Touch Stick with Nook?

[tdonline]

Recently I've considered moving on from my NST. The eyes aren't getting any younger while the metro stations seem to be darker than ever...

If I'm going to buy a new ereader, is there any point to sticking with Nook and BN? I'm a little wary of buying an orphaned device. The Nook Glowlight is very competitive price-wise and there's a BN in my neighborhood so I've looked it over a few times. It seems okay, I've not been super-impressed with it. The e-ink print seems a bit light to me. I also noticed the fonts and sizes have not improved very much over the NST (my biggest NST pet peeve is when one font size is a bit too small but the next step up is enormous). And lately, I've come to appreciate the physical page buttons--so that's a strike against the Glowlight.

For context, I buy very few books, the vast majority of books I read are from the library. And I'm inclined to sticking with an epub reader as I'm under the impression Overdrive's epub collection is larger than the Kindle's library offerings.

In light of the above and BN's abandonment of the ereader market, should I just move on? Or is it a case of the grass only appearing to be greener elsewhere? My NST is the only ereader I've ever owned. Do Kobos or Kindles have their own annoying quirks too? If so, stick with BN and go with the $99 Nook Glowlight?

[Josieb1]

If you know how to liberate your books the I would consider the new Kobo Glo HD. The way things are for Nook I wouldn't buy another ereader from them, but only you can decide if you're happy staying with Nook.

The only ereader with anything close to physical buttons is the Kindle Voyage now and that's much more expensive than any reader Nook or Kobo have.

As for the library system. That's out for Kindle, but I think it works for Kobo as much as Nook. You'd have to ask in the Kobo forum. The Kobo's font adjustment options are the best there is plus you can add your own fonts.

I would ask in the which one shall I buy forum and not here in the Nook forum.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by Josieb1

If you know how to liberate your books the I would consider the new Kobo Glo HD. The way things are for Nook I wouldn't buy another ereader from them, but only you can decide if you're happy staying with Nook.

The only ereader with anything close to physical buttons is the Kindle Voyage now and that's much more expensive than any reader Nook or Kobo have.

As for the library system. That's out for Kindle, but I think it works for Kobo as much as Nook. You'd have to ask in the Kobo forum. The Kobo's font adjustment options are the best there is plus you can add your own fonts.

I would ask in the which one shall I buy forum and not here in the Nook forum.

Actually, if the OP is in the US, then you can get library books for the Kindle. Are there even any Barnes and Noble stores anywhere other than the US? (I'm asking because the OP said that he/she had on in the neighborhood)

Shari

[iluvgadgets]

The nook glow is a decent device, there haven't been any new improvements or anything to the device. You might want to try out the kindles and possibly the kobo devices to see which ones you like the best. The nook glow is very light and a nice size. I prefer using it without s case. I don't have any issues with font sizes or anything. I mainly sideload books from other sites to it and for that it works perfectly. I have an equal number of Amazon and B&N books, so I use both the nook and kindle.

[kalwisti]

Hi, tdonline,

I thought I'd comment since I own both a Nook ST (my first e-reader, purchased around Nov. 2011) and a Nook GlowLight (purchased around Halloween 2014 from a neighborhood B&N store).

I've been reading a lot on the GlowLight since I got it, and am happy with the device. Although I'm still fond of the NST, the GlowLight has become my "daily reader" because it has a crisper display (1024 x 758 resolution) and I like the built-in frontlight -- nice and white, with even coverage. I do most of my reading to relax before bedtime, in an area of the living room which isn't well lighted. My needs are basic, so I typically don't spend much time fiddling with fonts, margins and layouts.

A few other random points:

• Physical page turn buttons: You're correct that the GlowLight doesn't have any. I missed them at first, but have adjusted just fine and don't miss them now.
  
• Sideloaded content / Storage space: This isn't a problem, in my experience. Like you, almost all of my eBooks are sideloaded (Project Gutenberg, etc.). I use Calibre to manage my library, which works great.
  
  The GlowLight has 512 MB allotted for sideloaded content (which is twice the amount of my NST). Considering that most ePubs are small, this is plenty of space for my needs. For instance, I now have 171 sideloaded books in my Library and have only used 14% (76 MB) of the available space. So I don't find the loss of the microSD card slot to be a deal-breaker; I never used a microSD card with the NST.
  
• Power button: I find the new location of the Power button (on the upper left side of the unit) to be more convenient than the back of the NST. (My NST is in a B&N case which requires me to carefully wedge my index finger behind the e-reader to cleanly access the button.)
  
• B&N's ecosystem / future: This is a tough question ... It does seem that B&N has made numerous missteps and that it's a sinking ship. I still feel some loyalty towards B&N, and have tried to support them; however, it's becoming harder to maintain goodwill and there is no doubt that Amazon has a better ecosystem (better selection, cheaper prices).
  
  I don't know whether you liberate (de-DRM, or "Alf" as it's known around here) your eBooks, but if you do, B&N's recent changes to their DRM scheme have made it more difficult to do that. I've been unable to do it since the changes (despite having experimented repeatedly), and as a result, I no longer purchase any eBooks from B&N.
  
