OK...I bit...I got one !! I always said I liked books in hand, but the comments were telling me BUY BUY BUY. It's all your faults!!! Every Woot of ya !!

I'd like to have the color one, but I'll wait for now. I'm sure I'll have some fun with this. I better anyway :-) Oh, I threw in a 2 yr SQ warranty with a 30% off the first year as well just in case.

JET signing off (until the next Woot bites)

lots of android hacks for the nook color. I suppose you could hack this too and have a b/w android device and use kindle app as well as B*N apps.

So, I'm seriously considering getting one of these, but I had a couple quick questions before committing. My wife and I would be using these fairly heavily for reading pdfs (being graduate students), and she wants to be able to take notes. How well does the Nook support that? As far as I can tell, it doesn't work for direct pdfs (please correct me if I'm wrong); does it work well for pdfs converted to epub? Also, how well does Calibre generally handle that conversion? I've heard mixed things.

Furthermore, does the Kindle handle notes on pdfs without conversion?

I don't usually feel the push to have new gadgets, but the e-ink Pearl technology on the Kindle3 is seriously drool-worthy.

But borrowing from the library is no small thing either - so add a couple of points to the Nook.

Having both in the family does seem like a nice solution.

Still, I think the Kindle3 is in the lead for me. It's small, it's light, and so, so easy on the eyes.

thewronggrape wrote:I have been trying to decide between this and the new ad-supported Kindle. After reading over these comments and even making myself a fancy chart of features and differences (on my blog here), I have decided to get...

BOTH!

The Nook will be a gift for my boyfriend and the Kindle will be for me. We are very different types of readers so here's my reasoning.

He likes non-fiction. He likes self-published eBooks, essays, white papers, small indie publications, etc. It is highly likely that many of these will be offered in EPUB format. With a Kindle, he would have to convert them first via Calibre (and if there's DRM, go through more steps) before transferring. With the Nook, he can just download to his Mac and then transfer to the Nook. It is highly likely that most of his library will just be free eBooks.

3G will be a plus because he goes out and about more often than I do and can browse the B&N eBook store from most anywhere. I know you can't surf the web on 3G. Not a big deal.

Also, the keyboard on the Kindle looks awfully small for his fingers.

He doesn't care about the latest technology or gadget or if this gets replaced by a newer model in a month. Seems like it'll be great for doing what it's suppose to do: allowing you to read and carry a huge number of books with you.

The microSD is a plus. He can carry other files on it, not necessarily to be accessed by the Nook.

As for the Kindle, I like gadgets, I like new things, and what is newer than something that hasn't even been released yet? I don't mind ads - I like ads! It makes me feel like I'm on top of what's current. I also like reading fiction and new releases which most likely Amazon will have for the Kindle. I have tiny fingers and love the feeling of actually typing on physical keys.

So yeah, that's my reasoning, the only thing that's keeping me from getting this Woot is the mention that this exact thing has been offered cheaper before and may be found for cheaper later. I'm a sucker for a deal and would hate to get it only to find it cheaper in a few days/weeks from now.

Swayde wrote:I find swiping the touchscreen on the bottom of the Nook to be just as fun as turning pages, only easier and I never smudge my pages or get 2 that are difficult to separate. Fingerprints are easily wiped off with a soft cloth. I read mostly used books either bought cheaply, or borrowed, so I tend to get some in bad shape. Never a problem with my Nook. I don't know if Sony has that swipe to turn a page feature or not, but as that's something you really like to do, go for the Nook for sure.

Thanks for the tip. I went through a random sampling of books on my shelf and searched to see if there were e-versions of them on both Amazon and B&N. B&N got more hits than Amazon but not much. I do like the fact that you can get the older/used titles and never have to worry about ripped pages and beat-up bindings.

Also, books are heavy. I say the obvious because I paid $$$ to have them moved - twice -from east coast to west coast and back. At this point I'm averaging a move every two years, and so I am seriously considering a slow downsizing of the library. I will mourn it, though!

LOGICALPSYCHO wrote:Sorry but I don't think there is any valid reason for deleting books I purchased, off my e-reader.
They screwed up on licensing is not a valid reason in my eyes.

Either way if it doesn't bother you thats cool.

One more thing to keep in mind in the nook vs. kindle fight.
Memory.... the nook id expandable by 16 more gigs with a sd card. The new kindle iirc is 3 gigs with no sd slot.

I agree, if necessary, Amazon should have done a Mia Culpa with the publishers and paid them off or whatever, the paranoia they spawned will live on and one and will end up costing them lots of sales and irreparably damaging their reputation.

