Battle of the eBook readers Nook color Vs Kindle 3G

scottmandue · 02-08-2011, 09:32 AM

My reason for buying = I fly monthly, I want a toy/gadget to entertain myself in the airport and on the plane. Right now I carry a MP3 player and grab a magazine at the airport or fly Jet Blue and use their gadgets... however... Jet blues gadget don't always work and I would like to add the capability to do email (texting is not my thing).

Almost settled on a Nook color... but then I had to start searching the Internet to make sure I am getting the best deal in all the land.

Nook color pros = color, touch screen, wifi, can do android apps with some tweaking.

Kindle pros = free 3G, as in free.

Question, can you do email on a Kindle 3G? If no that is a deal breaker. Is there a store I can go to and handle a Kindle? (Nooks are sold at the B&N stores.)

As some of you may know many airlines are adding Wifi to their flights so I presume I could email via Wifi when I'm in the air?

Thanks in advance.

audiman08 · 02-08-2011, 10:07 AM

My wife and sister both have the Nook...they love them. I've played with the Nook, it's pretty intuitive and user friendly and doesn't strain the eyes too bad. I haven't seen Amazon's Kindle in retail stores.

id10t · 02-08-2011, 10:09 AM

Nook color ... then install Android 3.0 on it.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

My reason for buying = I fly monthly, I want a toy/gadget to entertain myself in the airport and on the plane. Right now I carry a MP3 player and grab a magazine at the airport or fly Jet Blue and use their gadgets... however... Jet blues gadget don't always work and I would like to add the capability to do email (texting is not my thing).

Almost settled on a Nook color... but then I had to start searching the Internet to make sure I am getting the best deal in all the land.

Nook color pros = color, touch screen, wifi, can do android apps with some tweaking.

Kindle pros = free 3G, as in free.

Question, can you do email on a Kindle 3G? If no that is a deal breaker. Is there a store I can go to and handle a Kindle? (Nooks are sold at the B&N stores.)

As some of you may know many airlines are adding Wifi to their flights so I presume I could email via Wifi when I'm in the air?

Thanks in advance.

If you intend to read in any light condition, the Kindle is hard to beat. If you want to do more, I'd go with a Color Nook.

Rot 911 · 02-08-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Is there a store I can go to and handle a Kindle? (Nooks are sold at the B&N stores.)

Target sells Kindles. kindle : Target Search Results

scottmandue · 02-08-2011, 11:27 AM

The color nook is my first choice...

However I thought someone said they were posting here with their Kindle... AFAIK the Kindle only connects to load books and can not surf the web.

So the web browsing of the nook puts it way out ahead.

Jay Auskin · 02-08-2011, 12:05 PM

If you're looking for a "reader", Kindle all the way. Just get the WiFi version. It's the perfect price point, and there is no need to always be connected. It has a browser, but it's "experimental". Anyhow, that's what smartphones, laptops, etc. do well. My wife has charged her Kindle battery once since Christmas, and she reads almost every evening.

Steve Viegas · 02-08-2011, 12:22 PM

You can check e-mail through the browser on the Kindle. The screen is designed for rendering letters, not pictures. It is not pretty, but it works. I bought one for 3G connectivity and e-mail and I am glad I did.

Joeaksa · 02-08-2011, 02:46 PM

I connect to the internet on my Nook through the WiFi here at home. Could do the same at the airport if they have WiFi or on the plane.

David McLaughlin · David McLaughlin's Garage

kindle... only buy books & magazines from Amazon. Great screen long lasting battery; about 2 days longer than nook. No memory expansion, stuck with 2G

Nook... buy books from Barnes and Noble or anywhere except from Amazon. Even borrow ebooks from the library. Same screen same look as kindle. Like the kindle, it needs to be charged in 6-10 days, great screen to read from in any light. Only e-reader to have a user replaceable battery.

Nook Color... same benifits as Nook but with a faster processor, larger memory plus expandable with microSD, way better web access, better magazine viewing. Like an iPad but smaller and not as expensive. Cons: less time between battery charging, screen is LCD not e-ink so harsh light is an issue like a laptop.

5String43 · 02-09-2011, 06:01 AM

Wifey bought me the top-of-the-line Kindle for Christmas. She choose the Kindle based on this:

Kindle ipad - latimes.com

The thing is just excellent. And yes, I gather that you can indeed do e-mail on a Kindle, though I have not attempted to do so.

scottmandue · 02-09-2011, 07:11 AM

Would prefer to use 3G over wifi just because you can hook up to the Internet almost anywhere, don't need to find a wifi spot.

If the Kindle can do email and web browse that might push me that direction.

cmccuist · 02-09-2011, 07:29 AM

The problem with the Kindle and the web is you have to scroll around using the little arrows and it's a pita. I got both the Kindle and the Nook color for Christmas. The Kindle is great for reading, but the Nook color is great for reading also if you convert your books to ebup (Freeware Calibre is awesome for this).

The Nook color has really good screen sensitivity and will switch from landscape to portrait just by rotating it. On the Kindle you have to go through a couple of menu steps. I just couldn't get past using the arrows for the web. And the color on the Nook color is really amazing.

Course it's twice the money, but still only $250. The battery life is fine if you scale back the brightness which takes about two touches on the screen. The Kindle battery life is ridiculous!! You never have to charge it.

Bottom line, if you're going to do any kind of web use, the Nook color is better. Also, you can watch videos, the Nook supports a couple of formats. And it'll take up to a 32gb micro SD card. That's about 50,000 books.

scottmandue · 02-09-2011, 08:41 AM

Kindle 6" 3G is $189

Kindle DX 9" is $379

Nook color $250

Obviously the nook has the advantage of color and touch screen... not sure I need that.

I think I need to get my hands on one of each to see which I like better. I know B&N are doing seminars where they let you play with the nook, not sure Target will have a kindle I can handle.

island911 · 02-09-2011, 09:00 AM

fwiw... Right in between the Kindle 6" and Nook color (on price) is the Sony Reader ... a 7-inch (e-ink) screen.

scottmandue · 02-09-2011, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

fwiw... Right in between the Kindle 6" and Nook color (on price) is the Sony Reader ... a 7-inch (e-ink) screen.

Will the Sony do email?

BRPORSCHE · 02-09-2011, 09:24 AM

Ya can in fact e-mail on the kindle. My dad e-mails all the time from Tokyo with it.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Ya can in fact e-mail on the kindle. My dad e-mails all the time from Tokyo with it.

Does the e-mail work on 3G?

Steve Viegas · 02-09-2011, 10:05 AM

e-mail works on 3G. You can web surf too, but it is ugly. I would not recommend it for web surfing, but it will work if you are desperate.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

So, $189 for a device which wil do e-mail, any place for no extra cost per month? Wow.

I expect it is text only, right?