From what I understand, the Nook Color is a nice ereader which can also be converted (rooted) to a full-featured tablet; however, doing that voids the warranty so I would just use it as a reader at first. I got a budget tablet and started reading some Kindle free classics which I think is great. My cost is now at around $170 with tablet, shipping, and 8GB SD card, and I’ve got my eye on a sexy little stylus 
My only complaint about my Kindle, and I’m sure the same applies to all small-screen readers, is that maps are very difficult to see, even after magnification. I like to read history accounts, particularly books on wars, and it’s frustrating whenever a map appears.
I second this. You’ll hear a lot about e-ink is better and backlit readers give people headaches. All I can say is “Your mileage may vary”. Try it out. I really prefer the backlighting and find it much easier to read than a kindle.
That said, my mom and dad both have Kindles and love them.
Lending is still a bit messy. If you aren’t hung up about lending to only friends and family there are third parties that are coming in to facilitate the lending. I have been using Lendle - this has been working fairly okay when the book is available.
I borrow ebooks from my library all the time and read the books on the Kindle - I use a third-party converter to get the books onto the device and I am scrupulous about deleting them at the end of the lending period. I haven’t been tracked down by the library police yet.
Even without “Don’t Panic” printed on the front in large, friendly letters - the Kobo is still my favourite e-reader.
It’s not just the friendly price point - it’s the dimensions, weight, and button placement. I like that I can easily read on my back, holding the device with one hand, and turning the pages with my thumb. It’s better than a pocketbook for that.
Screen updates are a little slow, but I am happy to make that small sacrifice in favour of comfort while reading. (Still easier and faster than turning a paper page, so it’s not too hard to swallow.)
Both the Kindle and Nook seem too awkward to me by comparison. (Disclaimer: Have not handled the Kindle 3 yet.) The idea of using a tablet computer for e-books is not attractive at all.
ANother thing about lending for the Kindle is some publisher don’t allow it for their books. I have no idea if this is also the policy for the Nook. My only other comment is that I love my Kindle and could never imagine using a tablet to read a book (although I will admit it would be better for magazines and books with hevay graphics and illustrations).
Can you elaborate on the problem with typing in numbers on a Kindle? I’ve never had an issue with that on my Kindle 2 - there’s a row of number buttons on the top of the ‘keyboard’, and even though they’re aligned straight instead of in a traditional keyboard offset I can find them easily enough.
The Kindle 3 doesn’t have separate number keys. To type numbers you have to hold down the alt button and press Q for 1, W for 2, etc.
Or you can press down the SYM key and then key the numbers in that way. I admit it is a bit of a hassle, but I don’t really find myself having to type in numbers very often.
My only complaint with my Kindle is the page numbering thing…I can never quite figure out how to get to a specific page. I’ve gotten better at it, but it’s still not easy.
That being said, I don’t need color. 99% of my books don’t have color or pictures, anyway. I don’t care about maps or pics, I just want to read page after page of story. And for that, I love my Kindle. I actually get so into reading on it I’ve forgotten to “turn” the page occasionally for a second or two.
Oh, that would suck. I do like the ‘go to location #’ feature as a way of rapidly ‘paging’ through a book and trying to find a particular area if I don’t have a chapter bookmark or the equivalent. Also ‘go to page #’ on my home screen (bookshelf)
Does Kindle 3 have a ‘search for a book with this word in the title’ feature? That’s one obvious thing that I thought was missing from my Kindle - that and ‘add to collection while transferring these books over USB…’
…but if we started complaining about the features that our ebooks don’t have, it’ll probably hijack the whole thread. 
I like the form factor of the new Nook better than anything else out there. I’m not a touch screen fan but it’s the way to go for e-readers. No button clicking, it’s silent and effortless and no matter how I hold it there’s a way for me to comfortably turn the page.
Amazon’s DRM drives me nuts, I don’t like opting into a closed system. I’ve already got some Kindle books on my Nook. If you’re willing to use Calibre to change file formats, the sky is the limit and you can buy or download an ebook from wherever it’s available.
If you can hold out a bit longer it sounds like there will be a few new e-readers for the holidays.
Nook beat out Kindle when we were making this decision recently, specifically because of the library / lending thing. Kindle is adding library support but they lost a lot of clients by being such slowpokes. Not sure why they were so stubborn, really.
Nook Color only if you a) really want to be able to surf on it, or b) really want to be able to hack it into an Android tablet, or c) look at a lot of things for which color graphics are needed (e.g. magazines etc.). We got it for my father-in-law because of that latter option (and I got one for myself so I could help him with his).
I haven’t looked at the Kindle, but the newest Nook has a slight “flash” as you turn the pages - it’s all the e-ink pixels redrawing. I found that a little distracting. Nothing I couldn’t live with, however. It’s significantly smaller and lighter than the Color - in its case, it weighs about as much as a 350 page paperback. My Nook Color weighs as much as a hardback book.
Amazon’s stated position on the lack of library support with the Kindle was, more or less, they they believe libraries are dying.
Interesting. I do keep hearing “they” saying that libraries are going away but I don’t see that happening. Looks like Amazon finally admitted it, too :D.
Why should I pay Amazon (or B&N) 10 dollars for a book I’ll read once, when for free I can get it from the library? We take great advantage of it.
“Dead tree” books are still a big thing and always will be. I don’t, for example, plan on taking the Nook when I’m going to have a relaxing soak in the tub.
I think it would be cool if the ebook sellers came up with a scheme whereby you could basically rent a book. I’d get a lot more from them if I could spend, say, 1-2 dollars and have the book for a few weeks. They’d have a better selection than the library.
I like the form factor on the Kindle. Its what I want in a “book” - light, easy to hold when I’m in bed or on a plane, easy to read in the sunlight. The Nooks I’ve held (and I haven’t held the latest one) are significantly heavier.
But its a personal preference - almost the difference between “do you like reading books in hardback, trade sized paperback, or mass market paperback size?”
I’d recommend you go to somewhere like Best Buy that carries both a Kindle and a Nook and look at them side by side. Buying something like an eReader off the internet without touching them - or even comparing them at different times/places, is hard.
They already do have a scheme for textbook rental. (Although the price is way more than $1-2.)
Heh. Around here, library use is up, even as the hours and services are being cut back. Libraries are CHANGING, yes, and part of the change is being able to check out ebooks.
Nook color - rooted with a lot of the same apps I have on my android phone.
I’ll enter the argument on the other side; when I’m reading it means I’m probably riding the train; I need one hand to hold on to a support to keep my balance, which means it’s impossible to use an ipad.
An e-reader is small and light enough to hold in one hand; I can turn pages with my thumb without shifting my grip. It only needs to be charged once a month or so, the screen is just as readable as paper, it’s small enough to stick in my jacket pocket. It’s lighter than a thin paperback. It’s basically the perfect reading device, and has replaced paper books for all my leisure reading.
I have the Nook touch by the way.