"Barnes & Noble holiday sales drop on Nook slump"

[bill_mchale]

Originally Posted by faithbw

This is me. I started with a nook, switched to a Sony and now read on my Nexus. I rarely buy books from B&N now. The switch was painless and easy. Their online bookstore has a terrible interface. Plus, they usually cost more than other vendors. Honestly, I don't even feel a sense of loyalty anymore. Their physical stores hardly ever have books I want and frankly, don't seem to have many books at all. I still support small bookstores when I can because I like to support small businesses and I don't want bookstores to completely leave the landscape.

I think the B&N store is probably a big issue, at least in comparison to Amazon. It is okay if you know the book you want to buy, but IMHO, it is a pain if you want to browse. And the books are usually more expensive than Amazon or Kobo. I still mostly buy from B&N, but I might soon have to give up as it seems I am mostly throwing good money after bad in supporting them.

--
Bill

[ProfCrash]

I wouldn't say that Amazon is easy to browse for a random book. But that is me

[JAcheson]

My first Android device was a Nook Color, and I was quite happy with it. It really came in handy as a Facebook posting tool when my late father's health began to decline.

Unfortunately, they haven't made anything significantly better since. The Nook Tablet was at best an incremental update. What I really wanted was a 4:3 screen and the Google Play store, so I ended up getting a Vizio 8" tablet to replace it (which I was really happy with).

Now I'm looking to replace the Vizio tablet, which is starting to wear out after years of faithful service. B&N have finally added the Play store, but still don't have a 4:3 device, or Kit Kat. They're not even in the running any more.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by JAcheson

My first Android device was a Nook Color, and I was quite happy with it. It really came in handy as a Facebook posting tool when my late father's health began to decline.

Unfortunately, they haven't made anything significantly better since. The Nook Tablet was at best an incremental update. What I really wanted was a 4:3 screen and the Google Play store, so I ended up getting a Vizio 8" tablet to replace it (which I was really happy with).

Now I'm looking to replace the Vizio tablet, which is starting to wear out after years of faithful service. B&N have finally added the Play store, but still don't have a 4:3 device, or Kit Kat. They're not even in the running any more.

To be fair, a lot of Android tablets don't have Kit Kat yet but I get your point. I think the Nook tablet is still on Ice Cream Sandwich and I don't think there are any plans to update.

[JAcheson]

Originally Posted by faithbw

To be fair, a lot of Android tablets don't have Kit Kat yet but I get your point. I think the Nook tablet is still on Ice Cream Sandwich and I don't think there are any plans to update.

Certainly not officially. As of last week, there are people who have Kit Kat running on their Nooks using Cyanogen, but it is still at a DIY level. I'm not in a hurry to compile my own OS, so I will wait a little longer until easier solutions arrive.

As for 4:3 tablets running Kit Kat, believe it or not Polaroid is coming out with one soon. It's my current front runner to replace my Vizio tablet when it dies.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by JAcheson

Certainly not officially. As of last week, there are people who have Kit Kat running on their Nooks using Cyanogen, but it is still at a DIY level. I'm not in a hurry to compile my own OS, so I will wait a little longer until easier solutions arrive.

You don't have to compile the ROM, just download it from the CyanogenMod site. I have had it running on my Nook HD and HD+ since day one.

[DBDigital]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

This is wrong. Just... wrong.

Why does it make a difference what format you use? Any epub that can be sideloaded onto a Nook can be converted into an azw3 and read on the Kindle. In fact, many stores (but obviously not B&N or Kobo) will actually sell you a zip containing both an epub and a mobi.

I wanted a open format that was well supported. And at the time it was the only reader that also supported libraries. Sure most formats can be cracked/converted, but to be honest I wanted something where I could avoid that if possible. I have been buying ebooks since about 99 or so. And I have seen MANY MANY formats disappear during that time. I have had to convert a lot of books I bought back then, and like I said it is a pain and I would like to spend my time READING not converting my library.

