No Nook For Me

I've been trying to decide whether or not I want the new e-reader put out by Barnes and Noble - Nook. I kept reading about it online and admit that I was lusting after it. Until yesterday, that is. My husband and I went to B&N to check out the Nook in person. And to say that we were not impressed is an understatement. I can't believe they are charging $249 for that thing! The more I think about it - the more annoyed I get by the whole thing! I just can not wrap my mind around spending so much money on a gadget that doesn't really have all that much to offer. If I'm spending a lot of money on something - I want it to be amazing right off the bat. $249 is simply for the e-reader and a few free books that are already on there. I'd rather have $249 worth of REAL books than that thing. Also, I find it enormously annoying that B&N isn't allowing its members (who already pay an annual fee for that membership) to use their discount when buying the Nook, any accessories for it or even the e-books themselves! How ridiculous is that? Quite frankly, I find it insulting, as well. I've had my membership for years and use it regularly. Why the hell aren't they allowing it to be used on the Nook?

I like my actual, real paper books. I like the way they feel in my hands, the way they smell, the experience of reading them. I like looking at the ones sitting prettily on my shelves. I like knowing I can pick one off the bookcase and read it again at any time. Yes, I know I can read books again on an e-reader but it's not the same for me. I was holding the Nook yesterday and it felt so awkward and cold in my hands. I didn't like it at all. I'll take my real books any day. So I won't be saving the world in this regard - and I'm all right with my choice. I'll continue to recycle, do the laundry in cold water and read my real paper books. In my opinion (and my husband's - a self proclaimed gadget freak) the Nook falls way short of a pleasurable reading experience.