GlowLight Plus vs GlowLight 3

Catsnkites · 01-18-2020, 11:30 PM

I didn't realize that any of the Nook eReaders had page turn buttons ... so, I've given up on converting my mother's Nook books and am looking into getting her a new Nook eReader.

I haven't used a Nook reader in many years.

I see on the B&N website that there are two (non-tablet) eReaders ... GlowLight Plus and GlowLight 3.

I can compare the pricing & specs, but my concern is the ratings.

The Plus is rated at 4 stars by 51 reviewers. The 3 is rated 2.5 stars by 177 reviewers.

The reviews can't be sorted ... usually I look at reviews in chronological order, since updates can make a so-so product better or a good product bad.

Anyway, could someone sort of "nut-shell" the issues with either or both of these readers?

Thank you!

Susie
Kansas

Sirtel · 01-19-2020, 01:11 AM

The Glowlight 3 had various issues with slowness and sideloaded content vanishing. As I don't own the device, I have no idea if it's gotten better or not.

The Glowlight Plus has few problems. It's slower than Kobos or Kindles, but otherwise pretty stable. Some users have reported their sideloaded content vanishing like with the Glowlight 3, but there have not been many of those.

Personally I have over 1000 sideloaded books on my Glowlight Plus and I haven't noticed any issues. The trick is to use strictly Calibre for adding and deleting books, not load hundreds of books in one batch (better string them out, say 10 books in a batch, wait till the job's finished, then load another batch), eject the Nook from Calibre and not pull the plug until it's finished processing the books (you'll see the covers quickly alternating on the homescreen, don't disconnect until they've stopped).

Calenorn · 01-19-2020, 06:16 AM

Let me emphasize what Sirtel said, DO NOT unplug the ereader from the PC too soon!

My PC shows a pop-up stating that it is safe to unplug the device. IT IS WRONG!!! Watch the ereader carefully. My Kobo allows me to check that the new books are accessible on the reader. Only then do I unplug it. I don't know if the NOOK will let you do that.

Unplugging the ereader while it is still transferring data will corrupt the database, and then things get messy.

Pajamaman · 01-19-2020, 09:12 AM

The glowlight 3 and the glowlight plus 7.8" are quite similar except that the 3 is 6" and the plus is 7.8". Another difference is that the 3 has a slightly clearer screen because the touch system is infrared, wheres the plus is capacitive and so has an extra layer over the display. But both screens should be clear enough. It's not a biggie. A more important point is do you want a 7.8" screen to read books on? Many people find it too heavy and too large. If you mother's eyes are not great, then the 7.8" might be better so she can increase the font size. On the other hand, if her hands are weak, it might be too heavy.

Apart from that, the devices are fairly similar. There were issues with the Nook GL3 firmware, but I'm not sure it's still an issue, and I'm not sure the plus and the 3 even use different software now.

I have a GL3 and I really like it, but I have rooted it and put custom software on it. The screen is ultra clear. Best screen I've ever had.

Lparsons21 · 01-19-2020, 09:22 AM

I have a Glowlight Plus 7.8” and love it. Looked at both in the store and while there are differences in the screen, it is very slight IMO. I don’t know your mother’s age, but I’m 76 and find it not too big or heavy.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

cgsmom · 01-19-2020, 09:53 AM

I too have a GL+7.8 and I like if very much. I have sideloaded many books from Calibre with no problems whatsoever. I only load in small batches, about 10 - 20 at a time and I have had no problems. I have over 1500 books in my B&N account and almost that many from Amazon. Since I got used to the 7.8 inch screen, I find the 6 inch looks tiny. I have started using a slightly larger font size (getting older) and have no problem with the size and weight of the larger Nook.

Catsnkites · 01-19-2020, 11:55 AM

One more question, everyone talks about sideloading with Calibre ... when I last used a Nook (as I said, years and years ago ... maybe the one with the color section at the bottom) ... anyway, I would check out books from the library and use Adobe Digital Editions to load them. Does that still work?

The eReader I use works with Overdrive and I can get about 80% of my library books when I do a sync. The rest I need to use ADE to load them.

Thank you for all the wonderful advice! This is way better than trying to wade though the reviews!

