I have a Nook Color and really like it. I also downloaded the Nook app for my cell phone. I can purchase books from Barnes and Noble on my Nook or my cell phone or my computer and have access to them on any of them. One thing I don't like on my Nook the pages don't turn the same as on the cell phone version. On my cell phone the Nook application has the virtual page turning thing so the pages actually look like they are turning which for me make it easier to see when you have turned the page.
As for the page numbers I'm not sure how that works. The pages have numbers but I'm not sure they correspond with the page numbers on a hard copy of a book. Maybe they do as long as you don't change the font size. When look at a book on my cell phone it is obvious the pages aren't number the same as in a real book. To get it to have the same number of pages a book the print would have to be so small you couldn't read it. I've purchase some magazines on my Nook and they look just like they would on my home computer but I do find them more awkward to navigate that a real magazine. I think it will get easier as I use it more.
I have full internet access on the Nook Color so I can even come to this site from it as long as as I'm in an internet hot spot. I haven't figured out how to post yet because for some reason I can't type in the area where you would type your comment. I have the same problem with my cell phone. On both devices I can send and receive email but not post here. If I hit send it will go through and show up here but for some reason I can't type a message.
I agree with Poppers about the direct sunlight on the iPad. That is also the case with the Nook Color. The other Nooks are like the Kindle and you can read them in the sunlight just like you could a book. With mine I have to look for some shade in order to see the screen. One nice thing I noticed on the iPad is that the page also turn like a real book. Both the Nook Color and the iPad are touch screens. The battery life is surprisingly good on the Nook Color.
If you are thinking of getting one and you have a Smartphone or iPhone you may want to download the Kindle and Nook application just to get an idea of how they work. I have both on apps on my phone and like both of them. I also had the Aldiko reader on my phone. It was good but had to remove it due to lack of space. As Poppers said you can get the classic for nothing or very little cost.