Boils down to this...

samalex · 08-04-2010, 12:53 PM

I guess it boils down to this:
Kindle -
- Better interface and display (per reviews)
- Better PDF Support
- Possibly more book options through Amazon (per online resources)
- Text to Speech
- Browsing over 3G (on one that supports 3G that is)
- Audible support
- Landscape view

Nook
- Book lending
- ePub and ePub with DRM support

Unfortunately the lending and ePub is pretty high on my list, so if the Kindle supported this it would be the perfect device. With that being said I'm really starting to lean more towards the Kindle since I have a HUGE collection of PDF's and at least for DRM-free ePub files I can convert them to PDF or Mobi format and use them on the Kindle.

Maybe just maybe Kindle will add support for ePub and Lending in the future, which if they did it would be the end of the Nook... unless Nook 2 is truly amazing.

So at this point I'm probably looking at the Kindle, though it'll be a bummer not being able to take advantage of Overdrive when it comes to my area.

Also for those who use either of these devices, do I have anything incorrect or missing any thing huge?

Sam

ProfCrash · 08-04-2010, 01:04 PM

There are ways to lend on the Kindle. You can share an account, I have one with my parents so they can read any of my books. You can add someone to your account, add books to their Kindle, and deregister their Kindle. The books stay on their Kindle as long as they are not deleted by the Kindle owner. I know parents who have done this with their kids Kindles. I know kids who have done this with their parents Kindles, they didn't want Mom stumbling over their adult book choices. (grins)

The lending option for the Nook is pretty limited. You can lend the book once, for two weeks, and you cannot read it when it is lent out. Additionally, Publishers have limited the number of books that have the ability to be lent out.

The only way around the EPub issue is to buy non-drmed EPubs and convert them for your Kindle. I seriously doubt that Amazon is going to add support for EPubs any time in the near future. They are selling out of Kindle's without the EPub support and their e-book store is seeing business grow very, very quickly.

I have read that their are British bookstores that sell books not available on the Kindle in the US for the Kindle in the UK that you can use as well.

You will end up happy with either device. They are both good ereaders. I strongly prefer the Kindle but I have a friend who has a Nook and loves it. My brother has a Sony that he is ok with, he doesn't like the bookstore and other issues with loading books. Everyone else I know has a Kindle and they rather enjoy them. So I am biased but I do think you would enjoy reading on a Nook. I just think that the Kindle is the better device.

ATDrake · 08-04-2010, 01:09 PM

Re: the Nook, lending is determined by the publisher, and currently set to 1 loan, for two weeks, ever. And you can't read it yourself while it's on loan.

Hopefully they'll change things so that you can lend as many times as you like (or at least increase the current one-time only limit), because it's a really nifty feature that I think answers the "can I share a good read with my friend like I can with a paperback?" question while addressing the "everyone reading a copy at once and only one of them paid for" concern.

But the B&N DRM is pretty much a social DRM, not tied to any particular computer or device, so you could probably handle lending manually by transferring files over and directly unlocking it by personally entering in your Name/CC when your friend's device asks you for the code, and vice versa.

Anyway, I think the Nook might possibly have the widest support/availability in terms of stores you can purchase from.

Basically, you can access anyplace that sells B&N or ADE-DRMed books, whereas with Amazon, you're basically limited to purchasing from them and anyone who sells no-DRM titles, unless you're willing to strip the DRM and possibly convert. However, Amazon is supposed to have wider selection overall.

Much as I'd love to have my Kindle natively support at least non-DRM ePubs, I rather doubt that Amazon is going to do it anytime soon, considering that they say they've got 70%+ of the ebook market and that their Kindle titles are now outselling the equivalent hardcovers.

Best of luck with your decision.

rblover · 08-06-2010, 05:30 AM

As I understand it, you are corrct as far as you go. I also understand that with a 3G+WiFi Kindle you can buy/download books, magazines, etc, from The Kindle Store while overseas...but on the Nook you can't purchase/download while abroad. If you travel abroad much, that may be worth considering.

Care · 08-06-2010, 10:26 AM

I just downloaded a book last night on my Nook, and I was told since I live in Canada I wouldn't be able to. It was a new release, and cost the same at Amazon.com. I have a US address on my B&N account though and the billing address same as shipping box is checked.

ProfCrash · 08-06-2010, 10:27 AM

You probably were able to do that because you have a US address on your B&N account.

tovare · 08-06-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samalex

I guess it boils down to this:
Kindle -
- Better interface and display (per reviews)
- Better PDF Support
- Possibly more book options through Amazon (per online resources)
- Text to Speech
- Browsing over 3G (on one that supports 3G that is)
- Audible support
- Landscape view

Nook
- Book lending
- ePub and ePub with DRM support

Unfortunately the lending and ePub is pretty high on my list, so if the Kindle supported this it would be the perfect device. With that being said I'm really starting to lean more towards the Kindle since I have a HUGE collection of PDF's and at least for DRM-free ePub files I can convert them to PDF or Mobi format and use them on the Kindle.

