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$79 Kindle 4 vs $99 ($79 on BF sale) Nook Simple Touch

glenn1

glenn1

Lifer
Was going to get an e-Ink reader for wife, anyone give their feedback on both or what helped you choose one or the other? I'm willing to to throw the kindle Touch into the mix also.
 
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Well the problem with the $79 kindle is every time you need to type something out you have to use the 5 way switch which just sounds like a pita. You very rarely have to do that though other than typing in your password so probably not that huge of a deal. I have the keyboard version and I wouldn't trade it for the touch. I really prefer having the buttons on the side for changing pages rather than having to swipe the screen but that is just me.
 
I got the $79 Kindle, and its a huge upgrade over my Kindle 2. Sure, the 5-way controller is a pain for typing, but honestly, I've only typed once so far, and that was to enter my wifi password, so it hasn't been a problem.

I've found that with the old Kindle, I would grip by the bottom/sides, but with these new, smaller devices, I touch the actual screen while holding it pretty frequently. As such, I would despise a touch screen device, I'd be constantly flipped pages by accident. So, I would recommend the Kindle 4 over the Nook Touch or the Kindle Touch. You do lose a few features of the Kindle Touch - namely, 1/2 the storage space, and the ability to have books read to you....but personally that wasn't an issue.
 
I haven't had much hands on time with the new Kindles, but the Nook Simple Touch is a dream to use. Its simple, extremely light, battery lasts 2 months, and has the larger ebook store, has an sd card, etc. Lacks speakers though, so no listening to audio books or music on it. Not sure if the entry level Kindle you're talking about has speakers. It should be noted that the 79 dollar Kindle is ad supported where as the Nook Simple Touch is not. Its a deal breaker for some people, including myself.
 
Bateluer said:
I haven't had much hands on time with the new Kindles, but the Nook Simple Touch is a dream to use. Its simple, extremely light, battery lasts 2 months, and has the larger ebook store, has an sd card, etc. Lacks speakers though, so no listening to audio books or music on it. Not sure if the entry level Kindle you're talking about has speakers. It should be noted that the 79 dollar Kindle is ad supported where as the Nook Simple Touch is not. Its a deal breaker for some people, including myself.
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The $79 Kindle does not have speakers - the $99 Kindle Touch does.
 
Since that might not be clear: "Ad supported" is just the screen saver and the home screen, you never see ads while you are actually reading a book. It's nothing like TV or Hulu+ interrupting you with commercials during a show.

I have an older Kindle 2 but have only used the keyboard once or twice to buy a book directly on the Kindle by typing in the title. I chose Kindle over Nook since I shop at Amazon all the time, not B&N. Kindle does let you buy books elsewhere too, I get DRM-free books from baen.com fairly often.

The Amazon Prime free book loan (one per month) is a nice new perk.
 
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DaveSimmons said:
Since that might not be clear: "Ad supported" is just the screen saver and the home screen, you never see ads while you are actually reading a book. It's nothing like TV or Hulu+ interrupting you with commercials during a show.
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Yea, its really not a big deal, I can't imagine why you wouldn't go with the ad supported one. Almost every ad I've seen is for AmazonLocal deals anyway. Save $20 so you can put a coupon on my screensaver instead of a still picture of some dead author? Sure, I'll take it.
 
Deeko said:
Yea, its really not a big deal, I can't imagine why you wouldn't go with the ad supported one. Almost every ad I've seen is for AmazonLocal deals anyway. Save $20 so you can put a coupon on my screensaver instead of a still picture of some dead author? Sure, I'll take it.
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And I've gotten a few good deals and free things off mine that people without the "ad supported" version don't get. I don't see any reason not to get the ad supported version.
 
The Nook Simple Touch Reader is a great e-ink reader and just about the perfect size and weight. It was a big improvement over the first gen Nook. We originally went with our first Nook because they supported library borrowing and person-to-person book lending at least a year before Kindle came out with it. The Nook STR is just a book reader though, it doesn't have any other media features. You have access to the B&N store and you can also read free books from Project Gutenberg and other sites. There is a hidden web browser, but it's nearly worthless for general browsing (which is why it's hidden). Anyway, it's excellent as a book reader, but that's all it does.

I haven't seen the Kindle in person, but it looks like they tried to emulate the Nook Simple Touch as closely as possible. If they succeeded, it's probably decent too (if you get one without the ads).
 
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manko said:
The Nook Simple Touch is a great e-ink reader and just about the perfect size and weight. It was a big improvement over the first gen Nook.

I haven't seen the Kindle in person, but it looks like they tried to emulate the Nook Simple Touch as closely as possible. If they succeeded, it's probably decent too (if you get one without the ads).
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and another person with no clue what he is talking about on the ad crap.
 
glenn1 said:
Was going to get an e-Ink reader for wife, anyone give their feedback on both or what helped you choose one or the other? I'm willing to to throw the kindle Touch into the mix also.
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NOOK Simple Touch is $79.99 as a Best Buy BF doorbuster? If you bought it now, will BB price adjust if you come in BF morning?

If you're willing to go manufacturer refurbished, Overstock.com has been running the Simple Touch for about $75 after a coupon. I prefer brand new myself but in the specs on the Overstock page is listed an AC adapter, normally a $10 accessory.

