From: Teleread ~ Nook vs. Kindle – features
Can I just state that eInk buyers are finally losing me on this crap?
No! Really! Why buy a freaking piece of crap like this for $139 with the joy of even LESS FUNCTIONALITY THAN THE BUTTON MODEL when finally you can go pick up say a Kobo for less than $100 with accurate rubber buttons and tons of functionality and a long battery life?
As long as you were buying this eInk plastic cheap ass junk because it was cheap and worked for reading eBooks I was fine with all that. When prices started sagging below the $100 mark I really understood why people were buying these things. When prices for the Kobo reach somewhere in the $50 range I may even pick one up just to bash it around and draw silly faces on it for giggles.
The minute you start paying higher prices for less functionality just because it has a touch screen!
Fuck all that… might I point you to the numerous Android cell phones sporting 4 inch and even 4.5 inch screens that you can get dirt cheap these days because the cell phone companies love you signing two year contracts. They will last much longer because they actually are made from top of the line parts not junk some retail giant got on the lowest bid. They come with state of the art stuff like 4G internet access and color and cameras and high resolution screens and hell HTC makes some damn decent touch screens at that since not all touch screens work properly and believe me B&N is not paying for anything decent. Last but not least Android Phones unlike Android Tablets have things like tons of apps to read eBooks with even apps that keep you from downloading any bad apps.
Or OMG! Check out the Apple iPad 2 even though I know you are desperately trying to find some logical reason at this late date to keep from buying a tablet because it’s what the cool kids are saying and buying a Nook Touch is not really buying a tablet but then it sorta is kinda. blah blah blah 14 year old cool kids tend not to read all that much though or make very practical choices in the long run and they are generally not the guys getting their shit hacked by other 14 year old cool kids so um yeah.
PS: I showed my dad my clunky heavy old iPad just this last week and within two days he had gone out and bought a new iPad 2 just because it did everything mine did which he loved only it did it faster and lighter with a better case with MORE FUNCTIONALITY for the “exact same” price I paid which are always good reasons to buy a newer model. Very different from the planet eInk enthusiasts obviously live on.
Tags: Nook
kel wrote,
My 80 year old dad just got an iPad and LOVES it. He’s reading books, watching movies on netflix, following sports. He tried a Nook and the interface defeated him.
Link | June 1st, 2011 at 9:06 pm
TeddyPig wrote,
Yeah, some of those interfaces are screwy.
The iPad is not perfect. It still has moments when connections fail or the signal goes away or whatever and you find it does not respond so I can only imagine what other less well made devices must be like.
Link | June 2nd, 2011 at 4:21 am
LVLMLeah wrote,
I want an iPad that is 6-7 inches. That is all. I want what I have in an iTouch currently, but bigger for readability. Current iPad is useless to me as a reader, but iTouch is so small.
When Apple comes out with a smaller one, I’ll be all over it.
eInk, ummm… no.
Link | June 2nd, 2011 at 5:36 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Well, I still say try out one of those new 4.5 inch screen HTC Android Phones. That size can still fit in your purse or whatever and they are still a phone and they are bigger than an iPhone or iPod touch and Android is not terrible just a little more dangerous is all.
If you think about it 4,5 inch screen Android Phones are really close to the size factor of a Sony Pocket eBook Reader and they probably can be found for just about the same price the way Sony tries to get you to pay top dollar for their junk.
I think Apple is going to stay pretty close to the same sizes it has right now. Those high-res screens they put in the iPhone 4 and iPod Touch are pretty expensive and they have to keep buying in bulk for those to be even reasonable in price to use.
Link | June 2nd, 2011 at 5:46 am
mc wrote,
Teddypig, enjoyed this post.
Here’s where I am. I am tired of reading ebooks on my computer. I’d love an iPad, but prefer a 6 inch screen (let’s not even talk about how expensive it is!). I don’t have a smartphone and think that for long-term reading, 4.5 inches isn’t the most comfortable, anyway. As far as ereaders go, I was going to go Kindle for the longest time, but every time I tried one out, either in stores or friends’ models, I really didn’t love that keyboard (which is also a real estate hog!).
I totally agree with you about prices, which is why the 114 buck Kindle was appealing, but the new Nook may have my pocketbook vote, barring the perfect 6 inch table which doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
I looked at the Kobo based on your comments, but it looks to be $129, which is not that much cheaper than either Kindle or Nook.
That said, I appreciate your comments, though they don’t help me make a decision!
