Kindle Vs. Nook – The Breakdown
Kindle vs. Nook Color – The Battle!
If you’re looking for our latest Tablet Review, Kindle Fire vs Nook Tablet, click here!
Editor’s note. Click here to skip directly to the review, if you don’t want to read my babble!:
They’ve done it again. You knew it was going to happen–a brand new set of gadgets and gizmos for us to blow our hard-earned money on. But hey–life isn’t just about money right?
The beauty of the Kindle and Nook devices, over other technological “must-haves”–such as the iPhone, the latest 60-inch HDTV, or the PS3/Xbox360 black hole is that the Kindle and the Nook, if utilized with discipline, will actually make you a smarter person. While everyone’s twiddling their iPhone trying to slice digital fruit with their fingers, or playing Angry Birds 2012: End of Worlds, you and I CAN THEORETICALLY be reading up on some of the old classics (I myself am a very big fan of Isaac Asimov), or reading up on the latest political events (magazines are now a HUGE part of the Kindle or Nook experience, or brushing up on our social skills in a new “how-to” or “self-help” book.
I think I can speak for a majority of our readers that we gravitate towards the Kindle vs. Nook over the iPad vs Android Tablet precisely because we feel that need for real, unimagined productivity–rather than mindless distraction. We WANT an EREADER, not a do-it-all device with hundreds and thousands of apps that will waste our time. We are, in essence, the remnants of a reading population.
But that doesn’t exclude our young readers. Over the past months of updating this blog, I’m proud to say a very high number of comments from YOUNG readers have come in. What does this mean? I hope it means that the age of reading is not yet over. I hope it means that young readers, despite all the technology that makes reading less important, still feel that reading is VERY important–whether on a piece of paper, a stone engraving, or a digital screen.
And maybe, just maybe, the world isn’t coming to an end just yet. Readers young and old read on!–for the latest Kindle VS Nook review, the only review you’ll ever need to read.
Quick Navigation:
I. Introduction
II. Actual Reading
III. Travel & Leisure
IV. Connectivity
V. Library
VI. Support
VII. Storage
VIII. Audio
IX. Battery Life
X. Price
XI. Conclusion
I. Introduction
In this review, we will cover the Kindle (touch & keyboard generations) released as of November 20th 2011 and the Nook SIMPLE TOUCH (Black & White), released as of June 10th 2011. If you’re interested in reading about the color equivalents of the two devices, the Kindle Fire and the Nook Color/Tablet, please click here to read our amazing review!
Most people in the market for an e-reader are faced with two products that really stand above all the rest–the Kindle by Amazon and the Nook by Barnes and Noble. The two have many similarities, both being top-end e-readers, but also have many differences, and as an educated buyer, you should first familiarize yourself with the facts before coming to a ($100+) decision.
First, ask yourself why you want an e-reader. Well–the e-reader certainly appeals to many due to its focused functionality–you can’t make calls on it, you can’t do anything but READ on it really. And isn’t that what it’s all about? We who love to read, the literati, have had enough with those fancy multi-function devices and we want something simple, sleek and comfortable to carry around, that can hold as many books as a small Ikea bookcase, in our handbag or backpack. Both the Kindle and the Nook can satisfy you there.
The competition between the two really comes down to the details. Which are you more comfortable with? How much does cost play a factor? What about upgradability? We’ll explore these details below.
Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
Get the Nook for just $99
II. Actual Reading
Most important category of them all, so we put this first. You need to be able to read what’s on the screen. Since we are readers, and we want to be able to read, it is very important that the screens that both the Kindle and the Nook provide are very easy on the eye. And for the most part, the Nook has caught up to the Kindle in this respect. They both use the same technology–”E-ink”–and both provide very nice, colorless, print-like text on screen.
The Nook has come a long way in this category, and we are happy to say that you can’t really go wrong with either one, when it comes to the act of simple reading. But there’s more to it than that–we must explore the other factors that may make or break your decision–including:size, weight, functionality, library, connectivity, and support.
Winner: PUSH
Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
Get the Nook for just $99
III. Travel & Leisure
Okay–now what about when you’re NOT reading? Well many of us literati can’t imagine having much time on our hands for extracurriculars, but let’s face it–we can’t read ALL the time, can we?
The newest generation of Kindle is fully browser capable. That means you can download your Safari or Chrome browser, and as usual, check emails, shop the Android market and of course, browse the web!
The Nook, on the other hand, USED to have a “hidden” glitchy yet functional web browser, but a software update wiped that out. It’s not a huge loss, because the browser sucked anyway.
But you’re in the market for an e-reader, right? Not a digital Swiss Army Knife? Or… are you an iPad lover? Sorry–you’re at the wrong site! 
Both are the smallest, thinnest, lightest “tablet” devices around–though these are classified as “e-readers” and are often placed in a different category from the Nook Color, Kindle Fire, and iPad. As they ARE limited in function, we don’t want these to weigh too much or to be too bulky. Or we’d just go back to paper books . No–both devices allow you to carry several books in one portable device. The Nook is MARGINALLY lighter (you won’t be able to tell the difference).
Update 09.30.2011 – Several readers have pointed out that Nook’s library does NOT work overseas. While we don’t have any first hand experience, make sure you read some of the comments below to see how other people have fared. The Kindle, on the other hand, has proven time and again that it’s library is EASILY accessible overseas–just something to keep in mind.
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
The new Kindle Lineup, with prices
IV. Connectivity
Here’s where the two devices start to branch off. While the technology itself may be quite similar, you will get two very different “experiences” if you own a Kindle over a Nook, or vice-versa.
Both devices are fully WI-FI capable, which means that as long as you are within accessible wireless network range (bookstores, your home, your office, airports, the list goes on…) then you will have access to the internet, and will be able to download and purchase books, share your books, upload books, and your devices will have full functionality.
The Kindle DOES give you the option to purchase 3G connectivity, which allows you to do everything you’d be able to do on WIFI, ANYWHERE within the wider 3G network. 3G is markedly slower than browsing on WIFI, but still very much doable. Think of it as a faster dial-up connection (hearken back to the days of AOL). We personally found this option to be quite useful, especially when you have a long commute, or are on the move often–since the likelyhood of using your Kindle from outside your known WIFI networks goes up.
Both the Kindle and the Nook have their own systems of “e-book lending.” This is like having your own personal library in the palm of your hands, if utilized correctly. Both have their limitations.
Kindle’s lending system allows you to “borrow” or “lend” a book for just 14 days. We found this definitely to be a bit short. This is one of the major gripes with Kindle’s “Lendle” (what a horrible name) program. Nook’s “LendMe” is quite similar–allowing one book to be lent out to one user, once, for 14 days.
We found Nook’s LendMe a bit more restrictive in the sense that a LOT of the books we own on the Nook are NOT lendable to our network!
However, if interested in borrowing books, there are quite a few groups out there on Facebook (for both the Kindle and the Nook!) that you can join, and share your library with like-minded folks. Though the lending systems ARE restrictive, they are understandable, as they have been put in place due to the overwhelming amount of piracy out there in the digital world. So–we’re going to have to deal with it. And read faster.
Both e-readers allow you to transfer any purchased e-books to your other e-book capable devices.
Update 09.22.2011 – Again, we’ve had some readers report connectivity issues overseas with the Nook, and some issues with “Adobe DRM,” the digital rights manager that the Nook Color uses. This may or may not be an issue, depending on your needs!
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
The Nook Simple Touch
V. Library
Both B&N and Amazon have a huge selection of free and not-free books. Millions!
B&N seems to have the much larger selection (at the time of writing) but many have praised the amount of free and low-cost books on the Kindle site. Take a look and browse the two if you have some time. Amazon carries all the big-name books and popular stuff, as well as providing a lot of low-cost and free classics. Perfect for the kids!
Both the Kindle and the Nook allow users to read samples of the book for free, before purchasing.
The Nook, however, DOES allow its users to download nearly ANY type of e-book or similar materials, due to it’s reliance on Adobe for its digital rights management software. Adobe DRM is what most e-book publishers use. And of course–Amazon has installed a very similar (identical?) feature to the Kindle–so now BOTH devices can download books from the library (for a set amount of time). Of course, that means no late fees!
However, we’ve mentioned above the LendMe problems with the Nook? Well the same thing applies to borrowing books from the library. A lot of users have reported problems with borrowing books from the library–which is, in our opinion, a HUGE disadvantage. Restrictive LendMe and a glitchy library download service? Can’t recommend.
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
So light, for so many books!
VI. Support
The two devices are very similar. Portable e-readers. But here’s where choosing between the two becomes a bit easier–in our opinion. We’ve had NUMEROUS complaints about Barnes and Nobles customer support. This is a fact–we’re not trying to be biased. The Nook has more bugs, and worse service, which is not a happy combination for customers. Customers have emailed us about problems with connectivity, with downloading from the library, with lending, but most of all, about the lack of support.
Not to mention, the financial problems Barnes and Nobles have been having.
Let’s face it, along with Apple and Google, Amazon is a company very well-prepared for the future (which in this era, amounts to nothing more than a couple years). Amazon upgrades their devices more often, provides more options, and is at the cutting edge of technology.
We’ll call this one for you: Kindle wins hands down.
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
The Nook Simple Touch, posing on the carpet
VII. Storage
Both the Nook Touch and the ENTRY-LEVEL Kindle have 2GB of memory, in which you can store whatever you like. The devices on the higher rungs of the Kindle ladder (Kindle Touch and Kindle 3G) have 4GB of memory that you can use. Big difference; that comes down to more than DOUBLE the space. If you do shell out for a Kindle Touch or Kindle 3G, believe us–it makes a difference–especially if you put files other than books (pictures, MP3 Audiobooks, etc.).
By the way, for those who don’t own either of these devices yet, 2GB can hold approximately 1000 regular books, so if you’re just into books–you should be fine either way!
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
VIII. Audio
The Kindle has a text-to-speech feature, that WILL read your books for you, if you are so inclined. People tend to make fun of the “voice” that does the reading (your typical Mr. Roboto voice), but we find it to be charming. Like someone from a foreign country reading to you. Especially good if you read a lot of science fiction .
The Nook has since gotten rid of this feature. God knows why.
Winner: Kindle - Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
Which will it be...?
IX. Battery Life
Both devices claim to have the longest battery life in town. Battery life is a very murky thing. How can you really know which is best? Race the two I suppose–but then one will claim that the other is glitchy. Battery life can vary from device to device.
The Kindle claims to go 2 months on a single charge. The Nook claims to go the same distance (based on one hour a day reading).
In any case, our own testing has shown the difference in battery life between the two are too close to really make a big difference. Make sure you take a charger along with you on long trips if you do use the WiFi!
*Keep in mind, when using 3G or WiFi, battery drain will be MUCH faster.
Winner: PUSH
Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
Get the Nook for just $99
X. Price
Ah–price! The Nook Touch, at the time of writing (and before the coupon) costs $99.
The Kindle has more options.
You can start with a low-level Kindle with ADS and Sponsored STUFF
A regular Kindle TOUCH with Wi-Fi
And then we have the Kindle KEYBOARD version with or without 3G, they are $99/$139 with ads, and $139/$189 respectively.
