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Barnes & Noble is Ending Support for the Original Nook eReader

You’re not going to believe the email Barnes & Noble is sending out today.

I’ve just learned that B&N is withdrawing support for the Nook 1st edition, the dual-screen ereader than B&N launched in late 2009. (I didn’t realize I still had one on my account until I got this email.)

You can find the email at the end of the post. It says that owners will not be able to sign in, register, etc on their Nook 1st Editions after 29 June. (If  the device is kept offline, it will continue to work, obviously.)

Anyone who got the email can get a replacement Nook ereader or Android tablet at a discount.

The Nook 1st edition was released on October 2009. It had a 6″ E-ink screen, a 3.5″ control screen, and ran Android 1.5. It shipped with both Wifi and 3G connectivity, and was cheap at $259.

A Wifi-only model was released in June 2010.

This ereader received a few minor updates in 2010, and was supplanted by two Android devices: the Nook Color, which came out in late 2010 with a 7″ LCD screen, and the Nook Touch, which was released in June 2011 with a 6″ E-ink screen.

The Nook 1st edition never really had a lot of support from B&N, although it did have its own hacking community for a while. The hackers added several features, including a new menu design for the control screen and the option to install apps. That feature never came to much due to the limitations of the OS.

This ereader also had a clone, the Spring Design Alex, which was announced a few weeks before and released a few months later. The Alex had a very similar design, only it was thinner and much more capable (I have one).

Spring Design sued B&N in 2010, alleging the retailer had stolen the design. The lawsuit was settled in March 2010 without decisively proving the point one way or the other.

O O O

Dear Valued Customer,

Over eight years ago, we launched our first Nook eReader, and we were thrilled to have you as one of our first customers for what has become a tradition of offering great books on demand to readers. We want to thank you for your loyalty and continued support of the Nook 1st Edition and Nook products.

Because of advancements in our eReader technology, we wanted to let you know that, unfortunately, we are unable to continue to support the Nook 1st Edition.

The good news is we would like to offer you a special coupon for one of our more advanced readers so that you can continue to read digitally and maintain your library. You may choose from the following:

Nook Tablet 7 for $25.00 (50% off the List Price) plus Free Shipping*

OR

Nook GlowLight 3 for $59.99 (50% off the List Price) plus Free Shipping*

Either of these Nook eReaders will provide you with up-to-date, enhanced reading experiences that we think you’ll use and love for a long time to come.

Please note that as of June 29, 2018, you will not be able to purchase new content, register with a BN.com account, or sign in using a Nook account on your Nook 1st Edition. However, you will still be able to access your existing library, or download new content, by using our Nook Reading Apps for iOS, Android, or Windows, on mobile and tablet devices.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but we think you’ll be delighted with your new Nook device. If you have any questions regarding this offer, feel free to contact us at 877-831-2393 Monday-Friday 8AM-11PM ET and Saturday-Sunday 9AM-11PM ET. Please be prepared to provide your Nook 1st Edition serial number. If you need assistance locating your serial number, click here for instructions.

We truly appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to provide you with the great Nook experience and to welcome you at Barnes & Noble stores.

Sincerely,
Barnes & Noble

image  by lib-girl

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Comments


Paula Haataja June 5, 2018 um 6:51 pm

Well, that’s interesting. My email told me I could access my books via the Nook app. I do have a Nook tablet and may be the reason I did not get an email offering discounts on other devices. I’m planning on filling my Nook with books to have them available to read.


Jen June 6, 2018 um 12:32 am

My email said nothing about offering a discount.

Ron June 6, 2018 um 6:59 pm

I have two First Editions and I got two e-mails, one with the upgrade offer and one without. I bought the devices at the same time, so I’m not sure why they’d get different offers.

I may take this opportunity to jump to Kobo. As the e-mails said, I can still read my Nook books on my other hardware, and I really like the larger screen of the Aura One.


Elaine June 6, 2018 um 5:25 am

You have a spelling error in the first sentence.

Nate Hoffelder June 6, 2018 um 6:59 am

Is it the word "beleive"? My spellcheck thinks they are both correct, darnit.


Hannah Steenbock June 6, 2018 um 5:36 am

And… more shooting in the foot by B&N. They really don’t need any help from Amazon to lose business.

Why would anyone still buy a device from them if they are going to be unable to use it in a few years, even if it’s still fully functional?


Frank June 6, 2018 um 9:53 am

8 years of support is pretty good and then they are giving a discount on a new device.


tired June 6, 2018 um 10:30 am

"You’re not going to believe the email Barnes & Noble is sending out today."

Why would I not believe that? It is nine years old and uses the very outdated Vizplex eink screen, outdated hardware and it can’t support the software that modern Nooks run.

It is unreasonable to expect any company to support hardware or software in perpetuity. Offering a 50% discount on the modern Nook is a nice gesture to acknowledge they wouldn’t be anywhere without those early adopters. Now those people can upgrade their janky 1st gen Nooks with something with 300% better contrast, 180% higher pixel density, a 30% faster cpu, a capacitive touch screen and only 60% of the weight.

I took the time to spell out these improvements because ereader progress is so slow that it might be easy to forget that they still do change over time. Ereaders can become horribly out of date. It is a burden to maintain devices so old that few use and are incompatible with the modern readers that most customers are using.

Just to be straight, I’ve turned my back on Nook years ago. I’m not white knighting for them. There are many valid reasons to be critical of Nook, but this is not one of them.


