It’s been exactly 6 months since my first Kindle vs Nook review and now that we have Nook Upgrade 3 out it’s time to review Kindle vs Nook one more time.
August 3rd Update: Please check out the Kindle 3 vs Nook review for a more up to date comparison.
The Kindle is $189 and available from Amazon and Target (most stores).
The Nook is $199 and available from Barnes & Noble and Best Buy.
Kindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Nook Upgrade 3 and Areas Nook Wins
The addition of the browser in Nook’s 3rd upgrade is a huge win for B&N . Areas Nook wins include -
- LendMe – For certain books B&N lets you lend them out once, for 14 days, to one friend. This feature got a lot of buzz – Keep in mind that it’s only allowed when publishers allow it though there seem to be some bestsellers that allow it.
- Nook Browser – The new nook browser is very good. It’s very usable for news, surfing, and supports Yahoo Mail Classic version. It only works over WiFi.
- Internet is faster since it’s over WiFi. While you must have WiFi to use the browser it’s much faster than the Kindle’s 3G Internet.
- Library eBooks - Nook lets you read Adobe DRM protected ePub books from your library (if your Library uses OverDrive).
- 3.5″ color touchscreen - This supplements the 6″ eInk screen very well.
- WiFi Support - Nook has 3G for the ebook store connection and WiFi for browsing (also for the ebook store when 3G isn’t available).
- MicroSD card slot – This is a significant advantage if the 2 GB memory that comes with Kindle and the Nook isn’t enough for you.
- ePub Support – In addition to Library ebooks this lets you read unprotected ePub books and protected ePub books from ebook stores that support Adobe DRM.
- Custom Screensavers - Add your own photos as screensavers.
- Replaceable battery - The nook’s battery is replaceable although there are hardly ever reports of Kindle battery failures and Amazon replaces batteries for $80.
- Better Screen contrast – A combination of slightly better screen contrast and the thin black border around the eInk screen make the Nook more readable. Amazon has improved the screen contrast since the Nook first came out and my new Kindle 2 International has almost as good screen contrast.
- 3 Available Fonts. The fonts are Amasis, Helvetica Neue, and Light Classic. Kindle has just one – Caecilia.
There are some additional features that you might consider advantages -
- Browse in Store – When in B&N stores you can read some books for free for up to an hour in a 24 hour time period. Don’t find this to be a significant advantage – if you’re in a store you can read any paper book for as long as you like.
- Lend Me – Listing this again as it might not be as big an advantage as B&N paint it to be. You can only lend a book one single time and to one friend only.
- Support for Sony Store Books.
- Retail Presence – You can go into a B&N or a Best Buy and try out the Nook. Strongly recommend trying out the usability and the weight before buying the Nook.
- Sudoku and Chess – Two free games that are good for passing the time.
- Nook Cover Flow – When looking at books you’ve purchased or browsing the Nook store you can browse books by their covers.
- Support for PDB (it’s a format used by eReader.com and Fictionwise.com ebook stores - both are owned by B&N).
- Free WiFi in B&N stores.
B&N have done a good job and the addition of the Browser makes the Nook very compelling. Have to wait to confirm the supposed fixes - it will take a few weeks to see how much better the Nook is behaving.
Kindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Areas Kindle and Nook are in a tie
Amazon and Barnes & Noble are both improving fast and that means they tie in several important areas -
- eInk Screen. Both have the same screen.
- PDF Support. Similar, poor PDF support – Note that the 6″ screens mean that PDFs must have larger font sizes to be readable.
- Agency Model Prices – Books from Agency Model Publishers are at the same price.
- $199 and $189 Price.
- Support across devices – both support a rich variety of devices. B&N eReader has apps for iPhone, Blackberry, PC, and Mac. Their app for iPad is arriving in May. Kindle supports PC, Mac, Blackberry, iPhone, and iPad.
- Multiple devices on one account – Amazon allows 6 devices on one account and you can read a book on up to 5 devices at the same time (6 for some books). B&N allows multiple devices and reading in parallel – not sure of exact numbers.
- One Handed Use – they’re both usable with one hand though the Kindle’s lighter weight and thinness make it easier to use.
- Size – The Kindle is thinner (0.36″ vs 0.5″ for the Nook) while the Nook is more compact (7.7″ by 4.9″ vs 8″ by 5.3″ for the Kindle).
- Designer Covers. Kindle now has Cole Haan and Diane Von Furstenberg. Nook has Kate Spade and Jonathan Adler.
Probably missing some other areas they are both good at (eInk is good for reading in sunlight, etc.) – Luckily we’re contrasting the two and their differences are what we’re primarily interested in.
Kindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Areas the Kindle wins
Amazon has added a lot to the Kindle since the Nook was first announced – PDF Support, Kindle apps for PC and Mac, announcement of Kindle App Store, and more. The Kindle wins in lots of areas including -
- Ease of Use – The Kindle wins this hands down. It’s easy to use and lets you focus on the reading.
- Read to Me Text to Speech feature. Publishers have the option to turn this off but a lot keep it in. It’s also available for all your personal documents and all converted files (which means public domain books can be read out).
- Support for Audible audiobooks – Nook only supports MP3 audiobooks.
- Cheaper Prices for books from non Agency Model Publishers - Amazon has cheaper prices for ebooks that don’t fall under the Agency Model.
- Wider range of books – If you leave out public domain books the Kindle Store has far more books. All public domain books are available for the Kindle (and for nook) - Internet Archive and Gutenberg without conversion, Google Books you have to convert for the Kindle.
- Faster Page Refresh Speed – Page refreshes are still faster on the Kindle though Nook has cut the gap.
- Speed – The Kindle responds faster in general and having a keyboard makes a lot of things like adding notes faster on the Kindle.
- Lower Weight – The Kindle is noticeably lighter at 10.1 ounces. B&N lied about the Nook’s weight – it’s actually 12.1 ounces.
- Battery Life - The Kindle has better battery life and lasts 2 weeks with wireless off and 1 week with wireless on. Nook lasts 10 days with wireless off.
- Free Internet over 3G connection – It’s very convenient to have free Internet. However, the connection is much slower than WiFi and Kindle’s browser is very basic.
- International Availability and International Usability – Kindle WhisperNet is in 100 plus countries and when you travel you’ll still have your connection to the store and for US owners free Internet too.
- Free Wikipedia Access all over the world.
- Physical keyboard – This is surprisingly useful when taking notes and using shortcuts. Note that the keys are tiny and awkward - It is however easier to use than the Nook’s awkward touchscreen keyboard.
- More newspapers and magazines – Kindle Store has far more newspapers and magazines (a couple of months ago it was 100 newspapers to 20 newspapers).
- Screen rotation.
Open item to be updated after some more time with upgraded Nook -
- Kindle has very few bugs. Nook had a lot of bugs that are supposedly fixed in Nook Upgrade 3. Will only know after a few weeks.
Some other things you’d consider potential advantages -
- Longer return period. B&N only give 14 days for returns. Amazon give 30 days.
- More Font Sizes, Larger Maximum Font Size - The Kindle has 6 font sizes (1 more than the Nook) and the largest font size is larger on Kindle than on the Nook. Amazon have also said that in the middle of the year they’ll introduce a super size font which is double the size of the current largest font size.
- Option to change line spacing and number of words per line (width of each line).
- Forthcoming folders feature – Amazon have said that mid 2010 will see the introduction of a Folders feature.
- Support for .txt files and support for .doc files after conversion. Nook doesn’t support .txt which is strange.
- Stereo speakers – Better than the Nook which only has a mono speaker.
The Kindle has been evolving fast - adding support for a lot of devices, making the service better, making the software better.
Perhaps the biggest potential Kindle advantage is the Kindle App Store which is in Beta and might release sometime this year.
The Conclusion for 2010 – Kindle and Nook are almost in a tie
Kindle and Nook are very close - though the Kindle is a bit better in my opinion, Kindle vs Nook comes down to what particular features you’re looking for in an eReader.
