Kindle vs Nook - Added a poll

[gometros]

That is correct Sandy. Kindle cannot borrow library books. You can only buy books for the Kindle.

Thanks. Second question. Can a Nook buy from Amazon or is it restricted to Barnes&Noble books? I'm torn, because I like the library angle, but I predominantly shop on Amazon.

 

[sharbear]

UPDATE to my nook v kindle debate. My H called his brother last night to ask him if their father could share his kindle account with him. My BIL was actually very excited about this, he did not know that you could share books and he and his dad read a lot of the same things.

But, sigh! My BIL said that he and his wife also were thinking about getting my FIL an e reader, could we all get together and buy my FIL a Kindle DX (the bigger kindle, I think the screen is 9.7")? My BIL has the Kindle DX and it is nicer if you want to download magazines and technical manuals on it.

But (although I knew this was going to happen when we got my BIL involved) neither Best Buy or Target carry the Kindle DX so I had to order it from Amazon and have them overnight it. It cost me 24.00 to overnight it and instead of paying 139 for the kindle I have 209 in the kindle DX! Oh well, I told my H that this was going to by his dad's Christmas present also. My BIL offered to pay whatever extra that we were not prepared to pay but my H said that wasn't fair. Even though his brother makes at least 3 times what my H makes and we have 2 in college but whatever.

Anyways sorry for the TMI about my purchase.

I want to make sure that we do this right. When my FIL registers his kindle (I have already unregistered it from my email account) he does so under my BIL's email address? If you could explain how to register two devices under one account and make it so each can use his own credit card and make that info not available to the other, I would be so appreciative?

Really thanks for this. My BIL buys lots of books and he is very excited to hear that he can share them with his dad.

 

[okeydokey]

How does the new Kindle wireless work? If you pay for the more expensive kindle with the wireless, can you surf the web from your kindle in areas that have wireless access? Thinking of getting my Mom an e-reader for Christmas.

 

[phorsenuf]

I don't have either but I'm leading towards the Kindle, even though the nook has some neat features, like borrowing from the library, but I'm guessing it's something Amazon will catch up with.
In the meantime I downloaded the Kindle for PC to my laptop. I grabbed up a free book, Soul Identity, and I'm reading that now. I can just put the laptop on the coffee table, enlarge the font and then sit back and relax on the couch while reading the book. The mouse can flip the pages.
I then downloaded the application to my Droid, logged into my account and was able to pick up reading on my phone right where I left off on the computer. It was pretty cool.
So for now until I can get a Kindle I will utilize these methods. It's not so bad actually.

 

[cc1013]

UPDATE to my nook v kindle debate. My H called his brother last night to ask him if their father could share his kindle account with him. My BIL was actually very excited about this, he did not know that you could share books and he and his dad read a lot of the same things.

But, sigh! My BIL said that he and his wife also were thinking about getting my FIL an e reader, could we all get together and buy my FIL a Kindle DX (the bigger kindle, I think the screen is 9.7")? My BIL has the Kindle DX and it is nicer if you want to download magazines and technical manuals on it.

But (although I knew this was going to happen when we got my BIL involved) neither Best Buy or Target carry the Kindle DX so I had to order it from Amazon and have them overnight it. It cost me 24.00 to overnight it and instead of paying 139 for the kindle I have 209 in the kindle DX! Oh well, I told my H that this was going to by his dad's Christmas present also. My BIL offered to pay whatever extra that we were not prepared to pay but my H said that wasn't fair. Even though his brother makes at least 3 times what my H makes and we have 2 in college but whatever.

Anyways sorry for the TMI about my purchase.

I want to make sure that we do this right. When my FIL registers his kindle (I have already unregistered it from my email account) he does so under my BIL's email address? If you could explain how to register two devices under one account and make it so each can use his own credit card and make that info not available to the other, I would be so appreciative?

Really thanks for this. My BIL buys lots of books and he is very excited to hear that he can share them with his dad.

I saw a Kindle DX once.....it is gorgeous! Your FIL is one lucky man. With Amazon, you don't have to pay sales tax in many states. So, even though you had to pay additional for shipping, not paying sales tax may have actually put you even between the two.

Now for your questions......

When you receive your FIL's Kindle, you can register is from the actual Kindle to your BIL's account. You will need his e-mail address and Amazon password. I believe the registration process is very intuitive once you get the Kindle.

