The Nook Color: Eye Opening

It’s funny how things happen sometimes. A few days ago I simply raised my hand in class, picked a number between one and three and then:

I have a Nook!

Immediately after, I'm thinking:

Wow. This is very expensive. Where’s the case? I should probably have a case for this. Better yet, a pink one. A pink case with a glittery letter “N” on the front. Do they sell those anywhere? Oh right. This isn’t mine. I’m borrowing it! Well, how does this thing turn on?

I press down lightly on the “N” button at the bottom of the device. My eyes are immediately alerted: this is not a Kindle. This is the future of e-book reading led by a bright colorful screen and a menu. Let’s not forget to mention its touch screen capabilities.

 This is…kind of…cool.

I have to admit that until now, the way I’ve felt about the Nook is similar to the way a New Yorker feels about Times Square. It’s interesting and pretty to look at, but it’s only one part of the city. To me, the Nook is one of many avenues to travel down as a reader. Because I am an avid reader, I should represent Nook’s core audience right? Although as a woman, this might hold some truth, (check out this article about Nook Color’s audience at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/23/business/media/23nook.html) I am more than a little hesitant.

In my short lifetime, I’ve seen computer desktops progress to laptops. Remember when desktops were first available for personal use? That was a big deal! Now print books are quickly being converted to e-books. Technology is advancing it seems every hour on the hour. Is this why it has taken more than two years for my mind to be sold on the e-book idea?

Well, maybe now is the right time.

Ingrained habits or views are stubborn. They don’t change overnight; it’s a steady progression. Despite appearing otherwise, technology (especially as far as devices for e-books go), has accelerated only recently. Now it’s taking off from the runway and speeding towards the future. Hopefully, it’s bringing all of us closer together. Besides making life “easier” and “less complicated” technology should serve us as a community; build a bridge between gaps and enable us to help one another. 

Things I like about the Nook Color:

1. The look. It’s sleek and its design is very modern. (“The Nook’s got the look” could be a new catchphrase. Watch out!)

2. The ability to read in color. This really makes a difference in the reading experience, especially when compared to the Kindle. I imagine this is the way moviegoers must have felt in 1939 when they saw Gone with the Wind for the first time in glowing Technicolor.

3. The menus. It’s like having a mini-laptop. It definitely adds a touch of personalization.

4. The “virtual bookshelf.” It’s a clever concept. This shows how Nook designers are trying to make the device more relatable by simulating the activities associated with reading—even something as simple as taking a book off a shelf.

So will I be standing in line at the nearest Barnes and Noble store to buy my first Nook this weekend? It’s definitely something worth considering. Although it's quite possible that by the time I'm ready to make a purchase, designers will come out with Nook Color 2.0: The Next Generation.