Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced • Hacker News Board

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#11

Post by tetsuo13 » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:32 PM UTC

This reminds me a lot of the video game console market, where newcomers compete with: the existing consoles with the established customer base, library of games and even second or third generation consoles that have the initial quirks ruled out.

B&N will have to compete with the Kindle and even Sony's readers to an extent. The biggest question is always what will B&N bring to the table that is different enough or better than its competitors to woo customers over? It seems a lot like just another iPod and iTunes clone.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#12

Post by yan » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:38 PM UTC

I really can't wait to see what the new generation of large-screen eInk readers will look like. I bought the Kindle DX specifically to be able to read PDFs, books, and papers I already had. The smaller format readers (nook, kindle 2, etc) are fine for reading fiction and non-formatted documents, but a lot less useful to me personally.

I am fully convinced that eInk is a viable surface to read on and I can't wait to see what the displays will look like when they mature.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#13

Post by mapleoin » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:42 PM UTC

This is nice. I wonder if it'll be available outside the US. It would be cool to have even without the 3G.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#14

Post by protomyth » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:49 PM UTC

phsr wrote: post #2

The biggest dealbreaker for the Nook will be its eBook store. Will it be comparable to the Amazon eBook store? If not, I doubt the Nook will take off.

Looking at the comparison chart with the line "More than a million titles available" and thinking about the leverage they have with publishers, I think B&N has already passed Amazon.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#15

Post by allenp » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:49 PM UTC

tetsuo13 wrote: post #11

This reminds me a lot of the video game console market, where newcomers compete with: the existing consoles with the established customer base, library of games and even second or third generation consoles that have the initial quirks ruled out. B&N will have to compete with the Kindle and even Sony's readers to an extent. The biggest question is always what will B&N bring to the table that is different enough or bet…

I think one notable difference is the ability to go to a local store and see the device in person - this is a huge advantage and one that may help them cover a lot of ground quickly.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#16

Post by harpastum » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 7:52 PM UTC

"Free wireless from Barnes & Noble via AT&T, the nation's fastest 3G network."

I absolutely love this trend in eBook readers.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#17

Post by Xichekolas » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 8:06 PM UTC

smokinn wrote: post #7

Unless you can hide the full screen book cover display at the bottom I think that'll be very distracting.

I wonder how that screen works... surely it's off most of the time... otherwise you'd need a honking huge battery to keep it alive for 10 days.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#18

Post by Xichekolas » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 8:11 PM UTC

yan wrote: post #12

I really can't wait to see what the new generation of large-screen eInk readers will look like. I bought the Kindle DX specifically to be able to read PDFs, books, and papers I already had. The smaller format readers (nook, kindle 2, etc) are fine for reading fiction and non-formatted documents, but a lot less useful to me personally. I am fully convinced that eInk is a viable surface to read on and I can't wait to s…

Yeah I'm still holding out for something that simulates 8.5x11 paper. The upcoming QUE from Plastic Logic looks promising... 8.5x11, wifi, pdf and annotation (capacitive touchscreen) support. Supposedly in January. Coincidentally, it will also use the B&N ebookstore.

How is reading say, a research paper, on your DX? I have been tempted by it, but the screen still seems too small.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#19

Post by yan » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 8:11 PM UTC

Xichekolas wrote: post #17

smokinn wrote: post #7

Unless you can hide the full screen book cover display at the bottom I think that'll be very distracting.

I wonder how that screen works... surely it's off most of the time... otherwise you'd need a honking huge battery to keep it alive for 10 days.

eInk keeps state without power. The Kindle displays famous authors and book covers when it's off. The side-effect of this, you can measure battery life in mostly 'page-turns' as it uses power to update the display, but not while you're reading.

Re: Nook, Barnes & Noble eBook Reader Announced

#20

Post by there » Tue, Oct 20, 2009, 8:17 PM UTC

yan wrote: post #19

Xichekolas wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how that screen works... surely it's off most of the time... otherwise you'd need a honking huge battery to keep it alive for 10 days.

eInk keeps state without power. The Kindle displays famous authors and book covers when it's off. The side-effect of this, you can measure battery life in mostly 'page-turns' as it uses power to update the display, but not while you're reading.

the bottom display is a color lcd touchscreen, it's not e-ink.