By Chris Scott Barr
The last month has been a pretty big one for e-book readers. Some of the highlights include Sony’s touchscreen e-reader, another from Irex and the international version of the Kindle. Well another big name has decided to throw their hat into the ring, and it’s a damn-good looking hat.
Barnes & Noble announced that they will be launching their own reader, dubbed ‘Nook’. The first thing you’ll notice about the Nook is that it has a pair of screens (not unlike the Alex Dual Screen we saw on Monday) instead of just the traditional one. There’s not much to say about the top 16-color e-ink screen, but the bottom is a full-color 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD. This can be used to browse through your library, or as a virtual keyboard for input.
The second screen isn’t the only thing the Nook has on most popular e-readers. In addition to having 3G service (through AT&T) for downloading content, it will also feature Wi-Fi. Why this has been left out of readers like the Kindle, I still don’t understand. As for content, it will support PDF’s natively, along with EPUB and various other eReader formats. They claim that you’ll have access to over a million ebooks.
Other notable features include 2GB of internal storage (expandable by 16GB via microSD), the ability to play MP3 audio (but no text-to-speech) and the ability to share books. That’s right, you can “loan” out an electronic book to friends using compatible devices for up to 14 days at a time. How cool is that? The only requirement is that your friend needs to have a device that is running the Barns & Noble software.
The Nook is going to go on sale sometime in November for the price of $259. With all of these features, you have to wonder what’s going through Amazon’s mind right now.
[ Barns & Noble ]
Looks like it is sit to go head to head with the kindle. As it now stands the price is too high for me. I think it will be a year or so till I get one.
That thing looks sweet.
To me Kindle is far ahead when it comes to fan base of any of the e style readers. This looks good though, more competition is always good.
I do a lot of reading, and I think I'd get a lot of use out of an e-book reader, but I can't bring myself to buy one. It'd be convenient at times, butI think I'd miss having actual books.
Are e-book readers that popular that so many new ones are popping up? Still, it's nice to see some new ideas.
The only drawback to these readers is that I don't like to read. Other than that, they're awesome!
I read about this at work, looks pretty legit. to bad i dont read hardly ever or else id be very interested in getting one. i think it is very cool that it runs android.
Every time a new eBook reader comes out, I want one more and more, but then I remember that by going to Half Price Books I can get an actual copy of the book for several dollars less than the digital version, and no matter how much you worship the digital revolution, you have to admit that a list on a little plastic contraption will never be as satisfying as shelves full of actual books. When they make eBooks 99¢ each, I might consider getting an eBook reader, but even then it would only be so I could read hard to find books before I buy a real copy.
very cool! Next I want a plug that will connect directly to my brain.
I'm keep getting excited about this, and it looks really great, but then I remember I'd be paying money for a device that enables me to pay more money for each ebook, and doesn't do much else. The iPod touch is smaller and doesn't use e-ink, but it handles ebooks and music and internet and more, and fits in my pocket for $60 less.
What interests me is how successful B&N will be in using this gadget to funnel ebook purchases through their store versus their competitors.
i really hope ebook readers don't get any more popular. i'm sick of seeing them.
I love this thing. I think the features are awesome, I think the price is comparable to the Kindle, and I think Barnes and Noble really stepped up to the plate setting the bar high for any new e-reader that comes out. That being said, I am not buying one. I want a $99 e-book, that will read standard document files (.pdf, .doc, etc.) really well, and that's it. It's not worth the extra money to have a colored LCD screen below my text, 20 books @ $10 each +$269 = $469. That's more than $23 per novel…and the most I would get out of it in a year.
I went to their website and one the things that I like is that you can buy new battery's and change them yourself, or have a backup battery.
I think that the Loaning idea is very cool. I like the screen for browsing the library. still a little pricey but hey its the future.
Ebook readers are just a ripoff. Like retro games being sold for download on current systems, you can see how much higher the profit margin is for those selling digital copies, and how much more expensive they are to buy than the original product. Sure, they'll put new releases on sale, but used books are a dime a dozen, especially if you buy them from a library or yardsale instead of from Barnes & Noble. Even Barnes and Noble has a dollar bin!
And real books, remember, are sturdy enough that you leave them in a closet for ten year, take them out to smash a bug on the wall, and still lend it to your friend for fifteen days or more without paying 200 clams.
I hope the bottom screen doesn't default to e- ads
Ebook readers are just a ripoff. Like retro games being sold for download on current systems, you can see how much higher the profit margin is for those selling digital copies, and how much more expensive they are to buy than the original product. Sure, they'll put new releases on sale, but used books are a dime a dozen, especially if you buy them from a library or yardsale instead of from Barnes & Noble. Even Barnes and Noble has a dollar bin!
And real books, remember, are sturdy enough that you leave them in a closet for ten years, take them out to smash a bug on the wall, and still lend it to your friend for fifteen days or more without paying 200 clams.
I hope the bottom screen doesn't default to e- ads