Got a Glowlight 4 for my Birthday, What Do I Need to Know?

viridis · 08-26-2024, 02:00 AM

Hi everyone! First post, long time lurker. I was given a GL4 for my birthday. I have owned other e-readers in the past (Libra 2, Clara HD), one being lost recently 2 weeks ago, and the other croaking. Turns out this was the perfect time to get a new reader. Anyhow, I have never owned something form BN so I want to know what I am getting into here. For one:

I do not care about speed or the ecosystem. I have come to terms that the snappiness of e-readers have never changed my mood about a device. If it takes a second or two to do something, no big deal to me. As far as ecosystem goes, I only bought maybe 3-4 books on the Kobo sites, while the rest were purchased and sideloaded. This will be the same on the GL4.

The screen is really nice, and the warm lighting is amazing! The feel is nice on the hands, and the page turn buttons are a nice touch. My question to you all is how is the build quality on these Nooks? I know they have been around for a while and wanted some long term reviews on these things. Thanks in advance.

Sirtel · 08-26-2024, 02:44 AM

The hardware and build quality of Nooks is generally very good. It's their software that's lacking, but if you're not fussy, you might not mind that.

John F · 08-26-2024, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirtel

The hardware and build quality of Nooks is generally very good. It's their software that's lacking, but if you're not fussy, you might not mind that.

Or, as long as your not anal retentive about reading settings, you will like it.

cgsmom · 08-26-2024, 09:18 AM

I have the GL4+ and it is currently my reader of choice. I like it very much. I am very happy with the way it displays books and feels in my hands. I have always liked my Nooks and have had many of them. Most of them still work. I don't buy from books from Barnes & Noble because I cannot always "liberate" them in Calibre.

I can't compare build quality to Kobo because I have never owned one (yet), but I think the quality is as good as any Kindle I own.

gforgiraffe39935 · 08-31-2024, 12:18 PM

If you want to mostly sideload your EPUBs, like you did with your Kobo devices, you'll be fine. The Nook Glowlight 4 is really nice to hold in the hands.

The only thing that bothers me is the font settings and the dictionary--you have no customizability like you do with Kobo, and the definitions and highlights are in a light gray color that's hard to read/notice.

Other than that, the Nook GL4 displays text of a book, has fantastic buttons and is super light.

Oh, and be careful around water because it's not water-resistant like Kobo.

08-26-2024, 02:00 AM	#1
viridis Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2024 Location: San Francisco Device: GL4	Got a Glowlight 4 for my Birthday, What Do I Need to Know? Hi everyone! First post, long time lurker. I was given a GL4 for my birthday. I have owned other e-readers in the past (Libra 2, Clara HD), one being lost recently 2 weeks ago, and the other croaking. Turns out this was the perfect time to get a new reader. Anyhow, I have never owned something form BN so I want to know what I am getting into here. For one: I do not care about speed or the ecosystem. I have come to terms that the snappiness of e-readers have never changed my mood about a device. If it takes a second or two to do something, no big deal to me. As far as ecosystem goes, I only bought maybe 3-4 books on the Kobo sites, while the rest were purchased and sideloaded. This will be the same on the GL4. The screen is really nice, and the warm lighting is amazing! The feel is nice on the hands, and the page turn buttons are a nice touch. My question to you all is how is the build quality on these Nooks? I know they have been around for a while and wanted some long term reviews on these things. Thanks in advance.

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08-26-2024, 02:44 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,514 Karma: 230505500 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The hardware and build quality of Nooks is generally very good. It's their software that's lacking, but if you're not fussy, you might not mind that.

08-26-2024, 09:18 AM	#4
cgsmom Addict Posts: 273 Karma: 3141593 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Device: Nook GL4+, Nook GL4e, Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle PW4, iPhone 14	I have the GL4+ and it is currently my reader of choice. I like it very much. I am very happy with the way it displays books and feels in my hands. I have always liked my Nooks and have had many of them. Most of them still work. I don't buy from books from Barnes & Noble because I cannot always "liberate" them in Calibre. I can't compare build quality to Kobo because I have never owned one (yet), but I think the quality is as good as any Kindle I own.

08-31-2024, 12:18 PM	#5
gforgiraffe39935 Connoisseur Posts: 80 Karma: 1000 Join Date: Aug 2021 Device: Nook, PocketBook, Kobo, Kindle, Boox Go Color 7	If you want to mostly sideload your EPUBs, like you did with your Kobo devices, you'll be fine. The Nook Glowlight 4 is really nice to hold in the hands. The only thing that bothers me is the font settings and the dictionary--you have no customizability like you do with Kobo, and the definitions and highlights are in a light gray color that's hard to read/notice. Other than that, the Nook GL4 displays text of a book, has fantastic buttons and is super light. Oh, and be careful around water because it's not water-resistant like Kobo.