Classic Is the Nook your second ebook reader?

[Nate the great]

I think the update broke the microSD card slot. I've checked it twice, and the card works just fine when it's not in the Nook.

Oh, well.

[Madam Broshkina]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I think the update broke the microSD card slot. I've checked it twice, and the card works just fine when it's not in the Nook.

Oh, well.

Strange, I have not heard of that happening before. I rooted my nook after the software update and it required a microSD card.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

Strange, I have not heard of that happening before. I rooted my nook after the software update and it required a microSD card.

I believe you. But I have a unique talent for breaking the unbreakable.

[Paul58]

The nook was actually my first ereader, but I got my Sony before it arrived! So, technically it is my second ereader now...

I like both, I wish my (unhacked) nook had the menu capabilities of my Sony, and I wish my (unhacked) Sony had side page turn buttons! Yes, I realize both these can be corrected with a hack, I'm just chicken when it comes to that sort of thing!

Both screens are about the same (excellent), so there is really no difference in the readability on either (other than a tad bit less screen real estate on the Sony).

They both get equal use, I use the Sony at work and the nook at home. I do feel the Sony is built a bit more rugged than the nook, thus it is my preference for travel also.

So, I really can't say I like one more than the other because they both fulfill a role for me!

I see you have 6 or 7 ereaders if I'm reading your profile correctly, so things may be a tad different for you, not sure I would have a use for that many ereaders! LOL!

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by CandyNJ66

I would suggest simply looking at the posts here in the Nook forum AND especially the Barnes & Noble http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com Forum. They have TONS of opinions both bad, medium and good

Exactly, instead of starting yet another "what do you think of the nook" thread.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

I just got a Nook, and I'm underwhelmed. Before I give my opinion, I'd like to hear from some of the people who have the Nook as well as another reader. What do you think of the Nook?

Nate, I hear you.
Similar feelings for me. But to me, it's not nook specific.
I just recognise, that I'm starting to get bored by the various eInk readers alltogether. There simply is no progress anymore.
One you've seen 3 or 4 readers, it's repeating itself. iRex iLiad and Sony 505 in my opinion more than 2 years ago have been phantastic. But after that...kind of stagnation.
nook certainly has a great display. But so did Sony 505 - already years ago.
nook's touchscreen definitely is a looker. But is the swipe gesture any more convenient than the gesture on Sony 700 - again, 15 months ago already?
And nook's cover flow of course looks nice - color on an eInk device, cool. But does it help any more than Cybook Opus' thumbnail view?
On the other hand, you've mentioned it: nook doesn't have landscape view. nook doesn't have zoom.
I don't want to criticise nook. It's still a great unit. But I simply don't see anything new for more than 18 months now. Even more the opposite. Getting cheaper seems to be the target, not getting more advanced.
(Argh - the build quality of most units - yikes....horrible...)
And that's surely a reason, why Apple's iPad might be considered a milestone by some. eInk would have so much potential, but obviously the innovative genius like Steve jobs is missing here.
Personally, I'm very close to end my excursion with eInk alltogether and find something new. (I'll definitely buy the iPad, but I don't think that's it.)

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by tamzilla

My nook is my third eInk reader and it’s probably my favorite so far. I think that the type of reader a person is has a lot to do with which device that person is going to prefer over another. I consider myself a causal reader and I think the nook is great for causal reading. (By causal reading, I mean reading mainly fiction or non-technical non-fiction without heavily annotating the text as one reads) The 1.2 firmware upgrade came out the day after I received it, so I never had to deal with the slow page turns or the lag between the touch screen and eInk screen. The soft keyboard works well for me – it works better than the soft keyboard on my iPod touch. The contrast of the eInk screen is the best I’ve seen. I also really like how the nook displays ePubs – I can change the font, no huge margins (so far), and no annoying page numbers in the margin that overwrites the text! I like the fact that it has both wireless and 3g and will automatically use the wireless connection over the 3g.

I do not like the terrible battery life I’m getting; however, I was informed by BN’s customer service that they are working on another software update to improve this (hopefully it will come out soon). I think the dictionary the nook uses is the Merriam Webster Pocket Edition and I would like to be able to upgrade that to a better dictionary. While is does seem like the nook was rushed to market before the firmware was ready, at least they are putting out updates relatively quickly.

But the casual reader can also get one of the sub-$200 ebook readers. I have a couple of them, and they have about the same level of ability as the Nook. What makes the Nook work the extra +$60?

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by CandyNJ66

I would suggest simply looking at the posts here in the Nook forum AND especially the Barnes & Noble http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com Forum. They have TONS of opinions both bad, medium and good

Yes, but there are thousands of posts in the B&N forum. It's not worth my time to sort through them all.

