Consumer Reports: Nook Beats The Kindle

[anamardoll]

APK,

Loved the bursting into tears line.

I really cannot convey how terrified she is of all this technology stuff -- she's a very strange mix of modern and luddite. She loves her iPad but doesn't use it for anything other than using Facebook; she loves her Sony but even after a video tutorial AND a paper tutorial by me (and I swear they're good -- I write tuts for a living, in a way), she still needs me or Dad just to load a library book on the device.

But you allowed her in the 3C, so I am satisfied. If you still want to meet a 3C'er, I can introduce you two, just don't say we met on the internet, because that would probably worry her a bit. There are stalkers on the internet, you know.

(Disclaimer: I love my mom, I owe her a lot, she's super smart... just not at all this ebook stuff.)

[pidgeon92]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I really cannot convey how terrified she is of all this technology stuff -- she's a very strange mix of modern and luddite.

My dad still can't work the VCR.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by anamardoll

What if they don't like the reader store that is associated with their reader?

If they don't like the store associated with their reader, why would they keep it? Isn't that a little like buying a pair of shoes that don't fit you well?

Originally Posted by anamardoll

What if they can't access the reader store associated with their reader?

I'm not sure what this means. If you buy an e-reader, you do a minimum of due diligence to make sure you'll be able to access their bookstore. And if you suddenly find out you can't access it, why keep it?

Originally Posted by anamardoll

What if they find that particular reader store confusing to navigate?

See above.

Originally Posted by anamardoll

Am I the only person in this thread with non-techie eReaders in the family who have to ask me to handle all this for them????

I've fielded my share of questions about the Kindle, but I've never encountered someone who didn't like the book store and decided to keep it anyway.

Originally Posted by anamardoll

I'm dreading the day that Dad gets a Nook/Kindle and Mom starts wanting to read HIS books on HER Sony.

Okay, but that's something like admiring someone's Linux apps and wanting to run them under Windows. It can be done (e.g., cygwin) but it's not trivial, and it's not something you should expect to work out of the box.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

If they don't like the store associated with their reader, why would they keep it? Isn't that a little like buying a pair of shoes that don't fit you well?

Have you ever consider that they like the device? And the device isn't locked out of other stores?

[ApK]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

Okay, but that's something like admiring someone's Linux apps and wanting to run them under Windows. It can be done (e.g., cygwin) but it's not trivial, and it's not something you should expect to work out of the box.

Her point, I think, is that it SHOULDN'T be that hard (and I agree...I'd prefer easy standard compatibility).

My point is for the VAST majority, it either isn't that hard or they never find themselves in that position in the first place.

I've fielded my share of questions (and done my share of sock puppet presentations) for non techies as well, and in the end they often leave with a one-click solution that let's them read anything on anything. But I also know folks who simply stay on device (Kindle, and Kobo in my personal sphere of folks) or who don't even make it in to any of my groups because they couldn't possibly ever learn to use an ereader, much less a computer even if they wanted to. (my mom.)

ApK

[elcreative]

Last time I checked, MR had less than a 125,000 members and APK is saying that he hasn't met the people who do have problems in the various ways listed here, well how many of the millions of eReader owners has he met let alone those who are savvy enough to know about MR... APK, your sample is too small to be statistically viable relating to these issues just because you don't know anyone that does find them applicable. I provide support for several people, of various ages, that do require assistance in these areas yet I don't claim that this represents everyone but it is a proportion of eReader users...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by elcreative

APK, your sample is too small to be statistically viable

Bull.

It's a huge sample by any standard....bigger than that used for almost any political poll or drug test, and more representative of the group than some people think.
But I don't claim to have conducted a scientific survey.
I base it on my knowledge and experience and reasoning, and years of past experience in comparing my own analysis of such matters to what is eventually evidenced by industry trends and popular consensus, and I would bet money on this if there was some way to prove it.
And if I had any money.

p.s. If you have any evidence to the contrary, let me know. Even without conducting a study, usually if a large group of a companys customers feel trapped or wronged in any way, there is mention in the press, complaints show up online, lawsuits happen, etc....any of that going on?

[Ditchleyportrait]

i estimate that the kindle is the most user-friendly device on the market, for ease of use and convenience.

