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lizzybeth05 · 02-09-2010, 03:38 PM

Hello all,

I have had some trouble with my SONY reader, so I have decided to cut my losses and get a new reader.

Right now I am trying to decide between Amazon’s Kindle & BN’s Nook, but I am having trouble making a decision.

My big concern is customer service - when I have problems with my reader, I want to be able to call the company and speak with a customer service agent who can help me troubleshoot the problems (preferably for free) and hopefully resolve the issue right over the phone. My understanding is that Amazon already offers this service, free of charge, for the Kindle. Does anyone know if this service is offered by BN for the nook?

Both devices seem to have both good & bad aspects, so the other concerns I have are fairly minor.

For the nook, the bad aspects are:
1) How EPUB handles page numbers:

On my Sony Reader, if I read a book in EPUB format, the page numbers are independent of the font size. For example, one screen on the reader may show a page number as 8-9, then when I turn the page it will show this new screen as page number 9, for the next 2 or 3 screens it will continue to show the page number as 9 until it eventually shows the page number as 9-10, and then the process starts all over. However, If I read the same book in LRF format the total # of pages will update when I change the font size, so that each new screen on my reader corresponds to a new page number. I realize that this is a fairly minor issue, but It annoys me that the page numbers in the EPUB format are independent of the screen size / font size. All my books are unprotected, and as such I can use Calibre to change the formats. Is there a way to correct this issue with page numbers in the EPUB book format using caliber? Also, does anyone know if the MOBI format will do the same as the EPUB format with the page numbers?
If this issue cannot be resolved, I may prefer to get the Kindle over the Nook.

2) The lack of stability for the NOOK is also a concern:

What I mean is that although the nook spouts all these great features, it appears that some of the features may not work as well as envisioned. It seems like BN eventually intends to address these concerns with firmware updates, but how long will it be before all the updates are available? This is BN’s first electronic reader device, and as such it seems like there are lot of bugs & kinks that need to be worked out, where as Amazon has been working with these for a few years now, so it seems like most of the Kindle features work as envisioned, where as this is not the case with the Nook

For the nook the good aspects are:
1) All the amazing features:

The nook advertise quite a few features that are new to electronic readers, such as lending books to friends & the ability to connect to WiFi (when available). Once BN works out all the kinks, these features could be really nice to have.

2) Memory Card Slot & removable battery:

Its nice to know, that should I need it, the NOOK has the ability to expand its memory via microSD cards & to replace the battery.

3) EPUB seems to be becoming the industry standard, and it seems to be the more common format for elibrary books.

For the Kindle, the ‘bad’ aspects are:
1) The appearance/size:

The Kindle has these large voids of space on the face of the devices such as the wide ‘margins’ on both sides of the screen and all the additional space around the keyboard. These ‘void’ areas give the impression of the Kindle being really large for no good reason. For this reason, it appears to be significantly larger than the nook

For the Kindle the ‘good’ aspects are:
1) Stability:

Amazon has built & sold three readers so far. The devices seem to be pretty stable and well developed, and for the minor glitches, they have good customer service (or so I’ve been told).

Keeping in mind all of these issues I’ve listed, can anyone who has the Kindle 2 or the Nook please shed some light. or if there are other issues I should also consider please let me know.

Does anyone know how well the customer service is for helping to trouble shoot for either device?
Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the stability or lack of stability for either of the Nook or the Kindle?
Does anyone know how to fix my “issues” with the page numbers in the EPUB format? And does the MOBI format have this same problem?
Am I correct about EPUB being the industry standard format?

Thanks in advance!

02-09-2010, 03:38 PM	#1
lizzybeth05 Member Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Device: none	Nook vs Kindle 2, please help!! Hello all, I have had some trouble with my SONY reader, so I have decided to cut my losses and get a new reader. Right now I am trying to decide between Amazon’s Kindle & BN’s Nook, but I am having trouble making a decision. My big concern is customer service - when I have problems with my reader, I want to be able to call the company and speak with a customer service agent who can help me troubleshoot the problems (preferably for free) and hopefully resolve the issue right over the phone. My understanding is that Amazon already offers this service, free of charge, for the Kindle. Does anyone know if this service is offered by BN for the nook? Both devices seem to have both good & bad aspects, so the other concerns I have are fairly minor. For the nook, the bad aspects are: 1) How EPUB handles page numbers: On my Sony Reader, if I read a book in EPUB format, the page numbers are independent of the font size. For example, one screen on the reader may show a page number as 8-9, then when I turn the page it will show this new screen as page number 9, for the next 2 or 3 screens it will continue to show the page number as 9 until it eventually shows the page number as 9-10, and then the process starts all over. However, If I read the same book in LRF format the total # of pages will update when I change the font size, so that each new screen on my reader corresponds to a new page number. I realize that this is a fairly minor issue, but It annoys me that the page numbers in the EPUB format are independent of the screen size / font size. All my books are unprotected, and as such I can use Calibre to change the formats. Is there a way to correct this issue with page numbers in the EPUB book format using caliber? Also, does anyone know if the MOBI format will do the same as the EPUB format with the page numbers? If this issue cannot be resolved, I may prefer to get the Kindle over the Nook. 2) The lack of stability for the NOOK is also a concern: What I mean is that although the nook spouts all these great features, it appears that some of the features may not work as well as envisioned. It seems like BN eventually intends to address these concerns with firmware updates, but how long will it be before all the updates are available? This is BN’s first electronic reader device, and as such it seems like there are lot of bugs & kinks that need to be worked out, where as Amazon has been working with these for a few years now, so it seems like most of the Kindle features work as envisioned, where as this is not the case with the Nook For the nook the good aspects are: 1) All the amazing features: The nook advertise quite a few features that are new to electronic readers, such as lending books to friends & the ability to connect to WiFi (when available). Once BN works out all the kinks, these features could be really nice to have. 2) Memory Card Slot & removable battery: Its nice to know, that should I need it, the NOOK has the ability to expand its memory via microSD cards & to replace the battery. 3) EPUB seems to be becoming the industry standard, and it seems to be the more common format for elibrary books. For the Kindle, the ‘bad’ aspects are: 1) The appearance/size: The Kindle has these large voids of space on the face of the devices such as the wide ‘margins’ on both sides of the screen and all the additional space around the keyboard. These ‘void’ areas give the impression of the Kindle being really large for no good reason. For this reason, it appears to be significantly larger than the nook For the Kindle the ‘good’ aspects are: 1) Stability: Amazon has built & sold three readers so far. The devices seem to be pretty stable and well developed, and for the minor glitches, they have good customer service (or so I’ve been told). Keeping in mind all of these issues I’ve listed, can anyone who has the Kindle 2 or the Nook please shed some light. or if there are other issues I should also consider please let me know. Does anyone know how well the customer service is for helping to trouble shoot for either device? Does anyone have any thoughts regarding the stability or lack of stability for either of the Nook or the Kindle? Does anyone know how to fix my “issues” with the page numbers in the EPUB format? And does the MOBI format have this same problem? Am I correct about EPUB being the industry standard format? Thanks in advance!