First, I apologize in advance. This post will have such a tenuous grip on anything CSLA-related that it's almost embarrassing. But I believe this forum to be a decent source of information, and I'm stuck in an "analysis paralysis" loop here...
After a long time away, I've decided it's time to get back into reading again. And not just the $60 computer books that my wife decries - actual not-related-to-my-job books. Since we are not blessed with the space to set up bookshelves in our house, the books we do own sat in boxes for a long time. An unfortunate weather incident a few years ago rendered most of those books useless. So in order to alleviate those concerns this time around, I'm looking at e-readers - specifically, the Kindle and Nook.
(I know that I put the iPad in my post title - sorry for misleading. Not being a slave to Apple, I will not spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 for an e-reader. I know it does more than that - like let me visit web sites (so long as they don't incorporate Flash), or download a whole bunch of really cool apps (that I'll never use), or watch video (something I can already do on my laptop if I really wanted to.) And if you want to tout the 3G AT&T network, I can't see the benefit of paying $30/month for that - on top of the pile I paid just for the device - not to mention that AT&T refuses to believe that my current residence exists.)
Having done much online research, the prevailing wisdom is that the Kindle is a better product than a Nook. However, many Nook supporters point out that almost every review shown compares a Kindle to an early-edition Nook, and that the Nook is much-improved in later versions (or with software updates). One of my co-workers showed me her Nook, and quite frankly I found it a little bulky. But I've never seen a Kindle "live", so I don't have much comparison.
Other points that are giving me pause:
1. While I realize that many online reviewers represent a more extreme view, I find that all the negative reviews surrounding the Kindle give me pause. Basically, they make it sound like if I have a problem with my Kindle, Amazon will do everything possible, short of stapling a note to my forehead, to say that the damage was my fault and thus not covered under warranty. I have even read a post where Amazon tried to blame the damage on the customer for a Kindle that *arrived from UPS broken*.
2. The Kindle's reliance on Amazon's proprietary format is limiting. However, while the Nook supports more formats, I'm not the type of person that likes to search high and low across multiple sites to find the book(s) I want. And there's no disupting that Amazon's installed book base is much higher than the Nook's. Plus, Amazon has developed reader applications for almost any device you might ever want to read Amazon e-books on (even an iPad!)
3. This part is a little confusing, but at one point I read that a Kindle is something like an iPod/iTunes - if you get a new version, previously-downloaded books will not work with the new Kindle. Later information seems to refute that. There was also some question about recovering deleted books, but again, later information seems to show that works just fine.
4. The Kindle has a couple usability issues with the keyboard on the larger version. I don't know whether I'd even get the larger version, and I'm not expecting to write sonnets or anything on this. But it seems to be a real pain for many users. The Nook apparently does not suffer from such issues.
5. I have heard decidedly mixed reviews of Kindle's PDF performance and usability, while the Nook seems to do quite well. Since Rocky has hung up his pen and paper for the world of e-content surrounding CSLA, this is a concern. (And that, lucky readers, is the only CSLA reference you're going to get in this post. I told you it was tenuous...)
6. Neither e-reader contains something so incredibly basic that I still almost can't believe it - a way to organize books into some sort of folder structure. It's entirely likely that my wife and I will start out by sharing whatever device we get, and while I'm not worried about hiding anything from her, the storage systems leave a lot to be desired. Add in that both devices apply a "most recent" organization structure on top, and somebody's going to be upset.
Put this all together, and I'm starting to think that finding space for some bookshelves is not such a bad idea...
- Scott
Scott,
As a recommendation, my answer is totally worthless. I do not own kindle, I have never seen it from close up (or even from a distance). But I love their commercials. So - I'll probably buy that - whenever! My son own an iPad. He let me hold it for a minute, once. I agree it's kind'a pricey as a book reader. What's a Nook? Never heard of it. I wouldn't buy it until they rename it - sorry. BTW, are you even allowed to look at your co-worker's nook! And to call it bulky!!! Scott! 
Jav
I own a Kindle - we have two actually, as my wife has one too.
We also have a library, since we're both bookworms. Yes, we have a room with bookshelves all around stacked with books (often double-stacked).
I can say that I never thought I'd abandon books for any e-reader. Certainly I'd never choose to read a book on a computer or iPad - the shiny screens are a non-starter.
