lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I just confirmed this, I called BN and asked. Nook Color has an internal battery that can NOT be replaced, not by you, not by them. So once the battery goes, it is a piece of trash, unusable. Can you imagine of your iPhone or laptop had to be trashed once the battery went? I t is only under warranty for a year. After that, as soon as the battery goes, you are expected to toss it and buy a new one. Unacceptable, IMO, to throw it into our landfills and throw away our money. I was seriously considering buying it, but I won't now. Voting with my pocketbook. Just thought others would want to know this BEFORE purchasing. Regular NOOK battery can be replaced by consumers. Kindle can be sent in for replacement battery. Clearly, they made a conscious choice to make it irreplaceable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I entered a contest to win one of these - glad I didn't win. Wow, that's just amazingly rude, imo. I'm flabbergasted. Thanks for posting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whereneverever Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Wow, that's terrible! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parrothead Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Gobsmacked! What a horrible decision by BN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gooblink Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Wasn't that the main complaint against the iPhone when it was first introduced? I might be mistaken. There was some issue regarding the battery that left me thinking it was a big waste of $$. What about the regular Nook. I just got one for Christmas and there's no real user manual with it...I hadn't even considered the battery not being factory replaceable. Bummer. Is Kindle different? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Super stinky, I would be SOOO mad if I had bought one. Kindle can be changed, but you have to send it to amazon for them to do it. Regular Nook can be changed by you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 And yes, this happened with the iPhone originally...and people were outraged and they changed it. But I think those who already have bought NC are stuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in PA Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 We were just getting ready to buy one. Ugh. That's insane. Dh really wanted the color screen for some of his pdf files. I guess we're back to waiting for HP to release the Touchpad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 Paula, when is that coming out? Is it cheaper thatn the iPad? I cant justify $500+. Wishing there was something similar for less... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Ick! And I thought the Kindle was bad with their battery policy! So glad I didn't go with the Nook Color. Eagerly awaiting my preowned Nook here. I just rec'd notification that they've shipped. Not sure I can stand waiting 5 more days! :willy_nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Wow. I am speechless. Thanks for the warning b/c I was really considering going with the Nook Color. That is unacceptable. Very poor decision by BN. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jujsky Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Thanks for letting us know! I'm surprised they designed it this way. The fact that the regular Nook had a replaceable (by the consumer) battery was a big selling point for me over the Kindle. If B&N can't even replace the Nook Color battery, it's not something I'd be interested in buying. Batteries run out, and if it gets to the point where you have to leave it in the charger all the time to use it then it is no longer a portable device. Not cool, B&N. Not cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prairie~Phlox Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 We still bought one anyway and have been pleased with it. Electronics don't last forever anyway and hopefully by the time it needs to be replaced, other options will be cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I get the whole warranty issue is a problem, but aren't we talking about a NiMH battery that can last for years if cared for properly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 I get the whole warranty issue is a problem, but aren't we talking about a NiMH battery that can last for years if cared for properly? Yes, but when the battery dies, the device is straight to landfill even if it only needed a battery replacement. It's an environmentally irresponsible platform. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 I think the battery can last 2-4 years, depending on how much it is recharged. Some make the argument it will be obsolete by then and better to buy new technology then. But I would still want it usable to hand down to my kids for their use. Those books will be on there, and should still be readable, IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in PA Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 Paula, when is that coming out? Is it cheaper thatn the iPad? I cant justify $500+. Wishing there was something similar for less... Unfortunetely, that's not really known for sure. HP says summer, rumor says April. Most are betting around June. Price is a complete unknown, though it's expected to be comparable to Ipads. I have a Palm phone and love WebOs, so I'm willing to wait. We don't do anything Apple here, so Ipad is completely out for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 My sister, who is a Nook specialist at BN, said the battery CAN be changed, but it is something you have to send it away for. They can't do it in the store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelBee Posted February 22, 2011 Share Posted February 22, 2011 What??? That is crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 22, 2011 Author Share Posted February 22, 2011 The store said no, but I believe your sister...I bet it can be done, somehow. There is all sorts of buzz online in the gadget world about it. Can you ask your sister how much they charge for it, and will they only do it if it is under warranty? I just bought the Kindle, and am amazed that I can get on FB, chat, do all my email, etc on it. FOr free, because there is no monthly fee, it has free 3G. It is not super fast, but not intolerably slow for my taste. Now I have an awesome reader, and mobile web access. Very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 My sister, who is a Nook specialist at BN, said the battery CAN be changed, but it is something you have to send it away for. They can't do it in the store. This is what we were told when we purchased one for dd11 for Christmas......the battery CAN be changed, one just has to send it away to be done. btw, she is thrilled with it, and it has been great for me -- when she goes to sleep, I use it. She and I love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 (edited) This is what we were told when we purchased one for dd11 for Christmas......the battery CAN be changed, one just has to send it away to be done. btw, she is