If you had to choose today to purchase an ereader device--i.e. Amazon's Kindle, B&N's Nook, Apple's iPad, Spring Design's Alex, Sony's Reader, etc., which would it be and why?
After researching a few of the most popular e-readers available, I found that I was stuck between the Kindle and B&N's Nook. Each e-reader offered something to the reader that the other simply does not.
For one, the Nook, in my opinion, has a sleeker look than the Kindle. It also provides the reader with a color touchscreen, allowing the reader to scroll through a library of books--it even has a touchscreen keyboard. However, many reviews complained that the touchscreen is rather sluggish, and at times even flipping pages in a book can feel like an eternity, and that the formatting is difficult to understand. Yet despite these things, B&N promotes the fact that Nook, unlike other e-readers, displays its pages just like an actual book, size and all.
The Kindle, on the other hand, seems to have better reviews, but this probably has to do with the fact that Amazon is now on it's second version of its e-reader instead. And with new versions comes better improvements: the Kindle 2 runs much faster, has a longer battery life (seven days with wifi compared to the Nook's two), and generally lower prices. The fact that the Kindle's ebooks usually cost less was brought up a lot of times in comparison to the Nook--even Barnes & Noble claims that although the Kindle might offer cheaper prices, B&N offers more than 1 million ebooks rather than around 430,000 that the Kindle does. Still, the Kindle has its faults. Unlike the Nook, or even the iPad, the Kindle is almost strictly on a grey color-scheme. Although it isn't a hindrance, I'm sure a lot of people would prefer to have some color as they read, myself included.
As for some of the other e-readers, I felt that they did not level up to the Kindle and the Nook. For example, Spring Design's Alex is still very new, and after reading some reviews, I found that there are a lot of kinks in the formatting system that with a newer model, would probably be fixed. As of right now, however, it would probably be best not to buy it. As for the iPad, the size of it alone is daunting. One reviewer even wrote that the iPad reminded him of couch computer rather than an e-reader. Of course, the iPad is probably the most aesthetically pleasing, but as usual, Apple seems more focused on the apps, prices, and its relation to the iPhone and iPod touch. After reading three articles about the iPad, the amount of time the writer spent on talking about e-books was nothing compared to the details he gave about all the gadgets the iPad would have to offer. Plus, as of right now, people would only be able to buy books from iBookstore, although this may change in the future.
Overall, I think I would have to either go Kindle. Although the Kindle and the Nook offer the reader something that the other does not, the Kindle is on its second go-around (or possibly third), and therefore has worked out most of the kinks that the Nook probably still has.
By the way, at the bottom of this website, the reviewer has posted a short video about how to you the Nook, allowing you to see firsthand the problems that a reader might face trying to use it: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/barnes-and-noble-nook-review/
The Nook has a lending option and the largest selection of titles (through Barnes & Noble) which are two of my most favorite options on any e-reader available, but it was hard to use and the reading experience was substandard to the shopping experience.
The Alex didn't compare to the kindle or Nook in terms of titles or utilities, which puts it out of the running as far as I'm concerned.
The iPad is tricky. It's the first of its kind, though it looks like a gigantic iPod Touch. And though Mac isn't stingy on improvements and apps, I still don't like the idea of an e-reader that is more preoccupied with the extras than the actual reading experience. Also, there's no way I could get any substantial reading done with all that cool shit at my fingertips. It would be too tempting.
And finally, the Samsung Reader E6. To me this is the most interesting and exciting of the new e-readers. It competes with the Kindle in all the important ways, including wifi, titles, battery life, apps, readability, mp3, and base price (more expensive in titles and it's $299 base price, but competitive nonetheless).It also has a sleek look, quick loading, a reasonable shape and size, and it slides. But the most thrilling part of the samsung reader E6: it is an e-writer and an e-reader. There's a journaling and note taking capability that sends shivers down my spine. That combined with the all the Barnes & Noble titles and the lending option as well as all the free Google Books available does it for me. The Samsung Reader E6 is my first choice. Though it still is not quite able to beat out the Kindle, it has the most competitive edge on it of all the e-readers.
