reading books on your cell phone vs Kindle or Nook

[mhawk4]

I am thinking about getting a Kindle or a Nook, but I am also thinking about getting a new cell phone in August and trying to read books on it. I currently have a plain old flip phone and I am thinking about getting a Smartphone. Iphones are out as they not compatable with some of the programs I need to use for work.

Do you use your phone to read books? Any suggestions for phones which are good or ones to avoid? I hate to have to lug another thing around with me if I can just read off of my phone.

Also, is Kindle coming out with a new version? I really don't need anything fancy, just something to read books on. Plus I like borrowing books from the library so I may not be reading a ton of books on it.

Thanks!

 

[RitaE]

I read off my iPhone when I'm stuck in line somewhere or I'm waiting for a kid to get out of practice. I don't read long term on it (like more than 20 minutes) and I wouldn't want to. It's too little, hard to see in sunlight, and has an LCD screen.

Barnes and Noble is making a product announcement on the 24th which is likely to be the "nook 2" according to rumors. Amazon is rumored to be announcing some sort of Android Tablet this fall.

Kindle will have public library borrowing in the US by the end of the year. Overdrive has stated that it will be compatible with all the existing book licenses your particular library owns. So if your library has ePub books, you'll be able to borrow those titles for your Kindle devices and readers.

 

[MI mom of 3]

I have my kindle on my iPhone and I LOVE it!! I don't have to carry something else with me. I always have a book in my pocket!

 

[rie'smom]

I'm with Rita in that the print is so tiny that it is hard to read for extended periods of time.
Would you consider an iPad? I bought one about 6 weeks ago so that when I travel, I don't have to take my laptop. There is a Kindle App. It's so easy to read! I have a reader but I don't use it anymore. The iPad is great because I can read and reply to emails, send letters, etc. besides reading books.
The iPad went with me to WDW and I was able to access the internet because mine is 3G enabled. I don't have to rely on wi fi.
Anyway, just a thought since you're considering a purchase. BTW, mie is the iPad 2 but the original iPad is great too!

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I have an original Motorola Droid phone and a Kindle. I couldn't imagine reading on the droid for any length of time. It's just too hard on the eyes. Works in a pinch but I much prefer my kindle.

 

[shortbun]

I have a Droid 2 by Motorola and I wouldn't be reading anything on that one. The screen has a horrible glare. Kindle's backlit screen is wonderful. Also, why would you want to read on such a small screen? My husband's phone is also a bad one for reading. I can't imagine any phone being a good source for recreational reading.

 

[Jaime4004]

I read on my iphone all the time, mostly library ebooks. I also have a kindle and the kindle app on the iphone. That is handy because they can sync to each other, so if I started a book on the phone, I can switch to the kindle and not lose my place.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have a Droid 2 by Motorola and I wouldn't be reading anything on that one. The screen has a horrible glare. Kindle's backlit screen is wonderful. Also, why would you want to read on such a small screen? My husband's phone is also a bad one for reading. I can't imagine any phone being a good source for recreational reading.

Don't you mean Kindle's NON backlit screen, shortbun? The Kindle doesn't have a backlit screen - it is opaque so light can't shine through it.

 

[gpeters93]

I have a Droid2 with a Kindle app (and a Kindle). I really like the sync feature on the Kindle app that keeps track of what I've been reading on the Kindle. But the phone (any phone) can't handle the non-book purchases (like crossword puzzles) I make through the Kindle store. By itself, I don't think the phone would be enough for me.

 

[Pakey]

I have an iPhone and a Kindle. I can't stand reading books on my iPhone.

 

[DVCLiz]

I have an iPad, too, but find it very heavy after a while. I have to prop it up on the arm of my chair if I'm going to read for very long. I can adjust the background color to sepia and lower the brightness a little to make it more comfortable on my eyes, but it's still heavy.

 

[surferdave]

I have an original Nook 3G, a Nook Color, and I have the Nook App on my Droid Incredible.

If I find myself somewhere waiting for someone with nothing to do, the Nook App on my phone is nice to have, but I wouldn't want to read a lot on it. I might feel differently with a bigger device; the Incredible has a 3.7" screen, some of the bigger phones are 4.3" or bigger. Keep in mind that the more you use your cellphone for, the shorter the battery life. If you travel and want to use your phone to read as you fly (for instance) your cellphone may not last long.

I like the original Nook but the only time I would prefer it over the Nook Color is in bright sunlight or if I'll be using it for multiple days without being able to charge it. I've found that the concern over eye strain for an LCD screen doesn't seem to affect me; it's easy to set up the screen contrast and brightness to my preferences, and I love being able to read in a dark room without a book light. The dictionary on the Nook Color is way more convenient to use, and the web browser is great to have. I've been reading the Song of Ice & Fire books on it, and I keep some maps I found on the internet open on the browser that I can flip over to for reference as I go. I can use the Nook Color at least all day on a charge, but the original Nook with eInk will last for days between charging; that and reading in sunlight are the only advantages it has over the Color that I see.

 

[jrmasm]

I have an iPhone and a Kindle. I can't stand reading books on my iPhone.

I agree.

 

[Imzadi]

Also, why would you want to read on such a small screen?