Finally, the new Kindle Fire
| With Ads | Without Ads | |
| Kindle | $79 |
$109 |
| Kindle Keyboard | $99 |
$139 |
| Kindle Keyboard & 3G | $139 |
$189 |
| Kindle Touch | $99 |
$139 |
| Kindle Touch & 3G | $149 |
$189 |
| Kindle Fire | x | $199 |
| Nook Color | x | $249 |
Our reviewers liked the Kindle Touch & 3G– so we’re really comparing $99 for the Nook vs. Kindle with 3G at $149. Again, it depends on what features you need and want to have access to. You have a lot of options here, and make sure you assess your needs before making a decision.
Winner: PUSH
Get the Kindle Touch for just $99
Get the Nook for just $99
XI. Conclusion
Well–we’ve taken a look at both devices, their faults and advantages, and did we emerge with a clear cut winner? Yes–as a matter of fact. In our eyes, the Nook didn’t win in a single category. We (and a lot of our readers) still don’t know why so many people go with the Nook. The Kindle is a product that is insured for the future. It gets great upgrades, is constantly updating its library, and has a great company backing it. However, it all comes down to personal preference and what you need on a day-to-day basis. If you love Barnes and Nobles, feel free to support them! If you’re looking for a straight e-reader, which is easy to read, has great battery life, and a wide selection of books, the Kindle is the way to go.
Also, before you go out and buy, take some time to check out our coupon sections for both the Nook and the Kindle. We regularly update it with new coupons–and you can save some big bucks by buying online.
Click here for our latest Kindle coupons.
Click here for our latest Nook coupons.
Or, if you’re ready to buy:
Kindle Touch is just $99 - Click here
Nook is just $99 - Click here to buy now.
Click here to read more reviews.
{ 322 comments… read them below or add one }
For me, Kindle is more useful.
Very well done. Thank you very much. This was helpful and ended up being pretty much what I was already thinking.
I plan on buying either a kindre or a nook and found this very helpful. Thank you for the advice.
while what did you end up buying… because the kindle is much more useful. FYI
gooooooo KINDLE!!!!!!!!!
Hello, I disagree with the notion that getting a Kindle with 3 G is a useless feature.
Some of the places we go to has no wi-fi connections to be found. The cell towers in our area make it possible to download books. At our hunting shack we have no electiric just a gas stove for cooking an oil stove for heat and gas lights. It is great to read a good book at night before the morning hunt.
I very much agree. On my numerous overseas trips with my Kindle Keyboard 3G, I have found my 3G VERY useful for book purchases and other wi-fi related options on my Kindle
Well the Nook on the Nook website said it had more battery life but on the very same page it said they both have 2 months, but the Nook had 3 weeks if you used the other stuff on it
Does anyone have any insight to the best e-reader app for android?
For android, it would depend on the file type. PDFs are best read in quick office, which costs money; txt, epub and pretty much everything else are best read in moon+ reader, which is free and was what I used for the entire length I had my phone- at least until I got a nook, lol… it’s highly configurable and offers some of the best features out of every reader for android. Also, I’m obliged to mention Project Gutenberg, which is about the greatest thing since sliced bread. And calibre, which converts your ebooks and sorts them onto your reader for you. Both are free and frickin awesome.
Hope this helped,
Alex
Kindle app for Android. Use Calibre to convert almost anything to MOBI format and transfer to your SD card (kindle folder). Yer done.
The Nook’s touch-screen feature won me over so I ended up buying the Simple Touch Nook (not the Nook Color). I bought this just before going to France, where I planned to download books as I needed/wanted them where Wifi was available. Here’s where I found the big difference between the Kindle and the Nook and regretted my decision to buy the Nook. My book purchases could NOT be processed. I receive an email from Barnes and Noble notifying me that books for the Nook could only be purchased while one is physically in the U.S. and Canada! The only way for me to purchase books while in France was to contact a friend or relative physically in the US, give him/her access to my account and ask them to transact my purchase.
So with the kindle you could have downloaded a book while in France?
Yes. You can buy a kindle that allows you to make purchases internationally. I have had a kindle for years and I travel a lot. It has never let me down!!!
My sister and brother-in-law buy books on their Kindles all the time in Kenya.
Hi, I am currently evaluating e readers as I will be going to Africa (Kenya included) I was pleased to see your comments….any other info you can share?
txs
I’m in Uganda, and I do not have access to Whispernet, but it hasn’t been a problem with book downloads (until I wanted to upgrade my kindle). When I tried the download (thinking I could do it through the USB), it froze on me, and took EVERYTHING off my kindle, and now nothing will load and my kindle is empty, and I will have to buy a new one (or get to a country with Whispernet capabilities). I’m going to Kenya in December. Does the wi-fi function work on Kindle in Kenya? Anyone know?
As long as you have a US bank issued credit or debit card, the nook will now allow you to make downloads overseas
Nook just added a feature that allows anyone with a US or Canadian based debit/credit card to purchase anywhere in the world. =]
I own a Nook Color. I was in India few months back. Even though I had no wifi where I was at, I had no problems buying books. I simply used my laptop to buy books from B&N (or to download the free books we get every Friday). I transferred them onto my Nook using Adobe Digital editions. I also downloaded a lot of books from the library, again using Adobe Digital editions.
I have been using Nook Color for the past 11 months and the only thing I would have liked was a longer battery life. I haven’t had any issues (with my eyes) from reading for a long period of time. I can surf the web, listen to music and watch videos using my Nook. I also can borrow books from my friends using the Nook lending. I can use my SD card to store music, books and movies.
hi i am trying to consider the nook tablet or a kindle fire but i like them both and cant make a decision. i will mostly use it for light internet useage, reading sometime, and storing pics.
does the adobe digital cost money?
You forgot one thing, with the Nook you have to download Adobe Digital Editions in order to download a book. I have been trying for 2 days to activate Abobe Digital with no luck, even after talking with Adobe Chat for an hour for 2 days and they could not get it activated
I took my nook to B & N and they fixed the digital editions in 1/2 hour. Now I can order other e-books that I can read on my nook
It’s Nook color for me. My decision came down to what my needs were when I wasn’t reading. Some of the features include quick access to e-mail accounts, fast ineret access, and a growing choice of apps. With the nook I can download pdf files, pictures, and music. I love the ability to listen to Pandora. I am even finding more on-line videos that can be viewed on Nook. I live in a house with multple desk tops, lap tops, etc. Yet my nook gets the job done. This review is posted from a nook.
My thoughts exactly. I am constantly finding new things about my nook color. I love it because I can do on it what I can do on a laptop. Night reading is wonderful, no light needed. The best thing is that not only is it in color but it’s touch screen vs push button!
Agree……. Nook Color is for me… I actually rooted my NookColor tablet a few months ago and it now serves as a tablet with full access to the android market and with the switch of a button acts as a regular NookColor E Reader. Nothing was disturbed with the Nook Color when I rooted. Now I have an android tablet and my NookColor that work side by side.
I agree. I love my nook its with me all the time. Its way better than the kindle. And whoever wote this is not makeing this fair so dont belive everything on this post cuz half of them arnt true. Posted from my nook color.
So, the review is quite good but I still have a question. With the Kindle you have to buy from Amazon, a company that is fighting states that have sales tax.
Is it true that Nook has the capability to buy from independent book stores? If so, I would be happier supporting these stores than a company like Amazon that doesn’t seem to support the efforts of states to pay for public services.
John
Hey let me know if you got your answer to this question you wrote:
So, the review is quite good but I still have a question. With the Kindle you have to buy from Amazon, a company that is fighting states that have sales tax.
Is it true that Nook has the capability to buy from independent book stores? If so, I would be happier supporting these stores than a company like Amazon that doesn’t seem to support the efforts of states to pay for public services.
The real killer advantage of the Nook’s content over the Kindle’s is the fact that the device is fundamentally an e-Pub reader, and all of its copy-protected content relies on Adobe Digital Editions DRM.
Allow me to translate: it uses the single most universal e-book format for all of its content. And it also uses the single most universal DRM system for copy-protecting books sold by commercial publishers.
Allow me to translate the translation: the Nook Color will read damn-near anything out there, no matter what store you buy it from. If you want to buy something from the new Google e-book Store or from an independent publisher, it’ll install just fine. If you’ve downloaded a public-domain book, it’ll install even Just Finer.
Chicago Sun Times
Again, pushing Project Gutenberg down everyone’s throats, but I can verify. I get free books from them all the time; anything in PDF or several other formats works great.
Project Gutenberg offers all of their titles in Amazon compatible formats.
Really, Kindle is the 800 pound gorilla, and any serious e-book vendor is going to support Kindle or miss out on most of the e-reader market. Google books does not support the kindle… YET. But they plan to. And really, what books does Google offer that Amazon doesn’t?
What Kindle does offer is more subscription content in the way of books and magazines, and better versions of both. Amazon offers more tools for self-publishing which means more indies can get on Kindle than can get on the Nook. Amazon has a larger customer base making publishing for the Kindle more attractive.
I have published on both platforms, and Kindle is by far the easier to work with. My B&N sales don’t justify making it available for that platform anymore. (And being an Android tablet, it’s easy to add the Kindle app to the Nook.) Just my $0.02.
So just to clarify, you’re saying that if I buy the B&N Nook color, I could add the Kindle app to it? Like the best of both worlds?
is that really true?
They may say battery life for the nook is 3 weeks to 2 months. I found it was barely 5 hours of solid reading. Also the screen freezes on me. I have had 2 nook colors with these problems. Anyone else?
The Nook Color should get 6-8 hours of use in between charges. It is the nook simple touch, which uses the e- ink technology that has a 3 week to 2 month battery life.
You’re totally right!, despite what they say about the 2 months battery life it only goes no far than 4 hours lol! – NOT GOOD AT ALL!, hate when companies like this lie and tell us differently, so far with the Kindle I have no complaints at all.
Good luck!
Hector, it’s for the nook simple touch reader which the battery life will go from three weeks to two months depending on whether you are downloading or simply reading.
The NookColor on the the other hand is supposed to last 8 hours on a full charge with the wifi on and at most 9 1/2 hours with the wifi off.. and again all of that is based on what exactly you are doing on your nook (i.e. games, music, video, or simply just reading)
Battery life for me with straight reading has lasted me 8 hours at first.. It did take about 1 year before it slowly declined a bit, but I noticed I tend to run several items at once. Such as pandora and read…. Or inbetween chapters I go online and check facebook real fast.
Nook Color gets the 6-8 hours of use like Jack said, but the Nook Simple Touch is the device with up to 2 months of reading time.
The nook color stinks. I have both and the 3G is worth it’s n gold. Barnes and Noble is a horrid company.
Oh, and Amazon is all unicorns and rainbows? Gimme a break.
Haha that was a great comment lisa. I find Barns&Noble quite reliable in fact.
Barnes and Noble ROCKS!!!! They support education and give teachers 20% off. They also will help you LIVE with ur NOOK if any problems arise. What does Amazon do??? They don’t offer that kind of customer service. They are the Nordstroms of e-readers and books
Nordstrom ROCKS! They are very helpful and always give you returns or exchanges to keep you happy….
