Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I did it all for the Nookie!

Nook Barnes & Noble is busily promoting their e-reader alternative to Amazon's Kindle: the Nook.

I predict that this baby will sell like hotcakes. This seems to be a very nifty gadget, with a color screen (looks like the text is in black and white) that includes a touch screen like many cell phones have.

I can tell you that I love the thought of this, because I loves me my gadgets. I love playing with them and figuring them out and programming them. I know I would have fun with the Nook.

However, I also loves me my books. I would have a hard time giving up holding a book, sometimes-musty pages and all, in my hand as I read it. If I traveled extensively, I would love one of these, but I think I’ll just keep enjoying my decades-old library books. (Although I have to say I was a little nonplussed today when I found two pages stuck together and extracted a dark, gummy substance from between them. I do not want to know.)

I have another prediction: everyone will start calling this device the Nookie. Let it begin here, and let it begin with me.

Looks like Fred Durst and the boys already want one.

16 comments:

  1. I'm not so sure, Beth - it sells for exactly what the Kindle 2 currently does ($259), and their library sounds a bit thin, especially given that Google Books is STILL under an injunction and probably will be for the foreseeable future.

    The Kindle at least has a buttload of books already digitized in (copy-protected) MOBI format - which means that some other sellers like SF giant Baen offer eScriptions versions of pretty much their entire library in unprotected MOBI. By contrast, the Nook natively takes ePUB and eReader formats - and claims to do PDFs, but I'd need to see how WELL it does them first.

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  2. Good grief, Tim, I have no idea what you are talking about! LOL I haven't investigated thoroughly, because I don't see myself getting an e-reader anytime soon. I just have the feeling that people will like the touch screen. And I like the thought of calling it the Nookie. I'm juvenile that way. ;)

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  3. The eReader technology is amazing and evolving so quickly! I hope to own one someday!

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  4. I'm with you Beth.
    Half of me likes the idea that trees will be spared from becoming books with these new devices, but I love love love holding a book in my hands and flipping the pages and then closing the back cover when I finish.

    Yes, I'm a relic.

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  5. Hey, weren't not relics Bob, just bound media enthusiasts! I'm not in love with the idea of a reader either, though the digital age will save some flora friends for sure. Their is nothing like having an "affair" with a bound book though.

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  6. i will never own something like that...i am living just fine without a cell phone or iphone or ipod or most modern gadgets....it has to be a real book to hold and read. I am finally getting a copy of "True Compass" today from the library. It has been on reserve for months. Can't wait to read it.

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  7. B & N sent me an email about it this morning. Now that I think of it, my B&N card would probably bring the price down but...I really, really don't see myself wanting one. To me it's no different than looking something up online to read (yeah I know it's not a book - it's just that cold and distant to me).

    I've tried free e-books or PDF formats for reading, I just can't see myself curling up with one of these things at night even if they do start calling it "Nookie" (winks).

    And I totally got what Timothy was saying. The Google Books case that is up in the air is basically a suit brought about by authors not wanting to lose money or rights by their work being offered up for free or a discount price through Google on-line and in e-format. In other words this new technology might in the foreseeable future make it harder for an author to make a living.

    Thats the short gist of it. Take for example albums and songs that were being distrubuted for free online in I-tunes. Same case different scenerio.

    Blah...too much thinking. (Hugs)Indigo

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  8. Totally didn't mean to make that such a long comment. Next time I'll email, just thought your other readers would find it interesting. (Hugs)Indy

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  9. I'm all for Nookie but not this kind! ;) I couldn't resist. Actually it looks pretty cool but it's definately not for me. When I do read I prefer to hold a book in my hands and then promptly fall asleep. Hey, I only sit down after 8 and then I'm exhausted, LOL.

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  10. This is a catch song!

    I am not savvy enough to want to have any of those kinds of gadgets instead of a book. I can look over my shoulder and feel and know what I have read and impress people who see my collection!

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  11. lol the title of your post intrigued me "Nookie" which means something else here in the UK, it looks like a cool device but I do prefer to read a book.

    Take care

    Yasmin
    xx

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  12. I've told you my opinion of electronic readers before. I LOVE my Kindle because when I'm at my dialysis treatments I can't turn pages. For other times, I like to hold a real book. My daughter is a Barnes and Noble employee and says the Nook(ie) is pretty great, too.

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  13. Maybe when I retire and we start traveling for weeks or months at a time it will make more sense, but for now, bring on the hard covers :o)

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  14. For Christmas last year Paul gave me a Kindle. Like you, I thought I'd never really get into this gadget.. I love to soak in the tub with a paperback to read. But I have to say, I am loving my Kindle. Not all titles I like are available...so those I still buy as a regular book. Also I never prevent myself from splurging at a book store. BUT... there are some advantages to the Kindle and as more and more titles become available I see fewer "real" book purchases in the futurs. Saves lots of shelf space!

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  15. I asked my daughter if she would like the "Kindle" as a Xmas gift since she is an avid reader. Her reply was she thinks it is a great gadget and can hold many books but she would miss the smell of the new hardcover book and turning the pages! Her thoughts were if the price went down.......maybe!

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  16. I, too, straddle the different worlds, loving the written word and holding it in my hand, but I do love my iPod Touch! And, after all, we have all done the oddest things for Nookie in the past, it seems only likely will will again in the future.

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