Yes, the Nook now has a color edition, just a little over a year since the original Nook was released. So what does this Barnes and Noble device bring to the table? It's time to get the scoop in this Nook Color review.
Considering that book giant Barnes & Noble only introduced the Nook in the fall of 2009,
it came as a nice surprise that only a year later a Nook Color edition is already out. It's being promoted as the "reader's tablet" and we'll learn in this Nook Color review just how much of an ebook reader and a tablet the Barnes & Noble Nook Color is.
Design and Overall Size. If you're expecting an average-looking, run-of-the-mill ebook reader, then you'll certainly be impressed with the colored Nook, which could pass off as a tablet PC at first glance. Unlike the usual ereaders which use e-ink technology, this one comes with a 7-inch full color LED-backlit IPS display. This display technology is actually the same one that Apple's iPads and Macs are equipped with. The Nook Color though, is enhanced with Barnes & Nobles custom VividView Technology, a kind of screen laminating technique that serves to reduce the glare.
Nook Color is slightly bigger and heavier than the e-ink Nook. It weighs 15.8 ounces, and is 8.1 inches in length, 5 inches in width, and 0.5-inch thick. The front portion of the device consists of hard plastic while the back has a smooth, rubber backing.
Performance. The Nook Color's program is based on the Android 2.1, the widely-used operating system running on a big number of smartphones and tablets in the market today. In this Barnes & Noble device, the Android-based software delivers the goods.
Those who have actually used this color ereader report of a zippy performance, a responsive touch screen, fast page turns, almost picture-perfect images, and crisp text. You can also go over photo galleries and PDF documents quickly and easily.
New Features. In coming out with a colored ebook reading device, Barnes & Noble has also made sure that the attention that it's gotten so far is not all hype. Among the added functions that have been incorporated into the Nook Color are web browsing, email, video, and Pandora music streaming, and it's also designed to work with B & N's new features and technologies.
There's the new Nook Kids brand which promotes reading colored, illustration-packed children's ebooks on the Nook Color, NookFriends which lets users share heartwarming lines from books to friends and family via Facebook and Twitter. Nook Color also utilizes the LendMe feature, which allows lending of books between Nook users.
Barnes & Noble Nook Color Review: The Verdict Is...
Barnes & Noble has managed to put out a device that combines sleek looks and great features for a price that wouldn't break the bank. For $249, you already get a gadget that let's you do not only ebook reading but a lot of other functions as well.
Still, the device could use with some significant improvements like a longer battery life. It is said to last for 8 hours without recharge and this is peanuts compared to what other e-ink ebook readers can do. Also, even with its VividView treatment, the LCD display could still get reflective and possibly even cause eye strain after a few hours.
After all is said in this Nook Color review, it really depends on what you prefer. If glossy magazines and children's books are high up on your family's list of reading fare, then it's all worth the $249 you spend especially with the additional tablet features it has. However, for long form reading of mostly text ebooks, e-ink ebook readers are still the better choice.