I am browsing this site to see if I should by the new Nook for my mom. I own a kindle, but since I never used a Nook I cant say which is better. What I can say is that Amazon customer service is great. I actually broke my kindle and customer service gave me no trouble. They didn’t even care how i broke it. It was under warranty and they replaced it no problem. Not to mention the free next day delivery of my new kindle and free return shipping of the broken one. Oh and because I am a student I get amazon prime free.
Ok now this is the big question now that Barnes and Nobles is gone who handles custmer support for the Nook it makes me worry about buying it? I also know that the Nook is expandable at least the upper ones are where the Kindle isn’t expandable in all but the fire. The review seems old I would be interested in seeing something more updated.
Beth
I have had my kindle for 2 years now and I love it!! My battery really does last 2 months or more. I do sometimes wish I had a lit screen since I do a lot of reading at night, but isn’t that what a book light is for? I am getting ready to purchase an ereader for my 12 year old whom also loves to read. I have considered the Nook so he can have games as well, but I think I’d rather he spent his time with a book, rather than with another type of video game!
Hey Tami – buy the case with the built-in light. I use mine all the time and love it!!!!
Thanks John! The reading at night was the ONE feature holding me back from going with Kindle. Ahh, my decision is made.
Kelly, that was my one holdup also! My 12 year old wants an e-reader for Christmas, and he loves to read in bed and in the car. Thanks, John, for the tip about the case!
Tami, John, Kelly and Rae,
Thanks for your input, I think I have now made my decision on purchasing the kindle for my 10 year old. I rather have him read than having access to another gadget for playing video games. I can get the case with the built-in light as John mentioned, OR buy a book light.
I’m still a little confused. Looking for an e-reader for my 11 yr old, and I don’t want free and open access to the internet. From my understanding the Kindle ($79) has internet access while the Nook ($99) does not. So if I don’t want access to the internet, the Nook is the only choice, right?
Laura- you’re misunderstanding the “free and open” internet on the Kindle. While you can link Facebook and/or Twitter accounts for Kindle (which some ppl do to post reviews of what they’ve read) it is not like you simply open a browser as you do on the computer and surf away. Therefore you should feel confident in your 11 year old having a Kindle for X-Mas and have no worries about internet surfing when s/he should be reading. I purchased one for my 15 year old and my 11 year old and they’ve never surfed, nor does my 15 year old even have his linked to Facebook.
wow my kid reads in the car as well Rae! now i know i have to get him the kindle!!!
im thinking ofbuying the kindle for my husband for xmas……it would strictly be used for reading….however, he does like to read at night, AND he will not want to use it with a case ??? Im not planning on buying a color e reader as he wont be downloading magazines or games..
im kind of dissapointed now to learn the kindle does not work as well at night ??
I’m not sure why people make a big fuss about needing a light. Books already need light. If he won’t use it in case, then he can get light from whatever currently provides it for books.
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when I read this Dan. I actually almost spit my water out! For Stac, the Kindle “case” is just a hardcover that goes over it to protect the kindle but its actually easier to hold and use with it on anyway. the light is built into it and turns on when the kindle is turned on. I find it to be very easy and not as cumbersome as you may think.
I HIGHLY recommend the bookcover, not only for the light but simply because it protects the Kindle itself. If you purchase the bookcover with light (they come without & with lights) the Kindle words just as well at night than in the daytime. Although you stated he would not be using it to download magazines or games please know that if he decides to do either be can do so on the regular black & white kindle just fine.
The color e reader may be good for night time reading. But what happens if he wants to read in the day. With the glare he will be staring at his reflection all day.
What John said. Hey Tami, buy the case with the built in light. It is awesome!
Thank you!!! This is the answer I have been looking for. My 12 year old wants a Nook for Christmas (she loves to read). My husband has a Kindle and LOVES it! So I started reading differences between both and was still confused what to get her. But the way you put it, it puts it in perspective. She has a lap top, ipod touch, Wii etc. Does she REALLY need something that has more video games. Thank you again. I am buying the kindle.
I don’t know if you can in other places…but here in the St Louis area you can download books from your local libraries. Just like you physically went to the library. And in the normal length of time you have the book from the library it stays on the Nook. Then when the time is up it disappears from your Nook. This is a very good thing for elderly people who can’t get out to go to the bookstore or library. It would be a great thing for people who are handicapped also.
This is awesome.
My local library also offers books for Kindle.
I’m in St. Louis also and I have a Kindle…we’re able to borrow from St. Louis County library onto Kindle. My mom lives in Chicago and they’re able to borrow from their library system in Northern IL. On Kindle you’re able to choose 7 day, 14 day, or 21 day loan periods and they allow you to borrow up to 10 titles at a time.
How easy is the library feature my Mom is not very computer savey but loves reading and getting books from the library are they simple to download and can they be downloaded from anywhere. She is handicaped and unable to drive. I am seriously considering buying the Kindle keyboard for my mom she is loseing her eyesight and I like the fact that it will read to her if she is haveing a bad day with her vision but I need to know she will be able to use it without a lot of difficulty.
Beth
The nook color does it for me. I like reading some part of the book before I make my purchase. With the nook, I can read up to 50 pages before I make my decision. I’m a student so I have a lot of pdf files that my professors would put up. The nook really help me in this aspect. I also like having a sd slot for more memory, which the second gen kindle does not have.
You can also try a sample on the kindle too to get the gist of what the book is like.
Plus you can download PDFs and the kindle 2 will hold a couple thousand books before the memory runs out. Even then you can archive them and with one click on he kindle, not even the computer, have them re downloaded
The problem with PDFs on the kindle or ANY e-ink screen is the inability to zoom in and out when needed. A pdf is scaled to a full sized piece of paper not a six inch screen. So unless you’re willing to fork over the 350 for the Kindle DX so with the Nook Color. Also the MicroSD slot isn’t included in ANY of the new kindles. That means that you are limited to the internal memory of the device… I have for example on my Nook multiple libraries on multiple cards and I just swap them out, fantasy novels, sci-fi, etc.
What I love about my Nook is that it reads ePub, which means that I can buy from almost anywhere, but with the Kindle I would be locked into only buying from Amazon.com… I choose to preserve my right to determine where my money goes…
Format conversion. My friends who have Kindles convert the books they buy. I’m told it works extremely well and they had no qualms recommending the Kindle because the lock-in is no longer an issue.
I can zoom in and out with my Kindle when reading PDFs…also I do not even need a MicroSD card because my Kindle holds up to 3,500 books without it. Also I can purchase my textbooks for school and download them to my Kindle, which does not require me to purchase them from Amazon.com
Mind you I have the previous generation Nook with keyboard also.
I’m still a bit confused so could someone please clear this up for me.
If I buy a Kindle I can only download books from Amazon and if I buy a Nook I can only buy from B&N. Are there other book vendors where one can buy e-books? So far I’m leaning toward the Kindle for the size, readability but I don’t like the fact that I would be “locked in” to buying from one place.
Yes, there are sites out there that will allow you to purchase books and download them to your kindle. Fiction wise is an example. I don’t know if you can do this with the nook however.
You can use any epub or pdf files for your Nook. If they’re drm protected you can usually just transfer it through the Adobe Digital Editions.
The Nook will allow you borrow books from your public library, if they have the capability. Amazon doesn’t.
That isn’t true– The Kindle allows you to borrow books from libraries as well.
Yeah… they had to because too many people were switching to the Nook. They recently added it… You know imitation is the most sincere form of flattery…
If the features are the same, does it matter when they were added? Right now the Kindle seems like a better product.
Not true Lisa, you can borrow books from your public library with Kindle. That capability has been in place since the end of 2010.
i love the kindle and btw im 10 and you would think i would want nook cuz it is like an ipad but i think both r great but i LOVE KINDLE GET KINDLE!
i am thinking of buying a kindle instead of a nook too, and im 12, and i really dont want it to be like an ipad cuz i already have a phone with games on it& an ipod touch, and i just want it to read on.
I ADORE my Kindle. Like an earlier poster said, I find the 3G very handy. I live in a rural area with only a Mi Fi for internet access. Wi Fi only for downloading books would eat up my data usage. Plus, with the 3G you do have some internet access: Google and Wikipedia. You can also purchase games to download and play on Kindle, save and access PDF documents, download music (or any mp3 file) from your personal library to listen to, and download and listen to audiobooks from audible (does require WiFi access). There is also a read-to-me function with most of the books. Yes, it sounds a little robotic, but you can listen to a book your reading while doing the dishes without having to duplicate an audiobook purchase. The only things that you HAVE to pay for in all that is the games; and the books of course.
Now, I do not know how much battery using ALL the functions at once would eat up, but the Kindle gives you plenty of warning before the battey runs out.
I was given a kindle for my birthday and I have to say its amazing, there are minor set backs for me like, having no back-light so I can read in the dark. And I don’t really care for the whole first gen ipod feel. But I can browes the web and download books in seconds. And the battery life is untouchable, when I bought it I charged it to its fullest and I still have half battery life that was over three weeks ago
. For the nook to me, having a touch screen seemed more like a burden than anything else. And the screen is too shiny for me, mega glare…and as I read above. The nook’s battery life is horrible compared to the kindle. I could go on but I hope this helps everyone who reads it 
I WANT TO BUY A NOOK FOR MY GIRLS FOR XMAS BUT WHAT IS BETTER KINDLE OR NOOK I WANT THEM TO READ MORE THEY ARE 12 AND 9 PLS HELP
Kindle, hands down. Read the review above and it is pretty obvious that Kindle wins in far more categories and Nook excels over Kindle in not a single category…a few there is a tie that comes down to personal preference.
I love my kindle! There are so many great books to read inexpensively, from free to $3.99. Of course the newer books ate $9.99 +
You can read a description of the book and you can download a free sample of several chapters before you buy.
It seems like the battery lasts forever. I have read over 80 books since Christmas and don’t feel like I have charged that often.
Does anyone know if you can access a gmail account on a kindle?
Yes Krista, you can. It is a full browser. There may be issues around sites with Flash, etc., but normal browsing works fine. I can get to my Gmail account with no trouble. But I don’t do it because using the keyboard on the Kindle is too clunky. There is no tab key so you have to use the 5-way pad to get to the right spot on the screen. I can do email better through my Android phone.
I was considering buying a nook or kindle, and this really helped sway my choice, thank you
Which one did you end up getting
I don’t know whether to get the nook or Kindle. My friend has a nook he says it way better than the Kindle. My sister has the Kindle and says it’s better so I think I’m going to get the Kindle, is that a good choice?
I Love my Kindle! Have owned it for 2 years and have not had any problems. It is light and easy to take wherever you go, the battery last forever, I also purchased the lighted leather cover for the extra light and it makes it feel like you are acutally holding a book. I also like to read outside and have had no problem with glare on the screen from the sun. You can also adjust the font size if you need larger font. Amazon has many books to choose. Free, .99, 1.99 and up.
