So confused

[Mimmy Mouse]

I am trying to decide between a Kindle 3g and a nook color. I know the price of each so that is not the issue. I have read everything I could find about the 2. but every time I think I have decided I read something else and get all confused again. I want it to be able to read, but I also want to be able to play games/read e-mail/check facebook. I have an aol account for my e-mail. From what I understand the Kindle is the best for reading. But as I also want to do other things the the Nook color seems like it will do them plus reading. I want to get to a BN store to look at the Nook but don't know where to try a Kindle. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated

 

[Andreas Mom]

I have the Nook color and I love it!! Im pretty sure you can try the kindle out at Best Buy....actually I think you can try both out there....maybe not but when I was looking at them they had 5-6 different ones all there to test out.

 

[luvintink7]

I just went through this. I ended up choosing a kindle. I like to read outside so it was an easy decision for me. I got a kindle 3G. I can get on google and check my email. I just think its a matter of how you will be using it. You can not read a nook outside.

 

[puffkin]

Honestly I would say get an ipad or iphone/itouch if you are primarily concerned with email and facebook, etc. Neither the Nook or Kindle is real convenient for that.

Personally I think the 3G is pretty worthless unless you travel alot and don't have easy access to Wifi. I would save the money and just get the Wifi version. The Nook and Kindle are pretty comparable. I have a Kindle and the screen is better and the battery lasts FOREVER. My co-worker has a Nook and the library borrowing option and navigation is better on that. However her battery is always drained and she doesn't really like the B&N estore.

 

[Thumper4me]

I ended up purchasing the Nook. However, my main reason we because I borrow books from my local library and that can't be done with a Kindle.

For what it's worth, I love my Nook.

Good luck with your decision.

Kelly

 

[princess barbara]

Our small town library has a Kindle as well as a Sony e-reader you can borrow for a week. There are about 20 books and magazines pre-loaded on them. There is a waiting list however. Did anyone see the news yesterday that one of the big publishing houses says that if a public library buys their e-books to lend to patrons, it can only be lent out 26 times total before expiring? That's an increased financial burden on libraries.

 

[JB2K]

...and she doesn't really like the B&N estore.

That's the advantage -- Amazon.com has an extensive selection of e-books, whereas with the Nook, people are wondering how much longer Barnes & Noble is even going to be around...

My advice -- if gaming/Facebook/e-mail is your main thing, get an iPad (or some other tablet-based computer). While devices such as the Kindle 3/Nook can access the internet, their small size alone suggests they are to supplement the "book" experience.

FWIW, I bought a Kindle 3 (Wi-Fi) at Target, this week -- it suits my needs, perfectly.

 

[Jusacuz]

I have a Nook Color and love it. I use it mainly for reading (and I can read it outside just fine), but it also surfs the web easily and quickly. It doesn't run flash stuff, so no playing games on Facebook, but for checking my email and looking stuff up, it's great.

They also announced that later this spring, there will be more apps for it, like Angry Birds, etc.

They do sell a matte screen cover if you're concerned with glare, but I've only had a glare issue in my dining room right under a light.

 

[Frannie115]

I got the Nook because I can download books from our county's library system. Their selection is not that big yet but I'm not a picky reader.

I'm not sure if the e-readers are a good choice for using the internet.

 

[Kathi OD]

That's the advantage -- Amazon.com has an extensive selection of e-books, whereas with the Nook, people are wondering how much longer Barnes & Noble is even going to be around...

....

FWIW, I bought a Kindle 3 (Wi-Fi) at Target, this week -- it suits my needs, perfectly.

But there are other options for a Nook (library, Kobo) that are available, so if B&N goes under, there is somewhere else to get your books.

 

[Kathi OD]

I just went through this. I ended up choosing a kindle. I like to read outside so it was an easy decision for me. I got a kindle 3G. I can get on google and check my email. I just think its a matter of how you will be using it. You can not read a nook outside.

I am not sure where you heard that, but you most certainly can read a Nook outside. Both a Kindle and Nook use e-ink technology, which is what makes it readable outside.

 

[Minnie]

I am not sure where you heard that, but you most certainly can read a Nook outside. Both a Kindle and Nook use e-ink technology, which is what makes it readable outside.

The nook color does not use e-ink technology which is readable in sunlight.

 

[Minnie]

OP - I don't think either of these devices suit your needs. They are both dedicated e-readers with additional functions. I would only recommend these if reading is your primary objective.

I have an e-reader, Ipad, I-touch, and smartphone each serves its own purpose. For a multipurpose gadget I would recommend a tablet - the Ipad is my choice but android and windows both have interesting options.

