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TubaGirl

ebook readers?

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I've noticed that the bookshelf is filling up. Should I get an ebook reader like a kindle or nook or whatever? Which one? Should I get a tablet? Is it better than reading an actual book? Do your eyes hurt? Can I read a kindle book on a nook(assuming I crack the DRM)?

 

If I spilled a beer on a $5 book I wouldn't care but if I did it a $700 iPad I'm going to stab someone.

 

So many questions...

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I have a Kindle, and I love it. I do a lot of reading via the Kindle app on my ipad, too, but it's not as easy on the eyes. Amazon's ebook pricing is great, and they have daily deals, etc. when you can get a book for a really low price.

 

Not sure about reading non-Amazon books, I've never tried it but I'm sure you could. If you're going to get one, I would say get the regular one (not the Kindle Fire) because 1) it will be easier on your eyes) and 2) it will be less expensive. On the other hand, if you don't have a tablet of your own, then go for the Fire.

 

I don't think B&N is continuing with the Nook, so I'd stay away from that.

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Ditto what fykey says - I got a kindle a couple years ago when I had a lot of business travel planned and I love it - so easy on my eyes, I get a lot of free books from my library system (to check out) as well as a freebie once a month from Amazon Prime. And I watch for the Amazon sale prices to stock up before trips. I have a sailing trip planned for later in the summer and just got a waterproof pouch to keep it in so I can read on deck without worrying about spray. At night, I use a headlamp to read (I travel with one always anyway)

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I have a Nook with the glow light, and I love it. I get teased at work for having it with me at all times (I work for the fruit company who sells the world's best tablet :4biggrin: ), but it was affordable, all of my library books work on it, as well as the books I purchased from Kobo, and I can convert Kindle books through Calibre and some other "work-arounds". The glow light is adjustable and creates a gentle light that doesn't disturb my husband, the Nook is light weight, the battery lasts for weeks, and it holds hundreds and hundreds of books. I literally take it with me everywhere I go.

 

If B&N sells off the Nook portion of the business, they will partner with another company like Borders did with the Kobo. I feel confident my ebooks are safe. They run great specials, like the Nook book deal of the day, Free book Fridays, and a "101 nook books under $2.99" that changes each week.

 

As someone who started her career running bookstores and regions for Waldenbooks, then Borders, then B&N, I never thought I would change from paper books. My house is overflowing with them, but now 95% of my book purchases are ebooks that I can read instantly. Tell me about a book, and I can have it in under a minute. Good stuff.

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I have Kindle; IPad; Mac, and smartphone (Galaxy note) I vote smartphone. its smaller than all the others and it multitasks. :)

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I have a Nook, a Nook Simple Touch and an iPad. I use my iPad to read kindle books and library books. I use my nooks to read anything else. I CAN read library books on the nook, but it requires an extra step of connecting to a computer, that's why I just put them on the iPad. It's easier. I am a big reader. Even with two little kids I usually read about 100 books a year (it used to be way more before I had kids). The Nook tablets are in some form of transition, either being phased or farmed out. The e-ink Nooks are staying. If I had to do it over again, I'd get a kindle just because they are more stable now, and because at the time I got my Nook, you couldn't read library books on a Kindle. It's nice having books on my iPad and iPhone, but the Nook is much lighter and can be read outside with no glare or backlighting. Also, as my eyes age, I like being able to increase the font as much as I want.

 

The good thing is that with the apps, I can read on my Nook, pick up my phone when I'm at the doctors office and read the same book, and then switch to the Nook again later and it is seamless. Same with Kindles.

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I'm leaning towards the NOOK HD+ or maybe a Kobo. I prefer to buy books from B&N since they're in ePUB format and you can download them and save them to your computer instead of having to have them sent to your Kindle. Also, I read somewhere that Kindles can't read ePUBs. A lot of free ebooks are in ePUB format.

 

I don't really mind if B&N stops making the Nook line. A Nook HD+ is cheap, for what you're getting, and has a 9" screen. I have an ePUB of Atlas Shrugged and that's going to be painful on a 6" screen and impossible on a smartphone. :P

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I have a Kindle and easy on the eyes. However, I only use it when I travel - soooo nice to be able to have several books with me without taking up all the space, and if I finish them I can always download another for a couple of bucks. I still rather like the feel of an old fashion book when I'm home though ;)

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