The Nook is better in -
- 2 crucial areas – Browser, Library eBooks.
- 7 important areas – Screen contrast, LendMe feature, 3.5″ color youchscreen, WiFi support, MicroSD card slot, ePub support, 3 available fonts.
- 8 other areas – custom screensavers, replaceable battery, browse in store, support for Sony Store, retail presence, games, cover flow, free WiFi in B&N stores.
The Kindle is better in -
- 3 crucial areas – ease of use, wider range of books, International availability/usability.
- 7 important areas - lower prices on Non Agency Model books, free Internet and Wikipedia, text to speech, speed including faster page refresh speed, lower weight, more and larger font sizes, physical keyboard.
- 6 other areas – line spacing and words per line options, battery life, stereo speakers, support for audible audiobooks, wider range of newspapers and magazines, screen rotation.
Cheaper eBook prices was the #1 critical Amazon advantage and the Agency Model has reduced it to just an important advantage.
Two potentially crucial Kindle advantages are – the promised addition of Folders in mid 2010, (perhaps biggest of all) the Kindle App Store. However, these aren’t yet available so are not factored into this Kindle vs Nook review.
Kindle vs Nook comes down to what’s important to you - Consider the features from the above lists that matter to you and pick the eReader that’s better on those. At this point Kindle vs Nook is almost a tie and you have the deciding vote.
Filed under: kindle vs | Tagged: kindle vs nook, kindle nook
[...] Kindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Nook Upgrade 3 « Kindle Review – Kindle 3 Review, iPa…, on April 24, 2010 at 8:26 pm Said: [...]
B&N doesn’t charge the restocking fee anymore.
thanks for the update – will correct it.
I want to thank you for the great information! I am not a techy, so, your information was resourceful and appreciated.
[...] Top Posts Free Kindle Books, Amazon Kindle Book, Amazon.com BooksKindle vs Nook Review50 Free Books in the Kindle StoreKindle PDF conversion – View PDF on KindleKindle vs iPad ReviewKindle vs iPad – Kindle, iPad comparison from iPad reviewsKindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Nook Upgrade 3 [...]
This was just what I was looking for! I think nook wins for me.
Gloria, glad you found what you were looking for.
I know one can use a Kindle in Sydney. if I were to buy one in the US and gift it to someone in Australia, would they be able to set up an account with Amazon and download books? Obviously they would need to convert the plug configuration to recharge, but is there any reason one cannot use it otherwise?
Yes, they would be able to register it in their name and use it in Australia.
I have bought the nook and am having trouble with the keypad. When i enter a character on the top line of the keyboard, the nook sends me to the home page, randomly. I was trying to enter my email online at yahoo.com and it took me 4 times after being knocked off line and getting back on the browser. (so annoying) So my question is: is this normal for the nook or do I have a defective item? Would this happen with the kindle? This has also happened when trying to use the “flip page” option that only works occasionally. I am seriously thinking about switching. Let me know what you think! Thanks
Tiffany
Tiffany, the touchscreen keyboard takes a little getting used to.
Basically, for the problem you’re talking about that’s because a lot of the middle section of the Nook (in between the two screens) is a button. It’s not just the ‘n’ part. So it’s easy to press it by mistake.
When using the uppermost line just be careful to hit it from the lower side. It’s a bit tough.
Just made the same mistake myself when testing it out.
The kindle has a physical keyboard so taking notes is easier.
For page turns make the page turn motion on the touchscreen very quickly. Then it almost always works right.
Thank you for the very information and easy-to-understand explanations of the relative benefits. It is by far the most useful review I’ve found!
Wow guys, this is some great information! I think you’ve really hit the nail on the head on the issues/features you addressed. I would like to see some talk about the available accessories for the nook and the kindle in future updates (e.g. carrying cases). Thanks again for the help!
Is it possible to access Google Docs via Nook? Also, downloaded PDFs lose formatting on the screen when font size is enlarged to Medium in Nook. Can this be corrected?
Not sure if Google Docs can be accessed via Nook. Will try it out and update.
Alos not sure on the ‘correcting’ of PDFs losing formatting when font is enlarged.
Have not decided on which ereader yet. A toss-up still between the Kindle, Nook and Sony…dont travel abroad so that feature is moot. Not sure if wifi is that important to me or not. Like the features of the Sony but my “allthings-techie guru” (son in law) says I’ll be sorry if I have to hard wire it to DL media. Need a real selling point I suppose…but thanks for the 411 anyway.
Thank you for an very informative review. I have yet to make up my mind. I thought I was buying a nook but I am not going to look at the Kindle more closely. I am just wanting an e-reader don’t care about the rest. The selection of books, price of the books, refresh rate and the ease or comfortable factor are important to me. Thank you again.
sorry I meant I am NOW going to look at the kindle
you state, ” Nook has 3G for the ebook store connection and WiFi for browsing”…what does this mean when I’m nowhere near a B&N? What are the current browsing restrictions, if any? Can I freely surf the net, pick up email, etc when near any wifi connection? Is there an additional charge? Still in deliberation.
Yes, as long as you are near a wifi connection you can access i.e. your own or a free one (like some coffee shops do) or a WiFi network you have access to.
If you have WiFi access then everything is free.
Great review but too many features to analyze for a 9 year old boy (who will be getting this as a gift). Considering comparative free e-book access and all other features that might appeal to or be beneficial to a 9 year old reader, do you think that either of the two is a clear preference over the other?
The Kindle as it’s simpler to use – the Nook has a lot of annoying steps for actions.
Also, the Kindle is going to get a Kindle App Store sometime (don’t know when) and then there might be things a 9 year old boy would like on his Kindle.
Thank you very much for the quick turnaround and for the sound advice.
Just one issue: The Kindle doesn’t do page numbers. This is one of the most annoying niggles in an otherwise fun device. If anyone plans on using these devices in a reference format, they need to keep in mind that page numbers are extremely useful when talking about a text with people who own a physical book.
Hi Mike,
Does the Nook do page numbers? I know Amazon has this weird belief in some sort of bubble system to tell where you are in the book…
thanks
-simon
The Nook does page numbers and has a progress bar as well.
I am leaning towards the Kindle… but you brought up the cover flow of the nook… how do you browse titles on the Kindle? I read so many books I think an ereader is just what I need to save space and save some $ in the long run on buying books. If I’m reading it correctly, most books cost the same on both devices, but there are many books that are cheaper for the Kindle, correct?
Titles on the Kindle appear as a list. It’s pretty easy to browse them – not all fancy like cover flow. However, very usable.
Yes. However, the Agency Model Publishers are forcing fixed prices across the board. So for those publishers (Hachette, Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Harper Collins, MacMillan) prices ought to (in theory) be the same across all ebook stores.
Amazon has cheaper prices for the rest – for the most part. It also has a lot of free book offers (2 yesterday, 4 today – usually 20-30 a month).
Trying to decide which to buy. I live 30 min away from B & N. My library though has good selection of e books. But the apps coming for Kindle sound cool. How to choose?
Marlene – wait a week or two to see if Amazon match the Nook $50 gift card offer in some way.
I will be given my choice of e-readers for a belated birthday gift. Because I travel in Europe & Mid East, Kindle has had an edge–allowing me to subscribe to US newspapers. I also spend time in a US home w/ no wifi. Would the Kindle allow me to access g-mail and the web the same way my i-phone does? Would the nook? The B&N $50 gift card offer is inviting…and I like the idea of the games on nook. But maybe Kindle will get an app for that! (I go back and forth a lot!!! ) Also, do you have any idea of the cost to replace a nook battery? I think you said Amazon replaces the battery on the Kindle for around $80. Thanks for all your help! You’re a godsend!
The Kindle has a big edge internationally – you can browse the store and buy books and get newspapers in the 100+ countries that get WhisperNet.
Access of gmail is through the mobile site – m.gmail.com. Internet access is on the slow side. It is, however, present and free. Some european countries won’t have free Internet – only the store. Check on the Kindle product page in the dropdown for the countries you visit.
The Kindle App Store when it opens will definitely have a lot of apps – companies like EA and lots of other people (including me) are developing apps for it.
No idea of the cost to replace a Nook battery.
My biggest question is about the kindle update. Is this going to mean having to buy a new kindle, like the version 1 or 2? It seems (although I could be wrong) like the nook is updateable without buying a new one. Is that correct?
Do you mean Kindle 2.5? That’s a free upgrade. Let me know if you meant something else.
If a new Kindle comes out i.e. a completely new device – then you have to pay to buy it.
Both Kindle and Nook offer periodic software upgrades for free. Nook added a browser and Chess and sudoku and fixes for bugs in their last release. Amazon are going to offer Folders, 2 large size fonts, sharper fonts, PDF pan and zoom and some other functions in the upcoming 2.5 release which is free for Kindle 2 owners and only applies to Kindle 2.
Do you know if the Kindle offers any games? Like the sudoku or chess…
Kindle offers minesweeper and GoMoKu. Alt+Shift+M to bring up Minesweeper – then press G to get GoMoKu.
There will be a Kindle App Store at some point of time and there will be more games.
What exactly does “Free Internet over 3G connection” under Kindle mean? Does this mean you can access -any- website through 3g for free anywhere at&t has service? Or any mobile website? Or is there a fee/data charge for most sites?
To clarify (because it sounds stupid to ask if you have to pay for free internet) are only book downloads and a few other sites (gmail, wikipedia) completely free through the unlimited internet?
I thought someone told me that once about kindle, but maybe they were wrong?
Rebecca, the whole Internet is free. Mobile sites like m.gmail.com work much better though.
This is in the US and a few other countries. Not all.
Yes. only in US and some other countries at the moment.
thanks for the review. this has been helpful in helping me decide.
My kindle dropped about 2 feet to a laminate floor–which has never even broken a dropped glass–and is now useless. (Yes, I’m a tad klutzy). I owned it less than a year. Does anyone know if the Nook is sturdier? I totally loved my kindle, but hate to essentially buy a new one since they don’t really repair them–you have to buy a refurbished one at 200. Any ideas?
Get in touch with Amazon Customer Service and ask them if they’ll send you a replacement for $100. Tell them it’s less than a year and you’re wondering whether to get another eReader.
Excellent advice! thanks
Other than the fact that carrying around a kindle or noon is much more practical than books what is the advantage if you hae to buy the books when a library is so close by. Is there something here I am missing? The cost of the kindle or nook plus buying the books seems a little expensive. Please let me know of the unseen advantages that I am missing.
My library doesn’t carry the wonderful books I’m interested in. Unless you’re a heavy duty reader, it’s certainly not for you. I love reading the book reviews in the Sunday Times and then having the book in my hand a moment later. Of course, that was before my Kindle broke!
I own between 600 and 700 books and will probably buy plenty more before I die (age 25). Personally, I have read 75% of these books at least twice and some up to 10 times. If I happen to remember a story line and want to reread the book, it’s there for me to read. Not so with library books. I would have to go back to the library to re-check it out. And if I have moved and my current library does not carry the book, I’m out of luck. To me that’s the biggest advantage of an ereader: to have all of my books at my disposal anytime I want and anywhere I go, not taking up a lot of space especially when I have so many books and many more to come.
The reasons that I am considering a Kindle or a Nook are:
1. When traveling, I don’t have to bring 3-4 books – just one little device.
2. I love to read but have a very busy life. I hate it when I all of a sudden have some free time at night or on a weekend and I don’t have a good book around! This would make that a non-issue.
3. I don’t have a library close by so I have to rely on either loaners from friends or purchasing my books. I hate to shop so do most of my shopping on-line. With one of these I won’t have to wait 3-10 days to get the books I buy – I’d have it immediately.
But as Elizabeth said above – if you’re not an avid reader, I don’t see any reason to buy one of these.
I have a question about international access. When it says that the Kindle has international access and the Nook does not, does that mean the Nook isn’t able to be used at all when traveling out of the country or just that you can not access the “store” to buy more material? I am leaning towards the Nook, however, I travel to Mexico quite abit, and need to know if the Nook will work there.
You can’t access the store via 3G. The Nook will work. You can also access the store via WiFi if you can find one and get on to it.
I was wondering does the BN membership discount also apply to ebooks that you purchase? I am also debating between Kindle and Nook, this is one of my deciding factors.
Becy – Don’t think it does. Please check at B&N. They have a link to their blog for Nook and eBooks and that has a link to a forum where you can ask questions.
These reviews are so helpful! So now what is the difference between a Kindle and a Kindle DX, besides price and size?
Tricia – haven’t updated by Kindle, Kindle DX comparison for a while. What type of reading device are you looking for?
Will you be reading mostly books or mostly PDFs or magazines/newspapers?
What are the relative priorities?
Will you be carrying your Kindle around or using it only at home?
Just provide as much information about what you’re looking for and I’ll let you know which one is a better fit.
I have to say thank you for so much insight! I have had a Kindle2 forabout 15 months and have over 250 books that I have read archived. I liked the look of the Nook and my 12 year old daughter wanted one. After reading your reviews, I will stick with the Kindle. But I do have a question (I am an older Mom and do not have much computer expertise). How do you access the internet on your Kindle and how do I subscribe to your blog so I will be kept abreast of new free books. AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
To access Internet on Kindle –
1) on the Home Page of your Kindle press Menu and in the Menu choose Experimental.
The first item will be Basic Web and there will be a link next to it called ‘launch browser’. Just click on that to start the Browser and access the Internet.
2) The subscription costs $1 – Instead you could just type in http://www.ireaderreview.com and the Kindle’s browser would automatically take you to the mobile version of the site. It’ll show all post titles and you can click on the ones that are regarding free books. Then just buy those in the Kindle Store (buy = $0).
If you do want the blog delivered you can go to Amazon and find the subscription – think it’ll be under a search for ‘kindle review blog’.
Sorry to keep asking questions but realized I have another one. I will be visiting the Bahamas soon. Will I be able to download books there or do I need to go ahead and buy my 10 vacation books before I go? Also, will I be able to charge my Kindle there? Again, thank you for responding to my ignorance!
Bahamas does have WhisperNet. If you’ve had your Kindle for 15 months it’s probably a US Kindle. Just flip it around and under the FCC sign check the serial number
Starts with B002 -> Kindle US
Starts with B003 -> Kindle Global.
If it’s Kindle US you’ll need to download books before you head out.
Bahamas use 120V 60 HZ which is identical to the US. The Kindle’s plug ought to work. In the rare case that it doesn’t you can get adapters. It’d be best to charge the Kindle right before, keep wireless off when not buying books. Also your hotel will usually have adapters if they are needed.
Hi,
Thanks for your review, it addresses many important aspects and I think covers the most important issues between the two(if not all). However, I believe you should also mention the extra charges Kindle users are exposed to when traveling abroad. You mentioned :
“International Availability and International Usability – Kindle WhisperNet is in 100 plus countries and when you travel you’ll still have your connection to the store and for US owners free Internet too.” – yes internet is free, but only in the US. I believe there is a 2$ charge for every book downloaded outside of the US, and 1$ /1MB of personal data, that is if you were to check your mail, had an attachment or two and you would find yourself paying quite a bit extra.
The charge for personal data is still there.
The charge for wireless delivery of books outside US has been removed for US owners.
