The Netbook Review

Could this be the year that the ebook reader overtakes the traditional paper version – the Amazon Kindle DX has been the hottest selling gadget for quit some time with the Barnes and Noble Nook keeping the race tight comes in with a close second.  eBooks outsold traditional paper books as gifts for over a year now. However, the question has been raised among ciritics, ‘will the eReader make traditional books obsolete?’

The Argument Against the Portable eBook Reader

The popularity of the ebook reader is definatley growing, however there are a number of reasons why it’s growth in popularity could be slowed. First off, the price of an eBook reader – even the cheapest model – cost much more than the price of a paper book. On top of the reader itself, there is still the cost of each new eBook to consider. Unfortunately, eBooks cost roughly the same as traditional printed books.

You can’t forget that the paper book has been a part of our history, and a part of our culture. There are people who love the feel of a book, who love to fold down the pages and love to make notes. People love going to the libraries and roaming the bookshelves.  They love seeing books in their physical form, which eBooks can never replace.

In fact, books become an artifact from history in their own right. Some people feel that paper books have a much longer lifespan than a gadget could ever have – as we all know they eventually tend to break down or simply become obsolete.

The Argument for the Portable eBook Reader

Those that have tried them say you can’t understand the experience of an eBook reader until you have one of your own. Even the biggest book advocates have found themselves converted to digital format, and are giving in to what they realize is a probable inevitability.

Many universities and businesses have already made digital forms of book availiable. Students can simply read papers and chapters from home, rather than having to go out to the library and carry heavy books back with them. Most of the major brands, including the Amazon Kindle DX and the Barnes and Noble Nook, allow for annotations – this definatly makes the ebook a user friendly gadget and not just a display with words on a screen.

A Middle Ground?

The middle ground states that, popularity of the ebook reader will continue to rise, and eBooks will become more and more main stream. It’s doubtful that the physical book will ever be completely replaced, however, the portable eBook reader will make books more accessible, especially through the help of free libraries such as Project Gutenberg. Good news is we don’t have to make a definitive decision.  We can have the best of both worlds…electronic and physical books.

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Introduced to the public in October of 2009, the Barnes and Noble Nook, one of the latest ebook readers in the market today, was seen as a probable candidate to unseat the Amazon Kindle from its dominance in the ebook reader industry. What has it got that makes it a significant challenger This Nook review explores a few of the most notable features of this ebook reader.

Size, Display Specifications

First off, the basic specs. The Nook's surface dimensions are fairly standard. It is 7.7 inches long, 4.9 inches in width, 0.5-inch deep, and weighs 11.2 ounces. It's roughly the same size as the 2nd generation Kindle – only thicker and a bit heavier. The device also comes with a 6-inch e-ink screen with 16 shades of gray, and some choices for font style and size.

But what undoubtedly gives it a wow factor that's not present on most ebook readers today is the 3.5-inch capacitive color touchscreen. Located just below the e-ink screen, the LCD screen replaces the standard keyboard and buttons used for making ebook selections and navigating within the ereader and the text itself.

More Noteworthy Features

The Nook is pre-loaded with 2GB of internal memory and a micro-SD card slot so it's easy to add more memory as the need arises. The ebook gadget also comes with a replaceable lithium ion battery pack, 3G connection through the AT&T network, wireless connectivity, MP3 player, speakers, and a dictionary so you can easily look up unfamiliar words.

Other Nook features which are completely distinctive from other ebook readers are the book lending and store browsing capabilities. As the term implies, book lending refers to having the ability to lend out an ebook in your library to a different ereader user for a 14-day period. In-store browsing, on the other hand, means having the chance to look over full ebooks at no cost in brick-and-mortar Barnes & Noble shops.

Some Concerns

This Nook review wouldn't be thorough enough if we don't reveal a few of the concerns given by current Nook users. One is the device's lack of web browsing capability despite its WiFi connectivity. Another serious issue is the Nook's seemingly insufficient battery life in comparison to other ereaders. Barnes & Noble says it could be used for about 7 to 10 days with the WiFi deactivated, but for actual users, 4 to 5 days is more like it.

With the Nook's superior features and Barnes & Noble's value-added services, the Nook could have a big impact on the ereader market. Still, this Nook review points out that you'll still find a number of changes that have to be made, for the device to really kick off with a big bang.

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I spend a lot of time browsing shops in Orlando because, well, that’s where I live, and book stores are high on my list of fun places to shop and while away some hours. The other day I was meeting my mom for lunch and decided to drop in to Barnes & Noble since I don’t have one close to my house. As I was checking out with my purchases, the cashier mentioned that the store would be debuting the new nook reader which is an electronic reading device “gadget.”

This caught my attention because I had just been considering putting the Kindle on my Christmas list this year. You know how it is when you log into Amazon, you always seen the advertisements for their electronic reader right in your face, and eventually you become brainwashed where you suddenly decide you MUST have one of those (insert name of new gadget here). That’s what happened to me with Kindle I think. And I’ll be honest with you, I really didn’t know a whole lot about it.

