Has anyone researched the differences? I saw a Nook in person today and found it interesting. I have yet to see a Kindle, but have read some about it. Anyone have either of these?
My DH got me a Kindle for Christmas because I am a voracious reader, and even though our house has some built in bookshelves, we have books overflowing. I love it, and wish that some buttons were in better thought out places rather than down by the right hand corner, where you are more likely to grab than not. But, other than that, I absolutely adore my Kindle and my local library does as well as they’ve received scads of books I’ve been collecting electronic versions of for the past 5 or so years. Now I can put the e-books on my Kindle (now that my Palm PDA is dead but not forgotten) and send the dead tree versions to the library for others to enjoy.
Kindle’s are also great for college students as most textbooks have an e-book version and they are way WAY cheaper than the dead tree editions, AND, if you are smart you will just grab a copy from someone else who took the course.
My husband is looking into the Sony e-reader for himself. We have several applications that allow us to convert DOC and PDF formats to the formats of just about any reader out there.
I have a friend who has the Kindle and she seems to like it. I have the Sony e-Reader and LOVE it. If you like to read in bed, I would suggest getting one of the readers that has the backlight feature. I get to read in bed and not disturb my DH. Good luck choosing and enjoy.
I totally agree about the back light feature. I bought a Kindle for my Dad for his birthday and I think that is one feature it is lacking.
I use my Kindle app on my Ipod Touch all the time, especially in bed when my dh is asleep and couldn’t do without the backlighting.
I also use the Kindle app on my iPod Touch and love it. :yay:
Mason (Knitting_Guy) recommends the Sony Reader. He uses it and talks about it at length on his blog.
I’m still on the fence about an e-book reader, whatever the brand. If major knitting reference books were available as e-books…then I’d be pushed over the fence.
Anyone got knitting e-books?
I’m not a fiction reader. Just non-fiction: history, travel, biography, autobiography, technical books, and other reference books.
How would one find out if knitting reference books are available as an e-book? Would the Barnes and Noble website give the e-book as an option at checkout?
I’d just die to have all of Nicky Epstein’s “Edge” books in an e-book reader. But many of the great finishing books, etc. Wherever I travel, I’d always have a reference handy!
I’ve got Kindle on my iPhone, and use it daily. Reference books that I’ll keep, and cook books, etc. I still buy as hard backs, and give them no thought as being “dead tree books” 
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/faq.htm
Over half of the raw material used to make paper in the U.S. comes from recovered paper and the wood waste (such as wood chips and sawdust) left behind from lumber manufacturing.
Back to the Kindle, my only regret is that when I read a good book on my iPhone, it can’t be shared with my husband. I’m also not sure of how condensed from a ‘Kindle Version’ or from any other electronic handheld source.
Oh…so Kindle is a phone app? I thought it was a tablet thing, like Nook and the Sony Reader.
It is both. You can get a Kindle on its own, and also as an application on an iPhone or iPod touch.
My husband DLed the Kindle for his Crackberry, we also have Kindle for our PCs and a drive in the home server dedicated to just e-books.
I bought Knitting The Old Way yesterday for my Kindle and the ONLY thing I don’t like is no color. The back light thing would be a nuisance IMHO because it would make it nearly impossible to read from during the day (because of how the screens are made) and I have a clip on light to use if I want to read at night. According to my ophthalmologist, back lighting from computer screens causes the most eye strain. I chose the Kindle based on that as I have enough trouble with getting older and reading as it is.
I’m waiting for my husband’s birthday in April to get him the Sony reader. We’re very much a contrast and compare couple when it comes to tech gadgets, which explains the 7 different laptops in our house and homemade PCs. The only thing I have a single one of is my PDA. The husband wants me to get a Treo or iPhone now so he can play with it. I told him I never USE my stupid cell phone and I’m not getting HIM a new toy to play with. So the Sony e-reader should be the perfect surprise.
The guy that sat beside me on the flight from PDX to DIA was using a Kindle, seemed an interesting gadget, but, I’m old school and I like reading on actual paper. I could see its usefulness with textbooks, though, my college textbooks weigh a gazillion pounds.
I have a knitting friend that has the Kindle (not iPhone or computer version) and her main complaint is that it’s not in color so if a book has photos it’s an issue. I’m not sure if they show in b/w or not at all.
Dollyce you can search for Kindle books on Amazon. there are a lot of them, but keep what I said above in mind.
Thanks, Jan! The link took me to a page filled with Kindle Books with many knitting related books featured.
My next question: will these Amazon “kindle books” only work on Kindle readers! Can we download these “kindle books” for a Sony Reader, or a Nook?
