When Nook Color from Barnes & Noble appeared on the the U.S. market of Ebook readers and tablet PCs, this original device almost immediately won the hearts of consumers with its rich functionality, excellent design and build quality, to say nothing of its low price.
For many people with active and mobile lifestyle this light-weight gadget has already become a good helper and entertainer. Many more still try to get a closer look at it, read customer reviews and wonder where to buy Nook Color without overpaying for it.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. is one of the largest bookselling chains in the United States with more than 700 bookstores all over the country. However, if the store is not around but you are dead set on getting Nook, then Barnes & Noble offer you the opportunity to order this device online at the official website.
If you choose to buy Nook Color online, there are several advantages to it:
- You are buying directly from the manufacturer,
- You are paying the manufacturer’s price: there are no 3rd parties and, thus, no additional fees,
- Free shipping,
- Fast delivery: the package will arrive within 2-3 days,
- Convenience: the package is delivered right at your door, there’s even no need to go to B&N local store.
The only thing which may keep you uncertain is that you can’t actually hold Nook in your hands and try it before buying. However, I hope that the following review will somehow make up for it and help you make up your mind.
Note: Below is the Nook Color review. If you have already made your choice and want to have this gadget as soon as possible – click here to buy Nook Color now!
Nook Color Review
Nook Color was released by Barnes and Noble on October 27th, 2010. Being a color edition of the famous Nook, it is an e-reader and also a tablet PC. The device is intended for full-color viewing of ebooks, magazines and newspapers, as well as watching videos and listening to audio files. Since its launch this e-reader/tablet hybrid received mostly positive reviews with CNET and PC Magazine. MSNBC.com even called it the “Best value in the tablet world“.
Product details:
- Screen: 7-inch IPS LCD touchscreen, 1024 × 600 px, 169 ppi, 16 million color, G-sensor
- Operating System: Android 2.2
- Processor: 800 Mhz ARM Cortex-A8-based TI OMAP3621
- Internal memory: 8 GB
- Memory expansion: microSD up to 32GB
- Connectivity: mini USB, Wi-Fi
- Supported text formats: EPUB, PDF, XLS, DOC, DOCX, XLX, PPTX PPT, PPS, TXT, DOCM, XLSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPSM
- Graphic formats: JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG
- Video formats: MP4 (3GP, 3G2, MP4, M4V; MPEG-4 and 854x480px; H.263 up to 352x288px; H.264 up to 854x480px)
- Audio formats: MP3, AAC
- Battery: 3.7v 4000mAh (up to 8 hours of continuous operation with Wi-fi on)
- Dimensions: 210 x 130 x 12 mm (8.1 x 5.0 x 0.48 in)
- Weight: 436 g (0.96 lbs)
Screen
For the last few years customers have become accustomed to the idea that an electronic device for reading must have electronic paper screen exclusively. At first glance, Nook Color from Barnes and Noble featuring glowing color screen violates the spirit of e-reading. But it is not so.
The screen is very good for reading with external light source, as well as in total darkness. The backlight is even and soft to the eye, even in the dark. The gadget responds to changes in surrounding light and automatically adjusts brightness.
The picture quality is just excellent and can be compared with the best tablets that are available on the market today. The screen is glossy, but glare from ambient lighting is minimal. The viewing angle of the screen is ultra-wide (almost full 180°).
The touchscreen is very responsive and the device is perfectly controlled by a finger without apparent delay and braking.
Design
The product is an original design. It has a rectangular shape with side cut at the lower left corner with a stylish loop. On the backside of the loop there is a memory card slot (micro SD), hidden by a flap.
The device is built up of three main elements. The central frame is a rim that holds the front panel with the screen and and back panel. There is only a built-in speaker on the back panel. Otherwise it is blind and solid. It has a rubberized coating which is very comfortable for the hands. Screws and external clamps are absent, the design is monolithic.
On the front side there is only one button, the inverted «U», which is the logo of Nook. It is used to wake up Nook Color from sleep and/or go to the home screen. The On/Off button is on the left side – only with it you can turn off the device completely. On the right side there are two volume buttons – “Vol +” and “Vol -”. At the bottom there is a mini-USB socket.
Currently the product is only available in dark gray with a rim of metallic gray but you can personalize it a wide choice of Nook Color accessories.
The weight of the gadget is a little more than 400 grams, which is slightly heavier than usual e-Ink readers but is much lighter than most tablet PCs, for example Apple iPad.
Software
At first start the device will require Internet connection to complete registration. Registration is fast and easy. However, if you have any problem, there is a video, as well as quick-start guide with all the steps explained in detail.
The book reading mode is surprisingly simple but self-sufficient. You can read e-books in ePub and PDF. For more formats, including FB2, you will need to turn the device into a full-fledge tablet by rooting (see below) and install third-party software.
You can turn pages in two ways: by touching the right or left side of the page or by sliding your finger across the screen. Touching the center of the screen calls additional features. Touch the upper right corner to bookmark the page.
You can adjust the size, font type, screen brightness, change the margins and page color to make your reading most comfortable.
Nook Color allows you to easily share your literary ideas, quote and recommend the book at social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. You can also share your downloaded books with friends with the help of the “LendMe” feature.
The gadget also allows you to view images (JPG, GIF, BMP, PNG) and video content (MP4), listen to audio (MP3, AAC), play games, check email and browse the Internet.
The device is very responsive and easily controlled in all modes with your finger using the touch-screen. The settings are fairly simple. The interface is attractive and user-friendly.
