Which is right for you?
Kindle or a Nook. Both are readers, but what which is best for you.
Below we put together the two items so you can compare, you will see both of the following items being compared: Amazon Kindle vs. Barnes and Noble Nook Color
Choice Comes Down To The Details
We will review common preferences of our readers. So you can decide which reader is best for you. Such categories we will discuss are which are you more comfortable with? Do you prefer color or just want to read the darn thing? How much does these readers cost and also upgradability. Below we will present these details in easy to read fashion to help you with your decision.
Kindle Vs Nook: Best For Reading
Well you are going to be reading right? Since this is it’s primary function I wanted to present some positives I found that help me choose which would be best for reading.
While the original Kindle doesn’t come in a color version, “e-ink” technology. The Kindle is superb and easy to read for hours. No glaring and I believe the unique greyish background on black text makes it very similar to reading a book. Much more easier to read then a Nook and IPad, especially when outdoors.
Quick Update: As for “e-ink” technology, the kindle fire does have color and is a nice upgrade.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Kindle Fire
How Is The Reading?
Outdoor Reading:
Kindle was by far the best performer for outdoor reading. Nothing I have seen is like the “E-ink” technology, not even the Nook. It truly makes you feel like you are reading off a printed page.
Think about it… ever try to look at your phone in the sun. The glare…. ouch! The kindle makes glare a non-factor. It literally is like reading on paper. Except it’s on a screen.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Amazon Kindle Touch for $99
Reading In Dark:
What about a late night read of your favorite novel? Well I did this myself and was pleasantly surprised the Nook had excellent quality and the backlit light made it super easy. A new update shows Kindle has back lit light and color, as it stands now… but my vote is going to show Nook being the winner.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Barnes And Noble Nook for just $249
Traveling With Your Readers
Traveling With Your Readers
Kindle And Travel:
While it’s a relaxing experience to read, we all can’t do it all the time. So I wanted to post this section to talk about traveling with your Kindle or Nook.
The newest generation of the Kindle has a fully capable internet browsing capability. This means checking your emails and browsing the web is possible… and is super fast! Now keep in mind, the past model of the kindle wasn’t capable of browsing the internet, but the latest kindle versions are all now capable.
The Kindle has proven time and time again to work overseas. Their library is EASILY accessible no matter where you are. Which put the Kindle on the winning side of Traveling with your Reader.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Amazon Kindle Touch For $139
Now for the Nook:
Nook had a great advantage over previous versions of the Kindle. Simply because the Nook was able to browse the internet, while the Kindle could not. This has all changed as of October 10, 2011.
Regarding Nook And Traveling Overseas:
We did have our readers tell us that when traveling overseas, the Nook library didn’t work. I didn’t have first hand experience myself with this, but we did get some feedback from our readers this does happen.
The Kindle has proven time and time again to work overseas. Their library is EASILY accessible no matter where you are. Which put the Kindle on the winning side of Traveling with your Reader.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Amazon Kindle Touch For $139
Wireless Capabilities
Both come with wi-fi capabilities, but the Kindle, for a couple dozen extra bucks, can provide you with 3g, for life. Though, as mentioned above, there is quite little you can do with that 3g connection–no web browsing, game downloading, etc. So the 3G ends up being quite useless, even for the Kindle, except for downloading more books!
While the added option is nice, there really is no need for the 3G on the kindle.
The Kindle does have a nice feature called “e-book lending,” which is like having your own personable library in the palm of your hands. You can borrow books from other people, while lending the ones you purchased out. This feature of the Kindle expands your e-book collection thousandfold, or as many times as you have friends (so get out there and make some!). The Nook on the other hand allows you to download any book for free, and keep it up for up to an hour a day in any Barnes and Nobles store. Definitely not as good of a deal.
Both e-readers allow you to transfer any purchased e-books to your other e-book capable devices.
Update 09.22.2011 – Again, we’ve had some readers report connectivity issues overseas with the Nook, and some issues with “Adobe DRM,” the digital rights manager that the Nook Color uses. This may or may not be an issue, depending on your needs!
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Amazon Kindle Touch Without Ads & 3G just $189
Library and Online Catalog
I have to admit Amazon and Barnes and Noble have a HUGE choiece of free and not-free books. It has to be in the millions, seriously.
Also, Both the Kindle and Nook allow you to read samples of the books for free before purchasing.
The Nook, however, DOES allow its users to download nearly ANY type of e-book or similar materials, due to it’s reliance on Adobe for its digital rights management software. Adobe DRM is what most e-book publishers use.
The Nook also allows its users to download library books onto its Nook! How cool is that?
Kindle works primarily with books purchased from Amazon.
Update: As of Sept, 2011… Kindle now allows downloads of ebooks from library databases.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Nook Color for Just $249
Portability & Convenience
Kindle’s screen is a slight bit smaller. The Kindle screen measures to 6 inches. The Nook Color’s screen is 7 inches. However, both screens are quite big enough for the purpose of reading books. The Nook is slightly bigger and heavier, which has some people favoring the Kindle for portability. However, our reviewers don’t see much of a difference.
Both Kindle and Nook have a “read aloud” feature that reads your book of choice, out loud to you, in an eerie robotic voice straight out of a 1960s movie.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Get The Kindle for Just $79
Kindle Vs Nook Price Comparison
Ah–price! The Nook Color, at the time of writing costs $249.
The Kindle has more options.
You can start with a low-level Kindle with ADS and Sponsored STUFF
A regular Kindle TOUCH with Wi-Fi
And then we have the Kindle KEYBOARD version with or without 3G, they are $99/$139 with ads, and $139/$189 respectively.
Finally, the new Amazon Kindle Fire
| With Ads | Without Ads | |
| Kindle | $79 | $109 |
| Kindle Keyboard | $99 | $139 |
| Kindle Keyboard & 3G | $139 | $189 |
| Kindle Touch | $99 | $139 |
| Kindle Touch & 3G | $149 | $189 |
| Kindle Fire | x | $199 |
| Nook Color | x | $249 |
Our reviewers liked the Kindle Touch & 3G– so we’re really comparing $249 for the Nook vs. Kindle at $149. Again, it depends on what features you need and want to have access to. Is the web browsing capabilities and color screen worth the extra $100 for the Nook?
Update 10.02.2011 – Updated pricing structure… also… it’s looking increasingly like the Kindle Fire is a Nook Color KILLER. We’ll see.
Kindle vs Nook Winner: Amazon Kindle Fire
Kindle Vs Nook Conclusion
Well–we’ve taken a look at both devices, their faults and advantages, and did we emerge with a clear cut winner? In many of the categories we decided were important in an e-reader, the Kindle won out. However, it all comes down to personal preference and what you need on a day-to-day basis. If you absolutely can’t live without the web browsing and email capability, you won’t be disappointed with the Nook. If you’re looking for a straight e-reader, which is easy to read, has great battery life, and a wide selection of books, the Kindle is the way to go.
Also, before you go out and buy, take some time to check out our coupon sections for both the Nook and the Kindle. We regularly update it with new coupons–and you can save some big bucks by buying online.
If you’re ready to buy:
Kindle Fire is just $199 – Click here to buy now! (also top selling item)
Nook is just $249 – Click here to buy now.