I have one of these my friend has a kindle.

The Kindle is a little smaller, thinner, and lighter weight. I believe the battery also lasts longer.

The Nook supports ePub(what libraries use) while the Kindle does not. This is the Kindle's biggest downfall imho.

The bottom touch screen on the Nook is nice but I am not sure it is that much better than the Kindle's keyboard. It does look nicer.

hgollup wrote:Can someone explain a few things about the WiFi and internet browser? Does the internet browser allow full access to the internet, or only e-Reader type of content like books? Will it work in Europe on WiFi networks there?

I don't know about Europe, but my wife tried to use hers in the Dominican Republic and it shut down. I guess they assumed it had been stolen or something, but after she tried to hook up to the local wifi it wouldn't even let her read the books she already had.

thewronggrape wrote:... the only thing that's keeping me from getting this Woot is the mention that this exact thing has been offered cheaper before and may be found for cheaper later. I'm a sucker for a deal and would hate to get it only to find it cheaper in a few days/weeks from now.

I wouldn't worry about that, if you want a 3G version. The WiFi only version you can usually get for $79, if you're patient. The normal 3G refurb price is $119 from B&N, but you can get it for $99 from them from time to time (although sales tax will apply). Only once have I seen a deal less than $99 for a Nook 3G (it may have been a Nook WiFi, as it was also $79, and it sold out before I got a chance to grab it) and I've waiting to get my hands on a Nook for quite a while. I just refuse to pay too much.

If I hadn't acted on the $79 deal for the WiFi version posted last week, I would be all over this.

thewronggrape wrote:... the only thing that's keeping me from getting this Woot is the mention that this exact thing has been offered cheaper before and may be found for cheaper later. I'm a sucker for a deal and would hate to get it only to find it cheaper in a few days/weeks from now.

I wouldn't worry about that, if you want a 3G version. The WiFi only version you can usually get for $79, if you're patient. The normal 3G refurb price is $119 from B&N, but you can get it for $99 from them from time to time (although sales tax will apply). Only once have I seen a deal less than $99 for a Nook 3G (it may have been a Nook WiFi, as it was also $79, and it sold out before I got a chance to grab it) and I've waiting to get my hands on a Nook for quite a while. I just refuse to pay too much.

If I hadn't acted on the $79 deal for the WiFi version posted last week, I would be all over this.

tesla33 wrote:How do you connect via AT&T? Do you need to already have an account with them, or does it just connect through them regardless...?

Our Nook just connects automatically to the 3g to shop and download new books. I have no idea who the provider is, but once you register your nook with B&N it works.

dearmash wrote:Can any owners chime in as to the restrictions put on the "3G" portion?

We have noticed no restrictions on the 3G. this one ( the B&W ) has little internet capability but the 3G allows you to download all the books you care to buy if you are away from your WiFi.

Ghaleon256 wrote:The battery life on this thing leaves a little to be desired, and don't pay any attention to reviews that talk about sluggish page turning, that has been fixed via firmware updates.

My wife gets a week of battery life if she keeps the WiFi turned off when she is not using it. That makes a big difference. Also the nook has a user replaceable battery.

I checked out one of these at Best Buy at lunchtime. Looks pretty interesting. It was $149 there. Not sure if it was the 3G version or not. Looks like the color part of the screen is back lit. The white part didn't look like it.

On an unrelated note, looks like Cisco is abandoning the Flip camcorder business according to this Bloomberg article.

I bet we see zillions of Flip cameras flooding the discount market in a few months.

jdorritie wrote:While I think you could be kidding with me, you have re-alerted my paranoia.

I literally spend weeks (sometimes months) deciding on a new electronic device. I returned a Sony MP3 player because it had removed some of my favorite menu items from a previous Sony MP3 player I owned (menu items I believed were CRUCIAL for using the player while driving.)

Actually he is not kidding about 1884, animal house , ect. But I believe it was an issue with the publisher of those books that pulled the E-versions not with Amazon or the Kindle.

carol121 wrote:You cannot convert epub files for the Kindle, the files won't allow it. The kindle is a great product but it limits the books you can get for free. It is Amazon's choice not to offer epub as an option. I work in a library and patrons have tried to borrow books from overdrive and convert them and it does not work. There is no program to magically do that because they are protected digitally.

yes you can...using calibre you turn it into a .mobi and it works perfect.

I'm in for one. I already have a Kindle 3, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE, but the problem is my kids always want to use it and sometimes my husband wants to read a book I just finished, so this seems like a good solution.

Now if only the Nook offered a nice leather case with a built in light that runs off the Nook battery like Kindle has...

