Kindle Electronic Reader vs Nook?

[malkin]

... People who have tried it tell me that they have the same issues withe the computer but not the kindle. Why is that, you think?

I think the screen is different. Someone explained it to me once, but I don't have much understanding in that area, so it didn't stick.

[Irulan]

We got the Nook a few days ago. My son was SO excited... but we are sending it back.

The whole idea with the Nook purchase is that it had built in PDF reading ability, plus you can add storage with a micro SD card.

Well.... it reads PDFs if you like looking at microscopic fonts on the screen. It shrinks the pdf page to fit the reader, which is not a good thing. It does not break the text into panels, so that you can read like the other book formats. Graphics become invisible. If the PDF text is is columns, it's even worse as the columns are now in microscopic fonts.
Sure you can zoom panels but it's VERY difficult to read with any flow as you have to select which peice of the PDF you want to zoom, read it, zoom out, select the next piece... you can't page through them.

We spent some time googling comments since people have gotten theirs this week, and the overall opinion on the PDF capability is thumbs down, from professionals trying to load and read journals in PDF form, to out of print books. We did call tech support, and nope, the PDF format is not going to change anytime soon.

We are VERY disappointed. The whole idea of this thing was so my son could load his 30 GB of out-of-print specialty books in PDF format onto it, and textbooks.

[OakLeaf]

My dad has a Sony e-reader that he loves. He uses it almost exclusively for out-of-print public domain books and manuscripts that he gets from Google and other sources, mostly as .pdfs.

I got one just like it for Christmas, and although I'm working my way through a stack of print books before I buy any e-books, I have to say I'm very disappointed that there's no option for backlighting. I need the same bright light to read my e-reader as I do for a print book. No reading on subways, buses, my living room at night, many hotels, etc., without carrying a book light too.

[7rider]

Kindle just came in the mail today.
I got to play with my SIL's when we were up at her place around Christmas. I kind of didn't want the Kindle, primarily I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of thinking she influenced my decision (she is quite confident that she ALWAYS makes the right choice, and anything SHE has is the finest available! ).
But...it was pretty easy to pick up and use with minimal effort. I figure, if I can figure it out...it's got to be idiot proof. Free downloads (sort of....I found out there's a charge to upload your own PDFs and reports to it. pfffft. They didn't mention THAT in their slick video advertisements!). I've started Sense and Sensibility tonight (free!) and have a bunch of others on my wish list. I've got some long flights and time in airports in my near future, so this should be a welcome diversion.

[KnottedYet]

I was angsting over the Nook vs. the Kindle. I love the idea of the touch-screen on the Nook, and being able to import and store and OWN your downloads. But I liked the open wifi and low-level internet functions (and calendar) available on the Kindle.

Then the iSlate started looming on the horizon, causing further hyperventilation and consternation; though the estimated $500 price was a huge drawback.

What's a disorganized book nerd to do?

Buy an iPod Touch, download "FreeBooks" for $2. The ereader format for Free Books is very nice and you have access to 24,000 out-of-copyright classics. (which are the very books I wanted to read) In the apps store there are several different ereaders (Kindle, Readle, etc) so I could expand if I need to. The iPod is mostly needed (or so I rationalize...) as a PDA. I have the NPR and NYT free apps on it already, those will load every morning while I eat breakfast and then I can read on the bus.

I love paper books. The feel, the smell, the whole gestalt. But I also really love having the complete works of Shakespeare (or whoever actually wrote them), Twain, and Frost with me on the bus. Oh, and Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and the Constitution of the United States. (when's the last time we all read THAT?)

I think I found the happy medium I needed between eReader and PDA. Someone will come up with something better in the next year or two, and I'll be in the front row drooling and slobbering, you can bet on it!

[Irulan]

My dad has a Sony e-reader that he loves. He uses it almost exclusively for out-of-print public domain books and manuscripts that he gets from Google and other sources, mostly as .pdfs.

I got one just like it for Christmas, and although I'm working my way through a stack of print books before I buy any e-books, I have to say I'm very disappointed that there's no option for backlighting. I need the same bright light to read my e-reader as I do for a print book. No reading on subways, buses, my living room at night, many hotels, etc., without carrying a book light too.

how does this one handle pdf files?

[SlowButSteady]

What about the Entourage eDGe?

http://www.entourageedge.com/entourage-edge.html

[smilingcat]

There will be other electronic readers starting this summer. And if things go as planned, you will see a full color e-books. It's impressive. The form factor (display size) choices should increase significantly too. I've heard of 8-1/2 by 11 inches...

[boy in a kilt]

I'm gonna chime in here on behalf of the Kindle.

I got one shortly after I got to Iraq so I could have something to read. Selection of books is very limited and at some point, I have to get everything I have here home (or sell it cheap to the next unit coming in).

Also, when I'm on the road for a couple of days (as is the case when I head down to Baghdad), it's nice just throwing the kindle in my ruck.

I have something like 70 books on mine right now. That isn't considered excessive over here. One of our intel analysts has actually managed to fill hers. It's easy for one's book buying to get out of control with a kindle.

My reading list now includes the complete works of HP Lovecraft, all of the A.C. Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, a couple of zombie books, Richard Burton's Arabian Nights, et al. The point being it's broadened the range of possibilities and deals with one key problem: I read fast.

A couple of our lieutenants are working on their master's degrees here. One is using the kindle for her text books and says she doesn't like it much. The other one has most of his textbooks on hard copy, but does have a few on kindle.

Not sure how much use it'll get when I actually return to the states. I do have plans for a bike tour or two, so it'll probably go on that.

[limewave]

I've had my kindle 2 for two months now. And I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

There is a free converter software available that can convert nook books and pdfs to kindle format and vice-versa.

All your ebooks can be uploaded onto your computer for backup.

Also, the Kindle 2 has FREE mobile internet. While we were traveling, I could check up on my Facebook and Email via my Kindle (my cell phone won't do that).

DH said he would never want a Kindle, he loves his books too much. But he's starting to come around. I have a feeling a Kindle will be on his Christmas list this year.

By the way, for all you book-lovers out there. We have a full library with wall-to-wall books. That's what happens when two people are addicted to reading and one of us works at a Publishing House (free books!).

[OakLeaf]

FREE mobile internet. While we were traveling, I could check up on my Facebook and Email via my Kindle (my cell phone won't do that).

How is that possible??? Are there limitations to the service?

And... what's data entry like on it? Is it easier to type on as an iPhone/iPod?

[surgtech1956]

A friend at work got a Nook a few weeks ago and loves it. The battery life is excellent. What I like about the Nook is that you can swap books between other Nook owners(for 14 days) and the fact thats its Barnes & Noble. I really like the idea of an ereader, especially for travelling and convenience. But I grew up in the 'library' era, where our second grade field trip was to the library and got a library card and being able to browse hundreds of books. Just my .02.