Why Nook and not Kindle?

[Erika]

Hi All,
I have both the Nook and the Kindle.(kindle was a gift) I am curious why you like the Nook better? What made you buy it over the Kindle?

[willaful, dedicated nookworm]

I originally bought the Nook because I wanted to be able to borrow library books, because I didn't want to be tied to Amazon, and because I liked the touchscreen aspect. I now own a basic kindle (won it in a giveaway) as well as a Nook Touch and I think the Nook is better in every possible way, except that some NetGalley eARCs work better on the kindle, and of course Amazon has lots of free books. My husband's kindle keyboard is much nicer than the basic kindle, but I would still prefer a Nook for the touchscreen.

[Tara]

I chose the Nook over the Kindle because there is a mortar and brick store to back it up. If I have a problem, I can go to the store and they always-and I mean always- have a Nook person on duty to help me. I don't have to figure it out by myself by going to the frequently asked questions at some web site. I was an early adopter in that I got my nook in 2009-I paid more for it ($279) but I don't even care because I have enjoyed it every moment that I have had it.

[~Leslie~]

I bought a nook originally for the same reasons that Tara said. Now you can check out books on the kindle as well. I bought a loaded SD card and can convert my nook into an android tablet and I have the kindle app downloaded onto it and that is why the nook is better than the kindle. The kindle does not have a card slot. The nook has way more capability and memory than the kindle. I appreciate the kindle app and it is now easier to check out books on kindle, but the nook is still a better product, I think.

[Sandra]

I did for the same reasons as Tara, Leslie. I also bought it because it doesn't tie me to B&N the way the Kindle is tied to Amazon. I'm also anti-Amazon for many reasons, including the fact that they took books people had bought off their kindles! I think this was later rectified, but still! I don't like the way they muscle their way around the book business and I don't like the way they treat their employees.

[Matthew]

At the time when I bought my Nook Color in the middle of last year, here are some of the reasons that influenced my decision.

1. With the Nook Color, I would be able to read in any lighting situation, whether it be pitch black outside or sunny or if I were sitting under a lamp. Didn't matter, since the screen was lit and the Kindle's was not.

2. More capabilities/customization on the Nook than on the Kindle. As Leslie mentioned, the Nook had better hardware than the Kindle and memory storage for books and such was expandable on the Nook.

3. Tara's point about having a physical store you can go to when you need assistance is quite possibly the biggest "plus" that the Nook has over the Kindle. Trying to find an answer to a problem you are having by sifting through pages of FAQs on a website is a pain in the rump. For someone who may not be technologically inclined, having an issue with a Kindle and having to try to figure it out on your own while reading vague how-tos on the web is probably a big turn-off. "Having problems with your Nook? Come to the store and we'll help you!" A sure win for B&N.

Keep in mind that back when I bought my Nook, there was no such thing as a Kindle Fire. If I had to make this same decision today, I'm not sure which way I'd end up going. The Kindle Fire is a nice device, but judging by tech specs and a few other things, I still think the Nook Tablet beats it.

[Tara]

From what I have read the Nook tablet is a better device that the Kindle Fire. So why don't we see more advertising of the Nook products? They are better but word of mouth can only do so much! Nook needs to gets in gear and ramp up the advertising.

[Sandra]

Tara wrote: "From what I have read the Nook tablet is a better device that the Kindle Fire. So why don't we see more advertising of the Nook products? They are better but word of mouth can only do so much! N..."

Yeah!

[willaful, dedicated nookworm]

Seriously! Why do they put so much into making a good product and then not market it?!

[Amy]

The main reasons I went with the Nook touch was because I wanted to use it for libraries (before Kindle accepted library books) and the store I could go to if I need help with it. I love my Nook even though I still probably read more printed books than eBooks (if my library doesn't have the eBook version of something I want to read). I also like the look of the Kobo eReader, but I'm not in the market for another eReader for awhile.

As for the advertising, I'm sure it comes down to the cost. I just read an article on msn that talked about how Barnes and Noble isn't doing that hot (hence the deal with NYT to suplement the Nook). They must not have recouped the expense of designing the Nook from the sales of the Nook.

[Linda]

Why I purchased a Nook and sold several of friends and family on the Nook as well - I love that we can go to B&N and talk to someone if there is an issue - I love that I can go to B&N and hang out in the store for an hour and read a book for free, I am a book store girl - so I go often, even if I am not buying anything. I love that you can download library books to your Nook, even though now Kindle has that option. And last but not least - I am not an Amazon person - and can count on 1 hand how many times I have been to the site.

[Deborah]

I have both ,but the truth is the Nook is a much better product! It works well and even feels better. Now that I have it my Kindle has been laying gathering dust on my nightstand .

[Susan]

I picked the Nook because I wanted to touch and try before I bought it. I went to a "Real Store" that I go to any ways instead of buying on line (I didn't know where to get a Kindles except on-line) using Amazon. I can use Library books as soon as I figure that part out. Also ....because my husband was going to get one, we decided to get one of each (I wanted the Nook for reasons stated) and he is getting the Kindle so we have the best of both worlds.

[Sandra]

I chose the Nook for a couple of different reasons, and would choose it again over the Kindle Fire. First, the in-store support for the Nook. With a real person, face-to-face. Secondly, the option to convert the Nook with a simple SD card and thus make it a full Android tablet. Thirdly, the fact that the Nook HAS an SD card slot. Ease of use. Getting epubs from pretty much anywhere. The library capability. I could go on.

It's the best reader/tablet in the market for the price you pay, IMHO. I've steered quite a few people towards this product and I'll do it again any chance I get.

[Katya]

I had decided on the Kindle. First of all-I love Amazon and use it all the time for all kinds of purchases and thought at the time that the Kindle was a superior product from the research I did.

Then a friend told me she had the Kindle and returned it. She gave me all sorts of reasons and one big one was that they had no in store tech support like B&N did for Nook.

I bought it and liked the no buttons thing. At the time it was unique.

I was getting ready to upgrade to a newer model, but just an ereader...nothing fancy.

I was leaning/thinking kindle, but really liked the the Nook Simple touch. Another friend bought it and I was impressed at it's simplicity and small size. It is a tad bit smaller that a comparable Kindle and was on sale on Black Friday for $79.00-That sold the deal.

[willaful, dedicated nookworm]

Since this thread accidentally got started twice, I'm closing this one; see the other thread at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/7...