Is it worth it to wait for the Kindle Touch?

[tomsem]

Nook Simple Touch is a little too simple, I think. Yes it does have page turn buttons but they are not very ergonomic and greatly limit the range of grips that are possible. (I mostly just use taps and swipes instead.) The update (5 months after initial ship) doesn't add any features, just improves performance, text clarity, and fixes TOC navigation—which makes it at least worth considering. There is no web browser (technically it is still there but can only be used to sign in to proxied wifi, register facebook/twitter/gmail). Cannot install dictionaries (translation or otherwise). No landscape mode for ePub or PDF, no PDF zoom/pan or annotation. No TTS. If you borrow library ebooks, you must use ADE to side load them. There is no way to export notes and highlights. No 'social' features to speak of. The B&N store gives you no way to easily discover free content, which it has in abundance (1000000 free Google books). User book reviews are sparse. The SD card expansion is useful up to a point, but compared to Kindle's wireless delivery it is far less convenient. For example, you cannot delete side loaded content without attaching to a computer, and you can't even remove any content without actually opening it first. On the plus side, you can root it and install some Android apps (including Kindle4Android) and there are the in-store offers if you like to visit a B&N store, including ability to read ebooks without purchasing them. And custom screen savers.

Kindle library borrowing is much more versatile than Nook's as you can read on any device and it all happens wirelessly (you can even use the Kindle browser to borrow books). Wikipedia lookup is built in and useful, as is limited browsing capabilities (which Kindle Touch should make a little more useable). Kindle Touch will support some features of the forthcoming KF8 format, bringing it more on par with ePub. There's the Xray feature, but at this point it is hard to say what value it provides. There's the most useful Personal Documents service for sending content. Notes and highlights are logged on your Kindle and also available on your kindle.amazon.com page. It is multilingual, and you can install translation dictionaries. Text to speech is nice to have, audiobooks & mp3 player also. Amazon CS has a well deserved reputation. The Kindle Store has a lot of unique content and has frequent, attractive deals. And there are many, copious book reviews to read when considering a purchase.

If you can wait a little while, you might want to add Sony Reader PRS-T1 to your list of contenders. It has a functional web browser, good integration with Overdrive for library borrowing, better PDF support, and physical page turn buttons that are probably a little better than Nook's. They seem to have some software issues but I'm sure those will be addressed before too long. They dropped the price to $129 this week.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Blossom

You can put this in your little purse. It's tiny so it's great for traveling.

do you see a boy monkey carrying one of these?

[bosun120]

Originally Posted by tomsem

Nook Simple Touch is a little too simple, I think. Yes it does have page turn buttons but they are not very ergonomic and greatly limit the range of grips that are possible. (I mostly just use taps and swipes instead.) The update (5 months after initial ship) doesn't add any features, just improves performance, text clarity, and fixes TOC navigation—which makes it at least worth considering. There is no web browser (technically it is still there but can only be used to sign in to proxied wifi, register facebook/twitter/gmail). Cannot install dictionaries (translation or otherwise). No landscape mode for ePub or PDF, no PDF zoom/pan or annotation. No TTS. If you borrow library ebooks, you must use ADE to side load them. There is no way to export notes and highlights. No 'social' features to speak of. The B&N store gives you no way to easily discover free content, which it has in abundance (1000000 free Google books). User book reviews are sparse. The SD card expansion is useful up to a point, but compared to Kindle's wireless delivery it is far less convenient. For example, you cannot delete side loaded content without attaching to a computer, and you can't even remove any content without actually opening it first. On the plus side, you can root it and install some Android apps (including Kindle4Android) and there are the in-store offers if you like to visit a B&N store, including ability to read ebooks without purchasing them. And custom screen savers.

Kindle library borrowing is much more versatile than Nook's as you can read on any device and it all happens wirelessly (you can even use the Kindle browser to borrow books). Wikipedia lookup is built in and useful, as is limited browsing capabilities (which Kindle Touch should make a little more useable). Kindle Touch will support some features of the forthcoming KF8 format, bringing it more on par with ePub. There's the Xray feature, but at this point it is hard to say what value it provides. There's the most useful Personal Documents service for sending content. Notes and highlights are logged on your Kindle and also available on your kindle.amazon.com page. It is multilingual, and you can install translation dictionaries. Text to speech is nice to have, audiobooks & mp3 player also. Amazon CS has a well deserved reputation. The Kindle Store has a lot of unique content and has frequent, attractive deals. And there are many, copious book reviews to read when considering a purchase.

