NOOK w/ GlowLight: Display Too Fragile?

The new NOOK has generated quite a lot of buzz among e-reader fans. We have all been waiting for an E-ink e-reader that would let us use it in dark rooms without needing an external light source. The new NOOK Simple Touch with GlowLight offers just that. It has a front-lit design to save you from having to carry additional accessories with your e-reader.

Unfortunately, NOOK is not indestructible by any means. Considering its front-lit design, it is so easy to damage the screen and make the device useless in the process. The folks at Gizmodo have demonstrated what could go wrong with the new NOOK. As long as you are careful with your NOOK’s screen, you won’t have to deal with a nasty scratch like the one in the above photo.

This does not mean that the NOOK GlowLight is not a great e-reader. In fact, it is one of the best e-ink e-readers around. But the front-lit design is not without its flaws. The above photo shows a NOOK that was damaged with a remote control dropping on it from about six inches. That’s not quite encouraging. The screen probably needs to be a bit more durable.

What’s your take? Is the new NOOK with GlowLight flawed? Should the screen be tougher?