Also remember at the time the Nook came out, there was only the choice of propriety formats or Nook with epub. Sure it had encryption, but it was in a format that if the company stopped supporting it, you could still read your books (the DRM wasn't tied to some crazy server system with keys that changed, authorizations that had to be done etc etc). Remember Microsoft's ebook format? They changed that so often that even a year after you bought a book, often the new reader software couldn't read the older books. Or vice versa. Several other formats had the same problem. I didn't want to fall into that pit. Been there done that. I wanted something that if I was going to invest in, it was not dependent upon the company. Just like a regular book is not dependent upon the publisher to be read. Anyone can pick it up and read it, even if the publisher is long gone.

As I said, sure I could convert them. But converting is a chore (also remember Calibre wasn't around at the time, or was just getting going), and I would much rather spend my time READING than converting.

[DBDigital]

Originally Posted by pastanley

I used to be a nookie since the first nook came out about 4 years ago. I was getting upset about BN web site was too slow (then the nook defenders said I should switch to chrome web browser ----NOT! I will not switch browsers just to browse BN site). Amazon offered more books that BN did not have, offered them cheaper, and in come cases- free. I have begun to see BN on the downward spiral and thought it be best to ditch my nook on craigslist and move to Amazon since I already had an account there. I still go to the BN brick and mortar stores. I would personally rather buy ebooks from Amazon.

Yes the B&N store use to be fast, then shortly after the first nook came out they did a "revamp" which slowed everything down to a crawl. Buying books on the devices was fine, but the main website itself was sooo slooow. Eventually they fixed that, but it took them way too long (6 months to a year). They have made many mistakes, that is just one. They should have been fixing the website and less than a week or two after it was out fix the problem. Or revert to the previous version when it is clear the new one isn't working. Not six months later.

[DBDigital]

Originally Posted by pl001

I didn't realize that you still can't sideload on Nook today, if that is the case. But I don't think that's a big deal since they now have Google Play. To some people here, perhaps, but not to the market in general IMO.

Just as a side note. One can make or buy a SD card that has the latest full version of android. Side loadable everything. It isn't hacking because it doesn't change the internal drive at all. It just runs from the SD slot. Take the card out and it is 100% stock. So if one needs more than Nook offers in the way of Android or side loading. It is not hard to stick in a SD card and do what you want. And never void your warranty.

Sure they should allow side loading, but when it is this easy to bypass the situation, I don't see it as a issue. You can't do this with the Fire as it does not have a SD slot. In fact even Nexus 7 doesn't have a SD slot (something I never could understand).

Also about locking it down. Much of the locking these days is forced by the publisher. Not the retailer. If you don't have DRM, many publishers simply won't allow you to sell their books. Take a look at the christian ebook store that is closing the end of this month, they cite problems with the DRM being forced upon them by the publishers causing more investing/spending to comply. Yes I know B&N could have had things a bit more open, but you can't sell content without some form of DRM as the content providers won't do business with you otherwise. It really surprises me the new simple touch doesn't have a SD slot. I didn't know that. That is a huge step backwards. :/

As for why they didn't have googleplay at the start. Part was due to their own system, which they had to stop and therefore drop support on the apps marketplace. And the other part was they had to rewrite the firmware. They had to remove their own email reader, browser, etc for googleplay to even be installed. Google has a rule it has to be all google, they couldn't have their own non-google apps with regard to browser, email etc. At least the defaults, and if you want the Google Play store installed anyway.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by DBDigital

Just as a side note. One can make or buy a SD card that has the latest full version of android. Side loadable everything. It isn't hacking because it doesn't change the internal drive at all. It just runs from the SD slot. Take the card out and it is 100% stock. So if one needs more than Nook offers in the way of Android or side loading. It is not hard to stick in a SD card and do what you want. And never void your warranty.

