Dec
28

eReader Showdown: The nook Experience

Image courtesy of Barnes & Noble

The very first e-reader I purchased was Barnes & Noble‘s nook. Despite how much I loved the e-reading experience, I almost immediately regretted the purchase. Since the nook‘s release, TONS more companies have jumped into the e-reader market, all competing for the best experience, the most dollars spent, and the loyalty of millions of customers who are now entering this burgeoning market. Within the year, prices had dropped on the nook dramatically, and Amazon retaliated with the release of its cheap, easy-to-pick-up Kindle 3.

That said, the nook demonstrated one key thing that many tech reviewers have ignored: the propensity for cheap simplicity in the design. In the last year, consumers have proven out that they want an affordable e-reading experience: cheap books, cheap devices. We have already seen several e-readers fold due to overcomplicated designs and limited access to inexpensive books. The thing I enjoy the most about the nook is how SEAMLESSLY it fits into my existing lifestyle.

The nook FEELS like a disposable device. It’s heavier than the Kindle and lighter than the iPad, still ideal for one-handed reading. I immediately took to using it at the gym, where it received more than a fair share of bumps and dings. Despite the rough treatment, the nook still performs exactly how I want it to: as a handy-dandy, easy-to-use mechanism for delivering printed content.

I LOVE the e-reading experience. It’s a blast for me to be able to rapidly switch between books on a single platform that I can carry around with me. (The Kindle beats out the nook for ultra-portability, however.) I find myself reading more and reading faster due to the simplicity of the experience. I can power through half a book in a 1-hour workout, and I often finish engrossing reads on flights or train rides. The nook really makes for an AWESOME e-reading experience. The E-Ink display of the nook is easy on the eyes and never tires me out. The color touchscreen (now a little outdated) is a great method for book shopping. My biggest complaint with the device has to be the glitches in the software. To be fair, most of this has been ironed out by now, but it made for some pretty annoying times for the early adopters.

Barnes & Noble did a great job thinking about user experience when designing the first generation nook. I was very intrigued to learn that within 1 year, B&N had announced their next generation nook, the Nook Color. This device looks (and costs) more like a stripped down tablet — fully touchscreen and wired for internet use right out of the box. This is an interesting choice for B&N. In effect, they’re giving up on inexpensive and simple and trying to compete more in the tablet arena. I think this is where Amazon is going to win in this market (seemingly confirmed by the insane sales numbers for the Kindle this holiday season).

Daniel Pink wrote about how “abundance” will drive prices down on goods to such a degree that consumers will focus more and more on aesthetics and design. B&N was on to something with the nook’s simple yet elegant design. However, the Nook Color signals B&N’s intent to be all things to all consumers… but is this really possible at such a low price point and design spec? Time will tell.

{Note: I write this post (while long overdue) to meet the requirements of Gizmodo’s eval criteria for a new staff writer. Any tips, connections, or advice in my pursuit of that goal would be appreciated.)

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