I played around with the nook I bought my hubby,… I like it.. and I loved searching the library for books to check out to put on it.. But the one thing I noticed the speaker on the nook, is horrible compared to the kindle speakers… so I can d/l mp3 books and place them on the nook or the Kindle DX.. but I love the ePub books to put on the nook… might just have to borrow it from him:)
B&N now offers a wifi nook for $149…and its wifi/3g nook for $199. This follows its offer a few weeks ago, taking $50 off the $249 nook. Amazon seems in no hurry to match the offer. Are Amazon’s sales so strong that there’s no need to compete?
ooops…my bad. amazon now offers the kindle for $189 with free 2 day shipping…should have checked first…worked for me…placed my order!
Okay, so are there any e-readers’ coming soon? I don’t mean ipad, not interested because I’m looking for a reasonably priced e-reader, not an over-priced Apple. Are Sony, Kindle or Nook coming out with a new device or an upgrade? I wish kindle would incorporate Nook’s SD card and wifi. Then I’d know which one to buy.
There is nothing known for sure.
A $149 Nook WiFi is out in 2 days. Nook is now $199 and Kindle is $189.
There are rumors of a Nook 2 at the end of the year and a Kindle 3 in August. All rumors though.
What changes are you anticipating in the rumored Nook 2 or Kindle 3? Could existing models be updated?
Not sure what Nook 2 would do.
The rumors about Kindle 3 are that it’ll be thinner, faster (more responsive, faster screen refreshes), and have better screen contrast. Of course, these are all rumors. Amazon’s approach in the past suggests (just suggests) that they’ll once again favor incremental improvements over some huge big leap.
Of course, we’re all hoping there’s some big, huge leap.
Went to Best Buy to try out the Nook, could not figure out how to work it properly and got frustrated fast. Going with the Kindle, but now am wondering should I wait until August for the Kindle 3? Leaving for a month long vacation on July 2 and didn’t want to have to drag around a bunch of books. Also, on Amazon, it doesn’t specify “Kindle 2″, just “Latest Generation Kindle” – should I assume this is the Kindle 2? Finally, if I bought the Kindle now, would there be an upgrade I could buy once the new one comes out to get the new technology?
Casey,
Kindles have pretty good resale value and $189 is a really good price.
Latest Generation Kindle = Kindle 2. At the moment.
Don’t know if there will be an upgrade. Kindle 2.5 might have been the last upgrade or there might be more.
There may very well be features that are based on hardware changes so some features of Kindle 3 (whenever it comes out) may not be possible.
It’s a tough decision at this point of time – The $189 price point is really good though. Am waiting for a potential Kindle DX price drop – if not, will buy a Kindle 2 for my Dad even though my mom and him already share a Kindle.
Hi- Thanks for the excellent info, some questions.
I live mostly in Singapore – and will be using reader for my large collection of ebooks (epub, .lit, . txt. and pdf formats) and audiobooks in mp3 format. minimal browsing is a plus.
Battery life, usability and readablity are key factors. what would you recommend.
thanks, dragon
Kindle doesn’t support ePub. Does the ePub have DRM and is it Adobe? If it’s Adobe DRM then nook.
If there’s no DRM then probably still Nook.
If ePub is DRM free and you don’t mind converting plus you want Whispernet and free Internet browsing then the Kindle.
Basically you get to choose between DRM support and International Whispernet and free browsing.
Converting books from various into Kindle format is easy via Calibre. If you have WiFi access at most places you read then Nook gets the store and an Internet browser working.
To add to the preceding list of comments – a really fantastic article, thank you very much!
One question I cant seem to get an answer on though; I live in South Africa – if I get the WiFi Nook, will I still be able to connect (through my own wlan) and purchase/download books from B&N?
I have noticed one comment indicating that the Nook cant do any connectivity outside of the USA, but I cant verify this statement anywhere else… Any info would be appreciated…
Alwyn, Nook connects just fine through WiFi. Am in Canada and it works. It’s the 3G connectivity that only works in the US. To be super safe you could check at the BN Nook forum – there might be South African Nook owners. However, see no reason WiFi store would work in Canada and not South Africa.
Thanks swtch11,
My gut told me that it should work via WiFi, just want to make sure of the facts before I order.
I’ll hit the forums as well thanks – sounds like a wealth of info waiting to be explored…
Just as an update for anybody else wondering about this – I found the following on the B&N site after digging around a bit:
# Does the NOOK wireless work everywhere?
Your NOOK can connect to B&N Fast & Free Wireless networks in the United States. These networks are AT&T cellular data networks that are widely available. Your NOOK cannot connect to other cellular data networks in the United States. It cannot connect to any international cellular data networks, including those in Canada and Mexico.
However, Wi-Fi connectivity is possible globally. In areas without B&N Fast & Free Wireless coverage, you can rely on Wi-Fi to connect.
Just a further, and last update to this matter (in case anybody else stumbles upon this)
I have confirmed that B&N does not sell the Nook internationally, only US & Canada, and you can’t purchase ebooks from B&N without a US (and I would assume Canadian) proxy address.
Although there are means and ways around this, it adds more of a schlep than what its worth, so from an “outside USA & Canada” perspective Kindle is the winner…
Thanks for adding the update. It’s unfortunate they make it so difficult to use a Nook outside US & Canada. Might have to do with books’ territorial rights.
One big Nook turn-off:
I wanted to get one for my kid, there is no way to disable or password block the online purchasing feature.
That, to me was a deal breaker.
I’ve just started looking at e-readers in depth over the last two days and I appreciate your great review. Please help clarify something for me. My understanding is that the Kindle is a closed system, and as such you can only download books that are available through Amazon. Unfortunately, this leaves out not only library books, but also all the books available through Google Books as well as other web sites. Is there any way of formatting Google Books to read them on the Kindle? The Kindle would be great, but it appears it’s versatility (in this regard) is limited. I realize Amazon is in the business of selling books, not giving readers access to freebies at the library or on Google, but often people find ways around this.
As a side note, I was looking at the Nook today and I almost bought it, except that the touch screen was a major obstacle, always taking me somewhere I didn’t want to go. I haven’t tried a Kindle yet, so I don’t know how easy it is to use.
Thanks again!
The right way to think of it is -
Amazon only allows DRMed books from its own store. Any books that don’t have DRM you can get on to the Kindle.
With the Kindle you can read –
Google Books that are in PDF straight and those that are in ePub after conversion. Please check my guide for details on converting ePub Google Books for Kindle.
All 1.8 million titles in The Internet Archive.
All the free books at Project Gutenberg and Munsey’s and Many Books.
Pretty much any book that doesn’t have DRM can be converted into Kindle format.
Kindle is very easy to use – I own both the Kindle and Nook and Nook’s interface makes things difficult due to having so many steps for simple things.
The info that came with the Kindle is very brief. In reading all the comments there is much more to know about it that would maximize ownership.
Are there books…ie; Dummies Guide to Kindle or websites with info on how to access other sources for books beyond Amazon and downloading from the library.
All I know is how to turn it on and scroll down to a book! Sounds like I’m missing quite a bit!
Thanks for all you’re doing!
Sandie
I purchased a Nook 2 weeks ago for my wife. We purchased the NON-3G version because we have wireless in our home and don’t see a big need for downloading books when we’re away from home.
We mainly bought it to read books, the other features were not compelling. They had just lowered the instore price to $149 for the non-3G version. We ordered it and it arrived within a week. That same day we had downloaded a book that just came out and had a list price of $24.99. The normal price at Costco for this book (i.e. Danielle Steele) would be around $15.99. The download price was $9.99.
I agree the touchscreen takes alittle time to get used too but I suggest spending time with it to determine its features. We did not look at the Kindle as we couldn’t find anywhere that we could “look at it” and have someone explain how it works. B&N had a person who took quite some time to explain the Nook, it’s features and how it compared (pro and con) to the Kindle. She owned a Nook. B&N has a Nook display the minute you walk in the door.
Can I order books from Amazon/Kindle and download them to my Nook?
No. unfortunately not.
Amazon only lets you read Kindle Store books on their own devices (Kindle, Kindle DX) and on Kindle Apps (available for Blackberry, iPhone, iPad, PC, Mac, and soon for Android).
