Kindle vs Nook vs.....?

Started by drogulus, May 26, 2010, 02:07:31 PM

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DavidW

Quote from: Gurn Blanston on July 13, 2013, 07:11:42 AM
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


That is representative of new releases but not AT ALL in general.  Since the price fixing has ended, the kindle versions are typically a few dollars cheaper than the paperback.  Still more expensive than buying used but I'm finding ebooks are running $5-10.  Anything equal to or lower than mass market paperback I'm fine with, and that is the rate for most ebooks.  I would rank the costs as follows:

Library < Buy used < Kindle < Buy new.

Bogey

Quote from: Scarpia on July 13, 2013, 06:11:09 AM
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?

Right.  I use a different route than most, I guess.  I tend to buy my books from the computer after reading a number of the reviews on and off the web page.  Once and a while I will just grab it with my Kindle.
There will never be another era like the Golden Age of Hollywood.  We didn't know how to blow up buildings then so we had no choice but to tell great stories with great characters.-Ben Mankiewicz

Parsifal

It is rumored that the new Nexus 7 will be unveiled today.  I'll be patrolling play.google.com.

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Brian


Brian

Is it just me or, compared to an iPad mini or a Kindle Fire, is the Nexus really long and skinny?

Parsifal

Quote from: Brian on July 24, 2013, 04:41:03 AM
Is it just me or, compared to an iPad mini or a Kindle Fire, is the Nexus really long and skinny?

Nexus 7 is widescreen format and the iPad is traditional screen aspect ratio.  Widescreen is  an advantage for watching widescreen video.  For most other purposes I find the traditional aspect ratio preferable.  I thought Kindle Fire was also widescreen.

DavidW

Quote from: Brian on July 24, 2013, 04:41:03 AM
Is it just me or, compared to an iPad mini or a Kindle Fire, is the Nexus really long and skinny?

Yes I strongly dislike using 16:9 for tablets because I use mine mostly in portrait mode and not landscape mode.  For videos I use either my tv or my computer.  I really disliked Apple's decision to make their new iphone (the 5) skinny, I thought the aspect ratio of the one I have, the 4S, is perfect. 

But then again if all you're going to do is watch video, 16:9 might be the right choice.  Just not for me.

DavidW


Parsifal

Quote from: DavidW on July 24, 2013, 07:32:58 AM
Looks like the new Nexus 7 will have a whopping 1920x1200 resolution!!

http://www.the-digital-reader.com/2013/07/24/new-nexus-7-up-for-pre-order-at-best-buy/

Looks like all of the rumors were true.  It seems clear the thing will be unveiled at a media even in San Francisco today, but the one question remaining open is the street date.  One of the rumor sites that had the technical details right said that the product would be available in Taiwan end-of-July and in the US in early August.  I see Best Buy is no help, they just say "coming soon."

Brian

Quote from: Scarpia on July 24, 2013, 07:37:25 AM
Looks like all of the rumors were true.  It seems clear the thing will be unveiled at a media even in San Francisco today, but the one question remaining open is the street date.  One of the rumor sites that had the technical details right said that the product would be available in Taiwan end-of-July and in the US in early August.  I see Best Buy is no help, they just say "coming soon."
this leaked



Parsifal


Based on a recent visit to play.google.com, it is not impossible to purchase a Nexus 7.  They have removed the old Nexus 7 and only list the new Nexus 7, which they now reveal will be available July 30.  The new Nexus 7 is only available with WiFi connectivity, no cellular data  connectivity is available.  To view the site I had to get to a computer that runs Chrome.  Apple users visiting the site with Safari are out of luck.

In any case, the aspect ratio is a turn-off.  I'm saving my pennies for an iPad with retina display.

DavidW

btw a recent survey has shown that 3 in 4 americans prefer paper books to ebooks.  A similar survey found similar results in the UK.  Looks like the physical format is here to stay.

Karl Henning

Still, if half of the books on my shelves at home were available in ebook form . . . .
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Parsifal

Quote from: DavidW on July 26, 2013, 07:43:29 AM
btw a recent survey has shown that 3 in 4 americans prefer paper books to ebooks.  A similar survey found similar results in the UK.  Looks like the physical format is here to stay.

The question is what fraction of that 3 in 4 Americans is one of the 90% of Americans who do not read books at all.  No doubt paper books are here for the immediate future.  But the trend is away from paper and I would not be surprised if printed books become a niche market in a generation or two. 

DavidW

Your 90% statistic is made up, Pew says that 81% of Americans read 1 book or more per year.  Since previous reports have shown that while ebooks have made a huge dent in mass market paperback sells they have had no impact on hardcover sells, and only a small impact on trade paperback sells.  Since the majority of readers only read on vacation, and in that case are more likely to buy a physical book, the physical format is here to stay.  People have been proclaiming the end of paper books as soon as the kindle was released, but the reality is that we've already reached equilibrium.  Ereader sells have plateaued off and the majority of tablet users are not reading books on their tablets.  Not only that but Books a Million (second largest chain in the US) has started installing espresso machines for printing books on demand.  If ebooks are to replace paper books, it's not happening anytime soon or at all.

Parsifal

Why are you getting so worked up about it? 

DavidW

Quote from: Scarpia on July 28, 2013, 06:59:54 AM
Why are you getting so worked up about it?

Too much caffeine yesterday.

Karl Henning

Much as I like my Nook . . . Davey's store of e-readers has opened possibilities to me.  Getting a Kindle in, later today.  Having two e-readers is not crazeee, is it?
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot