All right, tell me what to do (e-reader related)

[eclaires]

I have two options.

Option 1 - send my kindle into Visa's warehouse and give them a receipt of whatever I choose to purchase in it's place, and they will reimburse me up to $139 (what was paid for the kindle).

Option 2 - take one of the flat rate options that Amazon gave me, and let Visa know. Visa will then reimburse me for that amount. The options in that were: $64 for the e-ink/special offers, $160 for the Kindle Fire, $80 for the Kindle touch... except yesterday Amazon came out with new readers, so the above may no longer be the same option. I guess I should check with them again, but I think if the above is not an option anymore, I have to do Option 1.

I'm leaning towards Option 1, for obvious reasons. If I do that, what should I get? Should I wait? I read that B&N is going to be coming out with new Nooks since Amazon came out with new Kindles, but I don't know when.

Although, I guess I could just tell the cc company I'm going with the kindle fire for $160 and they'll send me the $139 since I don't have to give them a receipt or the old kindle if I take option 2.

If you had $139 to spend on an e-reader, what would you get? (I can spend more than the $139 if there is some awesome option I'm missing). On the one hand, it'd be nice to have a tablet-y type of e-reader, but I do like the e-ink displays. I would rather have a tablet AND an e-reader separately, I think vs. something like the fire.

Obviously I have a lot of kindle format books, but I know how to change them to epub, so that's not playing into my decision. I think, unless the new Kindles are substantially better, I lean towards a nook because of my Amazon hate.

[msmerymac]

Well, the new Kindle Paperwhite looks really awesome. But I'm a fan of kindle. The Nook simple touch with glow light looks pretty similar. I don't really love the way Nooks are designed (the look and feel), but if you want to switch over, that would probably be your best bet.

Unless you really do want a tablet. In that case, I'd wait for the iPad mini announcement next week. Same size and price point at the kindle fire. (My H has the fire and we love it, but if you want to get away from amazon, just go Apple.)

[BravoBravo]

We have Nooks in our household. We started with the original eInks and then DH upgraded to a NColor and I got the NTablet. It was great because we did not have smartphones and then we could use apps. Now that I have an iPhone I do not use the apps on my tablet. I am looking at the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, since my biggest gripe was having to use a book light with the original Nook. I do not get eye strain like some do with reading on an lcd screen. I read with a dark gray background with white letters which might help.

It really comes down to what you want to use it for. Do you want a color lcd screen that you can have learning apps and books for the kids? You can use it for magazines or to browse online. Or do you want something for solely reading plain text?

[eclaires]

Ooo, I didn't know that was coming. Hmmm...

I'm torn because really, if I had unlimited money, I'd just get a plain e-reader (probably the paperwhite if I didn't hate Amazon's guts) and an iPad. I like having the e-reader dedicated to reading alone.

[eclaires]

Sept 7, 2012 13:36:00 GMT -5 BravoBravo said:

We have Nooks in our household. We started with the original eInks and then DH upgraded to a NColor and I got the NTablet. It was great because we did not have smartphones and then we could use apps. Now that I have an iPhone I do not use the apps on my tablet. I am looking at the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight, since my biggest gripe was having to use a book light with the original Nook. I do not get eye strain like some do with reading on an lcd screen. I read with a dark gray background with white letters which might help.

It really comes down to what you want to use it for. Do you want a color lcd screen that you can have learning apps and books for the kids? You can use it for magazines or to browse online. Or do you want something for solely reading plain text?

This is a good point... I think what I'd really like is to have something for reading plain text for me (I don't like sharing, haha) and have something with apps/books/etc. for the kids.

Maybe we'll use the $139 towards the iPad mini and I'll buy a cheapy nook or kindle for me...

[mishap]

Seeing as how B&N is doing terribly except for its Nook e-readers, I would go with a Kindle. I am not convinced B&N will be around in five years.

I know you had a bad experience with Amazon CS, but this is usually not the norm. I completely get having a bad taste in your mouth over it, but I would probably still go with them. I would also not expect most electronics devices that cost $200 to last more than two years. We should, but the fact of the matter is that low-priced portable devices so often don't. There's a reason you get a credit after two years for phones.

[eclaires]

I've had my shitty iphone 3GS for almost 3.5 years! It still works as well as it did back when I got it, and we've been eligible for an upgrade for over a year. I just wanted to wait on the iphone 5.

And really, I don't necessarily expect everything to last forever, or even past 2 years. With my kindle, it hadn't even been used every day. Sometimes every week or month, even, if I had a bunch of books I wanted to read that I bought. I tend to buy books from my favorite authors vs. using my kindle (so I can complete my collections, lol). So if I had used it a ton, I'd likely be way less peeved by the whole thing. Mostly it's the whole "it was defective" thing I got from them that really sent me over the edge.

[Deleted]

SInce the new kindle price is so low that htey just came out with, with the discount they offered you I would do that. But I know you hate amazon

I also would not want to be stuck with B&N since you never know.

