Back to the drawing board

[hike_gc]

I am totally steamed at Barnes and Noble and feel the need to re-start my search for a reader. The re-furbished Nook I ordered on 1/8 (that shipped a day later than B&N said it would on 1/12) has now spent 2 days in Denver and shows no indication of ever reaching my door. I've always had 3 day service from B&N and am just appalled at this lack of service.

So now I don't want to do business with Barnes and Noble and need to find a reliable company to purchase an e-reader from.

Here are my requirements. The ability to add notes, highlighting, bookmarking. Wi-Fi/3G not a deal breaker. Prefer e-ink over LCD but will consider LCD for the right reader. The ability to purchase IT and other reference books (mostly business) is a deal breaker. The Sony store has a limited (and pricey) selection. I know O'Reilly has their own e-bookstore but they are not the only publisher in the IT/reference book world and I need access to more books than that. While I know some will strip DRMs in order to get access to the books they need, I do not have the time or inclination to do so. I'm sort of hoping there are other e-book stores out there that cater to the business/IT crowd that I haven't found yet which would aid in my search for the right reader.

I know the more obvious choices is the Kindle, but if I had my druthers, would rather not enter that world.

Thanks in advance for your input.

[Belle2Be]

Can I ask what your druthers have against the Kindle?

[hike_gc]

When I saw the Nook and Kindle side by side, the Kindle screen looked more gray. I'm also put off by Amazon's proprietary e-book format. While I know I could strip the DRM, in my opinion their proprietary e-book format attitude is behind the times.

I just found the Onyx Boox and Pocketbook readers and would like to hear more about whether those devices will download the Nook and/or Kindle reading apps. That would solve my problem. Those devices seem more feature rich as well.

[Andrew H.]

I think you need to refocus on what you need and not get caught up in minutiae that will turn out to be unimportant in the final analysis.

1. Go to the Kindle store, and to B&N again, and to the Kobo store, and make sure that you can buy the books you want. Amazon has more newer books than all of these stores put together...but not by a lot, and it's quite possible that you won't be able to get the books you want in e-book format anywhere. This is the most important step.

2. Remember the DRM's EPub is no less restricted than Amazon's format. It doesn't matter that Epub is open if you are buying DRM'd epub.

3. The Kindle store has 75-80% of the US market. Sony has about 5%, and B&N has the rest, with a few percentage points left over for all other publishers.

4. Look at the readers again. K3 screen is a Pearl e-ink screen and notably better than the Nook's older screen.

5. Think about getting an iPad (or Samsung tab) with the Kindle App and the Nook App.

[Care]

I don't know what the details are on your order, but I have to order supplies on a regular basis for my business via UPS and USPS and since Christmas everything has been either extremely late or there were problems with shipping. Maybe just give it a few more days? I know that can be frustrating, believe me I know as I depend on prompt deliveries.

I looked into getting the Pocketbook IQ and the Pandigital Novel. I ended up deciding against them because they just couldn't compare to the NOOKcolor. If I didn't want to spend the extra $100 I would probably get the Pocketbook.

[PegS]

Hike, if it's stuck in Denver, then it's unlikely to be a B&N issue but rather an issue with UPS or whomever they're using as a carrier. If you're always had 3 day service from them it wouldn't hurt to give them a bit of slack over something that was most likely out of their control. I know the weather issues have eased up around the country, but earlier this week 1/2 the people at my company who were slated to go to a conference had their flights canceled so the same weather issues might have held up your order.

[wvcherrybomb]

Originally Posted by PegS

Hike, if it's stuck in Denver, then it's unlikely to be a B&N issue but rather an issue with UPS or whomever they're using as a carrier.

My thoughts exactly. Once an item is shipped, B&N has no control over what happens.

[Xanthe]

You don't want your Nook because of a shipping delay? What does one have to do with the other? If you wanted immediate gratification you should have just bought a new one right in the store.

The fault is probably with the carrier, not with B&N. It could have been affected by the various snow storms across the country that have shut down roads and airports. There has got to have been a huge backlog in shipping with all of the carriers. If the carrier used was FedEx, expect the package to travel all around the country before it gets to you (that's been my experience with anything that's shipped to me using them). As others have said, once the item leaves B&N's warehouse, they have very little control over it after that.

