Please help! Kindle or Nook?

[maggiew]

Thanks JS for asking those questions, I haven't bought any ereader yet due to the fact that I Hate reading on a computer due to the fact of reading against a bright screen. Could someone explain the backlighting thing PLEASE.

Thanks, Lori

Someone might be able to come and give a better answer, but here is my attempt.

You know on your computer screen how the white is very white and bright? That is backlighting.

On the Nook (or Kindle) the screen is not bright white like that. It is more gray-ish...think the color of a paperback paper. The screen is not bright at all. But you can see the letters. It looks to me like a regular paperback page.

I stopped at the Barnes and Noble in the mall to check out the Nook. The difference is very apparent on the Nook because the reading screen is the eInk technology (not backlit), but the little menu screen on the bottom is backlit. If you have a Barnes and Noble near year, stop by and check it out.

Maggie

 

[Suz725]

OP...If your main concern is library loans then you need the Nook..the Kindle doesn't allow library books...

 

[bellebud]

Update - I came back to add that I just found information that indicates the pedophile book was a self-published work and that Amazon's site was the instrument used to publish it. IF this is true, I can better understand why Amazon might have felt that it would be censorship to pull it. I suppose this is new territory - when in the past have authors had the ability to publish their works and make them available to the public without them having to pass thru the hands (literally) of a publisher and team of editors?

glad you posted this... I was going to ask if anyone knew the publisher, because I would also boycott that organization as well.

 

[JaymeC]

Thank you for this thread. I have three questions:


1. What exactly does backlit mean? Does it mean the page is lit so you can read? If so, why do a lot of you not like the backlight?

2. If I had either the Nook or Kindle in any wireless location, can I just download a book or do I have to "plug" into an actual computer?

3. How do you pay for the books? Do you put a preset amount of money on your Nook/Kindle?

Thank you all very much.

Backlit means that there's a light behind the screen basically. Or that you have a screen that glows. The reason people don't like backlighting is because it can tire your eyes because there's always tiny changes that make it a bit more of a strain for your eyes to look at. If you've ever worked on the computer for many hours, you know what that feels like. The e-ink screens are much more paper like, without the backlighting. They really are SO much nicer to read on.

If you have the wifi you need to be in a wifi hot spot. With the kindle 3G you're covered wherever there's cell coverage, and in many other countries besides the US (used to live mine when we were living in Japan!). The nook works only in the US (or is it the US and Canada?) but yes, same thing with the 3G

I don't know how do you do it with the nook. With the kindle you register your credit card to your account, and you shop right on the kindle screen or you can shop on Amazon.com and have it sent to your kindle. If you want to budget you can also buy a giftcard and apply that to your account so that the funds come from there instead of from the credit card. Also, not sure how it works with the nook, but with Amazon you can have up to 6 kindles on the same account. So theoretically you and your husband or sister or another avid reader you know could share an account so long as you work out the bill

 

[Greyhound22]

Thanks for all of the great info. My question is about the free library ebooks work. I understand that with the Nook you can download books from the library, but how exactly does that work. We live in a small town. Would I be able to do this from a small-town library. If not, would this feature matter to me? Thanks in advance.

 

[LoriKutchey]

Thanks Maggie for the explanation. Next time I'm at the Mall I will check it out.

 

[ILoveDisney&Cruising]

My question is about the free library ebooks work. I understand that with the Nook you can download books from the library, but how exactly does that work.

I would like to know this, too

 

[DVCLiz]

Thanks for all of the great info. My question is about the free library ebooks work. I understand that with the Nook you can download books from the library, but how exactly does that work. We live in a small town. Would I be able to do this from a small-town library. If not, would this feature matter to me? Thanks in advance.

I would like to know this, too

The bottom line is that you have to be able to receive services from a library that offers ebooks, and you have to have books that interest you and are available. If your library doesn't offer ebooks, then there are a couple of national libraries that do - I think the Philadelphia library allows you to join for a membership fee each year (maybe $15?) Then you can access their ebook library.

I think if you have a state library sytem or a local library that offers a good selection it would be a feature worth having. You have to be willing to play by the rules, though - you get the book when it is your turn and you "turn it in" when the loan period is up. If you can work within those confines a library ebook collection will be a great resource for you. If you can't or won't (like me!!) then it's a useless feature.

Apple just decided to allow an app from a third party to read EPUB so if you have an iPad you will be able to use it to check out library ebooks.

Personally, I am a Kindle fan and have several of their readers for my family. I am sold on their great customer service and their reputation as the market leader.

 

[kinntj]

I just got the Nook and so far I love it! The main reason I chose it was for the library option. Our small town doesn't offer it, but the nearby city library does. My husband works in the city, so we can get membership for free.

Plus the price was just right and way less than the Kindle, so I went with it.

 

[DVCLiz]

I just got the Nook and so far I love it! The main reason I chose it was for the library option. Our small town doesn't offer it, but the nearby city library does. My husband works in the city, so we can get membership for free.

