The Nook from Barnes & Noble – I Want One, Here’s Why

October 21, 2009 · Posted in eBooks · View Comments

nook-money-shot I’m more excited about the Nook than I have been about any other ebook reader. This might be the one that finally gets me to buy one. Why?

8 Reasons You Can Finally Love Ebook Readers (Thanks to Nook) from Gizmodo

It’s cost-effective even with Wi-Fi, native PDF support, an SD slot and that crazy second screen makes it seem out of the Kindle’s league.
Lending and Sharing – 2 week loans to you can lend to tons of different devices: Mac, PC, iPhone, iPod Touch, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Mobile (soon).
Free in-store reading - take the Nook to any of Barnes & Noble’s stores and read one ebook, for free, each time—the same way you might wander into the store, pick up a book and read it for an hour or two. (I do this!)
Head-turning looks
Android – two things to be excited about when it comes to Android. First is the legit apps, which B&N seems open to. Second the more illicit possibilities: The Nook both runs Android (which we already know is easily and enthusiastically modified) and has a microUSB jack, which should make for easy hacking
The second screen - a keyboard and Cover-Flow-esque browsing in color without the awkwardness and lethargy of e-ink, allows for multitasking. You’ll be able to read a book and control your music at the same time, and because the music browser will be on the LCD screen, it won’t look like e-inked crap.
Battery Life – 10-days and it’s replaceable!
Both 3G and Wi-Fi

From the New York Times Live Blog: Barnes & Noble Unveils E-Reader

The digital books in Barnes & Noble’s e-bookstore are available in either epub or Adobe Pdf format. Customers who want to buy books in those formats from other digital bookstores may do so and transfer them onto the Nook, but those who want to buy e-books directly from the device will be connected to Barnes & Noble’s own bookstore.

From the Wall Street Journal Live From the Nook Launch (Don’t Call It a Kindle)

Digits commenter provides useful info: Derek writes, “Just bought 2 online – Per invoice ‘Expected Ship Date: November 30, 2009′.”

I have just one question – Will they play ball with libraries?

See more:

Watch a video demo Barnes & Noble Nook Up Close: Yep, It’s Real Nice
Compare to the Kindle
Barnes & Noble Compares Nook to Kindle 2: Biased But Fair
Barnes & Noble Unveils Kindle-Killing, Dual-Screen ‘Nook’ E-Reader (Updated)
Pre order one
Nook is Coming: Barnes & Noble’s Kindle Killer

Tags: <barnes and noble, book, borrowing, ebook, ereader, ereaders, in store, kindle, lending, nook, reader, wi-fi>

New ebook reader to watch – the Cooler

June 30, 2009 · Posted in eBooks · View Comments

I love the idea of an ebook reader, but I have problems with Amazon’s Kindle, foremost being price and inability to load my own content on without sending it through Amazon. I’ve been playing with the Sony Reader the last week or so but I don’t love it either. Since I want to love ebook readers I’m on the look out for anything that might improve them. The Cooler is an interesting venture in the market. It’s sleeker and well, prettier, it comes in 8 colours including ruby red, vivid violet and hot pink, you can view jpg, pdf, txt, and mp3 files right to it yourself. Its not without its problems, only one navigation buttons and books in the cooler store are more expensive than Amazon Kindle Books, although the selection seemed good. Overall its compares to Sony’s version than Amazon’s.