Forget the IPad, I may get this instead

[soocool]

I was wondering what I would want in terms of an electronic reader. I was trying to decide between a Kindle or IPad. Well I just read this (see below) and decided I may just wait and see about this Barnes & Noble Nook e-book reader. If it is true, it has everything that I would want at a very reasonable price.

First, there’s word that Barnes & Noble is preparing to launch an all-color version of its Nook e-book reader. The Nook Color is allegedly going to be a 7-inch color tablet, still based on Google’s Android operating system, and will be priced around $245—making it considerably less expensive than the Apple iPad. The new Nook could use a new color display from Qualcomm that works well in all sorts of light, supports up to 30 frames per second of video and still requires very little power. What it means to you: a color Nook would offer a better way to read electronic magazines, cookbooks, and books with built-in videos, as well as surfing the web, and it would be more affordable (and accessible) for older users than more complex devices. Reality check: the rumors are pretty specific, so this one looks solid.

 

[TravelingGal]

Sounds good if this is what you are looking for in an ereader. But I don't see how you could have long battery life with all this stuff...although even if it were a few days, I think that would have longer life than the iPad?

 

[soocool]

Sounds good if this is what you are looking for in an ereader. But I don't see how you could have long battery life with all this stuff...although even if it were a few days, I think that would have longer life than the iPad?

It said it would require very little power. Just have to wait and see what the specs are when it comes out. Would be nice to have for Christmas though.

 

[TravelingGal]

Here you go socool...you only have to wait 3 weeks or so...

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/26/5355316-barnes-noble-unveils-249-full-color-e-reader-tablet

ETA 8 hour battery life without wireless off. And backlit. No thanks.

If you want to READ, stick with e-ink. Yes it's a lot for not a lot, but if you want to read, it's priceless.

 

[TravelingGal]

OK, I've checked out the specs and my initial vote would be to pass. Why?

WiFi only. I think 3G is wonderful. Amazon has it for free, and of course you can have the service on an iPad

Proprietary - you are limited to B&N. Considering this thing is just a tablet (but not a "real" one), why not buy a tablet and just get the reading app you want?

No outside apps allowed - so you can run much else on it other than what B&N makes available

LCD - again, not optimal for long term reading.

Short battery life for reading. I believe iPad has as long if not longer battery life, and can do a lot more.

It looks like a device that isn't going to do anything particularly well. I'd determine what you want to do with a portable device (be it reading or surfing the web or watching videos) and get either the Kindle or the iPad. You get way more with the iPad for $250 more. It's kind of a poor man's iPad, so if you're not poor...well, you know!

 

[TravelingGal]

btw, Amazon is also proprietary, so obviously that doesn't bother me that much. But I like the selection offered and I like to browse on their website.

 

[soocool]

TG, thanks for the info. I may not opt for this one coming out, but am still considering the eNook based on CNET's review and comparison to the Kindle. I may also look at the Sony reader to compare.

What I like about the eNook: has an expansion micro SD slot
I don't need 3G. WiFi is fine for me. WiFi runs on any WiFi, not just B&N.
I believe it is the only ereader that runs on an android operating system
has a removable battery
turns WiFi off automatically when not in use


I just need to read all the reviews for the eNook and the Kindle to be sure what I want.

 

[waterlilly]

I haven't looked, but if prices are comparable, I would go iPad all the way. The amount of "stuff" you get by having access to apps really is amazing. I don't have a reader, but recently got my first iPod, the G4 touch, after trying Microsoft's Zune. I had the zune for 2 weeks and was really disappointed with it, I got the iPod and am a complete Apple convert now. I am absolutely blown away by all the amazing things this simple little gadget offers me...I didn't think I would be so smitten with apps - but am totally addicted now. I can use my iPod to listen to any radio on the planet practically, check my email, send/receive text messages to phone numbers, take pictures and video and upload it to anywhere I want, use facebook, stream netflix movies, watch hulu, listen to free audio books via the various applications etc. etc. etc. The only thing it is missing is a data plan to allow me to access the 3g network (is only wifi), and from what I understand - that is where the iPad comes in. Anything you can imagine - there's an app for that (and it's likely a free app too), recipes, shopping list apps, games, photo editing, I could go on forever! If you will be taking the reader with you on vacation/trips, etc. you will have access to SO many different types of programs/applications, etc. you won't need to bring a computer with you. If that is at all appealing, I would really consider the iPad. The only thing missing is a Pricescope app!

edited to add = oops, duh, saw that you talked about price in your post!

