To all you Marketing Geniuses out there...

[icebike]

Reading the threads about the Color Nook I've learned that even people who can't spell or compose a complete sentence can somehow acquire a Masters in Marketing.

I find it amazing how many are telling B&N what a huge error they made introducing the Color Nook, and how they have totally got it wrong, completely misjudged the market, and disappointed their customers, ran over the neighbors dog, and eat babies for breakfast.

All this without the product even hitting the shelves yet.  

Somehow the fact that they just CREATED a market niche escapes them.  

Somehow it never dawns on them that actual marketing wizards, with real credentials and real track records may have been involved.

And for some reason, people who were perfectly happy with the nook  can't seem to understand that a color nook will appeal to people NOT all that enthusiastic about the current nook, and people who can't afford a iPad or a Samsung tablet, who perhaps read a lot of periodicals, have young kids, read history and need maps, or just have different tastes.

Is it possible your evaluation may be corrupted by Post Purchase Rationalization of your own choice of an e-ink reader.  Is that Ford you just bought OBVIOUSLY better than any Chevy?

You should probably realize that if you are a die hard book reader you might NOT be the target audience for this device anymore than you are the target audience for an Ice Axe or a Parachute.

It might be good to realize that there is a huge group of people, not yet on these boards, that wanted a reader that has these features, who were not quite able to afford any other offering, and couldn't afford the cellular plan to support and iPad even if they somehow managed the purchase price.

But most of all, I suggest you at least let this thing hit the shelves before you pronounce it DOA.  

My own prediction is, that even though I may not buy one , this thing is going to fly off the shelves this Holiday Season.  

There is going to be a lot of Crow eaten.   You might want to wait to see who's plate it ends up on before you so adamantly pronounce your verdict. 

[Jenniisme]

@icebike

Have I ever told you that you're wonderful? If not, consider it done. You said it a lot more eloquently than I could have or would have.

[Globaltech]

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My own prediction is, that even though I may not buy one , this thing is going to fly off the shelves this Holiday Season.  

There is going to be a lot of Crow eaten.   You might want to wait to see who's plate it ends up on before you so adamantly pronounce your verdict. 

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I don't think they will be flying off the shelves.  I don't think there will be ANY on the shelves due to backorders.. .and again, like the original nook release, you won't be able to buy in stores until at least January till that backlog of orders is filled.

While not everyone's cup of tea (earl grey...hot), this is a product that will have vast appeal for a market segment.

[bookbug127]

I actually agree with you on this one. Personally, I love my nook and it's a great product for my needs. The nook color isn't. Just because I personally don't want to buy one doesn't make it a bad product. I actually suggested it to my mother because she's a big reader, but also travels a lot (usually lugging her laptop with her) and is thinking of getting and iPad. The nook color might be a better option for her because it does the stuff she wants and iPad for (working in word documents and checking e-mail), but is smaller (for ease in reading books) and it's a lot cheaper.

[steffiebaby140]

I agree that it will probably be very popular, it has been proven that color and LCD ereader programs (like iPad, which I know isn't a dedicated ereader but it still can do it lol) are popular.  Personally, I don't want an LCD screen, I look at one all day and don't want to read anymore on one.  But others will like it and no color has been a complaint on these boards many times before with the original Nook.

[sirwillard]

Other than the snide remarks about people not being able to spell or compose complete sentences, you've hit the nail on the head.

[very-simple]

Agreed - I'm personally not going to give up my easy-to-read e-ink in favor of an LCD tablet thats NOT an ipad or an android tablet with a full slate of apps, but, even from questions posted here, there's clearly a demand for a device like this 

In the past, the "classic" nook has gotten many requests for features that will be available in the nook color.  There are posts all the time requesting:

- backlight

- color

- something more appealing to kids

- more periodical content

Not to mention the fact that, while people who choose an e-ink device generally prefer it for reading to LCD, there are A LOT of people who won't even look at a device without color, studies about eyestrain be damned.  For people who don't "understand" the point of e-ink (or for whom reading on an LCD isn't problematic), an e-ink reader can look a bit antiquated and underwhelming.  

[Globaltech]

which is why they added the lcd bottom screen on the original... color and touchscreen to tech it up a bit.

[DiAnneInDover]

I realize this is totally not what you were talking about, but based on the thread title, I'm gonna say it anyway:

B&N absolutely sucks when it comes to marketing.  They have what I consider to be a device far superior to the Kindle and so few people have ever heard of it because B&N apparently has no clue that television and magazine advertising WORKS. 

