 This is what we got out of the box. |  Side by side view, Sony off, Nook in sleep mode. |  Side by side view at the top menu on each. |
| Jill's Sony PRS-505 Sony PRS-505 Portable Digital e-Reader System (Silver)   Jill has had her 505 for about 2 years See a video mini Op-Eval of this reader by clicking here | Greg's Barnes & Noble Nook |
I understand that this is the first
version of the firmware on the Nook and many things can and will
change as time goes on. But for sailors planning to head out soon,
think about what you can live with or not.
Brown is what I wrote. Green is what I am saying now.
Side By Side
For the Nook - The USB charging/data cable is NOT a standard cable. The small end (the end that goes into the Nook) is VERY small and hard to tell what side it up. This might be a problem aboard the boat and will be very hard to do at night. Now (12/12/09), I have been informed that it is a type of standard USB connector, it's micro-USB. That's fine, but I still think this may be a problem aboard the boat.
For the Sony – The USB cable is standard. (small end is mini-USB)
Both the B&N Nook and our Sony 505 are about the same size. See photo. We can use a small zipper case from one of the office supply stores for our 505 and will try to go the same route for the Nook.
The Sony came with a nice leather protective cover. The 110 Volt charger for the Sony was extra.
The nook did not come with any cover. It did come with a 110 Volt charge adapter.
If you like hardware buttons, the 505 has them.
If you like menus, the Nook has them.
When turned off, the Sony screen is blank
When turned off, the Nook screen has a selectable graphic on it, NICE. See photo.
NEW ITEM for all E-Readers
I just downloaded a free computer e-book software package called Calibre. I must say I like this a LOT! The new version (calibre-0.6.27) has been updated to work with the Nook. I loaded a number of books into the program. I also found the ability to download news sources directly in the program. I selected to do a one-time download of CNN and Discover Magazine. It worked very well and was on my computer. When I connected the Nook, it was seen quickly and IT SAW THE SD CARD! This is the first time I have seen the card on the Nook other than in the “”settings” page. It was not even showing up on my computer when I plugged the Nook in. I then saw that Calibre put my CNN news onto the Nook, on the SD card.
I was very surprised to see how well it worked! And the BIG surprise was that when I opened the news on the Nook, it has the headlines highlighted. When I pressed the little “o” on the Nook with a headline highlighted, I was taken to that story! Just like surfing on the web. I feel this is a BIG advantage!
After I used the Calibre program I closed it. A short time later, I connected the Nook to the computer and looked in the “My computer” window and NOW Windows sees the SD card also! I don't know why it's working now and did not before, but hay, I guess that's why they call them confusers!
Link to Calibre, click here.
After I plugged in the nook and charged it for a few hours I started using it. The first impression I got was that there is a BIG lack of documentation for the unit.
I said, “I did read the manual that comes loaded on it. But, it did not tell me how to remove the back so I could load an SD chip.”
Now (12/11/09), OK, I found the 2ed longer manual on the nook. It's 115 pages. It does tell how to remove the back and put the MicroSD card in.
I had pre-loaded a few PDF book on the SD chip, but once I installed it, the Nook did see the chip, BUT did not automatically see the books on the chip, bummer. STILL (12/11/09) never got the unit to read the preloaded PDF files. I finally removed the SD, moved the files to my laptop, erased them from the SD card, put the SD card back in, and did what they call “Side Load” the files back into the NOOK. Now they show up just fine.
The feel of the Nook is very stable and sturdy, but a bit heavy. The reading is VERY good. I did NOT think it had all that much of a delay when changing screens or turning pages. But I'm a cruiser and not in a big hurry. ;-)
At first I thought the color menu area could not be adjusted for brightness. This might hamper your night vision if used during a night watch. But then, you also need a light to read at night, so it may not be important to you. I then did find an area to adjust this setting.
On 12/8/09 at 9:30 PM, I sent a question to B&N asking about the Nook not seeing the PDF docs on the chip and the ability to load PDF documents to the B&N reader software.
Now (12/11/09) I just go to the Nook help forum. I see a lot of info there that helps.
In the PM, I got a reply email from B&N Nook Support, they asked me to call and provided a number.
The books that you purchase from B&N go directly to the reader. The others, PDF, previously owned ePub or..., must be put onto the nook by attaching it to your computer, opening the Nook window, and pasting the book into the books area. No so much different from the Sony or any other reader.
So far, before I started a B&N account, my old books (converted to Epub with eCub) that are put in the books area will ONLY show up in the order I loaded them in. I do not see any way to sort by author or subject Etc... That makes the ability to store 1000+ books, NOT very appealing! Unless I want to purchase them ALL!
Now (12/11/09) The manual does say that you can sort, but that must be in the next update of the firmware.
The B & N area for books does allow sorting the books. But that is not in the “my documents” area.
The readability of PDF files is POOR on BOTH units!
Now (12/11/09) I have loaded a number of PDFs on and some read well, some DO NOT. See photos.
For use aboard our boat PDFs of service manuals for our gear are vital to have. I may have to decompile them back to a text file for proper use.
Brown is what I wrote. Green is what I am saying now.
Side By Side
For the Nook - The USB charging/data cable is NOT a standard cable. The small end (the end that goes into the Nook) is VERY small and hard to tell what side it up. This might be a problem aboard the boat and will be very hard to do at night. Now (12/12/09), I have been informed that it is a type of standard USB connector, it's micro-USB. That's fine, but I still think this may be a problem aboard the boat.
