Buying eReader: Nook or Kindle? Please help.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

It's Amazon's demonstrated capability that is the issue. OK, they gave the books back. But any potential buyer should be aware that Amazon is a big brother looking over their shoulder. Obviously that doesn't bother you. I would hate it.

And absolute price ranges are usually more flexible than a buyer states. Especially when something as good as the PRS-650 is available.

?? You know I've lost more books with these independent retailer than I've had with Amazon.

At lease when Amazon pulled the books they issued a refund. Not the case with these small retailers. I've lost plenty of books to these retailers w/o any refund.

BooksOnBoard implements a x number of downloads then disables any further download.

These small retailers are at the mercy of the publishers and are easily manipulated by them. Amazon at least has some clout to push back.

Don't fall under the illusion that Adobe DRM is better than Kindle, anything that has DRM is just bad and there is no better solution than another they are all just as bad. And the Agency 5 had done a great job in killing a competitive market by forcing everyone to price the books the same.

=X=

[ProfCrash]

It's Amazon's demonstrated capability that is the issue. OK, they gave the books back. But any potential buyer should be aware that Amazon is a big brother looking over their shoulder. Obviously that doesn't bother you. I would hate it.

Any of the ebook stores can do this. They can delete a book from their store and their archive. Any of the e-readers with a wireless connection can then have the book removed from their device by the store. B&N can reach out and grab a book that you bought from them and remove it from a Nook. Sony can do the same with the 950.

This is why folks have argued that stripping the DRM is something you have to do to protect your collection when you buy from a major store. If you remove the DRM then none of the stores that are conencted via wireless can pull the book from your device because it is not the version that they have archived.

The only difference is that Amazon did it one time and it made the news. So if you oppose Amazon because it can play big brother you should oppose Sony, B&N, and the Kobo for the same reason. They have the same ability, they simply learned from Amazons mistake.

And lets not forget the context of the mistake. A 1984 was being sold by MobileReference who did not have the right to sell the book in the US. MobileReference was able to sell the book in Australia where it is a public domain book. It was mistakingly sold in the US. The Copyright holders demanded that Amazon pull the book from the US market. Amazon acted to respect the rights of the copyright holder and pulled the book. In doing so they pulled it from the Archive and it was removed from owners Kindles when they turned them on.

Amazon was not randomly deleting a book that it disliked or that people were protesting. Amazon pulled a book that should not have been sold in the US by a specific publisher. It was a mistake but not a malicious one. They took a huge PR hit and paid for it. That does not change the fact that any of the e-book sellers connected to a specific device cannot make the same mistake that Amazon made, they can. So if this possibility bothers you, you should avoid getting a device with wireless or strip all of your books of the DRM and load them that way, which makes the wireless pretty much useless.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by boswd

just like the Sony 650 I find the 350 an odd recommendation as well. Smaller screen no wireless and more expensive than the wifi versions of the Kindle and nook, in fact the 350 is the same price as the kindle and nook WITH the 3G option ...

You should check your facts first

The nook WI-FI is $149 as is the Kindle 3 WIFI, as is the SONY 350.

The nook 3G/WI-FI and the Kindle 3 3G/WI-FI are $189.

The 350 has a fullscreen touch solution, not the half baked nook method where you navigate on the LCD screen. and the eInk is updated as a result.

The 350 also has an aluminum casing making it a more durable product.

=X=

[boswd]

Originally Posted by =X=

You should check your facts first

The nook WI-FI is $149 as is the Kindle 3 WIFI, as is the SONY 350.

The nook 3G/WI-FI and the Kindle 3 3G/WI-FI are $189.

The 350 has a fullscreen touch solution, not the half baked nook method where you navigate on the LCD screen. and the eInk is updated as a result.

The 350 also has an aluminum casing making it a more durable product.

=X=

where are you finding the Sony 350 for $149, that is a sale price, that is not it's normal price, you should give full disclosure of your info. It's full price is $180. So let's keep this honest here. Besides even with the sale it's still the same price but yet it's a smaller screen and has no wireless. So you pay the same for less.

You can call the nook half baked all you want, doesn't make it fact, works seamless and guess what you can see you book in color instead of black and white.

Look I have no issues with the Sony's I think they are nice devices, I really do, It's there pricing structure that makes no sense. The 350 is smaller and has no wireless and when not on SALE, is as much as the 3G models of the nook and Kindle.

If anything is halfbaked it's Sony's bookstore platform again they still charge more and have less to offer and their pricing structure.

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Any of the ebook stores can do this. They can delete a book from their store and their archive. Any of the e-readers with a wireless connection can then have the book removed from their device by the store. B&N can reach out and grab a book that you bought from them and remove it from a Nook. Sony can do the same with the 950.

I viewed the 650's lack of wireless as a selling point.

