Nook color: who bought one?

[aagstn]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've had a go at the nook color and I am seriously underwhelmed by it.

The web browsers is awful. I connected to Mobileread and when you try to search, you tap the field to start typing in and when the onscreen keyboard pops up, the field closes and you cannot type in it. Also, I managed to download and ePub so I could try out the reader and after the ePub downloaded and I tried to open it, I was told the nook color didn't know what to do with it. Also, scrolling the screen seemed a bit choppy/slow. The iPad has nothing to worry about for sure.

As web browser competition I agree. However, I would hope a device that costs $500 would have a bit better web browser.

[eGeezer]

Originally Posted by exvaxman

...OK for a general user, not for a power user...

Uh. Define "power user".

Its an ereader. You load books, you read them. As an ereader, the only "power use" needed is how many hours you spend during the day reading.

[Tess89]

I hope no one buys it thinking they are going to get a smaller version of the Ipad. Unfortunately some media outlets have overhyped it as such. When reading articles about the NC, the fact that the device is primarily an e-reader usually gets buried so writers can gush about everything else it is capable of. But the fact is that video-playing and web-browing on the Nook isn't without its limitations and frustrations. I imagine for some those limitations will be hard to accept. They would be better off saving up $250 more for a Blackberry Playbook next year. Those things aside, I'd say that as an e-reader the Nook is excellent.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've had a go at the nook color and I am seriously underwhelmed by it.

The web browsers is awful. I connected to Mobileread and when you try to search, you tap the field to start typing in and when the onscreen keyboard pops up, the field closes and you cannot type in it. Also, I managed to download and ePub so I could try out the reader and after the ePub downloaded and I tried to open it, I was told the nook color didn't know what to do with it. Also, scrolling the screen seemed a bit choppy/slow. The iPad has nothing to worry about for sure.

Hmmm you didn't like a nook product, that's a shocker

[boswd]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've had a go at the nook color and I am seriously underwhelmed by it.

The web browsers is awful. I connected to Mobileread and when you try to search, you tap the field to start typing in and when the onscreen keyboard pops up, the field closes and you cannot type in it. Also, I managed to download and ePub so I could try out the reader and after the ePub downloaded and I tried to open it, I was told the nook color didn't know what to do with it. Also, scrolling the screen seemed a bit choppy/slow. The iPad has nothing to worry about for sure.

I'm calling total BS on this post. I just went into mobileread.com,on the nook color, page came up in under 5 seconds from web launching to website, typed in a couple of "searches" keyboard did NOT disappear or anything like you claim.
How is the web browser awful? I have a solid wi fi connection and pages load up fast.

You downloaded an epub book ? From where? Don't epub books have to be sideloaded?

please I have about 400 epub books on my device.

You are a pretty well known nook, well i can't say troll, so I guess Bn hater. Did you lose a job there or something?

[SCION]

Can't stop laughing. *eyes watering*

[Grimm]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I've had a go at the nook color and I am seriously underwhelmed by it.

The web browsers is awful. I connected to Mobileread and when you try to search, you tap the field to start typing in and when the onscreen keyboard pops up, the field closes and you cannot type in it. Also, I managed to download and ePub so I could try out the reader and after the ePub downloaded and I tried to open it, I was told the nook color didn't know what to do with it. Also, scrolling the screen seemed a bit choppy/slow. The iPad has nothing to worry about for sure.

That's very odd, my browser works fine and I can type in the fields at this site no problem on it.

[Rebo]

I do not have a problem with typing om this site; in fact, I'm typying this reponse on my NC. I do have problems with FB but I work around it using the mobile version of FB. There are of course a lot of improvement that they can make, like introducing arrow keys to allow you to navigate the text to correct or edig mistakes.
It is also sometimes annoying that you have to scroll all the way up to find the back button and there is no forward button. I learned a way from another forum is to open a pdf file before surfing the web. Thr reading button will show up. By pressing it, the back button and another buton will show up. By pressing thr other button will let go to another memu that shows option for back, forward, refresh and new window. I found that very helpful.

[ebookrights]

Hi,

I am looking to buy a Nook Color but I am still on the fence. I'm a college student but in engineering so I don't really read too much at the moment but I used to read a lot back in the day so I am looking to get back into reading so an ebook is appealing to me. I recently broke my iPod touch so the nook needs to have decent music capabilities although they don't need to be as flexible as the iPod. That being said I wouldn't mind a future app that could make "genius" playlists like the iPod. I also am used to web browsing on the iPod which is why a tablet-style device appeals to me. I am used to not having flash on a browser since the iPod didn't but it will be a plus when 2.2 comes out. I am not a big fan of apps and I only had the app "Things" on my iPod but I guess I wouldn't mind downloading a few useful apps for my nook should I buy it. I also might root it if it will serve me any useful purpose.

With all that in mind and the fact that I cannot afford an iPad, should I get this product? I looked at other cheap tablets like the archos and apparently that company is a no-go. The reviews I read about the nook color also give the idea that it will be a decent tablet once it is hacked. I am leaning towards buying one but would greatly appreciate any advice.

