Post by writingwithheld on May 22, 2012 13:05:32 GMT -5
Maybe this thread can distill a lot of information into one place for easy reference in the future.
Which device(s) do you have? Why did you chose this one? Are you happy? Pros/cons? Main use(s) of the device for you personally? How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? Is lack of 3g a problem? Would you recommend this to a friend?
Post by secretlyevil on May 22, 2012 13:10:53 GMT -5
As of last Friday I am the owner of a Kindle Fire. Overall I like it very much. Still learning the ins and outs. Will say for reading, the screen size is fine. For anything else, I wish it was larger - have the 7.5" I think. That's the only con right now.
My computer nerd husband chose it (bday gift). He does the research so I'm sure he did a thorough comparison between the Nook and Kindle before choosing one for me.
It is a 3G. I think I have some 'net surfing issues with the 3G but it's hard to pinpoint if that's been the problem or not.
Most definitely would recommend the Kindle Fire to a friend.
ETA: Well that explains a whole lot now. I thought I had 3G. I may have to send it back.
I have the Kindle Touch and Kindle Fire and I much prefer the Touch for reading books. The e-ink is much more friendly on the eyes and it doesn't weigh as much.
Post by sparrowsong on May 22, 2012 13:20:02 GMT -5
I have the 2nd generation kindle keyboard because that was what was available then, that an one of the early model Nooks and I liked the feel of the kindle better. It works great for me and I really don't feel any need to upgrade to one of the newer ones. I am curious though, can you move your library over if you get a new one?
Nook Color - It was brand new... honestly the reason i chose nook is because most of my friends had nooks. It was pretty much for borrowing purposes.
I bought myself the Simple Touch a few months ago because the light from the color was aggravating my already weak eyes. I use the color for night reading and games now.
Which device(s) do you have? Why did you chose this one? Are you happy? Pros/cons? Main use(s) of the device for you personally? How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? Is lack of 3g a problem? Would you recommend this to a friend?
I love my Nook Color. The color is so vivid and wonderful. My children love listening to the books that read to them and turn the pages itself. They play the apps for children - spelling, counting, puzzles, matching. It's wonderful for them. I love the brightness. There are alot of options with regards to the color - you can adjust the brightness, change to night mode (white words, black background), change font size and style. It's very easy to use both with regards to navigating a book and navigating the device itself.
I certainly read alot on it, but it's also become my 'handheld game' and my web browser. I use different apps - enjoy a mahjong game, a scavenger hunt game. I have a bible app that is absolutely fantastic - allows you to highlight, search, make margin notes, write in a notebook feature. It's great. I do not have 3G, but we have wireless in our home, so that's how I connect to the Internet via my Nook. It's very fast and easy to use. You can bookmark your favorite pages.
Buying books, magazines, newspapers is easy. You can either buy them right from the device via the shop feature which requires internet or via the B&N webpage from any pc. The new purchase will populate on your Nook immediately.
Which device(s) do you have? I have a Nook Simple Touch. Why did you chose this one? I like Barnes and Noble as a company and at the time, Kindle books weren't available at the library. I also wanted to be able to download PDFs. I also wanted the regular screen so it didn't cause eye fatigue. Are you happy? Yes, I am. Pros: Access to a lot of books, able to upload PDFs, easy to read, easy to use one-handed Cons: Web browser isn't good. No 3G if that's necessary to a buyer. Main use(s) of the device for you personally? Reading How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? Web browsing sucks. Reading is great. Is lack of 3g a problem? No, it isn't. I knew I wouldn't really need 3G because I have access to WiFi often enough that I can load a lot of books at once. Would you recommend this to a friend? Yes, I would.
I have the Kindle Touch and my husband has the Kindle Fire. I wanted e-ink and I wanted something smaller and lighter so I went with the Touch. It only has wi-fi but it hasn't been an issue. I always have my phone with me so if I had to have a book, I could always buy it and read it on the app.