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/03/09/kindle-vs-samsung-reader-e6-review/ Link to a recent review, Kindle vs. Samsung E6
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/01/07/samsung-reader-review-e6-e101/ This last link is older and shows video of the Sumgsung e-reader before the $100 prince drop.
My only strong feeling about this at the moment, without doing more research of my own, is that I do not want the Nook. The Nook looks irritating. None of my books ever take a minute to load, and they always respond instantaneously to my touch. If a device can't do that, or come anywhere close, as far as I'm concerned it is no replacement for a book.
Reading is how I unwind at the end of a long day. It's what I do when I'm sick or tired or just can't take it anymore. And when I'm at the end of my rope one thing that really drives me over the edge (whee, clichés!) is not having access to the words I need when I need them. The flow of my reading being interrupted from page to page, or-- horror of horrors-- some glitch in the device means I'm unable to open one of my books.
I do not want my ereader to be a little computer. I want it to be a book which happens to be electronic. The Nook looks intrusively computer-ish. Essentially, it's a nightmare waiting to happen.
Well for me it comes down to speed. I could deal with nearly any other feature as long as the device is responsive (like what Amelie said) and it seems like from what I have looked up, the newest Kindle still has that edge.
On another note: I found my colorful e-reader. http://www.coolreaders.com/default.asp
Pros of the "cool-er":Light weight, cheap ($250), huge book selection,same e-ink technology, sleak and beautiful design
Cons: flimsy plastics (looks and feels cheap), limited features (does a lot less than the big guys), and has "we make reading cool" engraved on the back (yikes!)
I have to agree with Terra on the Samsung Reader. It seems pretty bitchin' but not quite what I think of when I think of the ultimate in E-reader tech. It is, I think, a step in the right direction to improve the e-reader but not where it will eventually end. For my money the Kindle still seems like the best bet for an e-reader. It is reliable and it is in its second incantation and thus has improved many of its original kinks. Most importantly however is the fact that it never pretends to be anything more than an electronic book. As this it does an excellent job. I know there is room for improvement, and there no doubt will be, but as it stands now it is the best we have. The iPad is awesome. I would love to have one. I might still buy one when the second generation comes out. It is not an e-reader though. It is a laptop touchscreen computer. 10 hours of reading life without a charge? Not enough to make it better than a book. I don't know who has read off of an e-ink reader like the Kindle or Sony Reader but it is vastly better than reading off of a computer screen and that is what an iPad is. I could not imagine reading a full length novel on a device like that. The New York Times app or some other magazine/periodical type reading on the iPad, that I can fully get behind. War and Peace on a computer screen? I'll take the Kindle. The other e-readers seem to be working to catch up with and improve on what the Kindle has established as the threshold for e-readers. They have added features and "benefits" but it seems that the Kindle still does reading best.
This is an article which deeply, deeply bothered me. Amazon's made some interesting decisions lately, like deleting all of Tor books from their site for a couple of weeks, and while Amazon started ahead of the game I think it's heading in the wrong direction. A lot of book publishers and tech geeks alike are starting to get very nervous. The Kindle is the superior ereader, no question, but I'm not sure I trust Amazon with my books.
Amelie, this has definitely gotten me thinking about private ownership, digital publishing, and copyright laws. I normally would never consider these things, but it seems past the time to ignore an issue just because I do not initially understand it.
That being said, heres another article on changes in the online-reading world regarding authors' rights, copyright, public domain, and Google.
I have to say, against all reviews and perhaps against my better judgement, I would have to go with the iPad.
Maybe this is a testament to my brainwashed participation in the cult of Apple. I'm not ashamed to admit it. (Or am I?) Hey, it's called "brand loyalty." Right?
I feel like the Nook, being created by a bookstore, might be geared more fully towards and avid reader like myself.
But the iPad... so shiny... the commercials, so quirky and fun... and the iPad itself. I went in to the Apple store recently and played with it a little bit. I must say, it ranked among the most fun I've had, like, ever.
A brand spanking new review on the Alex.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/22/spring-design-alex-review/
After researching a few of the most popular e-readers available, I found that I was stuck between the Kindle and B&N's Nook. Each e-reader offered something to the reader that the other simply does not.
