OT: Kindle or Nook? - Page 7

kmaclean · 06-25-2010, 02:23 PM

I just got a Kindle for my birthday, and I love it!

The main reasons why I chose the Kindle over others:

1) the display is as close to reading the paper version as it gets ... I did not want a reader with a backlight as it is much harder on your eyes.

2) it has a keyboard, which makes searching and other tasks much easier (I'm not a huge fan of the touch screen, but that's probably because I just don't have a lot of experience with it).

3) price (now only $189!).

4) when you purchase e-books for your Kindle through Amazon, they are automatically archived on the Amazon website. This means that if something happens to your computer or your Kindle, you won't have lost all of the e-books you have purchased ... you can re-download them for free! It also means that if you run out of space to add more content to your Kindle, you can choose what items you want on your Kindle at the moment and leave other items off without actually losing them ... they'll stay in your archive on the Amazon website.

While different companies (eg. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc) each have their own readers and sell e-books on their websites that are designed to work with their reader and not others, their are lots of other places to buy e-books as well! I think pretty much all of the readers now support many file types, probably the most common of which is PDF. Sites such as this one, for example, sell a huge variety of books in PDF format. This means you can use them on any reader!

If you download knitting patterns from sites such as Ravelry, then you could load them right on to your Kindle (or other reader) to take with you. I'm looking forward to being able to do this ... I'm forever printing out new copies of patterns as they tend to get chewed up looking (I take my knitting with me a lot and the print out of my pattern seems to always end up in the bottom of my bag!).

I only wish I had had one of these when I was still in college ... it would have saved me a huge amount of space and money on textbooks!

ArtLady1981 · 06-25-2010, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by kmaclean

1) the display is as close to reading the paper version as it gets ... I did not want a reader with a backlight as it is much harder on your eyes.

2) it has a keyboard, which makes searching and other tasks much easier (I'm not a huge fan of the touch screen, but that's probably because I just don't have a lot of experience with it).

I think pretty much all of the readers now support many file types, probably the most common of which is PDF. Sites such as this one, for example, sell a huge variety of books in PDF format. This means you can use them on any reader!

If you download knitting patterns from sites such as Ravelry, then you could load them right on to your Kindle (or other reader) to take with you.

Oh my! Those points are so good to know!!!

Jeremy · 06-25-2010, 09:55 PM

I have two Kindles and an Ipad. I love reading on the Ipad because it does have a backlight. I can read in bed with the lights out allowing my wife to sleep. The other night I sat out on my porch with just a candle burning and read. Don't get me wrong, I really like the Kindle and Amazon has made the books you buy very accessible through your phone and your computer (including the Ipad).

Jan in CA · 06-25-2010, 10:33 PM

If I was going to get a reader I'd probably lean toward the iPad myself. I love my iPod Touch and I love the touch screen. Plus you can do a million other things with it, too. I have the Kindle, B&N and Stanza apps to download any kind of of book.

I have an app called Good Reader and I download PDF's from my Ravelry library. You can also download others I think.

Nothings in the budget for that right now, but maybe someday..

SBG · 06-27-2010, 11:46 PM

I'd love to have a backlight. Sometimes I put books on my phone and use Aldiko to read them. It was the main thing I didn't like about the kindle.

bambi · 07-13-2010, 01:53 AM

Thanks for all your input. I may be with Dollyce on this one. I think I may wait until it has all the features I want. Or perhaps an iPod touch with a kindle app...

Jan in CA · 07-13-2010, 02:47 AM

Originally Posted by bambi

Or perhaps an iPod touch with a kindle app...

That's what I have and I use it all the time! Barnes and Noble and Borders also have apps now and there's a couple where it's easy to get the free books.

Debbie · 07-13-2010, 04:16 PM

I love my nook and like that it does not have a backlight because I like to read at the pool and at the beach!

KnitWit8 · 07-17-2010, 05:47 AM

I absolutely love my kindle. My mom got it for me this past Christmas and I have read more books on it in the past 6 months than I did when I was in high school and my first year of college. I love to read but where I live the nearest Barnes and Noble is across town so it is really inconvenient. I love how I can download books from my computer or from my kindle. The screen is designed to look like paper that is why there is no back light. That really helps because my eyes are so bad and looking at a computer screen for too long gives me headaches. To read in the dark I use a normal book light. The best feature about the kindle is the dictionary that is already on it when you buy it. If you don't know the meaning of a word while you are reading you can scroll over to it with the cursor and the kindle will define it for you! That is my favorite feature.

Another great thing is that they have recently added a feature that lets you browse the internet on your kindle. It may be in black and white but the wireless is free and you don't have to pay for huge data charges. My kindle has replace my cell phone when it comes to checking e-mail.

The last thing I will point out is that many classic books are free on the Kindle. Books such as: Pride and Prejudice, Treasure Island, and Wuthering Heights.

What can I say, I just love my Kindle.

margrue · 08-29-2010, 05:11 PM

I researched several eReaders and ended up getting a Sony Touch, which I love. I have been wasting a lot of time surfing all the free eBook sites, and love being able to show someone the eReader with 30 or so books loaded and tell them I got them all for free!
OK, there is a lot of junk on the free sites, but if you look around you can find stuff that isn't three hundred years old and written in French.
It is perfect for stuffing in my purse so I always have something to read without having to carry a 5 pound book around. And on trips when I would usually take a couple books (don't want to be without something to read) I just carry this little Reader.
Now, if only knitting books and patterns were in the eBook format!

Originally Posted by Belphoebe

Has anyone researched the differences? I saw a Nook in person today and found it interesting. I have yet to see a Kindle, but have read some about it. Anyone have either of these?