New B&N Nook upgrade

[Renate]

The last I bought was the Allwinner 6".
I also bought the book cover (because it was yellow).
Put the two together and you've got a big ungainly lump.
And that's before we start talking about software.

Nope. You had a decade to get your game on. You failed.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

My first Nook was actually the Nook Color which I loved. My first eink was the Simple Touch. I have a soft spot for them too. For some reason I find it easier to forgive them for their failings than other companies.

This morning I see that all Nooks are $20 off. Since my husband is using the GL4+ and the GL4e has lousy resolution and uneven lighting, I can't believe that I am considering getting the GL4. Will I never learn?

I bought a nook STR because it was cheap as a backup just in case. Turned out I didn't like the rubbery feel and the system software was terrible. Using the same fonts as my Sony Reader PRS-650, the fonts on the STR looked like a different font because the software on the nook for displaying fonts was terrible.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

That's how Kobo is handling it so far. Current firmware no longer has Georgia, but if you're using an old device that used to have it, it isn't getting removed.

I didn't realize Kobo had gotten rid of the Georgia font as well (I haven't upgraded a Kobo in a couple years). Maybe the royalties jumped way up. Hopefully, Kobo will never pull the Georgia font from their old readers, like Barnes & Noble.

Originally Posted by Aleron Ives

I guess B&N has to pay for every device that ships with the font, so removing it probably saves money. I wonder if B&N is gradually making Nooks worse on purpose so they can announce the total discontinuation of all Nook models with the explanation of "low sales".

If that's not their intent than they're doing a pretty job of doing it accidentally.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

My first Nook was actually the Nook Color which I loved. My first eink was the Simple Touch. I have a soft spot for them too. For some reason I find it easier to forgive them for their failings than other companies.

This morning I see that all Nooks are $20 off. Since my husband is using the GL4+ and the GL4e has lousy resolution and uneven lighting, I can't believe that I am considering getting the GL4. Will I never learn?

I considered getting a GL4e when they were discontinuing support for the Simple Touches and offering a pretty good discount on this one. I finally decided that I didn't need another eReader. But I was definitely tempted buy it ("just to compare it to the others," I told myself).

[cgsmom]

Originally Posted by rcentros

I considered getting a GL4e when they were discontinuing support for the Simple Touches and offering a pretty good discount on this one. I finally decided that I didn't need another eReader. But I was definitely tempted buy it ("just to compare it to the others," I told myself).

I did buy the 4e at that time. I wish I had bought the GL4 instead. I love the size and weight of the 4e. When I have an arthritis flare in my hands it is very comfortable to hold and read with. However, the screen resolution, uneven lighting and the lack of a warm light are definitely noticeable.

I am still thinking of picking up the GL4 right now while it is on sale for $129 US.

Edit to add: Since I am not buying books from Amazon because of D&T going away, I find I am using BN more.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by cgsmom

I am still thinking of picking up the GL4 right now while it is on sale for $129 US.

Edit to add: Since I am not buying books from Amazon because of D&T going away, I find I am using BN more.

I was reading on my Glowlight 3 last night. I still think these had the best warm-lit screens ever made. (At least better than any other I've seen.) My other Glowlight 3 (that hasn't been updated), that still has the older firmware (which I like) suddenly wouldn't start without being plugged in. I guess the battery died almost overnight. So I ordered a battery for it from China (via Amazon). I'm supposed to get it within a couple days — so it's taking less than two weeks, which I consider pretty good. Hopefully I'll be able to replace it without incident. I'll probably report on the replacement.

As for the GL4, I do like their size and shape. I wish they would stop monkeying around with the firmware, though. I'm guessing they contract out development and want to pay the minimum, so that's what they get, the minimum (and lost features). But you've got the GL4e, so you already know what the firmware is like. (It's probably not as bad as I make it out to be.)

[christianbk]

I have a perspective to share here.

B&N and those who work on NOOK devices are legacy employees at B&N. It's why there's no innovation happening; if you look at the average tenure of employees, it's a significant amount of time (10+ or even 15+ years).

Take for instance this gal. The accomplishments are fine (7 new eReaders in three years, "consistent YOY growth in device sales" which is interesting, though I'm unsure how +46% to 2025 fiscal year budget is mentioned unless it's a forecast).

There aren't any new eyes on this thing. They're in this echo chamber and not seeing what actual users of other devices are enjoying and how they can craft an eReader that incorporates these aspects. It is unfathomable to me how if you work in the NOOK department at B&N you do not see the HUGE MISSES that you have with your product line and software.

You have this company that is seemingly doing well and opening new locations. Great, that's a sign of a growing business. You have this premium membership you're trying to hawk to folks that in some ways hooks into NOOK. Get creative instead of 10% off devices (doesn't stack with sales though), free ebook monthly (crappy selection from 3-5 titles), and how you can use reward stamps for ebooks / audiobooks. Think of a user utilizing a NOOK device as a B&N brand ambassador, tap into these folks who are visiting your stores more now than ever, see if you can make some hardware/software changes based on how you're expanding and what genres are boosting sales and market to them.

NOOK social channels are a joke compared to Kobo.

Instead, it's an afterthought. An end-cap with devices that aren't usually turned on. That no B&N employee ever suggests to people. Outsourcing social media to a company that posts uninspired crap. It's sad.

[cgsmom]

Originally Posted by christianbk

There aren't any new eyes on this thing. They're in this echo chamber and not seeing what actual users of other devices are enjoying and how they can craft an eReader that incorporates these aspects. It is unfathomable to me how if you work in the NOOK department at B&N you do not see the HUGE MISSES that you have with your product line and software.

Instead, it's an afterthought. An end-cap with devices that aren't usually turned on. That no B&N employee ever suggests to people. Outsourcing social media to a company that posts uninspired crap. It's sad.

All true. It is very sad. I switched to Kindle with the Voyage. Flush screen and page turn buttons on both sides. If my Voyage hadn't died I probably would never have given Nook another look. I can make do with the asymmetry of the Oasis but I don't really like it. I haven't tried a Kobo yet, but I probably will. Now Nook is the only reader available with buttons on both sides.