When the Barnes & Noble Nook was first unveiled in October 2009, it was eagerly anticipated by many people because it offered some features which weren't available on Amazon's Kindle e-Book Reader at the time. Despite the pre launch hype, the original Nook did have its fair share of problems, most notably slow response times and software bugs. Barnes & Noble got to work on fixing these issues and released software updates which resolved many of them. The latest Nook has been improved significantly from its first edition. It's smaller, lighter and features a new touch screen for better navigation. With the Nooks advances in both software and hardware, can it outdo its main competitor - the Amazon Kindle? Read on to find out.
Features of the Barnes and Noble NOOK eBook Reader
- Stores 1500 books
- Over 1 million titles available
- Over 1 million titles available
- Reads in Sun light
- Connect using Wi-Fi or use Free Wi-Fi access at any AT&T hotspots
- Neonode's Zeforce infrared touch technology
- Long battery life - Up to 2 months from a single charge
Hands on
Straight out of the box, the new Nook looks impressive. It's 35% lighter than the first edition, the difference when holding it is remarkable. It's comfortable to hold with only one hand due to its size and weight. When holding it for long periods, it does get a bit heavy though so propping it up somewhere is advisable.
The e-Ink display is crisp, clear and has a great contrast. The print is slightly lighter than on the Kindle, but the difference isn't big. When turning pages, the screen refresh is noticeably quicker than the first Nook which does a lot to improve the overall reading experience.
Navigation
The color touch screen is nice. It allows you to see book covers and navigate through your books with a touch of a finger. It is slower than an iPhone touch screen, but the response time is still adequate enough. The good thing about this feature is, it doesn't involve making smudge marks on the reading screen as the touch screen is a separate screen beneath.The ability to organize your book collection by categories is a very welcome feature which comes in handy.
Wi-Fi Access
The Wi-Fi can be accessed either through your own Wi-Fi connection or for free using AT&T hotspots. It allows you to connect to secured networks unlike many other e-Book readers which restrict you to unsecured networks. The web browser is good for mobile sites, such as the mobile version of email services. If you view standard web sites, then you need to pan to each side to view the whole page so it makes browsing a little awkward.
Share and Share alike
A cool feature of the Nook is "LendMe". This allows you to lend books for 14 days to other people who have a Nook. This feature does have its limitations though. You can only lend a book if the publisher has allowed it, approximately a third of publishers allow you to lend books. Also, you can only lend any particular book once, even if it's to the same person.
Battery Life
The battery life isn't great; you get about one week's usage from a single charge. The color touch screen consumes a considerable amount of power I suspect. Turning off Wi-Fi and reducing the screen brightness does increase the battery life though, however.
Storage
The built-in storage capacity is reasonable. 2GB of internal storage is included which can hold up to 1500 books. There is a MicroSD expansion slot for extra storage, which is great especially if you're an avid reader.
Final Thoughts
On the downside, the touch screen is a little sluggish and takes some getting used to. Plus the glare from this screen can be quite bad. The web browser isn't too good; it's frustratingly slow to navigate and doesn't display regular websites well. The compatibility with numerous e-Book formats, the excellent e-Ink display, intuitive design and storage expandability are some of the strongest plus points of the Nook. Overall, the Nook is a classy e-Book Reader and a great alternative to Amazon's Kindle. Which one you prefer will depend on your personal preferences such as if the ePub support is important to you or whether you are comfortable using a touch screen, opposed to a physical keyboard.
by Steve D White
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