 

[JaymeC]

It sounds like you're trying to find an inexpensive iPad. Neither the nook or kindle can do that well. Maybe an iTouch would be better for you? Or the iPad itself.

Having said that, there is one important reason, technology aside that I would go back to Amazon again and again which is that I trust them as a company. The kindle is just fabulous, and the one time I had a problem with it it took me a total of 10 minutes on the phone (no wait time!) to have a new one over nighted to me and an printout to send the old one back at no cost. And they've been similarly wonderful with any other purchase problems I've had (which really have been few and far between). I honestly trust them as a company to do what is best for their customers, which isn't something you see very often anymore. And they do it so inexpensively too

 

[Scurvy]

OP - I don't think either of these devices suit your needs. They are both dedicated e-readers with additional functions. I would only recommend these if reading is your primary objective.

I have an e-reader, Ipad, I-touch, and smartphone each serves its own purpose. For a multipurpose gadget I would recommend a tablet - the Ipad is my choice but android and windows both have interesting options.

The Nook Color essentially is a tablet. It doesn't do much more than books and a few games at this point unless you change the software yourself, but with future updates it is supposed to get much more expanded functionality.

OP -Personally, my recommendation is that if your primary purpose is reading with a little bit of other stuff thrown in, the Kindle is the best option. If the primary use will be a mix of all sorts of things, including reading, the iPad is a great choice. With the iPad 2 having just come out, you can pick up a first generation iPad for not much more than a Nook Color and unless you want to get into changing the software yourself, the iPad is going to be more versatile and user friendly for a wider array of things right out of the box. Plus, you'll have access to the Apple App Store, which so far is superior to the Android Marketplace or the Amazon App Store. The Android options are improving all the time, though, and you really couldn't go wrong with an Android based tablet either.

ETA - The one factor that might be a problem is that Apple has recently announced that all apps that use things purchased outside the app must also allow those purchases to be made from within the app. Apple gets a 30% cut of the price of all in-app purchases. There's some confusion about what Amazon will do in response to this, and some people are thinking that this could mean the eventual removal of the Kindle and Nook apps from the Apple app store. Obviously Apple would prefer it if people would buy books through their own store or at least from within the apps so they can get their cut. So it's possible that anyone who buys an iPad to use as their ereader will lose the option to read Kindle or Nook books on it at some point. That wouldn't be an issue with an Android based tablet.

 

[Minnie]

The Nook Color essentially is a tablet. It doesn't do much more than books and a few games at this point unless you change the software yourself, but with future updates it is supposed to get much more expanded functionality.

Just to make sure I understand.... are you comparing a Nook Color to an IPad or a tablet computer

 

[Scurvy]

Just to make sure I understand.... are you comparing a Nook Color to an IPad or a tablet computer

Now I'm not sure I understand. I am comparing the Nook Color to tablet computers, including the iPad. If you're willing to tinker with the software the Nook Color can apparently be a decent Android based tablet.

 

[Minnie]

Now I'm not sure I understand. I am comparing the Nook Color to tablet computers, including the iPad. If you're willing to tinker with the software the Nook Color can apparently be a decent Android based tablet.

IMO - for most users the nook color is not even close to being on the level of the iPad or tablet computers. Most users need to take the product out of the box and have it just work.

For those with a tinkering background then the option you mentioned might be reasonable. Unless I miss my guess the OP and many others users do not fit that category.

 

[Kathi OD]

The nook color does not use e-ink technology which is readable in sunlight.

OP - I don't think either of these devices suit your needs. They are both dedicated e-readers with additional functions. I would only recommend these if reading is your primary objective.

I have an e-reader, Ipad, I-touch, and smartphone each serves its own purpose. For a multipurpose gadget I would recommend a tablet - the Ipad is my choice but android and windows both have interesting options.

Minnie, you're right on both points. I wasn't thinking Nook color, just a regular nook.

I don't think that either a Kindle or Nook color will adequately meet the OP's desire to be able to access email and the internet.

 

[kkacar]

Hi OP, I am posting this response from my NooKColor. So yes I love mine. I am also outside on my front porch so I do not have any issues with reading outside. I have lots of books on my NOOkColor and I love it. My husband has an iPad that I use a lot as well, but the problem I find with the iPad is the size. My NookColor will normally fit in my purse and I can pull it out and read it where ever I am.

And yes we love Apple products as well, between the 3 of us at home we have an iPad, 3 iPhones, 2 iPod touches, an iPod shuffle, a MacBookPro and a MacBook. So to say we have drank the Apple koolaid would be an understatement.

But to read, check facebook and email, a NookColor would meet your needs.

kelli