But I have not read any claim that B&N or Sony have that capability. It takes more than a wireless connection. They would need the investment in infrastructure to actively track IPs and inventory, and to query ereaders and initiate commands for remote execution. None of that is trivial or automatic. It would require calculated premeditation.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

This is why folks have argued that stripping the DRM is something you have to do to protect your collection when you buy from a major store.

Good advice.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

Amazon was not randomly deleting a book that it disliked or that people were protesting.

The motive is moot. They demonstrated the capability to control my property I hold in my hands. If they sold me a pbook and then detected legal issues, they surely could not let themselves into my study to fetch it back.

Originally Posted by ProfCrash

So if this possibility bothers you, you should avoid getting a device with wireless or strip all of your books of the DRM and load them that way, which makes the wireless pretty much useless.

Good advice again. And potential customers like the OP should be warned.

However, some on this site have suggested that Amazon can query your Kindle and detect that you have violated their edict by stripping their DRM on books you bought from them. Though they apparently haven't verified this capability or taken any action based on it. I for one believe in keeping my doors locked.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by boswd

where are you finding the Sony 350 for $149, that is a sale price, that is not it's normal price, you should give full disclosure of your info. It's full price is $180. So let's keep this honest here. Besides even with the sale it's still the same price but yet it's a smaller screen and has no wireless. So you pay the same for less.

I think it's a price reduction, not a sale. I saw it at Best Buy today and there was no indication that there was a sale. But even if it was a sale, how is that being dishonest. It still cost $149 same as the nook and Kindle?

Regarless I say you need to relax. No need to insult people on your very first post and continue to harass people on their recommendations. Everyone here is just being helpful. Including your first post your follow up post however have not been.

Originally Posted by boswd

You can call the nook half baked all you want, doesn't make it fact, works seamless and guess what you can see you book in color instead of black and white.

Hey the nook has two screens 1 is touch.. 1/2 are touch hey that's half baked
I don't like their eInk implementation I think it's a poor design. If my opinion has hurt your sensibilities then I apologize for causing you so much angst, misery and discomfort.

The nookCOLOR is sweet they did everything right on that model. It's a full touch screen, they threw in all the right hardware and will support the device with the latest version of android.

Originally Posted by boswd

Look I have no issues with the Sony's I think they are nice devices, I really do, It's there pricing structure that makes no sense. The 350 is smaller and has no wireless and when not on SALE, is as much as the 3G models of the nook and Kindle.

Actually it makes a lot of sense, they're a hardware company and don't make a lot of sales on their eBook store. The nook and Kindle can be competitively priced because they make up their cost on the store. (incidentally both book stores lock you into their store... see the pattern)

Yes I agree, I then to think the SONY hardware is the best, but for me I bought into the service and content. Which for me Amazon is far beyond it's competitors.

Originally Posted by boswd

If anything is halfbaked it's Sony's bookstore platform again they still charge more and have less to offer and their pricing structure.

Hey something we both agree on, I totally agree. After owning a SONY-PRs505 for 3yrs I have only bought two books from them and that was on the first week I owned the device.

I'll also throw in their software is absolute garbage.

=X=

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by boswd

Look I have no issues with the Sony's I think they are nice devices, I really do, It's there pricing structure that makes no sense.

I paid a lot more for my Sony PRS-650 than I could have paid for the same size Kindle, Nook or Kobo. But I'm very glad I got it when I did, because it's now OUT OF STOCK.

So how did they sell their whole inventory for such a high price? Must be a good product.

[=X=]

Originally Posted by KenJackson

However, some on this site have suggested that Amazon can query your Kindle and detect that you have violated their edict by stripping their DRM on books you bought from them. Though they apparently haven't verified this capability or taken any action based on it. I for one believe in keeping my doors locked.

That was speculation and has no basis of truth, can it happen yes. But... the nook, Sony's can also do the same.
As a mater of fact this can be done by ANY ebookReader. They all run sophisticated software under the hood (most have Linux as the OS) they all index books for faster search. And at any given time you must connect your device to a PC to transfer a book and at that point the data can be sent off.

[lvillanueva5]

So...I wanted to give an update. After reading everyone suggestions, I went to Best Buy and looked at the Nook, Kindle and Sony.

After looking at them all side by side...litterally (they had them all on display on one counter side by side) I decided on the Nook. I was looking at the wi-fi only and I prefered the Nook over the Kindle. Sony looked awesome, but I think the smaller screen and weight difference turned me off. And they didn't have the one mentioned above, but the next upgraded model which was $200.00.

I'm the kind of person that rarely buys myself anything and rather gift to other people or pay bills (lol) so deciding to drop anything over $200.00 on myself for something that I technically don't "need" is really hard for me to do. And looking at what I was actually going to do with the device and knowing I have my router at home made the 3G moot.

