Kindle

[Jen12]

Is anyone familiar with the Kindle? Apparently my brother has a book published only for Kindle and my mom is all fired up to read it and has been peppering me with questions about the Kindle. I know nothing about them and have not had a desire to purchase one. My sense of it is, the technology is so new, it'll go through massive changes over the next several years and its not worth the investment right now. Especially for someone like my mother who refuses to spend ANY money on books--even at a used bookstore--and prefers to use the library.

So...is the Nook the same thing? Or is it another Hi Def DVD vs Blue Ray or VHS vs Beta thing where one version of the technology will win out over the other?

I've looked on Ebay, but the prices are not much lower than a new one right now. Is there a way to get one for a better price?

And do bestsellers tend to get an electronic release at the same time as the paper version, or do you have to wait?

Aside from the issue of regular books taking up a lot of space, I'm really trying to see the advantage of an electronic book reader, even for someone who is an avid reader.

[pll]

I think the Nook is not compatible... I'm with you -- in addition to the technology, there is the issue of platforms, copyrights, etc. I like my books. They don't need batteries and I can lend them out as many times as I want. Try that with a Kindle/Nook/iPad....

[Savra]

I have a Kindle and am pretty happy with it. I bought it BECAUSE I have run out of room for all the books I buy. Books are available the same time they are in bookstores and usually cheaper. You can often get a hard back for $8 or so when it's twice that or 4X that in stores.
Downside - it is hard to go back to a specific place if you want to read a part over again for any reason. I have this difficulty when reading history type books and want to compare dates or some such.
Otherwise - the only other issue is that it's too easy to buy a book and not keep track of how much you are spending.

[KMEichhorn]

I've had a Kindle for over 2 years and love it. I can take it with me on trips, and other then take off and landing, can use it anywhere, any time I want. I can carry 100+ (many free!) books with me at a time, and download new ones almost anywhere.

I'll frequently browse Amazon's top 100 free books on my computer, and send a lot of them to my Kindle. Turn the wireless on on the Kindle, a voila - more books!

However, you don't need a Kindle to read Kindle books. Check out this link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_352814002_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-6&pf_rd_r=0K2PEH1KR3Z8AEHDK7FW&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=1279039382&pf_rd_i=1000426311

Sorry I don't have any information on the Nook, comparisons, etc. Hope this helps!

[Orange utopia]

You can't read a kindle book on a nook. I have a nook and love it but if you aren't interested in buying into the technology then I suggest you just download the free kindle app that works on pretty much any smart phone, iPad or even your computer I believe so you can read your brother's book.

Btw, the technology is the same behind the kindle and nook. The difference is that kindle uses amazon's proprietary file type and nook uses ePub that is more and more becoming the standard because it can be used across platforms. I love my nook and never leave home without it. I borrow library books to read on it and buy from barns and Nobel as well as other online ebook stores. I know there are just s many happy kindle owners out there. Once you start using an ereader it doesn't take long to start wondering why you waited so long.

[PscyclePath]

One trick that you can try is to download the Kindle app for either your iPhone or laptop/desktop PC... Works just the same as the Kindle, and you're not out the ezpense for another piece of electronics...

[Bethany1]

Congrats to your brother! How cool!

I have both a Kindle and a Nook. They are not compatible. However; as been posted, if you have a smart phone, iPod Touch/Pad or computer you can download the apps for free. If you can read on a small screen, I love my Incredible or Touch. Easy and portable.

I still love holding a physical book, but I can store more in the Nook and Kindle.

I wish I could test out the new Nook as it still keeps the e-ink technology with a touch screen but don't live close enough to check it out. That would be tempting if it works.

I like my Kindle more than my Nook as it keeps it battery forever and it's easier to use. The Nook just isn't that fast and responsive with the touch part.

[Cataboo]

There is software that will convert books in between various ebook types.

I like the kindle better than the nook.

If you buy the 3g version of the kindle, you have web access around the world free. So now when I travel, instead of carrying a couple guide books, a couple of books to read on the plane, a stack of PDFs for work, possibly a netbook to get on the internet in hotels, and looking for internet cafes or free internet... Now I can just carry my kindle - that makes my carryon luggage and the crap I'm carrying around like 10 pounds lighter easily (it's probably more than that). Yes, websurfing through the kindle on 3g isn't all that fast, but it works pretty well with facebook, wikipedia, the weather channel and yahoo mobile. So I can log on, tell my family I'm okay and give 'em small updates from different countries for free. I also have 800 or more books in my kindle with a 2 week battery life (you do use it faster if you web surf on it). I can read pdfs on the kindle on an e-ink screen much easier than I can on a backlit screen - you can use it outdoors without having to worry about sunglare.

I like books, but i hate storing them and I hate moving with boxes of books. The kindle where all the books i have are stored in my online amazon account and I can just redownload them if I lose them or something happens to them is great.

I take my kindle with me kayak, bike, and backpacking on long camping trips. There are times when I'm on remote islands that I can't get a reliable cell phone signal to call out to tell my mom not to worry, that I can get on the kindle and just post to facebook to tell my siblings to call her. I keep all the nautical maps of the areas I kayak on my kindle - so if I lose my maps, go off the charts I'm on, or something happens to my gps - I can figure out where I am.

I recently went on a cruise from LA to florida via the panama canal - as long as I was relatively near land, I could get a 3g connection on my kindle (I ended up having to deal with the editor for a paper I was having published via email - and it was something like $75 for an hour of internet access via the cruise ship).

the nook doesn't come with free 3g - I think the touch screen & the color screen is gimicky, but that's all depending on what people want to use their ereader for.

