13 Things you Need to Know about the Barnes & Noble Nook
The introduction of the Nook electronic book reader by Barnes & Noble has created a huge stir. Details about the device and how it will be used by consumers are still rolling out. I attended a press event this morning hosted by William Lynch, President of Barnes & Noble. Here’s my take on the user experience based on that call.
- Users can purchase an e-book with two touches on the Nook.
- E-books can be loaned to other Nook owners, or those with any version of eReader software installed on a handset or computer. The loan period is 14 days, after which the e-book disappears on the lendee’s device. The original owner cannot access the e-book during the loan period.
- Publishers can restrict their books from being loaned.
- Bookmarks, annotations and “furthest read” positions are synced across all devices using eReader software.
- There is no text-to-speech option on the Nook by design.
- The Nook is built “somewhere in Asia.”
- The deals with iRex and Plastic Logic are for commerce and content provision only and do not affect the Nook.
- The Nook ships at launch with no web browser, nor any RSS capability. The company could add it later if customers desire.
- Barnes & Noble want to produce an SDK for the Android-based Nook.
- The color touchscreen is capacitive.
- E-books readable with any currently shipping eReader version should work on the Nook. The company is going to verify this works.
- Only the bn.com store will be accessible via the Nook. Legacy eReader and Fictionwise content must be manually copied over USB, although it should also work via memory card.
- E-books cannot be purchased outside the U. S. Technology is used to determine the actual location of the buyer to enforce this restriction.
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This device *might* make me jump into the eBook market. I’m hoping that BN has some demo models in stores as my big issue is a screen that just doesn’t seem conducive to reading for long stretches.
Every store will have demos for customer testing.
I can verify that ebooks from BN do work on Windows Mobile with eReader.
I have a question:
Why do most of the eReaders all come in white?
There are going to be several different Nook covers available created by different designers such as Kate Spade.
aw…I hate the part where they say “might add it later.” That usually means if you want this feature you’ll have to buy the NEW Nook v2.0.
This has an advantage as it’s Android. I can guarantee the Android community will hack this baby up starting the minute it ships.
as long as it’s easy to get it working (like an installer – click on this and it installs). I have a Pre and the little hacks break when the mfg updates – so since I need it to operate flawlessly all the time I don’t experiment with the Pre much. Not to say that I don’t have a couple of older laptops I mess with mercilessly. :-)
-Only the bn.com store will be accessible via the Nook. Legacy eReader and -Fictionwise content must be manually copied over USB, although it should -also work via memory card.
The first eink device that allows me to read all of my ereader books. I so want this. The price is also awesome.
Thanks heaps for this info, James. I’m a little surprised they didn’t have the answer about the books purchased through legacy means being compatible already confirmed, but hey – it’s always worth checking again.
Guess what’s on my Christmas wish list?
Check your pre-orders. Mine was canceled and I just had a most unpleasant customer service experience in figuring out why and how to get re-pre-ordered and still get my free ebook.
There is one clear distinction to me now between the Nook and the Kindle: Amazon customer service is much friendlier!
I went here to check if I could get the book for my nook: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Presentation-Secrets-of-Steve-Jobs/Carmine-Gallo/e/9780071636087/?itm=1
Not only was it not available for nook but they don’t have that nice little button Amazon has “I’d like to read this on my nook!”
B&N needs to figure out its a package deal if they want to win the war: web site as well as ebook reader.
The Nook is not even available yet so I doubt this is unusual. I rarely find that a book I want, even a recent release, that’s not available for eReader. I expect the same will hold true for the Nook when it’s shipping.
I’d agree James except they’ve been selling ebooks for months now. The nook is just one more ereader device at this point.
I’m reading the Steve Job’s book on my Kindle DX, they had it.
That is my frustration. I would like to stick with one service but the book on Steve Jobs, The Presentation Skills of Steve Jobs is a good example. I can find it in the kindle format but not on ereader or ebook on bn.com. Or I can find the first 2 books in a series on ereader book 3 on amazon, book 4 on ereader, etc. Until there is more consistency where I can find what I need at one site, I won’t be investing in ereader hardware. I have stanza and kindle loaded on my iphone.
After assuring me the pre-order would go through fine the second time, they canceled it. All the folks that explain cancellations work in New York so they’re now gone.
I can buy ebooks just fine but the actual nook has them spooked for some reason (and they don’t even charge for it until it ships.)
E-books cannot be purchased outside the U.S.
Almost got lulled into ordering one to Europe. Why, with only the bn.com store accessible I would have to upload everything only via USB?
Any idea if the nook would allow transfer over WiFi while in my home wireless network?
I don’t know but it was specifically stated that copy was via USB.