The Kindle Killer Arrives 542
GeekZilla sends coverage from Wired's Gadget Lab on the Nook, Barnes & Noble's first e-book reader. "Sleek, stylish and runs the Android OS. What's not to like about Barnes and Noble's new e-book reader? Despite the odd name, the Nook looks like an eBook reader that would actually be a worthwhile investment. Best feature? The ability to loan e-books you have downloaded to other Nook owners. The reader, named the 'Nook,' looks a lot like Amazon's white plastic e-book, only instead of the chiclet-keyboard there is a color multi-touch screen, to be used as both a keyboard or to browse books, cover-flow style. The machine runs Google's Android OS, will have wireless capability from an unspecified carrier, and comes in at the same $260 as the now rather old-fashioned-looking Kindle." Here is the B&N Nook site, which is still not visible on their front page and has a few non-working links. (Nook.com isn't set up yet.) Their comparison page takes dead aim at the Kindle. Among the advantages in the Nook's column: Wi-Fi, expandable memory via microSD, MP3 player, and PDF compatibility. (But remember the cautionary note B&N struck six years back when they got out of the e-book business.)
hmm (Score:5, Funny)
Some wireless. Less space than a kindle. Lame.
Nooks (Score:4, Funny)
Please partner with us.
Sincerely,
Thomas' English Muffins Inc.
Re:A little early (Score:5, Funny)
How do you kill that which has no life?
Chainsaws and stakes work well
Obvious (Score:5, Funny)
Everyone should get a little Nookie!
Re:Canada (Score:5, Funny)
That's correct. It's not around, it's arectangle.
Re:A little early (Score:5, Funny)
[Shrug] It's no more stupid than those people who think there was more than one Matrix movie.
I already own several Kindle Killers. (Score:4, Funny)
And like everyone else, I call them "hammers".
Re:Wait for the fine print (Score:5, Funny)
While you LEND a book, you can't read it. The other party can read it (without paying for it). Then you get it back and you can read it but the other party can't.
What could be Fairer than that? Its exactly like a paper book, except the other party can't fail to return your book.
Jeeze, I wish I could get this plan for the tools I lend to my neighbor!
Re:Why can't I just use my iPhone? (Score:3, Funny)
I've used my iPhone and prefer my Kindle. Battery life, ease of reading and display size are all good reasons why I don't like reading on the iPhone. You might like it but for me it's like trying to watch p0rn through a keyhole - still entertaining but I'd much rather have a front seat!
Re:Why can't I just use my iPhone? (Score:5, Funny)
Why can't I just use my iPhone?
Didn't read the manual? Fingers all thumbs? Is it turned on?
Without further information, I will be unable to diagnose further why you are unable to use your iPhone.
Re:A little early (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open (Score:5, Funny)
[...] that I can't read outside is a better alternative.
Outside? What is this place? Tell me more.
Re:A little early (Score:2, Funny)
Re:A little early (Score:5, Funny)
Klaatu barata ni...*mumble*
Well, close enough, anyways.
Re:Nooks (Score:3, Funny)
Paper Book DRM? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books (Score:3, Funny)
Besides, next month we'll see the release of the next-gen "Cranny".
Those sneaky bastards at B&N (Score:5, Funny)
They're one step ahead of you my infringing friend.
By including a PDF reader and wifi, they have prevented you from surreptitiously rooting their device to install such a reader, and then hacking the hardwired interface to load your ill-gotten reading material.
So go find all the pirated books you want - B&N has already won by taking away the thrill of victory by allowing you to load and read them as part of the basic package.
You can hang your head in shame, knowing that The Man has beaten you again. ;-)
Lame. (Score:4, Funny)
No unicorn. Less controversy than a Kindle. Lame.
Re:A little early (Score:3, Funny)
Three books? Wait a minute. Hold it. Nobody said anything about three books. Like... like what am I supposed to do? Take-Take one book... or all books... or... or what? Three books? Nobody said anything about three books...
Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open (Score:4, Funny)
Outside? What is this place? Tell me more.
It's like this really big room, with a bright blue ceiling. It's on the other side of this door that is usually locked...
Re:Unspecified carrier? It's AT&T. (Score:5, Funny)
AT&T sucks, I'll stick with my iPhone~
Sometimes it's too easy.
Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books (Score:5, Funny)
Disaster - If I were about to freeze to death, I could at least burn my books to keep warm. Can't do that with an ebook. :)
This concern is unfounded. Lithium-based batteries have been proven - in real world situations - to burn most excellently.
Re:Will it be DRM inside? (Score:2, Funny)
At least they're not using the verb "squirt" to describe sharing content.
Here, try this book *skeet* *skeet*
Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books (Score:5, Funny)
My cardboard boxes are free. Of course, they can't be used to show off how intellectual I am.
Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books (Score:5, Funny)
- Durability - Both are ruined by water,
Sometimes. I've dried out a water-damaged book that was personally valuable to me, and it came out halfway decent. Perfect, no, but still quite readable.
I'd have to unlearn so many habits with eBooks. I suppose it wouldn't be hard to stop gripping my books in my teeth when I'm running out of hands, but I'd have to break myself of my habit of using a bad book to kill flies with. If I'm reading a book I dislike and a fly lands nearby, I'll whack it with the book. Oddly I reflexively won't do this if I'm enjoying the book. So all it'll take is one bad book and one fly and there goes the eBook reader. And if anyone sees me do it, there goes any attempt to live without having something insanely stupid to try live down.
Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open (Score:3, Funny)
...you are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
Don't go outside.