I like Barnes & Nobles, too. I was sorry to see Borders go. I’v thought about getting a Nook or a Kindle, but don’t want another gadget that’ll one day be obsolete and can’t be used.
Locally, both Borders and ‘books-a-million’ have closed shop. Now I have to drive 15 minutes to get to a B&N. I would have no place to go to purchase books in person within a reasonable distance(driving in traffic) - And I’m only life 15 west of DC.
I purchased a Nook Color in early 2011, when it was on sale on B&N ebay site, for $200. I then “rooted” it, meaning I enabled all the functionality of a android tablet, instead of the locked down state it comes from B&N. It’s been a fantastic purchase, and I don’t see it being obsolete anytime soon, because of this.
http://nookdevs.com/NookColor/Rooting/Eclair
Generally on my Nook I've gotten free or very low priced classics (like $1 or $2 for 25 books) or books on sale I wouldn't have bought otherwise. Also I download anything available on B&N's free Friday. If I'm going to spend $5 or more on a book, I want something that I can either sell, give away or keep forever. Nook and Kindle books don't meet the first two and are questionable on the last. Also my first generation nook isn't quite as readable as a book. I don't know if it my eyes or just the screen not being as high resolution as paper, but I find I can read paper a lot faster than a screen.
And for those who like stuff free, http://hunt4freebies.com/20-free-nook-books/ lists 20 of B&N's Classics series for free. Ten are free now anyway, but ten are special "kickstart" editions which look the same as the normal version, but have a different UPC and don't show up in B&N searches.
sad about all business's that are going belly up...thanks to obama, this country is falling apart at the seams...Please Americans help us get him out in Nov. 6, 2012