Very Close to Choosing a Kindle

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by DuncanWatson

I am sorry to upset you but for most users notes and annotations are fluff. I don't add notes to my paper books and neither do need it for my ebooks. I also don't use a dictionary for reading and never have. My vocabulary has been picked up through context of reading 1000s of paper books, rarely from using a dictionary.

BTW for the dictionary use, there is no need to select the word, just place the cursor near it and it will detect the word.

The kindle 2 still has no wifi, it still has no SD card support. I have both of those on my nook. And I have already used both features yet I only used the dictionary to see if it works not for actual reading. The nook is more open and easier to work with sideloading content. It supports the more standard epub format and can work with library ebooks via sideloading of content. The nook also isn't vulnerable to Amazon screwing with my device and removing or modifying content without my knowledge or permission.

My nook works easily with my linux workstations (at the office and my laptop) as well as with winxp on my home game machine as well as my wife's Macintosh.

The features the nook has over the kindle are those that will be used every day. I personally don't use the dictionary or notes and doubt I will unless I get the idea to document every discontinuity in a series for some nerd-cred. Or possibly to note every clue or reveal in a series such as the Dresden files. It is important to know how you will use a device because something you do every day is much more important than something you do once a year.

Just my input,
Duncan

I have always underlined, highlighted, and made notes on what I read, long before I go my first reader. Some of my paper books looks like coloring books. That's why those features are important to me. And many of the books I read contain words I don't recognize or would like a clearer definition of. That's why an easy to use dictionary is so important to me. Furthermore, many of the books I read contain complex arguments, that's why I want a reader that makes it easy to navigate through the text so I can re-examine earlier arguments. As I said earlier, if all you ever plan to do is read books starting at the beginning and going straight through to the end without highlighting, underlining, annotating, or looking up difficult or unfamiliar terms, the Nook is as good as any.

As for side-loaded content, I have no problem. The Kindle reads PDF files as well as the Nook (both do a poor job, but the update coming later this month to the Kindle promises to make PDF reading a much more enriching experience). Text files and non-DRM mobi files I simply drag and drop into the Kindle.

True, the Nook also isn't vulnerable to Amazon screwing with the device and removing or modifying content without your knowledge or permission, but as long as B&N is able to access your device, it's vulnerable to whatever B&N decides to do. And after the 1984 fiasco, I doubt Amazon wants a repeat of that incident! (To be sure, I thought their handling of it wasn't that bad.) The average home computer is much more vulnerable to content modification without knowledge or consent.

But you have a point; it's all in how you use the device and what features are important to you.

[DuncanWatson]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

As for side-loaded content, I have no problem. The Kindle reads PDF files as well as the Nook (both do a poor job, but the update coming later this month to the Kindle promises to make PDF reading a much more enriching experience). Text files and non-DRM mobi files I simply drag and drop into the Kindle.

In addition to non-DRM content, I can install DRM'd EPUB and PDB ebooks from non-B&N sites such as the Sony bookstore. Additionally just because B&N makes the nook doesn't mean they have remote hooks to adjust content. The software runs on Andriod and of course B&N could have built in hooks but it doesn't follow that they did or that they added the infrastructure to remotely alter 1000s of nooks. Amazon (and Apple) have demonstrated they have the ability, the infrastructure and the will to make changes.

I can also back up my B&N books to disk and have, the sideloaded content is of course backed up as I manage it all with Calibre on two machines.

Again, I think any decision of which reader a given person chooses depends on their usage. In your case the Kindle 2 is the right decision, but I don't think that is the general case. I have 100s of used books, almost none of which have notes in them. The only time it was common for me to find notes in books was when I was buying used textbooks while attending Virgina Tech in the 80s.
-Duncan

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by DuncanWatson

If I could use the Amazon store to get ebooks for platforms other than the kindle than I would.-Duncan

You can buy books from Amazon, for example via the PC application. You easily can strip them from DRM and convert (for example via "calibre") in any other format you want.

[mgmueller]

Originally Posted by TallMomof2

Amazon has the best customer service. Unless B&N has seriously revamped theirs since the Nook's launch, I would be hesitant to purchase a Nook. The very few times I've had to contact Amazon for help with my Kindle, the experience has been nothing but positive.

I agree. Amazon's customer service is top. B&N's customer service is trying their best, but seems less "informed".
But this doesn't impact the features of the readers...

