Lyra Light for nook - packs a powerful punch

The majority of my reading occurs at night in a dark room, so a light is a must-have for any e-Ink device I decide on. Since I happened to be at B&N for children's books (we love our Fancy Nancy here), I grabbed the last Lyra Light they had in stock.



The Lyra Light attaches very cleanly to the nook - there is rubber in between the clips, preventing damage to the device and providing a secure grip. The neck adjusts easily, is long enough to give it some play for ideal positioning, and the light actually stays in position once you decide what that place is. So some serious thought was put into making sure it is customizable for the user.

The Lyra Light is incredibly light-weight - I don't notice it on the nook at all. I haven't weighed it, but obviously book light technology has come a long way since my first Mighty Bright light in the 90s. Part of the reason is that the light uses coin batteries instead of heavier AA or AAA. The other reason is the LED lightbulb is miniscule.



See that tiny lightbulb? I almost didn't realize it was a lightbulb. Boy is it powerful! Frankly, it is too overwhelming for me. Not only is the brightness hard on the eyes in a dark room, but it is so strong that it casts noticeable shadows. Let's just say that a oversize shadow in the shape of a nook with light attached is not making my bed partner very happy.



According to this picture on B&N's site, you can clip the Lyra on sideways. I haven't found this to be a sturdy position - the top of the nook has a squared off edge, but the sides are rounded on the back, for easier holding. This means the Lyra has a more tenuous hold, and is apt to list a bit, requiring constant fiddling. So I wouldn't buy the Lyra if you hope to have your light from the side. The M-Edge eLuminator2 with an M-Edge case is probably a better option for side-lighting.

Other Devices:
I have also tried the Lyra Light with the Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300), which has a smaller bezel than the nook. It attaches very nicely, and is adjustable to angle correctly for the smaller screen. I still find the light over-powering, and I also noticed more glare on the Sony screen than I saw with the Lyra on the nook.

Conclusion:
The Lyra isn't the light for me. The brightness of the light is both overwhelming to me, and annoying to my bed partner. It is really too bad that the Lyra doesn't have more than one brightness setting, as it is a well thought-out design. I find the Low setting of the M-Edge eLuminator2 preferable.

Goodbye paper scrapbooking

After much soul-searching, I've decided to stop scrapbooking with paper. I'm just not in a place in my life where crafting with supplies is feasible more than once every few months. Keeping a stash of the size I have is just folly when it is literally collecting dust. And I live in a radiator-heat house, so we barely have any dust!

I'm not 100% sure what to do with my supplies. I've been slimming down the stash in response to LOM and challenges for over a year now, but there is still plenty left. I've put some items on Flickr here:

Flickr For Sale gallery

but selling items one by one is going to be too time-consuming. Maybe lots on eBay or the LSS garage sale?

I do have to say that making the decision has been cathartic - the guilt of so many supplies and the hours I have spent organizing them in some attempt to make scrapping easier has been eating away at me. Knowing there is an end in sight makes it easier to look at the piles of stash.

I've done about as many digi layouts as I have paper in the last year, and I'll probably still do them for some stories I want to tell, but I think PhotoBooks are going to be in my future. I take way too many pictures to spend so much time organizing and sorting them for scrapbooking.

Now I just need to wave a magic wand and make it all go away!

nook 3G + WiFi - a contender

In my quest for an electronic reading device, I picked up a nook. It wasn't on my list of devices to try because it weighs more than the Sony PRS-700 I already nixed, but the deal on eBay was too good to resist - $210 Buy It Now, including a $50 B&N gift certificate. And it's a good thing that certificate was included, as within days B&N dropped the price on the original nook to $199! Isn't that always the story with electronics...

