Kindle vs. Nook Color

Recently I had a chance to play with a Amazon Kindle and a Nook Color. I had never gotten to see either of them before and wished I had someone else's opinion to bounce ideas off of. I thought I'd write a blog about both of them.


The Amazon Kindle...

This is a great product for those that are looking strictly to read. The Kindle that I was able to check out was not a 3G, so it did not have the ability to go online. I'm not sure what ability the Kindle does have with 3G.

With the device that does not go on line you are only able to go on the Amazon listing to pick out a book to download. This device is strictly black and white and everything you do reads as a book. It is sleek, interesting screen, very easy on the eyes.

If you are looking to read a book this is for you. No bells and whistles, no color. Just strictly reading.

The bummer for me is that I read so much. When I was looking up books that I would enjoy reading they were typically between $9.99 and $15. For those that read about a book a month it would be perfect but for me I couldn't afford to keep up my habit. I read a book a week, on average. At $9.99 a book, that would be pretty pricy. I also use the library for all my reading which allows me to get those same books for free and then turn them back in. Though the library is heading toward e-books and has a few in stock, non of the e-books are ones I would like to read. And they are no where near for a Kindle all the time, that is still quite a few years away. So...for me this device is a pass.


Barnes and Nobles Nook Color...

I was able to play around with a nook color. NOT just a nook but the nook COLOR. This thing is AWESOME. Though the downfall is that it is a little more expensive than a Kindle, you are getting more than the Kindle offers.

The device is in color for one which makes it nicer to look at. It has a big screen to surf the internet with Wi-fi and touch screen, which I always like. When connected to the internet it looks just like the internet when you are on a computer. My favorite thing about being online was that you are able to watch t.v. online! LOVE that!

Another of my favorite features is their children's books. You have the option to read the book on your own or they are narrated while you listen to the story. Some of the books are interactive so the characters move or they have other activities.

The Nook Color also offers apps, yes apps! Though not many. There are a few games and children's activities including; Drawing Pad, Uno, Pandora (online radio) and Pulse (up to date news and sites that you add). Great to use on a larger screen.

Now at this point I have to say that my dream would be to own an ipad! So of course I gravitate to the Nook Color. But the one thing that the Nook Color is lacking is the lack of apps. If Barnes and Nobles would allow the nook to download Android games being that it is an Android product it would be an even better product. But like the Kindle, the Nook Color is an e-reader with more bells and whistles.

Between the two, strictly based on e-readers the Nook Color wins, hands down.


Here is my disclaimer...

If you are like me looking for apps rather than an e-reader you may be hoping for the Kindle and Nook Color to do more than they are built to do. You might be better getting something like the itouch, which is based on apps which includes a Kindle and Nook app to download if you wanted to get a children's book or a book for yourself once in a while. The only bummer about the itouch is your giving up the bigger screen that a Nook Color has but it is not a device built around e-reading. And it's much better price than an ipad!!!