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The Kindle Killer Arrives

Posted by kdawson on 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.)

8 of 542 comments (clear)

  1. The OS would only matter if the device is open by iamacat · · 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 · · 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 ryanvm · · 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.

  2. A little early by cjfs · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The Kindle Killer Arrives

    How do you kill that which has no life?

  3. The real killer question: remote deletion? by noidentity · · 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).

  4. Low sales ahead in the UK? Nook-e anybody?! by fantomas · · 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....

  5. Re:i'm not paying $250 to buy books by Rary · · 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.

    --

    "You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war." -- Albert Einstein

  6. Re:Will it be DRM inside? by MrTester · · 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?