Kindle, iPad or Nook ?

[sluggozmom]

I got about $600 for my birthday, and while it is burning a hole in my pocket, I don't want to be wasteful. I have an iPhone and I love it. I have the kindle app and enjoy it, although it is pretty small. I have a laptop on the counter and a 10" netbook. Id like to do more reading and I cant decide if the weight of the iPad will be cumbersome.
Anyone have one or more?
What would you choose ?

 

[QVCshopper]

I would go with the iPad. It's AMAZING!!! Honestly, I can't say enough about it. We also have a Nook 3G wifi, which we bought in Nov. for my DH's b-day when they were $99. Then, I won an iPad 16GB wifi at the end of Dec. There really isn't any comparison. I also loaded the Nook apps and can read books on the iPad, as well as all of my pictures, music, etc. I don't find it cumbersome at all... I think a new version is coming out soon if you want to wait, though.

 

[Minnie]

Kindle, Mac, iTouch, android smartphone, & now an iPad in our home.

I love them all for different reasons. The iPad is a new fun toy that does so many things BUT even though you can darken the screen it is backlit and the Kindle is far easier on the eyes and the battery life is so far apart it's not even comparable.

With all your other options I'd go with the Kindle - it's made specifically for reading and it does an amazing job!

Download the free Kindle app to your net book and try out a book. The screen on the iPad will be very similar. If I'm multiple tasking I use the iPad but if I want to read and thats a favorite hobby then it's the Kindle

 

[momrek06]

I would go with the iPad. It's AMAZING!!! Honestly, I can't say enough about it. We also have a Nook 3G wifi, which we bought in Nov. for my DH's b-day when they were $99. Then, I won an iPad 16GB wifi at the end of Dec. There really isn't any comparison. I also loaded the Nook apps and can read books on the iPad, as well as all of my pictures, music, etc. I don't find it cumbersome at all... I think a new version is coming out soon if you want to wait, though.

ITA! I am on my Ipad right now typing this! I LOVE it! DH bought it for me back in early June! I did not ask him too, he just thought I would like it! Well, I am not good with techie items so it stayed in the box for a week until DH started using it. Then I started playing around with it and since July, I can say easily I have not put it down. I have the middle model.

When the newest version comes out, we are getting for it DH!

 

[Kycha]

Okay...I love, love, love my Nook. But if I had the money to buy an iPad, I would totally get it.

 

[TLuvsD]

I'd get the Nook. I have a laptop, love it. Might get a netbook, but for reading, the Nook is awesome! I have downloaded a LOT of books for free from BN and some libraries, it fits in my purse, great battery life. It really depends on what you want the device to do.

 

[lilstint]

DD bought me the Nook Color for Christmas and I absolutely LOVE it. It's so awesome. I can't put the thing down!

 

[jrmasm]

I voted Kindle because that's what I have but a regular non color Nook would probably be just as good.

I cannot read on a backlit screen for any length of time so I would not buy an Ipad if I wanted to read more.

 

[poegirl30]

Kindle for reading! I have a laptop and iTouch, so not really interested in an iPad just yet. Also, my Kindle is kinder to my eyes, so I am able to read more without eye strain.

 

[SoonerSarah]

I'm supposed to be getting an Ipad as a Christmas/Birthday present, so I can answer in a few weeks. I don't have a smart phone or anything that plays MP3's and our laptop is huge. I'm wanting it for books, pictures and music. Probably put Toy Story 3 on there as well.

 

[MrsPete]

I have both a Kindle and an iPad. When I opened the iPad at Christmas, initially I thought I'd transfer over my 400 or so books from Kindle and have everything in one place. I thought I'd add the Nook ap and have LOTS of books on my iPad.

Now that I've had the iPad a couple weeks, I've decided to continue to use the Kindle for my main reading. I'm not transferring books over, and I'm still downloading books to my Kindle as a first-choice. Why? Because the Kindle is much, much lighter -- and that matters when you're holding it for an hour at a time. Also, the Kindle's battery life is so much longer; my Kindle (with heavy use) lasts a good 2-2.5 weeks between charges, whereas my iPad needs charging every 2-3 days. And then there's the superior screen; Kindle has the best screen on the market hands-down; given that I can read for 3-4 hours at a sitting, that matters to my eyes.

I downloaded the Nook feature to my iPad, thinking I'd use it for any books that are free for that format -- while still using the Kindle as my main reading source. Although I haven't spent a large amount of time perusing their offerings, it seems that the free books are pretty much identical on the two formats. And the few books I've compared in price seem to be identical. So no gain or loss there. At some point, something great'll be available on Nook . . . and then I'll use this feature, but it's just easier to have the majority of my books in one place.