....

Have you taken a peek at the sony reader daily edition? From what i can tell the PDF support is much on the sony's are better than the Kindle 3 and moving around and searching using touch is great. (At the cost of some contrast).

I have the Sony PRS-600 and it's a bit small for reading a lot of PDF's, however I do keep many PDF files on it for easy reference and searching.

I seem to recall reading in a different thread that announcements from Sony tended to be leaked in the autum, and since I've also heard that Amazon has an pearl-screen exclusive for 6 month there might be many new announcements or leaks from B&N, Sony and the other manufacturers around the time the Kindle 3 is actually released.

Cheers

Noah98 · 08-06-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samalex

I guess it boils down to this:
Kindle -
- Better interface and display (per reviews)
- Better PDF Support
- Possibly more book options through Amazon (per online resources)
- Text to Speech
- Browsing over 3G (on one that supports 3G that is)
- Audible support
- Landscape view

Nook
- Book lending
- ePub and ePub with DRM support

Unfortunately the lending and ePub is pretty high on my list, so if the Kindle supported this it would be the perfect device. With that being said I'm really starting to lean more towards the Kindle since I have a HUGE collection of PDF's and at least for DRM-free ePub files I can convert them to PDF or Mobi format and use them on the Kindle.

Maybe just maybe Kindle will add support for ePub and Lending in the future, which if they did it would be the end of the Nook... unless Nook 2 is truly amazing.

So at this point I'm probably looking at the Kindle, though it'll be a bummer not being able to take advantage of Overdrive when it comes to my area.

Also for those who use either of these devices, do I have anything incorrect or missing any thing huge?

Sam

I think your assessment is pretty accurate. The Kindle having a better interface is a bit subjective, as I and a few others like the nook's touchscreen better (although I imagine that more people probably prefer the Kindle's). Also, the point about Amazon having more book options may be true, but on the nook you can buy books from the Kobo, Books-a-million, and Sony stores (and others), so that does open up more options.

I absolutely love my nook, but I can't deny what a good product/value the new Kindle is. If it were available when I was shopping for a device, it would have complicated my decision.

I even considered pre-ordering one as a second reader, but I would like to see one in person (hopefully Target will have a nice display) before I act impulsively!

ProfCrash · 08-10-2010, 09:59 AM

And you can buy books for Amazon from other stores as well.

Really, the availability of books is not that much of an issue. I would be surprised if there were too many folks out there who are not able to buy the books that they want, when they want them. I think this is played up way too much.

Kindle does have the benefit of having international coverage. Before that coverage existed, people found ways to get books onto their Kindles all over the globe. It was a bit more difficult but people did it. The Nook and Sony are currently in that same boat, you can buy those devices and download material to your device outside of the US. It is a bit more difficult for people who do not have a US address but it is doable.

I know that you can download papers and some magazines using Calibre, at least I have read where people have done that, but I belive that the Kindle is the only device that has newspapers and magazines available for subscription download outside of the US.

HarryT · 08-10-2010, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Kindle does have the benefit of having international coverage. Before that coverage existed, people found ways to get books onto their Kindles all over the globe. It was a bit more difficult but people did it.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. You can load any DRM-free Mobipocket book onto the Kindle via a USB connection, just as you'd do with any other reading device. Nothing even remotely difficult about it!

ProfCrash · 08-10-2010, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure what you mean by that. You can load any DRM-free Mobipocket book onto the Kindle via a USB connection, just as you'd do with any other reading device. Nothing even remotely difficult about it!

By a bit more difficult I mean you have to look for those sites and you don't have the possibility of buying from the Amazon store. I didn't say impossible or exceedingly difficult, I said a bit. The second sentence of that paragraph said that people had to do this with the Kindle before the international addition kicked in. All of that lead to led to the idea that it was possible to download books for devices not supported in your country and not a reason to dismiss the Nook or Sony.

Heck, the paragraph before that said that I think the book availability issue is overblown.

