The Kindle Killer Arrives

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Posted by kdawson on Tuesday October 20, 2009 @07:47AM from the got-wi-fi dept.

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.)

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i'm not paying $250 to buy books by alen · 2009-10-20 07:50 · Score: 3, Insightful

i'll buy the paper books or download them on my iphone via the kindle or B&N reader apps. loaning books sounds like a good option and i hope they bring it to the B&N iphone app. with websites like Goodreads that link to facebook, it can be a viral marketing strategy
1. Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books by Rary · 2009-10-20 08:34 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  i'm not paying $250 to buy books
  That's not really that much. I spent more than that on my bookshelves, and they're not even portable.
  
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  "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein
The OS would only matter if the device is open by iamacat · 2009-10-20 07:51 · Score: 4, Insightful

Can users install their own apps or replace the OS? If not, I don't see how use of Android OS would matter.
1. Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open by iamacat · 2009-10-20 07:54 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I can get a netbook with an e-paper screen that makes battery last for two weeks? Sweet!
2. Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open by icebike · 2009-10-20 08:06 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  Well wait till its been officially released and in the store before you ask for Linux on it. ;-)
  If history is any guide it might take a week and a half for someone to post a hack.
  But even in the absence of that, the fact that it is Android DOES matter, because Android is growing rapidly, its open source, and has a lot of support from a lot of companies and individuals (and its basically Linux under the skin).
  This means there is an upgrade path for the device. Its not a dead-end device, and OS upgrades will likely become available, both official (B&N), and unofficial.
  
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  Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
3. Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open by ryanvm · 2009-10-20 08:22 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Yes. Why do the iPhone and netbook people not get this. Every time an ebook story comes out I have to hear the same ill advice about how sitting in a hammock with an LCD screen that I can't read outside is a better alternative.
4. Re:The OS would only matter if the device is open by Shagg · 2009-10-20 09:08 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  You're asking Slashdot what is the point of getting on a device and tweaking/adding your own code? Seriously?
  
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  Unix is user friendly, it's just selective about who its friends are.
A little early by cjfs · 2009-10-20 07:51 · Score: 5, Insightful

The Kindle Killer Arrives
How do you kill that which has no life?
1. Re:A little early by noidentity · 2009-10-20 11:04 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  [Shrug] It's no more stupid than those people who think there was more than one Matrix movie.
  
  Agreed; there was The Matrix, and two other movies that sucked.
The real killer question: remote deletion? by noidentity · 2009-10-20 08:00 · Score: 5, Insightful

The real killer question is whether it supports remote deletion like the Kindle does. The feature comparison doesn't mention this. Of course we'll only really know for sure if and when the feature is actually used; claims that it doesn't support it can't really be trusted (and the feature might be added in a later firmware update anyway).
1. Re:The real killer question: remote deletion? by Jeremi · 2009-10-20 15:58 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The real killer question is whether it supports remote deletion like the Kindle does.
  Does it matter? It's a remote-upgradable computing device. Even if it doesn't currently support that feature, they could always add it in the next automatic firmware update. Conversely, if it currently does have that feature, they could always remove it in a future update.
  What matters is whether you feel you can trust B&N not to screw you over.
  
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  I don't care if it's 90,000 hectares. That lake was not my doing.
Low sales ahead in the UK? Nook-e anybody?! by fantomas · 2009-10-20 08:14 · Score: 4, Insightful

Low sales ahead in the UK as British punters embarrassed to go into their book shops and libraries and ask for Nook e-books? :-)
For non-UK folks, "Nooky" is cheeky old fashioned slang for sex, so "nooky book" would mean a porno novel....
Re:Will it be DRM inside? by drdanny_orig · 2009-10-20 08:14 · Score: 3, Insightful

Limiting your ability to "loan" books out to only 14 days sounds like DRM to me. As long as e-content has limitations not present in real books, there's no compelling reason for me to switch.

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.nosig
Re:Okay, so I own an older Kindle, here's my POV.. by FunkyELF · 2009-10-20 08:40 · Score: 3, Insightful

MP3 support on this thing would be cool.
You download an e-book along side the audio version.
You're at home reading your book on the Nook and when you hop in the car, it can play you the audio while you're driving. When you're ready to return to reading, it has your spot saved.
I'll use this slashdot post as evidence when I get in lawsuit over who patented the idea first.
Re:Will it be DRM inside? by MrTester · 2009-10-20 08:44 · Score: 4, Insightful

So you would rather have it behave exactly like a real book?
As soon as you loan it to a friend, it will be wiped from your eBook reader?
Really?
Re:How can you kill it?? by quarterbuck · 2009-10-20 08:48 · Score: 3, Insightful

You should travel on the trains on the east coast. Every man in a suit I see going to work in NY in the morning is either reading a Kindle or busy working/reading on his laptop.
A kindle only makes sense for a terrestrial traveler (WiFi download of books/news) who also uses it regularly. On a plane you can't get WiFi, nor are you going to travel to work daily by flight. So it makes no sense to use a Kindle there.
Now this market might not be very large. But it is extremely rich (hedge funds, Wallstreeters or the average beautician in NY) and will last a while -- people have been commuting for work to NY for years and they won't start driving anytime soon.

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