kindle/nook

[findmewdw]

I have been contemplating a purchase of kindle or nook. I went to Best Buy and played with both today. The salesman that I spoke with was very nice, but wasn't certain on some features. Since I have read many posts about these e-readers, I thought I'd ask the experts out there two questions.

1. Will I be able to check email, go to facebook, google, etc., on Kindle 3G? The salesman said I could with Nook, but not with Kindle. I thought I had read that I would be able to do this.

2. Will I be able to read outside on the Nook Color? I don't think so, which is why I'm leaning towards the Kindle or Nook black/white.

Just want to verify. I had originally decided on Nook because I borrow from library. Now that Kindle will be compatible with my library in a few months or so, I'm leaning towards the Kindle.

THANKS for your time!

 

[rhonda_2003]

Love my Kindle 3G! I still don't know everything it can do and I have had it since Christmas. It does have Internet Explorer on it and I have a friend that posts to her FB from it, just because she can. I haven't tried to. You can definitely read outside on a Kindle. No problems at all from the sun. I take mine to the lake with me, just slip it into a ziplock baggie first to protect it-LOL!

Enjoy whichever you choose.

 

[amoggio816]

You can also get kindle from amazon. I have the kindle app on my iphone and love it.

 

[Cindy B]

I have a non color Nook. I love it. I'm a teacher and my very reluctant reading students love it. I've debated on a color Nook, but I haven't found a need for one just yet

The library feature is great and I have found so many free books.

I read outside on my Nook often. I have also found the service at B&N top notch.

 

[blessedby3]

I was thinking about getting one of these for dd21 for Christmas. She loves to read and they look so cool. How much do the books cost that you buy for these, and are there other places to get free books? How many books will one hold?

 

[Cindy B]

I have over 300 books on my Nook, and I only paid for one of them. I have more than enough room for more.

I found a thread on th B&N discussion board that lists all free books titled Free Promo Nookbook summary, No OT... and it is wonderful with a daily and weekly summary and a page that lists which books came on and off the list.

There are lots of blogs and websites out there that also list free books, but this B&N thread has the authors of those blogs and websites come there and post, so it really is one stop shopping.

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

yeah, your salesman was a bit crazy I don't know anything about a nook, I have a Kindle, but you can check email, facebook, whatever on the kindle. It's extremely S-L-O-W since that's not what it's made to do, but it is doable. I love my Kindle, love being able to store my personal documents on it, all the free books I have gotten, no glare outside. Like I said I can't compare them, but love the kindle!

 

[Cindy B]

I can go on the web with the Nook as well, but it isn't ideal (since it wasn't designed for that). Since I bring it in to work, I don't add anything additonal like pictures or MP3 files.., for me once I start doing that, it becomes more of a toy for my studnets instead of an ereader.

 

[RachaelA]

There is a new nook coming out in June. Get that one! It looks awesome!

 

[LisaNJ25]

I have a nook color and love it Besides reading books I can easily check email, use facebook and even post on the Dis board. I can read outside with it also.

My favorite feature:

 

[RitaE]

you can access the internet on the Kindle - but it is a very slow and clunky browser. Check email, see webpages all that stuff.

you can access the internet on the current nook (Which is now being called Nook - First Edition). It is the one with the eInk screen with the small lcd screen on the bottom. It is also has a basic web browser that is slow and clunky like the Kindle. Check email, see webpages all that stuff.

I'm guessing that the reason the sales person said the Kindle (and Nook First Edition) can't do these things is it is so very slow and cumbersome to do it on these devices.

It sounds like you were looking at the Nook Color which is a more tablet like experience. You can browse the internet, check email, read books etc etc. However it is an LCD screen which makes it difficult to read outdoors.

To further complicate the matter, there is a new Nook available for Pre-order right now called the Nook Simple Touch Reader . I haven't seen one but from what I understand it doesn't have a web browser and is only available in WiFi (no 3G option).

All of these devices hold thousands of books. Don't worry about that.

 

[bicker]

I have been contemplating a purchase of kindle or nook.

Buy the Kindle. It has a better user-interface and a better device from a technical (read: reliability) standpoint.

