Classic Why so few nook threads?

[graycyn]

Hubby and I bought ours three weeks ago. They are very easy to use, so I guess we are spending our time reading. We haven't had any trouble side loading or borrowing eBook from the library or navigating our devices.

[TereLiz]

Love the nook. Don't have any problems with it. I find all my answers online somewhere. It's easy to use once you've played with it for a second. I'd be willing to believe it's a combination of the two, that it is easy to use/troubleshoot, and that it's only been on the market for a limited time.

Love the archive feature, which it looks like Kindle has caught on to. Is Kindle sticking with the keyboard to further differentiate themselves from the nook? Or is it some other issue? Because I adore the touch-screen. Almost all my page-turns are screen swipes. Maybe it drains the battery a little faster, but I'm not sure. I mostly use it in Airplane mode and the battery life is excellent.

I think the touch-screen gives it a great look. In the looks department, I also like that it says nook on the top in little letters instead of having Barnes and Noble printed all over it.

[dharh]

Originally Posted by Nicky_oz

^that's so interesting you've ordered both! i was thinking of doing that too, i'll get the Nook and if I dont' love it, I'll get the Kindle. I just don't like the look of the Kindle with the keyboard down the bottom what's the point of having a keyboard on an ereader?

Believe it or not I think the people who want nothing but a text reader are in the minority. Thus a keyboard is very necessary, whether that keyboard is virtual via the nook or real via the kindle, thats another matter. Right now most e-readers have some sort of annotation and search which definitely requires keyboard.

Some of us are hoping e-readers will morph into star trek data pads. I would be utterly satisfied with my first gen nook if they had better book organization (folder support, my library same as my B&N library, search) and note taking outside of book annotation. Second gen im hoping they are add a few more features like email and such. Eventually we will get color e-ink touch screen devices that could rival current gen ipads (not talking computational power, just visual clarity, battery life, etc).

[Meemo]

Originally Posted by Nicky_oz

^that's so interesting you've ordered both! i was thinking of doing that too, i'll get the Nook and if I dont' love it, I'll get the Kindle. I just don't like the look of the Kindle with the keyboard down the bottom what's the point of having a keyboard on an ereader?

Doing a search, finding a location, taking notes, creating collections, typing in a web address or a book you're searching for in the Kindle store using the web browser on the Kindle - all kinds of uses for that keyboard. And thank goodness (IMO) it isn't a touch keypad - not a fan.

[Meemo]

Originally Posted by TereLiz

Love the archive feature, which it looks like Kindle has caught on to. Is Kindle sticking with the keyboard to further differentiate themselves from the nook? Or is it some other issue?

In the looks department, I also like that it says nook on the top in little letters instead of having Barnes and Noble printed all over it.

?? Kindle has always had the archive feature - they didn't call it "Archive" until the 2nd generation Kindle, but it's always been there.

The keyboard serves a lot of functions - personally I'm not a fan of touchscreens, but we're all different. I don't much see the difference between "Nook" at the top and "Barnes & Noble" at the bottom of the device, and "Amazon Kindle" at the top of the device.

I'm considering a Nook for the ePub content I've picked up from B&N, Borders, Kobo, and Sony (I have a Sony reader that I'll probably sell if I get a Nook). I've played with the Nook a lot, and some of it is familiarity I'm sure, but I much prefer the hardware of my Kindle.

I'm just glad there are so many choices out there these days for so many people's needs and tastes - it can only bode well for those of us who are committed to our e-readers and can't imagine going back.

[Nicky_oz]

Originally Posted by Meemo

Doing a search, finding a location, taking notes, creating collections, typing in a web address or a book you're searching for in the Kindle store using the web browser on the Kindle - all kinds of uses for that keyboard. And thank goodness (IMO) it isn't a touch keypad - not a fan.

What you've described aren't functions that should be supported by an ereader- if you need to search the web, or send an email, that's what phones, computers, laptops, notebooks and iPads are invented for. Ereaders are purely an electronic device to hold books, hence the e-ink screen not being backlit and kind on eyes, and the point of them being small!

