Classic Newbie Questions

VICROAMER · 10-16-2010, 03:20 AM

I am considering my choices for my first reader, the Nook has a couple of features which appeal to me namely the epub format plus a web browser. Epub because of local content and and library access, the browser because I can't always get access to the home PC, it is usually in use by someone else, the ability to have a quiet little browse would be nice.
My armchair research has turned up a couple of concerns which I would like Nook users opinons on
1. The weight or heft of the Nook compared to the Kindle 3 or Kobo, is it a issue in use, I suppose it could be looked on as a indicator the Nook was not built down to a price.
2. The touch screen how responsive is it in use, is there a lag, does one get used to it, does the glare of a sunny day wash it out. I have viewed Len Edgerly's 4 way comparison which raised concerns with me regarding the touch screen control.
Any helpful advice appreciated

neilmarr · 10-16-2010, 03:39 AM

Quite a few enthusiastic Nook users here, Vic. You should have answers to your questions soon. I'm just popping by to thank you for your new company. Good luck with your choice and best wishes. Neil

VICROAMER · 10-16-2010, 04:27 AM

Thanks Neil much appreciated

lionel47 · 10-16-2010, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VICROAMER

I am considering my choices for my first reader, the Nook has a couple of features which appeal to me namely the epub format plus a web browser. Epub because of local content and and library access, the browser because I can't always get access to the home PC, it is usually in use by someone else, the ability to have a quiet little browse would be nice.
My armchair research has turned up a couple of concerns which I would like Nook users opinons on
1. The weight or heft of the Nook compared to the Kindle 3 or Kobo, is it a issue in use, I suppose it could be looked on as a indicator the Nook was not built down to a price.
2. The touch screen how responsive is it in use, is there a lag, does one get used to it, does the glare of a sunny day wash it out. I have viewed Len Edgerly's 4 way comparison which raised concerns with me regarding the touch screen control.
Any helpful advice appreciated

1. I regularly read my Nook with one hand. The heft did not bother me at all.

2. I got used to the touch screen. It wasn't really a big deal to me...most of the time, I was reading the e-ink.

Pomtroll · 10-16-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VICROAMER

I am considering my choices for my first reader, the Nook has a couple of features which appeal to me namely the epub format plus a web browser. Epub because of local content and and library access, the browser because I can't always get access to the home PC, it is usually in use by someone else, the ability to have a quiet little browse would be nice.
My armchair research has turned up a couple of concerns which I would like Nook users opinions on
1. The weight or heft of the Nook compared to the Kindle 3 or Kobo, is it a issue in use, I suppose it could be looked on as a indicator the Nook was not built down to a price.
2. The touch screen how responsive is it in use, is there a lag, does one get used to it, does the glare of a sunny day wash it out. I have viewed Len Edgerly's 4 way comparison which raised concerns with me regarding the touch screen control.
Any helpful advice appreciated

1) I have both the NOOK & the Kindle3. The kindle is indeed lighter but I had the NOOK first & have found no problem reading while holding it with one hand. AND my hands are not large.

2) Once I learned how to use the touch screen there was no turning back. I use my thumb to do a gentle swipe from the center either across or slightly at an angle to left for going forward. The opposite for going back I love the touch screen & I really don't notice any glare while reading. Here is a you tube video of how to use the touch screen. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5Eas6lONM Some use their fingers & some like me use their thumbs.

Now being honest here. With my Nook there is a bit of a lag with page turning either with the touch screen or the buttons. Kindle is much faster with the page turn. But when I get into the groove of reading with the NOOK I really don't notice the lag. I just get used to it.

Hope this helps.

desertgrandma · 10-16-2010, 02:29 PM

Welcome to MobileRead, VICROAMER

Personally, I love the K3 controls, and can't abide a touch screen, but thats just me.

Consider using the "introduce myself" link below to meet more members.

VICROAMER · 10-16-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Now being honest here. With my Nook there is a bit of a lag with page turning either with the touch screen or the buttons. Kindle is much faster with the page turn. But when I get into the groove of reading with the NOOK I really don't notice the lag. I just get used to it.

OK page turn seems good enough for me how about the touch screen keyboard and directional arrows how responsive do people find them to use.