My take on the nook after using it for just over a week:

Design:
I enjoy the quality of the design - the rubber back, combined with the wide bezel, makes it easy on the eyes and easy to hold. It looks like a Mac product, with its minimal buttons and touchscreen. My only real complaint is the click noise the buttons make. It's unnoticeable most of the time, but in a quiet dark room, it is loud enough to disturb a dozing baby. Luckily the touchscreen is an available option for silent page turns. I prefer the buttons, because I have a better hold on the device, but swiping is quieter at night.

Touchscreen:
It's not as responsive as the iPhone screen or MacBook Pro trackpad, that I'm used to -- but it is respectable. There is a noticeable pause, but not a true lag like I've seen with other devices. I'm looking at you, TomTom GPS! Typing with the touchscreen keyboard is more awkward than the iPhone, mostly because you're trying to balance a much larger device in one hand and tap with the other. My hands are too small to thumb-type.

Contrast:
Wow! The contrast is remarkable on this screen. The background is much closer to white than other e-Ink screens I've seen, not the grey of a newspaper, which is what the Sony screens have looked like to me. Both letters and artwork appear very crisp -- I see now why there is such a groundswell of screen savers and wallpapers for the nook - they look great. And reading on an e-Ink is a joy, compared to the tiring on my iPhone. I'm hoping it will be the same once I add a light.

Lighting:
There is no built-in lighting on this particular e-Ink device. I have purchased a Lyra Light and I have also used a M-Edge eLuminator2 sold for the Kindle, so I can read in the dark. Glare from the screen is moderate, but glare from the glossy bezel is noticeable, even annoying. This could be fixed by a case or a decal, so I'm not going to worry about it.

Speed:
Page turns are a bit slower than the PRS-700. I have to push for next page at about the 3rd to last line in order to keep my reading rythym. That is supposed to be an improvement in 1.3, so I have to add that firmware and see. I added both the 1.3 and 1.4 foirmware and what a difference! The nook now has the fastest refresh of the 4 e-Ink devices I have tried.

Software:
I would rate the nook software as average/mediocre. While it isn't awful in any way, it isn't very slick, either. Navigating the touchscreen on the bottom is a little counterintuitive. I still am never sure how the scroll bar works. And the arbitrary division between My Library and My Documents is ridiculous. I've been e-reading for 7 years, so I have a 200+ library of .PDB books bought from B&N subsidiaries, but they get dumped into a separate folder, with no organizing capabilities. All my meticulously tagged series are useless on the nook. Not too mention organizing public domain and library ePubs.

The reading software reads ePub and .pdb eReader DRM formats. The Light Classic font is attractive, but I personally find Helvetica Neue and Amasis to be awkward for reading book-length texts. I've found Light Classic Large to be the best size for me to read, although Amasis Medium is okay. Helvetica Neue is just awkward for book-length texts. I haven't tried the PDF option - the majority of my eBooks are in ePub or easily converted to ePub, so this is not of concern to me, although some library books come in PDF, so I should give that a try.

The desktop software is Barnes & Noble eReader, a re-branded version of the eReader software I already had. It works fine on my Mac. There is no "sync" option to keep your "reading now" spot between the desktop, nook or iPhone - that's a pretty nifty feature that seems to be specific to Amazon-purchased titles. (Update: Apple has added a similar feature to iBooks 1.1, but it syncs all books not just iBooks-purchased.)

Ergonomics:
It doesn't feel heavier than the Sony PRS-700 (12.1 oz vs the PRs-700's 10.1 oz), even though it is both heavier and taller (although slightly slimmer). I think that is because of the way it is designed to be held by the middle, rather than the bottom. Weight is more evenly distributed. However, it is still noticeably heavier and bulkier to read on than my iPhone. :)

I really wish the top page-back buttons were the page forward buttons. Then I could use the nook one-handed more comfortably. It's less tiring than the PRS-700 was, but keeping the nook balanced in one hand starts to drag on my wrist and elbow after a bit, and it is harder to manage when laying down. I tried to hold it one-handed and use the thumb of that same hand to swipe the touchscreen to turn the page, but this was impossible with my small hands. I'm most comfortable holding it in two hands to hold it steady. For my daytime reading, the nook is a perfect device. For evening, it's not impossible, but more difficult than I'd prefer. There are several easel cases available that I am investigating before giving up on the nook.