The thing is, Magenic gives all employees a "tech gift" every holiday season, and a couple years ago the gift was a Kindle 2. So although I wouldn't have purchased one, I was presented with one so I gave it a try. What did I have to lose?
I read one book on it and loved the experience. I loaned it to my wife who read a book on it, and promptly informed me that a Kindle would be her next birthday gift :)
We've purchased almost no paper books in the past two years. There's one author (Neal Asher) who's older books are just impossible to find, on Kindle or paper, and a friend in the UK was able to get me an actual book - and we've purchased some study books for our kids (who don't have Kindle readers of course).
But I suspect our days of buying actual books is about done - the only exception being some of those hard to find science fiction books, or books we buy specifically to get signed by authors at sci fi conventions (yes, we're serious geeks).
I wouldn't recommend getting the big Kindle - unless it is a second device you use to read magazines or something. The beauty of the Kindle is that it is the perfect size and weight - much lighter than most of the books we tend to read - and the next/prev page buttons are exactly in the right position for one-handed reading.
In short, the Kindle makes it easier to read a book than an actual book.
I've tried using an iPad - the shiny screen and weight make it a non-starter as an e-reader. I'd go back to paper books first.
I haven't tried a Nook, so perhaps it is comparable to the Kindle - but we now have quite a library of books on our Kindle account, so I'm sure not interested in switching or having a second device...
Rocky,
After reading your comments I ran over to Amazon to buy one. I saw two being offered. A $139 one with Wi-Fi and a $189 one with Wi-Fi and free 3G. I was going to buy the latter, but then I recalled your comment about the "big" kindle. I am assuming you are referring to one that is bigger in size and not just in price. This one with 3G is the same 6 inch as the other one. I thought I should ask first. BTW, would I be able to transfer my Csla books to kindle, right now I am reading them on my computer screen (yeah - I know)
Jav
By "big" I meant the larger physical size. It is physically too large/heavy to hold nicely, or to transport in my laptop bag like the normal Kindle.
Whether you get 3G or not should depend on how you plan to use the device. I have the older Kindle 2, so 3G was the only option, and I like it - I buy books from airports, hotel rooms, my home, etc.
But I'm not entirely sure I'd buy 3G now - I'd probably be happy enough with Wi-Fi, knowing I need to shop when I can get online. Hard to say...
The CSLA ebooks (from my store at least) are PDF, and Kindle reads them. I find that I need to rotate the display 90 degrees to get the font large enough to read, which isn't ideal.
With the CSLA 4 ebooks my plan is to figure out a way (PDF or MOBI) to make the content fit better on the Kindle - which probably means different publishing formats - I'll have to see just how much work that turns out to be...
Thanks Rocky. While browsing around Amazon, I was a bit surprized that the most common software related books available for Kindle are the titles "... For Dummies". That's intersting. I wonder why! (I'll figure it out 
)
Whether you get 3G or not should depend on how you plan to use the device. I have the older Kindle 2, so 3G was the only option, and I like it - I buy books from airports, hotel rooms, my home, etc.
But I'm not entirely sure I'd buy 3G now - I'd probably be happy enough with Wi-Fi, knowing I need to shop when I can get online. Hard to say...
This has been an outstanding question for me as well. Wi-Fi is awfully available these days, and while it's not all free, it may be prevalent enough for me to skip the 3G. However, is the knowledge that I can get books anywhere, anytime worth an extra $60?
The CSLA ebooks (from my store at least) are PDF, and Kindle reads them. I find that I need to rotate the display 90 degrees to get the font large enough to read, which isn't ideal.
With the CSLA 4 ebooks my plan is to figure out a way (PDF or MOBI) to make the content fit better on the Kindle - which probably means different publishing formats - I'll have to see just how much work that turns out to be...
This was actually going to be one of my questions. I was wondering whether you were investigating making your e-books available in the native Kindle AZW format. Given that they provide translation capabilities of PDF files for free, I'm wondering just what's involved. Honestly, if you were to provide future CSLA e-books in a Kindle format, I'd consider that a strong point to get one. I know the Kindle supports MOBI, but like PDF, I don't think it's as good as its native format.
- Scott
I got my wife a Nook as a gift. She loves it, she can get lots of books without leaving the house. The selecton on B&N seems to be really good as well. I haven't used it much, but when reading my real books lately they seem clumsy, especially if trying to relax and read on the couch or something. Mean while, she doesn't hae to worry about page turning, looking left and right, or the weight of the book..
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