Ryan_Phx · 10-16-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VICROAMER

OK page turn seems good enough for me how about the touch screen keyboard and directional arrows how responsive do people find them to use.

I've used the Kindle 3 and the Nook, and I much prefer the Nook. I hate Kindle's goofy little keyboard. The Nook's touch screen makes it, IMHO, much more intuitive and user-friendly. I can type a note much faster on the Nook than I can on the Kindle. I'm sure you'll find Kindle owners who will claim the same thing. For me, the fact that the Nook's touch-screen keyboard takes no pressure at all makes it easier to use. It is true that it uses more power than the Kindle, and thus you won't get as much battery life, but I've never had an issue with that.

Lindca2 · 10-16-2010, 06:27 PM

I bought the Nook to replace my Cybook Gen 3, and the Nook weighs about twice as much as the Cybook. I noticed the weight difference at first ("This thing is a brick!"), but honestly, I have no trouble holding it in one hand for reading and don't notice it so much anymore.

I've also grown to like navigating with the touch screen. It's simple to use and I notice little lag time. As others have noted, once you get the hang of the swipe motion for turning pages, that's easy as well. You also have the buttons on either side of the reader to turn pages if you prefer.

Honestly, there are lots of good options for ebook readers out there, and the price points of the Nook and the K3 make them particularly attractive. I suspect you could be very happy with either one, but there are a few key differences that may help you to decide:

Advantages of K3:
smaller, lighter weight
new Pearl screen (better contrast)
longer battery life
easy access to Amazon titles*

Advantages of Nook:
LCD touch screen for navigation, page turns, and color cover images
easy access to B&N and multiple other vendors who sell epubs*
ability to borrow library ebooks*
in-store specials at B&N like free cafe items, reading for free, etc.
book lending feature**

*If you are able and willing to strip DRM on books (not exactly legal), you can buy books in most any format from any vendor.

**This feature is somewhat limited and relies on both people having a Nook. You can also share titles with a small number of family and friends who all have Kindles by sharing an account (for ? up to four devices).

The web browsing abilities of both the Nook and the K3--other than connecting to the respective stores to buy ebooks--are quite limited. I wouldn't rely on either one for easy access to email, etc.

If you have a chance, look at and hold both the Nook and the K3 and see which appeals to you. Both are excellent choices and only your personal preferences will determine which is better for you.

DiamondDave · 10-16-2010, 08:51 PM

A few comments: I've never used a Kindle but the nook's weight seems fine to me; never felt that it was too heavy to read with at all. The touch-screen is a little fussy, but what isn't? And it does wash out in bright sun. Not to the point of being unusable, but it is an LCD and not e-ink, after all.

The web browser is not great; it's good for checking simple sites and handles mobile sites (like m.cnn.com) well. It kind of chokes on the B&N site, ironically.

My impression is that the Kindle 3 is probably a more refined piece of hardware, but I wanted library epubs and that lead me to the nook. That being said, I think the nook is very good with no more quirks or annoyances than this Windows XP laptop on which I am typing.

chas0039 · 10-16-2010, 09:17 PM

One thing to be aware of; if you have a lot of epub books not from B&N then you will be very frustrated with the nook library system. I have 1400+ books accumulated over many years and until I softrooted I had to go through 140 pages one at a time to find anything. It also crashes after 1275 titles and will not sort correctly.

New nooks are very hard to softroot so the nook is only viable for a few books at a time.

aagstn · 10-17-2010, 03:05 AM

The nook is definitely worth getting for the ePub support and I love the touch screen. Once you get the thumb swipe down you really don't want to press the buttons to turn pages and having the covers in color down there is a nice touch. I don't have issues with the weight. I held a K3 and it is lighter, but honestly the difference was pretty minor.

The file system is a bit of a pain. I have 500+ in my documents folder so it takes a few page turns to get to the next book, but it hasn't been a deal breaker for me.

Some don't like the touch screen, but I personally love it and much prefer it to the old looking keyboard on the kindle. I can't see needing a keyboard like the kindle has unless you are making a lot of notes. For normal use the touch screen is more versatile and makes the device a lot better looking. It is pretty bright outdoors and I haven't had issues using it. There is a bit of lag, but that is mostly waiting for the slower eink screen to catch up. You get used to it quickly.