I've been peeking over people's shoulders on the subway to see the various devices people read off of. I agree phones are way too small. One person was reading on his phone and only TWO lines of text, (approx 16 words) come up on a screen at a time, then he'd have to scroll to a new page. It was like reading constant text messages.

As someone who has to enlarge the type so I can read things close up, even with reading glasses, I often end up with not enough words on one line going across the screen. What people don't realize until they have to do this, is that the eyes get very tired when having to move back & forth: from right end of a line to the beginning left of each new line, more often than usual. Back & forth, back & forth more than usual. Unless you can build up your eye muscles reading something short like continuous text messages, instead of a wide screen, would just causes eye strain after a while, or a headache.

Kindle will have public library borrowing in the US by the end of the year. Overdrive has stated that it will be compatible with all the existing book licenses your particular library owns. So if your library has ePub books, you'll be able to borrow those titles for your Kindle devices and readers.

I had been waiting for this announcement for the longest time. Plus was waiting for the steep price drop on the kindles, which it has done. I've never been one to get the earliest models of an new disposable electronics, as the price drops eventually and all the bugs get worked out on the later models.

With Kindle soon to be able to accept library books, is there any real reason to buy a Nook or a Sony anymore?

 

[diznygirl]

I only have an iPhone and I've read a number of books on it - I've got nothing to compare it to but I'm not having any problems that I need to run out and get something else. It's nice have one little device that fits in my back pocket and goes with me everywhere.

I like it for reading - keeps me away from some of the addicting apps!

 

[heatherleigh]

I have a Kindle device, which I love. I use that the majority of the time. If I'm in a pinch, and waiting at my kids' taekwondo for example, I will read from my iPhone. It uses a lot of juice, and you cannot read for a long period of time because of the backlight, but it does the trick.

 

[Daisy&Max]

I have an LG Ally that I use with the Overdrive application and I love it. I have the background set to black with white print and I can read about half a "real" page at a time. I've said i would love to have a nook or a kindle but figure there is no point since I can put it on my phone and it doesn't kill me. I have also dimmed and brightened the screen trying it different ways and none seem to give me a headache.

I only get a headache when I have to stop reading at a really good part!

Daisy

 

[Sandy321]

I have a kindle -

I debated Kindle - Nook - Nook or Kindle - someone sent me to kindleboards.com and they are an active discussion board - they have a forum for other devices - this question comes up a lot over there -

you have to read and decide what device is best for you. I love my kindle, love the way the e-ink reads, love Amazon customer service - people have problems and call CS and they work with you - Amazon sold covers that connect into the kindle, but for some reason it shorted out the kindle, so Amazon gave credit or replaced it with a more expensive cover!

again, you have to decide what is best for you, but kindleboards.com is as addictive to me as disboards! They have a forum for free books, for bargain books (click on Book Bazaar) they have a forum for tips etc and kindle accessories, lets talk kindle...

and they do talk about reading their current kindle book on their smartphone in line waiting if they've forgotten their kindle!

The new kindle that is out is $114 - but it comes with ads - there is a discussion on this (I think I read one of the ads was to buy a $25 gift certificate for $20, the ads are only when the kindle sleeps, so doesnt interfere with reading!)

My mom has a kindle and my dd 14 has a kindle - all 3 of us are on one account so we share books - I usually "buy" the free books and send them to my mom and DD!!

 

[DVCLiz]

I have a kindle -

I debated Kindle - Nook - Nook or Kindle - someone sent me to kindleboards.com and they are an active discussion board - they have a forum for other devices - this question comes up a lot over there -

you have to read and decide what device is best for you. I love my kindle, love the way the e-ink reads, love Amazon customer service - people have problems and call CS and they work with you - Amazon sold covers that connect into the kindle, but for some reason it shorted out the kindle, so Amazon gave credit or replaced it with a more expensive cover!

again, you have to decide what is best for you, but kindleboards.com is as addictive to me as disboards! They have a forum for free books, for bargain books (click on Book Bazaar) they have a forum for tips etc and kindle accessories, lets talk kindle...

and they do talk about reading their current kindle book on their smartphone in line waiting if they've forgotten their kindle!

The new kindle that is out is $114 - but it comes with ads - there is a discussion on this (I think I read one of the ads was to buy a $25 gift certificate for $20, the ads are only when the kindle sleeps, so doesnt interfere with reading!)

My mom has a kindle and my dd 14 has a kindle - all 3 of us are on one account so we share books - I usually "buy" the free books and send them to my mom and DD!!

It was spend $10 and get a $20 Amazon gift card. I bought the new Kindle with Special Offers and so far I have bought a book using my Visa and gotten a $10 credit to my account, and also bought the gift card deal. I'm $11.07 to the good so far!!

 

[golfgal]

I have a Droid X and a Nook Color. I had the Droid before the Nook. I have read both Nook and Kindle books on my Droid. I have found that you are constantly turning the page while reading on your phone but other then that, not a huge deal. I have an anti-glare screen protector and have found that if you use the night setting for Nook, there is no glare or eye strain. You can set the font size to something that works for you. I prefer using the Nook but it's nice to have the option on my phone for times when you are waiting for appointments, etc.