Here is a review of Barnes and Noble’s eBook reader, The Nook.

I received the Nook for my birthday in April. I’ve used it every day since I received it. Here’s what I’ve found.

Features:
The Nook features the same 6-inch e-ink screen (600×800 pixels; 16 shades of gray) as the Kindle, but also includes a separate color capacitive touch screen (144×480 pixels) that lets you navigate content and use a virtual keyboard for typing searches and annotations.

Pros:

• It has free AT&T 3G wireless connection
• Standard Wi-Fi connectivity
• Comes with 2GB of internal memory, (enough to hold about 1,500 eBooks)
• You can add up to an additional 16GB via the microSD card slot.
• The Nook’s font style and size are adjustable
• It can display image files
• It plays MP3 music files.
• It’s compatible with Windows and Mac machines.
• The battery is removable and user replaceable.
• A really cool feature is free, in-store browsing of full-text books while within Barnes & Noble stores.
• You can lend certain e-books for up to 14 days free of charge.
• The ePub format compatibility lets you read free Google Books and loaner e-books from your local library
• Built-in basic web browser, (works slightly better than Kindle’s).
• Can be put into Airplane Mode to save battery life, and so it can be used on airplanes
• Keeps track of current page in multiple books

Cons:

• Doesn’t come with a cover, or any protective element.
• Slightly smaller and thicker than the Kindle
• Not backlit, so reading in low light conditions is somewhat useless
• Takes awhile to turn on
• Bookmarking functionality is cumbersome
• Sometimes when browsing books using Wi-Fi, it takes a long time to load

Review:
I like using the Nook. I would definitely recommend getting an Cover for it. The cover not only protects it, but when the cover is open and folded back, it feels like you’re holding a book. I was paranoid before I bought a cover, thinking I would somehow crack the display, so get a cover just for the peace of mind.

I love the fact that it keeps track of your place in multiple books. I tend to read more than one book at a time, so that feature is really good so I don’t have to remember where I left off.

My wife Tianne likes that she can read a book using the Nook while in bed and since I like to have our bedroom a meat locker when I sleep, she can be bundled up in the covers reading with only 1 hand sticking out to push the button to turn the page. With a normal book, she needs both hands out of the covers and then yells at me to turn off the ceiling fan. (Yea for the Nook!)

Since I’m an Avid Reader, the nook is awesome because I can have 100′s of my favorite books on one little device, so when I go on a weekend getaway which we often do, I just have to bring the Nook with me, instead of a box of books. The downside to that is that I’ve had to buy electronic versions of most of my books, but I think it’s worth it.

The eBooks themselves are not bad in price. Avg $9.99 a book. Although for some reason, some eBooks are more expensive than the hardback, which I don’t understand, so I end up not buying those. I have to draw the line somewhere!

Another cool feature that I like is that you can load your favorite PDFs onto the Nook too. Although I wish that it would read Microsoft Word documents, but it doesn’t, maybe in an updated version.

Just recently they added a web browser and a couple games like Chess and Sudoku, but I haven’t played them yet. The browser is ok, but since the touch screen is very small and the screen is vertical, you have to view the page in sections and navigating is somewhat confusing. Since I always have my laptop with me anyway, I just use that for web browsing anyway, so it’s no big deal to me.

The Nook seems to hold a charge for a good amount of time. I can go about 5 days without recharging, depending on how much I’m reading and using the Wi-Fi feature. I’ve found that leaving the Nook in Airplane Mode unless I’m actually going to be getting new books or reading the daily updates they offer, is the best way to save on battery usage.

Conclusion:
After using the Nook for almost 4 months, I have to say that I’m quite pleased. I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read more than 1 book at a time. It’s light, and with the right cover, it can actually feel like you’re holding a regular book. I do wish the bookmarking feature was a bit better. It took a bit to get used to it. And I like to bookmark. Normally with regular books, I either dog ear the pages or use those small little post it tabs.

Tianne and I did a lot of research before we bought the Nook. I originally wanted a Kindle, but after going to a Barnes and Noble and playing with one, we decided to go with the Nook. That was a huge advantage over the Kindle, I couldn’t hold and use it before buying.

Overall I would buy the Nook again. I think I’m actually going to buy my wife her own for Christmas, because she’s using mine way too much!! Oh, and since we bought mine, the price has gone down $60 to $199 for the 3G + Wi-Fi. They also came out with another version that just has Wi-Fi (which is all I really use) for $149. So head on over to your nearest Barnes and Noble and pick yourself up one, and don’t forget to get a cover! And maybe an attachable light, if you like to read in low light.

If you don’t want to hop in the car to go get one, click on the link below for you 1-stop shopping from AboveAllSuccess.com! :O)

To Your Success, Because Your Success Matters!

David Haines
(215) 268-6696 Anytime!
Hey, Let’s connect on Skype! My ID is davidahaines

I’ve been reading an excellent book by Mike Litman and Jason Oman called Conversations with Millionaires.

One of the interviews Mike Litman did was with Jim Rohn. In that interview, Mike asked Jim to talk about the power in the being and the becoming. Here is what Jim Rohn replied:

What we acquire of course is valuable.

But, the greatest value is not what we acquire. The greatest value is what we become.

My mentor had an interesting way of teaching it.

When I was 25 years old he said, “I suggest, Mr. Rohn, that you set a goal to become a millionaire.”

I was all intrigued by that. You know, it’s got a nice ring to it – millionaire.

Then he said, “here’s why…” I thought to myself, ‘gosh, he doesn’t need to teach me why. Wouldn’t it be great to have a million dollars.’ Then he said, “no then you’ll never acquire it. Here’s why. Set a goal to become millionaire for what it makes of you to achieve it.”

He said, “Do it for the skills you have to learn and the person you have to become. Do it for what you’ll end up knowing about the marketplace, what you’ll learn about the management of time and working with people. Do it for the ability of discovering how to keep your ego in check. For what you have to learn about being benevolent. Being kind as well as being strong. What you have to learn about society and business and government and taxes and becoming an accomplished person to reach the status of millionaire. All that you have learned and all that you’ve become to reach the status of millionaire is what’s valuable. Not the million dollars. If you do it that way, then once you become a millionaire, you can give all the money away. Because it’s not the money that’s really important. What’s important is the person you have become.”

That was one of the best pieces of philosophy I have ever heard in my life.

Nobody ever shared it with me like that before.

Another thing he said was, “beware of what you become in pursuit of what you want. Don’t sell out. Don’t sell out your principles. Don’t compromise your values. Because you might acquire something by doing so, but it won’t taste good.”

An old prophet said, “sometimes what tastes good in the mouth finally turns bitter in the belly.”

Then, later we regret that we compromised or that we did something incredibly wrong to acquire something. It’s not worth it. If we do that, then what we get is worthless.

If you use something like that to challenge yourself to grow, to reach a certain level, I think it’s wise. Because then you know where the true value is and that is in the person you become.

Go back and read that again.

It’s not about the million dollars. It’s about what we become in the pursuit. What we have to become to get it.

Now go back and read it again. Read it as many times as necessary until you truly understand what Mr. Rohn is saying. Then begin your journey. Or get in touch with me and we can take that journey together. I’d love to have you along for the ride.

To Your Success, Because Your Success Matters

David Haines
(215) 268-6696 Anytime!

Find out more information about Mike Litman at www.mikelitman.com or Jason Oman at www.jasonoman.com