Looking for Bells and Whistles

[mamaz13]

As a self proclaimed electronic junkie, I would like to purchase an e-reader for my future daughter-in-law, but want to get the most for my money. Is it better to have free 3g with Kindle over the multi-functions of the Nook Color? I can't afford an iPad but would like to get her as much capability as possible. Does Nook Color have a port for a broadband card?

Thanks!

Mama Z

[boswd]

Well the nook color does have more bells and whistles than the Kindle 3 and if your futue DIL doesn't mind reading on LCD then that is your best bet. It's a wonderful ereader, great UI and functionality. Has some nice extra with an email client, curated nook market for apps, web browsing, and it can be easily rooted (IOW, hacked into a full feldged android tablet)

but if you think your Daughter in Law would prefer a full feldge tablet more go over to the Deals and Freebies subforum or the Android Subforum, Staples is having a coupon special through July 30th for $100 off any tablet, you can pick up the coupon link there.

so if you want an ereader with bells and whistles then yes the nook color is a great choice

want a tablet but didn't think you could afford one?, there are some deals running around.

[lestatar]

^ Yeah, pretty much ditto from me as well. For pure bells and whistles, the Nook color is superior to the Kindles, and this from a K3 owner.

I love my K3, but chock full of schmexy wow factor it isn't, especially not in terms of stuff like eye candy. But it is the best choice for me, as I only care about reading books. And since I have a Tab for those AngryBirds/time wasting moments.

EDIT: Congrats on the new addition to the family

[jbcohen]

I have never seen a book reader with a broadband card in any way. The method that readers use to access the internet are either Wifi or by download from internet and upload to the reader (downlaod/upload). The method that you use depends on your home network, if you have one with wifi, like mine does, you will most likely want to make use of it if not go with one of the readers that works primarily via downlaod/upload. All readers can do download/upload however that is not their preferred method. Kindle, Nooks and Kobos primarily use wifi, those that primarily use the downlaod/upload method are the lesser known reader such as the Aluratek Libra Pro and the Pocket Book lite. Of those two I would recommend the Pocketbook lite, I have had two Libra Pros in the past which both have broken down within a month of buying them. On a Kindle the downlaod/upload can be done, its called sideloadingits just not the preferred method of, I will not speak to the Nooks or kobos as I have never owned one or played with one.

[mamaz13]

I never expected such a quick response. I'm not usually a forum gal.

JB, Kindle has free 3G built in. I just happen to have a broadband card here that is not being used anymore and wondered if it was usable with the eReader. But like all of you have said, and I've found so far, Kindle doesn't have the other functions and fun of the Nook Color. How can you play Angry Birds on a Kindle??
The cons that I have read on the NC, are the battery life is dismal and the LCD screen is a downfall. But we got my hubby an iPad 1st generation (if we'd only waited ) and I've seen how much she uses the other features when she's here. Including of course, Angry Birds!

And thanks, Lestatar! We're gaining an amazing woman and daughter to our family! If my son messes this up, we're keeping her and he's out!

You guys are the best! Thanks again!

Mama Z

[boswd]

yes battery life on LCD's compared to eink is dismal. but as far as an LCD screen goes, the nook color is pretty solid. I usually go about 4 days before having to charge. (that's reading with wifi off and no game playing, just reading) Less when I'm web surfing, playing youtube videos and of course playing Angry Birds (Yes you can do that on the nook color, LOL) etc. but still for an LCD device it's not too shabby.



Hmmm not sure where you might have heard the screen itself is a con. The LCD screen used by the nook color has been Universally hailed as gorgous, which it is. It's a beatiful IPS screen where the colors and text are very sharp.

[mamaz13]

The review was comparing the Kindle to the Nook and talked about which screen was better. I was more concerned with the battery issue but you've certainly made that a non-issue, as far as I'm concerned.

The other issue someone brought up was with the support service. But it didn't seem like anyone else had any comments about needing any service. My son said that Laura mentioned several times that she'd like a Kindle one day, but I don't know if it's because that's just the brand name that's most commonly spoken of.
I'm definitely leading more and more to the Nook, but just want to make sure she wouldn't be disappointed, because she's been so stuck on the Kindle name.

[lestatar]

@mamaz: Well, it would be fair to say that the Nook Color battery life is dismal when compared to pure eink devices like the Kindles, which can go at least a couple weeks between charges on average [depending on usage of course]. So yes, a few days as boswd indicates could be fairly construed as "dismal".

