I not starting this thread to start a heated war between the different eReaders. This thread is to help us/me make more informed decisions when purchasing these fun little gizmos. Don't bash, make reasonable arguments for or against your chosen eReader.
As of right now I have a Nook Tablet. I really enjoy it, but it might as well not be a tablet because the lack of apps that are available for it. And they are all very G rated, friendly, and don't really intrigue me. I have a wider selection on my phone and I can download the Nook app to that and read my books that way as well. Another downside is the inability to read the independent writer's self-published books. If B&N doesn't sponsor it, they don't sell it. Perhaps B&N will get with the program, but until thenit is a flaw.
The ease of finding and purchasing books is a very big upside for me. Another upside is the lighting. I can turn off my lights in my bedroom, read, and then turn it off and go to sleep. I like pre-sleep reading. The magazines and news papers that are available through B&N are very good and usually marked at a reasonable price. I haven't had any major glitches that have come up and the UI is very friendly. There is plenty of free literature available which is always a nice added bonus.
This is my take on the Nook Tablet. I have had the Nook Color and the Nook Classic. They were both very good, but I want to make sure that it is the best for me. I usually don't know until I've used something for about a month whether I really enjoy it or feel duped by clever marketing.
I would love to know what you guys use and see where we are at the end of everything.
I own a Kindle Touch. It's pretty sweet, I really like it. I chose it over the traditional kindle because I just don't like that big keyboard and the arrow keys, its a bit awkward for me for some reason. I love touch screens though, it's just ease-of-use really. The screen is great, and while this kindle still does the "flashing screen" loading thing other ereaders do (Im not sure what else to call it?) it's not as bad.
The biggest complaint I have about the kindle touch is that, while it's only $99, this is because it comes pre-loaded with ads that take place of the traditional kindle screensaver. You can remove these ads by giving Amazon another $40. Thankfully the ads haven't pissed me off that much yet, but I know they will one day, and Amazon will get my 40 dollars.
Aside from that I love the fact that you can get nearly any classic piece of fiction for free on the kindle. The store is easy to use and navigate. Also, the touch (along with the other 4th gen kindles) has an mp3 player built in and a headphone jack, which is great because I have a small collection of audiobooks.
Kindle 3G. Love it. The first model that came out 2 years ago.
It's great being able to carry a library around with me. Also, I can pirate certain books that I don't want to pay for but the formatting isn't always that great. The E-Ink is really great too, which is why I won't buy a tablet.
Cons: It's not a paperback novel. I can't dog ear the pages or spill coffee on it.
I used my Kindle 2 to death. I loved it. Because it was an unadulterated eReader. Best electronic simulation of a book created.
I have a Kindle (the one with the full keyboard), which I like a lot. I'm big on Amazon, so it wasn't really a hard choice. I'm not really a B&N person, though I have checked out the Nook before.
However, I will admit I tend to relegate books to Kindle that I'm "not sure" about. Because e-books are usually cheaper, if I don't know an author or a certain book is "good," I'll buy the work for Kindle. On the other hand, for authors I know I like or new installments to series I have hard copies of, I'll just buy the hardcovers.
I'm a little stubborn when it comes to switching completely over to e-books. But that's because I'm big on collecting. The same reason I still buy DVDs. xD
I switched entirely from books to e-books because I am a transient and books are cumbersome and delicate.
I have an ipad because I like to be able to run around with just one device. This allows me to read and write and have 3g, maps, and access to email when I'm bouncing around the globe. I use the Sapia page color and low brightness and it has worked perfectly for me.
Some people talk about not being able to read in the direct sun light...but...I don't go outside in direct sun light--problem solved. I've had it outside during the day while traveling and its honestly fine, just turn up the brightness and it overpowers glare.
I use the kindle app on the ipad, and ibooks only when I want something that's free in the ibook store (and not in kindle), I'll read it there. It's pretty neat to have the option to price out e-books between the two stores, if you ask me.
Ryan:
And, I believe, B&N allows you to download their app without having a Nook. This way you have three places to go after for the best price.
Damn! Look at that. Just looked it up in the app store and there it is. Now I have the B&N store to browse too.
Thanks!
I've looked at the iPad and have a really hard time justifying that kind of dough. My sister and husband have one and they love it. I also just bought a Macbook Air so perhaps an iPad is not too far behind. Damn Apple and their awesomely function gizmos. DAMN YOU I SAY!
Wait like, 3 weeks. They're going to announce the iPad 3. Then prices of the first generation iPads will be low. You'll be able to pick one up on ebay for like $200. Once pre-owned ipads are that inexpensive, I can't see the Kindle Fire maintaining their sales levels.
Now since you've told me that I can have nook store too, that's an even greater selling point to have one.
I wish they would make the macbook air with a touch screen and both ipad and mac app stores...I don't care if it cost $3,000. I'd buy it just so could be down to one device. That'd be the ultimate writers tool.
I feel like one of those cavemen on the commercials for not having any kind of e reader yet. Although, if I got one I think the Kindle would be the one I'd get, mostly because of how it appears on screen, with that e-ink stuff. However, reading all this, I had no idea that there were so many different types of Kindles, so I'm basically back to square one.
Also, I'd want to wait until they finally come around to having everything in one deivce as well. Cell phones are pretty damn small by now, why don't they go ahead and throw one of those in a tablet? Or maybe they already have, I dunno.
All I know is, I got to play around with a knockoff ipad for about a week and it tore the hell out of my neck and shoulder muscles, leaning forward to play Angry Birds. Definitely bad for the posture. Which will eventually lead me to looking like one of those cavemen!
I use a Aluratek Libre because my mom gave it to me. Kindle books with DRM don't work on it, which is really annoying.
Ryan, good to know about iPad 3. My sister is going to be PISSED!. lol
I have a Nook wifi. Mostly it was pricepoint and e-ink. With two young kids were outside quite often and I wanted to be able to read in direct sunlight. My wife and I each got one, we werent concerned with having apps or games or the device doing anything but letting us read. Were both happy with them.
I got a kindle fire for christmas and I have used the shit out of it. Backlit is nice for reading in bed and I haven't read in sunlight yet to really see if there's a problem with it. Reading comics on it has really made it worth the money. Comic books are better digitally because each panel will fill the whole device and that makes me look at the artwork more (instead of just glancing at the art and then reading the dialogue, which is what I usually do).
Everyday, Amazon has a kindle book for $.99 or $1.99. So, I have a lot of books I normally wouldn't buy. Some of them have been great, some... not so great. But for .99, I'll give it a chance.
I am in a unique position because I build/format ebooks for authors SOOOO I have a Nook Color, Kindle Keyboard and a Kindle Fire and I am an avid reader. My personal ebook library totals over 800 ebooks not including the books I have done.
Hands down for straight reading it is the Kindle eInk readers for long reading times.
For apps and reading is the Fire. As it is Android based there is a wider selection of apps.
I love the way that epub (Nook) displays more complicated and "frilly" books, however the B&N marketplace is hard to navigate compared to Amazon's Kindle Store. However, with the new Kindle software platform the ebooks will start to have more specialized and attractive content.
Then with Amazon having the appearance of being a more friendly environment towards independant authors and publishers you will have a wider selection of reading material and there is always more free content listed on Amazon than any other retail site.
Deena Schoenfeldt - 3D
Personally I love to read for myself on my Kindle Keyboard - when it is not for business or work.
Kindle 3G. Love it. I once ordered a book in the Gallatin National Forest of Montana at my campsite.
