Rik's Blog

Been thinking of getting myself one of these new ereaders for quite some time. And just bought myself a Nook.

Back in the days with my Palm I used to use a few different ereader software packages and found it quite good. Main disadvantage I've always had is the backlit screen.

Ever try reading a 500 page PDF file on a laptop or PC monitor in a single sitting? Sounds mad - right? Why is that do you think... For my part it's that hours of looking at a backlit monitor or screen is really tiring on the eyes. 1 or 2 hours is ok, but 5 or 6 is a definite no-no. You need to constantly refocus on something else, or go boggle-eyed.

So e-ink really intrigued me. Sony ereaders were the first, but the lack of content and early prices just didn't appeal. Then came the Kindle from Amazon.com. Now we had something with great content and some cool features. I managed to play with one of the early ones and it was buggy. Time was needed for the tech to mature a little. I'm considered by many friends as an early adoptor - but in all honesty I do have a threshold of how much pain I'm willing to put up with, and the first Kindle and Sony's were just that.

When Barnes and Noble announced the Nook I was intrigued... Now finally we had competition in the market, that and the fact that it was to be based on Android, have more of an open interface, and also be supported by one of the major bookstores in the US. Which led me to the next problem - I'm not living in the US.

For me, there are 2 main competitors - The Kindle and the Nook. An ipad or app for android/iphone just puts me back to my old days - I want e-ink.

The Kindle had 1 major issue for me at the start - availability of it here in Europe, and my inability to order content off the amazon.com store (.co.uk didn't have any content). Then Amazon expanded it to europe but content is very limited and it's expensive.

The Nook has similar limitations. You can only buy content through the device in the US, or with a US credit card through their online store. But this where it differed for me.. I already have a virtual prepaid credit card for use in the US. I already have a B&N account as I'm over in the US quite often and usually buy my books when I'm over. Largely because they're cheaper than here in Ireland, but also the experience in a US book store is really nice - you can read books, get coffee, are basically considered a valuable customer - try that in a book store here and you'ld probably get thrown out. And this leads me to one other feature which was the kicker for me - with the Nook you get automatic free wifi when in a B&N store as well as the ability to read books for free when in the store.

So I got one this last trip to NYC. And within minutes ordered about 3 books I was considering buying anyway. I bought 1 through the whispernet (free 3G connection) which downloaded straight away, and then 1 through the online store with my laptop and that was downloaded when I sycned up my Nook over the whispernet again.And just to complete the pay/download story I did try to connect to whispernet here in Ireland - so far no joy But I did order 1 more book online with my PC, and connecting via wifi the Nook downloaded it - sorted!

So what's it like...

Well, it's pretty much like reading a book. I've read quite a few reviews ahead of purchasing and to be honest it was a close call between it and the Kindle. Getting my hands on a US version easily swung it. That said, those reviews weren't all glowing. Quite a few of the issues appear to have been fixed in the 1.3 firmware update so pretty much everything works well for me. If I exit one book, go to another and then come back it knows where I left off. I can have quite a few bookmarks in a book - haven't hit a limit yet, but have yet to really push it.

I read "Haze" by L.E.Modesitt (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Haze/L-E-Modesitt/e/9781429969062/?) on the plane back to Ireland - all 272 pages (I slept some of the way) and it was a delight to read. Going back to the US (west coast this time, so 2x 5-6hr flights) in a few weeks time, and it'll be the great to carry just one Nook instead of 4 books!!! And that's where this thing really comes to the fore - travelling. Every trip to the west coast of US was 2 books - or if I go away on vacation usually 2 books a week (including the flight). So now I don't need to carry so much and I also get the benefit of cheaper US books so win-win for me

There's probably a lot more to it - but am only still getting used to it. Nearly finished my 2nd book - Imperium (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Imperium/Robert-Harris/e/9780743293877/?) by Robert Harris. After that I think I'll do a bit more exploring on the device and get back with another post.