I have a "kindle keyboard" (actually the 2nd gen Kindle, so it was what they made at the time!). I LOVE it. Mine only has 3G and no wi-fi, but I prefer the 3G. I would definitely buy another kindle keyboard. I love highlights and I love notations and I love the e-ink, which is so easy on the eyes. I'm also kind of locked into kindle as a format now, since my books are all on kindle, but I love amazon, so I'm okay with that.
My husband's birthday is Thursday and I got him a Kindle Fire. My brother also has a kindle fire, so I've played with it a tad. It's really cool. I don't think I'd use it as a primary e-reader because of the backlighting, but my husband won't mind. It's pretty cool.
ETA 10/4/12 - Now that Amazon has the Kindle Paperwhite, which is similar to the Nook simpletouch with glow light, I might upgrade to that in the future, once my Kindle 2 bites the dust. I still really like the e-ink/non back-lit feature, but having the built-in light for the screen would be wonderful for reading in bed.
Also, the fire, as an LCD screen, gets really washed out in the sun, unlike the e-ink kindle. That's just the nature of the material. But my husband loves it and uses it for reading his blogs, email, facebook, playing angry birds, and reading books.
Post by secretlyevil on May 22, 2012 13:57:48 GMT -5
Several people have mentioned backlighting as a con. I think I like it. Last night was the first time I was reading without lighting and it didn't bother me. I guess I'll have a more definite opinion once I've used it more.
DH has a Nook Color and he loves it. Loves it loves it loves it. He gets Sports Illustrated on it, keeps his work schedule straight on it, takes notes on it, reads the Bible on it, plays Angry Birds on it, checks email with it, streams Family Guy from Netflix on it, etc. etc.
He does read on it a lot, but for him having basic tablet functionality was also important. I just want to read books, so the Simple Touch is perfect for me.
Post by PinkSquirrel on May 22, 2012 14:25:13 GMT -5
Which device(s) do you have? The basic 4th gen Kindle (with ads) I also have an ipad but don't use it for reading, because e-ink is so much easier on my eyes Why did you chose this one? Kindle vs Nook was never a question for me. I'm not a BN fan and I'm deeply in love with Amazon. I also have zero respect for the fact that BN has removed half the books in their store to have a huge Nook display. WTF you do not need half a store to show of 10 Nooks. Are you happy? Yes love it and the customer service was amazing when I had an e-ink pixel die Pros: It's small, easy on the eyes, great customer service, all of my library ebooks work with kindle and can be downloaded and returned through Amazon Cons: The only cons are when comparing it to a paper book and that's just because it's easier to find random places Main use(s) of the device for you personally? Only reading, that's all it does How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? I'll answer this for my ipad since this is n/a for my kindle. While the ipad is great for web browsing, I hate reading on it because after spending all day at work the last thing I want to do is read on a computer screen. E-ink feels more like paper and e-ink only readers tend to be smaller and lighter which is nice when your reading in bed. Is lack of 3g a problem? Nope. I usually add books when I'm home. With reading I think it's pretty easy to never need 3G especially since you can add as many books as you want Would you recommend this to a friend? Yep
Post by martinigirl on May 22, 2012 15:12:51 GMT -5
I have the Nook Simple Touch and I love it. I use it just for reading and the e-ink is easy on the eyes. I also love that I can read outside in the sun and not have a glare. It does not have 3G but that doesn't bother me. I would like to get the new Nook Simple Touch with Glow Light but since mine is still working perfectly fine I will wait. I just use my Nook light for bed time reading.
One 3G item I didn't think about before traveling abroad is that you can actually get free 3G in Europe (maybe elsewhere, too). So, even though my phone didn't work, when I desperately needed Google Translate I could laboriously meander through Kindle's not-very-sophisticated web browser and find the translation. You wouldn't use it for actual web browsing because it's way too unwieldy but in a pinch it can come through for you.
Post by sunshine608 on May 22, 2012 15:27:27 GMT -5
I have the Nook Simple Touch and the Nook Color both wifi.
I prefer the ipad over both and then the Nook Simple Touch over the NC.
I was annoyed by all the limitations on the NC. I got it when it came it out 2010 and I quickly rooted it but kept having to do so with all the updates. Apps free for my phone were not free from the NC app store which annoyed me. Not sure if this has been updated with the release of the tablet.