Sony Reader Store books will work on Nook as will (probably) Google Edition books when they arrive.
would it be possible to go vise versa? would some of the b&n downloads work on the kindle? I am a student and some of my textbooks were free downloads on the b&n website. They are also offering some of the classics for free. I am looking to get an ereader, since at times I can have almost 20 textbooks, but it is important for me to be able to take notes in the books. Do either the nook or kindle support annotations? Also, my professors upload pdfs to the school website, would there be a way to get those on the ereader?
1) No way to get B&N books on Kindle.
2) Classics are available free from Amazon. Amazon – 20,000 free books. Internet Archive (in kindle format, text also works) – 1.8 million books. Gutenberg (kindle format or text) – 40,000 books.
3) Kindle and Nook both support annotations. Nook- via touchscreen keyboard. Kindle – via physical keyboard.
4) PDFs are supported on Kindle. It has probably the best PDF support of any eReader. Nook also has decent PDF support.
Wait a month if possible to see what Nook 2 is like.
You mentioned how the Amazon books won’t work on the nook, but do the b&n books work on the kindle? I got some of my textbooks for free from b&n since they are offering a special on classics. Also, does annotations work on either? Lastly, my professors put the some of the readings online in pdf format. Would I be able to access these on either the kindle or the nook?
[...] is a great comparison of Nook and Kindle that has actually not really swayed me in either direction, but it lays out the pros and cons [...]
Thank you so much for the great reviews! Here’s what would decide it for me between the Kindle and the Nook: I clip newspapers when I read them. Online, I achieve this by printing out the article.
How does each (the Kindle and the Nook) handle allowing you to “save” or print out newspaper material? Can you save from the e-reader to a memory card? Print from the e-reader?
Is there a significant difference in how the Nook and Kindle handle this?
Thanks!
That’s a tough question Helen. Don’t have much experience with newspapers. Amazon uses something called the ‘My Clippings’ file that is a text file with all the text you’ve highlighted. There are however, limits on how much of a book you can highlight.
Then you can transfer the My Clippings file from Kindle to PC. Kindle doesn’t have a memory card. Nook does allow for memory cards. Will have to check on how Nook handles highlights.
How much of a newspaper do you clip? What percentage of articles and how much of the articles?
Let me know and I’ll check both Kindle and Nook. Also what are the newspapers you usually read – that might decide the question since Kindle Store has a lot more newspapers.
I’ve been looking at buying an e-reader for quite some time and these price drops finally got me to take the plunge. I bought the WiFi Nook for $150. For that price I think it’s pretty tough to go wrong.
I do think the internet browser is irrelevant. My Blackberry surfs the web better, and that’s not saying much. I don’t know why anybody with a smartphone would want to surf the web on this thing.
The touchscreen works OK once you are used to it but is a bit slow to respond. ESome of that slowness is because the e-ink is so slow to respond, especially when typing, that it makes it seem slower than it actually is. Overall, I have already noticed there are some other bugs. Like I could search for books but couldn’t look at the details. A power cycle fixed that. It has not frozen on me yet like reported with earlier versions.
I don’t understand why they put a glossy finish on the bezel. This creates annoying glare around the edges. But like my TV, I guess I’ll get used to it.
I am a bit disappointed with the book selection so far. Popular authors (like Steven King) seem to be well represented. Older somewhat lesser authors (like Robert Ludlum) are not. And you can’t organize your searches by price. Which is a bit annoying because a lot of free books have pay versions. I’d also like to be able to organize searches by date released and character/series continuality. And there should be a way to get immediately to the Critic reviews rather than having to page through the Publisher and/or BN overviews first, which often contain excerps over a dozen pages long. Browsing for books is best done on a real computer.
I haven’t used a Kindle so I don’t know how it compares. I’m satisfied with my purchase and feel that at these new prices some people tend to over-analyze things. Just figured I’d share my initial thoughts as this was a very informative page for me when I was looking.
thanks for your comments Phil. I actually found the Nook’s browser quite usable. The 6″ screen works much better for me than the iPhone’s smaller screen. Of course, that’s assuming you’re primarily reading articles on the Web. For general surfing it’s slow.
Phil, I had the same problem when I bought the nook. It was difficult to use the categories listed. This may be useful for you but my workaround has been to search simply by author once I am in the ebooks category (first one on the list of the main page when shopping). At least in there, the most recent list of books for each author is listed and B&N now have started putting descriptions of the series in parenthesis beside the book title. They still have the issue of the book selection as you pointed out. It seems only the more recent books (say from 3 yrs? maybe) are available in B&N, but none of the older books even from established authors. One other suggestion. It may be easier for you to search using “My B&N” from the B&N website to search for free books. It takes a lot longer going through the nook
I just received a nook and after playing around with I’ve discovered that the dictionary is woefully inadequate when compared to the kindle’s. For nook, you go to an entirely new page when looking up a word, which really makes its slow speed stand out. For Kindle, on the other hand, the dictionary entry appears conveniently at the bottom of the screen.
Just thought you might want to add this to the list.
thanks for the update. It’s a good point.
Please add me to your email list.
You have to sign up by clicking on the ‘Sign up’ button in the ‘Get Email Updates’ section on the right of the Blog. Can’t add you without your permission.
For those of you that are not aware the Kindle is now available at Target if you want to see it.
Thank you for the very informative comparison. I do a lot of reading, and is looking into buying an eReader.
I have an important question.
I live in Jakarta, Indonesia. When I checked Amazon’s website, Indonesia is not covered yet by their 3G. Kindle does not have any WiFi.
So, can I use the Kindle at all in Indonesia? I’m thinking about downloading ebooks from my computer, and then transferring it by cable to Kindle. Is that possible? Is there a USB port to connect Kindle to a computer?
Otherwise, although Kindle has advantages, seems like Nook wins, because I can get my ebooks through WiFi.
Also, do you have any updates yet about wether the bugs are still there in Nook 3?
Thanks
Steven, the Kindle comes with a USB cable you can use to transfer books. Any USB to micro-USB cable works.
The B&N Nook forum would be a good place to check on how many of the bugs are still there with the Nook. Don’t use it enough to have a very good idea if most of the bugs are fixed. The new browser is pretty good though.
I recently reviewed the B&N nook Q&A forum as I have been having problems with my nook and getting a new replacement for it. The current defects that nook are having: 1) 3G connectivity is spotty in some areas where downloading has been problematic to the point that some owners are returning their nooks; 2) The face plate cover for the nooks begin to crack after a few months of normal use (have had mine for 5 months and am having it replaced) 3) B&N replacement policy for the nook is not the best – B&N will only provide you with refurbished products as a replacement for brand new, recently purchased nooks that fall within the 1yr warranty period. There is no way of getting a brand new nook to replace the brand new one you purchased. If you are considering purchasing a gently used nook, beware of the face plate issue. I have seen previous comments and reviews where Amazon seems to be better at this in that there are no issues for getting brand new replacements (like for like replacements).
First of all i thank the writer of this article for such a clear & objective review.
Like others, i’m looking to buy an ebook reader, and think that Kindle is better than Nook. The text2speech feature is very important thing to me, because this can help my wife reading a book (she’s visually impaired and now she’s reading from her laptop using a software called JAWS)
By the way, steven, can you tell me where do you have the information on Amazon’s website that Jakarta is not on the list?
I’m asking you this because i live in Jakarta too.
[...] Books, Amazon Kindle Book, Amazon.com Books50 Free Books in the Kindle StoreKindle DX 2 PhotosKindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Nook Upgrade 3Kindle PDF conversion – View PDF on KindleKindle vs Nook ReviewKindle vs iPad [...]
[...] Books, Amazon Kindle Book, Amazon.com Books50 Free Books in the Kindle StoreKindle DX 2 PhotosKindle vs Nook Review 2010 – Nook Upgrade 3Kindle PDF conversion – View PDF on KindleKindle vs Nook ReviewKindle vs iPad [...]