VICROAMER · 10-17-2010, 03:09 AM

These replys have been helpful. At this stage I still feel the nook suits my requirements best from whats available at present. I can get around the catalogue issue by keeping my collection catalogued on Calibre and just loading what I need on the Nook I don't see any need to load it up with everything. I've been reading the user guide and I see I can sort by author which will also help.
I suppose the browser while not perfect would be better than no browser, a bit of a bonus I can use when the home PC is occupied. Pity Wikipedia is not better integrated without the steps needed to go through the browser to get there, but at least it can be accesed. The dictionary works on B&N plus my Document files which is a plus compared to the dictionary in the KOBO WIFI which only works on ebooks sourced from the KOBO store this has put me off the NEW KOBO which I was considering if I was prepared to give up the browser.

Ryan_Phx · 10-17-2010, 11:51 PM

None of them have good browsers--Kindle 3, DX, Nook--they're all about the same. They're all slow, and none of them are good for much, frankly. It's all because of the e-ink limitation and the slow processors that power these devices. Having used the Kindles and Nook, I can say that the Nook's browser is a bit more functional, but the Kindle gets points for giving me access to Wikipedia and travel sites over the 3G network. I hardly ever use the browser for anything more than a quick check of my email, though, so it doesn't really matter to me. And really, if web browsing is a big thing for someone, they really ought to be looking at an iPad or other tablet device.

Edit: I should add that, if I were to buy another reader in the near future, it would almost certainly be the Kindle DX. I love my Nook for general reading, but I'd use the DX for business documents and, yes, for traveling.

Nahgem · 10-21-2010, 01:43 AM

I was skeptical of the LCD screen at first, because I generally hate touch devices, but I fell in love with it almost immediately. I love the swipe for turning pages, and I prefer having the touch screen for browsing the internet. Browsing on the Kindle means you have to use the 5-Way, which ends up requiring you to arrow around the page. It's not hard to do, but it felt really slow after having the touch screen on the Nook. I don't notice any significant lag on the touch screen. It takes about a second to engage, and you have to be careful you're not accidentally touching the wrong thing, but once you know what to expect, it's pretty intuitive. You can also change the factory settings so that it turns off after about 5 seconds, so it's not distracting you while you read. Can't say how it works in the sun, as I haven't tried to read outside yet.

The Kindle is significantly lighter, which was really nice to carry around -- but I was a bit worried I'd break the thing. I'd definitely put the Kindle in a hefty case if I bought one for keeps. On the other hand, the Nook isn't actually heavy, it's just heavier.

The K3 does have faster page turns, which is something that's more important to other people than it is to me. K3 definitely has some things I wish the Nook had (the Collections feature, and the ability to email documents to the device, for example).

Overall, I think they're both good devices. The K3 completely changed my mind about the Kindle (was not a big fan of the K1 or K2), and I love my Nook. Either one would be a good choice, it just depends on which features are most important to you.

10-16-2010, 03:20 AM	#1
VICROAMER Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia Device: Kindle 3	Newbie Questions I am considering my choices for my first reader, the Nook has a couple of features which appeal to me namely the epub format plus a web browser. Epub because of local content and and library access, the browser because I can't always get access to the home PC, it is usually in use by someone else, the ability to have a quiet little browse would be nice. My armchair research has turned up a couple of concerns which I would like Nook users opinons on 1. The weight or heft of the Nook compared to the Kindle 3 or Kobo, is it a issue in use, I suppose it could be looked on as a indicator the Nook was not built down to a price. 2. The touch screen how responsive is it in use, is there a lag, does one get used to it, does the glare of a sunny day wash it out. I have viewed Len Edgerly's 4 way comparison which raised concerns with me regarding the touch screen control. Any helpful advice appreciated

