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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2009 > October > 21 > Entry
Nook.com versus Amazon.com - the e-book wars…
As expected, Barnes & Noble rolled out their Nook electronic book reader yesterday. Amazon.com introduced their Kindle electronic book reader a year ago and has gotten a bit of a head start on B&N. There are a number of competing devices in the marketplace now. Sony has one too. Expect even more to be introduced as the battle for electronic book reader dominance escalates.
A couple of articles today in the New York Times examine some aspects of these devices. Do you read books on your computer, cellphone, or an e-book reading device? According to some readers, they are reading more books now due to the availability of these alternative reading platforms.
And some readers are reading their e-books without spending a penny to do so:
“But she has actually never paid for an e-book. Exploiting a loophole in Amazon’s system, Ms. Englin has linked her Kindle to the Amazon account of some nearby friends, allowing all of them to read books like “The Lost Symbol” at the same time — while paying for them only once.
“I read much more, I tend to read faster for some reason, and I read a greater variety of things,” said Ms. Englin, adding that this is nearly the same as lending a physical book to friends. “We haven’t really looked closely at Amazon’s terms of service. But I do suspect we are breaking the rules.”
To read more click HERE:
Amazon has kept their e-book sales figures hush hush but it is estimated that they have now sold over 900 thousand of their proprietary e-book reading devices. You might be wondering how these devices differ? Here’s one difference:
“One of the differentiating factors of the Nook is that customers can “lend” books to friends. But customers may lend out any given title only one time for a total of 14 days and they cannot read it on their own Nook while it is lent.
In an interview, William Lynch, president of Barnes&Noble.com, said the company would aggressively market the Nook within its bricks and mortar stores. The Nook also has software that will detect when a consumer walks into a store so that it can push out coupons and other promotions like excerpts from forthcoming books or suggestions for new reading. While in stores, Nook owners will be able to read any e-book through streaming software.”
To read more about the Barnes & Noble device and their competition with Amazon click HERE:
And this reviewer wonders, when a customer walks into Barnes & Noble and they know that customer has just entered the store how would they know that? Do they have to have this device on their physical person to be detected? Do these devices have some sort of a tracking device inside them? How else would they know? If I was a person who had concerns about being tracked I certainly would not want to own one of these devices. That’s really creepy. Happy Halloween.
Vick Mickunas
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: in the Amazone
Comments
By vick
October 22, 2009 11:58 AM | Link to this
Just got some spam from AT&T via Yahoo. It was a joint promotion between AT&T and Barnes & Noble. It has an advertisement for what they are calling the world’s most advanced eBook reader, The Nook. Here comes the flood…
By Kellee
October 22, 2009 8:38 AM | Link to this
Insider - maybe a scratch & sniff cover? :-) I love real books & I always will, but my Kindle is awesome!! No need to worry about cracking the spine folding a paperback or losing the dust jacket of a hardback.
By irishguy
October 21, 2009 10:59 PM | Link to this
Insider, I’m with you on that one. I have a teacher’s guide American history book published in 1885 and the aroma wafting out every time I open it is delightful. Maybe I’m just old, but I don’t see myself buying an electric book.
By Insider
October 21, 2009 4:46 PM | Link to this
I sure wouldn’t want one. I like the smell of old books—have since I was a kid and played in the attic. Can they add a scent to the device? lol
By Blowfly
October 21, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this
I work next door to a B&N store, and am in the store all the time. Your blog is the first I’ve heard about the device. So they are not marketing in store very well. I would guess you have to have the device on you in the store to get the push marketing. I really have no interest in a e-book reader and it’s not because of any anti-technology bias. I have the B&N iPhone app and use it. I just like reading a physical book. By the way the iPhone app does ask for your location.