Review of the Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch

The first Barnes and Noble Nook wasn't exactly difficult to use, but Barnes and Noble's newest eBook reader, the Nook Simple Touch, is designed to make eBooks easier to buy and read. It features a six-inch black and white touchscreen and some serious user-friendly features, and if eBook leader Amazon isn't careful, Barnes and Noble could start seriously gaining ground in the eBook reader market, thanks to the design improvements of the new Nook.

The touchscreen of the Nook Simple Touch is easy to use and intuitive, although it does occasionally suffer from a bit of lag; this has been a problem with all of Barnes and Noble's eBook readers, but it's not a serious issue. For the most part, the Nook Simple Touch is extremely easy to use for reading books and newspapers. The standard page forward and page back controls are gone, but swiping from page to page feels natural.

The only button on the Nook Simple Touch is on the front of the device, clearly modeled after Apple's iPad. This Nook can't really be called a tablet, however; while it does play mp3s and browse the Internet (very slowly), its primary purpose is to display books, newspapers and magazines. It's not ideal as an mp3 player or a web browser. Readers who are looking for a tablet should take a look at the iPad or the Barnes and Noble Nook Color, which is much better as a multi-function device.

However, buyers looking for a simple, intuitive eBook reader will be delighted with the Nook Simple Touch. Its battery life may be its most impressive feature; this Nook can last up to two months on a single charge. Not bad for an eBook reader that weighs less than eight ounces total.

The display uses the same eInk look as the previous Nook, so it's easy to read on the Nook Simple Touch in direct sunlight. It's easy on the eyes in more than one respect. Frequent readers will adore the "real ink" look of the Nook's display.

The Barnes and Noble Nook Store is top notch, with features like book lending and expert recommendations to keep readers coming back for more. The Nook can even be used to electronically "borrow" books from certain public libraries--certainly one of the coolest features ever introduced on an eBook reader.

The touchscreen of the Nook needs to be protected with a good eBook case, but its low price tag of $150 makes an additional case an easy investment. The Nook Simple Touch is easily the best black-and-white eBook reader on the market, even better than Amazon's Kindle. It's a tremendous piece of technology, and with its incredible battery life and simple controls, it's easy to recommend the Nook to readers of any age.