I can't for the life of me think of why I'd want to surf the web on my Nook! Or kindle, how pointless!. I'd be happy to search for a book on my computer or iphone if I can't find it on the B&N online store in the Nook or Kindle store. Also typing a book name or author name isn't an exhauting task that requires a keboard. I agree that touchscreen keyboards are a pain, I'n not a fan of mine on the iPhone but I've gotten used to it, and I find it strange to use phones or small devices with tiny keyboards after the ease of a touchscreen. Whenever I need to type extensively I just use a proper keyboard.
I think people have unrealistic expectations of what e-readers are for, and when extra features get added on it loses the simplicity and original purpose of the device.

[sarahsbloke]

google mail works fine using the web (nookdevs version)
hopeless using the web (B&N version)

[FourOhFour]

Originally Posted by Nicky_oz

What you've described aren't functions that should be supported by an ereader- if you need to search the web, or send an email, that's what phones, computers, laptops, notebooks and iPads are invented for. Ereaders are purely an electronic device to hold books, hence the e-ink screen not being backlit and kind on eyes, and the point of them being small!

Bah. Ereaders are for reading. Books, comics, wikipedia, news sites, whatever. Sure, many websites are not feasible on an eink screen, but why shouldn't an ereader be able to visit BBC News, or CNN, or even your favorite webcomics?

Sure, they'll always be poorly suited for email or forums... they're for reading not writing. Which also means note taking will be awkward... there's just no way around that with the space provided.

[Meemo]

Originally Posted by Nicky_oz

What you've described aren't functions that should be supported by an ereader- if you need to search the web, or send an email, that's what phones, computers, laptops, notebooks and iPads are invented for. Ereaders are purely an electronic device to hold books, hence the e-ink screen not being backlit and kind on eyes, and the point of them being small!

I can't for the life of me think of why I'd want to surf the web on my Nook! Or kindle, how pointless!. I'd be happy to search for a book on my computer or iphone if I can't find it on the B&N online store in the Nook or Kindle store. Also typing a book name or author name isn't an exhauting task that requires a keboard. I agree that touchscreen keyboards are a pain, I'n not a fan of mine on the iPhone but I've gotten used to it, and I find it strange to use phones or small devices with tiny keyboards after the ease of a touchscreen. Whenever I need to type extensively I just use a proper keyboard.
I think people have unrealistic expectations of what e-readers are for, and when extra features get added on it loses the simplicity and original purpose of the device.

I didn't realize it was you that wrote the rule book on what an e-reader should be. Actually I agree that I don't want a bunch of extra functions on my Kindle - that's what my iPhone is for. I didn't say anything about surfing the web, or sending an e-mail on my Kindle. (Although the K3 is supposed to have an improved browser). I have an iPhone too - and I've learned to live with the keyboard, but I still prefer a "real" one like I had on my Palm Treo - or on my Kindle. But when I'm ready to set up a new collection on my Kindle (try that on your Nook ) or I want to search for a certain phrase in a book to find the spot where I read it, or I want to look up a random word that pops into my head while I'm reading or check a historical fact in a book on wikipedia or somewhere else, if I want to make some notes in a book or yes, on the rare occasion I'm shopping in the Kindle store on my Kindle - that's when my keyboard comes in handy. Personally, I don't need a touchscreen with color pictures on it. But I'm still looking at picking up a Nook for my ePub content - mostly because I hear B&N won't be switching the content I already own in their format over to ePub like Sony did for their customers when they made the switch. I just don't enjoy reading on my phone or my husband's iPad because of the backlit screen.

I've been reading on a Kindle with a keyboard for almost 2 years now - and when I need it, I'm glad the keyboard is there. And when I don't need it - it's disabled so it gives me some extra room for holding the Kindle comfortably. (Although frankly I prefer resting it on a squishy pillow. ) The new Kindle is supposed to have an improved web browsing system, but I still wouldn't want to be web-surfing on an eInk screen - I'd rather be reading. I'll surf on my iPhone.

