Earlier this week, Barnes & Noble dispensed with their original, clever hybrid E-Ink+LCD Nook to introduce a dedicated E-Ink eReader. In some respects, it may appear that the Nook platform has devolved. Yet I’m sure B&N has reduced their production costs with the new Nook ($139)… while, at the same time, made the device fully touch capable (as Sony’s been doing for awhile) – a much more natural form of interaction. And, for its primary purpose, the greyscale screen is sufficient. Perhaps even preferable.
What we’re beginning to see is line drawn in the sand. Power users and gadget aficionados such as myself are attracted to multipurpose tablets, while there’s a segment of folks who will be content with a more limited but affordable media consumption device. In fact, the trend is most clearly evident with Barnes & Noble product line — the Nook Color, marketed as “the reader’s tablet”, with the new Nook pitched as a “simple touch reader.”
Hardware and content expense will continue to be a factor for many, though. And while Amazon’s subsidizing some Kindle models via advertising (bleah), neither they nor B&N have hit the magical $100 price point. However, I expect the lower end of this market to (continue to) flourish as this is rectified in time for the shopping holidays. On the higher end, B&N seems to have found a sweet spot at $250 for a color Android tablet. Especially given its hackability. Our household already possesses a 10″ iPad, but I often pine for my own more compact 7″ tablet (to replace a 2nd gen Kindle) for e-reading… with web surfing benefits. If I find the willpower to fight off the Nook Color urges and all the refurb Samsung Galaxy Tab deals, I’ll hold out for Amazon’s rumored Kindle 4 tablet given my existing collection of Amazon digital media (books, video, apps).
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Specific to the new Nook, the page "turn" transitions look much smoother than anything we've previously seen from e-Ink. More of a fading than a flashing. Hope this comes to Kindle as well, although I suspect my second gen with older e-Ink panel is mostly done receiving significant updates. Also, it'll be interesting to learn how the new Nook's touchscreen works - in terms of responsiveness and potential impact on screen readability. Guess we'l find out closer to launch (June 10th).
"Power users and gadget aficionados such as myself are attracted to multipurpose tablets" I would like to think of myself as a power user and I personally love my 2nd Gen Kindle (my wife's 3rd gen is nicer but not that much). If I want to read books, I want to read books with a good screen. So far the color tab / ipad just don't have the screen flexibility of the Kindle. I still wonder if there can be a hybrid screen that is both e-ink / matte and color LCD. Somehow make one screen transparent when off to allow the other screen but get best of both worlds including battery life.
"What we’re beginning to see is line drawn in the sand. Power users and gadget aficionados such as myself are attracted to multipurpose tablets"
I will also take exception to this.
I'm a power user and gadget aficionado who also loves elegant single purpose devices at the spokes of my various hub/spoke organization.
Any hub must be multipurpose, but I like my spokes to be as simple as possible, for a wide variety of reasons.