 

[soocool]

Got an email from B&N:

From what I am looking for this is what I like

:Media Player
•Use NOOKcolor as an audio player for your MP3 and AAC files to listen to audio books or music.
•NOOKcolor holds up to 100 hours of audio.
•Watch videos in MP4 format.
•Built-in mono speaker.
•Universal 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.

Expandable Storage
•8GB*** (up to 6000 eBooks) built in memory.
•Expand your memory up to 32GB with microSD™ memory card.

Color Touchscreen Display
•Stunning 7 inch VividView™ Color Touchscreen (Wonder if this is their fancy name for LCD?)shows more than 16 million colors on the best-in-class IPS** display.
•Incredibly clear, sharp text and images from an unsurpassed high resolution display at 1024 x 600 delivering 169 pixels per inch (PPI).
•Reduced glare and optimum brightness for reading indoors or outside.
•Backlit for easy reading day or night.[/b

Nook Extras
•Pandora® internet radio
•Games: Chess & Sudoku
•Crossword Puzzles
•Media Gallery (for photos and videos)

Supported File Types****
Load these popular formats for eBooks, graphics, audio, and other file types from your computer or microSD card.
•EPUB (including Non or Adobe DRM)
•PDF
•Other documents: XLS, DOC, PPT, PPS, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM, DOCX, XLX, PPTX
•Graphics: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP
•Audio: MP3, AAC
•Video: MP4

The only drawback is the battery life of 8 hours.

What I think I will do is WAIT! I'll go the B&N to see one and find a friend who has the Kindle (I've pretty much decided against an IPad). My nephew's MIL works for B&N so it may be possible to get a discount on this or just a regular eNook, but I will wait see some reviews before I finally decide.

Too bad we can't just build our own reader with the features we want much like you can with a Dell computer.

 

[TravelingGal]

Got an email from B&N:

From what I am looking for this is what I like

:Media Player
•Use NOOKcolor as an audio player for your MP3 and AAC files to listen to audio books or music.
•NOOKcolor holds up to 100 hours of audio.
•Watch videos in MP4 format.
•Built-in mono speaker.
•Universal 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack.

Expandable Storage
•8GB*** (up to 6000 eBooks) built in memory.
•Expand your memory up to 32GB with microSD™ memory card.

Color Touchscreen Display
•Stunning 7 inch VividView™ Color Touchscreen (Wonder if this is their fancy name for LCD?)shows more than 16 million colors on the best-in-class IPS** display.
•Incredibly clear, sharp text and images from an unsurpassed high resolution display at 1024 x 600 delivering 169 pixels per inch (PPI).
•Reduced glare and optimum brightness for reading indoors or outside.
•Backlit for easy reading day or night.[/b

Nook Extras
•Pandora® internet radio
•Games: Chess & Sudoku
•Crossword Puzzles
•Media Gallery (for photos and videos)

Supported File Types****
Load these popular formats for eBooks, graphics, audio, and other file types from your computer or microSD card.
•EPUB (including Non or Adobe DRM)
•PDF
•Other documents: XLS, DOC, PPT, PPS, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM, DOCX, XLX, PPTX
•Graphics: JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP
•Audio: MP3, AAC
•Video: MP4

The only drawback is the battery life of 8 hours.

What I think I will do is WAIT! I'll go the B&N to see one and find a friend who has the Kindle (I've pretty much decided against an IPad). My nephew's MIL works for B&N so it may be possible to get a discount on this or just a regular eNook, but I will wait see some reviews before I finally decide.

Too bad we can't just build our own reader with the features we want much like you can with a Dell computer.

Again soocool, I'd just advise you take stock of what you want to do. Do you take international trips and enjoy reading on the plane? The battery life won't take you the entire trip on this thing. Will you be watching movies and like stereo? This has a mono speaker (don't know what the ipad has).

Backlit for "easy" reading day or night is a little misleading...it will let you easily SEE the display but won't be easy on the eyes. It is LCD from what I understand. The display may be pretty good though and if LCD doesn't bother you, or if you don't read for hours on end then it might be fine. If you can see yourself reading for an hour here or there, watching a video on it and using it to store pictures to show your friends (I find most people do this on their phone though), then it would fit the bill. Some people can also read on LCD for much longer without eyestrain.

If you really decide that you want something like NookColor, I'd advise you to also look to see what android tablets are out there. There might be some in the right price range that are less restrictive and let you buy apps. If the Kindle platform is available for whatever you are buying, then you'd have an ereader not unlike this NookColor.