08-04-2010, 12:53 PM	#1
samalex Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Boils down to this... I guess it boils down to this: Kindle - - Better interface and display (per reviews) - Better PDF Support - Possibly more book options through Amazon (per online resources) - Text to Speech - Browsing over 3G (on one that supports 3G that is) - Audible support - Landscape view Nook - Book lending - ePub and ePub with DRM support Unfortunately the lending and ePub is pretty high on my list, so if the Kindle supported this it would be the perfect device. With that being said I'm really starting to lean more towards the Kindle since I have a HUGE collection of PDF's and at least for DRM-free ePub files I can convert them to PDF or Mobi format and use them on the Kindle. Maybe just maybe Kindle will add support for ePub and Lending in the future, which if they did it would be the end of the Nook... unless Nook 2 is truly amazing. So at this point I'm probably looking at the Kindle, though it'll be a bummer not being able to take advantage of Overdrive when it comes to my area. Also for those who use either of these devices, do I have anything incorrect or missing any thing huge? Sam

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08-04-2010, 01:04 PM	#2
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	There are ways to lend on the Kindle. You can share an account, I have one with my parents so they can read any of my books. You can add someone to your account, add books to their Kindle, and deregister their Kindle. The books stay on their Kindle as long as they are not deleted by the Kindle owner. I know parents who have done this with their kids Kindles. I know kids who have done this with their parents Kindles, they didn't want Mom stumbling over their adult book choices. (grins) The lending option for the Nook is pretty limited. You can lend the book once, for two weeks, and you cannot read it when it is lent out. Additionally, Publishers have limited the number of books that have the ability to be lent out. The only way around the EPub issue is to buy non-drmed EPubs and convert them for your Kindle. I seriously doubt that Amazon is going to add support for EPubs any time in the near future. They are selling out of Kindle's without the EPub support and their e-book store is seeing business grow very, very quickly. I have read that their are British bookstores that sell books not available on the Kindle in the US for the Kindle in the UK that you can use as well. You will end up happy with either device. They are both good ereaders. I strongly prefer the Kindle but I have a friend who has a Nook and loves it. My brother has a Sony that he is ok with, he doesn't like the bookstore and other issues with loading books. Everyone else I know has a Kindle and they rather enjoy them. So I am biased but I do think you would enjoy reading on a Nook. I just think that the Kindle is the better device.

08-04-2010, 01:09 PM	#3
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	Re: the Nook, lending is determined by the publisher, and currently set to 1 loan, for two weeks, ever. And you can't read it yourself while it's on loan. Hopefully they'll change things so that you can lend as many times as you like (or at least increase the current one-time only limit), because it's a really nifty feature that I think answers the "can I share a good read with my friend like I can with a paperback?" question while addressing the "everyone reading a copy at once and only one of them paid for" concern. But the B&N DRM is pretty much a social DRM, not tied to any particular computer or device, so you could probably handle lending manually by transferring files over and directly unlocking it by personally entering in your Name/CC when your friend's device asks you for the code, and vice versa. Anyway, I think the Nook might possibly have the widest support/availability in terms of stores you can purchase from. Basically, you can access anyplace that sells B&N or ADE-DRMed books, whereas with Amazon, you're basically limited to purchasing from them and anyone who sells no-DRM titles, unless you're willing to strip the DRM and possibly convert. However, Amazon is supposed to have wider selection overall. Much as I'd love to have my Kindle natively support at least non-DRM ePubs, I rather doubt that Amazon is going to do it anytime soon, considering that they say they've got 70%+ of the ebook market and that their Kindle titles are now outselling the equivalent hardcovers. Best of luck with your decision.

08-06-2010, 05:30 AM	#4
rblover Connoisseur Posts: 50 Karma: 26 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: none as yet	As I understand it, you are corrct as far as you go. I also understand that with a 3G+WiFi Kindle you can buy/download books, magazines, etc, from The Kindle Store while overseas...but on the Nook you can't purchase/download while abroad. If you travel abroad much, that may be worth considering.

08-06-2010, 10:26 AM	#5
Care Aes Sedai Posts: 659 Karma: 46166 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Aura and Kobo Mini, had a Nook, NOOKcolor, Nook STR.	I just downloaded a book last night on my Nook, and I was told since I live in Canada I wouldn't be able to. It was a new release, and cost the same at Amazon.com. I have a US address on my B&N account though and the billing address same as shipping box is checked.

08-06-2010, 10:27 AM	#6
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	You probably were able to do that because you have a US address on your B&N account.

08-10-2010, 09:59 AM	#9
ProfCrash Tea Enthusiast Posts: 8,554 Karma: 75384937 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somewhere in the USA Device: Kindle1, Kindle DX Graphite, K3 3G, IPad 3, PW2	And you can buy books for Amazon from other stores as well. Really, the availability of books is not that much of an issue. I would be surprised if there were too many folks out there who are not able to buy the books that they want, when they want them. I think this is played up way too much. Kindle does have the benefit of having international coverage. Before that coverage existed, people found ways to get books onto their Kindles all over the globe. It was a bit more difficult but people did it. The Nook and Sony are currently in that same boat, you can buy those devices and download material to your device outside of the US. It is a bit more difficult for people who do not have a US address but it is doable. I know that you can download papers and some magazines using Calibre, at least I have read where people have done that, but I belive that the Kindle is the only device that has newspapers and magazines available for subscription download outside of the US.

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