[Deleted]

If you get 140 back, and the kindle costs 69 before your offered discount, I would do that in a heart beat. What did they offer? 25 off? So you would get 140 back, then pay 44? Heck yes

[passthewine]

Sept 7, 2012 13:36:00 GMT -5 BravoBravo said:

We have Nooks in our household. We started with the original eInks and then DH upgraded to a NColor and I got the NTablet.

As a household that has both a NC and a NT, can you tell me what the big difference is? I have a NC and I keep trying to figure out what the deal is with the NT.

[mishap]

Sept 7, 2012 13:57:13 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I've had my shitty iphone 3GS for almost 3.5 years! It still works as well as it did back when I got it, and we've been eligible for an upgrade for over a year. I just wanted to wait on the iphone 5.

And really, I don't necessarily expect everything to last forever, or even past 2 years. With my kindle, it hadn't even been used every day. Sometimes every week or month, even, if I had a bunch of books I wanted to read that I bought. I tend to buy books from my favorite authors vs. using my kindle (so I can complete my collections, lol). So if I had used it a ton, I'd likely be way less peeved by the whole thing. Mostly it's the whole "it was defective" thing I got from them that really sent me over the edge.

Apple makes better products. They are the exception, not the rule.

Also, electronics work better when they are used more often than when they are left to sit in a drawer. Just something to keep in mind when you get your next reader.

[BravoBravo]

Sept 7, 2012 14:02:23 GMT -5 passthewine said:

Sept 7, 2012 13:36:00 GMT -5 BravoBravo said:

We have Nooks in our household. We started with the original eInks and then DH upgraded to a NColor and I got the NTablet.

As a household that has both a NC and a NT, can you tell me what the big difference is? I have a NC and I keep trying to figure out what the deal is with the NT.

The tablet is lighter, noticeably so. It also has better guts on the inside so apps, browsing, and videos run smoother.

Another point for Nooks is that they have expandable memory and you can get bootable SD cards to turn the color and tablet into full android tablets (n2a).

[Deleted]

I love my nook and want the nook glow for Christmas. So I'd do that lol. And get the new iPad down the road. I like having both an e reader and an iPad.

[heliocentric]

I have a 2nd Gen Kindle and a Fire. I really like the tablet features of the Fire and the fact that I can read it in the dark, but I prefer the screen (e-ink) of the old Kindle because there is no glare, but I can't read it at night w/o a light so there are pros & cons to each. (I'm considering using the 2nd Gen for most reading and the Fire for everything else.)

[karinothing]

My kindle broke too, I thought about the nook but I am addicted to Amazon so I need to be real with myself. I think I am going to get the new paperwhite.

ETA: I had my kindle for about 2 years.

[Chirp]

Sept 7, 2012 13:44:09 GMT -5 mishap said:

Seeing as how B&N is doing terribly except for its Nook e-readers, I would go with a Kindle. I am not convinced B&N will be around in five years.

I know you had a bad experience with Amazon CS, but this is usually not the norm. I completely get having a bad taste in your mouth over it, but I would probably still go with them. I would also not expect most electronics devices that cost $200 to last more than two years. We should, but the fact of the matter is that low-priced portable devices so often don't. There's a reason you get a credit after two years for phones.

Ditto all of this.


Andplusalso, I've had my Kindle for nearly 2 years and it works perfect. I had one minor glitch, but I called Amazon CS and figured out the problem and I haven't had a problem since. When it dies (because it will, it's an electronic device) I will buy another Kindle without hesitation.

I've seen multiple people still actively using their 1st generation Kindles.

[NitaX]

Sept 7, 2012 14:19:15 GMT -5 BravoBravo said:

Sept 7, 2012 14:02:23 GMT -5 passthewine said:

As a household that has both a NC and a NT, can you tell me what the big difference is? I have a NC and I keep trying to figure out what the deal is with the NT.

The tablet is lighter, noticeably so. It also has better guts on the inside so apps, browsing, and videos run smoother.

Another point for Nooks is that they have expandable memory and you can get bootable SD cards to turn the color and tablet into full android tablets (n2a).

My H has done this with his NTablet. I am jealousE since I just have the 1st gen Nook. I'm planning on upgrading to the Nook Tablet and keeping my 1st gen too.

[eclaires]

I definitely think Kindles CAN last longer, which is why I was annoyed in my own situation. I would use it daily, multiple times for awhile, and then I'd go a week without reading on it much. Or I'd just use it for a little bit each week and read my other books, so maybe the lack of use did hurt it, IDK. I do know that Amazon executive customer service told me that the particular issue I had is unfixable and is a defective product/issue they have.

I think our plan is to use the $139 towards buying the new iPad mini, and then I will decide to buy a dedicated e-reader from either B&N, or Amazon. I'm guessing I will probably go Kindle, just because I can get one very cheap. Then if it sucks, I'm only out $50 or so. Plus, I won't have to convert everything to epub.

Really I should thank Amazon, now, right? I get $139 towards whatever I want.