Susie
Kansas

Pajamaman · 01-20-2020, 10:56 AM

I don't know if the Nook supports borrowing from libraries. I believe the Kobo and the Kindle supports it, but I am not sure. I am not in the USA. If library support is important, maybe ask what e-readers do it and how well in the What e-reader sub-section.

Sirtel · 01-20-2020, 03:16 PM

I don't use libraries personally, but yes, the Nook should still support library books. AFAIK you can't borrow them directly on the device, you'll need ADE on your computer.

HLS · 01-20-2020, 04:03 PM

I own both. I love the Plus. The screen is better than the regular glowlight. I own many kobos, kindles, nooks and The Plus is my favorite Nook so far.

I have no issues with sideloading or finding my sideloaded material. I experience no sluggishness at all.

ZodWallop · 01-24-2020, 05:02 PM

I own a 3, but not the Plus (the Plus in my profile is the older, white waterproof one).

The 3 was pretty bad for a while. The software was buggy, sideloaded books would take a long time to show up. I believe that's the reason for the low ratings.

There was a software update a month or so ago that seems to have fixed most (all?) of the issues. The device seems faster too. I have been happier with the 3 since the update than I was since I bought it.

If you get a 3, just make sure to let it update.

I don't borrow library books. I believe you can use ADE to load them.

However, if the library is going to be the bulk of your reading, you might want to look at Kobo (available on Walmart's website or directly from Kobo). Kobo devices let you borrow books via overdrive directly on the reader as easily as buying a book from the store.

wandalynn · 01-25-2020, 11:20 AM

I have the Nook GL3 and what Zodwallop says about the recent software update is true - you can now load library ebooks and ebooks bought from other sites such as Kobo and Googleplay onto the GL3 with Adobe. In the past that wasn't possible and no doubt it's one reason the GL3 got such poor ratings.

01-18-2020, 11:30 PM	#1
Catsnkites Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 8198 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kansas Device: Kobo Libre	GlowLight Plus vs GlowLight 3 I didn't realize that any of the Nook eReaders had page turn buttons ... so, I've given up on converting my mother's Nook books and am looking into getting her a new Nook eReader. I haven't used a Nook reader in many years. I see on the B&N website that there are two (non-tablet) eReaders ... GlowLight Plus and GlowLight 3. I can compare the pricing & specs, but my concern is the ratings. The Plus is rated at 4 stars by 51 reviewers. The 3 is rated 2.5 stars by 177 reviewers. The reviews can't be sorted ... usually I look at reviews in chronological order, since updates can make a so-so product better or a good product bad. Anyway, could someone sort of "nut-shell" the issues with either or both of these readers? Thank you! Susie Kansas

01-19-2020, 01:11 AM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,082 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	The Glowlight 3 had various issues with slowness and sideloaded content vanishing. As I don't own the device, I have no idea if it's gotten better or not. The Glowlight Plus has few problems. It's slower than Kobos or Kindles, but otherwise pretty stable. Some users have reported their sideloaded content vanishing like with the Glowlight 3, but there have not been many of those. Personally I have over 1000 sideloaded books on my Glowlight Plus and I haven't noticed any issues. The trick is to use strictly Calibre for adding and deleting books, not load hundreds of books in one batch (better string them out, say 10 books in a batch, wait till the job's finished, then load another batch), eject the Nook from Calibre and not pull the plug until it's finished processing the books (you'll see the covers quickly alternating on the homescreen, don't disconnect until they've stopped). Last edited by Sirtel; 01-19-2020 at 01:15 AM.

01-20-2020, 04:03 PM	#10
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,027 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	I own both. I love the Plus. The screen is better than the regular glowlight. I own many kobos, kindles, nooks and The Plus is my favorite Nook so far. I have no issues with sideloading or finding my sideloaded material. I experience no sluggishness at all. Last edited by HLS; 01-20-2020 at 04:07 PM.

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01-19-2020, 06:16 AM	#3
Calenorn Brash Fumbler Posts: 1,157 Karma: 8710811 Join Date: May 2013 Device: NST, Kobo Mini	Let me emphasize what Sirtel said, DO NOT unplug the ereader from the PC too soon! My PC shows a pop-up stating that it is safe to unplug the device. IT IS WRONG!!! Watch the ereader carefully. My Kobo allows me to check that the new books are accessible on the reader. Only then do I unplug it. I don't know if the NOOK will let you do that. Unplugging the ereader while it is still transferring data will corrupt the database, and then things get messy.