Is this Kindle thing going to be another Blu-Ray/High Def battle of the fittest! Remember the struggle between Blu-Ray and High Definition players? Hollywood finally decided High Definition is OUT, and Blu-Ray is IN.
I have a High Definition movie that won’t play in anything except a High Definition player.
Great. What a waste of money.
Blu-Ray movies and High Definition movies aren’t playable/swappable in the other one’s player. However, your regular DVD’s can be played in a Blu-Ray or High Def player (the machine does actually upgrade the quality of a normal DVD)…but not vice versa.
It’s a big money pit. :pout:
I have a Kindle and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! I am a die-hard bibliophile and wondered how I’d do without the tactile experience of a paper book…I can tell you [I]that[/I] is not even an issue! In my experience (and in chats with several other Kindle owners who all use it differently), I REALLY like the “E-Ink” display and the ability to choose the font size (and even number of words per line, if you want to…) I find it to be EXTREMELY eye-friendly in many lighting environments. I use the clip-on light when I want to read in bed. It is much, much friendlier and more versatile than a back-lit screen for eye fatigue.
The Kindle gives you the capability to download and read PDF files; one of my friends who is a knitter loves being able to download patterns! I’m just returning to knitting after a couple-year hiatus and haven’t used that yet. Regarding books and patterns with pictures, the Kindle [U]does[/U] show pictures, only they are in black & white. If color photos are something you would like, it doesn’t have that ability yet. Again, the display quality is excellent.
Overall, I find the Kindle to be worth every penny: bazillions of free ebooks, less expensive new releases, great battery life, very nice “tactile” experience, great size (I have the Kindle 2–the DX, which is larger and substantially more expensive, would be even better if you plan to use it for things with heavy graphics, charts, etc.) As an add-on: I purchased a cover that is “vertical” (as opposed to opening like a traditional book); the cool thing is, I can stand my Kindle on the table like an easel when I want to be hands-free. I’m thinking that will be a great feature when I’m knitting!
I highly recommend this product! Hope this helps? (If you do decide to get one, give me a yell…I have some post-purchase tips and tricks that will enhance your experience with it! ) :woot:
I don’t know the answer to your question Dollyce. I had heard of the Sony, but not the Nook so I just looked it up. Here’s a comparison.
In just looking at this comparison I’d say Nook is the way to go, but I haven’t actually seen either one yet. I think I’ll take a look at them in the store. Click the ‘try it in store’ and see if it’s in your store for a hand held test!
ETA: Another comparison/review
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/popup_cds2.asp?PID=32844
Also you can get a free app for iPhone/Touch, Blackberry, your computer here:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ebooks/index.asp
My only complaint (other than the placement of page advancement buttons) is that it’s black and white only, but if we can send a man to the store to pick up carrots for the pot roast and he ACTUALLY brings back carrots, then dang it, we can have color on the Kindle eventually.
Do you know how hard it is to hide from your husband the VERY expensive gift you’re buying him for his birthday? Who knew the snoop was reading the credit card statements online? I’m on a very strict yarn allowance now. 
Oh no! Sounds like someone I know too. It is very hard to be sneaky around some men.
I have the Sony Reader – love it tons! 
Kindle books can only work on the Kindle. They are their own file type and they are DRMd by Amazon.
Adobe ePub is the “format of the future”. Both Sony and B&N sell their books as ePubs (although because of DRM, they can not be shared between manufacturers.) There are ePubs available at other places that do not have the DRM and can be read by any ePub capable device; I imagine this includes the Kindle.
There is a way to remove the DRM but I don’t know that much about it.
Like anything else, which one you choose really falls down to personal preference. There are ebook readers that are backlit, LCD and in color, but I prefer the black and white e-ink that uses less battery. I have a nice attached light to use for reading in the dark.
MobileRead and their forums is a good resource for ebooks and readers.
Thanks for the information, Katie! Based on your post, I will be “passing” on any “e-reader” for now.
I’m in a sort of “protest mode”. I protest the lack of versatility.
If I have a Sony Reader…but Amazon offers mainly Kindle books…I’m SOL.
I believe that all of these various e-reader companies could use the same technology, and that all e-books could be downloadable/readable in any reader.
I think it’s a racket. I protest. :tap:
Maybe if I wait long enough…they’ll come to an agreement.
Or maybe a 10th Generation Kindle book will be compatible with any e-book, not just Kindle books. 
Yeah, I think I’ll be waiting to see what happens next as well. They each have something missing. You are right ArtLady, too bad they can’t all agree and make just one that is really nice.