NOOK Color or Kindle

[cats mom]

So have we confused you even more with all our varied opinions?

I just noticed in your OP that you're interested in magazines. That being the case, I don't think you're going to be happy with Nook, Nook Simple Touch, or Kindle. You'll want to take a look at Nook Color.

As much as I love my Kindle, it's a dedicated e-reader with a black and white display. Not a good choice for magazines, colorfully illustrated books, etc. (although I would argue that no small screen device is going to do justice to books where illustrations are a major focus.)

But IMO while compaing Nook or Nook Simple Touch to Kindle makes sense, adding Nook Color to the mix changes things.

Personally I wouldn't spend $250 on a reader, and if I were looking for a tablet I would want more than the Nook Color offers. But that's just me.

Good Luck with your decision.

 

[lucky1]

I've had a Kindle Wifi/3G for 2 years now. It has been the best gift that dh has given me EVER!

As for Wifi/3G. There is no way that I would ever NOT get the 3G unless I was purchasing for a child (where I wouldn't want them to download on the go). For $50 extra you receive LIFETIME 3G access. Yes free wireless is available in many places but once you get out of a major metropolitan area you may not have as many chances.

This is my thought exactly. I think $50 extra for 3G access and free server is a wonderful feature and what I would recommend to anyone getting a Kindle. There has been a number of times when I can not get WiFi access and it was great to have the 3G option, not that often used, but I think of it like Insurance. No on our iPad, which the 3G access cost extra and then you also need to pay for a monthly service, we elected for WiFi only.

 

[redandblue]

I have a kindle and love it. It is just like reading a book. I stare at a computer screen all day I don't want to stare at acomputer screen when reading a book. Kindle doesn't have any glare, the ink is almost exactly like reading the ink on a book.

If I was going to spend the money for a Nook I would just wait and by a tablet on sale like samsung or something.

 

[jrmasm]

Love my Nook Color. My Father has the Kindle and has a harder time finding free books. There are thousands for the Nook. Just type in 0.00 in the search feature while shopping on the Nook and they will come up. I also have a blog that I check almost daily for updates on free and special price deals. I have over 90 books right now and have only paid for maybe 15 of those.

When reading outside I use the nighttime screen and it works great for me. But you can play around for the setting that is best for you.

The battery life does not bother me. I keep the charger next to the bed and charge at night when sleeping whenever needed. Only once have I had a problem where I had forgotten to charge it.

The only downside is it is much heavier than the Kindle. I also think that once you are used to either the Kindle or the nook it would be hard to change.

The Kindle has buttons. May need reading glasses for them because they are small. My Father has a very hard time with the buttons. His fingers are too large and he cannot read the buttons. Though I bet my Dad would have problems with the touch screen of the Nook as well. I agree with the suggestion of going to Best Buy where they have both and compare what works best for you.

I just searched Amazon and my search yielded 7,544 free books.

OP, I have a Kindle and love it more than most of my family members. But as much as I love it, I wouldn't touch a Color Kindle if there was one available. I have zero interest in reading on a backlit screen.

As someone else suggested, take a trip to Best Buy or Target and play with both. That will give you a better idea of what will work for you.

 

[mrseace711]

I drooled over the Kindle for years when it was in the $300 and up range... Then along came the Nook ... I picked the Nook because I love sitting in a Barnes and Nobles on a winter day with my Starbucks reading a book, you can read any book free up to 4 hours in the B&N! The battery life was longer, OH my hubby bought me the original because after I played with the color I really did not like it the batter life sucked and I just wanted to read not play games ect. I really like the sleekness of my Nook as well as the e-ink screen. In my own opinion I didnt think the added cost of the wi-fi was worth it, I have wi-fi at home and can use AT&T hotspots all over but really I keep a few books at a time on my Nook if I want to switch while away from wi-fi I can. This past winter was great with my Nook I didnt have to leave the house to get a new book when I finished the one I was reading which was great for a book nerd like me The Kindle I do not have issues with I guess I just liked the look of the Nook better

 

[mrseace711]

Oh after reading the post above let me add the free books which there is thousands literally!! Every Friday theres a new Free Book!! You can check on the B & N's website go to Nook books and type in Free!! Lots of classics are free as well!! I <3 Free.... I thought the library for Nook was larger than Kindle.

Color Nook = Backlite = very achy eyes

E-Ink is pretty great easier on the eyes.

 

[sissy_ib]

Oh after reading the post above let me add the free books which there is thousands literally!! Every Friday theres a new Free Book!! You can check on the B & N's website go to Nook books and type in Free!! Lots of classics are free as well!! I <3 Free.... I thought the library for Nook was larger than Kindle.

Color Nook = Backlite = very achy eyes

E-Ink is pretty great easier on the eyes.

I have no problems at all with my eyes getting tired from reading on the back lit screan. I look at a computer screan all day so maybe my eyes are used to it, I find it very easy to read. I like that I don't need to turn on a light in the house or while on a plane. I never read outside so glare has never been a problem for me. I do have a few apps on it but I use it more for reading. I love the touch screen. I have looked at the Kindle and I really don't like it. It seems more complicated. IDK. Plus I love havinf my magazine subscriptions on the NC. I agree with going to Best Buy and looking at them side by side.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

The reason B&N say they have more books is because they include the number of public domain books in their numbers. Amazon has the same public domain books they just don't include them in their marketing numbers.