I'm ready to buy now, but I guess I'll wait to read NOOK Tablet reviews and in hoping BN.com does something for Black Friday. The only bullet points missing are audio, pinch to zoom for PDFs, and Kindle Special Offers. People actually *want* the KSO coupons.
 
i have a first gen Nook (e-ink) and its been really good. I sideloaded a ton of books and bought some as well.

I think that I'm going to go with a Kindle (touch) likely because my local library uses Kindle for e-book lending, as well as the Kindle Owners Library. I already have Prime, so getting to read ~$120 worth of books a year for free is pretty appealing to me, especially considering how fast I tear through books. Hopefully they will expand that library over time.

I'm just looking for an eReader, I already have a tablet, laptop, etc so I want something with a ridiculous battery life to just read on.
 
thedarkwolf said:
and another person with no clue what he is talking about on the ad crap.
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Not everyone wants to have ads anywhere in their reading. I'd be just as irritated if I bought a printed book and the first few pages were advertisements or there were perforated inserts at various places within the text.

Ads may not bother some people, but it is something to be aware of before you make a purchase.
 
Pliablemoose said:
The ads only show up on the screen saver, very unobtrusive... and some good deals too.
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Thats your opinion. I don't want any ads anywhere on my e-reader, period, dot, end of story. You're entitled to your stance and I hope you enjoy your purchase, but like I just wrote, ads are something a buyer needs to be aware of before they buy.
 
Bateluer said:
Thats your opinion. I don't want any ads anywhere on my e-reader, period, dot, end of story. You're entitled to your stance and I hope you enjoy your purchase, but like I just wrote, ads are something a buyer needs to be aware of before they buy.
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Look, if you don't want ads, that's entirely your decision. Unlike various posters on these forums, who will berate a product they don't like and refuse to accept that someone else has a different view, I think that there is room for a large number of products and platforms, because we all have different tastes.

That's said, its important that the issues are correctly displayed. Some on these forums have said there are ads in the reading itself, which is untrue, and even your "perforated insert" analogy is disingenous, as it insinuates an obtrusive ad inside your book. If you don't want ads, either enjoy your Nook or pay the extra $20 on the Kindle - and feel free to point it out. However, don't get defensive when people disagree with your stance. As you said - its a matter of opinion, and they are equally entitled to theirs.
 
Deeko said:
Look, if you don't want ads, that's entirely your decision. Unlike various posters on these forums, who will berate a product they don't like and refuse to accept that someone else has a different view, I think that there is room for a large number of products and platforms, because we all have different tastes.

That's said, its important that the issues are correctly displayed.
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You realize you basically said exactly what I said previously, in other nook/kindle threads? People bring up the Kindle as being cheaper than the nook, 79 vs 99, without mentioning that the 79 dollar kindle is ad subsidized. Its necessary to be aware of that before you purchase. And people forget that fact in every e-reader thread.

My analogy is valid, however, because you could simply remove the perf'd insert and it wouldn't impact your reading of the book, which is exactly what MD&G posters would state.
 
I personally have never made the argument for the Kindle for cost. We may not always see eye to eye, but I think we generally agree that choice is a good thing (see thread on hardware keyboards). Like I said, I'm just trying to make sure the facts laid out are presented accurately.

I really don't want ti debate perforated inserts beyond this, but even when pulled out, a perforated insert will cause the book to naturally open to that point, reminding you of the ad even if its not there...but ah, I digress 🙂
 
I personally went with the Sony PRS-T1 since I can hook into the Library Overdrive with it and rent library books with it. That and it supports epubs clinched it for me.
 
How well does the touch work on these? Kinda feel like I would want the kindle with the controller over the touch since it sounds annoying accidentally turning the page if I bump the screen. The bezel looks kinda narrow so seems like that could happen easily. Kinda annoying there is no way to check one out. Guess I should go to B&N and test the Nook touch.
 
obidamnkenobi said:
How well does the touch work on these? Kinda feel like I would want the kindle with the controller over the touch since it sounds annoying accidentally turning the page if I bump the screen. The bezel looks kinda narrow so seems like that could happen easily. Kinda annoying there is no way to check one out. Guess I should go to B&N and test the Nook touch.
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The touch e-ink screen's aren't like a tablet, you won't really be using pinch and zoom, swiping, etc. They're fine for simple navigation, which is what they were intended for. The majority of your interaction with the devices will be on the page turn buttons on the side. The bezel on the nook is wide enough to hold comfortably without causing inadvertent touches on the screen.
 
Bateluer said:
You realize you basically said exactly what I said previously, in other nook/kindle threads? People bring up the Kindle as being cheaper than the nook, 79 vs 99, without mentioning that the 79 dollar kindle is ad subsidized. Its necessary to be aware of that before you purchase. And people forget that fact in every e-reader thread.
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Agreed that it's worth mentioning, but you could do it in a more informative way with just a few extra words:

From this:
It should be noted that the 79 dollar Kindle is ad supported where as the Nook Simple Touch is not. Its a deal breaker for some people, including myself.

To this:
It should be noted that the 79 dollar Kindle is ad supported (on the home screen and screen saver, but not while reading) whereas the Nook Simple Touch is not. Its a deal breaker for some people, including myself.

For people that this doesn't bother, they won't be scared into paying more than they need to.
 
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