I trying to decide between a Nook or a Kindle for my daughter that is 11 years old, she owns more than 200 hundred books and provably will own some more,we travel to Europe, also I want to save some money and she estated that she would like the games if available. so can you please help with this. thank so much.
Vilma, when the Kindle App Store opens there will be a lot of games.
The reasons I feel Kindle is better for young children –
1) More font size options.
2) Easier to use.
3) When the Kindle App Store opens there will be a lot of apps and options for kids.
Currently, Nook has Chess and Sudoku and Kindle has minesweeper and GoMoKu – When the Kindle App Store opens (provided it opens sometime in the next 3-4 months) the Kindle will have a lot more games and perhaps even some applications tailored at kids.
Did I understand that you can actually download from a local library to the Nook and/or Kindle?
If your local library has Overdrive you can download to the Nook as Nook supports DRMed ePub and Overdrive provides this.
Kindle does not have this support.
I purchased a Nook (about a month ago) had to have it replaced within two days because it would freeze and shut off. Also, I’m frustrated that within a series some of the titles are available while others are not (but available through the Kindle). I’m hoping that the book selection will improve but I am considering selling it in-order to purchase the Kindle.
I’m leaning towards the Kindle, mostly for ease of use and longer battery time. But I don’t like the fact that the Kindle doesn’t have an SD card to expand the memory. But couldn’t I just “move” books from the Kindle over to my PC if I am running low on space on the Kindle? Or would I have to DELETE the books from the Kindle to make room for new books?
You can move them over.
If you delete them they are still in your archive in the Amazon Cloud and available for download any time – it takes 60 seconds and they go right back into any collections you had put them in.
Thank you so much for the information. We are deciding between a Nook and a Kindle and this is the best comparison we have seen. We travel a lot but will generally load up our books before we go, so the international access is not a major factor for us. But according to the B&N rep, the Nook charger only handles 110-120V so we would need a converter to use the 220V common in the rest of the world. Do you know if the Kindle charger has the same limitation or can we plug it into 220 (with the required plug adapter, of course) without blowing it up?
Patricia with the Kindle all you need is the physical plug adapter. Have tried it in numerous countries and it works fine.
I am trying to decide on the kindle and nook. To me the answer seems pretty obvious (Kindle) but someone mentioned to me that with the Nook you can download from other sites besides the B&N website? Is that true? Sorry if this question has been answered…I tried to read through all the comments before I asked.
Also, has there been any more updates to that rumor about a Kindle 3 in August? It is almost the end of July I can wait two more weeks if something will be coming out.
Thanks,
-Alison
Alison, would recommend waiting two weeks.
Nook can read any book protected by Adobe DRM and in ePub format.
Kindle can read any book that is not protected by DRM and not in ePub. ePub can be converted.
It is a definite advantage for Nook – However, it’s worth keeping in mind that at the moment Kindle has the best store. You won’t need to look elsewhere much unless and until Google Editions launches and turns out to be cheaper.
I was very pleasantly surprised when I managed to successfully download the .mobi version of Treasure Island directly from the Project Gutenberg website using my Kindle’s web browser, onto my Kindle.
Once the file was downloaded it appeared on my home screen and I can read it just as any other book. I really thought that the Kindle’s web browser would not handle this correctly, but I’m really happy it does!
The Project Gutenberg website doesn’t display properly in the Kindle’s browser, but you can still find the content you’re looking for. Yet another way to get free content onto your Kindle
Wow. thanks for that update. Hadn’t realized you could go straight from Kindle.
I’ve been leaning towards purchasing the Nook, but am unable to pull the trigger. With all this talk of a Kindle 3 possibly hitting stores in August, I’m not sure what to do. My mother is coming in from out of town and was planning on purchasing either the Kindle or Nook with me as well. Do you really think that a Kindle 3 is coming? Or is that just another rumor? Overall, it seems like your choice is still the Kindle. Can you tell me why? –This article was fantastic, and I really appreciate the help!
You have to factor in my personal bias – running a Kindle blog does color my opinion a bit.
A lot depends on what features are invaluable to you and whether they really are big advantages or not.
You could take library books and that’s a tangible Nook benefit. You could take text to speech and that’s a tangible Kindle benefit.
Amazon does much better on the software side and in terms of improving the service and software.
B&N were late to the market and are doing things they wouldn’t otherwise i.e. using ePub and Android and the LendMe feature and really low prices.
They are both good eReaders. Waiting till August would be a very sound decision. The new eInk pearl screen is noticeably better and worth waiting for.
Thank you very much for this very useful article. If I was still researching e-readers, this would is very helpful. Question for the reviewer though, have you considered conducting an analysis on the hardware defects and the return process for either the nook or the kindle as part of your next review? I am a nook owner and have serious issues with getting a brand new replacement for the 5 month old nook I currently own because of product defects. I’ve been a long time customer of B&N which is part of the reason why I leaned towards the nook, but never did I imagine the customer service issues I am now facing to get an appropriate replacement for my nook. If I were to do it all over again, I might have gone over to Kindle2 because of Amazon’s superb customer service where getting brand new replacements for defective products does not seem to be an issue. I am intensely curious if you have insight into this as I am a huge proponent of purchasing my gadgets from companies that provide excellent customer service.
No – haven’t really done any research on customer service for Nook and Nook returns. Do know that for the Kindle it’s ridiculously good.
switch11, thanks for confirming what i am beginning to suspect. will most likely check out Kindle 3 when it comes out but am probably going to wait for your review before purchasing it. i like how you provide us with concise information to help choose the right product for the user. thanks a million.
Hugh fan of reading your review was helpful, but I am still sticking the the Kindle 2, the nook had me looking at it closely but there is a feature i don’t like it all touch screen. I would get the nook if it had both touch screen and keybroad. How sure are you about the Kindle 3 coming out in August or the end of the year. I trying to wait for the Kindle 3 is it worth the wait or should i just go ahead and get the Kindle 2.
I would strongly recommend waiting till August – there are a lot of rumors all pointing to an August Kindle 3 release.
Do you think Amazon will provide any upgrade options for those of us that just purchased a Kindle when they release the new version?
switch11, thank you SO much for the very easy to understand and informative comparison of these 2 ereaders! My main purpose in getting an ereader is not having to carry multiple books with me. I don’t usually like to read a book more than once and love to read bestselling fiction primarily. Any idea if the Kindle 3 might have WiFi??? Also, if I am looking for an old book and find it on Amazon, is it automatically available as an ebook?
Charlene, no idea if Kindle 3 will have a WiFi. Amazon does have a project code-named Shasta WiFi and that may or may not be a Kindle 3 WiFi version.
If you find an old book on Amazon it doesn’t automatically mean it’ll be available as an ebook. While there are 600,000 Kindle books and 1.8 million free public domain books available there are still quite a few books that are not available in kindle format.
Bestselling fiction is mostly available – perhaps 70% of the time. It’s worth checking out your favorite authors in the Kindle Store and seeing how many are available.
i am an 11 year old and want to get a kindle2 but i am not for sure if there will be a kindle 3 in august and what time in august? i love your reviews and cons and pros of the nook and kindle! i am going to target today to go see the kindle 2. the kindle 2 is in target right?
thanks so much!
Claire
you’re welcome Claire.
I had the Kindle 2, and I currently have the nook WiFi. I prefer the nook, because the screen seems a bit better, the WiFi is handy, and the ePub format allows me to find books in more places. The PDF support on the nook seems better, too.
I really like being able to turn pages by swiping my finger on the touch screen. I also like that the nook is a bit more compact.