The one thing that everyone has overlooked. I rooted my Nook Color and was able to read Kindle books as well with the Kindle App. In my opinion, its a win-win situation if you get the Nook and have some technical know-how.
This is so true. I purchased a nook color with the intent of rooting it. It was pretty easy to root and now it is not just an e-reader like the kindle but a full fledged tablet. I get decent battery life (4-6 hours with wifi on) and I can use my bluetooth keyboard if I have any heavy duty typing I need to do. Why pay extra for the 3g enabled kindle? Spend the extra money on your phone and get wifi tethering instead, you will be glad you did!
what?
Ok but if your not techno savvey… which one do you go for. I want to read a book on a tablet. Nothing more… I have a laptop for that. Which one would you suggest then?
The nook allows you to lend from other Nook owners, and also from the LIBRARY. The Los Angeles system. where I resside has tons.
Kindle does the same thing. Our library lets us borrow books to the Kindle. And lets you borrow from each other. And with the Kindle Fire you can do fb among others. And some apps
Kindle does the same thing and they have far more titles with that option than Nook does (lending between users AND public libraries in St. Louis, MO AND Northern IL
Anyone have any experience with any of the Kindles or Nooks as an audiobook player??? I would deeply appreciate your feedback. I’m looking at Nooks and Kindles for listening to audiobooks, as well as regular reading. Also downloadable newspapers (Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times) and maybe magazines.
This is a gift for my terrific husband, who spends a LOT of time in the car commuting – hence the priority for audiobooks. Thanks in advance!
I’ve used the audio option on my Kindle. It allows you to select whether you prefer the voice to be male or female, and also allows you to choose the speed in which they read. The voice is a typical electronic sounding voice, like on a GPS, so it can sound a bit off sometimes, but it’s still understandable.
Laura – I have the first generation Nook (3G – with WiFi turned off) and it works just fine as an audio book. I wanted to be able to listen to books while I quilted, but it was a pain having to move my Nook around my piecing, cutting, etc. I got a Nano for listening my my audio books and/or music. Works much better. As far as reading – I am an avid reader and my battery life on my Nook only lasts about 15 hours before needing a charge. Waste of money to purchase magazines for it – as I would want color for the magazines that I read. I gt the Nook as my public library allows me to check out books for it. Just noticed today, that if I had a Kindle I could also check out books as it just became available as a new feature. I can download any pdf or e-pub book onto my Nook. I will tell you that the original Nook has problems with the outer casing cracking at the page forward turn area. I am on my third Nook as the first two had to be replaced for the cracking and other issues. Good luck.
The kindle also has an MP3 option to which you can download audiobooks, along with the “read to me” option in which the Kindle itself will read you the book with no extra charge.
I don’t agree that comparing the Library for Nook and Kindle is a tie. I have the Kindle and love it, but is doesn’t work with the growing e-book collections that are available from my library. The Nook does. The Kindle FAQ does have instructions on how to download scanned books from Project Gutenberg and Open Books to your Kindle, but since these are scanned pages, it’s unlikely to be a happy reading experience.
I have the 1st edition NOOK, and I love it. I truly think it all depends on what you want out of an eReader. I didn’t pick the NOOK based on any reviews. I went into Barnes and Noble, tested it and feel in love! I know sounds corny! I love the fact that the bottom of the screen is touch capable, and you can see the book covers. I have gone by a book a hundred times thought about buying it and then forgot what I was looking for later on. With the NOOK, I can take a picture of the cover with my phone and go back home and search for the cover. Until recently you couldn’t find a Kindle in stores so I didn’t have the opportunity to test it out. That was another issue I considered when purchasing, I wasn’t going to buy something online that I wasn’t 100% sure of.
The kndle is a lot better and more useful
(Sing in tune of twinkle twinkle or ABC)
Kindle Kindle you’re so great! Kindle’s the big fish and Nook’s the bait! Don’t hesitate the Kindle’s better. If you agree you’ll be my homie forever!
Kindle Kindle your so great, be sure to get it and dont be late!!!!!!!!1
I want to buy a Nook or Kindle both for reading books and for the extra usages. My dad just ended up in rehab and is missing his email. They have wifi there but he doesn’t have a laptop. Which would you buy a Nook or a Kindle to get the best use of reading emails and doing small online searches?
They both have internet access. The difference is that Nook requires Wifi, whereas a Kindle uses 3G so you can access the internet anywhere you go.
That,s not completely true. I have a Nook and my cellphone carrier is ATT and I have my data plan with tethering and I get internet anywhere even if there is no WiFi.
Tazz, when you tether your nook to your cellphone, you’re creating a wifi hotspot. You’re not using 3G. It’s wifi. Kindle has true 3G — you don’t need to have a smartphone that can generate its own wifi hotspot.
Well, Kindle has Wifi. You can get a higher end Kindle that also has 3G
What is “rooting” a Nook? (See quote below.)
LutherB September 16, 2011 at 5:40 pm
The one thing that everyone has overlooked. I rooted my Nook Color and was able to read Kindle books as well with the Kindle App.
To root the Nook is to modify the internal memory as to allow the full android operating system to be utilized. It is recommended for the tech savvy only as you can turn your Nook into a doorstop, but that being said there are excellent sources online for information on how to do it.
nookdevs.com for example.
We’ve had two books recently that changed font in the paper version to indicate when the “voice” or character changed, as the book is narrated by two different people. The Kindle does not change fonts, and without that change, the book is very confusing. Anyone know if either product can handle two different fonts from an author?
I use my Kindle on a daily basis, and while the 3G has come in handy on several occasions, it’s ultimate purpose is to relax and enjoy a book (magazines are available as well). The Kindle is light weight and fits easily into a briefcase or purse. I know a few people who have purchased the Nook, and the majority of them have never used it to actually read. They get distracted with the other functionality (Why spend money on another portable internet device when our phones and laptops already do the trick?) and never use it for it’s main purpose. The nook is very heavy and somewhat bulky, so that could also be considered a downfall.
Speaking from experience if you’re looking for specifically an ebook reader without all the other games and gadgets, anything the Nook can do the Kindle does better. Better screen, better battery life, still allows lending, PDF conversion, mp3, internet browsing, email, 60 second or less book download, extremely extensive library, and amazing customer service and guarantees from amazon. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am a college student and I use my Kindle for school in addition to pleasure reading! Its the perfect device for anything book related. The Nook just can’t compete and tries to by offering the color version and games. If you want the best e-reader on the market, go with a Kindle, the Nook is just second rate. If you don’t believe me, read some of the reviews. Barnes and Noble lied about Nook battery life, and the fact that you have to download Adobe onto the Nook color before it will work has also presented problems, and this is only to name a few! Plus even if you can’t find a book on amazon for your kindle, there are so many free ebook sites out there that you can utilize that make Kindle specific files.
Current Nook and Kindle use the same eInk screen.
I have a special needs child that is very limited in his reading skills. I’m wondering which one of the two can read to him by using audio reading? If any one could guide me in the right direction I would appreciate it.
IMHO, neither one would be very good. The text to speech on both is flat and robotic. Weirdly accented words abound as do mispronunciations of more difficult names, places, etc… I don’t know what your child’s special needs are, but I have an autistic daughter and I wouldn’t recommend it for her. You’d be much better off with real audio books read by a human being that have emotion and proper tone.
I’d agree with the above. Your only other option is the Nook Tablet which allows you to record yourself reading the book.
If your public library has e-books you can borrow them for free on your nook. Best way to go!
Our library here just recently added Kindle to the list for ebooks, not nook.
If your library has pdf or epub books, they have books for the Nook. Kindle books ONLY work with Kindle, so they have to specify which device it works with. PDF and ePUB books work with a variety of devices so libraries don’t always list which devices they work with.
I love my kindle, I purchased it a year ago I have not had any problems with .
I’ve had my kindle now for about 7 months now and I couldn’t get by without the
3G feature. When I first bought my kindle I did not have internet at home. So I
tried my kindle using wi-fi and I could not get a connection any where other than
a Dunkin Donuts or McDonalds. With the 3G I could hook in anywhere I had a cell
phone signal. To say that the 3G is not needed is misleading. So far I have down loaded over 50 books and never had a problem and the 3g was free. I don’t have to pay one cent for internet access or ride around looking for a wi-fi hot spot. Nor do I have to go to a book store to buy my books, which in a way would defeat the purpose or the kindle. I paid an extra $50.00 for the 3G and am happy that I did.
I too have been debating Nook or Kindle. I like the idea that I can dowload from the library on the Nook. Does the Kindle have that capability? Another question, how many books can you get through on a charge?
I am all for the Kindle. I from South Africa, and boy has the Kindle increased my reading range. The 3G is actually very help full, with its “article-mode”, kindle 3G allows you to browse certain websites (i.e, Wikipedia or News24) and read the written articles in a nice neat article-mode as if it were a book. Do not even get me started with the At&T coverage… its simply awesome. As a Geologist, I sometimes find myself in the middle of nowhere for weeks upon end literally cut out from the world, but my Kindle is always near at hand.
Hi Zack, I am also South African visiting the USA and considering buying a Kindle before I return. Did you buy your Kindle in SA? Are you currently residing in SA, implying that the AT&T coverage is applicable there? Would appreciate yor answers. Regards
This is a great article – and it’s worth noting that you can now get library books on your Kindle, a feature I’ve been waiting ages for and am so excited to be able to use!
I don’t own a Nook, but I’ve used a Nook Color, and I can honestly say that I’m so glad I went the Kindle route. The pearl ink is amazing to look at, and the battery life is outstanding. As an iPad user, I was really disappointed when I looked at the Nook Color and found that the touch screen is actually really difficult to use – I couldn’t select the buttons properly and it seemed really unresponsive. Maybe I didn’t use it enough, but I wouldn’t recommend the Nook touch screen if you’re expecting something as sleek as an iPad/iPod/iPhone.
nook says it can down load “where ever there is wi-fi”…..NOT TRUE….i live in the BVI and you cannot down load outside of the USA….so my nook is useless….when i contacted the company their reply was basically too bad…..i will never buy from barnes and noble again.
So google ebooks and your location. There are hundreds of websites that sell ebooks. You just download them from the internet to your computer and copy them onto the Nook via your USB cable utilizing adobe digital editions.
They are both good. Comes down specific needs of each person. I selected the Nook for the backlit display. Personal preference.
As far as not being able to purchase outside the USA, the information about this is clear if you read FAQs. Not a problem for me, and I knew this before i puchased.
I love the nook!!! I think I want one for Christmas!!!!!
Can Kindle users trade books with Nook users? Is there any way to do that at all?
I was told you could download library books on the nook – my library has that capability but it doesn’t work. You have to go thru a computer and then put it on the nook. Its on the nook but won’t open. With the kindle now you can down load directly to the kindle without going thru a computer (which didn’t work in my case.
am waiting for the kindle “fire” – really looks like a less expensive alternative to the ipad.
I agree! I am definately going to get that for my mom instead of the tablet. I might even get it instead of the Samsung 10.1 tablet for myself. This article helped alot when you also compare it to the Fire specs on Amazon. I looks like the Fire is really going to rival the nook, just like samsung and the ipad.