  I've successfully used Kindle for PC to purchase two Amazon eBooks, Alf them using the Calibre plugin, have Calibre convert them to ePubs and then transfer them to the GlowLight. It's a straightforward process, so that could be an option, if you need it.
  
  There is a lengthy forum thread here:
  
  https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=246519
  "B&N removed download option on all books in "My Nook" library."
  
  Even if B&N's e-reader division goes out of business, it wouldn't affect me. I anticipate that my GlowLight would continue to function as dependably as my NST has.

Ultimately, I can't recommend which e-reader would be "best" for you, but I think I can safely say that if your choice were only limited to the GlowLight, you would find it a worthwhile improvement over the NST.

Hope this helps a bit with your decision.

P.S.
If you're interested in case/cover options for the GlowLight, I mention a few in the forum thread below:

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...=210623&page=3
"Nook Glowlight Poll: Have you experienced screen defects?"
(My reply is Post # 34).

[tdonline]

Thank you to everyone for your responses and advice. I'm pleasantly surprised to see there's still some activity in this subforum. After posting, I realized I should have posted this thread in the What Should I Buy subforum and wasn't expecting any responses here.

Just to cover some of the points raised so far. Yes, the library systems that I use do offer ebooks multiple formats--including Kindle. And doing a search, I noticed that though both library collections have a greater amount of books in epub--the gap between epub and Kindle is very narrow. So going with Kindle shouldn't interfere with library usage.

Though I shop at Amazon, a part of me fights against going with Kindle, much I like I do not buy Apple--walled garden policy and the support of the underdog against the market Goliath. I have a feeling that going with the Paperwhite would probably make life easier in terms of content, but I still have the slight irrational whim against Amazon's enormous market power. It's why I went with the NST back in 2011. It helped of course that at the time, the NST really had a good argument for being best touch e-reader available.

Yes, I have used Calibre and am familiar with ebook liberation.

I guess I'll have to take a look at some ereaders. I went to the local Staples today as they carry Kindles. My local branch has spectacularly unhelpful staff (they are nice folks--just have zero technical skills/knowledge). The display Paperwhite was non-functional so that research excursion was pretty much a non-starter. I do find the squarer look of the Paperwhite slightly jarring as I'm used to the rounder edges of the Nook.

I'll have to see where I can get my hands on a Kobo. I'm intrigued with the upcoming HD Glo--it sounds great. I'm not sure I'm willing to pay $150 for an ereader though. I definitely will not buy it without kicking the tires a bit--not at that price point.

I may go with the Glowlight if there's a good sale. A price drop to $79 may be enticing enough. I suppose if it works and lasts a few years--it may not matter if BN abandons the ereader market. My fear is if I buy one and something goes wrong within the first year and BN has washed its hands of the product.

When looking for a reader in 2011, I did consider the card slot important but now, as a library user, capacity to store hundreds to thousands of books is irrelevant to me. I have maybe 15 books on my NST.

[kalwisti]

Originally Posted by tdonline

Yes, the library systems that I use do offer ebooks multiple formats--including Kindle. And doing a search, I noticed that though both library collections have a greater amount of books in epub--the gap between epub and Kindle is very narrow. So going with Kindle shouldn't interfere with library usage.

I'd second that. My wife is a reference librarian at our local public library, which has an OverDrive subscription. The vast majority of patrons have some flavor of Kindle (although she has been seeing a larger number of folks using tablets instead of dedicated E Ink readers). So when the librarians order, they try to make sure that Kindle/mobi format is well represented.

Originally Posted by tdonline

Though I shop at Amazon, a part of me fights against going with Kindle, much I like I do not buy Apple--walled garden policy and the support of the underdog against the market Goliath. I have a feeling that going with the Paperwhite would probably make life easier in terms of content, but I still have the slight irrational whim against Amazon's enormous market power.

That's nicely put ... I don't dislike Amazon, but I try to support the underdog when possible. Before I decided on the GlowLight, I was really rooting for Kobo. I did a lot of online research, watched Youtube reviews, etc. However, in the end, I was uncertain about the reliability of Kobo's firmware and their (less than stellar) customer service. I wasn't able to handle one in person, and actually read on it. I also had the impression -- perhaps incorrect -- that Kobo owners tend to tweak/tinker (with fonts, margins) more than the average reader. That's not my reading style.

The GlowLight was a "safer" decision for me; it was more of a known quantity, I was able to play around with one at my neighborhood brick-and-mortar B&N, and I had previous (positive) experience with the NST.

Originally Posted by tdonline

I'll have to see where I can get my hands on a Kobo. I'm intrigued with the upcoming HD Glo--it sounds great. I'm not sure I'm willing to pay $150 for an ereader though. I definitely will not buy it without kicking the tires a bit--not at that price point.

Yes, the HD Glo sounds like a very attractive option. If you're leaning towards a Kobo, one tip I've seen mentioned here several times is purchasing online through Chapters Indigo (in Canada), rather than directly from Kobo:

http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/

I wish you the best of luck, no matter which make/model you end up selecting. Please post back and let us know what you decided, and how it's working out for you.

