NOOK COLOR
So What is Nook Color? The Nook is an electronic book reader which could be called a tablet as it does not have enough functions to be labeled a netbook and does not make calls. That makes it a little more interesting than a simple ebook reader as there a couple more functions which it performs. The device is powered by a TI OMAP 3621 CPU running at speeds up to 800MHz with 512MB of Internal Ram, 8GB storage flash drive, and a microSD slot that allows expansions of cards up to 32GB. Its OS is a custom built version of the already known Android which is created by the team at Google. How Wide is the Nook Color Screen? The 7-inch (1024 x 600 IPS) VividView™ color touchscreen is spectacular as it displays over 16 million colors. From the moment it turns on the desktop is very rich, clear and crisp which just begs to load up a book, newspaper or a magazine. The sales person at BN also mentioned that this is the first reader which specializes in kids books and there are over 2 million titles available to choose from at its launch. Those are two definite advantages and since then I have been able to show my kids a couple books via the Nook and I have to admit that it definitely grabs their attention. Unlike regular books, certain kids and adult books come with enhanced features such as videos, audio and other multimedia that bring them to life and create quite an interactive experience. For example, when looking over a cookbook there might be videos showing the different cooking techniques, or the actual process of preparing or plating the meal. Also most of the kids books have the ability to choose whether you want to read the book or have it read to you which is really cool. The NookColor is really great for viewing by more then one person as its IPS display delivers a wide viewing angle (178°) which looks great from virtually any angle. This used to be a big problem with most Color LCD screens as the image would get blurry and loose contrast unless you were looking directly at it. Can You Read Nook Color Outdoors? Unlike most of the other color displays the reader also makes it possible to enjoy it outdoors as its special design does a good job reducing glare. For the people that own Android phones, they already know how sweet it is when the device switches between landscape and portrait modes depending on which way the phone is turned. The Nook does the exact same thing and I must admit that it was a very smartly added feature. Can All E-Books Be Read on a Nook Color? I do not believe so as some of the e-books available come in formats which are proprietary to the companies that release them such as Amazon or Apple. They can probably be converted to .ePub or .PDF though as the Nook does accept these. What About My Weekly Trips to the Bookstore... Barnes & Nobles seems to have thought of everything as they included an option to Read In Store. Once you enter any B&N store, the e-reader picks up the location and allows you to browse any book that is available for a time period of an hour. It also sends you exclusive content from the top authors, special offers on books as wale as coffee and snacks from its café. The magazines are what really makes the difference as some of my favorite magazines have started to cease offline production within the last few years and that forced me to have to read them on the computer. This wouldn't be so bad if I was not used to looking through them at the breakfast table or on the train and was simply an inconvenience at this point. As an owner of the Nook I have all of my subscribtion show up as soon as they are released and ready to read wherever I please. Can I Read Comics On Nook? This is one of the advantages of having an Android platform as it is now possible. The best way to go is downloading a free application called the Perfect Viewer which easily reads .cbr formats and is an outstanding piece of software.
The LendMe applications allows for any two people that own the Nook to borrow each other books at no cost, for a period of up to 14 days. This is something that I haven't encountered on any of the other ebook readers or tablets and really shows off the type of a company that B&N really is. Can The Nook Color Hook Up To Wireless Internet? The device has an inbuilt 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi receiver which makes it possible to connect through any wireless connection. I haven't had a problem when going online whether it was at my house or the local coffee shop. It is very easy to go on Facebook and most of the other popular social networks. The browser is fairly standard and allow for the user to accomplish viewing sites, checking e-mail or viewing videos. Are There Games You Can Download To The Nook Color? There are games which can be downloaded for this e-reader although due to the limitations of the current OS, not many companies have yet jumped on the bandwagon. This is bound to change in 2011 as the OS is promised an overhaul which will allow it to function even more like a tablet. It's All About The Battery When using the internet connection the Nook will stay powered for up to 8 hours before having to be recharged. This is a good amount of time as it will last throughout the commutes on the train to and back from work but is not as great as some of the black and white e-ink based readers. Where to Buy Nook Color To get your hands on this device and read additional reviews by people that actually use it click here. |
I have been wondering for
the last few years when the time will come where another
book selling giant attempts to de-throne Amazon and the
Kindle as the ultimate ebook reader. Barnes and Noble
caught me a bit by surprise with the Nook Color as their
first attempt with the black and white reader fell a bit
short. This product however is different, and after
holding it for just a few minutes in the store I knew that
I had to explore it further. It was a bit weird though, as
I realized that if I really got into it I would stop
coming to the bookstore as much which was a bit of a habit
at that point.
Borrowing Books Has
Never Been Easier