Barnes and Noble Nook vs. Amazon Kindle Comparison
Nook main page
Kindle main page
So I got a Amazon Kindle for Christmas from my dad and my sister-in-law got a Nook for her birthday. (i could swear someone is trying to out-geek me >_> her bf) -_- that is the look I’m making now when read the features of each side by side. Flat out the Kindle has 2 features over the Nook: you can convert a MS Word doc to Kindle format for a fee via your kindle address and it has text to speech. However, if you have a MS word doc, you could use a program likepdfcreator from sourceforge.net for free and convert any document to pdf if you wanted. Text to speech? Well the Nook is android-based, I give it 1 to 3 months and they could add support for it.
Up until about 30 minutes ago I was singing the praises of my Amazon Kindle. Why? Well ereaders are flat out awesome. Period. I am an avid reader and I enjoy a good story, carrying around more than one book, especially a large one like The Stand or Under the Dome by Stephen King is cumbersome at best, not too mention a PIA should you add say 2 or 3 more books to the carry weight. Side note: I can’t wait for text books to be in e-reader formats instead and libraries to convert whole collections of books for use in e-readers you check out for use at the library. Paper is fail.
Features that make either of these two e-readers awesome are:
- The ability to connect over 3G wireless to either online store
- portability of multiple books in a small compact easy to read package
- reduced price of e-book titles over hardback new releases
- built in dictionary
- price is comparable to a netbook or cell phone but with a dedicated capability for just books / reading.
However a further feature comparison between the nook and the kindle reveals some more interesting differences:
- The nook has a lending feature, where you can lend a book to another nook owner / user or other devices. This is a unique feature that the Kindle has no comparison to other than what both devices can do which is download samples of books.
Ebooks / epub documents
The Kindle doesn’t have native support for .epub or ebooks as the Nook does, you can google “AZW converter” and find numerous ways to try to get something into the format of a kindle BUT that’s not the point here. The point is out of the box for $259 does the device do as much of what you could potentially want. On that note below is the table of epicness.
Which one would I buy: As a current Kindle owner, I am researching if there is a way to exchange / return my Kindle, but at the moment it was a gift and am likely going to keep it. HOWEVER, given if it was me spending the $260 bucks, and that I have both an Amazon and Barnes & Noble account (its just like Frys and Best Buy, you gotta work the competition) I would go with the Nook, just by feature for feature, the device is likely to satisfy my need to have a SD card with more music, docs, and pics as well as I have wi-fi at home, and there are multiple Barnes & Noble stores that I frequent. I could easily go in a store, get a coffee, browse some books and then order one I like online for 2/3 the cost. However again, on the off hand, if I wanted text to speech RIGHT this second, I’d go with the Kindle, spending the cash this very second, its the device of the two that offers that feature (and it is nice to have). Either way I love e-readers and will be a proud owner for years to come.
Barnes & Noble:
Kindle link:
| Reading Screen | Nook | Kindle |
| E Ink® Vizplex™ electronic paper display | same | same |
| 6″ Diagonal display size | same | same |
| Good contrast with 16 level grayscale | same | same |
| Adjustable text size | same | same |
| Color Touch Screen | ||
| Color Touch Screen – 3.5″ TFT Color LCD | yes | no |
| Touch Control & Navigation | yes | no |
| Quick Library View by Book Cover | yes | no |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | AT&T | AT&T |
| Wi-Fi/802.11b/g | yes | no |
| Free Wi-Fi in all Barnes & Noble Stores | yes | no |
| Memory | ||
| 2GB Internal memory/storage (up to 1,500 eBooks) | same | same |
| Memory expansion | yes | NOPE |
| Content | ||
| Browse & shop for eBooks wirelessly | same | same |
| number of titles | 1 million | 400,000 |
| 500,000 free eBooks | yes | not through amazon direct |
| Many bestsellers and new releases at $9.99 | same | same |
| Newspapers and Magazines | same | same |
| Free unique content daily | same | same |
| Exclusive content when in your local Barnes & Noble store | yes | NA |
| Directly load & read PDFs | yes | yes |
| Word document support | no, just use pdf conversion | yes, conversion w/ fee |
| EPUB and eReader Formats Supported | yes | not as intended / designed |
| Built in Dictionary | same | same |
| Platforms for reading content | ||
| Device | yes | yes |
| PC | yes | yes |
| iphone | yes | yes |
| ipod touch | yes | TBA |
| Mac | yes | TBA |
| Blackberry | yes | TBA |
| Android phones | 2010 | unknown |
| Windows Mobile phones | 2010 | unknown |
| Sharing & Syncing | ||
| Synchronized last page read between devices | same | same |
| LendMe™ technology (beta) | yes | NA |
| Download samples of books prior to purchase | same | same |
| Other Features | ||
| Android™ Operating System | yes | NA |
| Try reader in store before buying | yes | NA |
| Quick page turn by hard key | same | same |
| Replaceable colorful back cover | yes | cover sold seperately |
| Ergonomic back cover design for optimal hand fit | yes | flat back |
| Personalize screensavers with your photos | yes | predetermined screensavers |
| Over-the-Air software updates | same | same |
| Text-to-Speech | possible future update | yes |
| Dimensions | ||
| Unit Size (in inches) | 7.7 x 4.9 x 0.50 | 8 x 5.3 x 0.36 |
| Unit Size (in mm) | 196.2 x 126 x 12.8 | 203.2 x 134.6 x 9.1 |
| Weight | 12.1 oz. (343g) | 10.2 oz. (289g) |
| Power | ||
| Rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery | same | same |
| Replaceable battery | yes | NA |
| Read without recharging | up to 10 days with wireless off | up to 14 days with wireless off |
| Audio | ||
| Speakers | same | same |
| Headphone jack | same | same |
| Listen to mp3 / music while reading | same | same |
| Audio books | same | same |
* Table of epicness mapped out from the Barnes & Noble Nook site and then tweaked to my preference.