[DuncanWatson]

Originally Posted by mgmueller

You can buy books from Amazon, for example via the PC application. You easily can strip them from DRM and convert (for example via "calibre") in any other format you want.

You are correct, but that seems too me to be rewarding Amazon for behavior I don't actually like. I may do it for books that are difficult to acquire via other means since I am an addict but I won't do it as a matter of course. If Amazon supported other readers and formats cleanly and easily then I would continue to utilize their service.

Instead I am trying to push B&N to improve their site since it will probably be my main portal for newly published content. But my loyalty is mercantile and if I can get the products I want more conveniently and cheaper I will switch.
-Duncan

[TuxGirl]

I use the notes and highlights frequently, both in fiction and non-fiction. It's one of my favorite features.

For those of you who consider the Kindle's lack of library support to be a problem, I'd highly recommend checking to see whether your local library has more than 10 ebooks available for loan. In my experience, there are a small number of libraries in big cities that have lots of ebooks, but the majority of libraries have fewer than 10, and if you want to use those 10, you have to wait in line for them.

I <3 my Kindle

[TallMomof2]

And many of the library ebooks are only available in DRMed mobi or PDF. ePub is still new and I know that at my library only about 1/3 (if that) of the ebooks are in ePub. I *think* that the older books are slowly being converted to ePub but I don't know how long it will be before all or most are available in ePub.

I've been checking out library ebooks for several years so have seen the introduction of ePub.

[laurie_lu]

I received my Kindle a couple days ago. I am really impressed. I am receiving a wireless signal out in the boonies. I am getting 2-3 bars and easily downloaded a book from Amazon.

I must get some sort of case or cover for it ASAP. My Kindle slid out of my opened purse while I was driving in my car. It fell out onto the floor board and bumped the center console on the way down. Nothing seems damaged luckily.

I noticed the buttons on the left side of the screen are a bit more firm to push with more recoil than the buttons on the right side. Anyone notice this or am I just imagining it?

I did have one incident where my Kindle rebooted all on its own. It happened while I was playing around with the browser. I don't know what that was all about. I hope it doesn't happen again.

I must say it's so convenient to hold the Kindle with one hand and hold onto a glass of wine with my other hand and flip pages at the same time without sitting down the glass of wine.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

... I must get some sort of case or cover for it ASAP. My Kindle slid out of my opened purse while I was driving in my car. It fell out onto the floor board and bumped the center console on the way down. Nothing seems damaged luckily.

A good cover is essential! I love my Kindle, but they aren't indestructible by any means! I've already had to replace one due to my carelessness. You may want to consider buying the extended warranty. It covers one instance of damage from an accidental drop. I didn't on my K2, but when I replaced it with the K2i, I did.

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

I noticed the buttons on the left side of the screen are a bit more firm to push with more recoil than the buttons on the right side. Anyone notice this or am I just imagining it?

I've noticed no difference in the feel of those buttons on either of the Kindles I've owned.

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

I did have one incident where my Kindle rebooted all on its own. It happened while I was playing around with the browser. I don't know what that was all about. I hope it doesn't happen again.

That's never happened, either, but I have had the device freeze up on me a few times and had to either wait it out or reboot it by shutting it all the way off (not just putting it to sleep) and then back on. One word of warning: if you do this, make sure to turn the wireless on afterward (if you don't leave it on by default) and select "Sync and check for new items" from the Menu. Otherwise, your recently read books may start appearing at the end of your list instead of the first page!

[TuxGirl]

Originally Posted by laurie_lu

I did have one incident where my Kindle rebooted all on its own. It happened while I was playing around with the browser. I don't know what that was all about. I hope it doesn't happen again.

Oooh!!! You might be one of the chosen ones... Kindles reboot unexpectedly when receiving updates, nd there's an update being tested right now... Granted, they do rarely just reboot for no reason, so it might just be that...

[laurie_lu]

I checked and am only at version 2.3.3. Unless it came from the factory with version 2.2.2 and it did indeed update to 2.3.3. But I think I was pushing too many buttons at once trying to navigate the slow browser and it got mad at me.

[Snorkledorf]

Well the browser is an "experimental" feature so I suppose an occasional reboot might not be unreasonable... I do recall my K2i spontaneously rebooting on me maybe twice in the 8 months I've owned it, but I don't remember what I was doing to torture it at the time.