[graycyn]

I'm fine with fairly minimal functions, but being able to access the web is nice. Hubby and I don't have laptops, iPads, fancy cell phones (think Tracfone) so, having that bit of portable function comes in handy sometimes. But no, I don't regularly want to surf the web on my nook.

As for a keyboard, any tiny keyboard is not going to be great for me to type on, I need a full keyboard and preferably an ergonomic one at that. But I don't have any trouble using the touchscreen keyboard on my nook if I need to type something and I'm sure it would be less aggravating to me than pressing buttons. Button pressing or hitting keys aggravates my chronic tendinitis. Swiping to turn pages does not!

So it's nice to have choices!

[elithea]

i don't think most nook users know about this forum. i didn't and i've had mine since memorial day. that said, the nook is a really user-friendly device for many reasons, possibly chief among them that customers can walk into a bookstore and discover it and take it home right away (or go to best buy and take it home for a good financing deal!) most of these people are not going to be aware of mobileread already, they were shopping to buy a brickbook and conversely, the nook forums on facebook are hopping! that's where you'll find the general reader, who is rapidly becoming a nook reader.

otoh, i was recently in the north carolina mountains, where access to books is very limited. there are no big bookstores less than two hours away, so most readers in such places are already reliant on online ordering, chiefly from amazon. some amazon peeps there already bought kindles, which are godsends when you don't have big bookstores OR reliable wifi! i was able to sell one person on the nook while i was there, because she was already a B&N online customer, and possibly others who, like me, had been intrigued by the concept but didn't want to bite off a kindle sight unseen--they assumed my nook was a kindle and when i told them about it, were going off to look into the nook (via best buy, with the payment plan, even though they'd still have to order it online--or even go to atlanta or asheville to get one! $13 per month/no interest for something you can actually hold in your hand before you commit is a mighty incentive!)

[graycyn]

Oddly, I had found the forum before I had my nook... but that was because of doing research on e-readers before buying. But I agree, probably a lot of nook owners don't know about the forum. I spread the news where I can. Including on facebook.

I have to admit, hubby and I have mostly relied on our local library for new reading material, as well as the occasional paperback purchase. There's not much for book stores in town, though one store actually has a nice feature, you can *rent* a bestseller for a small fee. I've taken advantage of that on occasion as well.

Anyway, our library only added eBooks just this year. I think knowing that we could borrow eBooks via nook was a big factor in our purchase decision, as we were torn between nook and Kindle 2 at the time.

Oddly, the librarian mostly in charge of bringing us eBook lending does not own a nook, she owns a Kindle. Kind of weird, but oh well!

I agree, one of the nice things about nook was being able to go see it in action in person. We tried to do that with Kindle at the Target display, but the display only had a rotating screen going on the Kindle, you couldn't actually play with it and use it.

Anyway, even with Kindle 3 out, still happy with our nook decision, because we love the library thing. I've read one library book already, have holds on more and waiting anxiously. I suppose most folks don't return early, but I plan to make a practice of that myself when done with a book. No need to make others wait longer than necessary for their read.

[graycyn]

Oddly, I had found the forum before I had my nook... but that was because of doing research on e-readers before buying. But I agree, probably a lot of nook owners don't know about the forum. I spread the news where I can. Including on facebook.

I have to admit, hubby and I have mostly relied on our local library for new reading material, as well as the occasional paperback purchase. There's not much for book stores in town, though one store actually has a nice feature, you can *rent* a bestseller for a small fee. I've taken advantage of that on occasion as well.

Anyway, our library only added eBooks just this year. I think knowing that we could borrow eBooks via nook was a big factor in our purchase decision, as we were torn between nook and Kindle 2 at the time.

I agree, one of the nice things about nook was being able to go see it in action in person. We tried to do that with Kindle at the Target display, but the display only had a rotating screen going on the Kindle, you couldn't actually play with it and use it.

Anyway, even with Kindle 3 out, still happy with our nook decision, because we love the library thing. I've read one library book already, have holds on more and waiting anxiously. I suppose most folks don't return early, but I plan to make a practice of that myself when done with a book. No need to make others wait longer than necessary for their read.