For the Sony – The USB cable is standard. (small end is mini-USB)
Both the B&N Nook and our Sony 505 are about the same size. See photo. We can use a small zipper case from one of the office supply stores for our 505 and will try to go the same route for the Nook.
The Sony came with a nice leather protective cover. The 110 Volt charger for the Sony was extra.
The nook did not come with any cover. It did come with a 110 Volt charge adapter.
If you like hardware buttons, the 505 has them.
If you like menus, the Nook has them.
When turned off, the Sony screen is blank
When turned off, the Nook screen has a selectable graphic on it, NICE. See photo.
NEW ITEM for all E-Readers
I just downloaded a free computer e-book software package called Calibre. I must say I like this a LOT! The new version (calibre-0.6.27) has been updated to work with the Nook. I loaded a number of books into the program. I also found the ability to download news sources directly in the program. I selected to do a one-time download of CNN and Discover Magazine. It worked very well and was on my computer. When I connected the Nook, it was seen quickly and IT SAW THE SD CARD! This is the first time I have seen the card on the Nook other than in the “”settings” page. It was not even showing up on my computer when I plugged the Nook in. I then saw that Calibre put my CNN news onto the Nook, on the SD card.
I was very surprised to see how well it worked! And the BIG surprise was that when I opened the news on the Nook, it has the headlines highlighted. When I pressed the little “o” on the Nook with a headline highlighted, I was taken to that story! Just like surfing on the web. I feel this is a BIG advantage!
After I used the Calibre program I closed it. A short time later, I connected the Nook to the computer and looked in the “My computer” window and NOW Windows sees the SD card also! I don't know why it's working now and did not before, but hay, I guess that's why they call them confusers!
Link to Calibre, click here.
Nook first impressions.
After I plugged in the nook and charged it for a few hours I started using it. The first impression I got was that there is a BIG lack of documentation for the unit.
I said, “I did read the manual that comes loaded on it. But, it did not tell me how to remove the back so I could load an SD chip.”
Now (12/11/09), OK, I found the 2ed longer manual on the nook. It's 115 pages. It does tell how to remove the back and put the MicroSD card in.
I had pre-loaded a few PDF book on the SD chip, but once I installed it, the Nook did see the chip, BUT did not automatically see the books on the chip, bummer. STILL (12/11/09) never got the unit to read the preloaded PDF files. I finally removed the SD, moved the files to my laptop, erased them from the SD card, put the SD card back in, and did what they call “Side Load” the files back into the NOOK. Now they show up just fine.
The feel of the Nook is very stable and sturdy, but a bit heavy. The reading is VERY good. I did NOT think it had all that much of a delay when changing screens or turning pages. But I'm a cruiser and not in a big hurry. ;-)
At first I thought the color menu area could not be adjusted for brightness. This might hamper your night vision if used during a night watch. But then, you also need a light to read at night, so it may not be important to you. I then did find an area to adjust this setting.
On 12/8/09 at 9:30 PM, I sent a question to B&N asking about the Nook not seeing the PDF docs on the chip and the ability to load PDF documents to the B&N reader software.
Now (12/11/09) I just go to the Nook help forum. I see a lot of info there that helps.
In the PM, I got a reply email from B&N Nook Support, they asked me to call and provided a number.
The books that you purchase from B&N go directly to the reader. The others, PDF, previously owned ePub or..., must be put onto the nook by attaching it to your computer, opening the Nook window, and pasting the book into the books area. No so much different from the Sony or any other reader.
So far, before I started a B&N account, my old books (converted to Epub with eCub) that are put in the books area will ONLY show up in the order I loaded them in. I do not see any way to sort by author or subject Etc... That makes the ability to store 1000+ books, NOT very appealing! Unless I want to purchase them ALL!
Now (12/11/09) The manual does say that you can sort, but that must be in the next update of the firmware.
The B & N area for books does allow sorting the books. But that is not in the “my documents” area.
The readability of PDF files is POOR on BOTH units!
Now (12/11/09) I have loaded a number of PDFs on and some read well, some DO NOT. See photos.
For use aboard our boat PDFs of service manuals for our gear are vital to have. I may have to decompile them back to a text file for proper use.
I also tested it on our Yanmar manual and it worked very well. So, it's sort of a hit or mis. I registered my nook. Then went to the “shop” area. Did a search for “free”. Found a batch of books with “free” in the title and many with a price of free. I tried to purchase a “free” book, but because I do not leave a default credit card on file with B&N I can NOT get even a free book download. Now (12/11/09) I have learned that the unit has 3 power settings, off, sleep, on. If you do not use the unit for a selectable time (5 or 10min or...) the unit goes into sleep mode. During sleep mode, it is still on and does things, so it is always using some power. For us cruisers, I think I will be turning the unit off when at sea or in foreign countries. To actually turn the unit off, you need to press the on/off button and hold it in for 5+ seconds. If you just push the on/off for 1 or 2 seconds, it just goes into sleep mode and still has a photo or screensaver on the screen. When I turn my unit off, the eink screen has nothing showing. Now (12/11/09), As some what of a geek, I always turn off my electronics as most charge a lot faster if they are off. The documentation tells me that the unit should NOT be off to charge it! When you plug in the charger, the unit turns on or wakes up, do not turn it off. I very much like the way I can put my own wallpaper and screensaver on the Nook. I took some of our photos, dropped them into a graphics program and reduced them to gray scale for better showing. I feel a bit better with our faces on the unit when I set it down. Might make some one less likely to trot off with it?? More to come as I play with the system.......
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