As for the credit card, unfortunately only one card can be linked to the account for Kindle purchases (Kindle books are considered 'one-click' purchases through Amazon with a one button check out process). The way that we get around this is that my family will buy an Amazon gift card online and then send it to me via e-mail to apply to my account. That way, whatever books are purchased come off of that gift card. If they just purchase one book (say $10) they also might just give me the money when I see them. We keep a running tally of who owes what. Anytime something is purchased (even if it's a free book) I get an e-mail from Amazon with the details. When purchasing books off of the Kindle, you do not have access to the credit card information on file. The only way to get that detail is to actually go into the Amazon account online. If you BIL is concerned, after providing your FIL with is password to register the Kindle, he could always change his Amazon password.

Note that only books can be shared. Magazine/newspapers subscriptions can only be delivered to one Kindle. They would have to purchase those separately.

I would venture to say that your FIL may already have a huge library waiting for him with your BIL's Kindle books, so he may not purchase a ton at first.

Hope this helps!

 

[cc1013]

How does the new Kindle wireless work? If you pay for the more expensive kindle with the wireless, can you surf the web from your kindle in areas that have wireless access? Thinking of getting my Mom an e-reader for Christmas.

Both the $139 and $189 versions have wi-fi ability. The $189 version also has 3G capability (basically cell phone coverage). I know you can surf the web with the 3G and assume you can with the wi-fi version assuming that you are in a place with a wireless network.

Can anyone else say with 100% certainty? I have the older version of the Kindle, which is 3G only (no wi-fi).

 

[sharbear]

cc1013, thank you so much! It's not as easy as I would hope for two people to share an account but I think it's doable.

I don't think my FIL will purchase many books at first since he will have access to my BIL's but I was hoping we could get him magazine subscriptions on his kindle.

So I can't purchase a subscription to Newsweek for instance as a gift to my FIL and if he did, my FIL would have to pay his S the 2.99/month. That kindof stinks. The hope with this gift is that we could give him kindle books for holidays and have them sent to his kindle. I guess I will have to purchase gift certificates for my FIL but have them sent to my BIL's amazon account.

 

[cc1013]

cc1013, thank you so much! It's not as easy as I would hope for two people to share an account but I think it's doable.

I don't think my FIL will purchase many books at first since he will have access to my BIL's but I was hoping we could get him magazine subscriptions on his kindle.

So I can't purchase a subscription to Newsweek for instance as a gift to my FIL and if he did, my FIL would have to pay his S the 2.99/month. That kindof stinks. The hope with this gift is that we could give him kindle books for holidays and have them sent to his kindle. I guess I will have to purchase gift certificates for my FIL but have them sent to my BIL's amazon account.

Yes, unfortunately your only option would be the gift certificates. You could temporarily hook up your credit card to BIL's Amazon account to purchase the books online for your father and have them sent to his Kindle, but that would require you knowing your BIL's Amazon logon information and putting your credit card into his account.

 

[ardig123]

We are considering buying my step daughter a nook for Christmas. Just a question...could two people use the same nook and have their own accounts? I.e. could my stepdaughter log into her nook on her own account and access her books, gift cards, etc...and then when she is not at our house could I log into her nook using my own account, gift cards etc? Just curious because my SD is one of those kids who loves getting presents but ends up not using them to their full potential...so I figure on the days that she is not here I could use it or her sister could share it but I would not want them accidentally using each others giftcards or reading each others books due to the age difference.

Also I am curious...if I have a nook and the nook app on my itouch...can I access my account on either or am I restricted to only one device??

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

We are considering buying my step daughter a nook for Christmas. Just a question...could two people use the same nook and have their own accounts? I.e. could my stepdaughter log into her nook on her own account and access her books, gift cards, etc...and then when she is not at our house could I log into her nook using my own account, gift cards etc? Just curious because my SD is one of those kids who loves getting presents but ends up not using them to their full potential...so I figure on the days that she is not here I could use it or her sister could share it but I would not want them accidentally using each others giftcards or reading each others books due to the age difference.

Also I am curious...if I have a nook and the nook app on my itouch...can I access my account on either or am I restricted to only one device??

My fiance and I do with seperate accounts we just have to switch out who is logged in on the nook.

 

[ardig123]

Is it a pain to log in and out or is it as simple as logging in and out of email? Do you have a password on your account?

 

[ardig123]

oh yeah...and if someday I were to get my own nook would I be able to use my account on a new nook?

 

[Maridw]

Went to Best Buy yesterday to look at the different eReaders. I have to say I really liked the look and feel of the Kindle. Did not like the Sony ereader at all. They did not have the Kobo, I might go to the nearest Borders and see it. We don't have a Barnes & Noble in our town, so that is one benefit that I won't be using if I got a Nook.

Now that I know about the book sharing on the Kindle, I might look into that with my mom. She was thinking about it, but wasn't too thrilled with the prices. Truthfully, I think the prices aren't bad. I purchase hardbacked books sometimes and even with the Books-a-million discount, they are expensive. When I can I get the hardbacks that are on sale or get a paperback.

I will be watching that youtube video later to see what it shows. It looked interesting.

Thanks for all the input. Still deciding.

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Is it a pain to log in and out or is it as simple as logging in and out of email? Do you have a password on your account?

Yeah its like logging in and out of email.
You have a password and such.
What I like is I dont have the nook with me but I can log into the nook acount me and my fiance share and read any of the books on my laptop as long as there is internet so that is very convenient. (He is in California and im in Ottawa, Ontario and we can share the nook via Nook Online!)

 

[Imzadi]

How do I find out if my library has the "right" books for the Nook? I am a voracious reader, without a lot of money, and my library card is my "best friend". I'd like an e-reader for the convenience when I travel (a lot), but would like to be able to check out books. Does that make sense?

What about the selection of books from B&N? I know that Amazon has a lot of free books for the Kindle. Is it the same at B&N?

http://www.overdrive.com/#
Go to this page and put in your zip code and it will return a list of nearby libraries with audiobook/ebook services. If there aren't any libraries that you belong to, there are a few libraries that will let you buy a membership. FLP is a popular one because it is only $15 a year.

http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/6B9146C5-C729-40F4-8C0F-B4F0FE705D62/10/354/en/Default.htm

Just an FYI, this list isn't complete. I typed in our zip code and our library doesn't show up but I know they have ebooks-it says so on their web page even.

You can also just Google your local library system. If they have an online website, they will list if they have ebooks.

If not, (or in addition,) as mentioned, the Philadelphia Library (FLP) has a $15 membership for non-resident members. They have thousands of ebooks in their system. Do a search their and check out the genres you are interested in. $15 is equivalent to ONE or two Kindle eBooks. The more memberships they get and as their eBook "lending" goes up, the more eBooks they will use those memberships to buy with their growing budgets.

My local library, the NYPL library system has approximately 15,000 eBooks I can download for free to the Nook or other non-Kindle eReaders. I know that will grow each year as last year it was about 12,000 eBooks. Most of them are the newest bestsellers. (Sorry, they do not have non-resident memberships for out of state, but anyone living in NY State can get an NYPL membership.)

I was able to get Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol, within a few months of putting myself on the wait list. Had I known he had written the book, I could have put myself on the wait list earlier to get the book in days.

Just doing the math, my choice of eReaders is pretty clear. I haven't been to the physical library in a couple years. ALL the books I get from the library now are eBooks.

You don't need an eReader to test eBooks though. Download Adobe Digital editions to your computer and then you can check-out and download books to your computer.

Well I suppose there is a chance of viruses etc with any software, especially one that require internet access. But in this case it is extremely unlikely.

The Adobe Digital Editions software was developed by the same company that developed the Adobe PDF file format. If you have ever had to download a PDF file, you have been told to make sure you have a PDF reader which can open and read the file. If you don't have it, you are usually directed to ADOBE to download the correct software.

If you are worried about viruses or spyware, go directly to the Adobe website to download the Adobe Digital Editions software. It's totally free. Very simple, small download. Doesn't clog up your computer. Plus, always do a virus check any time you download something to your computer.

While I'm at it, you can also download the "Kindle for PC" software from Amazon for free. It too, is a very small download. Then you can download all the free eBooks, even if you do not have a Kindle and read them off your computer or other device that will read them. This way you can start saving up the free eBooks, even if you do not have a Kindle.

The Adobe software allows for 2 options. You will check a book out for a certain number of days - 7, 14, or 21. Libraries can customize those choices so different libraries will have different time length options there. When that period is up your book will expire and you won't be able to read it anymore.

If you finish your book before it expires you can return it early through the software so the next person on the waiting list can check it out.

Since you can't keep your book past your expiration date, there are never any late fees or anything like that.

Technically, the eBook file is encoded to not open beyond the expiration date. The library's computer will simply log the eBook as "returned." But, you don't have to do anything on or after the expiration date. You DO have to eventually delete the files off your computer as they are useless data clogging up your computer's hard drive. (I put all my library eBooks in a separate folder than my other eBooks that I've acquired, so I know to eventually delete those files.)

 

[Imzadi]

Do you think the Kindle will be capable of allowing users to download e-books from the library in the future?

You have to ask Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon if he will ever allow the downloading of ebooks. So far, he really wants to keep his format totally separate.

In their defense, when I was reading up on it I thought they had a lot of free books to choose from which would probably make it about the same...maybe?