A Kindle fire is a NookColor and again you are limited to the Amazon market… With the BN Nook you can download content from anywhere.. I downloaded 8 movies for free onto my Nook Color at an off site vendor. I download most books off BN.com I lend books from friends, and I download books from independent sites.. Love it…..
The new Nook Tablet is just a rooted Nook Color.. (wouldn’t waste my money on that)
I am a little techno-challenged. What about the ease of downloading books? Do the e-readers-I’m leaning towards Kindle. Do e-readers come with really good directions for things like this? BTW I do have a wireless connection in my home.
I found kindle more user friendly.
iS THE TEXT TO VOICE ON THE NEW NOOK HUMAN SPEECH, ALSO ON THE NEW TOUCH KINDLE COMING OUT IN NOVEMBER TEXT TO SPEECH HUMAN SOUNDING, OR ARE THEY COMPUTER SOUNDING?
Nook color is human sounding with all the inflections we would use
I’m getting deployed in a few months to the middle east and am considering purchasing something like this to pass the time. I will have intermittent electricity and internet priviledges. Is the Kindle the way to go? Will I be able to get new books from Afghanistan or Iraq? Price is also a definite factor. Is there a price difference in books from either device?
You can purchase your books anywhere in the world as long as you have a United States or Canadian billing address on your credit card. The prices are largely dictated by the publishers so they are relatively similar. One thing to keep in mind is that B+N has over 2 million titles and Amazon.com has less than half of that.
I’m a novice looking for a book reader, Kindle vs. Nook. On the new Kindle Fire, if it says something about the “cloud” does that mean you have to have a data contract?
It means that you will need to pay a subscription for their cloud service… Just like if you want to stream video you will have to pay for Amazon Prime and on top of that you will have to pay for a lot of the episodes you stream as well…
The Cloud service is free and you wouldnt need a data plan. To my understanding it just links the books from your kindle account so you can view them from a device other than your Kindle that supports right now Google Chrome or Safari internet browers. They say they will eventually expand to Firefox and IE.
Hmmm.. I think both Kindle and Nook look nice.
I like that the Nook is in color,but I hate glaring screens;because it’s like staring at a computer for hours…
I don’t know.Maybe Kindle is better because the screen isn’t shiny
you can adjust the brightness on the Nook Color screen.. I stare at a computer screen all day as well. I like my Nook.. I got to check out my girlfriend’s Kindle and it was too dark for me.
The laminated screen makes reading quite nice on the color, but if it becomes a problem look at the Simple Touch AKA Nook Touch. It is quite responsive, easy to use, lightning fast, and allows you to buy from almost anywhere online, but the Kindle only accepts kindle formatted books so…
::cough::
buy something that will let you take your ebook library with you. If you were for example going to buy a Kindle, and you buy a bunch of books from Amazon.com that means that those books will only ever be readable on a Amazon.com branded product because they use a proprietary format that only they can read. If you wanted to got to Nook or Sony reader down the road you would have to choose between your purchased library and the device. That is the trap of Amazon.com.
According to others this is simply not true. You can convert from Amazon’s format.
I’m trying to decide between the nook and the kindle. I’m only thirteen and it’s really confusing. I read really fast and I never really have enough new books. I don’t really care about the games, I just want cheap books. I also don’t have much money. advice?
I would go to with the Kindle. You might find yourself clicking the button often but I think it is the way to go, and also the price is less than nook.
The equivalent Nook and Kindle eInk models are about the same price. Quality is essentially the same.
The Nook offers over 1 million free books… Seriously, go to BN.com in search type free (for NookBooks) aand over 1 million listings comes up. Some suck, I won’t lie but 80% of the time I find them to be great reads… Also, every Friday BN offers a free book for downloading.. A Nicholas Sparks book was free just recently..
Help, My husband hates to use my computer, but would like to both e- read books and surf the web. He has a hard time with a keyboard. Nook or Kindle? We are thinking about the Nook color. (we are seniors so not too computer savey). Which one would be better.
I’d choose kindle forsure.
to me the nooksounds real cheap.
I’m just dying to get the new kindle “Fire”!!!!!!!!
Love, Love my Nook!!!
I am in the process of buying an e-reader for myself and for my 12yr old. I am not computer savvy so I am a bit confused. Here are the questions that I have in re to the nook color and the kindle fire (those are the 2 that I am interested in):
1. For my daughter she loves to read but like all chidren she would like to play games and listen to music. We have an ipod but no fancy cell phones thus the reason I have narrowed the search between the nook color and the kindle fire.
Can you download music from i tunes?
2. I have heard that barnes and nobles could be in trouble financially. If you buy the color would you have any one to go to for supprot?
3. Kindle Fire does not have 3G. What exactly will 3 G provide for me? I read the comments above but I still would like to know the benefits.
4. After you have downloaded the books either from the lib or purchased do you still need internet connection to read? I noted that you did not for the regular kindle but I am not sure with the 2 that I am looking into buying.
1. A Nook Color will have no trouble downloading from iTunes. As far as iTunes is concerned the Nook is just another MP3 player. You will want to put in a micro SD card for additional space. The Nook Color has 1 GB of free space for user owned content, but if you put a micro SD slot in it you can have up to 32 additional Gigabytes of free space.
2. Barnes and Noble is doing quite well because of the Nook. Borders went under for a variety of reasons including their lack of an ereader. And if somehow Barnes and Noble did go under the wonderful part of using a standard format for your ebooks means you can take your library with you.
3. 3G connectivity allows the user to download new books anywhere where there is cellular service. Its speed can vary dramatically given your location, but it is a nice feature for those that don’t have wi-fi in their homes. For me personally I’m just fine without it. I download my books at home, at school, in coffee shops, or when I visit Barnes and Noble. 3G is a luxury item that is not needed.
4. Once you download any book to your nook you no longer need an active internet connection. You only need an internet connection if you are actively downloading books or are surfing the internet.
Will you PLEASE help? Even after reading all of the posts, my head is still spinning.
I need to purchase for two children.
We have WiFi at home and that is the only place they will be used.
I will need parental clothes.
I do not want to pay a monthly fee. Buy it and be done; except for the games and books they buy using iTunes card or something comparable.
This is what I need
Age 10 – From Home, Download books and educational games only. No need for music, not even typing really.
I am hoping the original NOOK will do here because I have a friend selling on for $75
Age 12 – From Home, Download books, games, type, (print if possible), music, search the web. Hopefully the cheaper Kendall, but not sure
Pls. give me your opinion. My six year old uses reading as a sleep aid. I’m hoping the Kindle or Nook will grab her attention when it comes to reading. Which do you think is geared more for children? The Nook or Kindle?
Any user or reviewer comments on Kindle vs. Nook with regard to:
1) highlighting passages or dog-earing a page for future reference
2) inserting notes or comments
3) rendering pictures, diagrams, or tables of numbers
The Nook color can highlight, annotate, and bookmark your ebooks. They will also stay if the book is deleted and is then re-downloaded.
Which one supports language like Japanese and Chinese? I know iPad does.
I got my Nook for my birthday. I have used it for a little over a month now. I saw my girlfriend’s Kindle but it was too dark for me in the evening hours. I asked for the basic Nook but got the color as a surprise!! Bonus!! I love it and I have travelled up and down the East Coast… Love it!! Love it!! It just stinks that they two aren’t compatible so I can’t share with my girlfriend
I have a smartphone as well but I usually go to my Nook for the searching. Crystal clear for even an old blind one like me 
To me it sounds like the Nook Color is the way to go. My 14 yr old and decided to get an e-reader today. The library option would sure make it easier on my pocket book LOL. The quote from the Chicago Sun Times was the same speel the lady at B&N gave me. Im sure with the help of Google I could figure out the “rooting” thing easily enough. For me I like the idea of flash being on it as well.
The Kindle seems more limited and I dont like that.
thank you, you made my decision easier…
I am living in ROK but will be visiting the US in Dec. I want to buy something but not a tab/pad so I can read books. I do not have an internet svc here and use public wifi or computer rooms. I do have a laptop & not very tech savvey. I do have American credit cards. I am leaning toward kindle touch or fire but need to get something I can use here. Open to suggestions….thanks^^
You can download library books on the kindle which is a huge advantage
No issues with our Color Nook whatsoever. Reading outside is not a problem. Battery life? Not a problem. The Kindle doesn’t have an SD card slot. At least, they didn’t document it on Amazon.com website. The Nook Color does. I now a have a library on 2 different laptops and one home PC without having to log in, simply plug and play. Just saying…
I’m thinking of not buying the usual sweaters for Christmas and getting a family gift of either Kindle or Nook. I’m somewhat electroncally hadicaped so please let me know which you think would be best for my adult children and their young teens. Also, which has the best access to magazines.
Thanks so much for your time, Mary
plz help me i ve gone thru whole reviews but ive a ques m i able to read my old already downloaded books from scibd presently saved on my flashn computer (on kindle n nook.)
OK I’m a little confused… So you can access a library from both the Nook and the Kindle? Is one easier than the other when it comes to accessing a library? I’m guessing that the Kindle has cheaper books if you’re looking at buying, is that right?
Thanks.
After using both the kindle 3 and nook simple touch, I have to say both are pretty much the same. Kindle can run PDFs, but nook share between a lot more book companies. Both have lending capabilities and the same battery life, but the nook’s hardware looks generally better.
I just read through some of these comments, and felt that I had to leave my 2 cents. (Actually, it might not be worth even that.) I got a Nook for Christmas last year, and initially, I loved it. That is until it froze 4 or 5 times (at least) a day, and my battery life was not as long as I would have liked (I had the regular Nook, not the Color) I finally got so frustrated that I took it back, and purchased a Kindle. I love it! Someone mentioned earlier that Nook has over 2,000,000 books while Kindle has only 1/2 that. I currently have more books than I can read in a month on my Kindle, and I have more I want to get. I rarely ever pay for a book unless it is something that I have been waiting for. Only once since I received my Kindle did I have a problem. After a call to customer service, they sent me a replacement free of charge. All I had to do was send my other one back within 30 days. They even paid the shipping! For me, customer service like that deserves some praise! Many people I know love their Nooks. For me, Kindle wins, hands down! As for pricing, I found that the books I do pay for are normally slightly cheaper on Amazon. When you compare pricing on the devices themselves…Kindle again, hands down. Also, I have a regular Kindle with no advertising, but I have been told that the advertising on the less expensive Kindles does not appear when you are reading. I like the fact that Kindle has tried to make things a bit more affordable.
Martha -
That is my question and want to ask you because you have used both. I have been comparing the book stores between Kindle and Nook. Are the Kindle prices a little cheaper? My mom reads sooo much and although the Nook has more magazine selection, I think she would rather get cheaper books and just have go buy the magazines.
Also my other question is the restriction to being locked in Amazon for keeping books. My mom isnt too tech savvy so I dont see her trying to root her kindle or anything, but do you feel it to be a hinderance to be locked in like that? I think am going to get her the Fire because I think it offers a little bit more in terms of internet, adobe flash and stuff and I like its specs over the Nook for her use of it – So its more in general question.
