Looking at getting a Kindle Fire or Nook - additional info please

[Paula Sims]

Hi there,
I'm looking at getting a Kindle Fire since I usually read 5 books at a time (not at the SAME time but you know what I mean) and carrying all of those is just too much weight. Although I prefer the printed books, and I will continue to buy certain books, there are some books that I use as reference and it just might be easier to have them on-line. So I'm thinking about getting a Kindle or Nook. The only reason I'm hesitant about the Nook is with Border's going under, I don't know about the future of the Nook. I think (hope) Amazon will be around for a while.

That said, I have a few questions for those who might be able to help:
1. Any preference one way or another?
2. Is there a way to "categorize" the books/magazines purchased? I'd hate to have to scroll through 3,000 things to find the books on philosophy (yes, I have that many hard-cover books)
3. I don't have access to WiFi at home (security thing) so I'd have to either synch with my PC or go to a Starbucks. Is that "enough"? (I only want to read, OK, perhaps play angry birds)
4. With the Nook, if I should lose the unit, do I still have a "copy" of the books I purchased so that I can re-load them when I get another one or is it one load period?

A friend of mine suggested getting a tablet (Galaxy 10.1) so I can access Kindle, Nook, and other formats which would be great but then categorizing them seems like a nightmare.

Thanks so much -- appreciate your help

Paula

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. For the platform issue I'd do iPad or any android device

That can run both apps.

As to going under. That was borders. Barnes and noble I have not heard.

[Goblinmonger]

2. If all you are going to do is read, then get the e-ink version of either

and not the color. They aren't back lit so there isn't the glare. It is much like reading on real paper.

I have a Nook but really only because I like open source rather than closed. The Nook is closer to that and you get the updates automatically without having to buy a new one.

As to your questions:
1. Nook as stated above.
2. I believer there is but I haven't gotten to that point yet.
3. I use the wi-fi but you only need it when you are downloading a new book so you could go grab some free wi-fi at any number of places to do that.
4. Yes. You can actually remove the book from the reader and keep it in your account online.

[TBF]

3. I own both Kindle and Fire -

I actually like the Kindle better for reading. I have arthritis, so the lighter Kindle (half the weight of the Fire) is more comfortable for me. I change the cover with the seasons and it travels easily in my handbag on a daily basis. I keep recent purchases and currently reading on the device - and you can read more than one at a time. Older books I keep in the archive on line. As for the wifi, someone else will have to answer that. You can read anywhere, but not sure about the games thing. I play word soup a lot - but I'm not sure if I actually need wifi for it.

My husband has been using the Fire a lot for movies/games/music. It's a great price for a tablet and the kids love it. The graphics are terrific but not sure how books look on it.

[seabeyond]

4. love it. got mine the 16th... lol. took it on my trip and used it all the way thru

showed to mother in law and we bought her one yesterday, along with one for father in law as a thank you for the trip.

it is heavier than the kindle. harder to hold. juice? keep light low and lasts a lot longer. i have a kindle and i am keeping it to read my books. it is really easy to read from. not giving it up. i use my fire for everything else. though the books are on that, too, so if i dont have my kindle, i can use it.

i am not computer literate. i dont know much about it. i just LOVE it, though.

hubby bought for my bday and was not excited about getting it. didnt need it. didnt want it.

so happy he bought it for me.

[HereSince1628]

5. The SO just got one...she is not techy at all but liked the idea

She's had it about a week...and is starting to get the hang of it, although the software (or the touch screen) seem glitchy--working sometimes and not at others..she's using the wireless router in the house...

She's found a way to get books from a variety of sources (there is a shareware conversion software available to do conversions to the Kindle's format)

Sorry not to be more helpful but I'm actually trying to stay away from it. I hate trial and error learning that is mostly error, especially when I don't trust the technology to be glitch free.

[Paula Sims]

6. Thanks everyone. Appreciate the input

I was going for the colored versions because if I read a magazine, I thought it would be nicer in color. Didn't think about the weight factor.

Lots to think of here.


Paula

[MannyGoldstein]

7. Nook is Barnes and Noble, not Borders

I have an older black-and-white Kindle and a newer Nook Color. The Kindle is better for book-reading because of the type of display (reflective e-ink). I use the Nook Color for web surfing, and have an SD card "hack" I can use with it that allows me to watch Netflix and run other standard Android apps (Android is the Nook's operating system).

My Kindle does not let me set up categories, but the new ones might. I haven't checked if the Nook has a way to do this.

For book reading only, an occasional sync should be fine. I don't know the answer on the Nook as to whether it's a single book load or a floater - I suspect the latter as the Nook lets you lend books to other Nook owners.

If you happen to have Amazon Prime service, then Amazon now has a large lending library of free titles for the Kindle - very cool. Even some current NY Times bestsellers, although most titles are lesser-known.

I suspect that whichever way you go you'll have a good experience - good luck!

[seabeyond]

10. my year old kindle lets you do catagories. one of the things i like.

it doesnt let you go by author if using catagories though. in order of bought, which i dont like that much.

