Kindle vs Nook vs.....?

[Parsifal]

http://money.msn.com/now/blog--barnes-and-noble-shares-plunge-on-nook-pullout

Well, glad I didn't go for the Nook.  The end of the article says there is fear that B&N will end up with "niche status" but I think that's wishful thinking.  I doubt they have enough market weight to justify the existance of a Nook App.  They will end up bankrupt very soon. 

Still waiting for the second generation Nexus 7, on which I plan to run two programs, Chrome and Kindle App.

[DavidW]

It is unfortunate for Nook users that they might see the end of customer support, updates and a store to use.  Hopefully the DRM won't make it hard or impossible to transfer the ebooks to another ereader or tablet.

I do my reading on the Kindle PaperWhite, and my general browsing on an Ipad Mini.

[Parsifal]

More evidence that the days of Barnes and Noble and the Nook are numbered.

Chief Leaves Barnes & Noble After Losses on E-Readers

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/business/barnes-nobles-chief-executive-resigns.html?hp&_r=0

[DavidW]

Karl it's starting to get time to start thinking about switching readers.

[Karl Henning]

You have wide experience, Davey; what would your pick be?

[Parsifal]

You have wide experience, Davey; what would your pick be?

There is really no alternative to Kindle.  Thankfully they have created Kindle Apps for all significant platforms, so in some sense any hardware will do.  I have an early generation Kindle with ePaper with rather low contrast.  It's not comfortable to read unless the light is very good and I've thought of upgrading to a Kindle paperwhite, but am not sure the difference is worth the cost.  Right now I'm waiting for the second generation Nexus 7.  Kindle app is gorgeous on the various flavours of iPad, but that isn't a cheap device.

[Brian]

I've thought of upgrading to a Kindle paperwhite, but am not sure the difference is worth the cost.

I'm waiting for the next generation Nexus 7 for a color tablet I can use for multimedia and especially for typing etc., but for just plain old reading books, I will stick to the Kindle Paperwhite or possibly the Kobo. (There's something about its only function being the reading of books, that focuses my attention and keeps me actually reading!) Have never had a complaint with the Paperwhite - although "no backlighting" mode is actually sliiiightly backlit, the lighting spectrum is enough that I can read in the sun or in a dark room. Contrast is superb and text extremely readable, especially if you refresh every page-turn. If you have an early generation Kindle, you may also not have the same range of fonts?

Has anyone used a Kobo?

[Karl Henning]

I like my Nook Simple Touch fine; really don't want a bells-&-whistles tablet, probably for Brian's reason that, if what you do on a given device is read books, and only read books, then you're apt to read a book when you've got that device in your hand.  I hear that B&N will hold onto their e-ink product, so I suppose (knock on laminate) that I'm all right, as long as B&N remains in business.  I suppose that one reason I am loth to migrate to Kindle is, I have so much lit on my Nook which (I expect) is useless on a Kindle, and I don't know what it would cost me to 're-build' that library on a Kindle.

[Brian]

Well, bear in mind that, so far as building a library goes, the books on your Nook will stay there until the machine dies, even if B&N dies first. But you are quite right that B&N's e-ink products will remain, so that's a good step.

I'd say that, if/when you do need a new reader, the Paperwhite will suit your needs fine. I'm thinking about a Nexus 7 or iPad mainly because I could also be writing...

P.S. Off-topic: thanks for your testimonial re: MediaMonkey. I had to find a few settings and fix 'em, but so far, so good. Got my podcast subscriptions and my music files all ready to go.

[Karl Henning]

You are most welcome, and your thanks ultimately redound to Gurn, who put me on to the program.

[Parsifal]

I like my Nook Simple Touch fine; really don't want a bells-&-whistles tablet, probably for Brian's reason that, if what you do on a given device is read books, and only read books, then you're apt to read a book when you've got that device in your hand.  I hear that B&N will hold onto their e-ink product, so I suppose (knock on laminate) that I'm all right, as long as B&N remains in business.  I suppose that one reason I am loth to migrate to Kindle is, I have so much lit on my Nook which (I expect) is useless on a Kindle, and I don't know what it would cost me to 're-build' that library on a Kindle.

