Difference Between Kindle and Nook

If you are a lover of eBooks and are looking to buy a standalone eBook reader, then you need to know the difference between Kindle and Nook. There are many such eReaders available in the market today, but these two are the devices that are at the top of the pile. If you want the best features and best online book stores, then you cannot look beyond the Kindle by Amazon or the Nook by Barnes & Noble.

The Nook

The original Nook was released in November 2009 for $259. This device had a 6 inch screen, amazing E-Ink display, a smaller touchscreen on the bottom for navigational purposes, and Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G connectivity. In June 2010, the price was reduced to $199 and a new Wi-Fi only model was also released for $149. Then in November 2010, the Nook Color was released and this has received mixed reviews.

The Kindle

The Kindle was the original eBook reader, and it was released in November 2007. The current model in the market is the Kindle 3 which was released in August 2010, and you can also pick the Kindle DX which is made of a different material (graphite). The screen size is the same as the Nook (6 inches), but the navigation is carried out through a keyboard on the bottom and not a touchscreen. The same E-Ink display is used here as well. The price of a Wi-Fi only Kindle 3 is $139, whereas the Wi-Fi + 3G model sells for $189. The price of the device also plays an important role in determining which is better, Kindle or Nook.

Kindle vs Nook Comparison

The difference is not just restricted to physical appearance and hardware. The online stores also play a huge role in determining the best electronic book reader, and many people prefer the Kindle because it offers more choices in the online bookstore. This is simply because the device and the store have been around longer. This by no means implies that the bookstore for the Nook is handicapped. Their store is also excellent since they are backed by the impressive and large collection of Barnes & Noble. Many people now prefer the Apple iPad to read Ebooks, but the primary difference is that an iPad can do so much more than display Ebooks.

The weight of the Kindle is lesser (8.7 ounces vis-a-vis 12 ounces) than the Nook and this makes a difference when one has to hold the device for long periods. It is also much thinner than the Nook and this makes a difference for many people. The navigation is also better with real buttons, as the touchscreen of the Nook just gets in the way sometimes. The battery life is longer for the Kindle, and the eBooks are also available at a cheaper price than for the Nook. There are many other great features like enhanced page turn rate, PDF support and text-to-speech as well that make the Kindle a better device.

But the Nook vs Kindle comparison will be incomplete without talking about the advantages of the Nook as well. The biggest advantage is the new color screen which makes the Nook more like a tablet PC than a standalone eReader. But there are some people who do not prefer this color. If you are a fan of touchscreens, the 3.5 inches navigational screen will appeal to you greatly. Moreover, while the Kindle only has 2GB internal memory and no microSD card slot, the Nook does. So you can get a maximum memory of 18GB (2GB internal + 16GB microSD card). Another difference is that the battery is replaceable and hot swappable in the Nook, but this is not the case in the Kindle. The Lend Me feature also allows friends to lend books to each other for 14 days for free.

After seeing this comparison of Kindle and Nook, you must make your own decision after checking out the two devices physically. The Kindle is very high in demand, so it is easier and quicker to get your hands on the Nook, which has its own set of advantages as well. Once you see the difference and understand it, you can buy the one better suited for yourself, and enjoy the benefits of a huge digital eBook library.