[starrlamia]

tablet or open reader like the pocketbook IQ might be the best way to go. It really doesnt matter what device you get, there will always be some restrictions. Unless you use a tablet or something that supports apps you have to kind of deal with it.
There are quite a few bookstores online that sell both mobi and epub. www.inkmesh.com can give you an idea on pricing and whats available where on specific titles.

[maianhvk]

Andrew H. told you all the important points in buying an appropriate reader. Karma for his post.

Just one more thing, you need to get back to your requirements, not your prejudice. hope this helps.

P.S.: IMO and according to your post, the possibility is Kindle. You may not like it very much at first, but you'll love it after a while

[hike_gc]

Thanks for the inkmesh mention. I hadn't found that site before.

The reason I am so willing to walk away from Barnes and Noble is that if you can't wow me on the first transaction, chances are any future transactions won't go any better. I simply don't want the hassle. I ordered the Nook with the intention of also buying ebooks from them. The reality is Amazon and Barnes and Noble have the best prices (as well as availability) for the books I intend to read with the Nook (business, computer, reference).

Many online stores have chosen to use cheaper shipping methods as well as third parties to ship their products in order to cut costs. I've noticed many of my online orders take a lot longer to reach me in recent months. If a company puts the bottom line ahead of excellent customer service, that's their choice. Mine is to not shop with them. It's not worth the hassle.

Ironically enough, the cover I ordered directly from m-edge has already arrived and I ordered it within minutes of placing my Nook order. M-edge uses FedEx and shipped from Maryland. Barnes and Noble shipped from New Jersey. (I am in Arizona.).

If I could have purchased the refurbished Nook at the local store, I would have done so. The clerk at the local store told me the refurbished units are only sold online at the Barnes and Noble website. He said any Nook units returned to the local stores (regardless of the reason for the return) are required to be returned to the corporate Barnes and Noble. At the time, the cost savings of purchasing the refurbished Nook seemed worth it.

It seems like this would be a lot less complicated if I would just download Calibre and learn to convert ebooks to my format of choice.

[HarryT]

The Kindle has a significantly better screen than the nook; it's using a 3rd generation "Pearl" eInk screen compared to the nook's 2nd generation screen; Pearl screens have around 50% better contrast, which makes a big difference. The only other devices currently on the market with Pearl screens are the Sony Readers, so it might be worth taking a look at those too.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by hike_gc

I am totally steamed at Barnes and Noble and feel the need to re-start my search for a reader. The re-furbished Nook I ordered on 1/8 (that shipped a day later than B&N said it would on 1/12) has now spent 2 days in Denver and shows no indication of ever reaching my door. I've always had 3 day service from B&N and am just appalled at this lack of service.

So now I don't want to do business with Barnes and Noble and need to find a reliable company to purchase an e-reader from.

Here are my requirements. The ability to add notes, highlighting, bookmarking. Wi-Fi/3G not a deal breaker. Prefer e-ink over LCD but will consider LCD for the right reader. The ability to purchase IT and other reference books (mostly business) is a deal breaker. The Sony store has a limited (and pricey) selection. I know O'Reilly has their own e-bookstore but they are not the only publisher in the IT/reference book world and I need access to more books than that. While I know some will strip DRMs in order to get access to the books they need, I do not have the time or inclination to do so. I'm sort of hoping there are other e-book stores out there that cater to the business/IT crowd that I haven't found yet which would aid in my search for the right reader.

I know the more obvious choices is the Kindle, but if I had my druthers, would rather not enter that world.

Thanks in advance for your input.

You and I are in the same situation. I need a larger format reader and need it now. I had hoped to have an Adam by now but they are still a while out for normal ordering and are currently only to be had via some odd pre-order system based on posting to their blog...eh, weird is not always a bad thing.

I don't know if you visiting my thread pretty much venting over the same issues and needs you indicate. Here is the link:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=115435

After a ton of research as well as solid input from people who have been following things more closely that I have for a while, I ended up with a Kindle DX Graphite as a SHORT TERM solution. It is horrible for taking notes, it is marginal for PDF and is, well, not color. I briefly flirted with an Entourage Edge (the full size) as I can run the Kindle for Android app on the LCD panel but the price is just more than I can justify, not when the Adam is looming so close on the horizon.

