* Actual size and weight vary by configuration and manufacturing process.
** In Plane Switching
*** 1GB = 1 billion bytes; Actual formatted capacity is less.
**** Contains Reader® Mobile technology by Adobe Systems Incorporated
***** Battery life depends on device settings, usage, and many other factors. Battery tests are conducted using specific units; actual results may vary.




I've recently purchased the Barnes & Noble Nook Color on my trip to Los Angeles last week, and it proves to a very capable tablet once rooted. For a price of USD249/RM770, and the functionalities of a working tablet running Android 2.1, I'm very much pleased with the device.



Only read the spoilered part of this post if you are also interested in expanding the capability of the Nook Color beyond its eReading feature. Otherwise, if you are more than happy to use it solely as an eReader, read on!

Let's start with the purchase. Point your browser to www.bn.com, and navigate to the Nook Color section. A purchase of theNook Color will run you through USD249 with applicable taxes. I strongly suggest getting a screen protector and some form of case, I picked mine from this Clear Kit screen protector and this Leather Writer Cover case made from rich napa leather embossed with prominent writer names.

During the purchasing procedure, the online store will ask credit card details with billing address. At this point, type in your Malaysian credit card Malaysian billing address. HOWEVER, for shipping address, Barnes & Noble will only ship to the States. This necessitates using mail-forwarding service such as VPost to post your device to Malaysia or get someone coming back from the States to bring it back for you. To repeat, use the Malaysian credit card billing address and American shipping address. Done.

Item will now either ship to your designated US address to be picked up by someone you know, or to a mail forwarding address designated by your mail forwarding service of choice. What's next? IF it has not been done already, you should register/create an account with Barnes & Noble now. This should be prompted during your initial purchase, or right after the purchase. Now, I have yet to find any complaints about activating/registering a Nook Color OUTSIDE USA during the first registration. Registration process will be ON THE NOOK COLOR ITSELF. Either way, register your Nook Color now, or if you come across problems registering your Nook Color, employ the use of VPN services like Hotspotshield, BlackVPN or StrongVPN to spoof your IP address into tricking the registration process being done from a US IP address.

Once that is done, the registration process on the Nook Color will ask if you want to tie a credit card to your BN account. To enable purchases to be made from B&N NookStore to buy your books, magazines and periodicals, you will need to do this. Grab your credit card, and fill in the details of name on card, credit card number, expiration date and CVV number as per your Malaysian credit card. When it asks the billing address, DO NOT PUT IN YOUR MALAYSIAN CREDIT CARD BILLING ADDRESS! The tie-in process will be rejected because of the location not being accepted as being in the States. Fill in the billing address as per your shipping address of your Nook Color, or Google up a valid American address and put it in there. Once this is done and you submitted and clicked it, the tie-in process of credit card will go through! For my case, it did. I used my shipping address of the hotel I'm staying in LA where the Nook Color is shipped.

Voila! You can now buy ALL the available offerings on B&N NookStore from a wide selection of more than 2 million books, and a wide range of magazine subscriptions and newspapers. First 30 days of magazines and newspapers subscription is FREE, but will be charged on your tied-in credit card once the period lapses past 30 days.

What about the purchases, you ask? It will be available for download STRAIGHT INTO YOUR NOOK COLOR VIA WIFI! Or if you're in a place without WiFi, you can choose to download it into your PC/Mac and drag-and-drop it into the Nook Color.

The Nook Color also comes with its own built-in apps of Music Player, Movie player, Web Browser and Pandora. In my rooted Nook Color, my Nook books stay side-by-side with my Kindle books, since I have my Kindle app installed into my Nook Color. This is not possible unless you are willing to root your Nook Color. Now that spoilered section sounds enticing isn't it? Careful though, rooting Nook Color to open up the Android OS running underneath does require a working knowledge of Android Debug Bridge and command line experience. Or you can follow the instructions provided in that spoilered section and hope for the best. I hold no responsibility if you brick your Nook Color.

There you go, the ultimate eReading experience on the Nook Color, how to get one, where to buy one, and how to use one in Malaysia. Any questions pertaining the Nook Color, post them here. I've officially retired my Kindle 2, and now there even more reason not to drag it out of the drawer where it stays.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Dec 30 2010, 06:46 AM

Some quick Q's

Does the rooted version enable you to play other media files (ie Xvid avi's)? Or at least, once rooted, is there an app for that?

What's the battery life like - ie, for pure reading alone?

There's an app for that. Rockplayer, mvideoplayer or Vplayerbeta does that.

No idea on the second Q. I've yet to do just pure reading on this.