1. Will I be able to check email, go to facebook, google, etc., on Kindle 3G? The salesman said I could with Nook, but not with Kindle. I thought I had read that I would be able to do this.

First: Be very careful when you say "Nook". From the rest of your message, you're comparing the Kindle 3G to the Nook Color. Don't. They're not comparable devices. The Kindle is an e-reader. It uses e-ink technology, which is far superior on the eyes for the vast majority of readers. Regular Nooks also use e-ink technology. The Nook Color doesn't. It uses a more traditional screen technology, which causes significantly more eye-strain for most readers. I see the Nook Color as a toy, quite frankly, though I know fans of the Nook Color would disagree. It's really trying to be a little bit e-reader and a little bit tablet PC (i.e., competing against both the Kindle 3G and the iPad) and therefore doesn't do either thing as well as the competitors.

Second, while you can surf the web on the Kindle 3G, it isn't really a fantastic experience. It's good in a pinch, but if I need to do any of those things on the go I use my 3G smartphone. It is really made for that.

2. Will I be able to read outside on the Nook Color? I don't think so, which is why I'm leaning towards the Kindle or Nook black/white.

Your instinct is good.

Just want to verify. I had originally decided on Nook because I borrow from library. Now that Kindle will be compatible with my library in a few months or so, I'm leaning towards the Kindle.

Again, your instinct is good.

 

[findmewdw]

Thank you for your help. I'm glad I will be able to use the Kindle for simple web, email, etc. I won't use it often, but it would be a nice feature to have at times. When the salesman told me that I could only use Nook Color for browsing, I thought he was incorrect. Again, I've been reading all the posts here for a while. Dis Board members have so many experts! I liked the feel of the Kindle and it did resemble a book page more so than the Nook. Again, thanks for your help.

 

[TJA]

I have a kindle 3G and LOVE it. Have downloaded over 100 books -- all free. Amazon actually lists the Top 100 free kindle ebooks, or there are lots of other sites out there that also list the free kindle ebooks too. Before I purchased the kindle 3G, I was asking the same questions as you are....I was thinking I'd want to access the web and email from my kindle. However, since getting the kindle, I did play around with the web for a bit, but that excitement wore out and now I use the kindle just for reading as that is what it's really intended for. I have since purchased an Iphone and use that for my web and email features when I need to, but in reality I don't really need to very often.....

 

[EKW]

I have a non color Nook. I love it. I'm a teacher and my very reluctant reading students love it. I've debated on a color Nook, but I haven't found a need for one just yet

The library feature is great and I have found so many free books.

I read outside on my Nook often. I have also found the service at B&N top notch.

Have you seen the research on how the brain processes readers vs. book? I think it was from DANA. Very interesting. It seems completely different sections of the brain activate when using electronic media. They didn't have a conclusion...so I've wondered, for example, if skills built via readers would transfer to books. It's also made me question the validity of online reading tests such as the Galileo.

 

[Cindy B]

Have you seen the research on how the brain processes readers vs. book? I think it was from DANA. Very interesting. It seems completely different sections of the brain activate when using electronic media. They didn't have a conclusion...so I've wondered, for example, if skills built via readers would transfer to books. It's also made me question the validity of online reading tests such as the Galileo.

No I haven't seen the research. That gives me something to think about. I do know for my students, that they are using some skills that they would not normally do.

If they see a word they are unfamiliar with, they will use the Nook's look up feature and look up the word. In a "traditional" setting, they would never do that.

I work in a district with very low literacy rates -inner city high poverty district, and anything that promotes literacy I am for. I teach a 35 minute independent reading block (among other classes) and there has been such clamoring for this Nook. They crave technology and something new. I had to create a sign up sheet because they were basically getting into fist fights for this new technology...

I had a conversation with one student the other day.. I told her that once she finished the online sample she could go to the library for the actual book and finish the book over the summer. This student told me that she had never been to the library (she's 13!) and that she would go. This is a HUGE deal for my tough-as-nails-students.

I have many challenges every day, and that conversation a few days ago made me smile.

I

 

[pezheadmeg]

I'm going back and forth on the same question. Personally I think for me it's going to end up coming down to cost.

The one thing I'm certain of is 3G versus the wifi. I just like that for when I'm traveling to a wifi less area.