E Ink or Color Nooks?

[Tori Jensen]

I am a high school librarian.   I just won a grant to buy 20 eReaders.  I want Nooks, but now I am wondering if I should go with the Color Nook or not.  The grant is written for a struggling group of high school readers.  They will be in my "Nook Book Club." I like the touch screen a lot for my students so that they can highlight, etc. but will they be more likely to get distracted by other functions on the Color Nook?  What have you all experienced?  This will be my first foray into the eReaders other than for my personal use.

Thank so much!

[Pam Lilley]

My thinking is that if the grant is to buy a specific quantity, go for the Nook Color.  But if the grant is for a certain amount of money, you'll get more devices with the e ink and HS students can navigate them easily.  For elementary, I'm more interested in the Nook Color because it's easier for younger students to navigate and has the "read to me" feature. 

[Peg Becksvoort]

First of all, congratulations on the grant!

Here are a couple of thoughts: I like my color Nook (Nook II) very much. I also find the Nook I to be an excellent device. My students (MS) are happy with the Nook I.

Our GT teacher bought Kindles so that kids could highlight and make notes. She found, to her chagrin, that her kids' highlighting and notes are visible to others who have read the book. Anywhere. That strikes me as being similar to buying a used textbook -

I would recommend the Nook II for the ability to take notes and highlight and look up words. As long as there is no concern of suddenly discovering notes and highlights from other people. Students will like both color and touch screen which is familiar tech.

Possible downside: Nook II has better games and faster Net connection. I can envision the choice, read Moby Dick or do Sudoku?

It's up to you to make sure they will be more interested in the books that are on the Nook (I or II), rather than the device.