[msmerymac]

Sept 7, 2012 14:42:32 GMT -5 eclaires said:

I definitely think Kindles CAN last longer, which is why I was annoyed in my own situation. I would use it daily, multiple times for awhile, and then I'd go a week without reading on it much. Or I'd just use it for a little bit each week and read my other books, so maybe the lack of use did hurt it, IDK. I do know that Amazon executive customer service told me that the particular issue I had is unfixable and is a defective product/issue they have.

I think our plan is to use the $139 towards buying the new iPad mini, and then I will decide to buy a dedicated e-reader from either B&N, or Amazon. I'm guessing I will probably go Kindle, just because I can get one very cheap. Then if it sucks, I'm only out $50 or so. Plus, I won't have to convert everything to epub.

Really I should thank Amazon, now, right? I get $139 towards whatever I want.

If you can get a 15% discount on the $69 kindle, then you can tell Visa you're going to use the $139 for the ipad mini and get both at a discount, right? Sounds like a win!

[eclaires]

Yep!

I can get the $69 kindle for $54 per Amazon's customer service rep (just double checked that), and with my credit card, they will reimburse me for whatever I choose up to $139. I just have to send in the receipt. So I think that's what I'm going to do. I may even wait a bit longer on the kindle purchase and see if I don't mind reading on a tablet vs. e-ink. I think I'd prefer to have a dedicated e-reader, and will probably get one at some point in the near future. I may just go with the Kindle Paperwhite if I hear good things about it, but I don't think I can get a discount on it... I'm probably on Amazon's blacklist anyhow, haha.

[charminglife]

I'm so intrigued by the new Kindle Paperwhite that I might get over my hate of Amazon and get it.

You could get a Sony E-reader - my SO has had one since 2007? and he loves it.

store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&identifier=S_Portable_Reader

[emisi]

I just went onto the Amazon site and checked out the Paperwhite... honestly, the screen is too white for me. It would bother my eyes. I mean, books aren't that white, they're closer to the old screen color. I prefer them a little more grey, frankly.

[GailGoldie]

I REALLY want to see a paperwhite in person. I like e-ink... i do NOT want anything backlit- but i'm facinated by the paperwhite (what i have seen about it)... and want to hold/play with one!

[gpw]

Sept 7, 2012 19:19:44 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

I REALLY want to see a paperwhite in person. I like e-ink... i do NOT want anything backlit- but i'm facinated by the paperwhite (what i have seen about it)... and want to hold/play with one!

I'm really thinking I want to upgrade my kindle to the paperwhite. I can't tell if it's e-ink or not, though? Everything I've read says nothing about e-ink.

I like the idea of backlit -- what do you not like about backlit. What I really, really want is a color, e-ink, touch kindle. Which I know they don't have. Which gives me the sads.

[GailGoldie]

Sept 7, 2012 19:23:38 GMT -5 gpw said:

Sept 7, 2012 19:19:44 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

I REALLY want to see a paperwhite in person. I like e-ink... i do NOT want anything backlit- but i'm facinated by the paperwhite (what i have seen about it)... and want to hold/play with one!

I'm really thinking I want to upgrade my kindle to the paperwhite. I can't tell if it's e-ink or not, though? Everything I've read says nothing about e-ink.

I like the idea of backlit -- what do you not like about backlit. What I really, really want is a color, e-ink, touch kindle. Which I know they don't have. Which gives me the sads.

I can't stand reading lots of text for a long time on a computer screen - so backlit would drive me nuts b/c that's essentially what you are doing- reading off a tablet, etc.

e-ink looks JUST like paper... I love it for that reason. Easily read out in the sun, etc. But that is what they are saying you can do with the paperwhite, and i don't get it! seems that the light dims in sunlight? almost like it's e-ink with an internal light shining down, not out?

[msmerymac]

Sept 7, 2012 19:23:38 GMT -5 gpw said:

Sept 7, 2012 19:19:44 GMT -5 GailGoldie said:

I REALLY want to see a paperwhite in person. I like e-ink... i do NOT want anything backlit- but i'm facinated by the paperwhite (what i have seen about it)... and want to hold/play with one!

I'm really thinking I want to upgrade my kindle to the paperwhite. I can't tell if it's e-ink or not, though? Everything I've read says nothing about e-ink.

I like the idea of backlit -- what do you not like about backlit. What I really, really want is a color, e-ink, touch kindle. Which I know they don't have. Which gives me the sads.

It's e-ink, the contrast is just REALLY good. The "light" comes from the sides of the kindle and illuminates the screen, but not from below, so it isn't backlit. And you can turn the light all the way down if you're in full sun or something.

I really love my kindle keyboard, but when it bites the dust, this paperwhite looks amazing. There's no reading lamp on my side of the bed, so I use a book light with my kindle.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2012 15:00:03 GMT -5 charminglife said:

I'm so intrigued by the new Kindle Paperwhite that I might get over my hate of Amazon and get it.

You could get a Sony E-reader - my SO has had one since 2007? and he loves it.

store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&identifier=S_Portable_Reader

The nook glow is really similar to the paperwhite from what I can tell (and B&N beat amazon to the punch with it, first time in a while that's happened lol) so you dont have to get the kindle if you hate amazon that much lol.