01-19-2020, 09:12 AM	#4
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	The glowlight 3 and the glowlight plus 7.8" are quite similar except that the 3 is 6" and the plus is 7.8". Another difference is that the 3 has a slightly clearer screen because the touch system is infrared, wheres the plus is capacitive and so has an extra layer over the display. But both screens should be clear enough. It's not a biggie. A more important point is do you want a 7.8" screen to read books on? Many people find it too heavy and too large. If you mother's eyes are not great, then the 7.8" might be better so she can increase the font size. On the other hand, if her hands are weak, it might be too heavy. Apart from that, the devices are fairly similar. There were issues with the Nook GL3 firmware, but I'm not sure it's still an issue, and I'm not sure the plus and the 3 even use different software now. I have a GL3 and I really like it, but I have rooted it and put custom software on it. The screen is ultra clear. Best screen I've ever had.

01-19-2020, 09:22 AM	#5
Lparsons21 Zealot Posts: 139 Karma: 4321046 Join Date: Nov 2018 Device: iPad mini 4	I have a Glowlight Plus 7.8” and love it. Looked at both in the store and while there are differences in the screen, it is very slight IMO. I don’t know your mother’s age, but I’m 76 and find it not too big or heavy. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

01-19-2020, 09:53 AM	#6
cgsmom Addict Posts: 220 Karma: 1828511 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: USA Device: Nook GL4+, Nook GL4e, Kindle Oasis 3, Kindle PW4, iPhone 14	I too have a GL+7.8 and I like if very much. I have sideloaded many books from Calibre with no problems whatsoever. I only load in small batches, about 10 - 20 at a time and I have had no problems. I have over 1500 books in my B&N account and almost that many from Amazon. Since I got used to the 7.8 inch screen, I find the 6 inch looks tiny. I have started using a slightly larger font size (getting older) and have no problem with the size and weight of the larger Nook.

01-19-2020, 11:55 AM	#7
Catsnkites Connoisseur Posts: 91 Karma: 8198 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Kansas Device: Kobo Libre	One more question, everyone talks about sideloading with Calibre ... when I last used a Nook (as I said, years and years ago ... maybe the one with the color section at the bottom) ... anyway, I would check out books from the library and use Adobe Digital Editions to load them. Does that still work? The eReader I use works with Overdrive and I can get about 80% of my library books when I do a sync. The rest I need to use ADE to load them. Thank you for all the wonderful advice! This is way better than trying to wade though the reviews! Susie Kansas

01-20-2020, 10:56 AM	#8
Pajamaman Wizard Posts: 2,827 Karma: 10700629 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada Device: Onyx Nova	I don't know if the Nook supports borrowing from libraries. I believe the Kobo and the Kindle supports it, but I am not sure. I am not in the USA. If library support is important, maybe ask what e-readers do it and how well in the What e-reader sub-section.

01-20-2020, 03:16 PM	#9
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 10,082 Karma: 224756896 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	I don't use libraries personally, but yes, the Nook should still support library books. AFAIK you can't borrow them directly on the device, you'll need ADE on your computer.

01-24-2020, 05:02 PM	#11
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 10,981 Karma: 108309641 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	I own a 3, but not the Plus (the Plus in my profile is the older, white waterproof one). The 3 was pretty bad for a while. The software was buggy, sideloaded books would take a long time to show up. I believe that's the reason for the low ratings. There was a software update a month or so ago that seems to have fixed most (all?) of the issues. The device seems faster too. I have been happier with the 3 since the update than I was since I bought it. If you get a 3, just make sure to let it update. I don't borrow library books. I believe you can use ADE to load them. However, if the library is going to be the bulk of your reading, you might want to look at Kobo (available on Walmart's website or directly from Kobo). Kobo devices let you borrow books via overdrive directly on the reader as easily as buying a book from the store.

01-25-2020, 11:20 AM	#12
wandalynn Addict Posts: 348 Karma: 805324 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Baja Arizona Device: nook, Aluratek Libre	I have the Nook GL3 and what Zodwallop says about the recent software update is true - you can now load library ebooks and ebooks bought from other sites such as Kobo and Googleplay onto the GL3 with Adobe. In the past that wasn't possible and no doubt it's one reason the GL3 got such poor ratings.