[allovertheglobe]

Back after quite a long absence, and what better way to jump in right here.

I have followed the Nook for a while since I thought the hardware had potential (but the software wasn't up to snuff). With the 1.2 update and the actual availability of the device online (though still not in my area, which apparently includes one of the biggest BN stores in the US), I bit the bullet a few days ago.

As you can see in the sidebar, I have used quite a few readers over the past decade or so. I'll compare it to the Sony 505 since they are similar 6" devices and it is also my most-used reader.

But first I want to agree whole-heartedly with mgmueller that the whole eReader business has stagnated badly over the past couple of years. The vast majority are 5-6" devices differentiated by a few button or UI changes. The only notable improvement was the switch to Vizplex (the difference between my 500 and 505) (...I still dream of a true -black- and -white- reader though, maybe even with, gasp, some form of backlight). Which is why I never considered a new one until my 505 breaks even though I follow the market.

The other difference is available screen size, which where my DR1000 comes in, still the biggest & highest resolution reader for the foreseeable future, even with all the new unreleased readers... too bad iRex completely dropped the ball on the software/UI (but it is... usable)

And then? Barring any significant advances in screen tech, the only way is an extra screen. Side by side, like the Entourage Edge, which gets rather chunky and looks like a rather Frankenstein solution for the current screen dilemma. Or a large one integrated next to the eink screen, like the Alex reader, which ends up with a rather odd, very elongated design (the same issue I'd have with the Sony 900). BN may have stolen the idea from Alex, but they got the right form factor: not too big a device, but big enough for the the "interactive" part to be functional.

I got the Nook to complement my 505 because:

- it has the "Kindle advantage" of both kinds of wireless, so I have -the option- to get something new to read when bored anywhere (on US soil anyway) and -the option- (with trook) to get things from my (calibre) library wirelessly. (P.S.: MacMillan & Co, you can price your ebooks any way you like, I will still only pay $9.99 tops, so you'll get... 0$)

- it has the touch screen interface, which besides a basic keyboard (which the 505 lacks) allows for an adaptive interface that is much more flexible than the Kindle while taking up less space. And all that implies: Search functionality, faster browsing etc. Since I grab it towards the bottom, I never had much of a temptation to touch the eink screen (too much portable gaming? :)

- One very simple practical benefit: Between an easel-style cover and the touch-swipe which does not require any physical force (pushing the easel over), it is fantastic for reading during a meal or other activity with the hands full or dirty (food prep, repairs, painting) - you can just use your knuckle. Seems like a small thing, but compared to the small, hard-to-press buttons on the Sony (the only real complaint I'd have) it makes a big difference to me. You wrote you had trouble, and I had some too, but once I got a feel for the interface it is no longer much of an issue. (And I now bought a 3rd-party easel-style cover for my 505 too, since it tilts the screen towards you even when lying flat, rather than sideways)

- Since it runs an open-source OS (Android) it is eminently more hackable than either Sony or Kindle reader. Trook etc. offers already more functionality in a short time than what people have managed to add through prolonged, dedicated hacking to the Sony and Kindle.

- Other nice things: User-replaceable battery! OK, not the most friendly solution but doable. Custom wallpapers and screensaver (esp. the last one: I never understood Sony's "the user would be confused if the screen stayed on when in sleep mode"??)

- Generally: ePub support, great since my 505 supports it too, and thus support for plenty of DRM-free books available. And extra brownie points for even mentioning the use in conjunction with Linux in the -official- Guide ;)

The thing that the 505 can't be beat at: in the absence of backlight, my hacked Sony/Lightwedge cover is still the most pleasant reading in bed after dark solution by far (the 700 is a bit laughable in comparison, and I never much liked the Transformers-style unfoldable light-ona-stick)

In conclusion: I like it, and it will see quite some use (I 'm reading the newest Discworld novel right now, can't believe I missed its release)

[tamzilla]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

But the casual reader can also get one of the sub-$200 ebook readers. I have a couple of them, and they have about the same level of ability as the Nook. What makes the Nook work the extra +$60?

I have one of those too, the Astak EZreader Pocket Pro. All of the sub $200 readers I am aware of have the smaller 5" screen and don't have wireless. I think having the larger screen as well as the wireless capability is worth the extra $60. Having read on both 5" and 6" screens, I find the 6" much easier to read on, especially for long periods. I seriously looked at the newer Sony reader, but I didn't like the eInk touchscreen very much - I didn't notice that the touchscreen blurred the text much, but the fingerprints on the screen drove me crazy (this is one of the reasons I can't stand reading on my iPod touch). I also looked at the Kindle, but I didn't like the keyboard - it seem awkward, just a personal preference. Also, the nook is awesome at displaying ePubs. I haven't had to hand edit any ePub files just to make them readable on the nook (unlike having to edit every ePub file to make it readable on the Pocket Pro).

