The NOOK e-book reader

Mashable, and the rest of the world started tweeting/blogging/posting about The Nook- Barnes and Nobles’  Kindle Killer, a faster, sleeker, fancier e-book reader.  They matched the new price drop of the Kindle (at $260).  Just in case you haven’t heard of E-book readers, let me tell you about them:

They are portable devices (much of this functionality is finding its way into phones too) – many with screens at 6″.  The screens use something called E-Ink.  This lets you view the black and white (Some day in color– Nook claims color, but that’s not actually for the book reading area– just the menus) book/photos like you would see a regular (paper) book.  There is no glare, and you can read it without a problem in the sun, in bed, etc… You flip the pages by pressing a button.  Amazon started the trend of using the 3G network, so you can always purchase books right into your E-Book reader without needing  a  computer.  Now that you know what they are, let me tell you why I need one (my theory anyways)

I have a short attention span   I’m what you might call a multi-tasker. When I try to read an e-book (PDF/DOC) on my computer, I *KNOW* that behind Adobe Acrobat, there lies a sea of tweets… just waiting to be replied to.  Behind the tweets lies my Facebook, where I’m sure that people are replying to that funny thing I posted only minutes prior.  Behind that lies my e-mail, with the client replies, newsletters, and of course Spam… you have to get rid of the spam before it clutters everything!

Ummm… yeah…. that’s not going to work.  I have a theory that maybe if I get a nook, I can read it outside, or in the other room, away from my computer!  No internet, no dings, no distractions… the e-mail chime can wait for me to come back to the room.  Perhaps, if I have a Nook, I can cuddle up by the fire with a good book, and forget about all the on-screen distractions.  There was only one problem…

The Book doesn’t come out until late November.  That’s just wrong, as they announced that it’s being released… not actually made available. *sigh* I was jonesing for one.  My parents were excited  to see me interested in something that I haven’t had a chance to buy yet, so offered to get me the Nook for my birthday (December).  Sounds good to me…. but… how can I finish this book on my computer if I’m so easily distracted?

Ah!  Best Buy and their 30 day return policy.  Yeah.. I’m sure you’re reading this Best Buy, and your cool return policy, and massive selection of locations has made me drop tens of thousands of dollars with them over the years (the other day I had my friend buy a laptop there, and finance a bag of Snickers   ), but it has also made me buy-to-try.

I just want to see if I like the E-ink technology e-book readers.  I bought one for my dad a while ago. He’s all into gadgets and books, so this was a perfect present.  He loves it- my mom always calls to say that he is in the hammock reading, or laying by the pool reading his e-reader, or laying in bed and reading.  That was last year that I gave him that, but I haven’t used one.  The very first feature that caught my eye, as I unpacked my new

Sony PRS600 - The one I got to tide me over

Sony PRS 600 is the crisp text, and light weight.  This thing feels like a prop…. it is so light, it can’t be a piece of technology.  But… it is!  It works like a charm.  The battery will last longer than a week without charging– even if you leave it on.

The pages turn fairly quickly, the books transfer onto the E-book reader quickly, there’s an earphone jack, an AC jack, a USSB jack, and a few buttons that are placed well, as to not get in your way.

The thing that REALLY blew my mind though (available in the Nook as well) is the fact that I can take notes and highlight on any page.  I can actually handwrite, scribble, and highlight… anywhere in the book, and it saves that info!  I suppose it then transfers that info to the computer… haven’t gotten THAT far yet.  I was totally blown away by this notetaking/scribble feature.  Why?  Because as far as I was concerned, the ability to highlight, underline, and take notes were the only reasons to get a physical book.  However, now, apparently, you can do it with a digital one.  I’m impressed.

Since I’m so impressed, why am I bringing this puppy back in 30 days (28, just to be safe)?  Well.. it costs $299+Tax, and the Nook costs $259+ tax.  This one has 512MB of built in memory… the Nook has 2GB!  That’s a lot more books.  The Nook is also running in the Android operating system.  That probably means that there will be new applications developed to run on the e-book reader.  The Nook also has technology to synch the notes and book to other readers (Iphone, Blackberry, computer, etc)- so… no matter where you’re reading it, you can resume.  The Nook has a color menu system.  The nook is newer and more stylish.  Oh yeah– going back to that Android operating system… I also am impressed by the new Verizon/Motorola/Google Phone– The Droid:

Photo by BoyGeniusReport.com

This thing caught my eye– it’s gorgeous, has open-development.. so unlike the Iphone, apps won’t get censored, and don’t have to come through the Apple Appstore.  I hate how controlling Apple is… so, I never got an Iphone.  This thing has a faster processor, and a real keyboard!  Again… no offense Apple worshipers, but screw that virtual keyboard— some of us have big hands! You know what they say   Big hands… more typos on virtual keyboards!

So… the point is that I got 2 new toys on the horizon that look sexy, should improve my productivity, and both operate on Google’s Android OS.  I’ll be able to read my e-books on both of them, and develop applications to boost my own productivity (at least on the phone… drying to know more about the Nook).

Meanwhile… I got a Sony PRS-600 to tide me over.  It’s going back to the store in a few weeks.  I’d keep it, and use it… but it can’t compete with the additional memory, and nicer functionality that the Nook will give for less.

Oh yeah… notice I didn’t mention the Kindle?

Amazon's Kindle

I didn’t mention it for the same reason that I got my dad the Sony in the first place.  Amazon is a bit controlling.  They were trying to make it (at least with the 1st Kindle– now they’re on version 2) so that you can only get books through them.  They didn’t support as wide of a file format selection, and they didn’t want you using Non-DRM files.  So… if you have an ebook from… let’s say  Project Gutenberg which lets you download countless Public Domain books (books who’s copyright has expired) for free.  I wanted to make sure that my dad could read whatever format book he wanted…. I friggin hate Apple Itunes with their crap DRM policies.  My friend bought a song through there, for her Zune, and couldn’t get it on her Zune, ’cause it was locked for Itunes.  I showed her how to take that protection out…. but she was livid.  Another time, this gorgeous girl took me on a date to this concert (Dashboard Confessional, Plain White T’s, and Panic At The Disco – it was pretty badass!), and then bought Dashboard Confessional’s Stolen (see/listen below– it’s a beautiful song, and made me feel special), and e-mailed it to me.  What happened? I couldn’t open it.  The computer said that I was not Tracy!  Grrrrr… when you buy a gift, and the person can’t use it, that’s just wrong.  So… Apple can go shove it (toning my language down like this takes a lot of work!).

Additionally, there is another incredible “What the hell were you thinking Amazon???” moment, when a bunch of people who BOUGHT George Orwell’s 1984 for their Kindle woke up and found their book had been erased overnight without their permission.  You have to admit that it’s pretty damn funny that of all books, it was 1984… oh serendipity, how I love you. So…I suppose there’s a few lessons here.

• Get the technology that matches your needs.
• Make sure you are not being controlled/manipulated

• Learn to research– (use Google usually) — not only what technology to get, but also how to get what is yours, even when certain companies try to screw you out of it.  For the record even the RIAA says that DRM is dead!