Cheers

[LoganK]

Originally Posted by ebookrights

With all that in mind and the fact that I cannot afford an iPad, should I get this product?

Based on all that you wrote, it very much sounds like the Nook Color is not the device for you.

Also, since you do not have a lot of free income, now is not a great time to buy. In six months, the competition will have driven prices down and quality up and you'll be kicking yourself. (While it is always a good idea to wait, if possible, you are talking about jumping into the low-powered laptop craze the same year that is started.)

And perhaps the Notion Ink will come out soon and will surpass all of our expectations.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by boswd

I'm calling total BS on this post. I just went into mobileread.com,on the nook color, page came up in under 5 seconds from web launching to website, typed in a couple of "searches" keyboard did NOT disappear or anything like you claim.
How is the web browser awful? I have a solid wi fi connection and pages load up fast.

You downloaded an epub book ? From where? Don't epub books have to be sideloaded?

please I have about 400 epub books on my device.

You are a pretty well known nook, well i can't say troll, so I guess Bn hater. Did you lose a job there or something?

Maybe there's something different between the demo model and a non-demo model. No idea. All I know is what I saw/tried.

The original nook is a lot better now that firmware 1.5 has been release. Page turns are faster and the nook responds better.

And by the way, your insults just make you look foolish.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Rebo

There are of course a lot of improvement that they can make, like introducing arrow keys to allow you to navigate the text to correct or edig mistakes.
It is also sometimes annoying that you have to scroll all the way up to find the back button and there is no forward button.

Same here! Most annoying. Page back/forward and arrow keys should be at the top of the list for the next firmware upgrade.

[simplyparticular]

Got my NOOKcolor yesterday and spent most of last night playing with it, as I've got a nasty upper respiratory infection and didn't sleep much. Shiny new gadget disease also interfered with sleep

There are some quirks to the browser. Sign in and message boxes are fine, but I can't type in the search box in a MR forum. The keyboard appears, but then it disappears when I start typing. Annoying, but not mission critical and will probably be fixed in an update.

I LOVE the way the NOOKcolor feels in my hand - so much lighter in comparison to the iPad, and I like the rubberized finish on the back - it's different from the E-Ink NOOK. The test magazine worked well, and I read both the test kids books to my daughter, who tried ot make off with the NOOK twice. I haven't tested any of my magazine or book PDFs or the newspapers, yet.

Reading ePubs in the reading app is nice - there is the same level of customizability in the fonts and margins as on the NOOK iPad app.

My biggest complaints are also in the reading app:

Brightness: doesn't go as low as I think it should. It felt way too bright at the lowest setting, and was noticeably brighter than an iPad/iPhone at lowest setting. This will affect battery life, also.

Night mode: is dark blue/grey with light lettering, not black. Combined with the brightness not going low enough, it was too bright in a pitch dark room. I compared it to my iPhone and iPad and it was much brighter than the settings I use there, and I don't even go down all the way on those.

Themes: The iPad/iPhone NOOK app lets you set custom themes. The NOOKcolor doesn't currently have custom themes, just the same presets as the iOS apps. My Night preference is a dark brown, with cream lettering, on about 20% brightness. Very easy on the eyes in a pitch dark room.

I bought the NOOKcolor specifically as a lightweight LCD reader that is a better fit between the iPhone and iPad, but I'm not sure if I can live with the brightness issues since I do about 80% of my reading in the dark. I haven't seen anyone else mention it here or on the B&N forums, so I'm guessing it is just me.

[ashleydelavane]

Well, I have no problems with the browser or sideloading non B&N epub files. I have had no browser problems since getting an ereader device for $250, means that I just use it for reading. Guess what, B&N concentrated all their efforts on the ereader part NOT the browser....shocking I know LOL...For those who think that the web browser on a $250 reading device should be comparable to the iPad....well i am speechless really. I certainly would never expect that....not for a couple years anyway... then the ipad or a device identical to it will probably be available for $300(not knockoffs but good quality hardware/software).

[ashleydelavane]

Battery Life of Original Nook V Nook Color: My results show little actual difference.

This sounds very odd I know. I have been using my Nook color for 3 days under these conditions: no wifi-screen brightness at 45-50%. No notifications. So essentially just as an ebook reader. I read for 2.5 hours a day. After 3 days it is at 50%.

Ok, so that still only means it should last only 15 hours, but 15 hours is still 6 days for my reading style. The exact same as I am getting on the original Nook with the appropriate settings. Why?

In my opinion and from what I can discern, this is what is going on:

The Original Nook(i have owned 3 for various reasons) loses charge like crazy in between being put to sleep. So that while you are reading the charge goes down very little but if you leave it overnight it loses about 5%, whether you use it or not. So potentially it can lose 10% each day(during 16 hours of not being used for example if you are at work or asleep).

The Nook color however uses a lot more power-double possibly-while reading, but does not seem to lose any discernible power when asleep, with the seetings I described before.

I will continue to monitor