| Amazon's Kindle eReader has been the leader, at | | | | 500 charges (ten years or so) these batteries will still |
| least in the US, of the eReader market since the | | | | hold 80% charge, so this may not be an issue for most |
| introduction of Kindle 1 in 2007. Sony has held 2nd | | | | people. |
| place with 30 - 35% of the market. | | | | The nook also accepts an SD card for additional |
| But now there is a new kid on the block. In October '09 | | | | storage. The Kindle only has its internal storage, but |
| Barnes & Noble announced its nook eReader that | | | | that is enough to hold around 1,500 books, so this may |
| sold out on pre-order within a few weeks. | | | | also not be an issue for you. |
| The nook is revolutionary primarily in its looks. It will be | | | | A nook feature that has not received any official |
| hard for your average gadget boy/girl to see one and | | | | Barnes & Noble acknowledgment is the ability to |
| not develop a serious craving. But does this mean that | | | | borrow ebooks from your local library if they use |
| the nook is the best thing since the printing press for | | | | Overdrive's digital distribution service. To do this you |
| bookish boys and girls? | | | | need to install Adobe Digital Editions on your computer |
| Let's look at and compare some of the features of | | | | and use that to sideload the ebook onto your nook. |
| the nook and the Kindle eReaders. | | | | You can borrow an ebook from the library for 14 |
| For the most part reading on the nook's e-ink screen is | | | | days, after which it will be automatically deleted. You |
| very similar to reading on the Kindle eReader's e-ink | | | | cannot renew library ebook checkouts. To find out |
| screen. Both eRreaders use the same or a very | | | | how useful this feature will be in your case you should |
| similar reading screen. | | | | check your local library website. Most libraries do not |
| What is dramatically different, and what in fact attracts | | | | have a large catalogue of ebooks yet. Kindle does not |
| many people to the nook eReader is the small LCD | | | | support borrowing library ebooks at this time |
| touchscreen under the e-ink screen. On the Kindle, | | | | The eBook Stores |
| navigation is accomplished by using the chicklet | | | | No matter how attractive the hardware, an eReader's |
| keyboard and the 5-way controller. The controls for | | | | primary purpose is to read books. Since today's |
| the nook are mostly accessed through using the LCD | | | | eReaders tend to be tied to proprietary DRM formats |
| touchscreen. | | | | for current titles, you want to make sure that the |
| The nook's touchscreen is also used for browsing | | | | hardware that you choose is backed up by the best |
| books in your library or for selecting books to | | | | ebook store(s). |
| purchase from Barnes & Noble over the wireless | | | | The nook's primary ebook supplier for DRM'ed ebooks |
| connection. A virtual keyboard is available on the LCD | | | | will of course be Barnes & Noble. You can also |
| screen for typing. | | | | purchase DRM'ed ebooks from other online sellers that |
| The nook's color LCD screen looks really nice and | | | | support Adobe Digital Editions. The nook is also |
| would seem to be a very desirable feature, but there | | | | compatible with non DRM'ed EPUB and PDF format. |
| are problems with the software implementation, which | | | | With Kindle you will purchase most if not all of your |
| we will get to in a bit. | | | | DRM'ed titles from Amazon's Kindle store. Kindle also |
| Connectivity: | | | | uses a few other formats for non-DRM'ed ebooks |
| The Kindle eReader has a 3G wireless connection | | | | such as MOBI and PDF. Public domain ebooks are also |
| through AT&T for the Kindle Global, and Sprint for | | | | available for the Kindle eReaders. I suspect that at |
| the Kindle 2. Amazon calls its wireless service | | | | some point Amazon will also have to allow EPUB |
| "Whispernet". Using Whispernet, you can usually | | | | compatibility for the Kindle, as there is increasing |
| purchase and download a book within a minute or less. | | | | pressure for this. |
| You also can use the somewhat clunky but functional | | | | Many people disparage the Kindle's being locked into |
| browser to access the internet, check email, research | | | | Amazon's ebook store for DRM'ed ebooks. While this |
| your reading on Wikipedia, even access another online | | | | may be true to a large extent, the fact is that the |
| ebook store than Amazon to purchase and download | | | | Kindle store has more titles available than B&N |
