Tablets and e-readers alike are flooding the market like never before, presenting a wide array of choices that is often difficult to navigate. But, if budget is your main concern, you may want to take notice of the Nook Simple Touch, Barnes & Nobles' dedicated e-ink reader. In consideration of the upcoming gift-giving season, the company has discounted the device to $79, down $20 from its original pricing. In contrast, the Kindle Fire 7" costs $159.
The Nook Simple Touch features a 6-inch touchscreen with an 800 x 600 resolution, built-in WiFi, has a battery life of over 2 months with wireless off on a half hour of daily reading, and can hold up to 1,000 books with its 2GB of internal memory.
Critical reception of the e-reader has been positive overall, with CNET labeling the simple touch as "a major advancement over the original Nook. In many ways, it's exactly the e-reader we've been waiting for and was hinted at when Sony licensed Neonode's infrared touch technology to finally solve the problem of trying to craft a touch-screen layer on top of an e-ink screen."
Likewise, the Verge states, "I don't think the Nook is The One, but it offers up some nice improvements over the standard formula. Perfect simplicity of operation, endless battery life, speedy page turns, and a retail juggernaut for backup."
A separate version of the Simple Touch, with the additional Glowlight function, illuminates the e-reader's screen evenly without lighting up the entire room. With the Glowlight option activated, the device lasts for over 1 month on a single charge.
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