For $99, you can't go wrong. How much $ is a replacement battery?

zerobeer wrote:For $99, you can't go wrong. How much $ is a replacement battery?

B&N sells them for 30$, Amazon has them for less then 17$, seen them on ebay for around 10$. Ours is two years old and still going strong.

devonshyr wrote:I don't know about Europe, but my wife tried to use hers in the Dominican Republic and it shut down. I guess they assumed it had been stolen or something, but after she tried to hook up to the local wifi it wouldn't even let her read the books she already had.

I had my nook in europe last fall and had no problems with the wifi browser. The 3G obviously doesn't work there (they have a totally different system) and you can't buy books on the nook while outside of the U.S. but you can certainly stock up before you go. Afterall, with a memory expansion slot, there's really no excuse for running out of reading material while away from home.

dernst_ca1 wrote:so do you buy books from Barnes and Noble?

I have a Nook and love it. Yes, I have a few books I have bought from B&N, and it is a simple process. While you can do it from the Nook, is is easier to first setup your account at B&N from your computer and buy books.

The Nook has a built in browser, but the screen format is not great for most websites. It also has a feature for browsing the Nook Books catalog and is OK. But, if you want to buy your books while browsing on your computer, it is remarkably simple to load on the Nook. Once you have bought a book, just open the My Library section and it auto downloads.

I buy most of my books from Baen direct www.baen.com and transfer over to my Nook. It mounts as a USB flash drive and you just copy over to it.

The adjustable fonts is nice, and the touch screen navigation is more intuitive than the Kindle. While I think the touch screen B&W eink Sony's might be a little nicer, nothing beats it for this price range.

I love my nook! E-Ink makes it possible to read outside in the sunshine with no glare, unlike the color nook. The 3G is great for viewing/purchasing books from B&N when there's no wi-fi available, i.e. camping, school, parks, work, etc. I've never had an issue with battery life, I can usually get a week of use reading an hour or two every night.

huja wrote:My concern is that there are SO many of these refurb Nooks around. B&N sold 5,000 of the WiFi version last week on the big auction site for $79.99. Is there something fundamentally unsound about this device that require them to be refurbed?

Most customer returns get refurbed, even if there is nothing wrong with the unit. Depending on quality control, even a minor discoloration can toss a "new" unit into the refurb pile.

I bought 3 at Christmas time that were refurbed- two for my Parents and one for me. All were in mint condition and work excellently.

I'm in for one only because of all the wooters raves about their Nook's...

I have an IPhone with many reader apps but my eyes tire after a few chapters of small print.

Hopefully this will be much better...

thanks to all the comments... it is appreciated...

alose wrote:Most customer returns get refurbed, even if there is nothing wrong with the unit. Depending on quality control, even a minor discoloration can toss a "new" unit into the refurb pile.

I bought 3 at Christmas time that were refurbed- two for my Parents and one for me. All were in mint condition and work excellently.

A few people have had problems with the bezel around the screen cracking where the scroll/page buttons are, but B&N has been stellar about swapping out for this issue.. (but you can always use the color lcd and swipe between pages)...So all they do is replace the bezel and reconnect the buttons..

Voila. refurbished Nook

jpkboca wrote:I like the kindle better, and you can startign recently with the kidnle lend books to others, I think this includes the library, but am unsure.

I have two nooks. A lot of the books are lendable for 14 days.

From the looks of it, it's very well possible to use the web browser in 3G - that is if you root/hack it to do as such.

However, there are limitations (according to Nook Devs):

It appears Barnes and Noble has introduced a new hardware revision or another change which is causing units to become bricks after running the official Barnes and Noble 1.0.0 firmware image. These units can be identified by the 10031 serial #.

A label on the bottom of the nook box will indicate what version your nook is.

If the serial # begins with 10031, the unit MAY OR MAY NOT be rootable. If the serial # is greater than 10031, it almost certainly NOT rootable.

If the device comes preloaded with firmware version 1.4.0 or earlier, it is likely rootable, regardless of serial number. If it comes preloaded with 1.4.1 or greater, it is almost certainly NOT rootable.

So what do I do if I something breaks on this, do I just go walk into Barnes and Noble and they fix it or what?

I enjoy my Nook, and used to enjoy the 3G when it worked. The beef I have is more with B&N bringing this device out, saying they were supporting it and it would be fantastic -- and then immediately jumping to the NookColor for periodicals. But who's going to use it? The growth of selection of magazines is glacial in speed. (on both Amazon and B&N) They are not exploring how to bring content to the black and white Nook. Whatever. The "audience" for black and white eInk is too small, too old, too broad? B&N sees far more $$$ in the NookColor and not waiting for color eInk. This is were I really feel the "support" is lacking. That, and the fight between publishers, authors and digital content is still not over. There's authors out there that I want to read and no one has a legal digital distribution for me to buy.
Thank goodness for Calibre so I can nab good content from websites and not kow-tow to B&N wanting to sell me a $260 picture frame.

n3rv19 wrote:Very tempting. I've been wanting a Nook since they were announced a while ago. I still have my Sony prs300 eReader I got here about a year ago, and I can't really justify replacing it yet. I use it all the time though. I highly recommend it if they sell it again. :D

We probably bought ours at the same time. I'm getting myself the nook and giving the wife my prs300. Loved that little guy, and looking forward to this one raising it up another notch.

woot.com kept telling me my credit card did not go through. after doing this 3 times i looked at my bank accound. ya.... it went through 3 times.

what sucks more is that woot.com has no phone number, only an email. not sure how long this is going to take to get worked out.
UGH!

I really want this, but I'm afraid the shipping will take too long, because I'm leaving early next week.

I emailed service@woot.com for an order cancellation, no reply yet. Does anyone have experience with cancelling orders?

Ahhhhh, I could get one & put the charging cord right between the plugs for my Betamax and Sega Genesis!

Senath wrote:...My wife and I would be using these fairly heavily for reading pdfs (being graduate students), and she wants to be able to take notes. How well does the Nook support that? As far as I can tell, it doesn't work for direct pdfs (please correct me if I'm wrong); does it work well for pdfs converted to epub?

I'm a grad student, too, and owner of this type of Nook. There are two kinds of pdfs I've seen: most of the ones on my university's ERes are scanned with Acrobat with OCR enabled, so text reflow works -- ie. the words show up at a normal font size. Every now and then, I run into a .pdf that's just an image. Those suck because it always displays zoomed out to full page on the Nook screen, meaning the text is TINY. I don't see those very often, and I haven't tried converting anything with Calibre (yet, at least).

Highlights and notes doesn't work at all with .pdfs, it does work (along with the "Word lookup" dictionary) for all kinds of .epubs that I've used, though, so if you can convert .pdfs with Calibre I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Regardless of the .pdf limitations (except for the non-OCR ones), this is WAY better than reading them on my laptop screen all the time, and I refuse to print 200 pages a week (at least) to read this stuff on actual paper.

Just got one - the price and the warranty was really the tipping point. I'm going to Germany for 20 days this summer, and so this is totally going to be my travel companion!

I've thought about it all day... I've been researching readers for over a year. Finally decided...Happy Birthday to me! Based on past shipping experience, it will get here in time for the big day!

HappySnapper wrote:Now if only the Nook offered a nice leather case with a built in light that runs off the Nook battery like Kindle has...

It doesn't quite offer that, but there's this.

though if I were in the market for a new case, I'd get an M-Edge Latitude case and their book light, which fits into a special pocket in most of their cases.

And just to add to the raves for the Nook, I'll note that I got mine in February 2010 and I absolutely love it. The Kindle is a great reader too, and some of the Sony models are very nice, but I love my Nook. I love the ePub support and the ability to buy books from Kobo and the Sony store as well as B&N--not to mention library books. As far as battery life goes, I keep mine in airplane mode most of the time, and I can usually get about two weeks between charges.

This is a good enough deal that I thought about buying one just to have a backup, but mine still works perfectly, so I'll avoid the temptation. But it really is a great deal.

dtreese wrote:Ahhhhh, I could get one & put the charging cord right between the plugs for my Betamax and Sega Genesis!

This might come as a huge shock to you and all the others slamming this, but some people really DO just want an ereader, not a tablet. I know, it's weird. Sit down. Put your head between your legs. It'll be all right.

IPDaly wrote:Um, so you picked the Kindle because you wanted to convert the files? Makes no sense.

No, I picked the Kindle because with calibre, I can read ebooks acquired not just from Amazon, but from anywhere.

Features wise, the Kindle beats the Nook. But the problem with the Kindle is you cannot read .epub files, so you're essentially forced to buy your ebooks from amazon. Calibre converts .epub files to a format which is readable on the Kindle. Understand?

chaley0803 wrote:Anyone know if a rooted NOOK COLOR can have apps installed on it? Angry Birds!

Yes a rooted nook color can install pretty much the full range of apps based on my experience. I have a nook color running cyanogenmod 7 currently but still use my original nook 3g for reading books as I think eink is superior to lcd for long reading sessions.