For a long time I’ve been pretty lukewarm about ebook readers. They were awkward single-use gizmos that not only cost a lot initially, but also kept gigging your credit card every time you bought a new book. Nice for the bookstore, but since it’s been well established that I’m so tight I squeak there was no way I’d go for something like that.
And if that wasn’t enough, just about the time ebook readers began to get some traction the iPad came along. Everybody figured that would put the little gizmos on the endangered species list, but a funny thing happened on the way to extinction. It seems that the new, improved (and lower-priced) ebook 
readers became more popular than ever. And now, even tightwad geezers are giving them another look.
The two I’ve focused on are the Amazon Kindle and the Barnes & Noble Nook, both selling for less than $150. They’re about the same size and both are capable of holding zillions of books, but they also have added capabilities. Things like games and primitive web browsing have some appeal, and they also have built-in speakers, a headphone jack, and the capability to play MP3 music files while you read. I’m intrigued.
There are some differences, and that’s where it gets interesting. The Kindle has a mini-keyboard at the bottom while the Nook has a color touch-screen — a tossup for me. The Kindle has a longer battery life and — given Amazon’s head start (and customer satisfaction record) — would probably be the choice as far as reliability, future software updates, and compatibility. But here’s the kicker — the Nook is the only one of the pair that will accept the ePub standard now being used by many sources, including my local public library. (Remember how I mentioned my cheapness?)
So what do you think, folks? You can do the usual kind of comment at the bottom and/or do the little poll thingy to help me out a little. I’ll even give you some music to think by.
Coleman Hawkins – “Think Deep”
Geezer Music Club 
Not a big reader of books so this is a technology I am not well read on. However, I would want a reader that would allow me to highlight and/or insert notes for reference for sure. Without those two capabilities, I would have no interest whatsoever.
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If you’re only planning to get all your books from the library, stick with the Nook. Good luck with the actual borrowing from the library though. The waiting lists are crazy, and most of the books I want to read aren’t available in eBook format anyway (and I’m talking about the NYPL here). I have a better chance of reserving of the hardcover version and getting to read the book.
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That point about the library confirms something I was concerned about. I’ve investigated my local library’s website list of ebooks, and find that not only do they have a very limited selection, but most of them appear to have a waiting list. I had naively assumed that they would have unlimited downloads available, but I guess the book companies don’t want that.
On the good side, I’ve discovered that both Amazon and B&N offer a lot of free (or very cheap) books, and not just the old out of date ones you’d suspect. Some are fairly new.
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Yeah, you’re right about Amazon releasing a lot of free books, and many are not just public domain/old books.
Here’s a handy link for all the promo / time limited free books from Amazon http://amzn.to/cmNI6N – the link takes you to a page on Amazon where all the free promo books are listed as a best-seller list.
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Got my Nook a week ago. Love it. I decided on the Nook for three reasons. First, it does allow lending between friends, and I am sure as this catches on, that will include strangers meeting in lending spaces on the web. I have already seen requests from people to borrow books. Libraries will also be picking up volume available as time passes. My mother is a librarian in a small town, and she is interested in going digital sometime in the next few years. Imagine being able to call your local librarian to borrow a book instead of driving 25 miles in a foot of snow.
Second, the memory is expandable with a microSD card. The Nook has expanded storage – a plus for people who want to slowly change over their personal libraries to digital libraries. I have cleared my shelves of classics for less than twenty dollars.
Third, the battery is replaceable by me. Batteries eventually will no longer hold a charge, and by purchasing a replacement battery and replacing it myself, I will be able to save myself a lot of trouble and money.
Hope that helps.
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Sounds like you’re very happy with it, so that’s good. Like I said in a later post, I did go ahead and get a Kindle. (And later got one for Mrs. Big Geez too, but even though Amazon is instituting a method of lending content, her and I don’t really like the same stuff anyway.)
All the talk now is about the full-color, touch-screen kind. However, they’re not only more expensive but also only have a tiny fraction of the battery life. I suspect that those who truly want an eReader will stick with the kind you and I have.
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