ReplyDeleteFor one, the Nook, in my opinion, has a sleeker look than the Kindle. It also provides the reader with a color touchscreen, allowing the reader to scroll through a library of books--it even has a touchscreen keyboard. However, many reviews complained that the touchscreen is rather sluggish, and at times even flipping pages in a book can feel like an eternity, and that the formatting is difficult to understand. Yet despite these things, B&N promotes the fact that Nook, unlike other e-readers, displays its pages just like an actual book, size and all.
The Kindle, on the other hand, seems to have better reviews, but this probably has to do with the fact that Amazon is now on it's second version of its e-reader instead. And with new versions comes better improvements: the Kindle 2 runs much faster, has a longer battery life (seven days with wifi compared to the Nook's two), and generally lower prices. The fact that the Kindle's ebooks usually cost less was brought up a lot of times in comparison to the Nook--even Barnes & Noble claims that although the Kindle might offer cheaper prices, B&N offers more than 1 million ebooks rather than around 430,000 that the Kindle does. Still, the Kindle has its faults. Unlike the Nook, or even the iPad, the Kindle is almost strictly on a grey color-scheme. Although it isn't a hindrance, I'm sure a lot of people would prefer to have some color as they read, myself included.
As for some of the other e-readers, I felt that they did not level up to the Kindle and the Nook. For example, Spring Design's Alex is still very new, and after reading some reviews, I found that there are a lot of kinks in the formatting system that with a newer model, would probably be fixed. As of right now, however, it would probably be best not to buy it. As for the iPad, the size of it alone is daunting. One reviewer even wrote that the iPad reminded him of couch computer rather than an e-reader. Of course, the iPad is probably the most aesthetically pleasing, but as usual, Apple seems more focused on the apps, prices, and its relation to the iPhone and iPod touch. After reading three articles about the iPad, the amount of time the writer spent on talking about e-books was nothing compared to the details he gave about all the gadgets the iPad would have to offer. Plus, as of right now, people would only be able to buy books from iBookstore, although this may change in the future.
Overall, I think I would have to either go Kindle. Although the Kindle and the Nook offer the reader something that the other does not, the Kindle is on its second go-around (or possibly third), and therefore has worked out most of the kinks that the Nook probably still has.
By the way, at the bottom of this website, the reviewer has posted a short video about how to you the Nook, allowing you to see firsthand the problems that a reader might face trying to use it: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/07/barnes-and-noble-nook-review/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI thought that the Sony Reader Touch edition would be ideal, but the kindle wins again in terms of price and utilities.
ReplyDeletehttp://ireaderreview.com/2009/08/26/kindle-vs-sony-reader-touch-edition/
The Nook has a lending option and the largest selection of titles (through Barnes & Noble) which are two of my most favorite options on any e-reader available, but it was hard to use and the reading experience was substandard to the shopping experience.
The Alex didn't compare to the kindle or Nook in terms of titles or utilities, which puts it out of the running as far as I'm concerned.
The iPad is tricky. It's the first of its kind, though it looks like a gigantic iPod Touch. And though Mac isn't stingy on improvements and apps, I still don't like the idea of an e-reader that is more preoccupied with the extras than the actual reading experience. Also, there's no way I could get any substantial reading done with all that cool shit at my fingertips. It would be too tempting.
And finally, the Samsung Reader E6.
To me this is the most interesting and exciting of the new e-readers. It competes with the Kindle in all the important ways, including wifi, titles, battery life, apps, readability, mp3, and base price (more expensive in titles and it's $299 base price, but competitive nonetheless).It also has a sleek look, quick loading, a reasonable shape and size, and it slides. But the most thrilling part of the samsung reader E6:
it is an e-writer and an e-reader. There's a journaling and note taking capability that sends shivers down my spine. That combined with the all the Barnes & Noble titles and the lending option as well as all the free Google Books available does it for me.
The Samsung Reader E6 is my first choice. Though it still is not quite able to beat out the Kindle, it has the most competitive edge on it of all the e-readers.
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/03/09/kindle-vs-samsung-reader-e6-review/
Link to a recent review, Kindle vs. Samsung E6
http://ireaderreview.com/2010/01/07/samsung-reader-review-e6-e101/
This last link is older and shows video of the Sumgsung e-reader before the $100 prince drop.