Plus the price was just right and way less than the Kindle, so I went with it.

Did you get a refurbished Nook that I recently saw on another thread?

The "usual" prices of the wifi only Nook and Kindle are only ten dollars apart - Kindle is $139 and Nook is $149, so unless you found a deal or a sale the Kindle is cheaper than the Nook.

 

[jjan]

The Nook with wi-fi is going to be $99 at Best Buy on Black Friday which means that this will be very easy to price match it at Walmart, etc.

 

[Mermaid02]

bought my husband a kindle for Christmas- I went back and forth as to whether or not to get the 3g for the extra $50. I finally decided not to- as we have wireless here at home already. Now I am second guessing myself again. ((((((sigh))))))

 

[kinntj]

bought my husband a kindle for Christmas- I went back and forth as to whether or not to get the 3g for the extra $50. I finally decided not to- as we have wireless here at home already. Now I am second guessing myself again. ((((((sigh))))))

I was going to go with the wi-fi only, but sometimes we have trouble connecting due to password problems or some other glitch. So glad we went to 3G so I can connect at any time.

 

[DVCLiz]

The Nook with wi-fi is going to be $99 at Best Buy on Black Friday which means that this will be very easy to price match it at Walmart, etc.

Yes, but you said you already had a Nook and that the price was "way less" than the Kindle so I was curious if you had ordered the refurbished one I saw a thread about or if you had found another deal.

Black Friday and other deals aside, the usual price of the Nook and the Kindle wifi only is comparable - and in fact, Kindle is less. Your post made it sound as though the Nook you bought was brand new and much cheaper than the comparable brand new Kindle, and that's not accurate.

Oops, sorry I see I have my posters confused. I see that the poster I was referring to DID get one of the refurbished units on the other thread. I'm delighted she (you!) got an ereader at such a good price!! I just didn't want anyone to think it was a realistic comparison to a new product not on sale.

If you can find a better price than $149 for a new Nook or $139 for a new Kindle then it's a deal or a sale and you should grab it. If you can find ANY deal on a refurbished unit of either brand - and you don't mind buying a refurbished product - then that will be the best deal this season.

 

[LilMamiBella]

The Nook with wi-fi is going to be $99 at Best Buy on Black Friday which means that this will be very easy to price match it at Walmart, etc.

You can buy it now for the same price through buy.com or overstock.com just search for nook and don't forget to to go through mypoints!

 

[jjan]

Yes, but you said you already had a Nook and that the price was "way less" than the Kindle so I was curious if you had ordered the refurbished one I saw a thread about or if you had found another deal.

Black Friday and other deals aside, the usual price of the Nook and the Kindle wifi only is comparable - and in fact, Kindle is less. Your post made it sound as though the Nook you bought was brand new and much cheaper than the comparable brand new Kindle, and that's not accurate.

Oops, sorry I see I have my posters confused. I see that the poster I was referring to DID get one of the refurbished units on the other thread. I'm delighted she (you!) got an ereader at such a good price!! I just didn't want anyone to think it was a realistic comparison to a new product not on sale.

If you can find a better price than $149 for a new Nook or $139 for a new Kindle then it's a deal or a sale and you should grab it. If you can find ANY deal on a refurbished unit of either brand - and you don't mind buying a refurbished product - then that will be the best deal this season.

I was just posting the sale info for others that may be looking for one.

You can buy it now for the same price through buy.com or overstock.com just search for nook and don't forget to to go through mypoints!

Aren't those refurbished? The one going on sale at Best Buy will be new (for those that care about that or need it totally new for gifts).

 

[tink576]

Thanks for all of the great info. My question is about the free library ebooks work. I understand that with the Nook you can download books from the library, but how exactly does that work. We live in a small town. Would I be able to do this from a small-town library. If not, would this feature matter to me? Thanks in advance.

You would check at your library or even go to your library website to see. A lot of libraries use them so I would be surprised if they didn't, but I would ask to make sure. Your librarian would know

 

[LilMamiBella]

The free library of pennsylvania has $15 year membership for out of state residents and they have a pretty good collection of e-books.

You can see what titles they have here: http://freelibrary.lib.overdrive.com/37986A4D-1D0A-4B14-9CE2-119C3D91D47B/10/354/en/Default.htm

 

[kinntj]

I was just posting the sale info for others that may be looking for one.



Aren't those refurbished? The one going on sale at Best Buy will be new (for those that care about that or need it totally new for gifts).

Yes, those are refurbished and they are wi-fi only. The $99 refurbished one that I bought are wi-fi and 3G. I was close to buying the 3G Kindle at Amazon until this deal came up. Thank you for posting the Best Buy deal, because we'll probably buy the 2nd one for that price and I won't care if it's wi-fi only.

 

[FarmDisney]

I really want a Kindle for Christmas, but I can't quite figure out if I can download the books to my computer and then to the Kindle. We live in the middle of nowhere and don't have wifi and doubtfully have 3G access. Any help would be great!