[robko]

I think if you can get your hands on a newer reader you'll probably decide it's worth the extra $. The screen and lighting tech have really improved over the years and I'm sure you'll see the difference. I have the Aura H2O (I prefer the larger size) and it is a very noticeable step up in the whiteness of the screen and sharpness of the text from a few generations previous. For you B+N is a known quantity, so you know the limitations you're dealing with. There is not likely to be any changes to that with B+N basically abandoning their e-readers (I don't think they every really upgraded firmware anyway). It's worth making a list of features you like and wish you had on your device then start comparing to new ones. One word of caution: if you're watching reviews, turn off the sound if you do any Good E-reader ones. They tend to get a lot of things wrong.
I'm assuming you're in the U.S. in which case you can the Glo HD through Chapters.ca and with the currency exchange you're probably down closer to $100 plus shipping plus any currency exchange fees (shouldn't be very much). Retail in the U.S. direct is still only $129.

[JSWolf]

There are some issues with the nook Glowlight that are not good.

1. The partitioned storage. just plain stupid. You should be able to use all of the storage for whatever books you want.
2. No collections
3. Lousy UI
4. The light layer is easy to scratch

I would get the new Glo HD. It has the same screen as the Kindle Voyage. it handles ePub, it has a very nice front light, the UI is good, the features are much better then any nook, and it's only $129.99. The nook Glowlight is $99.99. The Glo HD is much nicer to hold. The case for the Glo HD (from Kobo) is only $29.99. To be honest, I jut cannot see wasting (er speinding) money on a nook Glowlight that's got some major issues that make it not worth the money.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tdonline

When looking for a reader in 2011, I did consider the card slot important but now, as a library user, capacity to store hundreds to thousands of books is irrelevant to me. I have maybe 15 books on my NST.

I started with the Nook Simple Touch for the same reason -- wanted to help the "little guy." I still think my Nooks (NST (currently 2 of them) and NST with Glowlight) are still the most comfortable eReaders to hold. I like the wider bezels and the page turn keys. I also like the font on the NST -- though not as fancy as the newer eReaders, but good and "clean." And, even though -- technically -- the front light on the NST with Glowlight is way behind the Kobo Glo, it's still easier on my eyes. I don't know why. I still find myself constantly fiddling with the brightness control on the Glo, whereas I just read on the NST w/Glowlight. But, I'm guessing, it's a personal problem with my eyes.

If I found a used Nook Glowlight (or new one on sale) for a good price, I would probably try one. But I've got to be honest, Amazon is miles ahead of Barnes & Noble with their infrastructure -- Send to Kindle is one of my favorite features. And I find borrowing library books in Kindle format is easier than ePubs (though I think the selection might be slightly smaller at my library). And B&N doesn't seem to know what they want to do with their eBook division.

I like the capabilities of the Kobo line -- but, for me, it's starting to look like too much fiddling for my taste. And I'm not really happy with the Kobo market's book prices -- nor am I fan of the little payment glitches (something I've never run into with Amazon or Barnes & Noble). I do think Kobo is making advances and it looks like Rakuten is not going to abandon them, so it looks to get better.

At any rate, for what it's worth. Sorry to ramble.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

4. The light layer is easy to scratch

This was true of the first lighted Nook (when the lighting tech was brand new), but is it true of the current one? I don't recall seeing any reports of that.


If the OP is at all considering the Paperwhite 2 it's on sale for the next 2 days for $99 and Amazon has a generous easy return policy if it turns out not to be the device for you after giving it a good test drive.

[tdonline]

Anemic, thanks for the PW alert. With Amazon's return policy--I may not need to go to a store to check it out...Stupid local Staples, you think they would bother to have a functional PW on display!

I'm very intrigued that Kindles can access Overdrive books directly. I had no idea--I'm so conditioned by Overdrive/Nook to download to my laptop and sideload to the reader.

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by tdonline

I'm very intrigued that Kindles can access Overdrive books directly. I had no idea--I'm so conditioned by Overdrive/Nook to download to my laptop and sideload to the reader.

There are rumors that Kobo's will be able to download OverDrive books directly in the near future (like Sony's could) since their parent company bought OverDrive, but I haven't seen anything that indicates it will happen for sure or if so when.

[Josieb1]

Originally Posted by tdonline

Anemic, thanks for the PW alert. With Amazon's return policy--I may not need to go to a store to check it out...Stupid local Staples, you think they would bother to have a functional PW on display!

I'm very intrigued that Kindles can access Overdrive books directly. I had no idea--I'm so conditioned by Overdrive/Nook to download to my laptop and sideload to the reader.

Amazon's 30 day return if you don't like it policy is the best way to try a kindle, you just can't go wrong.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by tdonline

I also noticed the fonts and sizes have not improved very much over the NST (my biggest NST pet peeve is when one font size is a bit too small but the next step up is enormous).

I just noticed this part of your original post. If finer adjustments in font size one of the more important features you need, you might want to look at the Kobos. In my opinion, the NST is better than the Kindles in regards to font size selection, but definitely not as good as my Kobo Glo. That was one of the main reasons I tried (am trying) a Kobo Glo.