Thanks!
It says above that “Both e-readers allow you to transfer any purchased e-books to your other e-book capable devices.”
Does anyone know if this includes books purchased through itunes?
I am looking for a non-color (e-ink) reader. My biggest concern is the available library for both. The nook seems to have more books available…my niece has a kindle and there are certain books she cannot find for it. Thoughts?
I am debating between the nook and kindle. One of the big things i want is to be able to highlight and write notes. when i read books for classes i like to annotate and i don’t want to lose that capability. I know that with the nook you can do those, but can you with the kindle?
Do you have to pay a monthly subscription for either device? I’m looking at getting one of these as a gift and I would like to know if there are any other costs associated before i purchase.
which company has a better library Barnes and noble or amazon? Not the classic books but nice drama fiction up todate books?
My preteen son is an avid reader – we’re constantly buying the latest books as soon as they hit the shelves. An eReader would save me money and trips to the store. However I’m concerned about the wifi. I don’t want him to have unrestricted, unsupervised internet access. Do either the Kindle or the Nook have parental controls?
yes the nook does offer parental controls
So the review said the Kindle uses next to no battery life when the WiFi is turned off. How is the battery life if the Kindle has 3G? Is it worse than just getting the WiFi and then turning it off? Does it still last a long time?
I would suggest including the Nook Touch in your review. versus 6 Kindles to the one Nook. It has turned out to be a very nice reader. Not sure why B&N is still waiting to launch Nook Color 2. Can’t wait to see your review between it and the Kindle Fire. Thank you.
I have had a nook for about a year and a half. After 4 months of owning it, the screen froze and I couldn’t get it to work. I took it in to the store and the people were very helpful. They called customer service and had my nook replaced. Now, not even a year later, it is acting up again. The software keeps reverting to an earlier version and deleting my books. Thankfully they are all saved at bn.com. Unfortunately, my 1-year warranty is up and there is nothing they can do. I believe I will be switching to the kindle very shortly.
I am in the market to buy either the Kindle Fire or Nook Color and have read all comments. None of which has answered my question. I would like to know which of the two has a larger spanish selection of books. Everyone I have spoken to tells me Amazon has alot more books especially the rare and hard to find one’s more so than Barnes&Noble. Does anyone have any comments on this topic. Thank You
very helpful. i think ill go for the kindle. i especially liked that there is a possibilty to lend books to friends
With the
Nook Color you can let some read your book for 14 days.
Thank you all for the input… I have a 14 year old daughter that loves books more than a librarian, and was undecided about which e-reader to get her… We are going w/ the Kindle
It seems a good number of features for the Kindle – book lending, movie/TV show downloading, etc – are all tied in with an amazon Prime membership, which is, what, $80?
I hate the idea of a subscribing membership, so I think that should factor in as well, and should be noted.
Whomever (whoever? someone correct me here) did this review, great job regardless of the Prime omission.
I haven’t made my decision yet but, I think I am going to go with the Nook Color because it has games to play when you have been reading for a long time and I don’t think the Kindle is that great. Acctually, I think the Kindle has less advantages and the Nook Color has more advantages.
Thank you so much for this very helpful article. I was in the valley of kindle or nook(smile).
I have made my decision by reading this article. Kindle all the way. Fondly Samantha
Can you take notes with the Kindle, WITHOUT being in a book?
Would someone comment on kindles with extras?? I know less $$, but is it worth dealing with the pop up ads? Thank you.
There are NO pop-up ads with the special offers. The ads show as the screensaver and at the bottom of the page when you’re in the amazon store. They never show up when you’re reading and they never get in the way of the book.
What is a prime membership? Is this a monthly fee?
Does either play music?
Go to amazon.com and read all about it. A lot of the ‘freebies’ talked about with the Kindle are only freebies if you have an amazon Prime membership, which like I said, cost $80 a year.
So essentially, add whatever price you’re buying of the Kindle plus $80 to get all the bells & whistles.
My daughter wants an e-reader for christmas. Out of viewers, which is better for her? She is 16, and dosnt really need to play games or surf the web becauz she has an ipod touch.Which one shld i get her?
I have an 11 year old boy that LOVES to read. Looking for Christmas. Anyone have a suggestion. I’m leaning towards the Kindle (price, size). We ARE NOT a tech family (16yr old just got a cell phone and 2 weeks ago we added texting to our phones) so he doesn’t need the Internet, games… just reading Goosebumps, ect… Thoughts~
I have to say…this has really just confused me more about which to buy!! Is there any place I can get all the new updated info? Everyone has their own opinions but it seems as though a bit of the comments are with outdated versions?
Hi All,
I am grudgingly entering the e-book world, have thought the kindle the better option but – my only purpose for this is to get e-books from public libraries, not to buy anything.
does anyone know if public library books are accessible for both? and – this membership fee for amazon mentioned above – is this mandatory to get public library books? the philadelphia library site sz you choose yr books and go through amazon to download them – what? I know I could call the library but suspect this forum will provide clearer advice…
thanks,
pat
I am looking for something to get my 6 year old interested in reading, any suggestions? I have thought about the Leap pad explorer, but figured for the price I could get something the whole famly could use such as the Nook or Kindle. Most important is something my son will enjoy.
Thank you.
Mariah,
I know this site is all about the Kindle and Nook but the best way to get a 6 year old boy interested in reading is for someone (human) to read to him aloud regularly (every day/night as possible) from age appropriate books on subjects he loves (mystery, adventure, bugs, sports, history, etc) taking him on all kinds of amazing adventures and feeding his natural curiosity for the world around him. It’s a great bonding time too. This will ignite his passion for reading best. I have two sons who have been read to from an early age. They are now average 12 and 10 year olds who devour books. The eldest ranked in the 99 percentile for reading comprehension on the Iowa Tests (the youngest will take his first Iowa Test in the Spring).
I am interested in either a Kindle or Nook as a gift for my husband because he has run out of room for more hardcopy books in our home.
Right now I am leaning toward the Kindle but will need to research further before making my final choice.
i bought both my teenage daughters kindles last christmas and they are both broken already. Even though they have looked after them, the slightest bend will wreck the screen. One of them must have been bent when it was in the side pocket of her (bulging) suitcase. and we not sure what happened to the other one. So big fault with them is that they are very delicate.
Okay…. That was slot of words! I’m a 11 year old girl who’s birthday is comming up. I wanted the I-pad, but my dad said it’s too expensive. Not to sound spoiled, but I have all nessary needs! I don’t know what to get now. My birthday is in 10 days!!!!! I was thinking about the nook, but then I found the kindle! Now i’m stuck!!! Have any ideas??? I think im going with the nook, cause it’s Like my origal gift! Always follow your gut!
Thank you so much for doing such a great job on this review! You guys saved me a lot of time!!!
I want to buy a kindle to hold all my reference books and just downloaded the kindle app on my android…. i want to know if i download a book on my phone can i read the same book on the kindle when i buy it or will i need to re-purchase the book?
Which one is better at reading aloud to you – Nook or Kindle – this is for a 10 year old with a fluency issue in reading. Reluctant reader….. Thanks for help!
I am a college student and for many of my classes we have reading assignments in PDF format. I understand that both the nook and kindle are capable of displaying these files. However, I read one comment about the kindle being unable to zoom in on the PDF. They didn’t clarify if the nook COULD. The ability to zoom in on the PDF would be very useful because sometimes the text in the document is nearly impossible to read on a 6″ screen. Does anyone have any insight on this?
What’s the problem?
Buy both.
Kindle at 79 and
the Nook at 249
Thx this just what I need to choose which one to get for Christmas.Getting the Kindle hands down!
I am ready to get an e-reader I am a college student and I was looking for something that I could listen to pandora, download music, read e-mails, work on papers, browse the web and obviously read books and magazines..I don’t travel much but if I do I would go to Mexico or Europe would I have access to libraries to download books?
Trying to decide between the Kindle touch with and without ads. Is it really worth spending the extra $40 to not have ads? I’ve never had a kindle or nook and just wanted to know if the ads were constant or what to expect.
The ads are small and at the bottom of the screen. It is a tiny block like the size where you would put name if you were filling out this form. You don’t notice it and unless you tap it, it pretty much goes unnoticed.
I’m buying the Kindle because of my declining vision and that’ s the area where Kindle kills the Nook. I don’t need another tool to browse the net. I’ll spend the (virtual) difference on eBooks. $109 is a good investment even tho I ‘m a big supporter of independent booksellers I’ll still use them to buy books as gifts and the occasional one unavailable as an eBook. Hopefully the independents figure out a way to survive the competitive pressure. It’s a marketing issue and the little guys don’t have the money or expertise The ABA is the only entity with the leverage to do anything of that nature. I’m rooting for David.
Amazon’s advantages were 1. not collecting sales tax, a huge profit booster.
2. They were getting huge volume discounts by buying thru Ingram, the largest U.S. distributor of videos and books when Amazon launched. Independents also bought through Ingram but not in the volume necessary to get comparable discounts. My guess is 55% for Amazon and 45% for the independents. B&N , et al got somewhere inbetween, and look what it did for them
i thought that this was a great website. i am not that old but i read a lot but i also like to play games and browse the INTERNET and i was having trouble deciding what to get. Then i read this website and it gave me lots of good advice and compared everything i needed to know and it helped pick the nook color.
Can someone tell me this…..simply….my mother loves to read. Shes 65 and can barely turn a computer on…..which would be the easiest and user friendly. The simpliest nook, or the kindle? (I will be doing all uploading of books etc.)
i am only 14 but after see the different between a nook and a kindle, i have decided to have a kindle instead. my cousin have the kindle right before the kindle fire came out. he love it and before he wouldn’t pick up a book. i love to read so i’m getting the kindle fire!
need help to decide whether to get nook simple touch or the kindle. The newest one. Not the kindle fire, not the kindle 3 but just the plain kindle. I really dont know. The kindle is lighter but the nookis a touch screen. Please help!
My mother is determined to buy her 12 yr old granddaughter (my niece) the new Kindle Fire. It’s actually in the mail now. My biggest concern is the big wide web is open for her to explore in her hands. Lets face it, kids look at and seek out what they’re not suppose to. Is there a way to check the web history? Are there parental controls to block adult sites? From what I’ve learned there are not!! The only thing you can do is block everything including the app store. Doesn’t make any sense to pay extra for the web capability and then have to block it out. So if you are buying for a adolescent I suggest getting a e-reader that doesn’t have web browsing. We are now planning on returning the Fire and debating between a older Kindle or the Nook. She saw a commercial for the Nook and said she would like one. I think she’ll be happy with either. I’m voting for the Kindle seeing she shouldn’t need to read at night in the dark. I found this web pg very useful in deciding thank you!
look im 14 and im on the internet all the time and ive never looked up anything that i shouldnt but i have friends that would just because their parents dont let them if you tell her she shouldnt look at something she will just go to her friends house or the computer at her house or even to the library if she really wanted to and as for reading at night she could just use a flashlight anyway
*Minor correction – NOOK has e-book sharing capabilities in addition to borrowing for an hour per day while in a B&N store.
