If price were no object: What’s the BEST e-reader, Kindle or Nook?
If I want to go el-cheapo, same question: What’s the BEST e-reader, Nook or Kindle?
Please, also tell me WHY!
A compulsive, chronic reader (myself) wants to know …
I prefer the iBook reader on my iPhone and iPad. The formatting is great, and I really like that when I turn a page, it looks like I’m really turning a page.
This Nook site admits that the features of the Kindle are better than the Nook and other eReaders, but you might find a better fit if you have very specific needs.
Couple of qualifications:[ul][li]That site “is not affiliated with any eReader manufacturer, distibutor, etc.”[*]The ability to lend books has recently been added to the Kindle as well.[/ul]So the reference is from an independent blogger with an opinion, not an official Nook source, and the information is a bit outdated.[/li]
That said, I have no experience with eReaders other than the Kindle (which I do own), so I can’t really speak to any substantive differences. But as for price, Amazon has recently made their newest Kindle model (with Special Offers) available for $114, if you’re willing to put up with “special offers and sponsored screensavers that display when you’re not reading.”
For what it’s worth, I do a lot of reading on my iPhone using the Kindle app, which is of course also available for the iPad.
I think the Kobo is still marginaly cheaper than the kindle. But being partnered with Borders in the states likely means that the price will drop a little steeper still during their clearance event.
I like mine. I also have a kobo app on my ipad and blackberry, so I can read on any of my devices!
My last post having been said, I was envious of my friend’s Kindle, because the load time and page turns were a lot quicker. Nothing feels quite as asinine as waiting for your book to boot up…:rolleyes:
And the ability to borrow books from a library is coming to the Kindle this fall.
But yeah, it completely depends on what you want the ereader for. If you just want to read books by themselves, the Kindle is the best available. If you want color and such, then the nook color. I had the first generation Nook and I didn’t care for it. Within 30 minutes of opening it froze on me twice, the page turns were really slow and annoying, and I just didn’t care for it.
Luckily for me I bought it and two weeks later they announced the Kindle 3, so I was able to return my Nook and by the Kindle, which I love a lot more.
Yes, what are you using it for? If you just want to read books of mostly text, and you like the long battery life and the easy-on-the-eyes e-ink screen, you’ll want a dedicated e-reader, like the Kindle or Nook. If you want color, special formatting, a back-lit screen, and the ability to do other things besides read, you’ll want something like a Nook Color or an iPad.
Among dedicated e-readers, the Kindle (3rd version) used to be rated the best. Then recently, Barnes and Noble released a new version of their Nook, and Consumer Reports has rated the new Nook just barely better than the Kindle. But then, it looks as though Amazon will be releasing new versions of the Kindle this fall.
At least right now, one major difference between the Kindle and Nook is that the Nook has a touchscreen, while the Kindle has buttons (including a QWERTY keypad). Can someone who has used both tell me what the advantages to a touchscreen are?
Another thing that might influence your decision is whether you prefer shopping at Amazon.com or at Barnes & Noble’s website. I seem to recall reading one blogger who said Amazon’s customer service was significantly better, FWIW.
I can only speak to the original Nook: I found the touchscreen not necessary. One thing it has going for it is it’s easier to type numbers (Kindle fucked up in that area) but I personally like the Kindle’s actual buttons. Not just a few times I tried typing something on the Nook and would hit letters I did not want to.
If price is no object, I’d go for a tablet with the Nook and the Kindle apps. I got a Nook for Christmas and its a great uni-tasker–does everything I want an e-reader to do. If you consider the page turns slow, you are a very impatient reader. Its great if all you want to do is read.
I travel a lot though and have a work computer that I can’t use to access certain sites (like the Dope), so on a long trip I have to take my work computer, my home laptop, and my Nook. I decided for my birthday I’d get a tablet computer. I don’t want to get into the merits of which tablet is the best because I’ve seen tamer arguments about which religion is best, but I got an Acer Iconia based on the Android OS. Its about a half a pound heavier than the nook, but I can surf the web as if it were a real computer (actually, I like the touch interface better than on a real computer), play games, and read my Nook Books or my Kindle books. Battery lasts about 7 hours so its good except for international flights (for me its still good on international because I try to sleep most of those flights). It IS an LED screen, and some say that causes eye strain. I haven’t noticed it during periods of multiple hours of reading. plus because the screen is bigger, I get more on a page–even with old guy large type font.
When I’m home, I still use my Nook because its slightly smaller and lighter, but I do love my tablet, and if I were to do it again, I probably would not have bought the dedicated reader.
That may be overly optimistic. After announcing it, Amazon hasn’t revealed what their plans are for Kindles and libraries. If you want library material, a Nook is still your safest bet.
Another vote here for a tablet computer with reader apps.
If you’re going to be doing any e-magazines, any kind of technical reading (graphs, charts, etc.), or you want to let your kids use it for picture books/bedtime story reading or reading in the car, you really need the larger color screen that most tablets have. When the huge-ass kindle comes in color, that might be a good comparison, but until then, it’s out because of the lack of color.
The loads for individual pages and for whole books have in my experience been significantly faster with a tablet.
Finally, having the tablet which can do other basic internet/computing stuff makes the price a lot easier to take, and it’s one less e-reader/tablet-sized piece of equipment you have to keep track of and charged.
Personally, although I enjoy the option of reading on my ipad when i don’t have my Kobo handy (like right now), reading on an ereader is better. You can hold with two fingers in bed, or just lay back on the couch. With the exception of maybe the Blackberry playbook, the other tablets I’ve seen are just too darn heavy to be useful in that capacity.
That page is out of date. It’s referring to the earlier version of the Nook, not the Simple Touch.
How does lending between devices work? Do you need to have anything besides the two readers?
I read magazines on my iPad but can’t read on it for long sessions. My ideal e-reader would be about the size of the bigger Kindle with less proprietary stuff. I’d like to read public domain, borrow from libraries, buy from multiple sources without having to convert. I want to use it over my home wi-fi or free public wi-fi. I don’t want to pay for “free” 3G via device costs or higher item prices.
You don’t even need a devoted reader, it’ll work for apps as well. You just email a book (as long as the publisher allows) and the other person will be able to access your book for two weeks, while you won’t be able to.
Ah, you need to e-mail it. You need a network connection. You can’t just “hand” it from one device to the other.
And they arbitrarily limit the time, and prevent permanent gifting or trading? I am not impressed.
I have the newest Nook Simple Touch, and if you’re just going to read, it’s very good. I never had a Kindle, so I can’t compare. I hate Barnes & Noble’s website, so I look elsewhere for book purchases, usually. I get lots of free domain books (epub and pdf) with no need to convert formats. I borrow library books, though the wait time on e-books in our county is insanely long.
Page turns are very fast. When my kids use it, I love that they can just touch an unfamiliar word and bring up the dictionary. This Nook does not do audio. They don’t tell you about the feature, but it’s possible to access the Internet by typing a URL in the search window. I keep the wifi turned off otherwise, to make the battery last.
I think I’d rather have a tablet with e-reader apps, for the versatility. Also, I use old-eye big fonts, and that makes for a lot of page turns on a small e-reader.
Nothing bad to say about the newest Nook, though.
For both devices it’s pretty much worthless. You can only lend a book once, ever, I’d be able to buy you a book, but I can’t give you a book that I bought for myself.