Of the three choices presented, the Nook is the one I'd choose LAST. Admittedly, my opinion is biased in favor of the Kindle because I've been with Kindle since it was the only game in town. Nook costs more, though Consumer Reports ranks Kindle as a better option.

Now, don't get me wrong -- I LOVE my new iPad. It's great for sitting on the sofa watching TV and checking my email or the weather at the same time. I think it's super-cool that I can download movies. But it isn't the best for reading books. And it's much better for reading than for typing.

Given that you already have a laptop and a netbook, I don't see that the iPad will bring a great deal of new abilities to your life. Go for the Kindle. Choose it for the screen quality, the light weight, and the battery life. It will compliment the items you already have, and it won't eat up your whole $600.

In closing, I like my iPad. I really do.
But I LOVE my Kindle, even after 2.5 years together.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I agree with the above- Kindle is best for those who do a lot of reading. I have both and I use the Kindle to read. iPad is for the rest.

 

[RitaE]

I agree with the others. I can't read for long periods of time on the iPAD because I struggle with eye strain. I do use our iPADS heavily for internet surfing, watching movies (netflix) and playing games. My son uses his iPAD pretty much as his computer. He has the keyboard dock and he types his papers on it etc.

Comparing the nook vs the Kindle I prefer the Kindle but they are so similar that I don't think you'd make a bad choice with either one. Also, if you learn how to remove the DRM and manage your books with Calibre - you can shop anywhere for any device so bookstore availability and price don't mean much to me. When I'm ready to buy a book I find out where it is cheapest and then put it in my Calibre database. But when I read before bed every night it is on the eINK Kindle with the lighted cover.

The nook color is a pretty decent Android tablet once you root it and costs much less than the iPAD. In fact, you could pretty much buy the nook Color and an eInk reader for about the price of the iPAD. If I was a heavy magazine reader I'd consider doing that.

 

[DWCricket]

agree with MrsPete, for reading purpose get the Kindle. I work at a computer all day and the last thing I want is another backlit screen, never have that feel with the Kindle at all. Perfect size, perfect weight, reads like a book. perfect!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

The best reading experience is Kindle, hands down. The best multi-function is iPad. We just got word that our department will be getting Kindle DX's for mass document distribution - eliminating the need to be near a computer to receive timely updates to current matters.

 

[Ava]

I wanted to buy an e-reader for DP for Christmas and decided on the Nook for one main reason - you can read library books on a Nook, but not on a Kindle. We very rarely buy books and are big library users, so being able to get library books on the e-reader was a must for me.

An iPad wasn't in my budget, so I can't comment there.

 

[Kathi OD]

If you're going to use it mainly for reading, then I'd get a Kindle or Nook and base my decision on which one depending on if you want to borrow books from the library or not. Library=nook, no library=kindle.

 

[Desnik]

I have an iPad and a kindle and I love them both!!
WE are huge Apple fans and have just about every Apple product there is! So, when they came out with the iPad we had to have it too!

I love my iPad for going online, checking email, having my music and photos on it and the tons of cool apps. There is just so much you can do with it. If you do want to get one, wait until April when the iPad with the built in camera comes out!

I used my iPad for reading for a long time and swore I didn't need an ereader. I had the Kindle app, the Nook app, the Borders app and iBooks. I used them all and loved it. Yes the iPad is a bit heavy after awhile of reading. The biggest downfall of using it as an ereader is that you cannot use it outside! I tried using it in the sun and you can't see a thing.

So, I finally got the latest generation Kindle and I love it! It is so easy to use, lightweight and easy to read. I wear glasses and being on anything backlit like the computer or iPad, for too long and my eyes start to hurt. Not on the Kindle!

So personally I would say get both!. But, since you have a net book, and laptop I think you should get an ereader. My personal favorite is the Kindle over the Nook.

 

[sluggozmom]

Thank you EVERYONE for all your thorough responses.
They truly influenced my decision.
I've decided to wait(and save) for the newer version of the iPad and went with the Kindle.
I have the overdrive app for library books on my phone, and right now the library selection wasn't enough to sway me towards the nook.
In true budget board form, I searched out all purchasing options and snagged a $30 off $150 Staples coupon on ebay. I ended up paying $162.49 (after the coupon cost)for the 3g 6", AND I already have it!

 

[luvthemouse71]

Just thought I'd mention, many of the libraries have many ebooks on wait lists. They aren't always available right away. You can strip DRM from ePub books and then convert them to a Kindle friendly form. And there are places to get books for Kindle besides Amazon too.Smashwords is good and Baen( science fiction). Plentyof free Kindle books as well.