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.
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I'd love a nook!
Posted by: Jessie C. | May 11, 2011 at 12:38 AM
Thank you for the chance to win a great reader!
Posted by: Jessie C. | May 11, 2011 at 12:39 AM
I tried color nook in the store and love it.
Posted by: Jessie C. | May 11, 2011 at 12:40 AM
Great review on the Nook Color....and a chance of winnng a gift card...BONUS! Love reading your blogs
Posted by: Peggy | May 11, 2011 at 04:44 AM
Mmm, $50 would buy a lot of books. Or 1/3 of a Color Nook.
Posted by: Darryl | May 11, 2011 at 11:50 AM
By the way, how'd you get started with this blog? How do people end up finding you to send you stuff to review? That's kind of sweet.
Posted by: Darryl | May 11, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Anywho, yeah, I really liked the look and feel of the Color Nook in the store. Would love to win one. Thanks!!
Posted by: Darryl | May 11, 2011 at 11:55 AM
I am such a book junkie. I wish I could buy more books (vs having to wait for the library to get them in), so a gift card would be awesome! Especially right around summer reading time. Mmmmreading.
Posted by: Anne | May 11, 2011 at 12:56 PM
Oh, also, I find the same distraction of "but my email is RIGHT THERE" to be a problem for me, thus why I don't often read on my iPad. I so far prefer paper books, though if there were an online e-book library (even for a fee of some sort) I might feel differently. I just can't afford to buy all my books when I read more than a book a week.
Posted by: Anne | May 11, 2011 at 12:58 PM
I would download the drawing pad app
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Posted by: Tabathia B | May 11, 2011 at 10:36 PM
I keep looking at the nook - haven't bought one yet. I don't know that I would like the email and apps though. I read to transport to another dimension. May not be able to engulf myself with so much in distarctions.
Posted by: addy | May 11, 2011 at 10:59 PM
I love the Nook Color. I think the functionality could be improved a bit, especially the owner library. I hate having books on there I can't figure out how to delete completely.
Posted by: Kristi | May 12, 2011 at 01:28 PM
And since I won that Nook via this site (thanks, Rita!), I'm pulling a "not it!" and stepping out of this posting war. :)
Much luck to all!
Posted by: Kristi | May 12, 2011 at 01:31 PM
I'd love one!
Posted by: Paula Cote | May 12, 2011 at 03:00 PM
My boyfriend just recently got his Nook color and he loves it!
Posted by: Cynthia | May 16, 2011 at 05:53 PM
wow this is amazing! thanks for the chance! :)
Posted by: Dee | May 16, 2011 at 08:05 PM
how awesome - I want to try out the nook and this will help! :)
Posted by: Dee | May 16, 2011 at 08:06 PM
great review on the nook btw! :)
Posted by: Dee | May 16, 2011 at 08:06 PM
Thanks again! I'm glad to know the nook pros far outweight the cons :)
Posted by: Dee | May 16, 2011 at 08:07 PM
outweigh* in my previous comment btw :)
the nook would be a much welcome distraction! :)
Posted by: Dee | May 16, 2011 at 08:07 PM