The Differences Between Kindle 2 and Nook – Which is Better?
John D. Emerson asked:
Amazon’s Kindle 2 and the Barnes and Noble Nook are the two main heavy-weights in the battle of the ebook readers this year. There are many similarities, and critical differences in the two. What are they, and which is the better digital ebook reader? Let’s take a look.
E-Ink Display Screens- Both the Kindle 2 and the Nook use the same “E-Ink” technology for their display screen. Reading for hours on end on these eBook readers isn’t like staring at a computer screen. The E-Ink screen displays the words just like (or even better than) looking at a real book.
The Nook, however, has an additional color navigation screen underneath the display screen. This touch screen allows you to scroll through titles of books, magazines, and other publications. There is also a touch keyboard display on this screen. No reviews are available yet for the screen performance, but consumers will soon tell all.
Wireless and 3G- Both the Kindle 2 and the Nook boast wireless capabilities. You are able to download books and other publications if you have access to a wireless network. If no wireless internet is available, then 3G cellular capabilities will allow you to download in that situation.
International Availability- Here is a major difference between the two ebook readers- International capabilities. The Kindle 2 boasts the ability to download books and full usage in over 100 countries, whereas the Nook is only fully functional in the US. Of course the Nook device will work in the sense you can still read books out of the country, but you cannot add more books or publications. This is obviously a very important point for international customers to take into account.
The Nook’s Lending Capability- The Nook has the ability to let you lend out your books to others that have downloaded the Barnes and Noble software. You don’t necessarily have to have a Nook to receive the lent books, just the software. One should know that lending time is only 2 weeks and the person who lends the book cannot use it during that time. A good feature? Customers will tell over time.
Storage Space- Both the Kindle and Nook have base memory of 2 GB, which is good for about 1,500 books, however the Nook allows for extra space to be added to increase the titles to upwards of 17,500. Is 2 Gigs enough? Well, read one book a day and you’ll have 4 years of reading material!
Other Differences- The Kindle boasts a slightly lighter device, text-to-speech technology, and a web browsing capability, whereas the Nook doesn’t.
One other notable difference is the Google Android software in the Nook. Barnes and Noble chose this software, banking on the development of applications by software developers that will work with the Nook. We’ll have to see how the software performs and if there is an iPod like popularity in applications.
Amazon’s Kindle 2 and the Barnes and Noble Nook are the two main heavy-weights in the battle of the ebook readers this year. There are many similarities, and critical differences in the two. What are they, and which is the better digital ebook reader? Let’s take a look.
E-Ink Display Screens- Both the Kindle 2 and the Nook use the same “E-Ink” technology for their display screen. Reading for hours on end on these eBook readers isn’t like staring at a computer screen. The E-Ink screen displays the words just like (or even better than) looking at a real book.
The Nook, however, has an additional color navigation screen underneath the display screen. This touch screen allows you to scroll through titles of books, magazines, and other publications. There is also a touch keyboard display on this screen. No reviews are available yet for the screen performance, but consumers will soon tell all.
Wireless and 3G- Both the Kindle 2 and the Nook boast wireless capabilities. You are able to download books and other publications if you have access to a wireless network. If no wireless internet is available, then 3G cellular capabilities will allow you to download in that situation.
International Availability- Here is a major difference between the two ebook readers- International capabilities. The Kindle 2 boasts the ability to download books and full usage in over 100 countries, whereas the Nook is only fully functional in the US. Of course the Nook device will work in the sense you can still read books out of the country, but you cannot add more books or publications. This is obviously a very important point for international customers to take into account.
The Nook’s Lending Capability- The Nook has the ability to let you lend out your books to others that have downloaded the Barnes and Noble software. You don’t necessarily have to have a Nook to receive the lent books, just the software. One should know that lending time is only 2 weeks and the person who lends the book cannot use it during that time. A good feature? Customers will tell over time.
Storage Space- Both the Kindle and Nook have base memory of 2 GB, which is good for about 1,500 books, however the Nook allows for extra space to be added to increase the titles to upwards of 17,500. Is 2 Gigs enough? Well, read one book a day and you’ll have 4 years of reading material!
Other Differences- The Kindle boasts a slightly lighter device, text-to-speech technology, and a web browsing capability, whereas the Nook doesn’t.
One other notable difference is the Google Android software in the Nook. Barnes and Noble chose this software, banking on the development of applications by software developers that will work with the Nook. We’ll have to see how the software performs and if there is an iPod like popularity in applications.
E Reader Review Terms
Sony Reader Touch Edition Vs Kindle 2 – And the Winner Is?
John D. Emerson asked:
Sony and Amazon have 2 of the best quality ebook readers on the market today with the Sony Reader Touch Edition and the Amazon Kindle 2. Both are comparable in price, so it makes sense to compare the two and see who wins in a battle of the cool features. Here’s a full comparison.
Screen Display: Both the Sony Touch Edition and Kindle 2 have the “E-Ink” technology in their reading screens. This technology is all about anti-reflective properties and crystal clear text. You can read the text from extreme angles and in natural sunlight easier than pixel technology. Both models can increase the size of text easily.
Navigation of Pages: The Sony Reader Touch Edition is obviously a touch screen. So navigation of menus, pages and other actions is by touching the screen. Kindle 2 employs push button technology on the sides of the screen.
Most people’s first impression is that the touch screen is a better, more cutting edge technology. Is the touch screen appropriate for an ebook reader, though? You are after all holding the reader in different positions for hours on end. You turn the page by sliding your finger or thumb across the page, which could get annoying for fidgety readers.