I have always liked that B&N supports EPub though, but haven't found it an issue for me personally with my Kindle.

 

[soocool]

TGal,

Thanks for all your input. It was just that the B&N color nook looks so attractive at first. I will wait and decide because I truly am not sure what it is that I want. DH and I don't take international flights and seldom fly anymore since we bought a vacation home this year that we can drive to. I think first and foremost I want a reader that I can use to borrow books from the library or read the classics again (free books) Right now I read many books via Google. I don't see a need to buy books since I probably won't reread many of them. DH and I also have different taste in reading materials as well.

Another thing I'd like to use it for is cook books that incorporate short videos and I know DH would like to read the newspaper.

But I do agree with you when I read books on line I can not read for very long. I have been hearing something about Mirasol technology and will wait until sometime next year to buy something. This is what I read online:

Qualcomm has had some experience with supplying eReader parts in the past — like the 3G modems found in the Amazon Kindle — but it looks like they’ll be getting directly into the eReader game this upcoming Fall.

Qualcomm has been talking to anyone who will listen about their incorporation of Mirasol technology — a type of reflective screen that uses color film optics and is bi-stable (in Layman’s: it’s color E-Ink) — in the eReader field, but finally released some hard details. They will be working with a “brand partner for the e-reader space to be announced in the first quarter of 2010,” according to Cheryl Goodman who is director of marketing for Qualcomm.

The as of yet unnamed and unbranded device will run a 5.7-inch Mirasol color screen and feature a massive 1024×768 pixel resolution with a 220 dpi. In contract, most 5 to 6-inch eReaders feature a 800×600 resolution with around 160 dpi. It is also capable of playing video files in 30 frames per second. The Mirasol display uses the same power method as an E-Ink screen. It takes a small charge to rearrange the display and requires no additional energy to keep the screen stable. That way even a color eReader could last around 8,000 page turns on a single charge with the current batteries available.

Next year is shaping up to be an interesting year for color eReaders. In addition to Qualcomm’s Mirasol technology, Pixel Qi and Bridgestone will be releasing eReaders and other gadgets utilizing their screen technologies. It’s possible that by this time next year we could see 2nd and 3rd generations of the Kindle and Nook using color technology… if the Apple Tablet or Microsoft Courier hasn’t wiped eReaders off the map by then.

 

[iLander]

SooCool,

B&N is a company on the ropes. I think in 2 years they will be gone.

In my business, I get emails from companies that manage receivables and B&N is high on their list of soon-to-be-dead. So, if you can only use B&N books, then you will have a paperweight. I think this one will go the way of the original Sony e-book reader from the '90's.

With an iPad you can also watch TV shows, etc. It costs more because it does more, and you might want the flexibility in the future.

 

[soocool]

SooCool,

B&N is a company on the ropes. I think in 2 years they will be gone.

In my business, I get emails from companies that manage receivables and B&N is high on their list of soon-to-be-dead. So, if you can only use B&N books, then you will have a paperweight. I think this one will go the way of the original Sony e-book reader from the '90's.

With an iPad you can also watch TV shows, etc. It costs more because it does more, and you might want the flexibility in the future.

I didn't know about B&N! There were a few other ereader manufacturers that went under because they just did not have the market share. I thought that the Kindle's biggest competitor of late has been B&N's eNook.

It would be fantastic to have a generic ereader that would accept all formats. But that is the problem with ebooks. There are so many incompatible file formats and digital rights format technologies that each ereader manufacturer cannot support all of them.

I guess the books that are in PDF format are no problem since they are public domain.

I just noted something on cnet.com about Samsung coming out with an android tablet which they believe will strongly compete with the Apple iPad.

So for now I am buying zilch, nada, nothing until I sort all this out.

 

[TravelingGal]

soocool,

If that's what you want to do, check out nook (regular) and sony e-reader. I believe both support epub and both support library lending, but please double check on this as I am not sure.

However, as ilander said, because they both were not able to get close to the Kindle in terms of market share, I don't know how much longer they are going to focus on the ereader market. Of course, with B&N, it makes sense for them to continue trying.

Kindle has many many classics for free as they are public domain. It doesn't sound like you really need a color ereader...just a regular one.


Ah, just saw the part about you wanting to read cookbooks with videos. I would imagine Nook Color would be good for that. But I would think the computer would be the easier thing!

Tough choice...

 

[Kismet]

The Nook does support epub so you can get free books from a site like Project Gutenberg. My Library system supports lending books to the Nook (and Sony and Kobo and Paradigital).