| books, etc. With Kindle Global you also have access to | | | | and all of the online stores selling ADE format ebooks |
| the Kindle store in many other countries besides the | | | | put together. In most cases Amazon's prices are less |
| US, though you have to pay a surcharge for | | | | as well, although Barnes & Noble has been trying |
| downloading a book on the Whispernet outside of the | | | | to match their prices. |
| US. | | | | If you primarily read books on the current best sellers |
| The nook eReader has both a WiFi connection and a | | | | lists you will likely be able to find these available in most |
| 3G AT&T wireless connection. The difference is | | | | formats at similar prices. The more off the beaten |
| that the nook's connection can only be used for | | | | path your reading is however, the more likely you are |
| purchasing and downloading books from Barnes | | | | to find what you are looking for at the Kindle store. |
| & Noble. No internet, no Wikipedia, you cannot use | | | | So Which eReader is Best - Kindle or nook? |
| it to connect to another online ebook store and | | | | If the nook eReader had not been rushed to market to |
| purchase books. | | | | make the holiday 2009 season, and if Barnes & |
| The nook's WiFi connection will be useful if you carry | | | | Noble had waited until they had the software ready |
| your nook eReader into a B&N store as it will | | | | and the bugs worked out, then I would say that the |
| download coupons and special offers to your | | | | nook would have been a very close second choice |
| eReader. You can also use the WiFi to browse | | | | and maybe even equal to the Kindle. |
| ebooks while in a B&N store, but you can only | | | | In fact, the nook at present is crippled by its faulty |
| read each book for a maximum of one hour in a | | | | release version software and unless B&N gets it |
| 24-hour period. These in-store features are not yet | | | | fixed in a timely fashion the nook will be leapfrogged |
| fully implemented so we don't yet know how useful | | | | by the next Kindle release. Barnes & Noble has |
| they will prove to be. | | | | said that they are working around the clock to update |
| Sharing | | | | the software and fix the current nook problems; and |
| One of the nook eReader's features that received a | | | | to their credit they have released a couple of updates |
| lot of press coverage is the ability to lend your ebooks | | | | as of this writing. However there are still lots of bugs |
| to friends. Unfortunately, this feature is not as great as | | | | and the nook is slower than the Kindle, which will be |
| first thought. For one thing, publishers must opt in to let | | | | distracting when you are trying to immerse yourself in |
| their books be loaned. Some have said they will not | | | | that next great book. In its present state the LCD |
| allow this. Also there are restrictions: you can only loan | | | | screen does not play well with the e-ink screen and |
| a particular book once ever, and only for 14 days. | | | | can be very frustrating to use. |
| While a book is loaned out you cannot access it on | | | | Also, I prefer the Kindle store. My reading tastes may |
| your own nook. | | | | be different than yours however, so I would suggest |
| The Kindle does not at this time allow this type of | | | | you make a list of books you want to read and make |
| lending. However, you can share ebooks with up to 6 | | | | a price and availability comparison between the Kindle |
| (it can vary by title) Kindles that are registered to the | | | | store and B&N's offerings. Higher ebook prices |
| same account. This works well for multi-Kindle families. | | | | can add up pretty quickly. |
| It is even possible to set up a reading club with your | | | | The Kindle's ability to connect to the internet and |
| Kindle owning friends if you feel comfortable sharing a | | | | Wikipedia, etc. is also not to be underestimated. |
| single credit card to register your Kindle eReaders to. | | | | I think that the nook eReader has the potential to be a |
| Other Features | | | | great eReader and possibly equal the Kindle, but it is |
| One nice feature that the nook eReader has is a user | | | | something of a gamble buying one now and waiting to |
| replaceable battery. The Kindle's battery is hardwired in | | | | see if Barnes & Noble can get all of the glitches |
| and therefore will need to be sent back to Amazon | | | | fixed in time and also match the Kindle store's |
| for replacement ($60). Amazon says that even after | | | | offerings. |