Link | June 3rd, 2011 at 7:39 pm
TeddyPig wrote,
Kobo wireless not the touch model. It goes for $99 and I do know you can find them in sales for even less than that. Based on price and pure functionality that would be at the top of the list but then my iPad is the best out of all the options because it’s functionality is better than any single function device.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 2:13 am
mc wrote,
I totally agree about the iPad, TeddyPig – as I write this on a MacBook Pro. If it was just smaller and less expensive, I’d be all over it. If Verizon would come out with an iPhone that could talk/surf simultaneously (doesn’t now), I’d be on that! I think 2012 may be the year, but I am being antsy about it.
Thanks for the correction on the Kobo.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 6:34 am
TeddyPig wrote,
I just hate to see people buying into something that can be a pain later on.
What I mean is all these cheap eInk devices are serving up some sort of DRM madness.
Now some are not as bad as others. Kindle is the worst in my opinion. The only company using that DRM is Amazon and Amazon has in the past left customers holding the bag shall we say if they felt they were losing money supporting them.
Now if you look around you will find software that can break their DRM and that is a good idea.
The Kobo still has a DRM dealio but it is the standard horrid Adobe DRM so more people share that DRM than any other. You can still break that DRM also but it is not easy but at least you share the pain with a lot of other folks who also buy Adobe DRM’d products.
Anyway that is my take on all this. If you go iPad or Android phones which can be as big as 4.5 inches at least you have more choices and adaptability because there are tons of apps to do all sorts of things. If greater functionality and quality of circuitry are the priorities then going that route is a must.
If price is the main issue then stay with something so bland and typical in build and so common DRM wise that you can find help even if that particular company eventually goes under for financial reasons etc etc.
Kobo is my choice for using common well known components in their readers and common DRM. Just stay away from pricey nonsense like touch screens in eInk which is just used to pad out the price tag of what is basically the exact same screen and software components as their cheapest models with the rubber buttons and you will be generally better off.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 7:06 am
mc wrote,
That’s my primary problem with Amazon, too – that .mobi/.prc format is really limiting. I’m edging for that new Nook as a stop-gap for the next year or so, until technology ‘catches up’ more. At least the Nook is epub format, which is a lot more open that Kindle, as far as my research has shown.
By the way, even though this is the first time I’ve commented, just wanted to say that I enjoy this site a lot. Thanks.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 7:13 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Kobo is pure Adobe ePub/PDF and their screen is just as good as any Nook.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 7:27 am
Josh Lanyon wrote,
But if it was, say, a comparison between the new Nook and the latest Kindle — as a gift for an elderly, not at all tech savvy person — for overall functionality and ease of use…which would you buy? Assuming that you only had these two choices?
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 7:41 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Just between Nook and Kindle?
I would go for what would last the longest and is most common… I would say Kindle.
I just do not trust Nook “touch screen” anything for being long lasting and I do not think many people given the prices between those two would not just go Kindle.
Then you have to honestly price out the eBooks themselves and Amazon does try and give the best deals eBook price wise which is too bad but they win again there.
In my opinion though Kobo has the best price for the most standard and useful hardware wise eBook Reader on the market. As long as you then only use it with non-DRM ePublishers because they have the best priced eBooks.
The minute you start adding in the whole buying mainstream DRM ridden eBooks you have the give Amazon it’s due there.
The best of everything is an iPad where I use iBooks for PDFs I buy from ePubilishers and ARe and then I can also use the Kindle app on the iPad every once in a while to grab deals on mainstream eBooks or I can scope out any deals on Nook or I can wander over to Kobo any old time I feel like it.
All we have to do now
Is take these lies
And make them true somehow
All we have to see
Is that I don’t belong to you
And you don’t belong to me
yeah yeah!
Freedom
Freedom
You’ve gotta give for what you take
Freedom
Freedom
You’ve gotta give for what you take
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 8:49 am
mc wrote,
It takes a special person to be able to bring George Michael into this discussion.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 9:11 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Baby, baby, baby
Why do you do this to me
Won’t let you go
Won’t let you go
You’re such a
You’re such a
Listening to the 25 album.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Josh Lanyon wrote,
Thanks, TP. That’s a very useful overview.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Josh Lanyon wrote,
And the accompanying musical soundtrack is a plus. :-D
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 9:57 am
mc wrote,
I don’t own 25 – though I keep thinking I should buy a cd of his greatest hits.
Link | June 4th, 2011 at 10:02 am
Emilie wrote,
I’d still like to see Teddypig ratings of the various e-readers and devices that can be used as readers. Obviously the iPad and various phones are at the top. Is it a mix of the poorly functioning or expensive for what they do devices at the bottom, or is it just poorly functioning?
