While I take a moment to ponder the on-going comments on summer salaries, I thought I'd bring up another pressing issue in my life: to book it or nook it?
I've been actively pursing my research and life new year's resolutions. While my research resolutions aren't going so well, I am happy to report that I am kicking ass at life.... or at least my life-related resolution of reading X books in 2011.
Is it time to bite the bullet and get a Kindle? Or a nook? Or some other reader?
Anyone have strong feelings about Kindles, Nooks, or books?
I want something that lets me download books cheaply and re-read them. Go.
12 comments:
A Kindle is a lot better than any other e-reader because the book selection is much greater than any other e-reader has AND it has a keyboard which allows you to take notes.
A Kindle also allows you to tweet or post on facebook all your favorite quotes in the matter of seconds.
I've had a Kindle since May 2008, and wouldn't be without it for a single day. It's the best gadget in the world.
I love my sony e-reader. The advantage of the sony reader over the Kindle is that you can borrow (download) ebooks from your local public library. Pretty much any e-reader besides the Kindle lets you do this (amazon wants to sell you books, not allow you to borrow them!). So if you want the option of free ebooks, don't get a Kindle.
I love, love, *LOVE* my kindle.
More than I thought I would - I thought I'd miss books, but I don't.
And to make books cheaper, find a friend (or 5) with a kindle, and share an Amazon account. Insta-book-sharing.
no offense against the other readers but most library lending e-book programs use adobe ePub format which the Kindle (when I bought mine 2-3 months ago) did not support. so the decision is free books vs no free books.
Go with free!
OK - I assure you this isn't blatant self-promotion, but I wrote about the Kindle here: http://usandmymind.blogspot.com/2011/03/pdfs-and-academic-workflow.html
In short, I LOVE my Kindle3. Perfect for books, and it's cheaper to download from Amazon than buy the tactile-versions. If you get one, get the leather case with light. I didn't think I would use it but I have been reading in the dark.
The Kindle however is not great for pdfs, at least the ones I use for work.
I just wrote a review of the Kindle here: http://mrscomethunter.blogspot.com/2011/03/kindle-review.html
I like my kindle, but I don't love it. I kinda feel like if I had to do it over again, I'd just get an ipad and the kindle app.
I do agree that you have a good selection on Amazon, but I've found that if you want a book that just came out, it's not available. Also, some older books tend to be cheaper in paperback.
Kindle all the way, seriously. The books aren't free but they're pretty cheap. Also, the lack of a backlight makes it easy on my eyes and just as easy to get into as a book. I can't read on computer screens, so something like an ipad wouldn't work for me
Stick with books. At least you can own them, smell them and mark them. And then lend them to your friends. And you don't have to keep them charged. And you can drop them accidentally. And you can riffle through them. And each one of them feels different, and unique.
I have a Sony eReader, and have had it for almost five years. No problems whatsoever. However, I just got my 3 year old a nook color, and love it too. It has a great kids book selection and many of the books have a "read to me" function that reads it aloud (with real voice talent, not a robot). The screen's resolution is as good as an iPad's, and the next major software upgrade is supposed to allow it to use the Android market. So if you buy the nook color you're buying something that is also a tablet. And... the nook has the lending option, like Sony.
I have a Kindle and I love it! It's true that Kindles don't support Epub format, but there are a few free and easy converters you can download so you can still "rent" a library Epub and convert it into the Kindle format - definitely not a deal breaker.
I was worried that I wouldn't like reading an "electronic" book - I like the heft of a real book in my hands and I wasn't sure if replacing that would make me enjoy reading less. I'm happy to report that is not the case - reading on a Kindle is just as wonderful as reading an actual book. I say go for it!
Kindle.
My wife bought the first version years ago and loves it. I use it also, and with minimal conflict since one account can be distributed on many machines. It is currently installed on a PC, a MacBook, and an iPad as well as the original Kindle.
The iPad makes for an interesting comparison. The iPad is worthless out in the sun, but the Kindle simply rocks right along with no eyestrain.
BTW, you don't really own the book. Early on she bought one that Amazon didn't have the right to sell, and one day it simply vanished and the money was refunded to her account.
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