 

[reggiemcp]

Hi All

Thanks for all the feedback. I did not mention that I have been able to play with the Kindle because several friends and my sis have one. That being said I am cheap and do not want to pay that much for a Nook, I think I just got caught up in the hype it being newer and all. I have decided to get myself a Kindle 3G, I think it suita my needs just fine. Amazon has it for $164. Do I need any extra accessories with it? I was thinking that I just need a cover.
I did browse all the books available and was quite impressed with the selection.


Again, thanks for the help. I knew my Dis friends would come through like they always do.

Happy Reading!

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

Hi All

Thanks for all the feedback. I did not mention that I have been able to play with the Kindle because several friends and my sis have one. That being said I am cheap and do not want to pay that much for a Nook, I think I just got caught up in the hype it being newer and all. I have decided to get myself a Kindle 3G, I think it suita my needs just fine. Amazon has it for $164. Do I need any extra accessories with it? I was thinking that I just need a cover.
I did browse all the books available and was quite impressed with the selection.


Again, thanks for the help. I knew my Dis friends would come through like they always do.

Happy Reading!

If you are getting the $164 one you are getting the Special Offers. One of the special offers I was able to use was 50% off a lighted Kindle cover. I don't know if they are planning on doing that offer again but a lot of the original offers are being repeated lately so there is a good chance they will repeat that one as well.

I have skins on all of our Kindles, I use Decalgirl.com and though it costs a little more I love their matte finish.

As for other accessories I would suggest going to kindleboards.com and checking out their accessories forum. Though I will warn you, you will find so many things you "just got to have" and they are huge inablers

 

[luvthemouse71]

I have both...The Kindle has e-ink which means it's easier to read in sunlight, so if you're someone who reads outside, that may be a factor. The Kindle is cheaper and has fantastic customer service support.

The Nook Color has an LCD screen-so while it is great to read in low/no light, you'll have glare issues when outside.

Both have web browsers, although the Kindle's is very basic. The Nook Color has a great web browser,games,email and video. Also fantastic for magazines and newspapers. You can get email and games on the Kindle but it does not have a color screen.

Ultimately, it depends on what kind of reader you are. If you want an ereader for reading primarily, than I'd go with the Kindle. Some people find all the bells and whistles on the Nook Color to be a distraction. Nook also has an e-ink reader too, which is supposed to be a nice device(Nook Simple Touch) and it is also cheaper than the Color(by $110).

Some people will tell you that you are tied to Amazon with the Kindle-not so. Kindle will support epub later this year(and library books) and there are options to convert books. Both stores, Amazon and Barnes and Noble, use DRM..there are options to deal with that too(PM me if you want to know more).

 

[nowellsl]

Don't buy a cover or a skin until you've had your kindle with special offers because you will get offers for both. I got something like $15 or $20 off the skin I ordered. I've gotten some awesome special offers!! I also bought a cover on Amazon, but not the special offer one. I got this one www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004E8WZXY. Can't beat it for the price! I love the 3G, I can order a book from anywhere! You made a good choice!

 

[scard192]

I have the $114 Kindle with special offers. One of the special offers was for a $100 Amazon gift card if I applied and got an Amazon credit card which I did. Love that $100 gift card.

Overstock.com has some lower priced covers, I am happy with mine.

 

[taaren]

I have a regular Nook with e-ink and love it. I put my documents on it without having to e-mail anybody, can load in library books, which is important to me since I didn't want to buy all the books I read on it!
If you want a color e-reader, wait a few years IMHO. They're developing color e-ink technology in Korea right now, so unless you can get one of those puppies (I'm going to ask my brother's gf to see if she can snag me one next time she goes home to Korea) you're stuck with an LCD display which is inferior technology for the purpose of reading ... though the Android games somebody mentioned does sound cool.
Don't own a Kindle but the basic issues are similar (except last time I checked most versions you couldn't put non-Amazon material on your Kindle). E-ink vs LCD is up to you ...

 

[Cinderella_68]

Nook Color reader here and I can't remember what I did without it! I usually have three or four books I'm reading at the same time, now, which is great, depending on my mood. There are tons of free books, plus Free Fridays which is a blog by BN.com that posts a new book or two for download each week. Plus, everyone once in a while, there are a ton of books. A few months ago, downloaded Kaplan books, for everything from CCRN to SAT, plus some other non-exam books. I read my Nook color outside by our pool. I have the glare free screen protector and it works fine. Love the games, surfing the internet, apps, etc. I had been contemplating an iPad, but went with the Nook color due to size mostly, and price. Their app store is growing and I can't wait to see what else comes out. Absolutely love having a huge library of books that take up no space in my house! My old Nook is being used by my kids, love that they are reading more!

 

[bicker]

last time I checked most versions you couldn't put non-Amazon material on your Kindle

That's not the case. I regularly put non-Amazon material on my Kindle.

 

[Minniemouse07]

I just loaded the electric version of the latest edition of the PassPorter cruise guide to my Kindle.

It is a PDF so it was easy to put it on the Kindle... I love that all that info will be at my fingertips during our trip!

 

[bicker]

I've started just emailing files to the email account they give you on free.kindle.com ... makes it even easier.

 

[jenrose66]

I love my kindle! I never thought I'd give up paper books either but after reading my first full novel, I was a believer. I have the cheaper kindle, I think it was like $140 and now they sell it with the adverts cheaper...

Anyway the reason I went with kindle is because I love Amazon. They are easy to use and convenient and reasonably priced with an excellent selection.

To me having a color screen isn't important and I'm just not a huge Barnes and Noble fan.