10-16-2010, 06:27 PM	#9
Lindca2 Member Posts: 21 Karma: 20 Join Date: Apr 2009 Device: Nook Wifi, Cybook Gen 3	I bought the Nook to replace my Cybook Gen 3, and the Nook weighs about twice as much as the Cybook. I noticed the weight difference at first ("This thing is a brick!"), but honestly, I have no trouble holding it in one hand for reading and don't notice it so much anymore. I've also grown to like navigating with the touch screen. It's simple to use and I notice little lag time. As others have noted, once you get the hang of the swipe motion for turning pages, that's easy as well. You also have the buttons on either side of the reader to turn pages if you prefer. Honestly, there are lots of good options for ebook readers out there, and the price points of the Nook and the K3 make them particularly attractive. I suspect you could be very happy with either one, but there are a few key differences that may help you to decide: Advantages of K3: smaller, lighter weight new Pearl screen (better contrast) longer battery life easy access to Amazon titles* Advantages of Nook: LCD touch screen for navigation, page turns, and color cover images easy access to B&N and multiple other vendors who sell epubs* ability to borrow library ebooks* in-store specials at B&N like free cafe items, reading for free, etc. book lending feature** If you are able and willing to strip DRM on books (not exactly legal), you can buy books in most any format from any vendor. This feature is somewhat limited and relies on both people having a Nook. You can also share titles with a small number of family and friends who all have Kindles by sharing an account (for ? up to four devices). The web browsing abilities of both the Nook and the K3--other than connecting to the respective stores to buy ebooks--are quite limited. I wouldn't rely on either one for easy access to email, etc. If you have a chance, look at and hold both the Nook and the K3 and see which appeals to you. Both are excellent choices and only your personal preferences will determine which is better for you. Last edited by Lindca2; 10-16-2010 at 06:32 PM.*

10-17-2010, 03:05 AM	#12
aagstn Evangelist Posts: 422 Karma: 1004351 Join Date: Jun 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite 3, iPad mini 2	The nook is definitely worth getting for the ePub support and I love the touch screen. Once you get the thumb swipe down you really don't want to press the buttons to turn pages and having the covers in color down there is a nice touch. I don't have issues with the weight. I held a K3 and it is lighter, but honestly the difference was pretty minor. The file system is a bit of a pain. I have 500+ in my documents folder so it takes a few page turns to get to the next book, but it hasn't been a deal breaker for me. Some don't like the touch screen, but I personally love it and much prefer it to the old looking keyboard on the kindle. I can't see needing a keyboard like the kindle has unless you are making a lot of notes. For normal use the touch screen is more versatile and makes the device a lot better looking. It is pretty bright outdoors and I haven't had issues using it. There is a bit of lag, but that is mostly waiting for the slower eink screen to catch up. You get used to it quickly. Last edited by aagstn; 10-17-2010 at 03:08 AM.

10-17-2010, 11:51 PM	#14
Ryan_Phx Enthusiast Posts: 39 Karma: 1660 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandusky, OH Device: Galaxy Tab S2, Nook, Kindle DXG	None of them have good browsers--Kindle 3, DX, Nook--they're all about the same. They're all slow, and none of them are good for much, frankly. It's all because of the e-ink limitation and the slow processors that power these devices. Having used the Kindles and Nook, I can say that the Nook's browser is a bit more functional, but the Kindle gets points for giving me access to Wikipedia and travel sites over the 3G network. I hardly ever use the browser for anything more than a quick check of my email, though, so it doesn't really matter to me. And really, if web browsing is a big thing for someone, they really ought to be looking at an iPad or other tablet device. Edit: I should add that, if I were to buy another reader in the near future, it would almost certainly be the Kindle DX. I love my Nook for general reading, but I'd use the DX for business documents and, yes, for traveling. Last edited by Ryan_Phx; 10-17-2010 at 11:54 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
More newbie questions :help:	dacattt	Astak EZReader	10	09-28-2010 07:01 PM
Questions of a newbie	Voyager-Reader	Which one should I buy?	15	09-25-2010 02:36 PM
Newbie with questions	1Bookworm	Introduce Yourself	12	06-29-2010 11:54 AM
Newbie with a few questions...	tabbycat	Sony Reader	6	03-28-2009 02:07 PM
questions from a newbie	bugsbunny14	Sony Reader	4	09-13-2006 05:41 PM

10-16-2010, 03:39 AM	#2
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Quite a few enthusiastic Nook users here, Vic. You should have answers to your questions soon. I'm just popping by to thank you for your new company. Good luck with your choice and best wishes. Neil

10-16-2010, 04:27 AM	#3
VICROAMER Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia Device: Kindle 3	Thanks Neil much appreciated

10-16-2010, 02:29 PM	#6
desertgrandma Enjoying the show.... Posts: 14,270 Karma: 10462843 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Device: A K1, Kindle Paperwhite, an Ipod, IPad2, Iphone, an Ipad Mini & macAir	Welcome to MobileRead, VICROAMER Personally, I love the K3 controls, and can't abide a touch screen, but thats just me. Consider using the "introduce myself" link below to meet more members.

