Where can I get the Nook in NZ ?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Where can I get the Nook in NZ ?

miamiheatfan

259 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#89870 9-Sep-2011 17:33

My friend who lives in the US just recently got a nook and she said she likes it and thinks it's better than the kindle.

I'm also interested in it.
I know we can buy the kindle straight from DSE or the geekzone Amazon portal.

But the Nook is sold by Barnes & Nobles and I heard they won't ever ship to NZ and someone said that it won't work in NZ too since the 3G won't work and with the Wifi you can't buy anything from their bookstore.

Is this true ? Any workaround ? How can i get the nook and the books without too much hassle ?

Also with the Kindle 3G , I know it uses the normal cellphone wireless signal , but without a SIM card ? How does that work exactly and how can we buy the books ? do we preload some credit to our amazon/BN account ?

Sorry for the questions, I'm a newbie in the ebook scene :D

Umm, also
Can anyone tell me how I can create an Amazon account with full functionality etc without any restriction ? I know you can create an Amazon International account, but you can't buy some stuff.
I hear that you have to have a US billing address to create a US account. Can we just enter some random BUT valid US address with our credit card info ? Do they try to match the card with the address ?

lissie

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#519824 12-Sep-2011 10:21

I don't think you can legally buy a nook from NZ = but your friend could buy it and ship it to you. Nook uses ePub format - so the previous threads about ePub books apply.

You can now buy Kindles locally in DSE and countdown - go and have a look and play with one - that's the only real way to know what works for you. Though I would still buy it from Amazon - they have super-fast delivery and great customer service

3G uses vodafone coverage I believe -so if you are in a Vodafone area then you are fine. If you have a WIFI router at home and are happy to download books at home you don't need 3G - just let the kindle connect to your home network

Re Amazon - you can't game the system - you are in "oceania" you link your NZ credit card to your amazon account and all you have to do is click "buy now" in the Kindle store (way to addictive and dangerous IMHO LOL)
They will ban your account if you put a fake addy in - your credit card numbers tells anyone who can read (including computers) that you live in NZ

The restrictions are because of the nonsense called DSM - not actually Amazon's fault - but I still find that I can often get books for a lot less than locally (like 50% )

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

miamiheatfan

259 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#519834 12-Sep-2011 10:39

Thanks for the reply. I will go try it out sometimes.

I don't have an Amazon account so I'm not sure whether to create a NZ one or just a US one by inputting my credit card number with my US friend's home address and logging in using hotspot Shield to get a US IP address.

Because since the kindle only supports mobi , and amazon ebook formats , what if the book I want isn't available for Amazon APAC region ?

Sounds like a silly question, but i'm a newbie in this field hehe.

Oh and if i travel overseas say the US with a kindle that i bought in nz , will i be able to use the 3G or WIFI to buy books.

lissie

495 posts

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+1 received by user: 27

#519838 12-Sep-2011 10:49

Its not a silly question - the area is a minefield - I asked the same question - this thread has your answers http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=38&topicid=83880 - short answer if the book is unavailable - you're stuffed - that said -I haven't had the issue yet.

Yes it works just fine overseas - either using WIFI or 3G - note you can't actually surf using the 3G - it only goes to Amazon - but not bad for free.

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

miamiheatfan

259 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#519845 12-Sep-2011 11:08

Thanks for the link. That answers most of my question.

I have one last one.
Do purchase eBook from Amazon using your laptop etc (other than kindle) , do you have to have a kindle registered ?

So say we take the risk of creating a US account with NZ card and US billing address to purchase book , but our kindle is NZ registered..BUT we don't ever use the 3G or Wifi , ...so basically we buy the book from our laptop then download it to our kindle using the USB cable. ....Will that work or are we required to register our Aamazon account with a kindle to buy the eBook.

Thanks.

I'm considering the Kindle because with the Nook , its $119 from Barnes Noble ..BUT shipping to NZ from the US + NZ customs duty = more than $200 in total I think ..plus if its faulty you'd have to send it all the way back to the US.
Just a shame in terms of Kindle not supporting ePub. ...But we can convert ePub using calibre anyway I think.

lissie

495 posts

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#519855 12-Sep-2011 11:21

miamiheatfan: Thanks for the link. That answers most of my question.

I have one last one.
Do purchase eBook from Amazon using your laptop etc (other than kindle) , do you have to have a kindle registered ?

Totally - in fact Amazon will prompt you to download the relevant software for your OS - if you do so. I had kindle books long before I owned one.

So say we take the risk of creating a US account with NZ card and US billing address to purchase book , but our kindle is NZ registered..BUT we don't ever use the 3G or Wifi , ...so basically we buy the book from our laptop then download it to our kindle using the USB cable. ....Will that work or are we required to register our Aamazon account with a kindle to buy the eBook.

Yes you link the Kindle to your account - so that won't work - nor will you be allowed an account with a mis-match between your card's country and your billing address - Amazon ain't stupid.

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

lchiu7

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#520723 13-Sep-2011 23:02

Based on what you've described I think the best option is to see if you can buy a Nook from say Ebay. Then open up a B&N account and use a NZ credit card.

Now you won't be able to buy a book normally because BB check your IP address. But it's easy enough to spoof a US IP address using say hotspotshield.

Do that, buy the book and then you can download the book at any time. You can read the book using a Nook, the Nook app for the PC or Android and with some minor processing to remove the DRM (legally I hasten to add since it requires knowing the credit card number used to purchase the book) on a Kindle.