Amazon does list several free ebooks, usually daily, for only a limited time, usually a couple days free. Some eBooks are only free for an hour. Once the promotion is over, they go back to their regular price. So it is not like there is a huge, long archive of quality Kindle free eBooks always available. If you don't get in on the freebie, that's it. Many of Amazon's free eBooks are the public domain classics, like Pride & Prejudice, which are now available in all eReader formats.

Amazon does have their own growing list of independent authors publishing eBooks for free for Kindles. But, the quality varies. It's like you or me writing a book and giving it out for free.

Brand new or recent bestsellers? No they usually aren't offered for a free promotion. (One of the author's previous books may be, to get customers hooked on the author, and to buy the new book.) This is when your local library or the Overdrive system will have the advantage. They DO try to get in the newest bestsellers, depending on their budgets.

 

[jrmasm]

You have to ask Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon if he will ever allow the downloading of ebooks. So far, he really wants to keep his format totally separate.




Amazon does list several free ebooks, usually daily, for only a limited time, usually a couple days free. Some eBooks are only free for an hour. Once the promotion is over, they go back to their regular price. So it is not like there is a huge, long archive of quality Kindle free eBooks always available. If you don't get in on the freebie, that's it. Many of Amazon's free eBooks are the public domain classics, like Pride & Prejudice, which are now available in all eReader formats.

Amazon does have their own growing list of independent authors publishing eBooks for free for Kindles. But, the quality varies. It's like you or me writing a book and giving it out for free.

Brand new or recent bestsellers? No they usually aren't offered for a free promotion. (One of the author's previous books may be, to get customers hooked on the author, and to buy the new book.) This is when your local library or the Overdrive system will have the advantage. They DO try to get in the newest bestsellers, depending on their budgets.

It is a rare day that I can't find something to download for free and there are several genres that I won't even look at. Sure you get some stinkers sometimes but that can happen when you borrow from the library or buy a book. And Outlander which I believe is a print best seller has been free for several weeks.

I have also found a HUGE number of books that I have enjoyed in the .89-2.99 range.

And there are many, many blogs, websites, Facebook pages that will alert you to new free books so you never miss anything.

You can not borrow library books with a Kindle, that is true. From what I have read, that's not likely to change. But let's not pretend they don't have a lot of free and very inexpensive options. That is simply not true.

 

[Buckalew11]

Not all Nook books are lendable either. I think I'm right about that. My Mousejunkies book (by our own Bill Burke!) is a "lendme" book as it says it right next to the title on my library page. Not all of my books have that.

 

[jrmasm]

Not all Nook books are lendable either. I think I'm right about that. My Mousejunkies book (by our own Bill Burke!) is a "lendme" book as it says it right next to the title on my library page. Not all of my books have that.

I read that only 30% of books are lendable. And only once. Might have that wrong.... IMO, if more fully developed, this would be a great feature.

 

[Imzadi]

It is a rare day that I can't find something to download for free and there are several genres that I won't even look at. Sure you get some stinkers sometimes but that can happen when you borrow from the library or buy a book. And Outlander which I believe is a print best seller has been free for several weeks.

I have also found a HUGE number of books that I have enjoyed in the .89-2.99 range.

And there are many, many blogs, websites, Facebook pages that will alert you to new free books so you never miss anything.

You can not borrow library books with a Kindle, that is true. From what I have read, that's not likely to change. But let's not pretend they don't have a lot of free and very inexpensive options. That is simply not true.

I think it is relative. As I stated, just because something is free, doesn't necessarily mean it's something I want to read.

Also, you mentioned Outlander. That book was originally published in 1991. Woowee! Up until Oct 1st, Kindle readers had to wait 19 years for that bestseller to be free. By the way, there have been SEVEN books since. As I also wrote: One of the author's previous books may be, to get customers hooked on the author, and to buy the new[er] books.

So, one reads the free one in the series then has to buy the other ones. Roughly $7 x 8 Kindle eBooks = $56 for ONE series. That's about a third of the way to a Nook eReader.

Instead, one can get the 7 other eBooks free in a library downloads, depending on library selection, plus hundreds others, that probably one WILL read and not just download because they are offered "free."

I'm curious, what other current bestsellers have been free Kindle deals? This one has only been available 2 weeks. Are the other bestsellers still free for upcoming newbie Kindle owners, or did those promotions eventually expire?

While libraries do prune their eBook selections, they most likely keep the most popular and newest eBooks available for quite some time.

<sigh!> What we need is for BOTH eReaders to drop in price significantly to make them desirable & affordable so people can buy BOTH and have the best of both worlds.