10-16-2010, 08:51 PM	#10
DiamondDave Enthusiast Posts: 33 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: nook	A few comments: I've never used a Kindle but the nook's weight seems fine to me; never felt that it was too heavy to read with at all. The touch-screen is a little fussy, but what isn't? And it does wash out in bright sun. Not to the point of being unusable, but it is an LCD and not e-ink, after all. The web browser is not great; it's good for checking simple sites and handles mobile sites (like m.cnn.com) well. It kind of chokes on the B&N site, ironically. My impression is that the Kindle 3 is probably a more refined piece of hardware, but I wanted library epubs and that lead me to the nook. That being said, I think the nook is very good with no more quirks or annoyances than this Windows XP laptop on which I am typing.

10-16-2010, 09:17 PM	#11
chas0039 Sceptic Posts: 573 Karma: 73436 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: The Lake Device: rooted Nooks, retired. JetBook Lite, Kindle 3, 4, Kobo Nia, Libra H2O.	One thing to be aware of; if you have a lot of epub books not from B&N then you will be very frustrated with the nook library system. I have 1400+ books accumulated over many years and until I softrooted I had to go through 140 pages one at a time to find anything. It also crashes after 1275 titles and will not sort correctly. New nooks are very hard to softroot so the nook is only viable for a few books at a time.

10-17-2010, 03:09 AM	#13
VICROAMER Enthusiast Posts: 34 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia Device: Kindle 3	These replys have been helpful. At this stage I still feel the nook suits my requirements best from whats available at present. I can get around the catalogue issue by keeping my collection catalogued on Calibre and just loading what I need on the Nook I don't see any need to load it up with everything. I've been reading the user guide and I see I can sort by author which will also help. I suppose the browser while not perfect would be better than no browser, a bit of a bonus I can use when the home PC is occupied. Pity Wikipedia is not better integrated without the steps needed to go through the browser to get there, but at least it can be accesed. The dictionary works on B&N plus my Document files which is a plus compared to the dictionary in the KOBO WIFI which only works on ebooks sourced from the KOBO store this has put me off the NEW KOBO which I was considering if I was prepared to give up the browser.

10-21-2010, 01:43 AM	#15
Nahgem Groupie Posts: 170 Karma: 1065326 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Nooks	I was skeptical of the LCD screen at first, because I generally hate touch devices, but I fell in love with it almost immediately. I love the swipe for turning pages, and I prefer having the touch screen for browsing the internet. Browsing on the Kindle means you have to use the 5-Way, which ends up requiring you to arrow around the page. It's not hard to do, but it felt really slow after having the touch screen on the Nook. I don't notice any significant lag on the touch screen. It takes about a second to engage, and you have to be careful you're not accidentally touching the wrong thing, but once you know what to expect, it's pretty intuitive. You can also change the factory settings so that it turns off after about 5 seconds, so it's not distracting you while you read. Can't say how it works in the sun, as I haven't tried to read outside yet. The Kindle is significantly lighter, which was really nice to carry around -- but I was a bit worried I'd break the thing. I'd definitely put the Kindle in a hefty case if I bought one for keeps. On the other hand, the Nook isn't actually heavy, it's just heavier. The K3 does have faster page turns, which is something that's more important to other people than it is to me. K3 definitely has some things I wish the Nook had (the Collections feature, and the ability to email documents to the device, for example). Overall, I think they're both good devices. The K3 completely changed my mind about the Kindle (was not a big fan of the K1 or K2), and I love my Nook. Either one would be a good choice, it just depends on which features are most important to you.

Advert

Advert