Still, IMO, 4 days for a Nook Color between charges is indeed quite sweet, especially given the excellent screen and the potential, very-tablet-like functionality.

Of course, non-stop Angry Birds activity will likely reduce this quite a bit. Not to worry though as I would think your new DIL will have her hands full already.

Clearly, between these 2 choices, I think it safe to say if you are desiring "bells and whistles" and "wow factor", the Nook Color is IMO the obvious way to go.

Bottom line: I predict she will be delighted with whichever one you choose to go for.

cheers!
-les

EDIT: Not meaning to confuse the issue more for you, but perhaps another device to consider: The Samsung Galaxy Tab. I have seen deals for the original Tab [like I have] for around 350USD.

With the Tab you get a full blown Android tablet device and everything that comes along with such things. I love the form factor and there are any number of excellent ereader apps [free!] for Android. ereading on my Tab is awesome, but not so great in sunlight, at least not without cranking up the screen brightness to max [which obviously negatively impacts battery life]. I have been reading quite a lot on my Tab of late and with stuff like Wifi off and treating my Tab purely as an ereader [OK, with music playing as well] I was getting around 2 days between charges.

This is not so bad, especially if one gets a charger at home and one at the office as I do with pretty much all my portable gear.

CAVEAT: I do not use my Tab as a phone with SIM card here in Hong Kong - for online access I only use Wifi, either my own at home, at the office or perhaps at free hotspots. So in this sense, I am not using my Tab to full capacity. Should you go with a Tab and want to get a 3G data/voice package, do consider the monthly fees as well.

But certainly the Tab works quite nicely as I am utilizing it, via Wifi only when I want it and Wifi is accessible.

Confusing, ain't it?

[fjtorres]

Check out the Staples tablet lineup.
That $100 discount puts some of the better android tablets pretty close to the NC.
And don't forget that the android tablets don't need hacking to get alternative reader apps (Kindle, Kobo, Coolreader, Overdrive, Aldiko, Audible etc) up and running.

NC is a good reader that can be turned into a decent tablet, but if you envision her using the tablet features (games, media, email, web access) a lot, it might be better to start with a good tablet and turn it into a decent reading platform.

The eink readers, whether Kindle, Kobo, Nook, or Pocketbook, are aimed at reading as the primary function and any other uses are just throw-ins.

[lestatar]

^ lol. fjtorres, you read my mind

[susan_cassidy]

For full functionality on the NC, you have to "root" it. Is someone in your family up for that? If not, you might want to go to a real tablet, not one you have to fuss with to get it working as a tablet.

[lestatar]

^ this is a fair and good point. My understanding of the root process for Nook Colors is that it is not particularly tech intensive. The OP does indicates that she is a fan of all things electronic though.

Still, indeed, something to consider for sure.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by susan_cassidy

For full functionality on the NC, you have to "root" it. Is someone in your family up for that? If not, you might want to go to a real tablet, not one you have to fuss with to get it working as a tablet.

Just so there isn't any confusion. What is meant by "full functionality" is the nook color is an ereader first and a tablet second. IOW's it's UI and functionality put the ereading experience ahead of everything else. but it also comes with some limited tablet like functionality. That is email, web browsing, a nook app market, calender. The apps in the nook market range from games like Angry Birds, reading enhancement apps, to American Airlines, Pulse, Calender so on and so on. but it does not have access to the full Android Market.

Now what people mean by rooting is, they are opening up the nook color to become a full feldge Android tablet with full access to the Android Market and all it's extra goodies. You can also change the user interface to have it more of a tablet User Interface etc.

the process is suppose to be fairly easy and painless and now if you don't want to even try to play around you can actually purchas a pre load SD card which when thrown into your nook color does the job

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19736_7...contentBody;1n

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by lestatar

^ lol. fjtorres, you read my mind

Sorry.
I need to stop doing that; it's one of my New Year's resolutions, too, "stop drive-by mindreading of innocent bystanders".
I promise to do better in the future.
I *need* to do better; that kinda stuff could get a guy killed.

[mamaz13]

WOW! A lot to process. Her birthday is the 29th and I'm gona need to sort through all this pretty quickly.
And on another note, she's not quite aware yet that she's about to become my future daughter-in-law, Officially! Although my son just told me she is at home watching, Say Yes to the Dress! I'm thinking she's ready to Say Yes to Him!!!

Thanks everyone. You've been great!

Mama Z