Can someone explain the “e-pub” feature I keep reading about. I have a Nook and am I understanding correctly that by using the “e-pub” feature I can DL books that are not available via Barnes & Noble? That would be wonderful because my only issue with the Nook is that some of the books I would like to read are not available. Thanks!
ePub is a different format. There are various stores that sell DRM protected ePub books. This includes Sony Reader Store. It also includes Overdrive – which lots of libraries use.
I’m thinking about getting either the kindle or the nook, but can’t decide which to choose. Help! I’ve been reading a bunch of reviews about them and none of them seem to agree. I’m a seriously avid reader, and my family travels a fair amount, but only in the U.S. I don’t want to pay more than 200 for my ebook reader, too. Which do you all think I should get?
they’re both good – what features do you most care about?
Kindle at $189 is pretty good. Perhaps you should wait a couple weeks and see if something new arrives. A new Nook just got FCC clearance, Sony has new models that might arrive in the next few months, and there have been rumors of a Kindle 3 in August.
I just want something inexpensive (or at least as inexpensive as it can get), easy to use, and has a lot of storage. And I have to be able to get classics on it for school reading.
I am considering buying a Nook. The Kindle might be superior in other areas, but, for me, its lack of an SD slot is a terrible disadvantage. I’m surprised that this doesn’t bother more Kindle owners. I would only buy an e-book reader if it could more or less replace my physical library. I have a couple thousand books in my home at the moment.
Hi, I’m thinking of buying either a Kindle or a Nook. I am going to be living overseas for several years, so I’m leaning towards the Kindle, since you can’t buy ebooks overseas with the Nook. That said, does the Kindle DX have any features the Kindle 2 does not, other than the screen size/type? And is the Kindle 3 going to have enough advantages over the Kindle 2 that it would be worth my time to wait and buy that Kindle rather than running out and buying yesterdays model?
Great review, by the way. Very succinct and yet still complete.
Thanks for the kind words. Do wait a few weeks. Nook 2 just got FCC clearance and might be out soon. There are strong rumors of Kindle 3 and of new Sony Readers. In 2-4 weeks it might be a completely different set of choices.
In particular all of the new eReaders might have the eInk Perl screen (the one the Kindle DX 2 has) which is much better.
Thanks, I guess I’ll bide my time for now then. I will be moving this week and caught up in that for several weeks, I was hoping to have an eReader for that time but I’d like to have a better item for my money. Honestly, if the Kindle had the elnk Perl screen you mentioned, some expandable memory and Epub support it would be perfect. I’ll keep my fingers crossed…
Will a Sprint 3g air card work with either the Nook or Kindell ?
No – to the best of my knowledge it won’t.
i have read all the questions submitted and i have a question. I currently have a Kindle 2. I do love it, the ease of use, the screen. But when i am at home, i live out in the country, the whispernet cannot connect to the kindle store. which basically amounts to being unable to download books to my kindle when I am at home. I can download at work, in a coffee shop and not at the house. In looking at the Nook, i see that it has the wifi, so it would , in theory, work at home correct? Also, i want to be able to download from the local library, and i see that it doesn’t support the Overdrive format, being able to download free books from the library without having to go to the library was a main reason for going to an e-reader. Have you heard any rumors about the kindle going in this direction? Also, if i downloaded a book from the library onto my computer would i be able to transfer it to the Kindle at that point or would i have to convert it, and if so, how complicated is that process in your opinion? Thank you so very much for your time! Debbie
Nook WiFi would indeed work from home. Nook does support library ebooks – no idea if/when Kindle will support library ebooks.
You have to break the library ebook DRM and then transfer it – I’ve never tried it but there are people who say it’s somewhat reasonable.
B&N didn’t really lie about the weight. The Nook Wi-Fi weighs 11.6 oz and there’s the Nook 3G + Wi-Fi that weighs 12.1 oz.. Unless I’m mistaken.
Eliseo, this was a long time back when there was no Nook WiFi. Guess now their figures match up.
Yeah, I realized that might be the case after I left the comment. Sorry.
Really good review by the way. It cleared some things up for me.
I just read the new update from AMazon today! a New Kindle with WiFi and 3G. Plus a really nice one that is WiFi only for $139. This is both awesome and annoying as i already own one. I have the Kindle 2. Now i want to get my hands on the Kindle 3 so i can use it at home where the 3G doesnt work but the WiFi would use my wireless internet. I have to sell the old one so i can buy the new one. Now if Amazon would just fix the kindle so we could do library books! also, I noticed they increased the storage to 3500 books. this is so cool!
It’s pretty great isn’t it.
I ordered the 3G WiFi version in graphite … sometimes travel internationally… I can’t wait to get it … it’s my first e-reader. Also ordered the steel blue lighted cover.
The new one is also lighter, which is pretty amazing, as the kindle 2 is really light. When i put it in my purse, i dont think it really increases the weight all that much. I looked at the nook for the ability to hook to WiFi and also to be able to do library books, but the truth is, i dont get all that many books from the library as it is, and if want one that bad, i will just go and get one. I am ordering one in advance and I dont know what color cover i am getting, but definitely am pre-ordering! this is so exciting. (I am such a nerd!)
Sorry, last word, battery life of one month! insane! I can’t wait!
The nook is FAR superior to the kindle!
1) With the nook you can switch out your own battery should you have a problem with it. With kindle, you have to send the whole device in.
2) The nook has an expansion slot for more memory. Kindle does not.
3) With nook you can get books from more than just B&N. With kindle, you are locked into books ONLY from Amazon.
4) A physical store you can go to if you need help or information. Kindle doesn’t have that.
5) Free book offers from B&N every week. Every Friday there is a new free book, and a new batch of classics (all free).
6) You can check out books from the library on nook. Kindle can’t do that either.
The way I see it, the ONLY advantage the kindle has over the nook is that it works internationally.
Well, your points are valid. However, you do have to look at the Kindle’s other strengths.
Kindle actually has more free books than B&N. Re-releasing public domain classics as free doesn’t really count. All your other arguments are valid except that Kindle can read other books if they aren’t DRM protected (which is a weak argument though).
Kindle 3 is way better.
1) The amazon battery is more reliable and last a long time
2) The Kindle has twice the memory +
3) Amazon has a huge selection and magnificent customer service
4) With popularity of eBooks, physical stores will soon be a thing of the past
5) Amazon has lot’s of free books every week
6) got nothing that is pretty cool
It looks like the new Kindle addresses many areas that you list the nook as better….
“2 crucial areas – Browser, Library eBooks.”
Kindle has a new browser
“7 important areas – Screen contrast, LendMe feature, 3.5″ color youchscreen, WiFi support, MicroSD card slot, ePub support, 3 available fonts.”
Kindle should at least match screen contrast, WiFi support, 3 fonts
“8 other areas – custom screensavers, replaceable battery, browse in store, support for Sony Store, retail presence, games, cover flow, free WiFi in B&N stores. ”
Kindle will have free WiFi at AT&T hotspots.
This isn’t a technical concern, but the thing Amazon did last year with the deleting of accidentally bootlegged books really soured me on the idea of ever owning a Kindle, though I was pretty hot for one up until then and was waiting for the price to drop.
Here’s a link, if you didn’t read about it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html
Long story, slightly shorter: A third party sold a couple of copy-protected ebooks through Amazon. When the company realized it, they raided customers libraries and erased the books without notification. (They did refund the money)
Obviously, people freaked out (one kid says he lost the notes for a book report when they deleted his file) and Amazon swore to never do it again. But the fact that their initial, gut response to a potential crisis was to dig through their customer’s things and start wiping without warning…
…and seemingly without ethical qualms…
…It makes a guy wonder what other nasty crap they might do and not realize is screwed up until it’s pointed out to them.
I’m way too paranoid for that.
Creepy peepers going through my stuff and snatching things?
I’ll deal with a couple extra ounces and shorter battery life.
ck, Mr. Bezos apologized for it and said it won’t happen again.
It’s a new industry – some mistakes are going to be made. The reaction was good enough for me.
