To all you new Nook & Kindle users:

[bicker]

The booklight I used for my paperback books was no different in this regard than the booklight for the Kindle.

 

[mickeysgal]

I have a Kindle and bought the Amazon recommended case with built in light for reading at night. I love, love, love my Kindle. Have downloaded loads of free books and have had a good time reading new authors. So far, I haven't hit on a book I didn't like.

I toyed with the Nook vs. the Kindle, but our library system and state library system don't support ebooks at this time. That alone pushed me into the Kindle and the strong positive reviews on the Kindle helped greatly as well.

 

[hj0519]

I was thinking of getting one of these for Christmas for both DH and I but after flying back from an International flight in October I changed my mind and decided to lug around my books instead. The lady sitting next to me across the isle had a kindle of some sort that was very annoying almost like a flashlight in my eyes every time she moved. I don't know if any of you are familiar with flying internationally, but they shut the shades, dim all the cabin lights so that it's almost dark, this is after everyone is fed. I can't stand that they do this because I never want to sleep when they want you to anyways but that is another story. Getting back to the Kindle, it was so bright and annoying (it was a 33 hour flight home),I didn't say anything but I did end up cupping my hand over my eye to block her light so I could read my book without flashing lights coming my direction. Guess I'm getting cranky in my old age, I am super sensitive to light and get ocular migraines and something like that will definitely trigger one. I hope to never have that happen again, but they are becoming very popular! They should make them with side-pull-ups so when people are in situations like that it won't disturb other people.

Kindle screens aren't bright at all, they look just like a page from a book, you need a booklight to read them in the dark. If it was that bright, it wasn't a Kindle (or they were using a very bright booklight, I don't have one so I don't know how bright those are).

 

[RitaE]

I have the Kindle case with the integrated booklight and it points down at the screen - not out to where it should ever shine in somebody's eyes.

I read next to my DH all the time and have never had a problem. Also it is barely bright enough to light 6 to 7 inches to the bottom of the Kindle screen - much less bother the eyes of somebody feet away.

From Lynn's post I get the impression that somebody was reading from an LCD device.

 

[golfgal]

I have the Kindle case with the integrated booklight and it points down at the screen - not out to where it should ever shine in somebody's eyes.

I read next to my DH all the time and have never had a problem. Also it is barely bright enough to light 6 to 7 inches to the bottom of the Kindle screen - much less bother the eyes of somebody feet away.

From Lynn's post I get the impression that somebody was reading from an LCD device.

I agree, it was probably an IPad or similar although it could have been a Nook Color which is backlit, which is why I want the Nook color because I am tired of messing with booklights when I read in bed

 

[Hedy]

I use a booklight from Dollartree for my Kindle. I may get a better one, as I use it in the car (not driving, obviously) and on airplanes (if I take a late flight, I'd rather use a booklight for courtesy's sake). I have the Kindle 3G and love it.

 

[Buckalew11]

My Booklight is from Target and probably made for the Kindle. I can't remember the brand but it is the best booklight I have ever used! It has 2 settings and the lowest one is light enough for me. I only use it in a dark room--I do not need a book light with my bedside tablelamp on.

 

[Kycha]

I still have to figure out how to use my own photos for the wallpaper and screensaver; I read the manual and it doesn't sound too difficult, except for deciding which photos to use!

http://www.nook-look.com/pages/howto

Here are some instructions on making your own screensaver/wallpaper. Looks pretty simple. Let me know how it turns out.

 

[TLuvsD]

Love my Nook....and I didn't think I would. Lots of great books, free or very low cost. Great library features. I've read several books, can browse the web, and with the 3G I can get books anywhere (important, sometimes I end up at my MIL's or dads and need to stay a while...a book really helps). I use a clip on book light at night, DH loves it, doesn't even know it's on.

 

[minniecarousel]

OP here - thanks for all the responses. It looks like I'm going to have to go try these out. It sounds like there is no major draw for either one - looks like personal preference.

As a side note - I've been on the DISBoards for years, and have never had a thread that I started go to 5 pages! I'm a notorious "kill my own thread" person.

 

[Pugrpooh]

Yes you can do this but the wireless has to be turned on.

