A Review of Barnes and Noble Nook
Launched last October 2009, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, one of the latest handheld ereaders out there today, was seen as a possible contender to unseat the Amazon Kindle from its dominance in the ereader industry. What has it got that makes it a significant challenger This Nook review explores the many features of this ebook reader.
Size and Display
First off, the basic specs. The Nook’s surface dimensions are fairly standard. It is 7.7 inches in length, 4.9 inches wide, 0.5-inch thick, and has a weight of 11.2 ounces. It’s about the same size as the 2nd generation Kindle ? only thicker and a bit more heavy. The device also comes with a 6-inch monitor that uses e-ink technology with 16 shades of gray, and a number of choices for font type and size.
But what undoubtedly gives it a wow factor that’s not present on most ebook readers today is its 3.5-inch capacitive color touchscreen. Located just below the e-ink screen, the LCD monitor replaces the standard keyboard and buttons used for choosing ebooks and navigating within the ereader and the text itself.
More Noteworthy Features
The Nook is pre-loaded with 2GB of internal memory and a micro-SD expansion slot so it’s easy to add more memory as the need arises. The ebook device also comes with a replaceable lithium ion battery pack, 3G connection through the AT&T network, wireless connectivity, MP3 player, speakers, and a dictionary so you can easily look up unfamiliar words.
Other Nook features that are completely unique from other ebook readers are its book lending and store browsing capabilities. As the term implies, book lending refers to being able to lend out an ebook in your library to another ereader user for a 14-day period. The in-store browsing feature, on the other hand, means having the chance to browse full ebooks at no cost in brick-and-mortar Barnes & Noble shops.
Some Concerns
This Nook assessment won’t be complete if we fail to mention a few of the concerns expressed by current Nook users. One is the absence of web browsing capacity despite its WiFi connectivity. Another serious concern is the Nook’s seemingly insufficient battery life as compared to other ereaders. Barnes & Noble says it could last about 7 to 10 days with the WiFi deactivated, but for actual users, 4 to 5 days is more like it.
Considering the Nook’s superior features and Barnes & Noble’s value-added services, the Nook could have a big impact on the ereader market. Still, this Nook review points out that you’ll still find quite a few changes that have to be made, for the device to really take off in a big way.
Is the Nook from Barnes and Noble the best ebook reading device for you? Drop by the site to look over an detailed Nook review and see how it compares to other portable ebook readers availabletoday!
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