If you always have computer access (or are outside the US and can't purchase over wifi), the wireless feature may not be such a big deal. I've been in the situations where I haven't been near a computer and would have loved to have been able to download the next book in a series, so I like the wireless feature. Because it is wireless and doesn't require a computer to buy books, my computer-phobe Mom would be comfortable using it. (She's been looking at my and my sister's nooks.) She would never use a Sony or an Astak, no matter how easy they are to use, just because she is convinced that if she touches a computer, it will completely meltdown. (My sister and I have tried to show her otherwise, but trying to convince her she can use a computer is like moving a mountain.)

Anyway, all this is subjective. I like my nook enough to recommend it to others and I also like my Pocket Pro enough to recommend it to others, depending on the person. There are pros and cons to every device and I haven't seen any one yet that could qualify as the 'best ebook reader ever!!' (except to its owner ). Luckily there are a lot of options out now, so I think there is something for everyone.

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

But the casual reader can also get one of the sub-$200 ebook readers. I have a couple of them, and they have about the same level of ability as the Nook. What makes the Nook work the extra +$60?

To me the extra $60 (which brings the price of the nook in line with my 4 grey scale level 6" EZ-reader) is that it reads ereader DRM and Adobe DE DRM. My ebook collection is all ereader DRM format, and a device that reads this format and allows me to read library books (ADE) is well worth the extra few bucks.

[shrktank]

I have had the: Kindle, Kindle2,Sony PRS-505, Sony PRS-600, Sony PRS-900 and the Nook.

They all have their pluses and minuses. I have had the nook for only two days and with the softroot apps, I think it will be my favorite.

My ideal device would be the Sony PRS-900 interface on a device with the clarity of the Nook.

Of course in a few months or so, it might be that time of the month to get me an ipad!

[stangri]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

1, I tried and no I can't.

Everybody else seems to be doing fine with swipes. So either you need to send it back for repair or it's your problem, not nook's.

Originally Posted by mgmueller

Similar feelings for me. But to me, it's not nook specific.
I just recognise, that I'm starting to get bored by the various eInk readers alltogether. There simply is no progress anymore.

Excuse me? There's a huge progress -- Amazon made the first connected reader with the great 'from the unit' buying experience and major manufacturers followed. B&N made the first wifi-connected nook based on OS system (tho they're lagging behind on releasing the sources, that's why we don't have openvpn running on nook yet). Amazon went ahead with the Kindle SDK bringing ability to run apps on their readers too. You being in Germany may not be able to use the fruits of this progress, it's progress nonetheless. Not to mention dictionaries, note-taking, moving towards a standard for ebooks publishing, etc. It's like saying there's no progress in desktop OS since Windows 3.0.

[Kolenka]

Originally Posted by stangri

Everybody else seems to be doing fine with swipes. So either you need to send it back for repair or it's your problem, not nook's.

I'll chime in as someone else who has issues with the touch screen. There are still a pretty annoying number of missed gestures and the like with the screen. After using an iPhone for awhile, this sort of stuff can get on your nerves and shows as unpolished with the product.

It has gotten better since 1.0.0, but it still has a long way to go to be as reliable as other touch screens out there.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by stangri

Everybody else seems to be doing fine with swipes. So either you need to send it back for repair or it's your problem, not nook's.


Excuse me? There's a huge progress -- Amazon made the first connected reader with the great 'from the unit' buying experience and major manufacturers followed. B&N made the first wifi-connected nook based on OS system (tho they're lagging behind on releasing the sources, that's why we don't have openvpn running on nook yet). Amazon went ahead with the Kindle SDK bringing ability to run apps on their readers too. You being in Germany may not be able to use the fruits of this progress, it's progress nonetheless. Not to mention dictionaries, note-taking, moving towards a standard for ebooks publishing, etc. It's like saying there's no progress in desktop OS since Windows 3.0.

Which readers have you been using and since when?

Vast majority of the features you describe has been available on iRex iLiad since summer of 2007:
Downloading books via WiFi, installing 3rd party apps, SDK being available, dictionary support, note taking, "intelligent" zoom.
Back then, this was great. (Even though most of the features already had been available on PocketPCs since 2000. But eInk of course has been a huge improvement).
But if we compare, let's say, iRex iLiad's functionality to any of the actual readers, they even fall behind.
On iLiad, I've been able to change book title or author's name. I easily could add comments or thumbnails. And now? Aiming for the $ 250 mark is the goal, not improving features.
Just look at the build quality. Check out the features. Usability may have improved for the "casual reader", I agree. But for the "hardcore users", it's stagnation for some time now.
But of course I agree: Amazon's business model is brilliant.