Also the NC was rather heavy and odd to hold. Last summer I got the NST and I love it- light, compact and easy to read except in the dark. Since having the NST, I've used the NC maybe 3-4 times in the last year.
I ended up filling the NC with children's books and Angry Birds and gave it to LO.
Post by copperpenny on May 22, 2012 16:47:02 GMT -5
I have a first gen Kindle. I love it. I never planned to use it for browsing so it hasn't been an issue. I also didn't care about color. I do wish the highlighting feature was a little more precise, but I tend to highlight a lot. I think the ease of using Amazon is a plus My H has a newer Kindle and Kindle Fire for technology testing stuff. I know he wasn't impressed with the Fire. I get all his tech hand me downs.
Which device(s) do you have? I have an older Kindle with a keyboard, wifi, 3G, and no ads Why did you chose this one? It was an anniversary gift from H. It was right before all the new ones came out, so this was the best one at the time. I love Amazon as a company and have a Prime membership, so I knew I'd go with them. I wasn't sure about B&N's future, and didn't want to be stuck in a "Kobo" type situation. Are you happy? Yes! I absolutely love Bemis (my Kindle) and take him with me everywhere. I love the e-ink. And the case I have has a built in light, so I can read in bed and when we go camping, and on the car at night (as the passenger lol!) Pros? e-ink, borrowing books from the library is a breeze, I've got a long battery life for camping/travel. Amazon is always helpful. I don't have to worry about smudgingthe screen or anything (that drives me bonkers!) cons? The keyboard is a little clunky, and going online is a little awkward . But I use it almost exclusively for reading, and use the ipad or my phone to go online. Oh, pictures and maps can be kind of hard to see. But I've only had to deal with that a few times. Main use(s) of the device for you personally? Almost exclusively e-reading. How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? See above Is lack of 3g a problem? n/a. I don't really use 3G that much, but I like to know it's there. I use wifi for downloading library books. Would you recommend this to a friend? I do!
Post by Jenniatonu on May 22, 2012 17:44:13 GMT -5
I have a K2, a Kindle Fire, and a nook color. I started with K2, but DH kept stealing it! So for my birthday he bought me the Nook Color as a surprise. Then, for christmas I bought him the Kindle Fire, because he was interested in the e-reader tablet ish thing. He only uses it for reading and solitaire. Go figure!
I have a Kindle and a Kindle Fire. I use my regular Kindle for reading books and absolutely adore it. I have no complaints about it.
My Fire I use for games and the internet. My only complaint is if Amazon doesn't have an application then you either do without or have to find it elsewhere to side load it.
I have a Nook Color and really like it. I enjoy being able to read at night. However, the only reason I wanted the Nook at the time was because they weren't doing library books on the Kindle, which now of course they are. I also have Amazon Prime and am sad that I'm missing out on a free book each month. But I'll stick with it until it dies.
I bought my nook because at the time it was the only ereader with library capability. If I were to buy now, I think I'd get the kindle, as the books seem a little cheaper, I pay for amazon prime, so I'd have the prime library, and it also does library lending now.
Post by charitylynne79 on May 23, 2012 10:23:47 GMT -5
I have the Kindle that was $79.99 and got it for Christmas. A few months later, hubby got me the Kindle Fire and I love it. I still have the old Kindle that I used for a few month in a leather hard case so if anyone is interested in it, let me know and I'll give you a good deal
Post by charminglife on May 23, 2012 10:26:52 GMT -5
Which device(s) do you have? Kindle Keyboard, wireless, no ads Why did you chose this one? Are you happy? I got it for a birthday present in March of 2011 after getting my mom a Kindle for xmas and loving hers. I LOVE my kindle. I don't go anywhere without it. Pros/cons? My SO has a Sony E-Reader and I think Kindle's e-ink is so much better than his. I am intrigued by the new Nook with backlight but have not tried one out. Main use(s) of the device for you personally? Reading books. How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? No web browsing Is lack of 3g a problem? no. Would you recommend this to a friend? Yes! I've converted a few friends from books to kindles and they read so much more than they used to.