I know this is more of a technology type of deal, and not really the place to discuss the morals of digital property and ownership and all that, but I was just giving the heads up to anyone who cares about that sort of thing. Because it does kinda tie into the features of a product, when its proprietor has a history, even if it’s only one incident, of choosing to haphazardly quell its fear to the detriment of the customer.
This one mistake betrays a mindset.
Sure, the guy apologized for it, and it most certainly will never happen again, but whoever made that particular decision had to know beforehand that it would twist a knot in a lot of people’s stomachs, so it really wasn’t a mistake at all. It was a bad choice made because it’s simply easier to protect yourself over your customer, then feign regret later. Will the company do something similar in the future? No one can tell. There will always be jerks doing jerky stuff, and companies’ reactions to it, good and bad. This tech is new, but the argument is as old as the internet.
And truthfully, it’s not so easy to say whether Barnes and Noble or Sony would do the same thing in the same situation. Now, maybe not. (Hopefully not) But before… Who knows?
But Amazon DID do it. And that’s sad. Because, no matter my yapping about Big Brother screwing over the folks, they have an excellent company that I do still use to this day, to buy physical product from.
Sorry so long again. I’m not wanting to be a bickering turd or anything. Like I said before, it’s just a heads up to those who this stuff matters to, be it hardline digital ethicists, paranoid nutcases (I’m raising my hand now), or contrary dudes who can’t forgive a single mistake. (Maybe I should here, too.)
By the way, and on the point, this review here is as solid as they come; it’s exactly the thing people wanna see when they’re looking to buy and are confused as Hell. Feature by feature, This Vs That. Good stuff. I promise you, none of this space I’ve wasted is trying to malign that in any way.
In response to the kindle versus Nook, i have to agree in a few areas,
the replaceable battery is a big deal, If your battery is dead and you have to ship the whole device in to fix it, this means you are without your books for however long. I have only had my Kindle for a few months, so i need to find out how long the battery is expected to survive. Prepared is far better than being surprised. I really bought an ereader to be able to download books from the library rather than always have to pay for books, but I didnt even know about the Nook until after i got the Kindle. but i already shop from AMazon for so many other things, that it makes sense to just continue from one location. I decided for me, that if i wanted library books, i will just have to get the printed kind. I have talked to people who have Nook and the lend me feature is so un friendly, that they never use it, after that one time, it is unlendable. Plus it occurs to me that no one i know has the same taste in reading material, so its a non issue. I have a Sony reader, and the touch screen is a bear, so i dont think the Nook would have been ideal, plus i know several people who have already had to replace the screen, and reported some really ugly customer service issues. Also, with the new expanded memory of the Kindle, i can live without the mirco card, also, with Kindle once you download a book, they keep it in your “never land” so even if you delete it, you can always retrieve it. So there is no real need to fill up all the memory if you were to get close to that 3500 mark.
I like the sound quality of the Kindle and being able to load Mp3 so easy is nice. but i do think the Nook color picture ability is better. I think it all boils down to how you use and what you need. If the Kindle hadnt come out with WiFi, i would have had to go to Nook, as the At&t network doesnt work at my home and i couldnt browse for books at home. Oh, and the Amazon site has tons of free books that come out each week. Plus they send you emails with suggestions for books based on your purchase history. I love it.
Just posted the following comment to B&N Customer Service:
“Why do you force me to add a credit card? I just got a new Nook, registered it and wanted to download the Freebie of the Week. It was refused with Default Credit Card Unavailable… Tell your marketing department that this is the worst possible advertising method employed by many highly suspect web sites. There is no reason whatsoever to require Credit Card for a freebie; it only makes the merchant look bad. You offer the customers the choice of returning the Nook within 30 days. You want them to get a freebie to hook them on the nook (rhyme intended) with as little hassle as possible. Once I decide to buy an e-book, I should even be able to go to B&N store and pay for it there if I don’t want to compromise my card number by using it on Internet. Bad manners, guys!”
BTW, the touchscreen keyboard sucks, it took me 10 min to register the Nook, as my password has digits and letters and the keyboard has to be switched between the two input modes. The touchscreen responds only to fingers, sometimes it doesn’t respond or it may take seconds to respond and sometimes it types two keys, so that you invariably have to erase keys. The passport field very briefly shows the character then converts it to a bullet – which is completely bogus – while if someone looked over my shoulder, s/he could easily get the password, it prevents me to check whether the password is correct – even Microsoft does a better job and gives me checkbox to choose whether to see the characters!
But the screen is beautiful!
By the way, I’ve just gotten around to doing some in-depth testing of the Nook and the B&N reader on my iPhone. I was shocked…shocked to discover the books don’t sync (Amazon calls it “Whispersync”) between devices. I wanted to like this device, but it is now headed to the gadget graveyard.
I just ordered one of the new Kindle WiFi’s, because Whispersync is essential. What I like about eBooks is that I can read them on the dedicated reader (Nook, Kindle, whatever), then read a bit on your iPhone when you’re standing in line or something, then read a bit on your Mac/PC when you’re tired of answering emails.
Without sync-ability, an ereader is a glorified etch-a-sketch.
Hi, so much of valuable info–thanks! I have a sticky problem. I bought a 3G kindle as a gift for my mother from the US. She lives in Indonesia. Its registered under my name and my US credit card. However after letting her download 8 books, it has now stopped allowing her to download any more. Very frustrating! I contacted kindle support who updated all our info and said it should work. But it doesn’t. Any ideas on how I can help my mom. She LOVES LOVES the kindle! thanks so much!
Karen, what exactly do you mean when you say – It has stopped allowing her to download books.
How many other Kindles is it shared with? How many other devices have the books been downloaded to?
Can she use WhisperNet? What about Internet Browsing? I think Amazon doesn’t sell Kindles to Indonesia and WhisperNet might not work there. She would have to download to her PC or you might have to download the books for her Kindle from the Manage my Kindle section and email them to her.
Update: checked Amazon’s page and that’s the problem. Kindles aren’t sold in Indonesia and Kindle content isn’t available in Indonesia. You’ll have to use the download them yourself (for her Kindle) and email them method.
When we first registered, it immediately let her download 8 books. Thereafter it keeps saying loading or go to manage your kindle. Its not shared with any other device and I have no clue about whispernet
There is a way to download them and email her? I did not know that-that would be great! and easy. Is that information on the kindle amazon web site? thank you so much.. I was worried there was no way she could use it at all.
Yes – please read this post on the Manage My Kindle section.
Go to that section and at the bottom is a list of books you’ve bought. Click ‘Download to PC’ (or whatever the name is) button and it’ll ask you which Kindle you want it to download it for. Choose your mom’s kindle and then save those files.
If she loads them to the Documents folder of her Kindle she’ll be able to read them.
Was curious as to where I could go to look at the Kindle3? Checked it out at Amazon, but want to physically touch and see it before I order one.
Target will have the new Kindle 3 in early September. You might want to call your local store to confirm. Also google ‘see a kindle in your city’ to see if any Kindle owners near where you live will show you the Kindle.
How do you erase the preloaded books that came with the kindle that you dont want. Rumors have it that there are some are socialist and inapproporate books in there that I do not want my children ages 9-13 to read. Also how do I manage the accounts with my children buying books. I do not want them using my credit card but they will receive gift cards to purchase books. Are there gift cards I can get the children?
My 9 yr old son wants games on his and is there games on it that he can play on it on top of reading it? I have seen the nook and I would like to visually see the Kindle and see how it works to make my decision. I also dont understand why there is no slot to download onto a SD card or backup. The nook has that and I think that it is an important feature.
There are no pre-loaded books.
There isn’t really a way to prevent children from buying books. There’s no password or anything.
Yes, there are a few games available and there is Kindle App Store that should open sometime this year and it will have games.
You can see the Kindle 3 at Target in early September and at Staples by sometime this Fall. Do check out the videos at the Kindle 3 Videos page.