Mine just pretty much goes with me everywhere and anytime I need to wait, I can pop it out and read on it. For what it's worth - No, I don't have a fancy cell phone that I can get emails and websurf on it or pay for a data plan (mostly because of the activities I do, I need a phone that works really well as a phone and is rugged enough for me to rely on) and I don't pay for international charges on my cell phone. Those of you with fancy cell phones and data plans won't be as amazed at the free internet aspect of the kindle as I am.

[easyrider]

I have a nook, which I bought before the new Kindle came out. I bought that because I am running out of room for books, and there are just some books I won't read again (some business, novels, etc.). I like the nook because I can replace the battery myself, and it does have a feature where I can lend a book for 14 days to other nook owners.

That said, I just bought my mom a Kindle this past mother's day. Don't know how your mom's sight is, but my mom is your typical technology-challenged mom, and her eyesight is getting worse. She is in LOVE with her Kindle. She can change the font size, and it is easier to hold than a heavy book. It's the best gift I've ever been able to get her, and she's hard to shop for.

If I were to buy myself another reader, I'd buy a Kindle this time around, but I still use my nook a lot.

[Orange utopia]

My nook has free 3G. The nook color is wifi only but the original nook does have a 3G version that is free. Plus I can borrow ePub books front he library which saves me a ton of money. I can also buy from other sources such as boarders.com, booksonboard.com and several other online retailers, not just b&n. That was the biggest reason I bought a nook instead of a kindle. The kindle is pretty much the only ereader out there any more that doesn't read ePub so if another great device comes out that is way better then the kindle or the nook I am most likely able to transfer my whole library to it. Kindle books can only be read on the kindle.

[Koronin]

My understanding is nothing is compatible with the Kindle. We have a Kobo which my hubby really likes.
Now there is a free version of the Kindle you can get for your computer.

[Cataboo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/technology/21amazon.html

Kindle will be able to read library books.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibre_%28software%29

calibre allows you to convert a book from one eformat to another.

[Cataboo]

Unless it's changed since this was written, you can't use the 3g of the nook internationally & it can only be used for buying books for the nook, not for websurfing like you can do for a kindle:

http://www.techguidefortravel.com/2010/06/22/important-differences-between-the-kindle-and-nook-for-international-travelers/

[yellow]

There are all kinds of work-arounds for the Kindle. All you have to do is ask Google. ;)

I have a Kindle and I have a big stack of regular books that I intend to read. Guess what I end up defaulting to?

One of these days I'll read all of those paper books. To say that I love my Kindle is an understatement (and I was a huge skeptic when I bought it). That said, I don't think a paper book and the Kindle are comparable. Each has its place and advantages/disadvantages.

I didn't try the Nook so I can't comment, but I suspect I could love the Nook just as much as the Kindle.

[MomOnBike]

I am very fond of my Kindle. It helped me get through chemo, after all.

There are libraries full of free books out there for electronic readers, Kindle included. Project Gutenberg

http://www.gutenberg.org

is a good place to start. You just have to be careful which format you download onto your computer, then transfer it on over. It really is a simple process. There are other sites out there, as well. I thought I had more bookmarked, but evidently not. Sigh.

I did get a lovely (expensive) leather cover for the Kindle which gives it that "book" feel. Mine is from Oberon Design

http://www.oberondesign.com/

I see they also make Nook covers. I really like mine, it is aging and softening in a most agreeable manner. (Standard disclaimer: No connection or interest, etc., just a satisfied customer)

There are other nice covers out there. I suggest them. They protect the device and are just nice to have around.

Bottom line: I love my Kindle and its cover. This skeptic has been converted.

[Jo-n-NY]

I have been tossing the nook vs kindle in my head since last year. I will get one at some point this year probably as a gift. My daughter had the original Nook and then exchanged it for the Nook Color. She loves it, having color was important to her. It does not matter to me, I only read books except for my Bicycle Mag. However, I want us to be able to share books so I think I am heading for the Nook. I saw the New Nook last weekend and thought it would be good enough for my use. But then my daughter told me about going on the internet, bringing up email etc with the Nook color. Since that will be handy when we go away, we usually like to search our surroundings when at our destination, I guess I will decide on the Nook Color despite it being a bit heavier than I would like.

Reason for using an e-book instead of the great feeling of a real book, it is much easier to use on the train and subway while standing as that is where I do most of my reading.

[uforgot]

Just have to chime in here. Reading Kindle books on the Nook is possible. In fact, I have downloaded several Kindle books and have read them on my Nook. You just have to Google it to find the software and directions.

By the way, I love having an ereader. Fastdogs talked me in to it and I loved it from the minute I got it.

[blackhillsbiker]

I love that the Kindle gives me lots of reading choices wherever I happen to be. The battery life (with wifi off) is wonderful. The option of increasing the font size is great for my aging eyes, especially if my reading glasses aren't handy. Most classics are free (I'm a bit of a Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte geek). I just cleared out a lot of mass market paperbacks that I probably won't touch again.

Deb

[tbl35]

have a nook and love it but if you aren't interested in buying into the technology then I suggest you just download the free kindle app that works on pretty much any smart phone, iPad or even your computer I believe so you can read your brother's book.
I second this, especially if (as the OP says) the mom doesn't like to actually buy books. That's the main usage of ereaders imo, unless you really only like stuff in the public domain.

I have LOADS more thoughts on the subject as a librarian that's at least played with most ereaders, but seems like the OP's question is answered!