Kindle 2 vs Nook: Which eReader is best?
Hey! – It’s Ben here… So, is the best eReader the Kindle? Kobo? iPad? Sony? Nook?
The #1 question that everyone keeps asking is…
“BEN! WHAT EBOOK READER SHOULD I GET?”
Listen, I’m going to address that question right now, but let me first say that there’s usually no one answer for this question. Everyone has different needs. So I’ll keep it simple. In a nutshell… there is no ONE best option. BUT, one of the following 3 devices is probably best for you, depending on your needs and what you’re looking for. I’ll explain each now.
For Just Reading: Go with Nook Wifi.
For most people, this will be their best option and the most bang for their buck. Nook has its flaws, but it’s definitely a winner. The Nook’s epub support means that you will have more options when it comes to purchasing eBooks and will be less restricted in terms of bookstores than Kindle 2 users.
In addition, it also supports checking out eBooks from libraries that use Adobe DRM. The Nook’s color touchscreen is something I love. Kindle 2’s page refreshes are a bit faster than with the Nook but the Nook has expandable memory via a built in microSD slot. The screen contrast of the Kindle 2 has been improved over time, but the Nook still beats Kindle 2 by just a bit. And at $149, it’s now a bargain.
Click here to go check out Nook
Quick note: Just so you know, all links on this page are my Amazon “associates” links so if you end up buying something, they’ll send me some cash to buy some Starbucks ; ) [Hey, I never said I'm doing this for the money... but thanks!]
“WAIT, HOLD ON!”
Kindle 2 MAY BE a better choice for you…
I know I know, this is not making your decision any easier. But here would be the reasons why… It’s got a very easy to use navigation system, a much better dictionary than Nook, battery life thats nearly twice as long in real usage, faster page turns than Nook, it’s great for newspapers/magazines, and great for using internationally due to Whispernet availability in over 100 countries. If you care about the things I just mentioned more than you do about epub and library support, by all means consider a Kindle 2. It’s actually my personal favorite choice.
Click here to go check out Kindle
A breakdown of all major selling points for both devices is below.
| AMAZON KINDLE 2 | BARNES & NOBLE NOOK WIFI | |
| Price | $189 | $149 |
| Connection | 3G | Wifi |
| Style | Looks good | Modern, attractive |
| Navigation | Joystick + physical keyboard | Color touchscreen + touch keyboard |
| Menu | Very intuitive, simple | More complex |
| Size | (8 x 5.3 inches) | (7.7 x 4.9 inches) |
| Weight | 10.2 oz | 11.6 oz |
| Thickness | 0.36-inch | 0.5-inch |
| Battery | 14 | 7 to 10 |
| Content | More books, cheaper (when not agency model) | Less titles, more expensive (when not agency model) |
| Stores | Amazon | BN, Kobo, Sony |
| Page Speed | Faster | Slower |
| Dictionary | On the fly inside book | Different screen outside book |
| Notes/Highlighting | Easier on Kindle | More steps required |
| Primary format | azw, mobi/prc | epub (unprotected and protected adobe drm) |
| Memory | 2GB | 2GB + MicroSD slot |
| Synchronization | Whispersync | none |
| Content support | AZW, TXT, PDF, Audible, MP3, unprotected MOBI, PRC natively; HTML, DOC, JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP through conversion | EPUB, PDB, PDF, JPG, GIF, PNG, BMP, MP3 |
| Public library (adobe digital editions) | no | yes |
| Text to Speech | Supported | None |
| Replaceable Battery | no | yes |
| in store discounts/freebies | no | yes |
| Fonts | caecilia | Amasis, Helvetica Neue, and Light Classic |
| games | — | sudoku & chess |
| International | Whispernet in 100+ countries+free internet | none |
| News/Magazines | Much more | Yes, but less |
| Screen Rotation | yes | no |
| Contrast | Good | A little better |
Want games, video, music, internet, and need to view scanned PDF?
Go with iPad.
It’s just a great device and the reading experience is wonderful if you turn down the brightness a bit. But this may not be the best option for everyone. This is the best option for those looking to not just read, but to access web/email, videos, music, comics, documents, games, magazines/news, AND to read books. If you want it all in one device, I have found this to be my favorite choice for the current moment.
Click here to go check out iPad
Hope this helps,
—Ben Lee
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