Two videos uploading as we speak, one showing the general overview of the device and the other showing the Nook reader app running side by side with the Kindle reader app. Only available if you root the device.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Dec 30 2010, 03:16 PM

Here are 3 videos showing the Nook Color overview running on Eclair with Zeam launcher and Nook overlay playing nice with each other, Nook Color running Kindle app, and Nook Color ingenious packaging box that doubles as a stand, complete with magnetic latchings at the back of the box and a slot to put your Nook Color in.

eh?! this thing is emits light?!

Hmmmm.... wonder if can find someone selling a rooted nook then.....

I'm currently using Sony Reader PRS-600. The battery lasts 2 weeks. And e-ink display doesn't strains my eyes.

Now, I'm hoping that the next generation nook will have colour e-ink option. Now that's an upgrade.

This is awesome. I'm always interested with e-book reader devices but could not get a good solid reason to purchase any due to the availabilities of tablet devices like Ipad, Galaxy Tab etc.

The fact that, better reading experience with E-Ink technology is still not enough. LOL.

Maybe Nook Color will change that but with a challenge; rooting it.

Thanks stringfellow for the review.

8 hours? thats less than 2 seats of reading time
and somehow the lighted screen makes me think nook is not targeting serious readers. more like they are targeting ppl who are on the fence about ebook readers, or targeting the group that thinks ebook readers = ipad

IPMart is selling it for RM 979.17 excluding shipping fees.
http://www.ipmart.com/main/product/Nook,Co...php?prod=281255



This post has been edited by EightPhantomz: Feb 12 2011, 02:45 AM

I've been doing reading, tweeting, web-surfing, and typing emails on this, and still have 35% battery life at the end of the day. WiFi is on all the time, connected to YES 4G. Reading mainly 70% most of the time, I' trying to juggle between "Sh*t My Dad Says" and Stephen King's "Full Dark, No Stars" reading whenever I can.

There was a test drive session at MacStudio today in Low Yat Plaza, and after intense scrutiny by the folks there, the MacStudio boss went straight to his iMac, punched up www.bn.com, and ordered four units of Nook Color for himself and his family. Kinda speaks for itself now doesn't it?

Will be around MidValley tomorrow after lunch, if anyone wants a look-see with the device, hit me up on PM or email.

Read your tweets that you had convinced 4 ppl(if I'm not mistaken) to buy Nook Color yesterday.

I would love to go to MV to meet you up later but my car would be stuck at the "open air" parking here in Damansara Heights. Maybe some other time.
I'm not in the rush to purchase any.

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Added on January 3, 2011, 8:42 amSay stringfellow, how is the backlight? Since you're shifted from Kindle to Nook Color. It's already two different devices.

This post has been edited by EightPhantomz: Jan 3 2011, 08:42 AM

The boss of MacStudio got 4 for his family. So that's 4 people, yes.

No, I shifted long time ago from Kindle to the iPad. The backlight isnt that different from the iPad. What I do is turn the brightness all the way down, and read it that way.

Alright. Anybody else bought Nook Color? Any reviews?

Hello,

I am one of the proud owner of Nook Color. I just got mine on this Monday.
OK lets start with my short review of this device.

At first when I got it out from the box, my impression would tell me that this device doesn't feel solid in my hands. Yet I was wrong, the device really feels solid built and not to mention the back are rubberized. This makes it not easily to slip out from your hands even with a single handed on this device.

About the display, the color are vivid and sharp. I had to say that it is comparable sharpness and clarity with those iPhone4/iPad(s). The display are also amazing for those who prefer bed reading with it's adjustable brightness. Right now I just using the lowest brightness and it doesn't gives me any problem with it or eye strain.

How about the e-books? the Device is equip with Barnes and Noble (BN) app that you can easily purchase those e-books over the Wifi connection. The best thing is, the purchased books are stores in your BN account. In case your device's firmware is corrupted, your purchases books are still there in your account

Overall, it is a good/cheap decent e-reader or some says Android tablet
BTW, I just installed Angry Birds on my device. Makes people around me jealous with the 7" display with Angry Birds (hahaha)

Recommend to get one if you are living in the States.



This post has been edited by Doomsday: Jan 8 2011, 11:39 AM

Sweet. Its already on my wishlist. Wanted to order last night but I held on. LOL. Need to sort other stuff first.

/Sings Its all about the money

@EightPhantomz, I think you should get it..put away other stuff first. hahaha

@Doomsday, haha its ok. It can wait. Missus will mad at me if I buy it first.

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Added on January 8, 2011, 4:32 amBtw, issit rooted? How did you buy it? vpost? I'm currently checking on the cheapest and easiest way to get it.

This post has been edited by EightPhantomz: Jan 8 2011, 04:32 AM

yeah, it is rooted.. I get it from a private seller in Singapore.

Does the seller deal in rooted nooks or was this a one off? Tempted to throw some business his way if it's an ongoing thing....