If you can wait a little while, you might want to add Sony Reader PRS-T1 to your list of contenders. It has a functional web browser, good integration with Overdrive for library borrowing, better PDF support, and physical page turn buttons that are probably a little better than Nook's. They seem to have some software issues but I'm sure those will be addressed before too long. They dropped the price to $129 this week.

Thanks for the in-depth reviews, I will definitely consider the Kindle Touch now, especially with it coming in a week or so.

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

do you see a boy monkey carrying one of these?

Ahem. Sure they call it a "Satchel" or as hubby calls it a Man Purse.

[Huey4prez]

Omg! I am having the exact same dilemma. Kindle, nook, or sony touch. They're all around the same price now. The only thing turning me off from the kindle is lack of page turn buttons. But i need a reader now as i just sold my K3. I'm tired of reading on my iPad, because the battery drains too fast. But I feel I need page turn buttons just in case the touch screen stops working or something. But the kindle has the lighted case which I've fell in love with on my K3. I'm so confused!

Decisions, decisions...

[Blossom]

Originally Posted by Huey4prez

Omg! I am having the exact same dilemma. Kindle, nook, or sony touch. They're all around the same price now. The only thing turning me off from the kindle is lack of page turn buttons. But i need a reader now as i just sold my K3. I'm tired of reading on my iPad, because the battery drains too fast. But I feel I need page turn buttons just in case the touch screen stops working or something. But the kindle has the lighted case which I've fell in love with on my K3. I'm so confused!

Decisions, decisions...

I thought I wanted a touch till I got my K4. unless Audio is important the K4 NT is great for the price. It's so much easier to navigate with the K4. Unless you use the Keyboard alot then a Touch is a better deal.

[ThomasC]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I thought I wanted a touch till I got my K4. unless Audio is important the K4 NT is great for the price. It's so much easier to navigate with the K4. Unless you use the Keyboard alot then a Touch is a better deal.

I agree!

Cheers,
Tom

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by Blossom

I thought I wanted a touch till I got my K4. unless Audio is important the K4 NT is great for the price. It's so much easier to navigate with the K4. Unless you use the Keyboard alot then a Touch is a better deal.

What she said. I originally ordered one NT in Europe, and one Touch to be delivered at my friends in the US and brought over when they visit, but after I got the K4NT, I cancelled my order and decided to stick to my K4NT.

I guess if I really want the Touch after all, I can wait until it's available here in Europe, but right now I don't see why I would want that.

[blue_skies]

When the Kindle Touch was first announced, I loudly lamented the lack of physical page turn buttons. Some nice folks on this forum helped me understand more clearly how turning the page with just the touch screen will work - that I only have to lightly tap anywhere on a large area of the screen, even close to the bezel.

After giving it a lot of thought (and even pretending my K3 is a touch model to test out how the page-turning motion will compare), I've actually decided I think I will prefer to have a touch screen without the physical buttons. Why, you ask? Because I tend to accidentally turn the page every time I grab the bezel and it's very frustrating, and also because I think it will be easier on my wrists and hands.

I tend to read lying on my side in bed with the Kindle in landscape mode resting the top of the Kindle on the bed. I think it will be easier on my hands and fingers to just lightly touch the screen rather than depressing the buttons like I do on my K3. (I have some chronic wrist and hand issues which are aggravated when reading my K3 for extended periods of time.) With the K3 I have to be so careful where I hold it to keep the page from turning accidentally.

I was considering the Nook Touch, but I now think the physical buttons are more of a negative for me - because if I end up preferring to turn the page by touch, the buttons will just be in the way when I pick it up and hold it. I'm assuming one can also turn the page on the Nook Touch by touching the screen. Or is it physical buttons only?

I just wish I could use the SO coupons from a second Kindle if I end up getting the KT. It makes it easier to justify buying a second eReader I don't really need.

[tannenba]

@tomsem : what a fantastic in-depth post! Nice job, great comparison. For me personally, the Kindle is still the way to go (pdf support, side-load content wirelessly, web browser...), but I am very happy the Nook is keeping Amazon's feet in the fire. Competition is a good thing for us consumers, I wish B&N continued success.