot of people (like me!) still see the value of an e-ink screen for simple reading, as with novels. I think it is indicative that Amazon has not come out with a back-lit color Kindle. Surely if they were worried about e-ink's demise, they'd be introducing a Color Nook competitor. (Now watch, they'll bring one out next week! )

[apastuszak]

I put my wife's nook next to my Kindle, and the nook looks a little washed out compared to the Kindle. You may think it's overrated, but I can see the difference.

The big reason why I think we need a new eInk nook is battery life. My wife is getting 2-3 days on the thing. 5 at the most. My Kindle gets me about 3 weeks with wifi on.

Don't get me wrong. I love the nook. I wish my Kindle did ePub. But an eInk nook with perl and better battery life is needed to compete against what's out there now.

[faithbw]

I looked at the screen of the nook, kindle and Sony readers and I can't really tell the difference between them. Maybe I need to look at them side by side to see the difference. Besides the weight, battery life and maybe the lack of a touchscreen, I'm not sure what else B&N can do to make the classic Nook better. B&N seems really focused on the Nook Color too. So I'm not holding my breath for a new Nook eInk ereader anytime soon.

[Zarich]

The difference is more than just contrast. If you look at the pearl screen it looks more like the words are on top of the screen unlike the nook where they look like they are under. Also the nook needs a non glossy non sunk screen. They also need to remove the heading to give themselves more screen realestate and they need to make it so you don't have to slowly load to change fonts.

[bZkindle]

Originally Posted by boswd

Even the Best Buy Sales guy can't tell the difference in the pearl screen, I've thrown the updated nook against the kindles Pearl Screen and I have to tell you the Pearl Screen is THE most overated spec. Bar NONE, Pearl screen was slightly better but by a hair and how all the Kindlebots rave about it as if we just put Man on Mars as this ooohh sooo fantastic innovation is mind boggling.

Let's all these Pearl screen junkies shoot back down from the moon, it's a slightly better contrast, THAT'S IT.

And if Eink doesn't do something dramatic and soon all these tablets coming out will swallow it up.

You're crazy! The pearl display has amazingly better contrast.
As someone with both pearl and non-pearl, I can tell you it's an incredible difference.
As far as tablets swallowing up eink, that's what they said when the ipad was announced. Hasn't happened has it?

[RAH]

Originally Posted by bZkindle

As far as tablets swallowing up eink, that's what they said when the ipad was announced. Hasn't happened has it?

I agree that tablets will not swallow up eink, but I think it is too early to say that we can gauge it because it hasn't happened yet. I mean, the iPad hasn't been out all that long, and in the life-cycle of the various eink devices, none were due for a hardware update while iPad was being established. In other words, we'll know better when/if new models of eink devices start to appear.

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by bZkindle

You're crazy! The pearl display has amazingly better contrast.
As someone with both pearl and non-pearl, I can tell you it's an incredible difference.

Do you have the Nook 1.5? I ask because that screen is absolutely amazing! Not quite as good as my pearl ink Sony 350 (that many says is one of, if not the best screens you can have), but the difference is not too obvious once in "reading mode" (when looking at images the difference is more obvious, but that's not what I want an e-ink device for).

Not all e-ink screens are the same. And even if the hardware is the same, apparently the software matters as well, because the Nook 1.5 is significantly better than the earlier firmware versions.

[bZkindle]

Originally Posted by Asawi

Do you have the Nook 1.5? I ask because that screen is absolutely amazing! Not quite as good as my pearl ink Sony 350 (that many says is one of, if not the best screens you can have), but the difference is not too obvious once in "reading mode" (when looking at images the difference is more obvious, but that's not what I want an e-ink device for).

Not all e-ink screens are the same. And even if the hardware is the same, apparently the software matters as well, because the Nook 1.5 is significantly better than the earlier firmware versions.

No I don't have one. I probably would if I didn't have to jump through hoops to try to order it in my country.
My understanding is that both kindles and nooks screens are both made by the same manufacturer, Eink:
http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_nook.html
http://www.eink.com/customer_showcase_kindle.html

I'm sure Nook will be using a pearl display the next time out.
I don't think they'll be abandoning eink anytime soon.

[jhempel24]

I don't think the pearl has that much more contrast. I compared them side by side....and really the difference is marginal

[Asawi]

It would be great with a Nook with better battery life than the present. And maybe a bit slimmer as well.
I'm one of those that absolutely want an e-ink device for book reading. Not only becuse they are book like, but also because I frequently take trips away from electrical outlets for days. I wouldn't mind it being a Nook, because I have to say they did very well with the current one!

[boswd]

Originally Posted by jhempel24

I don't think the pearl has that much more contrast. I compared them side by side....and really the difference is marginal

marginal at best

[bZkindle]

Originally Posted by boswd

marginal at best

well, they do claim it has 50% better contrast.
I believe it.
Just looking at them side by side in a store or whatever doesn't really cut it; you need to spend some time reading on them.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by bZkindle

well, they do claim it has 50% better contrast.
I believe it.
Just looking at them side by side in a store or whatever doesn't really cut it; you need to spend some time reading on them.

so "on paper" cuts it but real life experience doesn't?

how long do you have to stare at the Kindle 3 before it becomes the most amazing piece of technology known to man?

It's screen is either head and shoulders above the nook or it isn't, and trust me it isnt'.

I apologize for sounding a bit snarky but it just that we keep hearing at how great the Pearl Screen is and that the nook uses old tech. it just boggles my mind. For one, improving contrast ratio is not the latest and greatest technology and two after v1.5 on the nook the difference is minimal at best.. Now don't get me wrong the Pearl Screen is a nice improvment but the nooks screen is on par with it. No doubt.

You don't need anymore than just a few minutes to see.

[Asawi]

As I have said before:
I have the Classic Nook and Sony PRS-350 with pearl ink.
I can pick up either and read with pleasure. If the Nook was noticeably worse I would not use it. I do use it.
The difference is surprisingly small, and when saying the pearl ink is so-so much better, make sure you're actually comparing it to a Nook 1.5. It's NOT just the hardawre (pearl or not) that matters, but also the software behind it (just compare Nook 1.? and 1.5 and see the improvement).
I have semi-poor eyesight and screeen clarity is of huge imprtance to me. The Nook really surprised me with it's quality!