I am having trouble with my eyes. Thinking might get a nook Color. That way I could read books to by 18-month old great/grandson. More fun on color. I am somewhat of an invalid. If I need help, see B&N Stores everywhere I travel. No Amazon stores. So would be easier to get help? Would seem like the back-lit screen would be better for my failing eyes too but concerned about reading out-of-doors. I’ve been using my iPhone 4 For several weeks but screen is too small.
My husband is looking at Nook and Kindle. He reads frequently, and we’re running out of book shelf space. However, books aren’t his only requirement or need. He does a lot of driving throughout the week and sometimes wishes he had a gps to give him directions to clients homes, but doesn’t want to make that investment, if he could have a feature in app form on a tablet. So, the question is, can you purchase a gps app for a Kindle or Nook?
I know its an odd interjection but I have read all the comments and questions, and don’t see any reference to app features other than games, etc.
Anyone?
I want to purchase an e-reader for my child but do not want to give her Internet access/wi fi whenever she wants & unsupervised. I was leaning toward a kindle touch until I found out she could access the Internet through it whenever she wants (& make purchases). Any suggestions for a parent who wants to give their kid the wonderful world of digital books without walk-around Internet access?
I have had a Kindle DX for a year, and I love it. One of my favorite features is the text-to-speech. Not all books are text-to-speech capable, but many of my favorites are. I am a busy teacher with 2 kids, so before last Christmas I was not able to get to a lot of reading. The text-to-speech feature allows me to read on the go. I listen while driving, I wear it in a tote bag across my hip with headphones when I am cleaning. In the past I would crawl in bed at night, and my eyes would be so tired it was difficult to stay awake and read. Now I close my eyes with my headphones in while I listen to a little bit of my newest story. LOVE IT!
Under your connectivity section you mentioned that the Kindle offers “E-lending” But you did not mention that the Nook also offers “E-Lending”.. Truthfully, I think a typo was made, because I was not aware that Kindle books were available for sharing, as (select) Nook books are…
Lastly, I am unsure if I missed it while I was reading this but the NookColor can upload books from multiple sites for various prices. The Kindle is limited to Amazon.
The Nook comes with an extra storage option with an SD card, that the Kindle does not..
I am looking at one of these for myself and for a Christmas gift! I am so happy I got to read this! Very helpful. Think I will be going with the kindle!
I’m considering buying the Kindle Touch for my father who doesn’t have function in both arms/hands. Which is better for one-handed use?
Does anyone know if the Kindle also allows e-lending to other Kindle users (like the Nook)? Or can the Kindle only loan books from the library?
so which one should i friggen get?
I purchased the kindle touch, so far I found it difficult to get around. of the reasons I bought this was so I ld ck my emails and acess facebook as well. Should I have purchased the nook?
Does anyone know if the Kindle fire allows a person to play Facebook games on it? No one at Best Buy knows the answer and the display doesn’t allow you to go on the internet.
If you want something that has an internet browser then you might as well just get an iPad or android tablet…
I have not yet bought a nook or a kindle. What is the price on the books like? Is it lower on one than the other? and for the lending thing is that completely worth it for the kindle/kindle Prime or is the hour on the nook a better bet for lending?
I think I will get the Nook — in store support is hugh factor for me. If I need help it is there, in person. I can only image the issues dealing with Amazon.
I was looking at getting the nook color for my mom. She wants it to mostly read, but I want her to able to go on ABC.com or CBS.com an be able to watch full episodes as well. Can she do this with her nook color, does she have to get the ABC app?
My 9-yr-old son wants a Nook or Kindle. He’s not an avid reader but really needs to read more. He tech savvy SO I think I like the Kindle as I want it solely as an e-reader for him. Which woudl you recommend or buy? How plentiful are children’s & preteen ebooks?
I’m not sure if this was already mentioned but the Nook, which I found out after I purchased my Kindle, allows you to download books from your local library using your library card! I wish Kindle had that option!!
Kindle DOES have the option. Your library may just not have Kindle books yet.
I’m considering a Kindle for my soon-to-be 12 yr. grandson who loves to read. I know NOTHING about this stuff. My question: Will he have to maintain internet access, or is that just for downloading books? Thank you
>>This is one of the major gripes with Kindle’s “Lendle” (what a horrible name) program.
Just to be clear: Amazon doesn’t have a “lendle” program — Lendle.me is a 3rd party site built around Amazon’s lendable Kindle books. (I’m a co-founder.)
And we love the name.
Wow–thanks for clearing that up. I didn’t mean a “program” per se… will edit this tomorrow and make sure we mention it’s a Amazon limitation!
Still think it’s a terrible name though
I feel that Amazon ruined the design of the Kindle overall. My KK is very nice, I figured that an update would simply remove the keyboard and keep the nice design. But nope, they messed it up. I like everything about the Kindle, I’m just having a hard time getting over this issue.
Very helpful…shopping for a gift for my daughter.
Thank you for a good review covering so many aspects. I can now make an informed decision for the Kindle. It is a birthday/college graduation/Christmas gift. An objective, factual review was needed.
This was very helpfull. Thank you so much. I will definatly go out online or to a store and get the kindle. Finally no more heavy books!
I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo getting the kindle! it sounds really cool!
I was wondering, because it wasn’t clear. Can the Kindle be used to download books from itunes. And do the e-readers only download books from there respective sponsors? (ie. only amazon
Fantastic review – a huge help and greatly appreciated.
Do either have back light. I like to read in bed and would like something I can read in the dark.
wondering if there is a monthly fee as there is with cell phones to hook up to one of these readers? Can’t find anywhere where it says about that. If there is, what are the fees?
No, once you buy it it is yours, no fees
Why would you buy a Kindle which does NOT support the .epub format without a lot of file conversion hassles, etc. Since I bought the Nook Simple Touch, I have downloaded for free more books than I can realistically read for years. No file conversion, no copyright issues… it just works. I had a Kindle and it’s ok if you’re highly principled and insist on paying for everything you read–otherwise get a Nook, as an e-reader it works as well as anything out there.
This evaluation and accompanying tables was incredibly useful in my search for the ideal Christmas gift, thank ya very much!
The only reason I’m having a hard time stomaching a Kindle is that it doesn’t allow you to read .epub files (check out http://www.epubbud.com)! You are locked in to reading purchased content only (exception being library titles), and being a librarian, most of those library titles are popular fiction only. Try finding some of those classic science fiction titles, or even classic fantasy titles on there… there aren’t many.
I’d much rather have a device that is completely flexible with file types. Both have their disadvantages (nook can’t read .doc), but I’d rather have access to .epubs.
I purchased the Nook Simple Touch on 11/10/11, for an upcoming trip to Mexico on 11/21. On 11/20 my Nook stopped responding to any touch. I hoped it would “go away”, but when it didn’t I had to call from the airport to report the problem and was told to call and request a replacement once I returned. On 11/30/11 I called to get my replacement Nook and the customer service person didn’t seem to follow what the problem was and I had to explain/test and go thru everything like I had done on 11/21. Yesterday I received my replacement Nook. Instead of it being a new Nook, it was a “certified pre-owned” Nook and I was like “you’ve got to be kidding me. I called Barnes and Noble and they wanted me to give my credit card (again) and try (again) to send me a new Nook. I said no. They directed me to go to my Barnes and Noble store and trade the certified pre-owned for new.
At the Barnes and Noble store this afternoon I told them I wuold not explain what had happened all again and that they would need to look up the serial numbers to read the history. The “salesman” said “I’m not reading anything” and I followed him to where they had the Nooks. This salesman said that certified pre-owned is the industry standard — so basically I should be happy with that. The certified pre-owned is worth $79. I paid $99 on 11/10.
i will and cannot recommend that anyone choose the Nook over a Kindle. The support was awful and then my device failed. I hope my new Nook works, but all of the initial enthusiasm I had for my reader is completely gone.
Very disappointed.
DONT BUY A NOOK! I bought one last Sept 23rd, my first time buying one of these, and it stopped working in Nov 2011. I called customer service and they said there is nothing they can do to help me. They suggested I buy a NEW ONE! I said I would only it will be a KINDLE. So If you want to pay $149. for only a year of use get a NOOK.
Their customer service sucks.
That is a silly comment. Any gadget can fail.The Kindle can fail too. You took a gamble, when you bought it without extended warranty. Unfortunately, you lost. It sucks for you, but that does not mean you go online, and try to put others off, from buying the device. Such a poor Loser!
I understand you can read emails. With the keyboard can you also send emails?
What other use is there?
Amazon is a terrible company. They do far too many things that are bad in general — like screwing their employees and authors and publishers. I will buy a Nook just because I do not want to support Amazon.
what is the diffrence between nook color, and regular, or “simple nook”?
Thank you all for your input. I had intentions of getting my 11 year old daughter an e-reader for Christmas, but I wasn’t sure if a Nook or a Kindle would be better for her. I now know a Kindle would definitely be the better choice. And I just may have to get one for myself. (or borrow hers often)
So I’m thinking about buying my gf an e-reader for Christmas. She loves to read and already has an iPhone, so I don’t think I would need all the fancy internet stuff. BUT… which one should I get her, if the objective is to just read, and if there is no internet, how can one download books? Also, say you get an e-reader with only wi-fi. If you’re not in a hot spot, can you still read your downloaded books? Last question: How bad are the ads on the Kindle if you get the $99 one? So many decisions. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Which Kindle is better for an 11 year old? There are several versions. Not leaning towards the Kindle Fire though because she does not need the web surfing, games, movies, etc. She can use her lap top for that.
I just bought a Kindle a wanted to make sure I made the best decision I could. I did my homework before hand but always get nervus spending that much money. Although it will never replace a paper book, I find that I LOVE my Kindle touch 3G!!! I have the one with advertisements as well and I even like them! Most of the advertisements are for places near you (if you are in a large city) or for Amazon itself. Who can turn down $1 books? If given the opportunity I would make the same decision! GO KINDLE! =D
hi, great info. but i wanted to know if you can purchase college books on the kindle. i know u cannot on the nook. how would i find this out?
I am Australian and currently visiting US (Hawaii) If I buy a kindle here in the US, will I have problems downloading books or using it back in Aus? I travel a lot but I will use this mainly in Aus. Thanks
Thank you so much for such an incredibly helpful, thoroughly well-written review. After months of debate, I finally know what I’m getting: Kindle all the way
In memory, you didn’t mention Nook Touch has expandable memory up to 32GB with a microSD card. None of the Kindles have slots for a microSD card.
I think Nook Touch wins in that category.
I’m buying the Kindle. I’ve spent the last 3 hours reading reviews and the Nook has waaaaaaayyyyyy too many dissatisfied customers due to brand new devices malfunctioning and subsequently being replaced (after consumers were subjected to very poor customer service) by “certified pre-owned” devices. Many of the reviews were right on Barnes & Noble website and within the past 3 months. Who cares how many different things a device CAN do, if it doesn’t ACTUALLY DO any of them?
Shouldn’t the Nook win for storage because of the microSD card support?