And BN have a good a range as Amazon.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

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calistio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#523652 20-Sep-2011 17:46

I would like to reiterate the question of - where in NZ can i buy a "Nook" .will they ever be available here .
have been researching them for a little while and i have found it looks like what i want .
It allows me to simply read a book - if i tap on a word for its meaning it displays the dictionary definition at the bottom of the page I'm on but does not take me "out" of the book . Others I notice take you to a new page to display the word meaning , which in effect takes you "out of the book " and ANY book-lover will know that the point of a good book is to have your nose "IN" it - it is very uncool to be distracted from a good book.
This is why i do not like the "nook color ".. on those one can check email etc - now pc's and laptops etc stole my joy of reading by distracting me from doing so- hence i already hate the nook color without ever seeing one . - the "Nook" is simply and e-book reader with out the distractions.. bring it on - I WANT ONE.
so back to the question - Where can i obtain one in NZ ? will they become available here or do i Have to buy direct from Barnes and noble? - i noticed their online shop sells them .

lissie

495 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#523657 20-Sep-2011 18:00

YOu can't buy a nook in NZ - that seems to be the pretty clear answer here - you can buy it on eBay as described above. You can't buy from B&N direct -they won't ship to NZ

Why not a kindle - it will do all that you want and will be easier to buy books for

I help authors publish their books - DIYPublishing.co.nz

kyhwana2

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#523673 20-Sep-2011 18:28

What others have said, you're basically breaking the amazon TOS/illegally getting around the region restrictions. (Even with the kindle, you can't buy some books "in NZ". Just torrent them instead, it's basically the same thing, except the publisher doesn't get paid either way, since they won't sell it to you)

The kindle will display the meaning of a word at the top of the screen without kicking you out of a book.

lchiu7

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#523773 20-Sep-2011 21:32

kyhwana2: What others have said, you're basically breaking the amazon TOS/illegally getting around the region restrictions. (Even with the kindle, you can't buy some books "in NZ". Just torrent them instead, it's basically the same thing, except the publisher doesn't get paid either way, since they won't sell it to you)

The kindle will display the meaning of a word at the top of the screen without kicking you out of a book.

I dont get that violating the TOS by buying books out of the region. As anybody who has bought bluray or even DVD from Amazon and looked at the boxes, they usually say for sale in the US only. And do you think Amazon cares?

I would consider torrenting them illegal.If you buy a book or DVD out of region the only people who lose are the local distributors. Somebody will get paid irrespective.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

kyhwana2

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#523776 20-Sep-2011 21:38

lchiu7:
kyhwana2: What others have said, you're basically breaking the amazon TOS/illegally getting around the region restrictions. (Even with the kindle, you can't buy some books "in NZ". Just torrent them instead, it's basically the same thing, except the publisher doesn't get paid either way, since they won't sell it to you)

The kindle will display the meaning of a word at the top of the screen without kicking you out of a book.

I dont get that violating the TOS by buying books out of the region. As anybody who has bought bluray or even DVD from Amazon and looked at the boxes, they usually say for sale in the US only. And do you think Amazon cares?
I would consider torrenting them illegal.If you buy a book or DVD out of region the only people who lose are the local distributors. Somebody will get paid irrespective.

Except you're going around the blocks that the publisher has put up. If amazon cared, they would let you just buy everything and stop blocking people who try to get around said restrictions.

If they won't sell me something, they haven't lost any money if I torrent it..

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miamiheatfan

259 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#523821 20-Sep-2011 23:48

cough*how do u torrent an ebook? same way as other stuff? *cough

kyhwana2

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#523822 20-Sep-2011 23:58

miamiheatfan: cough*how do u torrent an ebook? same way as other stuff? *cough

Of course.

calistio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#523827 21-Sep-2011 01:02

makes no sense to me why either publishers would make anything zone based . seems it just limits their market .
if i buy a nook online ..and have it sent to a us address then forwarded to me - why would it matter or why would they care what countries credit card i use to purchase ebooks ? as long as i purchase them -i should be able to download the content .Am new to ebooks (obviously) have purchased plenty of US products online and its never been an issue -whats the difference ?
Oh -and thanks to the person who clarified about the dictionary in a Kindle - will go check one out locally and see if i like it .

calistio

6 posts

Wannabe Geek

#525009 23-Sep-2011 13:29

OK a little Update on the topic – of getting a Nook in NZ – you cant , BUT…

(a little repetative im afraid )the best way to buy a "new Nook simple" is to get a relative or friend in theUSA to buy one and ship it out .

This is fully legal. It’s just a piece of hardware.If you wish to register it with Barnes and Noble you have to do so with a USA based credit card and a US billing address- However I believe registering is not a requirement - you can still use it to as an E-book reader.

If you wish to buy eBooks from B&N ,well you can't from inside NZ .A friend inside theUSwith the registered c-card(registered to your nook b&n account ) can buy them on your behalf . Once they have been legally purchased from within the US .you can use the wifi to download them to your Nook .(sure there are work arounds to that with vpn software and other as stated , as buying online also checks your Ip and knows your not in the states and VPN software can over come that issue. But such a hassle for the sake of a good read.)And all that would be pointless considering the huge numbers of free eBooks accessible online .

(refer to above posts - and yes, be aware that if its copyrighted material that the same 3 strike law applies in NZ if you use p2p software to get copyrighted material)

There are however numerous sites to buy eBooks outside of theUSAwhich are licensed to be sold globally and as I said, many free ones also. More then you could read in a few years.Libraries are also beginning to provide pdf books which the Nook can read. Albeit not as well as other formats it seems.

Cons – no back up product support. If by some odd stroke of bad luck you get a lemon – you’d have to send it back to your contact in theUSAto have it serviced or replaced.
Other then that – buy it . download free eBooks . get the free “caliber” program (you can search it out )which organizes your eBooks and can convert your eBooks to be readable by most makes of readers – load them from your pc to your nooks Sd card and read read read.

Why A nook ? well - its just cooler and the touch screen is great .I dont have to click a button 17 to 30 times to get to a word i want to highlight etc .