Kindle or Nook

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freakalad

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#93224 16-Nov-2011 15:36

I'm considering buying my wife an eBook reader (WiFi & B&W only, so that it'll last for ages without needing to recharge), & considering the Amazon Kindle & B&N Nook (touchscreen versions)

Which is the better offering?

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#546087 16-Nov-2011 15:38

Was just reading this....

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/barnes-noble-nook-tablet/4505-3126_7-35059751.html?tag=TOCcarouselMain.0

Might be of help to make your choice.

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freitasm

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#546095 16-Nov-2011 15:53

You can't get the Nook here in New Zealand (easily). You can buy the Kindle from Dick Smith or through our Kindle order page (directly from Amazon).

crackrdbycracku

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#546098 16-Nov-2011 16:01

Hi,

I'm in a similar boat as I'm considering buying an eReader myself. I didn't know the Nook was available in NZ but you may be getting one from the US so that's by the by.

I am now leaning heavily towards the Kindle, the other contenders were the Sony reader or the Kobo for me.

Frankly after a lot of looking the hardware side all looks very similar, and great!

These things are all light enough to hold with one hand, turn pages easily very easy to read and are easier on the eyes than reading a smartphone screen because they are not back lit.

But they are all basically the same thing.

Kindle is winning down the home stretch for me due to the software, and the books.

The 'others' usually support ePub. This is good because you get access to ManyBooks and so on with free books. But if you want to buy books then it is a different story. eBooks.com is expensive and most ebook shops require you to register the book with Adobe Digital Editions, this can be a pain.

Books for the Kindle come from Amazon, mostly about US$10 or and there is a much bigger range. Buying is very easy as it is all Amazon account based, no registering on different devices as your Amazon account covers any device which you have an Amazon app or so forth on.

This means you can buy books anywhere, easily and cheaply. Further you can read the same book on your Kindle or smartphone if for some reason you don't have your Kindle around.

Yeah, Amazon locks you in but there is software to convert other titles to Kindle format.

Anyway, that's what I think.

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mattwnz

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#546106 16-Nov-2011 16:16

freakalad: I'm considering buying my wife an eBook reader (WiFi & B&W only, so that it'll last for ages without needing to recharge), & considering the Amazon Kindle & B&N Nook (touchscreen versions)

Which is the better offering?

Also have a look at the sony ebook reader (I believe $229), which is touch screen and plays audio files. Otherwise the kindle by clicking on the link on this website is the cheapest option. But the ones they send to NZ don't yet have touch screens, and some models don't play audio files.

freitasm

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#546109 16-Nov-2011 16:18

Also a reminder: if you are planning to buy a Kindle for xmas, do it this week! After Thanksgiving Amazon gets overloaded and things start going into a long queue. Last year Kindle devices bought in early-December weren't delivered for six weeks, until mid-January.

As it is now, usually 3 - 4 delivery. We already bought three to give to relatives this year...

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#546114 16-Nov-2011 16:36

freitasm: Last year Kindle devices bought in early-December weren't delivered for six weeks, until mid-January.

+1. I was in that boat last year, and my partner had to wait ages for hers to be delivered.

Having said that, she loves her Kindle, reads it every night.

freakalad

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#546115 16-Nov-2011 16:45

I've come across this post for comparison:
http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/15/8824189-kindle-vs-nook-99-e-ink-touch-readers-face-off

What I find really compelling about the Nook is that it runs Android, so that's a big win in the hackability-department for me. I should conceivably be able to load the Kindle app for Android on the Nook, so I can have my cake & eat it :)

The serious downside for me would be the lack of B&N support/content - I'll probably only be making use of oPub & PDF's on the Nook, but I'll probably be limited in my options.