Nook Color Rooting
Nook Color runs the Android operating system. However, in its initial configuration it is pretty much limited because the Nook’s primary function is as an e-reader. If you want this gadget to do a bit more and run most Android applications, you can unlock it functionality and turn it into a full Android tablet.
There are two main methods how you can do it. You can either gain root access to its file system (rooting) or use a micro SD card to boot a custom version of Android from it. Both methods don’t require any special skills or knowledge. Detailed instructions can be found online.
Operation Time
This device is very enduring as regards operation time. With 3 hours of daily reading it will work for nearly 2 weeks without recharging (Wi-Fi turned off). It does not discharge in sleep mode. However, Wi-Fi connection considerably reduces battery life – with active use the battery will deplete in 8-10 hours.
Summary
Nook Color is an inexpensive e-reader/tablet hybrid that features high-quality 7-inch touch-screen, original design, light weight and long battery life. It has everything to make electronic reading comfortable. It’s also a good multimedia performer. With the possibility of turning it into a full-fledged Android tablet Nook Color for its money becomes the best alternative to Apple iPad as well as everytthing that we have on the tablet market today.
If you found this Nook Color review helpful and think that you must have this gadget by all means, simply order Nook from B&N now and you will enjoy it for years to come!
If you already own this device, you are welcome to share your impressions and submit your own review below.
I believe Nook Color is the best tablet you can find at the moment. Upgrade it to full Android OS and you’ll discover an excellent, responsive little helper and entertainer, which can work with all the applications from the Android market.
I totally adore this Nook. I turned mine into a complete Android tablet, what lets me use it for almost all what I want from this awesome gadget. It’s a terrific Nook!
This Nook Color is a very good gadget. With its compact size there are numerous awesome specs and plenty of memory. The battery life is actually great and the display is clear, full of color and very pleasant to read. Just check it out and see for yourself how many helpful activities you will be able to do with it.
My wife had been looking for the best place where to buy Nook Color and finally bought one from the B&N site. This ereader-tablet is really not too bad. Folks are whacking it simply because it is not iPad’s real competitor. But on the other hand, it has never intended to be an apple ipad and so stop putting these different devices in the same line. It’s awesome for what it can do:it let you read plenty of e-books all in one gadget. Easy and cost-effective. The Wi-Fi connectivity is simply an extra together with the video, audio, images, etc. On the whole, Nook Color is truly a lovely little device.
I bought the color Nook for the reason that it was backlit. I suffer from eyesight issues, and I’m just not able to see anything clear on the Kindle display. The Nook Color is all I could want and I’m really happy to use it.
I’m fully satisfied with my new Nook Color. Though, i had to spend some time to understand how to get ebooks from the library on it. I love the web access feature. It’s very portable and comfortable to read. i got myself the manufacturer refurbished version and am very pleased with it.
I purchased Nook Color ereader together with apple ipad tablet. Both devices are fantastic. Nook Color is perfect for mobile reading. It appears to be high quality and pretty durable. It is great to use almost in any place. I usually take it to pizza restaurant or cafe and read my ebooks for a long time without having a slight eye-strain. I can easily hold my Nook in one hand and drink my favorite espresso with the other. Just perfect!
Generally speaking, this Nook looks like it has been stuck somewhere in between: it’s not precisely an ereader, but somewhere close to a tablet pc.
I must say that this gadget provides less glare troubles compared to ipad tablet or Galaxy, but in case you have ever tried reading with eink screen you will never want to return and switch to LCD once again. Reading from a Nook Color for many hours is difficult for the eyes. And don’t even think of about reading with it it by the swimming pool or outside the house, except if it’s non-sunny or perhaps if you discover the ideal angle; the glare will certainly trouble you while reading anyway. Reading indoors is a another story but the display still gives you a little eye strain on me anyway, especially during lengthy reading periods.
I purchased Nook color a few months ago and so I really like it! The colour, the simplicity, the wi-fi… I checked out e-book readers for almost half a year before choosing this awesome device and I’m happy I decided on this! I truly have no reproaches so far. I would certainly recommend it!
I dreamed of an e-book reader for a long time and finally made the decision to go ahead and get one. Following a great deal of researching and questioning, I have eventually chosen the Nook Color from B&N. I must say I’m happy with my choice! Nook has all I needed in an ebook reader device. It is compact and portable. The color touchscreen display is amazing, the quality of picture is great, the screen responds immediately to a finger touch. Using the WiFi connection with the B&N book store it’s quick and easy to connect to its wide range of electronic books and other digital products. Contrary to many other famous brands, the Color Nook can read most of the common e-book formats, and thus one can get electronic books from many sites other than BarnesandNoble.com. It’s great that you can download and listen to mp3 files when you are reading. On the whole, you simply you will never regret if you have this one.
Nook Color is definitely to my liking. I didn’t need the dimensions or weight of an Apple iPad, and this provides precisely what iPad does only way more compactly. Actually, the one thing I’m looking forward to in this gadget is the new upgrade which will manage Flash.
The design and style of the nook color is awesome, the colors are great and the rear panel has a rubberized like material. However, there are several let-downs on the design and build quality. The rear panel feels slightly wiggly on one side; the volume and also on/off buttons are as well wiggly and don’t stick out, you will need some time to get used to them before you push them; the display screen is quite refractive, you will need an antiglare screen protector. The mini USB as well as audio outputs are a little loosened, moving the cables suddenly can cause them to disconnect interrupting the data exchange. Lastly, there’s that area beneath the screen which has just one button, though it could include all the common Android buttons.