[elcreative]

APK, why not comment on the rest of my post as it amplifies the tiny bit you used a partial expletive to describe. My evidence is exactly as viable as yours and just as anecdotal like virtually everything posted here so have a returned bull for your comments...

[ApK]

Originally Posted by elcreative

APK, why not comment on the rest of my post as it amplifies the tiny bit you used a partial expletive to describe. My evidence is exactly as viable as yours and just as anecdotal like virtually everything posted here so have a returned bull for your comments...

The 'bull' was specifically regarding the idea that 100,000 could be dismissed out of hand as too small for a population of a few million. I know epidemiologists who would kill for a sample that large.

I heard national elections have turned on polling samples of mere hundreds.

The rest of your post, unless I missed something, basically said you don't think my opinion has a sound basis.

I note the success of the Kindle.
I note the general tone of customers on Amazon and other websites.
I note the specific polls and threads asking about it here.
I note the overheard conversations in stores as I hang around the ereader counter (as I often do).
I note the lack of mention of customer concerns in the trade press.
I note the anecdotal evidence presented to me as an IT professional from a fairly wide circle of friends, colleagues and clients.

The people who are warning people away from Amazon because of "lock in/out" APPEAR to me to be basing it in on imagined worst-case scenarios and anamardoll's mom.
Correct me if there is anything else informing their opinion.

ApK

[vaughnmr]

Originally Posted by ApK

The 'bull' was specifically regarding the idea that 100,000 could be dismissed out of hand as too small for a population of a few million. I know epidemiologists who would kill for a sample that large.

I heard national elections have turned on polling samples of mere hundreds.

The rest of your post, unless I missed something, basically said you don't think my opinion has a sound basis.

I note the success of the Kindle.
I note the general tone of customers on Amazon and other websites.
I note the specific polls and threads asking about it here.
I note the overheard conversations in stores as I hang around the ereader counter (as I often do).
I note the lack of mention of customer concerns in the trade press.
I note the anecdotal evidence presented to me as an IT professional from a fairly wide circle of friends, colleagues and clients.

The people who are warning people away from Amazon because of "lock in/out" APPEAR to me to be basing it in on imagined worst-case scenarios and anamardoll's mom.
Correct me if there is anything else informing their opinion.

ApK

I'm going to have to agree with this completely, well said.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Have you ever consider that they like the device? And the device isn't locked out of other stores?

But the store is a major part of the device. That's my point. Take away the store, and you're decreasing the value of the device considerably. If I had to buy my books from a store separate from the device, I'd be much more conservative on how much I'd pay for it.

[anamardoll]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

But the store is a major part of the device. That's my point. Take away the store, and you're decreasing the value of the device considerably. If I had to buy my books from a store separate from the device, I'd be much more conservative on how much I'd pay for it.

To my mind, the store has NOTHING to do with the device...

To elaborate, my aunt just wrote and asked me about the diffs between N2, Kobo Touch, and Sony. I gave her my opinion and ended with, basically, "whichever you go with, buy the books from Kobo".

[Namekuseijin]

Originally Posted by ApK

I note the success of the Kindle.
I note the general tone of customers on Amazon and other websites.
I note the specific polls and threads asking about it here.
I note the overheard conversations in stores as I hang around the ereader counter (as I often do).
I note the lack of mention of customer concerns in the trade press.
I note the anecdotal evidence presented to me as an IT professional from a fairly wide circle of friends, colleagues and clients.

The people who are warning people away from Amazon because of "lock in/out" APPEAR to me to be basing it in on imagined worst-case scenarios and anamardoll's mom.

users of Kindle are like users of Windows: they don't even know there're alternatives out there. They take for granted that it's what everybody uses.

They don't know either that one can read the whole Shakespeare without paying even 2 bucks. Kinda like iTards paying 99 bucks on every web-page-turned-app just for the sake of it.

[stickybuns]

I'm so glad that these blanket statements about Windows/Kindle/Apple users are going around. It was getting a bit chilly in here.

I realize how important it is to be the winner in a discussion on the internet, so allow me to just say, "Yes! You are a better person than me for having purchased product _________. Your consumer choices make you smarter/taller/handsomer than me. Clearly, I was a fool for purchasing ________ for myself and will hang my head in shame and sorrow from this day forward. Congratulations!"