I'm not all that keen on the (old) Kindle from DSE, but the Amazon option seems more accesible for US$140 + p&p:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005890G8Y?country=NZ

For my needs, the Nook looks like the winner to me, but in practical terms as a device/gift for my wife, I may have to settle on the Kindle

Thanks for your help, guys

FLOSS'er, aspiring Maker

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crackrdbycracku

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#546138 16-Nov-2011 18:11

Is the Kindle Touch now available word wide?

I thought it was just pre-order US at this stage?

Cool if it is as I think the touch page turning is a nice feature.

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freitasm

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#546139 16-Nov-2011 18:13

Only the Kindle Keyboard and the new Kindle are available worldwide. The Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire are still US-only.

networkn

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#546151 16-Nov-2011 18:51

The Kindle hands down for me, I have 3 and I have given 3 as gifts and I have recommended likely around 60 or so clients buy them. Best gadget I have purchased in the last 18 months without any doubt.

Every single person I have ever recommended one too or given as a gift has been completely hands down blown away, and will never return to books.

I have seen or had some of the others and got a Kindle. Touchscreen Sony e-Reader was ok, too heavy, touch screen got to be a bore.

Gilco2

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#546155 16-Nov-2011 19:03

I have Kindle and Android tablet with Kindle APP. I tried to get the Nook App but was not allowed. Barnes and Noble dont allow us in New Zealand to buy books for the nook yet. They may do in future but not at the present time.

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lchiu7

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#547115 18-Nov-2011 23:34

Gilco2: I have Kindle and Android tablet with Kindle APP. I tried to get the Nook App but was not allowed. Barnes and Noble dont allow us in New Zealand to buy books for the nook yet. They may do in future but not at the present time.

Well that's not entirely true. While they do "disallow" buying books for the Nook, it's easily overcome. I buy books every now and then from B&N and read them on Nook for Android. And I use my NZ credit card to boot.

You can't download the Nook app from the Market but it's pretty easy to find the apk floating around on various forums. I run it on my Nexus One and my Xoom (but to be fair, the Xoom is a US one which a friend in the US loaded Nook before he sent it to me). I have also had running on a HTC Sensation.

As for buying books it's been a while since I set it up but initially if I recall I created an account on B&N and loaded a CC. It would not let me buy a book. I then asked my brother in LA to logon to my account to buy the book. After that I could download it without any restrictions.

I then tried to do it myself using a US proxy server and that also worked. So there are ways to get the books.

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.

freitasm

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#547149 19-Nov-2011 08:29

lchiu7: You can't download the Nook app from the Market but it's pretty easy to find the apk floating around on various forums.

That's how malware is spreading on Android. Downloading install packages from non-verified sources can bring unintended "features". Make sure if you do so at least you use one of those antivirus available in the market now.

lchiu7

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#547194 19-Nov-2011 11:27

freitasm:
lchiu7: You can't download the Nook app from the Market but it's pretty easy to find the apk floating around on various forums.

That's how malware is spreading on Android. Downloading install packages from non-verified sources can bring unintended "features". Make sure if you do so at least you use one of those antivirus available in the market now.

Well that is good general advice, but because of the way Google distributes/limits software in the Market, often one has to find other ways to get the software.

In my situation I wanted Nook, Netflix, Hulu+ and Google Music, none of which are downloadable from the Market if you are in NZ. I had to find other ways and usually from "reputable" forums, if not sources.

Since then I have received my Xoom which was purchased in the US. My friend over there downloaded all the apps I wanted for it from the US Market and I was able to transfer them to my local devices.

Getting slightly OT, my kids both have iPod Touches which are linked to my iTunes (US) account. They were able to download Netflix and Hulu+ from the app store fine though of course they would need subscriptions to use them.

Getting back OT, I like Nook and tend to prefer to buy books from B&N rather than Amazon because the B&N reader for Android is nicer. I have also tried the Kindle versus the Nook and the Kindle is probably better as a true e-book reader while the Nook does fine but has other functionality.

I am heading off to the US soon for CES and plan to check out the Torch also. That looks like it could be cool.

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.