They absolutely need a commercial with a side-by-side split screen of two hassled and harried busy people saying to their family, "I'm going to the library!" Then...one side shows the continuing hassle of loading the kids into the van, driving across town (in the rain!), trying to find a parking spot, standing in line while the librarian checks out books for the 5 people standing in line...meanwhile, on the other half of the screen, the hassled and harried person goes to the computer, picks a book, plugs in the Nook and starts to read. 

It's the one feature that Nook does that Kindle doesn't...so play it up!

[Cleos_Mum]

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icebike wrote:

I find it amazing how many are telling B&N what a huge error they made introducing the Color Nook, and how they have totally got it wrong, completely misjudged the market, and disappointed their customers, ran over the neighbors dog, and eat babies for breakfast.

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@icebike - Nicely (and humorously) put.......I always look forward to your posts....you always seem to take the words out of my mouth!

[bic101]

Icebox says "Somehow the fact that they just CREATED a market niche escapes them." Yet, I count almost a dozen 7" LCD Android-based tablets when I search using those terms on any tech site (like Gizmodo, Engadget). Alas, I fear B&N is following a market niche already opened by others (including Dell, Samsung, LG, Acer).

[icebike]

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bic101 wrote:

Icebox says "Somehow the fact that they just CREATED a market niche escapes them." Yet, I count almost a dozen 7" LCD Android-based tablets when I search using those terms on any tech site (like Gizmodo, Engadget). Alas, I fear B&N is following a market niche already opened by others (including Dell, Samsung, LG, Acer).

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How many of those are Ereaders with direct buying and periodical subscription with automated delivery at this price point?

None.  

[bic101]

icebike: "

How many of those are Ereaders with direct buying and periodical subscription with automated delivery at this price point?"

Not direct, but I assume at some point you can download Nook and Kindle for Android apps and have access that way.

My point is that these will be the real competition for the Nook Color, not Kindles or other ereaders. And these other ones can do more at the same size and perhaps lower price. I'm not arguing these will all be good or better quality tablets, just that I don't think B&N is taking a lead here with this product.

[DiAnneInDover]

icebike wrote:

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bic101 wrote:

Icebox says "Somehow the fact that they just CREATED a market niche escapes them." Yet, I count almost a dozen 7" LCD Android-based tablets when I search using those terms on any tech site (like Gizmodo, Engadget). Alas, I fear B&N is following a market niche already opened by others (including Dell, Samsung, LG, Acer).

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How many of those are Ereaders with direct buying and periodical subscription with automated delivery at this price point?

None.  

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The Pandigital one that QVC had last week (which from what I hear is available in several stores) was linked to the B&N store.  Since I don't subscribe to digital magazines, I can't remember if it does that or not.

[Doc_R]

To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.  While there are many enthusiasts as well as nay-sayers, my simple question is has anyone actually seen and used the product?  What is it?  Is the color nook a dumbed down ipad with fewer features, shorter battery life, at a less expensive price?  If it uses a back-lit LED display, why would I want to own one over an ipad or even one of the android pads that are hitting the market?

[sub_rosa]

If this new device doesn't somehow render my first-generatoin B&W (grayscale?) e-ink Nook obsolete, then I could not care less about the color Nook or whether it sells or not.  I am happy with my Nook - it does exactly what I expected.

[Heritage07]

Great post Ice. If I didn't already own my iPad I would buy the Nook Color in a heartbeat. I never expected that I would enjoy reading on an LCD screen, but after 3 months I have had no problem doing so. My Nook is now my outside reading device.

[DiAnneInDover]

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Doc_R wrote:

 If it uses a back-lit LED display, why would I want to own one over an ipad or even one of the android pads that are hitting the market?

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Because it allows for library books and the iPad doesn't.  I'm not sure about the Android tablets (I think IceBike said they would support it, but I'm going by memory).  Plus...the price.  $250 is affordable, twice that price is not.

[Heritage07]

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DiAnneInDover wrote:

Because it allows for library books and the iPad doesn't.  

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 Not true, using the Nook App on the iPad does allow lending of books. In fact it is advertised on the Nook site as well.

[DiAnneInDover]

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Heritage07 wrote:

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DiAnneInDover wrote:

Because it allows for library books and the iPad doesn't.  

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 Not true, using the Nook App on the iPad does allow lending of books. In fact it is advertised on the Nook site as well.

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I didn't mention lending books.  I mentioned library books.  To borrow a free library book, you have to have Adobe Digital Editions.  To my knowledge, Apple has blocked most if not all Adobe products from the iPad.  I don't have an iPad if I am incorrect, please let me know.  That would be a total game changer for me.