Now if I could find a used Edge for $250-$300 I would be all over it. Even now after ordering my DXG for Monday delivery (UPS is on taking MLK day off). I LOVE the idea of the Edge as a research tool. It need an app like OneNote or Evernote (I am not sure but Evernote might be out for Android but maybe not the version of Android on the current Edge. Last Entourage the company, has not really impressed me in terms of showing me they are here to stay. If Irex can go teats-up then Entourage, in this economy, could easily pack-up the U-Hauls in the middle of the night and be gone.

I have decided to use the DXG as a short term research tool and might sell my K2i to buy a Pocketbook 360. Then i WILL buy an Adam mid-summer or so when things settle and we know more about the devices and the company. But to my instincts, the Adam IS the device. Of course who knows what HP ius brewing in their Skunk Works built around WebOS. However I am not sure we need yet another, and late to the dance to boot, OS to deal with.

That was my solution for what it is worth anyway, but I don't find it ideal. Oh, one reason in favor of Amazon is the much larger and usually less costly ebook editions of my reference and tech material.

[snipenekkid]

Originally Posted by hike_gc

Thanks for the inkmesh mention. I hadn't found that site before.

The reason I am so willing to walk away from Barnes and Noble is that if you can't wow me on the first transaction, chances are any future transactions won't go any better. I simply don't want the hassle. I ordered the Nook with the intention of also buying ebooks from them. The reality is Amazon and Barnes and Noble have the best prices (as well as availability) for the books I intend to read with the Nook (business, computer, reference).

Many online stores have chosen to use cheaper shipping methods as well as third parties to ship their products in order to cut costs. I've noticed many of my online orders take a lot longer to reach me in recent months. If a company puts the bottom line ahead of excellent customer service, that's their choice. Mine is to not shop with them. It's not worth the hassle.

Ironically enough, the cover I ordered directly from m-edge has already arrived and I ordered it within minutes of placing my Nook order. M-edge uses FedEx and shipped from Maryland. Barnes and Noble shipped from New Jersey. (I am in Arizona.).

If I could have purchased the refurbished Nook at the local store, I would have done so. The clerk at the local store told me the refurbished units are only sold online at the Barnes and Noble website. He said any Nook units returned to the local stores (regardless of the reason for the return) are required to be returned to the corporate Barnes and Noble. At the time, the cost savings of purchasing the refurbished Nook seemed worth it.

It seems like this would be a lot less complicated if I would just download Calibre and learn to convert ebooks to my format of choice.

That is why I am happy to pay Amazon the $79/yr for Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime members get put at the head of the work-list and ship same day as ordered. Plus when needed the $3.99/item upgrade to overnight has saved my rear-end more times than I can count. Yeah, now and then a thing costs me a few bucks more, but at least I can get it NOW when I need it now. And normal orders are 2-days and remember Prime member orders are processed first. For me this is better than a Costco membership, by far...no driving for me. You can even buy Nooks and other readers on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...qid=1295165286

[hike_gc]

I've thought about trading in my Sony 505, but don't think I am ready to part with it yet. I even went to the Sony site to see how much they would give me, but found my grip on the PRS 505 tightening at the thought of giving it up. It's great for my regular pleasure reading. I am hesitant to go with the LCD screens because I spend most of my day using computers and I don't want the added eye strain. My dream is to see an affordable color e-ink screen on a wi-fi/3g device.

I really should look at this new purchase as a short term investment and not something I will keep for years. The technology is changing quickly and in the net 6-12 months may have much better choices of devices and where I can purchase my reference books.

I was surprised as the significant price differences among the various stores of the ebooks I priced on inkmesh. Amazon and Barnes and Noble generally have the best prices overall and reference books can be quite costly. Amazon and Barnes and Noble might be leaders of the pack as far as affordable readers and ebook prices right now but I don't want to get burned when the mighty fall as often happens. I'm a demanding customer who is finicky about where I place my loyalties, hence my frustration with Barnes and Noble. Even if I view this as a short term purchase, it could be a long 6-12 months if B&N makes a mess of every purchase I make with them.

I have seen the Edge device and might consider the smaller device. At some point this year I would like to invest in a tablet device for my business ( I am an accountant), so I don't always have to drag around my laptop.

What is the Adam device coming out? Is there a link somewhere to their website?

For now my focus must be continuing my quest to reduce the paper in my life (business and professional), and this e-reader is my next step on that quest. I urge my clients to reduce the amount of paper they use, so I need to practice what I preach.