I feel this problem could have been easily fixed by having page buttons be reversed, perhaps as a settings preference. There is a third-party fix, but it requires "soft-rooting."

Conclusion:
I read in bed, I read in the car, I read at work briefly (the flourescents reflection in the nook's shiny bezel annoyed me), I read on the couch. All told, I think I have spent 35 hours reading on this device over a week. I want to like it. If I can find a solution to holding it in bed, I think I will.

So now, I'm evaluating my other eBay find: the Sony Pocket Edition. If it is more one-hand friendly, and has better organization software, then I'll have my new reader and the nook will need to find a new home.

Kindle 2 - noisy little bugger

In my quest for an electronic reading device, I decided I had to try the Kindle. Amazon is obviously the juggernaut of e-reading. I hesitated because it weighs the same amount as the Sony PRS-700 I already nixed for being to unwieldy. But I found some really good prices on eBay and figured I'd give it a test drive. It didn't hurt that the auction I won came with a lot of case options for me to try.

Here are my thoughts on the Kindle (currently running firmware 2.3 - I haven't run the upgrade yet because none of my critiques can be fixed by the upgrade).

Design:
The used Kindle 2 I bought has a decal skin on it, so I didn't get to experience the tactile feel of the metal back. The creaky plastic is a bit annoying to me. The matte plastic bezel is nicer than the glare I get off the nook's glossy bezel. My largest complaint is the click noise the page buttons make. It's noticeable all of the time, but it is way too loud in a quiet dark room. On three occasions I have tried reading it while nursing, and it distracts the baby to the point I had to stop reading on the Kindle. I don't have that problem on the nook, which has a click noise, but it is more subtle. And the nook has the touchscreen swipe option.

Touchscreen:
The Kindle doesn't have a touchscreen. I wonder if they'll add that to Kindle 3?

Contrast:
The background is the same soft gray as the Sony PRS-700 (similar to newspaper), but not as white a background as the nook. Very good for reading in and outdoors, with no glare. Both letters and artwork appear very crisp.

Lighting:
There is no built-in lighting on the Kindle -standard for e-Ink devices. I have used the M-Edge Eluminator2 with the Kindle in a dark room, and while there is some glare, it is acceptable.

Speed:
Page turns were the same as the PRS-700. I have to push for next page at about the 2nd last line in order to keep my reading rythym. Again, the noise of the buttons is noticeable.

Software:
I would rate the Kindle software as average/mediocre. While it isn't awful in any way, it isn't very slick, either. Navigating works well with the 5-way, but gets frustrating when you have to select something at the bottom of the screen and have to click past a whole long list. And the inability to organize side-loaded content via the new Collections feature is unfortunate. I've been e-reading for 7 years, so I have a 400+ ebooks that get dumped into a flat view, with no organizing capabilities. All my meticulously-tagged series are useless on the Kindle.

The reading software reads .MOBI DRM and free .PRC formats. The slab serif font is and unfortunate choice - I don't find it readable for long periods of time. Luckily, there are font hacks out there. The jump between sizes is a little too dramatic - it would be nice to have a few in between.

The desktop software is Kindle for Mac, and I have also used Kindle for iPhone. I didn't authorize the Kindle, so I didn't sync with the desktop. Unfortunately, the Whispersync feature only keeps books purchased from Amazaon in sync.

Ergonomics:
The Kindle feels lighter than the Sony PRS-700, even though they weigh the same. I think that is because of the way it is designed to be held by the middle, rather than the bottom. Weight is more evenly distributed. The 5 way button leaves an annoying dent in my thumb. The rest of the buttons are laid out well. However, it isn't one-handable, for me. The Kindle is very wide - my (very small) hand only extends about halfway across the back, so I don't feel like I'm gripping enough of the back to hold it securely in one hand. Which is a shame, because the placement of the page buttons works well for one-handed operation. This is probably not a problem for someone with average hands.