Post by bookwormjen on May 23, 2012 13:20:42 GMT -5
I bought the Kindle Keyboard 3G a couple of months ago. Before that, I had the Kindle DX for a few months, but it was just too big to lug around all the time. I'm giving that one to my mom, who will like the larger screen since she will need larger type to read. Damn thing was pricy, too, so that kinda feels like a waste. But my mom probably wouldn't buy it for herslef, so I guess she'll benefit.
The Kindle is great. I held out for the longest time, because I love physical books. But I read a lot of larger books and always carry books in my purse, so carrying the Kindle is easier. I got the smaller plain one for portability, and because I don't need color or to play any games on it. I wanted a dedicated multi-book.
I got used to it really quickly. The only thing I don't like is not being able to easily go back to previous pages to look up or re-read something that I didn't realize would be important. It's easier to flip back pages in a real book.
ETA: I just realized I voted for Kindle, not Kindle Keyboard. Bad Jennifer, messing up the poll results.
Post by whitepicketfence on May 23, 2012 14:47:30 GMT -5
I have a Nook Color and absolutely adore it. DH bought it for me for my birthday in 2010 when it was first released. I wanted it primarily for the library and LendMe features since these were not available on Kindles at the time and the apps since I do not have an iPhone or iPad. I planned to use it while rocking DD1 to sleep at night and during her middle of the night feedings so the backlight was important, too.
I don't have 3G since I primarily use it at home and we have WiFi. I love the web browser capability and especially love that I can stream Netflix on it. Since DD2 is still sleeping our room, I also do most of my reading in the dark and the backlighting is great for that.
Post by Nerd Alert on May 23, 2012 15:07:36 GMT -5
Which device(s) do you have? Nook Tablet 16 GB
Why did you chose this one? It was a Christmas gift from DH. I just asked for a Nook. It really didn't matter to me which one.
Are you happy? Yes for the most part. I've had some trouble with the USB cord and charger. B&N already replaced the cord once. It's not working again so it's time for another call/visit. They mentioned last time it may be a defective unit so they may have to replace it. Other than that, I am very happy with it.
Main use(s) of the device for you personally? I mainly use it to read ebooks and magazines. I also surf the net, watch Netflix, play games and use an app for a planner/note pad. I typically always have it with me.
How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? Neither browsing or reading bother my eyes. The pages are crisp and clear. I have only used it outside a few times. I typically keep the book text setting on night reading regardless of when/where I'm reading.
Is lack of 3g a problem? No. I download whatever I need while I'm home. If I'm out and really need something, there are enough places with public free wifi that can be used.
Post by sawyerthedestroyer on May 23, 2012 17:42:32 GMT -5
Which device(s) do you have? Kindle with special offers.
Why did you chose this one? My H surprised me with it. He already had the Kindle keyboard and I kept stealing it to read. I'm a no bells and whistles type of person so he chose the least expensive one.
Are you happy? I'm very happy with it. I don't even mind the ads.
Pros/cons? Small, light, cheap. No cons that I can think of.
Main use(s) of the device for you personally? reading, reading, reading
How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? I can browse the web on the experimental browser, which I don't think is bad for what it is, but I didn't want a Kindle for the web anyway, just for reading.
Is lack of 3g a problem? Not for me. I'm never far away from a wifi connection for it be be one.
Would you recommend this to a friend? All the time.
Post by mrs.jacinthe on May 24, 2012 13:02:56 GMT -5
Which device(s) do you have? Nook Simple Touch
Why did you chose this one? DH bought it for me as an early anniversary present this year. I've been wanting one for when we fly - hauling books makes my carryon so freaking heavy.
Are you happy? Yes. It's pretty simple to use and I like the functionality. Occasionally I'll have issues with it turning too many pages at once, but I think that might be my mega-giant fingers, not the nook.
Main use(s) of the device for you personally? Reading library books.
How is reading vs. web browsing on this device? I don't web browse. You can open certain web pages by "searching" for the url, but links and things don't work, plus I'd rather use a computer for that, with my giant screen. Reading is easy, even in low light.
Is lack of 3g a problem? No. I use our home WiFi to download.