thrilled with it, and it has been great for me -- when she goes to sleep, I use it. She and I love it!I'm not aware of any batteries currently on the market, but I'll wager there will be soon... so people will be able to change them at home too. CNET did a tear down of the Nook Color and you can see that the battery is a pull-out and not soldered in. As soon as they are available, you'll see them at sites like Batteries+. Edited February 23, 2011 by nmoira clarity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 The store said no, but I believe your sister...I bet it can be done, somehow. There is all sorts of buzz online in the gadget world about it. Can you ask your sister how much they charge for it, and will they only do it if it is under warranty? I just bought the Kindle, and am amazed that I can get on FB, chat, do all my email, etc on it. FOr free, because there is no monthly fee, it has free 3G. It is not super fast, but not intolerably slow for my taste. Now I have an awesome reader, and mobile web access. Very happy. She didn't know off the top of her head. She will check and get back to me. She said if you purchased the warranty, the battery would be covered for 2 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I can't believe I'm defending the Nook, because I'm a dedicated Kindle owner/lover. :001_huh: However, most of these kinds of batteries last 4-6 years. A few quick searches brought up conflicting information, but there is a possibility you can change it or have it changed. In 4-6 years, it's possible you would upgrade to a newer/better ereader. Most GPS batteries can't be changed either, and many people find it more cost effective to buy a new GPS than to update maps or have the battery changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 I can't believe I'm defending the Nook, because I'm a dedicated Kindle owner/lover. :001_huh: However, most of these kinds of batteries last 4-6 years. A few quick searches brought up conflicting information, but there is a possibility you can change it or have it changed. Looked it up on the B&N website, under FAQ, Hardware: 6. Can I replace the battery in my NOOKcolor?No. The rechargeable battery in your NOOKcolor can only be accessed and replaced by authorized service professionals. 7. Can I buy an extra battery for my NOOKcolor? No. Rechargeable batteries for your NOOKcolor are not available for sale as an accessory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 Sorry for my outrage this AM when I posted! It seems there will be some work-around, all the techies will post a way to do it on youtube, I am sure. There is a company that posts vids on there to change Kindle at home, and they even sell a little toolkit with the battery. I am betting they will have one for KC, soon. I went with buying the Kindle after all. I really, really wanted free 3g as I have no cell phone or other way to check things remotely. So, I am traveling now, and out of the box, I turned it on, checked email, got on mapquest for directions, chatted on facebook, tried a few websites, etc...from my car, for no monthly fee. $189 for huge amounts of free quality books, portable, relatively kid-friendly, text to speech, and best of all, since I am packing up my entire house, this means I will not have to buy as many books. My house is packed to the gills withbooks, and I like that, but it is getting out of control. This will help! VERY PLEASED!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 How do you like the text to speech feature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 23, 2011 Author Share Posted February 23, 2011 I haven't figured out the text to speech yet, anyone else? Would love to try it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Quote: 6. Can I replace the battery in my NOOKcolor? No. The rechargeable battery in your NOOKcolor can only be accessed and replaced by authorized service professionals. 7. Can I buy an extra battery for my NOOKcolor? No. Rechargeable batteries for your NOOKcolor are not available for sale as an accessory. They are just saying that you can't buy or replace the battery yourself. You can get a replacement battery that is installed at their service center. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joker Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regarding text to speech: I got my mom a Kindle for Christmas because she wanted one with this feature and she could only handle listening to it for a few minutes. It is very monotone and robotic. She hated it.:glare: So she still buys audio books to listen to in the car but she has been using the Kindle to read but I was really bummed about the sound of the text to speech. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailorMom Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 That's odd, re batteries, because the regular Nook - you can replace the battries yourself (one of the reaons we like it). I wonder why it is different with the Color??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jg_puppy Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Planned obsolescence. I'm so glad you posted this! It reminds me of "The Story of Stuff." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classical Country Mama Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Kindle can be changed, but you have to send it to amazon for them to do it. Just FYI on the Kindle: you can buy a battery online and replace it yourself--I've done it once in the years I've had my Kindle (first gen). Easy peasy! And as much as I use my Kindle, well worth the $20 cost. http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Kindle-Replacement-Battery-Generation/dp/B000I6P1UA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298475624&sr=8-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted February 23, 2011 Share Posted February 23, 2011 Regarding text to speech: I got my mom a Kindle for Christmas because she wanted one with this feature and she could only handle listening to it for a few minutes. It is very monotone and robotic. She hated it.:glare: So she still buys audio books to listen to in the car but she has been using the Kindle to read but I was really bummed about the sound of the text to speech. Thanks. I was wondering if it would be good for my boys to read along with the voice, but it doesn't sound like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovetobehome Posted February 24, 2011 Author Share Posted February 24, 2011 I know Nook CAN replace the battery, but they seem not to offer it unless it is under warranty, from what I can tell. But with pressure, maybe that will change. I still don't like the tactic, to not have a plan in place to begin with is terribly irresponsible (environmentally), IMO. Re the text-to-speech, I used it today while I was driving, it is robotic and odd, but better than not having it at all! :-) It solved my kids bickering over who got to read on the Kindle next. With that feature, they all were happy. Though they did laugh a bit at the voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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