Overall, I'm most comfortable holding it in two hands to hold it steady. For my daytime reading, the Kindle is an acceptable device. For evening and while nursing, it's not ideal. Even with an easel case, I found it difficult to read one-handed.

Conclusion:
I read in bed, I read in the car, I read at work, I read on the couch. All told, I think I have spent 14 hours reading on this device over 4 days. I wanted to like it - Amazon has an impressive store, even after the Big 5-Agency debacle. But I just can't get a good grip on it, and the noisy click buttons make this a no-go for me. That, combined with the lack of organization for anyone with a library of eBooks means the Kindle is heading back to eBay.

Up next, I'm still valuating the nook and the Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300) is on its way.

ALDI: Fit & Active Chicken Florentine Alfredo

Taste: Pleasant, if bland, Alfredo sauce. The noodles cooked up nicely. The chicken, however, was unbearably salty.

Quality: The chicken was good quality, the noodles were a nice, thick fettucine, and there was the perfect amount of Alfredo to go around.

Meets expectations/marketing: The chicken chunks matched the picture on the box in both quantity and looks (8 medium-size pieces). The spinach was even fresher looking than the picture.

Filling: I feel pleasantly full. It's 8 oz worth of food.

Value: $1.79 at ALDI, so I definitely got my money's worth.
Points: 5 (right in my preferred 4-5 points for lunch)

Overall: I don't think I'd buy it again. The sauce was very bland, and the chicken was extremely salty. I could fix the bland by bringing spices in, but I can't fix salty! Too bad, as the noodles were very good and the overall consistency was nice for a microwave meal. Other microwave Alfredos are usually gooey/chunky.

WeightWatchers Smart Ones: Chicken Enchiladas Suiza

Taste: Quite spicy - I would rate it a medium for heat.

Quality: The meat chunks were a little sparse, but the rice was a nice size portion and there was plenty of the chile sauce to go around.

Meets expectations/marketing: the sauce was more like a con queso than a sour cream/chile sauce. That was a disappointment, although it tasted fine, it's not what on the box.

Filling: I feel pleasantly full. It's 9 oz worth of food, so not bad.

Value: $1.99 on sale at Wegman's, so I got my money's worth.

Points: 6 (on the top end of what I'd do for lunch)

Overall: I'd buy it again, but only as long as I remember it has a con queso sauce, not a sour cream.

ALDI: Chicken Pad Thai

Chicken Pad Thai (center)
ALDI Special Purchase (while supplies last availability)

Taste: Quite spicy, but with that lovely Thai peanut aftertaste - I would rate it a medium to a medium hot for heat.

Quality: The meat chunks were white chicken breast, not gristly, and there were 5 of them. But the sauce was on the sticky side - I suspect a side effect of the noodle starch and the sauce combining in the microwave. Made for a weird texture as the meal cooled.

Meets expectations/marketing: the noodles were plentiful and there was a nice mix of carrots, green onions and a little bit of chopped peanuts. It needed more sauce to keep the noodles from turning into starchy goo.

Filling: I feel pleasantly full 2.5 hours later. It's 10 oz worth of food.

Value: $2.29 at ALDI (special purchase), so I got my money's worth.

Points: 7 (for lunch, yikes! Good thing I'm still full, as I won't have points for a snack before dinner)

Overall: Of the three meals, I'm not sure I'll buy this one again. It tasted fine, and had plenty of food, but the points are pretty high for my range. I prefer the Chicken Vindaloo over this one, so I'll be skipping this one if ALDI still has it in the cooler next time.

ALDI: Bremer Chicken Vindaloo

ALDI has had these Bremer (house-brand) Thai meals for a little while in the Special Purchase bin. Don't worry, they are still within their expiration :)

I bought one of each, and I'll be reviewing them over the next few weeks, because I don't want to eat Thai everyday this week.

