Barnes & Noble Nook - Kindle Killer?

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Barnes and Noble's new e-Ink ebook reader has been announced, and it looks impressive.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009...dle-killing-dual-screen-nook-e-reader-leaked/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/features/

In addition to all the usual features that ebook readers like Kindle have, it runs on Android and has two big features:

1) You can lend your books to other people via Nooks, smartphones, and I think computers, for a small period of time

2) In addition to the e-ink screen, it has a small touchscreen LCD screen which doubles as keyboard and book browsing menu (like Coverflow)

Wi-FI and 3G via AT&T to buy books wirelessly from B&N

This is an impressive reader, imo one-ups the Kindle.

 

[OmahaStar]

Just in reading over the descriptions and comparisons on that link, I am very much liking what I see. Especially the ability to read ... well, they're saying ALL ... ebook formats. That means I can get ebooks in whatever format I want, from whatever seller I want, and put it on there ... unlike the Kindle. If that's right, it also means I could buy Kindle ebooks, and read them on this device. I wonder how that would work? Anyway ... it looks like one hell of a machine, and I may just end up getting one.

 

[Starbreaker]

It certainly looks impressive... maybe they'll get in a price war now.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

Are the Kindle/Nook books DRM'd? Like if you get an e-book are you stuck with reading it on that one and only device or can you read it on your PC or other Kindles? That would make me reluctant to jump aboard.

 

[OmahaStar]

Are the Kindle/Nook books DRM'd? Like if you get an e-book are you stuck with reading it on that one and only device or can you read it on your PC or other Kindles? That would make me reluctant to jump aboard.

Kindle, yes. Nook, no. I read through the FAQ (under the "support" link). You can read through there, but here's the direct answer to your question:

Q. Can I read my nook's eBooks on other devices like my mobile phone? X Yes, you can read your eBooks across a wide range of devices in addition to your nook. All you need to do is download the free Barnes & Noble eReader app on your iPhone and iPod touch, BlackBerry® smartphone, or Windows® and Mac® laptops and desktop computers. And the eBooks purchased from BN.com will sync between your nook and other reading devices with the Barnes & Noble eReader app, so you always return to the last page you read.

 

[stoneroses]

As nice as all these things look. I will be sticking with my books because they don't break when you drop them, nobody wants to steel them and if I lose a book I can go and buy it again for little money.
However I do think these things are here to stay and they will get a lot cheaper which is when they will take off.

 

[23skidoo]

As nice as all these things look. I will be sticking with my books because they don't break when you drop them, nobody wants to steel them and if I lose a book I can go and buy it again for little money.

When Amazon remotely erased people's copies of 1984 from their Kindles a few months ago, I placed a permanent ban on any sort of e-books in my household. If they stopped printing books tomorrow (and they won't) I'd still have enough books in my own collection to last me for my remaining lifetime (a term I've disturbingly begun to use more and more after I turned 40!), and plenty more to choose from in the used bookstore venue if those are not enough. Amazon and others can swear to the moon that they'll never do it again; the very fact they could destroyed any trust I had in these things. When I buy a book I demand and expect full entitlement that it is mine forever until I choose otherwise. No excuses, no rationalization otherwise, no debate, and f--k anyone who says different.

Alex