Tech: Kindle Nook or what?

Subject: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 08:35 AM

The library where I work has offered $50.00 to any librarian who buys an ebook reader between now and January 20. (The intent is that we librarians will learn how to install and use them so we can help all the grandmas and grandpas who get them as gifts without any help or instruction by their loving young'uns.) If we go over $50, that's our choice, but we pay the difference.
I'm fine with this, and I'll learn how to use it, even though most of my reading tastes probably won't be available for download. The problem is, what will give me the most value for money? If the device has other apps and functions, I wouldn't mind, but I'm not considering one of those smartphones with a screen the size of a piece of gum and a teenytiny keyboard.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 10:13 AM

Can you get a tablet? e-readers are crippled tablets. Frankly, I am less enamored of tablets than I was because they operate on flash memory rather than a real hard drive,

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 10:33 AM

I like reading on an iPad, to which you can download the free Kindle Reader and happily buy their e-books or download the Kindle freebies (mostly older classics, lots of good Thomas Hardy on there). Then you can go visit the Apple book store - which has a number of free downloads too - so you get both. I also like that the iPad is backlit, though the newest Kindles may also be so now, not sure what the latest ones are like.

But I share EBarnacle's feelings about Flash memory, and there are a number of limitations to all mobile devices that mean I still use my laptop for my actual work (when I manage to do any). I wouldn't keep anything sensitive or overly valuable on the iPad, but boy is it fun for reading, playing with the apps, and generally time-wasting. So, because you can do so much with it, that's what would get my vote. Have to admit, though, I haven't seen the Nook so am only comparing the two readers I know.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Silas
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:26 AM

The Kindle is Great! Battery lasts MONTHS before needing a recharge and it is NOT BACKLIT - this is a GOOD THING. It means you read it just like a book, even in full sunlight.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Melissa
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:33 AM

I haven't done much comparison but I'm looking at a low-end Kindle ($79) so I can enjoy a fullblown Gutenberg glut.
I really like the non-backlit screen.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: catspaw49
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 11:39 AM

Fox....I don't know. Karen loves to read but she also wanted something that would do other things as well and yet not be a computer tablet. The Kindle Fire ($199) seemed to be a good fit and she is in love with hers. It isn't as good a reader as the standard Kindle though but for the price it is very cool for her tastes. I think we may get her a standard Kindle for books only. $79 is hard to beat and Amazon's content availability is fantastic.


Spaw

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 01:05 PM

My daughter recently got a Nook. As far as I know she is happy with it. I'll ask for more info from her. My doc has been after me to get one or the other to help my hands. (Holding a book whilst reading in bed doesn't seem to help sprains and tendinitis!:-)She bought her elderly father a Nook and is really happy with it. I, personally, didn't find it any more lightweight than the average paperback, but I guess it's the holding a book open, turning pages, etc. she's trying to wean me from, plus she says, since I lie on my side, I could set it on the bedside table and read it that way. Probably better for my neck, too! And, I guess since I am releasing my books as e-books, first, I really ought to have one,:-)

We have held off on any of them because it seems they are coming out with "new and improved" versions every week! Maybe someday we'll just download each book directly into our head!**BG**

kat

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 02:21 PM

Can a Kindle, Nook or Kobo display pages of music I create, with sensible indexing? (Either PDF or HTML indexed graphics files, I don't mind).

I know an iPad can do that but it's way too expensive for a music stand.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 02:39 PM

I agree with everyone who says avoid backlit screens for reading ebooks. For serious readers, Kindle, Nook, or Sony Reader are much easier on the eyes and can be read in bright sunlight.

I have been using a Sony Reader for years. I chose it over Kindle because it uses epub format rather than a proprietary format, meaning you are not limited to shopping at Amazon. Also, Sony can read pdf files which Kindle could not (this may have changed, I don't know.) Nook also reads epub and pdf and appears to be a good value for the price.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 03:13 PM

From a comparative review on the web:

But assuming Kobo’s inexpensive reader does become available soon, why would anyone consider choosing it over one of the big brands?

Its open platform, for one thing. It’s got out-of-the-box native support for a variety of e-book formats including ePub, PDF, Adobe DRM, JPEG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, TXT, HTML, RTF, CBZ, and CBR. And the Kobo app lets you access your e-books across multiple devices, including PC and Mac computers, iPhones and iPads, and Android and Blackberry mobile phones and tablets.

That would decide it for me. No way am I ever buying anything from Amazon in any case. Even if it has lower build quality than the others at the same price, it looks like the Nook and especially the Kindle are not going to able to display the documents I want to seee at all. A better interface to stuff I don't want isn't much of a selling point.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 04:24 PM

The reference librarian at my town's public library says it is faster and easier to download books onto Kindles that other e-readers.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: artbrooks
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 04:55 PM

I have had (still have, but no longer use) a Nook model 1 and am now using the Nook tablet. Herself has the smaller Nook model 2. We both use them for free epub files, both from the library and the Gutenberg Project. The tablet is small - the same size as the original Nook, just about - but is web-capable so one can do email, surf, watch Netflix movies, etc. It can handle .pdf files, but I haven't used it for that, so I can't properly comment. As previously noted, it has no hard drive, so one cannot put programs on it for such things as word processing. The tablet does have a backlit screen; I do a lot of reading and haven't noticed any problems with it - I dialed the brightness down and selected the black on light grey screen option.

Once you have the Adobe Digital Editions loaded, it takes just about no time to transfer a book from a library to the Nook. The only issue is that you must have a real computer in between; you cannot transfer directly from the internet to the Nook. The same is true of Gutenberg books - I have no idea if one can load directly onto a Kindle. My library's web site says that it does not support the Kindle - that is, one cannot check out their ebooks and transfer them to a Kindle.

Subject: RE: Tech: Kindle Nook or what?
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Dec 11 - 05:03 PM

Anyone know about Google Chromebooks?