ALDI: Bremer Chicken Vindaloo (right)

Taste: Nicely spicy - I would rate it a medium for heat. The sauce was a nice consistency.

Quality: The meat chunks were perfect - a nioe amount, and not chewy or stringy. A good portion of rice, and vegetables.

Meets expectations/marketing: Seemes as close the picture as I've ever had with a frozen entree.

Filling: I feel pleasantly full. It's 10 oz worth of food.

Value: $2.29 at ALDI, so I got my money's worth.

Points: 4 (just perfect for lunch in my points range)

Overall: I'd buy it again in a heartbet. Lovely flavor, good mix of foods, and right where I prefer for the points.

WeightWatchers Smart Ones: Chicken Oriental

Taste: Pleasant, not too sweet.

Quality: The meat chunks were too large for my mouth, and there were only 3 of them. Probably about 4 oz of meat, but I'm not sure, and it was a pain to eat them because I don't have a knife at my desk. The rice was a nice portion, but there wasn't quite enough sauce to dampen all the white (!) rice.

Meets expectations/marketing: there were nowhere near the number of meat or vegetable chunks on the box. I suspect I got the same amount of meat because of the size of the chunks, but the vegetables were sorely lacking.

Filling: I'm still hungry. Could be mental because it didn't take long to eat what little was there.

Value: $1.99 on sale at Wegman's.

Points: 4, but it a lousy four points. There is only one gram of fiber here! Pretty sad for a WW-branded entree. This would be a much better (more-filling) meal if they used brown rice and more veggies, rather than the tons of white rice and 4 skinny pieces of peppers instead.

Overall: I won't buy it again. Not enough food for the 4 points. I ended up eating an apple + 2 fiber bars before I left work because I was still so hungry.

ALDI: Fit & Active Southwest Veggie Stuffed Sandwiches

I'm cheating a little on this post, as I already know I like these and have bought them multiple times.

Taste: A mild salsa, with rich black beans, corn, diced chiles and brown rice and a dusting of cheese, all in a warm wheat wrap. I wish the Lean Pockets were this good.

Quality: The vegetables and rice are good quality. The bread wrap is nice and thick.

Meets expectations/marketing: Pretty much looks just like the picture, although a little flatter.

Filling: I feel pleasantly full, although it only holds me for about 3 1/2 hours.

Value: $1.79 at ALDI for two, so I definitely got my money's worth.

Points: 5 points is for one wrap, and you get two in the box. I only eat one per meal.

Overall: I buy a box every week. One wrap has 5g of fiber, I like the flavor, and I especially like the warm wrap - our office gets cold so I like holding it while it cools. The only caveat is that I have to eat it while it is still warm. As it cools, the wheat wrap can get a little chewy.

Lunch on the Go

At certain times of the year, things get very busy and making lunch for the week takes a back seat. Before WeightWatchers, I'd grab whatever for lunch - the machine, Subway or one of the local delis. But I'm eating within my points range now, so I've switched to buying frozen entrees (or occasionally canned soup) for lunch for those crazy times.

The problem is, some of them are lousy, some are okay, and some are quite good. And I tend to buy whatever brand is on sale, which means I keep buying the same lousy ones over and over again because I've fogrotten, or I get confused - is it Lean Cuisine's Sesame Chicken that I like, or Healthy Ones? Was it the Italian Wedding or the Chicken Tortilla soup that upset my stomach? (Frankly, I think they all use the same stock photography, which just worsens my confusion)

So as I try new entrees, I'll be be sharing my thoughts based on:
taste
quality
meets expectations/marketing
filling
value (note, that I rarely spend more than $2.50 on a frozen meal)

Obviously,, my thoughts are specific to my tastes and preferences, but hopefully that will help me build a list of good, okay and lousy, and perhaps be of use to someone else. I'll be labeling them as "food," so you can check my labels list to pull them all up.