Launched in October of 2009, the Barnes and Noble Nook was seen as a possible candidate to unseat the Amazon Kindle from its dominance in the ereader industry. What has it got that makes it a serious challenger? This Nook review explores the many features of this ebook reader.
Size and Display
BARNES AND NOBLE
First off, the basic specs. The Nook's surface dimensions are fairly standard. It is 7.7 inches in length, 4.9 inches in width, 0.5-inch thick, and weighs 11.2 ounces. It is roughly about the same size as the 2nd generation Kindle - only thicker and a bit heavier. The device also comes with a 6-inch e-ink display with 16 shades of gray, and a number of choices for font type and size.
But perhaps what gives it a wow factor that's not found on most ebook readers today is its 3.5-inch capacitive color touchscreen. Located just below the e-ink display, the LCD screen replaces the standard keyboard and buttons, used for making ebook selections and navigating within the ereader and the text itself.
Other Value-Added Features
The Nook is equipped with 2GB of internal storage and a micro-SD expansion slot so it's easy to add more memory as the need arises. It also comes with a replaceable lithium ion battery, 3G connection through the AT&T network, WiFi connectivity, MP3 player, speakers, and built-in dictionary.
Other Nook features completely unique from other ebook readers are the book lending and store browsing capabilities. As the name implies, book lending refers to being able to lend out an ebook in your library to another ereader user for a 14-day period. In-store browsing, on the other hand, means having the option to browse full ebooks at no cost in brick-and-mortar Barnes & Noble outlets.
Some Issues
This Nook review won't be complete if we don't mention some of the concerns expressed by current Nook owners. One is the device's lack of web browsing feature despite its WiFi connectivity. Another serious concern is the Nook's short battery life. 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.
With the Nook's advanced features and Barnes & Noble's innovative services, the Nook could have a big impact on the ebook reader market. But as this Nook review points out, there are still a number of improvements that have to be made, for the device to really take off in a big way.
Nook Review - Barnes and Noble Nook Ups the Cool Factor BARNES AND NOBLE
0 comments:
Post a Comment