I liked the fact that the book cover was in color and that it was touch screen opperated on the bottom instead of the small keyboard that was on the Kindle. I liked the fact that if my library grew, I could just buy another memory card. And that if the battery died to my obsessive reading, I could just go and buy one.

However, I am concerned a bit about what I read before. Would BN be able to delete my books from my Nook? When I purchase a book from them, is it actually stored on my device or am I accessing it off of their storage? Is there a way for me to back up the books from my device onto my PC so that I always have a copy?

Thanks!

[KenJackson]

Originally Posted by =X=

As a mater of fact this can be done by ANY ebookReader. They all run sophisticated software under the hood (most have Linux as the OS) they all index books for faster search. And at any given time you must connect your device to a PC to transfer a book and at that point the data can be sent off.

Hmm. I was prepared to say that I am quite certain that Sony cannot query my PRS-650 when I have it connected to my Linux PC.

Then I realized that I have, and may in the future, run Sony's software on WindowsXP in a VirtualBox. Since their software is a proprietary black box, they could have included the ability to detect and communicate back to big brother in a premeditated way.

I guess that's further justification and incentive for stripping DRM and copying it to the device without running the Sony software while connected.

[ATDrake]

Originally Posted by lvillanueva5

When I purchase a book from them, is it actually stored on my device or am I accessing it off of their storage? Is there a way for me to back up the books from my device onto my PC so that I always have a copy?!

Congratulations on your decision! I'm sure you'll get plenty of enjoyment from your Nook.

B&N purchases are kind of both. You get a copy sent to your device or app, and you also have it stored on their website.

At any time you can re-download a copy direct from their website onto your computer (go to B&N's eBooks page, then select My NOOK Library), and likely back it up directly from your Nook to computer via the USB cable (I have a Kindle, so I couldn't say for sure, but it seems logical that you'd be able to).

[ProfCrash]

Originally Posted by lvillanueva5

So...I wanted to give an update. After reading everyone suggestions, I went to Best Buy and looked at the Nook, Kindle and Sony.

After looking at them all side by side...litterally (they had them all on display on one counter side by side) I decided on the Nook. I was looking at the wi-fi only and I prefered the Nook over the Kindle. Sony looked awesome, but I think the smaller screen and weight difference turned me off. And they didn't have the one mentioned above, but the next upgraded model which was $200.00.

I'm the kind of person that rarely buys myself anything and rather gift to other people or pay bills (lol) so deciding to drop anything over $200.00 on myself for something that I technically don't "need" is really hard for me to do. And looking at what I was actually going to do with the device and knowing I have my router at home made the 3G moot.

I liked the fact that the book cover was in color and that it was touch screen opperated on the bottom instead of the small keyboard that was on the Kindle. I liked the fact that if my library grew, I could just buy another memory card. And that if the battery died to my obsessive reading, I could just go and buy one.

However, I am concerned a bit about what I read before. Would BN be able to delete my books from my Nook? When I purchase a book from them, is it actually stored on my device or am I accessing it off of their storage? Is there a way for me to back up the books from my device onto my PC so that I always have a copy?

Thanks!

It sounds like you made a great decision. Enjoy your Nook.

Yes they can but they won't. Amazon took a huge PR hit with the 1984 debacle and no one wants to have those issues.

And yes, you can download and save copies of the books on your computer. As amatter of fact, many folks who owned 1984 had it on their computers and simply reloaded the book and accepted the refund and three free books. (grins)

If you want, you can strop the DRM and save them so they can be read on any e-reader although you might have to convert the file type if the format it is in is different then the format of the e-reader. So, Kindle users use Mobi. We can buy an EPub book and strip DRM (if needed) and convert to Mobi using Calibre.

[mcooke66]

Originally Posted by lvillanueva5

However, I am concerned a bit about what I read before. Would BN be able to delete my books from my Nook? When I purchase a book from them, is it actually stored on my device or am I accessing it off of their storage? Is there a way for me to back up the books from my device onto my PC so that I always have a copy?

Thanks!

Hi, I know you will like your choice of the Nook. I just wanted respond to your concerns.

Everything you buy from B&N is always available on their site. It is downloaded directly to your nook and stored in the onboard memory.

PC backup is easy, just download the Nook software for PC log in to B&N account and all your content from B&N will be downloaded to your PC.

So you really have it 3 locations, B&N, your PC (or Mac) and your Nook.

[JSWolf]

The nook also works with library eBooks.

[lvillanueva5]

I have one more question!

By the way, you guys are just awesome with all the helpful advice!

Can I buy books from Amazon for the Nook? I just noticed that Amazon.com sells the Nook...>.> It would seem weird if the books didn't work on them. I don't want to deal with the stripping of the DRM or anything like.

Edit....Nevermind...Amazon books only work on Kindle.