digital readers

[Leleluvsdis]

I have looked at both the kindle and the nook, but I'm not sure which I had rather have. I'm having a hard time finding a lot of information on both of them that it clear to understand. Does anyone know if either has wi-fi so I can check email and what not, or it just for downloaded books? I always read a couple different books at the same time depending on my mood, so a digital reader would be a huge space saver for me, and I figure it is alot more green than buying mulitple books, and I figure it will eventually pay off right? Anyone's insight would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[MErnst]

I love my ipad! It's wifi and the ibook app has the best reader I've seen.

 

[pixiewings71]

My Nook has a web browser, I can check my email on it if I have a WiFi connection. I don't use that feature much because I don't need it yet....we have a laptop to use to check our emails when away from home and my last employer did not offer WiFi to the employees.

BTW I love my Nook. I got it for my bday about 3 weeks ago and have read 3 books on it.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I love my ipad! It's wifi and the ibook app has the best reader I've seen.

I hadn't thought about an ipad? I love my ipod. How is it for outside vs in the dark?

My Nook has a web browser, I can check my email on it if I have a WiFi connection. I don't use that feature much because I don't need it yet....we have a laptop to use to check our emails when away from home and my last employer did not offer WiFi to the employees.

BTW I love my Nook. I got it for my bday about 3 weeks ago and have read 3 books on it.

How is the nook for outside or in the dark?

 

[MErnst]

I've never used it outside but loved reading in bed in the dark. You can adjust the brightness. I love it and would highly recommend! Go to an apple store (if you have one nearby) and try it!

 

[pixiewings71]

I haven't used it outside at all, but it has NO backlight on the reading part, only on the small touch screen at the bottom. DBF bought me a really great clip light tho (I was just using it to do some mending actually) so if I'm reading in the dark I just use that.

 

[3boymthr]

I have checked my e-mail on my Nook and while it's a workable program, but it does take some getting used to. You scan and scroll with the touch screen while reading on the one above. I'm sure the iPad functionality for web-access is much better.

To my mind the Nook is definitely a one function gadget, but I'm okay with that I bought it to be a one function gadget, kind of like I bought my iPod to be a one function gadget.

How is the nook for outside or in the dark?

For the nook, outside it is just like reading a regular book. If the light is dim then you will need more light, if it is super bright then you may have a little reflection/glare. As PP noted add a clip on light for @$10 and you can read a Nook in the dark.

I think the iPad is great - if you can afford it. With a desktop already, I couldn't justify the extra cost of the iPad. Believe me I thought about it - it had been announced when I bought my Nook.

I am a reader of paranormal romance and many more books are available from independent booksellers in e-book format than in printed which is why wanted one, figuring I'd stick to regular books for books available thru mainstream book sellers. To my surprise I've found I prefer it over a regular book. I've read about 200 books on my Nook (yeah, I read that much ). I love that I can switch books for one reason or another and then go back to a book and have it open to the page I left off on.

The only thing that I didn't do that I would recommend doing is buying the accidental damage coverage when you purchase. I've not yet damaged it, but I've had a couple of close calls where I fell asleep reading it and woke up with it hanging off the edge of the bed . I did drop it once and my cover saved it (I have a leather cover from Oberon designs best money I ever spent!), but if the cover had been open it would have been toast.

 

[disneymarie]

I just saw another option out there, I think it was Clark Howard talked about today, but the one I saw was on the Today Show for Fathers Day gifts.

Sony, it was advertised for Radio Shack but I saw the site was out...$199, but today I saw them at SAM's Club for $179. There were a lot of app's, internet friendly, web browsing, alarm clock.....
Pretty cool.

 

[quietgirll]

I have the kindle, and LOVE the kindle!! definitely the best purchase i made in years (mine was actually a gift!)...there is no backlight, so you cant read in the dark, but just like a real book,you can attach your book light and keep on going i cant say enough GREAT things about kindle- any questions, ill be glad to try and answer them...

 

[RMAMom]

I use the kindle app on my iphone and really like it. It works very well in well lit areas and in the dark. The only downfall to electronic reading devices is that you have to turn them off on the plane for about 15 minutes at take off and again during landing so you lose about half an hour of reading time during your flight. Other than that I really love it and by using my iphone I don't have to carry two devices.

 

[elgerber]

I have a Kindle and I love it! I may end up with an Ipad eventually, but not for the reader feature. As others have said a Kindle or a Nook you can read just fine outside. In the dark you do have to use a light. An Ipad you can not read outside in the light at all, and there is no way to fix that. You can read if you find a shady enough spot, but in the sun, you won't be able to see it.

 

[Step]

Kobo just came out and I bought it for my uncle, $149 canadian on sale, I think it's $149 in US regular. No internet, just a book reader, but the cheapest one on the market.