Frank Schabel June 8, 2018 um 11:41 am

I called the support number in the email and the support person was unable or unwilling to answer a few basic questions. He could only read from the prepared script. My questions were: Is the Nook eBook format changing. Will it still be an .epub file with the same DRM which is pretty easy to remove. 2. If i purchase new eBooks from B&N after the deadline and download them to my PC or android or apple device and then copy them to the Nook 1st edition SD card, will they open with or without the DRM removed, and if they will not open, why? After all an .epub file is an .epub file. I mainly use my PC, android tablet or phone to read eBooks but to read in the bright sunlight I need my Nook or something like it.


Vicky June 11, 2018 um 12:41 pm

I did not get the email about the discount. I called the number listed and was told that my account had been idle for 3 months and I was not entitled to the discount. My daughter got the discount. I have purchased 10 times the number of books she has over the years. They just made my decision easier. I’m done with Barnes and Noble and the Nook.


Margie June 11, 2018 um 7:28 pm

This is crap. They don’t want to give away the 3G anymore. This was the ONLY ereader or tablet to have free 3G.


Jim 248 June 18, 2018 um 11:40 am

I also got the e-mail with the 50% off offer. However I mistakenly deleted it. I thought no big deal, I’ll just contact them and get another code. After multiple back and forth online messages I was told to contact them by phone. After a 15 minute hold, I explained my situation and was asked to provide my serial number. I was told they could not provide another code. I then told them that I would replace the Nook with a Kindle. So much for trying to retain customers.

Jim 248 July 2, 2018 um 1:18 pm

After some research, I discovered that I don’t actually have to replace my Original Nook. I can buy books from Amazon, download them, convert them to the EPUB file format, and upload them to my Nook. I could do the same with books from Barnes and Noble but after the treatment I got from them I do not intend to give them one more penny.


Alan June 18, 2018 um 4:19 pm

If I keep mine offline will I still be able to read the books I already bought?

Nate Hoffelder June 18, 2018 um 5:38 pm

yes

Alan June 18, 2018 um 5:47 pm

Thank you.


Michele Harvey July 2, 2018 um 1:08 am

I couldn’t believe the email because my nook 1st gen stopped being able to get to the nook store or download purchased books back about the same time they took away the download capability on the website. My mom had the same problem with hers and when she took it to a B&N they told her it wasn’t supported anymore back then.

I got the discount offer email and bought the Glowlight 3 because sure why not at half off. But I stopped buying nook books once I had used up my settlement money and I’m still glad I got all the ones I did buy safely loaded into Calibre before they figured out how to disable my old version of nook for pc.

Someone should write the full oral history of the nook when B&N finally pulls the plug so everyone can see how not to create and market what could have been a product that could have been so much more than it was.


Sandra July 15, 2018 um 12:53 pm

Do you think it’s worth keeping the old nook? Worth $ someday?


John Guglielmi July 19, 2018 um 10:49 pm

My wife and I both have NOOK I’s. I called the number and read my Ser# to the lady. They offered me a NOOK 7 for $25.00 or a Glowlight for 50% off. I could buy one then or they can send me a coupon via email. I then read my wife’s ser# and was told it was not eligible. When asked why, she said that my wife didn’t use her Nook after June 5th. Really??? I know she read books on her NOOK after that date. But B&N will offer her a 50% off coupon, but she has to send the NOOK back to B&N to get the coupon. B&N will send a postage paid box to ship the nook back, but they needed credit card information. When asked why, was told that if she didn’t send the NOOK back in 14 days she would be charged. For what, she never said. I tried to give her my address but she just brushed me off and said, "Is there anything else I can help you with." She really did say that. P.S. I still haven’t received my digital coupon. Sound like they are making these scripts up as they receive calls. B&N needs to release a logical and concise statement as to what is being offered to NOOK I owners.


Vikki Baker September 6, 2018 um 9:45 pm

I called the number on the letter and the person was rude and didn’t know how to answer any of my simple questions. I then drove over to the nearest B&N and the girl was cold and very matter-of-a-factly. She kept trying to push a different ereader. I asked if B&N was offering any kind of discount, I was told "no". Also, my letter said nothing of a discount.


Amy January 10, 2019 um 3:22 pm

I cannot get mine to connect to the internet at all. Anyone else having this issue?


Jim 248 January 11, 2019 um 1:34 pm

I no longer try to connect to the internet for anything with my Nook. After last June, I will do no business with B & N. I get my books from Amazon. I just convert them to EPUB format and use USB to download to my Nook. It is very easy to do.


Jacki March 19, 2019 um 2:21 pm

Well this is bad. I never received the email, and just discovered this information when I went to try to purchase a book. I love my Nook Glow Light…I don’t want to buy a new one haha. I normally just connect my Nook to my computer and port books over but there are some authors that are very difficult to find…how annoying.


Jim March 19, 2019 um 9:52 pm

See my comment above yours. It is very easy to do.


Samantha Roberson May 2, 2019 um 11:46 pm

Is there anyway to bypass the registration process I have a 1st edition that isn’t registered and I really want to be able to use it

James N Stachowski May 3, 2019 um 9:59 pm

There is nothing you can do to download new books through B & N. They ended all support to 1st edition. but it is very easy to buy books from amazon and convert and load through the USB connection from your computer.


jerry bible December 24, 2019 um 7:27 pm

I have a 1st edition Nook that I have not used in over a year .I want to know if I am still eligible for a discount and if so how much ! Also , is it possible to resell my Nook library to anyone or would I be able to load them to a new device ?


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