[kaiden]

8. Does the Kindle or Nook let you write?

My husband would like one so he can write his stories on it.

[ohheckyeah]

18. Kindle Keyboard is okay for writing

but I wouldn't want to write a book on it.

Did you know you can email documents to your kindle?

[dmallind]

23. yes, but much easier to write on PC then save to reader. nt

[seabeyond]

9. mahjong. i have gotten hooked and obsessed with the game. touch screen

makes the game so much easier and fun.

i dont know about the other games. cant get off this one to test them out.

can put books in order by author or when you buy them or title.

[The empressof all]

11. I have an android tablet and a kindle

The Android tablet will let you run both Kindle and Nook apps. so for all intent and purposes will function like a Kindle.

The Kindle itself however is a far superior device or reading as it's weight is close to a book and it's black and white screen is very easy on the eyes.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. I've got an older Nook and an Android tablet that...

do pretty much everything. Nook reader software is available for almost everything, so you can download into your computer and then "sideload" into your Nook or Android gadget. Once you've bought something from B&N, it doesn't go away and stays on their servers as yours so you can read it on up to five gadgets that you register with B&N.

For just reading, the old Nook is just fine-- the eInk display is a little better than the older Kindles, but both have improved a lot recently. If you're going to read magazines, the color Nooks work just fine.

Nook also allows you to "borrow" the books from the library that that are available in ePub format. Amazon locked you out of that, but may have changed. The Nook also allows you to add memory and have a spare battery, although it becomes questionable just how many books you really need in that thing at one time. (3,000 books is a LOT of reading)

If you've got a B&N nearby, you can go in and play with all the Nooks and see for yourself how comfortable they are to use.

[ohheckyeah]

19. You can borrow books from the library

for Kindle.

[dmallind]

13. input from a nook power-user

1. For reading alone stick to an ereader not a tablet - better screens and battery life
2. On a nook yes - you set up "shelves" by whatever criterion you like (genre, read/unread etc) and assign books to them. Can't speak to
Kindle (on any count). However I have about 1100 books on my nook and I find the selectable default views by title, author or recency along with the search tool are very user friendly without them.
3. More than enough. The nook can be synced by USB cable too. You'll need wifi to buy books or download new software versions (unless you can find a 3G equipped first generation nook like mine)
4. Yes. Without syncing you can download things you bought from BN multiple times, or simply back up your library to your PC (my 1100 books take up just 550mb - text is low-memory data).

Between nook and Kindle I can only state why I went with the first. One main reason is moot now - didn't want the space of the keyboard on the original Kindle. The other is that they had a larger choice of free/0.99 books in the classic literature area.

BN's atill have some first gen (wifi only) nooks for $89. I prefer them to the admittedly slicker new nook touch because the latter segments the memory card so that only 250mb can be documents downloaded other than from BN. The original gives you the full 1.3GB card. Important if you want to use torrent epubs etc. SD cards are cheap though, but a small additional hassle. If that's not a big deal to you the black $99 touch has great battery life, a slightly nicer looking screen, and is thinner and lighter.

[one_voice]

14. I like my Kindle...

It's not back-lit but the cover I bought as a light built in..so it works out nicely. I still buy books, but enjoy the Kindle. I can throw it in my purse and have plenty to read.

It's weird, but I think I read faster using the Kindle..

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. I've got Nook Color and love it.

[ohheckyeah]

16. I would suggest you go withe the Kindle

Keyboard with 3G. That way you don't have to worry about wi-fi.

I have the Kindle Keyboard and yes you can make categories for your books and magazines. I have categories set up on mine. Once you buy a book it remains archived at Amazon until you remove it.

You can also borrow books for Kindle from the library or loan them to and borrow them from friends or family.
You can change the size of the font and the orientation from portrait to landscape.
You can browse the internet with Kindle....I've checked DU and my email from it.
It has text to voice capability for books that have it enabled.
Lots of free books on Amazon even without the Premier club.
E-ink is easy on the eyes.

[Mimosa]

17. Paula, here's a good comparison article

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/story/2011-11-15/barnes-noble-nook-amazon-kindle-fire-comparison/51224068/1

Here's another:

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/14/8790557-kindle-fire-review-yes-its-that-good

My plan is to wait until Apple introduces a cheaper 10 inch IPad.

http://technolog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/14/8803787-the-ipads-price-must-come-down

[Bake]

20. Skip it ... spend the extra $$ and get an iPad.

You'll be glad you did.

:hi:

Bake

[Mimosa]

24. How about the Samsung Galaxy Tablet?

http://www.tabletreaderinfo.com/content/Amazon-Kindle-Fire-Tablet-Review/Samsung-Galaxy-Tab-10-1.htm

This is tempting me. IF I had money. ;)

[and-justice-for-all]

21. Kindle Fire all the way...nt

[truebrit71]

22. Totally agree....got mine on the 15th and absolutely LOVE it!!

...and whatever you do, don't buy the iFad...it's a gigantic waste of money...