Link | June 5th, 2011 at 11:17 am
TeddyPig wrote,
Well actually the eInk eBook Readers are relatively easy next to comparing Android Phones and cell plans. Kick out anything with an expensive gimmick or that looks flimsy or unsupported by most folks.
So all “touch screens” like the new Nook or that new touch Kobo go away and as do most of the off brand eBook Readers except a few like Elonex or Hanvon but those get a tad expensive for what they are.
Now stick to any push button model but try to keep it to mainstream DRM methods for best support like I always go with Adobe Digital Editions which has a list! Oh and bye bye Kindle and Nook in a single one off DRMs punch to the face!
http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/supported-devices
That leaves you with such ADE supported devices like Kobo or Sony…
Now the Sony 505 was an instant well built classic but Sony being Sony as only Sony can stopped building that one good tank of a model so that leaves me with the last man standing the…
Kobo Wireless eReader which you can get from any Walmart or Best Buy for around $99.00 BUT! Those same stores are always running HUGE sales so try to get it as close to $50.00 as possible.
Now take it home and use Adobe Digital Editions or Calibre to load it and viola! There you go the best world standardized eInk experience for the best price in my opinion.
Link | June 5th, 2011 at 11:45 am
Emilie wrote,
Thank you for the summary. I appreciate it.
Link | June 5th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Pikeboss wrote,
LOL fail…are you really comparing tablets to an ereader? Does your iPad 2 hold up to 3-4 weeks of continuous reading without having to charge it? Can you read or browse in direct sunlight outside in the park?
People buy the Nook to READ not to toy around with which seems that’s all you like to do with gadgets. Hmm? You like pushing buttons and not knowing what you’re doing?
Come on, dude…$499 vs $139 for an ereader…the iPad is not a dedicated ereader. It’s like saying why would you buy a book when you can watch a movie??? lol stupid ass
Link | June 9th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
TeddyPig wrote,
No actually toys say like the Nintendo DS have more power and a better programmed interface than some stupid Nook. So no, I have more respect for what you are laughing off as toys. lol
I don’t care how long it holds a fucking charge. If the interface is clunky even though it only has a single use it has to provide and it does that so poorly then it sucks.
Sorry, but it is simply easier working an iPad than it is a Nook any old time and the iPad at least backs up my eBooks in iTunes and soon I will use iCloud for free to do that also and frankly if you want the best for your money Nooks suck ass there too because they fucking are a strange one of a kind DRM so they fail and they keep failing even compared to similar cheap eBook Readers.
Buy a god damned Kobo Wireless and get the same functionality and a well known commonly used DRM for less than one hundred dollars or follow some idiot like yourself proclaiming Nooks are great.
Or do what everybody smart is doing and buy an iPad for a few hundred more and get out of the low rent side of life arguing with cheap ass pimple faced know nothing turkeys like you.
Thanks for stopping by and proving my point that eInk people cannot even handle an article that compares their sacred eInk cheap ass junk in a realistic way addressing affordability and DRMs used.
You would rather haggle endlessly using snake oil pseudo science anecdotal nonsense and misplaced “professional reader” peer pressure jargon than listen to what anyone who uses these things might say about large Android phones and iPads having better built to last touch screen components with more application options and plain having better interfaces than cheap plastic trash built mainly to be given away as door prizes by the major retailers to promote eBook sales to people who barely understand what an eBook is.
Common sense is obviously a hard thing to come by these days with such a plethora of cheap skate fan boys.
Link | June 9th, 2011 at 12:36 pm
wahoo suze wrote,
I love my Sony 505. I just got an iPad2 (door prize! Best Meeting Evah!) last night and have much learning and playing to do. I am finding it a little hard on the eyes after a while, which the e-ink never is.
The e-ink does fade from the screen in direct sunlight, but glare isn’t a problem.
Link | June 9th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
TeddyPig wrote,
I use this to help with the iPad glare issue…
http://www.teddypig.com/2010/12/zagg-invisible-shield/
When dad got his a couple of weeks ago I recommended it again. It works and yes the shiny glass on the iPad 2 is not a great thing but easily fixed. I hope iPad 3 has better resolution like the iPhone 4 screen.
eInk is fine as a screen but it does not handle florescent lights very well and any type of dim lighting is a joke unlike the iPad so it’s a toss up really. I keep asking though… who the hell really reads in direct sunlight? I never did that with real books because the white pages would blind you eventually. I remember posters in the library warning you not to read in direct sunlight. So who never learned not to do that? It’s sad how many people never listen to their librarians.
Link | June 9th, 2011 at 5:01 pm