Nook Color review: A look at the new color touchscreen eBook reader

Barnes and Noble just released their new Nook Color, which means it’s time for a detailed Nook Color review. Is this a good product or just some weird hybrid between a tablet and an e-book reader? Let’s take a detailed look at the new product and see what it’s all about.

The “NC” has some very different features that differ from the original Nook, which is still available as a B and N product.

The Nook-color touch screen Obviously, this is THE main difference between the original and colored Nook. It is equipped with a 7-inch color touch screen with “Vivid View” technology.

This screen is an IPS screen that displays more than 16 million colors and allows up to 178 degrees of viewing. This is the same technology used in the iPad, so if you’ve seen the iPad screen, then you know what the Vivid View screen looks like. It also switches from portrait to landscape mode when you rotate the device 90 degrees.

Social Reading Features- The NC comes with some features that take advantage of social networks. You can share thoughts, lines from a book, favorite books, etc. through Facebook and Twitter.

Games and apps- The NC comes with Sudoku, Chess and Crossword puzzles (3 games). Beyond “Lend Me” and “Nook app” for PC and other phones etc, apps are still not a thing of the present with Nook. But since it uses Google’s Android technology, there may be new interest for developers.

Pandora Radio has jumped on the Nook bandwagon and also offers its service on the device.

Lend Me App- The “Lend-me” app allows owners to lend books to friends and family who also have the app. Application access is more readily available to the user with the color touch screen.

Memory- The memory capacity is 8 GB, which allows you to store thousands of books, images, songs, etc.

Kids only- This new Nook section at Barnes and Noble offers a line of children’s books that work with the corner color. They are interactive to the touch and have the ability to be read to the child by selecting the function.

Battery duration- Battery life is only 8 hours, compared to the 10-14 day battery life of the original Nook with e-ink display.

Browsing the Web – It also allows you to browse the web (not with 3G, but wirelessly). So you can open your browser to visit sites and check your emails as well as compose them.

All in all, the new Nook Color has good reviews. It’s a bold move for Barnes and Noble, and a much-needed bold move.