Kindle vs Nook Review - Which is the Best eReader?
UPDATE: October 2011
THIS REVIEW IS OUTDATED!
Visit our homepage at http://BestEreaderReviews.net/ for the latest Kindle Touch Reviews
Here's what others are reading right now! - Kindle Fire Review << 3 Video reviews
- Kindle vs Nook Comparison << 5 Video reviews
This is a review of the OLD MODELS of Amazon Kindle and Nook Touch. For a review of the latest models of Amazon Kindle Touch and Nook Touch, please visit our homepage at http://bestereaderreviews.net/ or this specific post on Amazon Kindle Touch Review or our ONE-OF-A-KIND review on the Kindle FIRE which really is on Fire right now!
So you are interested in getting yourself an eReader and you want to know what the Best eReader is! We have taken a slightly different approach than most others when compiling our eReader Reviews on the Barnes & Noble Nook and the Amazon Kindle. We have no doubt that our unique comparison is going to help you make that decision about which ebook reader suits you best.
We have categorized Nook vs Kindle differences to MAJOR differences and MINOR differences
- The MAJOR benefits of the Amazon Kindle over the Nook Simple Touch
- The MAJOR benefits of the Nook Touch over the Kindle 3 eBook Reader
- The MINOR benefits of the Amazon Kindle over the New Nook Touch eReader
- The MINOR benefits of the Nook Touch over the Kindle 3
- Features of the two ebook readers that are essentially similar
- 3G + Wi-Fi for the same price ($139) as the Wi-Fi only Nook Simple Touch
- Free 3G – 3G access is FREE! No monthly subscription plans
- Both landscape and portrait modes (turn the Kindle eReader and read on a broader screen)
- Doubles as an MP3 player – stereo headphone input at the back
- Can use for ‘reading’ audiobooks/audible books
- Has the auto text-to-speech narration feature
- WebKit web browser – for basic web browsing; not recommended for daily web browsing
- $114 for Kindle with special offers – $25 cheaper than the ‘regular’ version without special offers. Amazon is able to provide a discount on this version because it displays ads. However, you must realize that these ads are only displayed on the screensaver (when you’re not reading any books) and on an 1 inch strip at the bottom of the home page (again when you’re not reading). So just because it displays ads, that shouldn’t scare you away! Save that $25 and use it to buy extra books (or donate it for a charitable cause)
- Optional Kindle DX which has a 9.7″ diagonal screen (with all above features)
- Special offers – with the Kindle with Special offers you get deals like ‘$10 off $20′
- LAST BUT NOT LEAST – Its from Amazon
- The touch-screen – note that this infrared-powered touchscreen does not have the ability for pinching and zooming with fingers. It’s NOT a multi-touch touchscreen. You can swipe to turn pages, highlight passages etc., but not quite the functionality of a iPhone or iPad touch-screen.
- Less frequent flashes when ‘turning’ pages; thus smoother page turning – with E-Ink screens, you get these screen flashes when you flip pages. With this new Nook Touch, these ‘flashes’ happen only about once every 5 turns
- The unit is approximately 1″ shorter and 1 ounce lighter than the Kindle – the Kindle is slightly larger due to its QWERTY keyboard and larger internal memory; but the Kindle 3 is smaller in width and thickness
What’s YOUR Best eReader? Base it on the MAJOR Differences!
In our humble opinion, your decision about which Best eReader suits you most should be made on the above-mentioned MAJOR differences. The MINOR differences (as we call them) shouldn’t matter really much.
In our eReader expert opinion,
- It doesn’t matter that the internal memory of the Nook Touch can only hold 1,000 books compared to 3,500 books of the Kindle. We think 1,000 books is plenty to store in your eReader until you come back from your vacation to a Wi-Fi connection!
- It doesn’t matter if the Nook has 7 text sizes and the Kindle has 8
- It shouldn’t matter that the Nook gives you the option of personalizing the screensavers with pictures of your choice and the Kindle does not. If you wanted a digital photo frame you would buy one for $30. You are doing research on eReader reviews because you want your reading experience to be truly an enjoyable one
Made up your mind on an Amazon Kindle? Click here!
Think the Nook Touch is your best ereader? Click Here!
Please feel free to check out the MINOR differences and the list of similar features at the end of this article, if you have not made a concrete decision yet
- 4GB internal memory and 3,500 ebook holding capacity (2GB and 1,000 books in case of Nook Touch)
- At 0.34″, it’s thinner than the Nook which measures 0.47″
- Measures 4.8″ in width compared to the 5″ width of the Nook Touch
- Offers 8 text sizes compared to 7 by the Nook
- Read In Store™ – read most Books for free in Barnes & Noble stores. If you visit your local Barnes & Noble bookstore for reading books often, you may find this feature useful. But then again, if you are going to physically visit the bookstore, would you rather read a real book?
- Offers 6 text styles compared to the 3 by the Nook
- The memory is expandable in case you need to expand the 1,000 ebook storage limit – the Kindle doesn’t have an expandable memory, but it stores up to 3,500 book titles
- Lets you personalize screensavers by adding pictures of your choice
- Availability of over 2 million books compared to the 950,000 books in the Kindle store
- 6″ diagonal screen
- E-Ink screen with Pearl technology – easy on the eyes; no glare in bright sunlight
- Maximum 2 month battery life with wireless switched off
- Lets you synchronize your reading among different devices – iPad, PC, MAC, iPhone, BlackBerry or Android device. The Amazon Kindle does this using Whyspersync® while the B&N Nook does it using their LendMe® technology. What this means is that if you read a book up to page 57 on your iPad and you decided to continue reading the rest of the e-book on your eReader, thanks to this synchronization technology, it will automatically start on page 58 and you won’t have to worry about remembering where you stopped (just like you don’t have to remember your home phone number, cell phone number and your home address these days)
- 16-level gray scale display
- eBook lending to/borrowing from other nook or Kindle users (Amazon would be introducing this feature in late 2011)
- eBook borrowing from libraries
- Free Wi-Fi access at AT&T hotspots
- Share updates on Social sites like Facebook® and Twitter® (the Nook may allow more advanced features here)
Made up your mind on an Amazon Kindle? Click here!
Think the Nook Touch is your best ereader? Click Here!
Have you made a conclusion? What’s your Best eReader?
Ours is the Amazon Kindle 3 because of its superior features in our list of MAJOR differences. What’s best for us may not be the best for you! You need to find an eReader that suits your unique requirements best. If you are undecided about whether you want a dedicated ebook reader or a tablet PC that doubles as an eReader please check out our 10 point eReader checklist.
No comments yet
Kindle Fire Review
Nook vs Kindle vs Kobo
Please comment and let us know your thoughts on this Kindle Touch Review (No comments So Far)