Book Reviews and Money Saving Tips

I have an eReader from Augen.  It cost $89.00 at Kmart.   It is a bit quirky regarding some downloads but for the most part it works as an eReader.   There is no, make that NO technical support from Augen.   It does have a color screen that is NOT touch.  I have loaded in some family photos and music.   I can read and listen to music.   I can surf the web at speeds akin to my old 56k modem.   It is not a great eReader but it was cheap. After much research I decided that the Nook was worth looking at.   It has a color touch screen, supports Flash and WIFI surfing.   From my reading it seemed like it is a thinly disguised iPad want-to-be.   The price compared to any other name brand tablet is ridiculously cheap, $249.00.   I have had a craving for a tablet ever since my dearly beloved sister’s two week visit and her insidious purchase of an iPad2.   I don’t...

Barnes and Noble have announced a color Nook for $249.00. ZDnet did a first look report . The color nook sounds cool but if you recall my post on the Augen reader at $90.00 with a color screen and browsing ability, there is still a huge price differential. In addition, the Augen page turning is quite fast, no lag and that has been a complaint about the Nook. B&N claim that has been remedied in the color Nook but still a $160.00 differential is pretty dramatic. Then you take into consideration the Vtech V.Reader has a color screen and nifty features for $59.95 and it seems like B&N might want to reevaluate their price point. I know the V.Reader is for kids but the technology is sophisticated so I think it is fair to compare. Bottom line, B&N should take a look at their price point if they plan on selling many of the color Nooks.

Don’t you just love teaser headlines? In this case, the nookie I am referring to is not what you are thinking. Of course I may be wrong, you could have immediately realized I was referring to the price drop on the Barnes and Nobel Nook. In spite of some of my luddite leaning rants lately, I am still a technut. I can’t help myself, in spite of some of the demoralizing experiences I’ve had lately. I still prefer a book whose pages I can turn. The price drop of the Nook and the realize of the WiFi version is making me sit up and take notice. If I ever get a smart phone that has good reception without forcing me to buy a cellular repeater, I will probably load it with some books. My old Dell xv51 is still limping along and I do still read books on it. The Nook is so much nicer though and the screen size is infinitely better than on my PDA or future to be named smart phone. The Nook pricing is going to provide some serious impetus for Amazon and Sony to look at their pricing. Note th...