Barnes and Noble is making a push. They are taking a swing at rival Amazon to try and win future Ebook domination with the release of their new “Nook Color”.
Both of the Nook Color and Kindle 2 have a lot at stake, particularly since the announcement that Amazon recently made that they sold more online books than print ones for the last quarter. Ebook sales will obviously gain more and more pertinence to these giant companies bottom line.
Let’s take a long hard look at the newest contestant to enter the ring. Fighting in the “Barnes and Noble” corner, wearing the blue trunks weighing in at a cool 15.8 ounces it is…. Nooooook Cooolllloooor
An Overview of the Nook Color: The Positives.
1) Color Screen: Nook Color has color. Kindle is not even really close. The color is great and rich and the resolution is awesome. There is little bad that can be said about the Nook Color when it comes to their color. As for glare… we will get to that.
2) An android based reader. When run by Android it can do everything an android 2.1 can do, and will be updated to android 2.2 in new year with firmware updates. This means a TON of functionality.
3) Touch screen LCD. Check! LED Back lit. Check!
4) Web Browser. As part of android. NO flash in 2.1 but will be integrated in 2.2 come January
5) Video playback. A very cool tool Kindle is not even close to.
6) Sleek can “cool” looking design
7) Storage. 8GB for Nook Color vs 4GB for Kindle. 4GB is an insane amount of books (1600 or so). Once you start putting videos on a Nook, that space is gone, though.
8) Library of choice. Barnes and Noble has a library of 2 million titles. Right now Amazon has one of 765,000. That is a lot of books and Amazon likely has what you want. But have to give a point to B&N here for nearly 3 times the library size.
An Overview of the Nook Color: The Negatives
1) Color Screen: How can the #1 positive also be the #1 negative. Let me say it in one word: Glare. When you want a color screen you cannot beat the nook. It has great picture and resolution. Want to sit in the sun or even with a bright light at you back, though… forget about it. The glare will make a the color screen all but unreadable. Outside of glare situations Nook Color is a winner. It is simply that it is a big, “But”.
2) Weight: 15.8 ounces which is nearly 2 times the 8.7 ounces of Kindle. Both are pretty light but holding it up reading for a long time can make a difference
3) Battery life: 8 hours reading time only. Less running videos, I assume. Compared to Kindles 30 DAY battery life there simply is no comparison
4) Price: You get a lot for it but at $249 against Kindles $189 people who want the extra functionality may just go for The IPAD or other pad clones.
An Overview of the Nook Color:
If you want it just for an eBook reader, go with Kindle. Lighter weight, insanely long battery life, ease of use, and lack of glare make it the better eBook reader. BUT that decision is a very close one.
If you want it for any of the other purposes at all, there is no contest at all. Nook is your only choice. The only question is if you REALLY want tablet functionality at what point does the more expensive (and better) IPAD become an option.
If you are thinking about purchasing Nook Color, you should take a moment to think about getting some sort of Nook E-Book Cover along with it, for both safey and style.
November 29th, 2010 at 12:28 am
What happens if Barnes and Nobles goes Chapter 13?
January 5th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
What about the original Nook? It is anexcellent alternative to the kindle. Especially since barnes and noble doesn’t limit where you get your books from like the kindle does…