My only strong feeling about this at the moment, without doing more research of my own, is that I do not want the Nook. The Nook looks irritating. None of my books ever take a minute to load, and they always respond instantaneously to my touch. If a device can't do that, or come anywhere close, as far as I'm concerned it is no replacement for a book.
ReplyDeleteReading is how I unwind at the end of a long day. It's what I do when I'm sick or tired or just can't take it anymore. And when I'm at the end of my rope one thing that really drives me over the edge (whee, clichés!) is not having access to the words I need when I need them. The flow of my reading being interrupted from page to page, or-- horror of horrors-- some glitch in the device means I'm unable to open one of my books.
I do not want my ereader to be a little computer. I want it to be a book which happens to be electronic. The Nook looks intrusively computer-ish. Essentially, it's a nightmare waiting to happen.
"I do not want my ereader to be a little computer. I want it to be a book which happens to be electronic." - Fantastic quote!
ReplyDeleteWell for me it comes down to speed. I could deal with nearly any other feature as long as the device is responsive (like what Amelie said) and it seems like from what I have looked up, the newest Kindle still has that edge.
ReplyDeleteOn another note: I found my colorful e-reader.
http://www.coolreaders.com/default.asp
Pros of the "cool-er":Light weight, cheap ($250), huge book selection,same e-ink technology, sleak and beautiful design
Cons: flimsy plastics (looks and feels cheap), limited features (does a lot less than the big guys), and has "we make reading cool" engraved on the back (yikes!)
I have to agree with Terra on the Samsung Reader. It seems pretty bitchin' but not quite what I think of when I think of the ultimate in E-reader tech. It is, I think, a step in the right direction to improve the e-reader but not where it will eventually end.
ReplyDeleteFor my money the Kindle still seems like the best bet for an e-reader. It is reliable and it is in its second incantation and thus has improved many of its original kinks. Most importantly however is the fact that it never pretends to be anything more than an electronic book.
As this it does an excellent job. I know there is room for improvement, and there no doubt will be, but as it stands now it is the best we have.
The iPad is awesome. I would love to have one. I might still buy one when the second generation comes out. It is not an e-reader though. It is a laptop touchscreen computer. 10 hours of reading life without a charge? Not enough to make it better than a book. I don't know who has read off of an e-ink reader like the Kindle or Sony Reader but it is vastly better than reading off of a computer screen and that is what an iPad is. I could not imagine reading a full length novel on a device like that. The New York Times app or some other magazine/periodical type reading on the iPad, that I can fully get behind. War and Peace on a computer screen? I'll take the Kindle.
The other e-readers seem to be working to catch up with and improve on what the Kindle has established as the threshold for e-readers. They have added features and "benefits" but it seems that the Kindle still does reading best.
Before everyone gets too excited about the kindle:
ReplyDeletehttp://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/some-e-books-are-more-equal-than-others/
This is an article which deeply, deeply bothered me. Amazon's made some interesting decisions lately, like deleting all of Tor books from their site for a couple of weeks, and while Amazon started ahead of the game I think it's heading in the wrong direction. A lot of book publishers and tech geeks alike are starting to get very nervous. The Kindle is the superior ereader, no question, but I'm not sure I trust Amazon with my books.
Amelie, this has definitely gotten me thinking about private ownership, digital publishing, and copyright laws. I normally would never consider these things, but it seems past the time to ignore an issue just because I do not initially understand it.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, heres another article on changes in the online-reading world regarding authors' rights, copyright, public domain, and Google.
http://io9.com/5501426/5-ways-the-google-book-settlement-will-change-the-future-of-reading?skyline=true&s=i
http://blogs.zdnet.com/igeneration/?p=4740
ReplyDeleteI have to say, against all reviews and perhaps against my better judgement, I would have to go with the iPad.
ReplyDeleteMaybe this is a testament to my brainwashed participation in the cult of Apple. I'm not ashamed to admit it. (Or am I?) Hey, it's called "brand loyalty." Right?
I feel like the Nook, being created by a bookstore, might be geared more fully towards and avid reader like myself.
But the iPad... so shiny... the commercials, so quirky and fun... and the iPad itself. I went in to the Apple store recently and played with it a little bit. I must say, it ranked among the most fun I've had, like, ever.
So, Apple. You've got me again.