eBook Reader

>Review: Barnes and Noble Nook Color

>This post has been a long time coming. I purchased a Nook Color at the end of May and it was one of the best purchases I have ever made. As a librarian, I feel it is my duty to read as many books as I can get my hands on. To me, I think that any librarian should be able to give a patron a :30 second “Book Talk.” When a patron asks for a recommendation and they receive a halfhearted response, they will be less likely to check out a potentially life-changing book. By purchasing the Nook Color, I will be able to read books that have a shorter reserve list and also keep the physical book on the shelf for patrons.

Barnes and Noble Nook Color:

Unboxing: The box the Nook Color comes in is exceptional. Sleek and innovative, it makes you feel like you have purchased something truly special. The box is elongated and uses a magnetic closure at the bottom. When I was sliding the Nook out of the box, I felt a tinge of excitement. The Nook was much larger than I anticipated, as I had only seen an Amazon Kindle and I enjoyed the weight of the device in my hands. Once the Nook was out of the box, it had a very informative tutorial for you to go through when you turned it on.

Turning the Nook on: On the upper left corner of the Nook Color, there is a power button which turns the Nook Color off and also puts it into hibernation mode. There is also an “n” on the bottom-center of the device, which wakes the device from hibernation mode.

Weight and Size: The Nook is quite a bit larger than the Amazon Kindle and the Nook 1st Gen. Even though it is larger than the Kindle, it isn’t too heavy and can be easily held.

Backlit Screen: Unlike the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes and Noble Nook Color uses a backlit screen. Though it is not as easy on the eyes as the Kindle, it allows me to read in bed before I go to sleep without worrying about where the light source is. You can adjust the screen brightness and I have found it makes it easier to use in different light sources (night, outside in bright sun, in the car w/ limited light).

Touch Screen: The touch screen is large and fairly responsive. Every so often, the touch screen is a little sluggish in its response. It appears to respond to turning eBook pages well, but when using the web-browsing feature it can “lock up” for a second. Even with the slower response time, however it does not hinder the web experience to the point of frustration.

Ease of Use: Once I set up my Barnes and Noble account on the website and tied my credit card to it, I was able to make “Wish Lists” and download books right away. Books can be downloaded via the B&N website or directly from the Nook. Barnes and Noble also offers magazine subscriptions, which can be viewed in full-color with the Nook Color.

To Be Completed:
-cont. Ease of Use
-Purchasing: Books, Magazines, Newspapers
-Downloading an eBook from Overdrive
-Transfering Files: Music, Pictures, ePub files, Documents
-Browsing the Internet
-Using Apps
-Overview of Settings
-Special Features: Searching, Bookmarks, Article View, Sharing, Text, Notes, Highlighting, Look Up Feature, Auto-rotate function, Viewing Video, Using Audio
-Wi-fi Connectivity
-Setting Up Shelves
-Using the LendMe Function

>I Feel Like a Filthy Traitor

>I have been eyeing a Barnes and Noble Nook for some time now. Every time I see a commercial on television or receive a B&N email, it renews my eReader fervor. I have become completely convinced that I must have one. I do, however, feel like this makes me a terrible librarian. I keep fighting to keep my beloved books stocked on library shelves and yet I feel the need to venture over to the dark side, the side of eBooks.

I feel like this begs the question. Does it make someone less of an advocate for “physical literacy” if they own an eReader? Is it ok for me to have an eReader as long as it jives with our libraries current Overdrive system? Am I really a dirty traitor?