Nook or Kindle

I have a feeling that this is going to equal the Mac vs PC debate. People who have a Kindle love it; people who have a Nook love it. Here's my take:

When Barnes & Noble dropped the price on the Nook, I couldn’t resist. I purchased the higher version that has WiFi and 3G capability. I’d handled one at the RT Conference and knew this was the next ereader I was going to buy. I love my Ebookwise but I wanted something that could read PDF files, and I didn’t care for the Kindle. The Nook reads PDFs very well. My only complaint about the Nook is that there is no backlight. I’m presumably one of those rare people who want the backlight for reading at night. So I’ll use both ereaders for different purposes. Not sure which one will travel with me. Probably both because it will allow me to demonstrate both devices in the event anyone should ask.

I like the Nook very much. It was very easy to get started on it and very easy to use. I like the weight and the touch screen at the bottom. When I'd handled the Kindle, I found it was too flimsy for me. I didn't like the keyboard at the bottom and it seemed as though every time I picked it up something got touched and the thing went crazy moving the screen. I don't have any of that to worry about with the Nook. Downloads are easily done through the wireless or the computer online. I do read at night before going to sleep and there have been more than a time or two that I've awaken to find my Ebookwise lying beneath me. I would worry about crushing the Kindle. I don't worry about that with the Nook.

I can load my own content onto the Nook from my computer. I believe you can also do this on the Kindle but you have to go through Amazon to do so (I think). Nook reads PDF with no problem. I understand there were some issues with reading PDF on the Kindle.

My biggest complaint about both the Nook and the Kindle is the lack of a backlight. I understand no backlight is supposed to be a good thing. It isn't for me because I read at night, sometimes while my husband is asleep and the lights are off. Unless I get a clip-on light I will no longer be able to do that, which is fine for the moment because my Ebookwise fills that need.

The other complaint about both the Nook and the Kindle is that there is no way to make the reading screen brighter.

I would suggest taking a look at the Ebookwise ereader (www.ebookwise.com). It does have a backlight, but it's not wireless. You have to buy the books online, then transfer them over on the computer. The price is more affordable but the process is somewhat ponderous in loading books. I see that the price for a Nook is still down at Barnes & Noble. Looks like the price of a Kindle is still down as well.

My husband told me to pick between a Nook and an iPad. I think he was toying with me because I really can't justify the expense of an iPad. But I did evaluate it and my habits. The iPad is a very nifty device. But I doubt I'd use it effectively. Last year I bought a small Acer Aspire for writing and I love it to pieces. A friend of mine has a Kindle and recently bought the iPad. She loves it and has set her Kindle aside permanently. She said she never really bonded with her Kindle. And this is silly to say but...I loved my Nook the second I laid hands on it. The leather case I got for it bends back too and it feels just like holding a book.

I've never used a Mac, it's always been PCs for me. I know people who have Macs and love them! Reading on any computer can be tiring. I say that from experience because I'm on the computer all day. Yet at night I curl up with one of my ereaders and enjoy a reading experience I can't get from reading off the computer.

Caitlyn
www.caitlynwillows.com