I have now had my Nook a little over a month, and I feel I can better determine whether or not I like it.
The Pros:
- It has definitely been very helpful in reviewing electronic ARCs (sitting in front of the computer to read a full length book gets a bit tedious.) It is also nice to be able to highlight and make notes all over the place without 'ruining' the book.
- Having a dictionary at the touch of the word I need to look up is something that would have made my Hawthorne class with Dr. Armstrong so much easier than it was! It makes me almost gidding that I can just tap the word, any word, and get a definintion. (Yes, I realize what a nerd that makes me.) And being able to flip back and forth between the book and google map makes reading Verne a very different experience. (Yes, I am a lazy Geographer - I rarely bothered to pull out the atlas, even when I wanted to!)
- It is SO NICE to be able to carry literally hundreds of books with me at once in such a compact form. (And I think my mother is doing a happy dance that, for the first time in my life, I have something worthwhile enough to make me carry a purse.) No more worrying about finishing a book while the next one is stranded at home.
- I got to buy this lovely cover for it from Etsy seller On A Roll Cozies (pictured above - but you should check out all her other pretty colors.) I love that it completely protects the reader when I am not using it, but isn't in the way when I am.
- I've been checking out some self-published/Indie authors that I might not otherwise have heard of, much less read. (See previous IMM on short stories.)
- Barnes & Noble has a really excellent, very helpful customer support staff who are unfailingly patient and kind. I have spent upwards of eight hours with them to learn this. (see cons)
The Cons:
- I won't lie, first and foremost I miss the books. The actual feel of the pages. Trapping my finger between the pages to mark my place when I have to stop for a minute.
- I keep worrying about the warm spot on my pillow (you can catch your bed on fire that way, can't you?) And a 12 hour battery life sounds pretty generous...at first. Until you realize just how often you are tethered to the cord.
- I am having a hard time finding a firm place to stand on ebook pricing, but I do know that it is REALLY hard for me to get comfortable spending more than $10 on a book that I can never hold. (This discussion started by Kat of Cuddlebuggery Book Blog has been interesting to follow.) I don't see ebooks being my primary form of book purchases anytime in the near future.
- It really freaks me out that 111 (That would be One Hundred and Eleven!!) books can disappear from your device in a single night. I realize that it was a mistake (and one that they were happy to correct!), but we had to go through my purchase history - while on the phone - book by book to get each title added back to my account. (see pros)
- I don't like that I can't share the books, or sell them to the used book store for new books.
All said, I am actually mostly enjoying it, but having a hard time trusting it. I think I may just be that crusty old person that just doesn't want to get with the times. What are your thoughts?