 

[Fire Ohana]

Another Kindle-lover here! Received mine at Christmas and LOVE it! And, yes, it does have Wi-Fi. As another posted about their Nook, there is a slight learning curve to it, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy-peasy! Granted, it's slow (no 3G), and isn't as cool as an iPad, but it meets my needs fine - and I can read it outside in the sun, and I plan on using it LOTS on our cruise!

 

[DVCLiz]

Another Kindle-lover here! Received mine at Christmas and LOVE it! And, yes, it does have Wi-Fi. As another posted about their Nook, there is a slight learning curve to it, but once you get the hang of it, it's easy-peasy! Granted, it's slow (no 3G), and isn't as cool as an iPad, but it meets my needs fine - and I can read it outside in the sun, and I plan on using it LOTS on our cruise!

Actually, you have that wrong - the Kindle does NOT have Wi-Fi, and it DOES have 3G. Each of the Kindles listed for sale on the Amazon website state they have 3G wireless and they do not list Wi-Fi as a feature. In fact, they state "no more hunting for a wifi spot" or something to that effect.

I think both the Nook and the Kindle have a clunky browser interface - at least I know the Kindle does. Not many people use it to get email, though.

The iPad is much cooler overall and it's a great ereader at night if you need a backlight AND if you can read without eyestrain on an LCD screen. I find I can read a magazine just fine at night on my iPad, but for any longer reading - ie. a novel - I might want to do I can't tolerate the backlighting without my vision starting to feel fuzzy.

Best of both worlds - get both!! Otherwise, it depends on whether or not the backlight is a feature or a detriment -and that is personal opinion based on how your eyes react.

Of course, cost is a factor as well. I think it boils down to the features you would find most useful and the cost and availability of the books in the various bookstores.

Love my Kindle and love my iPad!

 

[tinkabella627]

I haven't read all the responses so I apologize if I repeat anything. I have a nook and my husband has an iPad. For a reader the nook is better bc it is like reading a regular book. If you take an ipad outside it is just like having a regular computer and there will be a glare. The nook does not have a backlight because reading with a backlight like on a computer gives headaches or strains your eyes. Of course if you get the iPad you can download both kindle and b&n reader apps for free and get books from both. I'll probably dl the kindle app on my husbands iPad just incase there is a better price on a book. But reading on the iPad for a long period of time I probably won't do bc of headaches.

 

[tinkabella627]

Also I wanted to add that whatever you get you should look into square trade warranties and a cover. If you get a nook or kindle there are nookboards and kindleboards. I got a lot of information off there when I was trying to decide on which reader to get. I love my nook and debated between it and a kindle for quite a while.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

Thanks everyone for your responces! We have laptop that is about 5 years old and is getting older so the ipad isn't a bad way to go however, I get frustrated with my laptop b/c i can't use it outside, and i love reading outside and getting my tan onlol

With the nook and kindle is there a big difference in the kind of books you can download? Does one have some that the other doesn't? I guess this is my only set back to getting one or the other.

 

[DVCLiz]

Thanks everyone for your responces! We have laptop that is about 5 years old and is getting older so the ipad isn't a bad way to go however, I get frustrated with my laptop b/c i can't use it outside, and i love reading outside and getting my tan onlol

With the nook and kindle is there a big difference in the kind of books you can download? Does one have some that the other doesn't? I guess this is my only set back to getting one or the other.

First, don't pay any attention to any claims of how many books there are available for either the Nook or the Kindle. They count many public domain "free" books so what you might see as a huge number can be thousands of books you'd never read. Or, one of them might count all those free public dopmain titles while the other doesn't. You see that one bookstore offers 600,000 books and the other 250,000 (I'm making those numbers up but you get the idea) and you think, "Wow! I'm going with 650,000!"

A far better way to choose is to look up the last 20 or so books you have read, or the next 20 or so you'd like to, and see if they are offered and how much they cost. That can sometimes give you a better idea.

But honestly, both B&N and Amazon are going to have most of the popular, newer stuff - unleess the author is a holdout like JK Rowling (and rumor has it even she is coming on board, finally!)

So as much as I love the Kindle and think it is the better device, in the end it doesn't really matter much if the bookstore is the deciding factor. There are small differences between them (wifi or not, text to speech or not, small touch screen element or not) but you should search for the books you want and see if you can tell a difference.

I do think Amazon does now and will always have far better customer service for this product.

 

[luvmy3]

Target is now selling the Kindle so you can go and check it out, and then go to B&N and check out The Nook. I found the Kindle to be too big because of the added keyboard, but I'm used to my Sony pocket (which I love). When I upgrade, it will be to the Nook.

 

[nomolos]

what types of files do the nook and kindle read? i have thought about getting one for reading but would also like to be able to put my notes on it so i can use it to study?i can convert to pdf but does either of them read onenote files from MS Office?