Instead of clicking on a book to open it press the "right" button on your control, this will bring up a menu for that book that has an option to go to "book description." This pulls up the Kindle store page for the book which has a description on it.

Just be careful not to press the buy button while doing this. Don't want to buy the book twice

Thanks! I had tried to find this in the user's guide but couldn't. I figured there had to be a way.

 

[Amy]

http://www.nook-look.com/pages/howto

Here are some instructions on making your own screensaver/wallpaper. Looks pretty simple. Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks! I used the official Nook directions and it worked like a charm! My wallpaper is now my dog, and my screensaver contains some of my favorite shots. And the book I'm reading on my Nook is really getting good. Good stuff all around!

 

[pilesoflaundry]

You have to strip the DRM and then convert the book in Calibre. If you Google it there are instructions all over the internet. I'm far from computer savvy but I was able to figure it out easily.


Takes a little time at first to download the programs and scripts needed but once you have it all the conversion only takes a couple of minutes.

After you do that does the book still disappear on your kindle(or become unreadable) in 2 weeks or so like a typical library e-book? I just want to know for future reference so I plan to read anything I convert in time.

 

[AmandaNied]

I originally wanted the Nook- the library feature was a big selling point. I got a Kindle because I traded in some old textbooks on Amazon and was able to purchase a new Kindle for only $20

I love my Kindle- I have read one book and am well into another. I have downloaded a bunch of free books (it's easier for me to search on amazon.com then on the device itself) I also follow a few websites like http://www.pixelofink.com/ to alert me to intresting free and cheap reads.

I need to purchase a booklight eventually, but I use it at home and read in bed with the bedside lamp. The battery life is amazing and it's simple to use (I HATE reading instruction manuals!)

 

[MushyMushy]

You have to strip the DRM and then convert the book in Calibre. If you Google it there are instructions all over the internet. I'm far from computer savvy but I was able to figure it out easily.


Takes a little time at first to download the programs and scripts needed but once you have it all the conversion only takes a couple of minutes.

Is that legal?

 

[RitaE]

Is that legal?

about as legal as copying library cds into your personal iTunes or not removing the Overdrive Audiobooks from you iPOD when your check-out period expires. It really isn't very hard to do though and if you prefer the Kindle over the other readers I can't see that it makes that much of a difference to the library whether you read it on a Kindle or something else.

No, removing the DRM from a file also removes the expiration lock.

On another note - holy crap have Overdrive waitlist times exploded since Christmas. For days I couldn't even get into the site and now it seems like nearly every book has 40 to 50 people on the waitlist.

 

[kaytieeldr]

OP here - thanks for all the responses. It looks like I'm going to have to go try these out. It sounds like there is no major draw for either one - looks like personal preference.

Consumer Reports rates the Kindle higher than the Nook. I don't have the issue with me, it's at work, but higher enough that I went with the Kindle (and this after vowing never to break down and buy an ereader!)

 

[SaraJayne]

Is that legal?

No.

 

[golfgal]

Consumer Reports rates the Kindle higher than the Nook. I don't have the issue with me, it's at work, but higher enough that I went with the Kindle (and this after vowing never to break down and buy an ereader!)

I just looked this up and Consumer Reports gives an overall rating to the Kindle 3G-WiFi of 70 and Nook color was 68 (comparing similar screen sizes). Kindle 3rd generation (larger screen) gets a 67.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

about as legal as copying library cds into your personal iTunes or not removing the Overdrive Audiobooks from you iPOD when your check-out period expires. It really isn't very hard to do though and if you prefer the Kindle over the other readers I can't see that it makes that much of a difference to the library whether you read it on a Kindle or something else.

No, removing the DRM from a file also removes the expiration lock.

On another note - holy crap have Overdrive waitlist times exploded since Christmas. For days I couldn't even get into the site and now it seems like nearly every book has 40 to 50 people on the waitlist.

Ah yeah probably not kosher then. If you don't remove an overdrive audio book but haven't messed with it, even if you don't delete it, it no longer plays after it "expires". I have some I downloaded from the library on my computer and I hadn't finished one by the time the 2 weeks was up and it would not allow me to open it any longer unless I renewed the checkout.