I have both the nook touch and because the battery kept dying every so often, and not because the battery died but because there was something wrong with the battery, I recently bought the kindle fire and I find it to be much easier to use and more consistant than the nook touch.
I had the nook touch and it was hard to use and more difficult than the kindle fire that I just recently purchased and so far, I can honestly say that I prefer the kindle fire. I love Barnes&Nobles and that’s why I bought the nook first but the kindle fire has less bugs and is easier to use overall.
Ok.. I got half way through the consumer comments and it was kind of annoying reading about people comparing a Nook Color to a Kindle Black and white. That didn’t make any sense at all.
No one seemed to compare the Nook’s Black and White Touchscreen with the Kindle’s Black and White Touchscreen. Which one is more responsive?
The nook Color is not even part of the Original Posters Article! It seems like the Nook can read almost any format natively while the Kindle requires the user to go through 3rd party conversion programs. I guess my choice will come down to what books are available or unavailable from each company and how well PDF files or downloaded files are rendered on each device, or atleast which one makes the process easiest with the widest selections of books.
I like to read rare books that are not easily found in stores. Which e-reader would be suitable for those rare independently published books?
Jose,
Having been using both Kindle and Nook apps on my phone and tablet for some time, I think the answer these days is Nook. I used to find more of these rare book on Kindle but as of late I’ve seen more on Nook. I suspect it has something to do with B&N buying Borders and combining their assets.
Despite some of the advantages you note to the Kindle here, to answer your question about why so many still choose the Nook, it’s PRICE. If we’re more or less comparing apples to apples, you can get the Nook Simple Touch, ad-free, for $99. The ad-free touch Kindle is $139. In today’s economy, $40 is a big difference. Think how many e-books you can buy for that! Besides, I think the idea of buying any e-reader and having to be subjected to ads at all is disgraceful.
Hi, I’m Valerie and I’m 13. For Christmas today I got a Nook Color… I really just wanted to read and maybe get books a little bit cheaper… but there’s so much crap (apps, music, etc.) on this thing its impossible! Weren’t nooks invented to make READING easier? They don’t need to compete with i-pads or kindles.. I being a kid and probably the largest consumer of the product don’t care!
After watching a few reviews for both the regular Nook for $99 and the Kindle touch without ads for $139, I surmised that the nook would be the best option for me.
I’ve had it for a week and I can’t think of a single thing wrong with it. I now have hundreds of free books I’ve wanted to read for a long time..what a great buy
I am in Canada and am struggling between kindle and nook. Kindle has text to voice function, but Nook is compatible to Canadian libraries.
Thanks. Very useful.
Something I’ve just learned that ought to be addressed here is that the Nook REQUIRES a credit card entered, even to download free books. The Kindle does not. I guess I can live with this as an adult, but I’m sure glad I didn’t get Nooks for my kids. I can’t imagine people want to let their kids have free-range with an electronic device and a credit card.
I think nook way easier to use and there are no annoying ads on the nook touch! Unlike the kindle if you want a kindle with no ads you have to pay extra.
I am 13 and i skimmed through it can the kindle fire get apps because the nook color can and i want books and apps and i was wondering should i get the kindle fire or the nook color for apps and books
I just wanted to know if the Kindle Fire also comes with 3G?
Hi everyone,
So I am trying to decide which one to buy foe my 11 yr old. Which would you suggest???
Hi,
I am trying to deside which one to get for my 11 year old. Any suggestions???
Nook all the way.
To me, the Nook SimpleTouch is my true love. I absolutely ADORE how easy it is to get around on, and how easy it is to get whatever book you want. There is a SAMPLE feature that lets you read the first chapter of any book, so you can find out whether you would like that book or not. You can share the book with friends, change the font size, look up a word in the built in dictionary, the NOOK is definitley better than the Kindle. You can easily delete books off your NOOK, and you can get free NOOK support in any Barnes and Noble store. The NOOK definitley wins me over. I recommend it to anyone who is still unsure.
If I purchase a Kindle Fire 3G, and I plan to use free books from the library, do I have to purchase the Amazon Prime in order for it to work?
I haven’t found the info I need. Can someone tell me how Kindle & Nook are recharged? My husband was told that the Kindle had to be mailed off in order to get a new battery. What’s with that? Don’t they both come with a recharger? Comfused… please help.
Yes, they both come with a charger.
I was told,with the fire you could only get books from amazon.but with the nook u can get them from many places. Is that true????????
i say nook because you can download free books from your local libary
I have a kindle fire and I for one am glad I chose it over the nook.
I just purchased a Nook color w/ the green case and my 10 yr old loves it. I am still debating if we picked the better one. I have my doubts whose better the Kindle or Nook. After reading the comments, I found that we experienced our first freeze, alhtough it just lasted for a bit, it was a good 20 seconds and I’m afraid thats the start of my Nook problems and this was just and hour of purchasing. I hope we don’t experience anything more, since my son and I really like the look and the features it offers.
I did quite a serious research about Kindle Touch vs Nook ST vs Sony T-1. I eventually bought a Nook ST. It’s just so perfect, the actual page turn keys, so comfort in holding, and easy to use. There is still room for improvement. But after using Nook ST for a few days, I would prefer to this rather than Kindle or ipad2 as a ereader. PS: Some dudes rooted their nook st to run Gapp.
I agree with all comments about nook simple touch build quality. My experience is that its not very good. Broken after a month. Love the NST for reading. Really love it. But I really hate that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. My problem is that it randomly reports 0% charged and powers itself down. You can be 90% and a second later your nook powers down. Sigh
Not sure … has anyone mentioned the difference in eBook prices between B&N and Amazon? Kindle seems to win hands down.
I am kind of amazed and perplexed when folks claim great customer service at B&N.
For people saying that the Kindle Fire is better than the Nook Simple Touch, look at the price difference. A Kindle Fire is $100 MORE THAN the Nook Simple Touch. I don’t care how much better it is; $100 is $100.
“We (and a lot of our readers) still don’t know why so many people go with the Nook.”
I bought a Nook as a gift. Barely gave the Kindle a second thought. The Nook is more aesthetic and has a nice touch screen. It also buffers up to 6 pages before a full refresh is needed, which makes page flipping not very distracting at all. Plus, you can flip pages with a swipe of your finger, which is just more natural and cool. The form factor and style is great, and it handles great. If you need 3G for a book reader, then that is sad. I just put the books I plan on reading in the near (and not so near) future on it and I’m all set. Plus, I love Barnes & Noble bookstores.
I’m sorry if you answered this already but which is the best Kindle with the e-ink reader? I borrowed a friends nook and it was easier to read but I borrowed a Kindle Fire from another friend and liked it but didn’t like the backlight.
my domb teacher is makeing me do this :p
This is an easy decision, for one reason: DRM (Digital Rights Management).
DRM kills the Nook.
RATIONALE
I will only invest $$ in a portfolio I will have access to FOREVER.
The hardware is so cheap, that the investment in content DWARFs the cost of the device.
So, to be thorough, I bought one of each: 1 Nook, 1 Kindle.
Worst case, I lose < $100 on the reader that 'loses'. I lose that in only 8-10 purchases if I lose access to the content.
Then, I downloaded some free content, and purchased/downloaded some paid content, on both.
Next, I gave both devices to my kids, to see how they liked them (they are VORACIOUS readers, and I love the idea that they have a dictionary right at their fingertips to expand their vocabulary – not to mention, eliminate the piles of books around the house!).
Conveniently (sort of), shortly thereafter, my credit card number was stolen when a large online retailer's website was hacked, so I cancelled the card.
Why convenient? Now I didn't have to worry about my kids 'accidentally' buying a book, as the credit card was now invalid.
And heck – I should be using cash anyway.
I also buy most of my content with gift cards – TONS of gift cards – and credits I get from the respective merchants.
So, I'm in no rush to get a new credit card.
So – what does this have anything to do with the Nook or Kindle?
The Nook WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DOWNLOAD THE CONTENT I HAD ALREADY PURCHASED.
The Kindle? Worked GREAT – no problems downloading my existing, owned content.
So I called B&N. After working my way up to the 2nd line manager, Damon informed me that there is NO WAY for me to get that content without providing a credit card, and kept quoting the fine print in the Nook User agreement.
Oh – and no refunds for that Nook content, either.
Apparently, the agreements they have worked out with the publishers are different.
So this is an easy decision for me: KINDLE IT IS!
On top of that, the Kindle was actually better: simply put, better technology all around (better screen, less glare, looked more like paper, far fewer software bugs, etc.)
Regardless: I refuse to have my content held hostage by overly restrictive DRM. Nook, you LOSE.
The kindle 1000000% better than the nook!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks!!
The Kindle has to be mailed into Amazon when the battery quits taking a charge. You can’t buy a replacement battery. Like Apple they will mail you back another one but not the same one. This is a deal breaker for me! Why can’t they put in a replaceable battery?
You didn’t mention that barns & nobile have a NO RETURNS POLICY on ebook purchases unlike amazon. Also you need to get an experienced hacker to help you download a barns & noble book to a mac with OSX 10.7.3.
I have been thinking about getting an e-reader but there were to good choices and I couldn’t figure out which one I wanted I think that I am gonna go with the kindle thank you very much for all your insight.
I purchased a nook tablet around christmas even though I have an amazon prime account. The reason is 1- you can expand a nooks memory with a micro sd, and as long as they keep making larger micro cards my nook has more and more memory (unlike kindle that is stuck forever at 8gb with 5 gb of cloud storage) the 8 gb is for amazon purchases ONLY and the 5 gb cloud would require wi-fi to access. 2- I can get books from almost anywhere and watch amazon instant vids on my nook. I can also purchase mp3s from amazon for my nook. It has been all up side for me so far with nook tablet.
hi
thanks, it was extremely helpful. i would like to know one more thing, is it true that you have to pay $2 even for buying free books from the kindle store if you are not a US user ?
plz tell.
Do both B&N and Kindle accept traditional credit cards and debit cards? I got rid of a Literati by sharper image because kobo wouldn’t take anything but credit cards. I really want another e-reader but I am trying to do all my homework first.
I love my Nook simple touch. I received for Christmas and have read more than 18 books on it. Love it and never, never a problem. I have charged it maybe 4 times including initial in four months. But then again, I live on it. I don’t have a problem with that kind of charge. And it only take about 4 hours to recharge.
The charge amount has also been reliable.
Looking to buy one for my mom.
Hi,
I am thinking about getting an e-reader, but I have a concern. I have an astigmatism and it is very difficult for my eyes to focus, even when wearing my glasses, after reading for a while. It is even worse when I have to read on the computer for long periods of time, which brings me to my dilemma. I am afraid to buy an e-reader and then be unable to use it due to eye strain. Does anyone have any advice?
Thanks!
on a kindle you can get library books can you do the same on a nook?
On the e-ink part you’re right but, No it doesn’t have a 2 month battery life, have you ever tried one? – have you seen the reviews?
Thank you.
Two month battery life is possible with the “simple nook” if you don’t have it connected to wireless. Realistically it is a non-starter metric – if you are away form a wall plug for more than two months, you may have other issues. It has a long battery life – nuff said. And the touch screen is great, as well as the ink technology.