I recently attended a webinar put on by Barnes & Noble's NOOK Color team to learn about the new developments in NOOK Color World.
NOOK Color's going tablet, baby. They added app shopping, web surfing (Droid platform) and an email client. The term I heard over and over was "reader tablet" -- so clearly this product isn't being positioned as just a reader anymore.
Pros:
- For adults, the pros are obvious. E-readers are perfect for travel, and if you can access your email and surf the web from your NOOK Color, why bring the laptop? Also, interactive books.
- For kids, games! And also more interactivity within certain books, particularly picture books. With a new "read and play" function, there's an opportunity to add animation and activities to go along with the story. I've seen the animation in one of the books, and it makes sense, goes with the story, and has educational value.
Want to know what I mean by "interactivity"? Here are some examples of how stuff might be embedded in your books.
Cons:
- For both adults and kids -- distraction. Part of the reason I love reading as a leisure activity is because it's solace from my busy online life. This is a personality thing for me. I don't find the Internet relaxing. If I knew my email was on my reader one click away, I don't know that I would actually be able to relax and read. For kids -- will they read if the alternative is Angry Birds?
As I went looking for my daughter's NOOK Color, I found her reading a book on it. (From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil D. Frankweiler). She was sad because I'd told her there would be apps, and she didn't see any that were kid-looking. So we went to the app store and bought a drawing pad app.
When I think of apps, I usually think of games, because I'm not really an app junkie. I always forget there are awesome apps like the one my dad has that shows the alignment of the stars at all times or this drawing pad thing. So the little angel and I spent the next 15 minutes waiting for the bus and drawing each other pictures.
All in all, I do think the improvements change the game for NOOK Color. I'd be interested to hear what an adult who uses a NOOK Color thinks of them, because in our family, the NOOK Color belongs to a seven-year-old and thus must be kept somewhat pristine with seven-year-old appropriate access to the world.
SO! Now for the fun stuff. I'm giving away a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Rules are same as always -- one comment equals one entry, enter as many times as you like. I'll use a randomizer to pick the winner after 5 PM Central (or whenever I remember to close comments on that night) on Thursday, May 19. Good luck!
Editor's Note: I got the same gift card for my time to attend the webinar, write this review and manage the giveaway.
![Review Bloggers](http://<a href="http://izzymom.com/reviewbloggers" target="_blank"><img src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c219/wizzywig76/revblog.png" border="0" alt="Review Bloggers"/></a><br />){kind=link}
My friend loves her Nook Color for use in travel with her young child...the children's books look so cool. I hope I win!
Posted by: olivia | May 10, 2011 at 08:50 AM
One thing I like about "analog" book reading is choosing a really fat book (currently Pynchon's V.)and measuring my progress each evening by how deep into the stack of pages my bookmark is placed.
I realize that e-readers and e-tablets are the future but, I don't know, printed paper just seems to have more soul. Maybe I'm just a relic.
Posted by: Lane A | May 10, 2011 at 09:05 AM
I currently have a Kindle, but every time I see a review of the Nook, I get more interested in picking one up.
Posted by: amber | May 10, 2011 at 09:07 AM
Ooh! I'm currently saving for a Nook, so this would put my closer to my goal!
Posted by: Dawn K. | May 10, 2011 at 09:33 AM
Oh, those changes will influence my decision to go with the Nook! Awesome!
Posted by: Jackie | May 10, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Nook! Nook! Take a look!
Posted by: Dawn K. | May 10, 2011 at 12:41 PM
NooK!!!!!!! Bring me a BooK!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:10 PM
really, really like books!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:11 PM
books!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:13 PM
id like to take a look at the book on the nook! just one post is all it took!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:14 PM
look!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:16 PM
am i on the hook for the nook?
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 01:17 PM
My husband has already rooted his color Nook and loves it! He even reads on it at the gym.
Posted by: divrchk | May 10, 2011 at 02:31 PM
I don't have a nook, but I have an iPad! Love it. I would love to have a nook or something similar for my kids.
Posted by: Angie | May 10, 2011 at 03:51 PM
I have kindle and iBook apps for my iPad, will have to check out nook.
Posted by: Angie | May 10, 2011 at 03:52 PM
There are so many eduacational apps out there for kids. It is easy to get overwhelmed. My 3and 6yo both love it!
Posted by: Angie | May 10, 2011 at 03:54 PM
still looking for my nook-)
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 05:57 PM
nook is awsome!!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 05:59 PM
love the nook!!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 06:00 PM
im hooked!
Posted by: Rachael Graff | May 10, 2011 at 06:01 PM