Last eBook Reader: The Color Nook

Aaaaand we have a winner! The Color Nook is pretty great! Here's the rundown:

Pros
-Wi-fi enabled and includes a web browser. Unlike the other wi-fi enabled devices that only let you go to the affiliated e-store, the Color Nook lets you actually browse the web.

-Color! The color screen is beautiful! Reading a picture book to a child would be a much nicer experience on this device than on the black and white eReaders.

-A true touch pad. None of this "in the touchpad area only" business or "use the buttons for some actions and touch the screen for others." It's a real touch pad.

-External speakers

-Backlit, so you can read in a dark place.

-You can link your twitter, Facebook, and Google accounts for social sharing.

-Compatible with Overdrive and Google eBooks. Here's a video of how to transfer a Google eBook to the device:




Cons

-It's a little heavy. Not as heavy as the iPad, but definitely heavy. You can see in the pictures I have it propped on a book display stand. That works pretty well!

-The screen definitely has a glare, and it's really bright on its brightest setting. I mean, hurt your eyes bright! Actually, I was reading in bed on its dullest setting and it still seemed pretty bright in a dark room.

-I've had a little trouble turning pages. It seems touchy (Ha! A Pun!) about where you touch the screen to turn the page. If you stray too close to the center, a menu pops up across the bottom of the screen. If you don't swipe hard enough, nothing happens. You can either tap or swipe, but neither gesture seems to work consistently.

-I tried to test the social sharing, and linked my Twitter and Google accounts successfully. Then I realized that you have to go into the "Content" menu and choose the "Notes & Highlights" tab and turn Notes & Highlights ON. The problem was, every time I chose On, it switched right back to off. I could not get it to stick in the on position! I don't know if it's a flaw with this particular device or what, but it just wouldn't stay in the on position, so I couldn't test it.

Here are some pictures. Click them for a bigger version.

The main menu across the bottom. You activate it by tapping the half-circle in the middle of the bottom of the screen.



The other menu, which appears when you tap near the center of the screen.



The Barnes & Noble eStore, seen through the web browser.



The "Extras" menu. Play games, listen to music, check out your contacts, lend your books...



A game of Sudoku! Whoever started this game messed up - it can't be solved without fixing a few mistakes.