So when I heard about the nook reader that B&N is about to unveil, I asked the check-out lady a few questions and then when I got home I decided to check it out on the website. I was pleasantly surprised to see that it actually appear to have more features than Kindle.

So here’s the lowdown. They both have 6-inch screen displays so they are easy to read, you can adjust the text size with both devices, and both of them feature 2 GB memory, ability to browse and shop for ebooks, speakers, headphone jack, rechargeable battery, comparable weight, software updates, quick page turn by hard key, synchronized last page read between devices, and ability to read your books on multiple devices.

But, here’s what you get on the nook reader that is not available on the “other reader.” Color touch screen, touch control and navigation ability, library view by book cover, Wi-Fi, free Wi-Fi in Barnes & Noble stores, expandable memory, more than a million titles, more than half a million free ebooks, exclusive content at B&N, directly load and read PDF’s (very helpful), synchronized notes between devices, “LendMe technology” which is where you can share books between nook, iPhone, iPod touch, Blackberry, PC, and Mac, and a replaceable battery.

Sounds good, right? I was impressed. In addition, and this is really key, you can go into Barnes and Noble and try out the nook in person. You can hold it in your hands. Studies have shown that this is key in allowing buyers to make a decision on a purchase. You can sell a lot more when the person can touch as well as see.

I have to say I’m really interested in the nook reader and to be honest, I think it really wins in the head-to-head battle with Kindle by a landslide. Of course, I have not tried out the actual device yet but it will be in stores at the end of November (so I was told). So if you are considering an E-reader you should check out the nook when it becomes available, either for yourself or maybe as a gift.

Need additional information on Barnes & Noble nook reader?

Click here: Nook Reader Review

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Right now there are a huge number of manufacturers competing in the nascent, but rapidly growing, e-book reader market. The competition level is a clear signal that high growth is predicted in this sector. And this strong competition is going to be good for consumers as manufacturers fall over themselves to improve specifications and offer lower prices.

The list of manufacturers who have e-book readers in development – or in some cases, ready for release in the near future – is impressive. Sony, Asus, iRex, Plastic Logic, Barnes and Noble – not to mention Microsoft and Apple – are all lined up and jostling for their share of the market.

There’s not much doubt about the current market leader of course. The Amazon Kindle reader has not only dominated the market, but has been pivotal in its development since it was launched in November 2007. Now into its second iteration with the Kindle 2 and the large screen Kindle DX, Amazon has secured a 60% share of the American e-book reader market. The Kindle reader is now their number one product and, on October 19 this year, after what seemed like a long wait, they started shipping the international Kindle 2 to over 100 countries worldwide. It’s a backhanded compliment to Amazon that every new e-book reader that is announced (and there are plenty, the list above is far from exhaustive) and which shows any promise whatsoever, is immediately dubbed the “Kindle Killer”. Right now, the Kindle is setting the benchmark which must be achieved, and then bettered, in order to achieve success.

In case anyone feels that the Kindle’s current dominance is bordering on unassailable, it’s probably worth remembering that Amazon were a pretty late entrant to the market when they first launched the Kindle. The original e-book reader is generally agreed to be the Franklin eBookMan which was launched in 1999 – a decade ago. The Sony PRS also hit the market before the Kindle’s 2007 launch.

The Kindle was such an outstanding success for Amazon because of a number of factors. In the first place, Amazon had a strong association with books, being one of the biggest online retailers. They also had a huge selection of suitable books for download – currently you can choose from over 300,000 titles at the Kindle store. The option of wireless connectivity – with no ongoing fees – was another big selling point.

Just as Amazon came from nowhere to secure the number one position, one of the other contenders could do exactly the same – and in the short term. Barnes and Noble, for example, have over one million titles which will be available for download to their new Nook e-book reader. They will also adopt the ePub format – which many readers under development seem to favor. Kindle’s format is proprietary. Pick a Kindle book – read it on your Kindle.

The Nook will also allow you to “lend” books to your friends and family for a fourteen day period. During the loan period, the borrower will be able to read it and the lender will be unable to use their Nook to access it – just like borrowing a “real” book in fact. The only difference is that you will be guaranteed to get it back.

Sony’s next generation reader – the Daily Edition – will feature a large screen – just like the Kindle DX – but it will incorporate touch screen control options – something both the DX and the K2 are lacking. It will also permit users to download e-books on loan from participating public libraries. Again – just like a traditional book.

Most of the other readers in development have a number of features that may make them more appealing to consumers than the Kindle. Amazon have a fight on their hands – and it seems sure that they won’t relinquish their top position without a fight. Given their innovating role in the development of the market thus far, and considering the importance of the Kindle ebook reader to their business, it seems reasonable to expect them to have a few new ideas yet to be unleashed.

Given the high level of activity among the various manufacturers, it looks as if the e-book reader market is about to enter a period of rapid growth. Hopefully the fierce competition that seems about to unfold will drive prices low enough to take e-book readers out of the geek domain and into the mainstream personal mobile tech market.

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