Sure they should allow side loading, but when it is this easy to bypass the situation, I don't see it as a issue. You can't do this with the Fire as it does not have a SD slot. In fact even Nexus 7 doesn't have a SD slot (something I never could understand).

It's of no use though if you already use the SD slot for increased storage as I do.

[shanghaichica]

I bought a nook simple touch, simply as a back up device as they were on sale. I've had it for 9 months and I've not bought a single book from the nook store. Unless they have a sale, I don't intend to buy any books from them and my kindle remains my main reader and the place I buy my books from. I imagine there are quite a number of buyers out there like me who bought nook devices because they were cheap but don't actually buy anything from the store.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by DBDigital

I wanted a open format that was well supported. And at the time it was the only reader that also supported libraries. Sure most formats can be cracked/converted, but to be honest I wanted something where I could avoid that if possible. I have been buying ebooks since about 99 or so. And I have seen MANY MANY formats disappear during that time. I have had to convert a lot of books I bought back then, and like I said it is a pain and I would like to spend my time READING not converting my library.

Also remember at the time the Nook came out, there was only the choice of propriety formats or Nook with epub. Sure it had encryption, but it was in a format that if the company stopped supporting it, you could still read your books (the DRM wasn't tied to some crazy server system with keys that changed, authorizations that had to be done etc etc). Remember Microsoft's ebook format? They changed that so often that even a year after you bought a book, often the new reader software couldn't read the older books. Or vice versa. Several other formats had the same problem. I didn't want to fall into that pit. Been there done that. I wanted something that if I was going to invest in, it was not dependent upon the company. Just like a regular book is not dependent upon the publisher to be read. Anyone can pick it up and read it, even if the publisher is long gone.

As I said, sure I could convert them. But converting is a chore (also remember Calibre wasn't around at the time, or was just getting going), and I would much rather spend my time READING than converting.

Amazon's servers don't change the keys on you, Kobo's servers don't change the keys on you (that I know of), B&N's servers DO change the keys on you. It depends which credit card is active at the time you download the book.

I can only speak of the dynamics of the recent situation, with calibre as a factor (I wasn't on the ebook scene back then), and I definitely can't speak of Microsoft's format (though I've heard the stories), but...

Proprietary formats vs Nook with DRM? Proprietary formats aren't the issue, that's all I'm trying to say. MOBI could always be read, as far as I know, on multiple readers, unless there was DRM.

And how did you sideload your B&N books, once B&N goes down? Without alfing them?

[nightlurker]

Customers of B&N have a big problem buying their readers if nobody (including B&N) have them in stock!

I wanted a HD+ for a present for a family member this Christmas, tried B&N UK web site first - no stock. Then tried all the web sites of the recommended retailers Argos, Asda, Blackwells, Currys etc, none in stock. Finally found it at John Lewis' but what a hunt just to find one in stock.
They really need to get their act together if they want to sell anything, if they don't have it how can you buy?

As a side note I could have bought one from Ebay but I was a bit dubious about it's origins and guarantee, I didn't want to be landed with a "gray" import that had no backup.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by nightlurker

Customers of B&N have a big problem buying their readers if nobody (including B&N) have them in stock!

I wanted a HD+ for a present for a family member this Christmas, tried B&N UK web site first - no stock. Then tried all the web sites of the recommended retailers Argos, Asda, Blackwells, Currys etc, none in stock. Finally found it at John Lewis' but what a hunt just to find one in stock.
They really need to get their act together if they want to sell anything, if they don't have it how can you buy?

As a side note I could have bought one from Ebay but I was a bit dubious about it's origins and guarantee, I didn't want to be landed with a "gray" import that had no backup.

The tablets are being phased out that's why they were on sale with big reductions, and that's also why you can barely find them now.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by nightlurker

Customers of B&N have a big problem buying their readers if nobody (including B&N) have them in stock!

Not-having them in stock has been their (unmet) goal for two years.
If they finally got rid of them it would be good news for their finances.