When Barnes and Noble goes bankrupt Amazon will presumably buy the tattered remains and you may be able to read Nook books on a Kindle.  (My Borders account became a B&N account when Borders went under.)  There is no doubt that B&N will be gone soon, it is just a question of when.  It seems to me that there is strong incentive to switch to Kindle as soon as possible, rather than buy even more books that will be orphaned in the near future.  Anyone with a Nook HD can start buying Kindle Books immediately, because B&N opened the Nook HD to Google Play, which means the Android Kindle App can be installed.

I have a lot of content on my Kindle, but almost all of it was free.  Almost everything on Project Gutenberg is now available on Amazon.com as a free Kindle Download.  That's a big advantage over getting it from Project Gutenberg directly because you current page, bookmarks, etc, are shared across all Kindle devices or apps.   

[Parsifal]

Last I saw, there is a chance that the brick and mortar version part of B&N will be taken private and the Nook division might be taken over by Microsoft.   (Not good, Microsoft seems to have the inverse Midas touch these days, everything they touch turns to sh*t.)

Decided to get the Kindle Paperwhite.  I want a good reading experience with a display that can be read is high or low light, and I don't want to be tempted to waste time on the internet whenever I read a book.  Also, when I need to create content it never seems to be in an environment where I can't take and use a notebook computer, so a tablet computer is not a high priority.  Kindle Paperwhite seems to be the best fit.

I still fantasize about having an iPad with retina display.

[Bogey]

If Amazon was smart, they would offer to replace all Nook owners with a Kindle.  They make money on the downloads, not the devices.

[Parsifal]

If Amazon was smart, they would offer to replace all Nook owners with a Kindle.  They make money on the downloads, not the devices.

...except from me.    Almost everything on my Kindle is free download of public domain content (Conrad, Dickens, Lawrence, Tolstoy, etc.

[Bogey]

...except from me.    Almost everything on my Kindle is free download of public domain content (Conrad, Dickens, Lawrence, Tolstoy, etc.

Indeed free for you, but I believe they make money with their pop up adds whether you read them or not.  With more Kindles out there, they get more hits.  Then there is this:

http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/02/did-amazon-just-kill-a-golden-goose/

[Brian]

Indeed free for you, but I believe they make money with their pop up adds whether you read them or not.  With more Kindles out there, they get more hits.  Then there is this:

Mine's got no ads! I wish I could modify which screensavers appear when I turn my Kindle off, but I'm plenty happy that they are not advertisements.

[Parsifal]

Indeed free for you, but I believe they make money with their pop up adds whether you read them or not.  With more Kindles out there, they get more hits.  Then there is this:

http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/02/did-amazon-just-kill-a-golden-goose/

I sprung for the Kindle without ads.  But as I understand it, the ads are for Amazon itself so Amazon wouldn't be collecting commissions anyway, just hoping they'll generate sales.  I'm not a total Kindle-loss for Amazon.  I have purchased a few Kindle books and perhaps I'll get used to the idea and start buying more paid content for Kindle, but I still don't like the idea of "buying" something that can't be gotten out of the Kindle Sandbox.  I have books on the shelf the I bought 20 years ago and their presence reminds me that I've read them and I and will read some of them again.  Will I be able to read my Kindle books purchased now in 20 years?

[Gurn Blanston]

Indeed free for you, but I believe they make money with their pop up adds whether you read them or not.  With more Kindles out there, they get more hits.  Then there is this:

http://publishingperspectives.com/2013/02/did-amazon-just-kill-a-golden-goose/

Interesting link, Bill. Thanks. I don't buy many eBooks for my Kindle, but it isn't because I am necessarily looking for freebies. I would pay a fair price and call it win::win. But when you look at a book listing, and the price structure is like this;

Hardcover: $14.99
Kindle: $13.49
Softcover: $9.99
AMP New & Used: $2.99 - $11.99

I have a hard time justifying paying nearly the same price as a brand new hardcover book for a piece of 1's & 0's that, as Scarpia says, may not work in a few years, who knows?

Now that Apple has got their 'nads whacked for collusion and price fixing with the publishers, theoretically the price can find its level based on marketplace conditions. I would really like to actually get good use from my Kindle Fire HD, but only on fair terms.

[Parsifal]

Why does this site keep showing me an add for "Kindle Touch 3G," a product which has been discontinued?  The only Kindles Amazon sells are Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite 3G, Kindle and Kindle DX.

[DavidW]

Has anyone used a Kobo?

I have, avoid at all costs.  Customer service is terrible, and they keep releasing updates that break things or make changes for no reason that are irritating.  I like the size of the Aura but still not worth it.