Colors: The Sony Reader comes in 3 different colors while the Kindle 2 only comes in the basic white.
Battery Life: Both the Kindle 2 and the Reader Touch have extremely long battery lives. The E-Ink technologies draw very little power and you can still be turning pages on one charge up to 2 weeks later.
Wireless Capabilities: This is one of the big two differences between the Kindle 2 and the Touch Edition. The Kindle 2 has “WhisperNet” technology which allows for wireless navigation of the internet on the Kindle. You’ll need to hook up to a computer to download some new titles on the Sony Touch.
International Coverage: The Kindle 2 has wireless capabilities and 3G cellular service in over 100 countries. This means you can download more titles from on the go wherever there is internet, and if no internet is available, then you can use the 3G service.
The Sony Reader Touch doesn’t allow for wireless or 3G access to download new titles or other publications.
So who’s the winner? It is very close between the two devices, but the Sony Reader Touch Edition needs to catch up with just a few features that are lacking compared to the Kindle 2. The Amazon Kindle 2 has wireless capabilities and international coverage. The Kindle 2 is slightly cheaper, $249 vs. $300 for the Reader. The Kindle also has the “text-to-speech” feature so you can switch to listening to a book while in the car.
Sony and Amazon have 2 of the best quality ebook readers on the market today with the Sony Reader Touch Edition and the Amazon Kindle 2. Both are comparable in price, so it makes sense to compare the two and see who wins in a battle of the cool features. Here’s a full comparison.
Screen Display: Both the Sony Touch Edition and Kindle 2 have the “E-Ink” technology in their reading screens. This technology is all about anti-reflective properties and crystal clear text. You can read the text from extreme angles and in natural sunlight easier than pixel technology. Both models can increase the size of text easily.
Navigation of Pages: The Sony Reader Touch Edition is obviously a touch screen. So navigation of menus, pages and other actions is by touching the screen. Kindle 2 employs push button technology on the sides of the screen.
Most people’s first impression is that the touch screen is a better, more cutting edge technology. Is the touch screen appropriate for an ebook reader, though? You are after all holding the reader in different positions for hours on end. You turn the page by sliding your finger or thumb across the page, which could get annoying for fidgety readers.
Colors: The Sony Reader comes in 3 different colors while the Kindle 2 only comes in the basic white.
Battery Life: Both the Kindle 2 and the Reader Touch have extremely long battery lives. The E-Ink technologies draw very little power and you can still be turning pages on one charge up to 2 weeks later.
Wireless Capabilities: This is one of the big two differences between the Kindle 2 and the Touch Edition. The Kindle 2 has “WhisperNet” technology which allows for wireless navigation of the internet on the Kindle. You’ll need to hook up to a computer to download some new titles on the Sony Touch.
International Coverage: The Kindle 2 has wireless capabilities and 3G cellular service in over 100 countries. This means you can download more titles from on the go wherever there is internet, and if no internet is available, then you can use the 3G service.
The Sony Reader Touch doesn’t allow for wireless or 3G access to download new titles or other publications.
So who’s the winner? It is very close between the two devices, but the Sony Reader Touch Edition needs to catch up with just a few features that are lacking compared to the Kindle 2. The Amazon Kindle 2 has wireless capabilities and international coverage. The Kindle 2 is slightly cheaper, $249 vs. $300 for the Reader. The Kindle also has the “text-to-speech” feature so you can switch to listening to a book while in the car.
E Reader Review Terms
A 2009 Comparison Of The Amazon Kindle 2 Vs Sony Reader Prs-700
Travis Van Slooten asked:
The Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony Reader PRS-700 are two of the hottest ebook readers to hit the market in the past 12 months, bringing reading pleasure to an entirely new level. For those who are new to ebook reading devices and are interested in getting one, here’s a comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader and how they match up against each other.
Price
The price of any gadget is a big factor for many individuals especially for first-time buyers. The Amazon Kindle 2 is currently priced at $359, while the Sony Reader is currently pegged at $399, making the Kindle 2 cheaper by $40.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of these gadgets don’t really give one distinct advantage over the other. The Sony Reader PRS-700 weighs around 10 oz., the Kindle 2 just slightly over that. The Sony Reader is a bit wider and thicker, while the Kindle is a couple inches longer. In any case, both are very convenient to carry around.
Display
The two reading devices both use e-ink technology which creates a display that is very similar to text on paper, eliminating eye strain, and providing an easy read with crisp, clear text and images. The Amazon Kindle 2009 however, is now enhanced with 16 shades of gray, while the Sony Reader has an 8-level gray scale.
Wireless Capabilities
Here is a category where the Sony Reader is clearly bested by the Kindle. The Amazon Kindle 2nd generation makes use of the Whispernet technology, providing free wireless coverage in the US via Sprint’s 3G high-speed network. Kindle users can gain access to over 240,000 book titles, magazines, newspapers, and even blogs. By just choosing the reading content of choice and paying for it, the book or magazine will be downloaded to the Kindle anytime, anywhere within minutes! The Sony Reader PRS-700 on the other hand, still lacks this wireless capability, and with only less than 100,000 books to choose from, it does not even come close to the breadth of content that the Kindle offers.
Formats Supported
Both electronic book readers support most commonly used formats such as TXT, MP3, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP, plus some formats unique to each device. The Sony Reader however, supports PDF while the Kindle 2 does not – not directly, anyway. PDFs still need to be emailed to Kindle’s support desk to be converted for viewing on the Kindle and Amazon has gives an advance notice that “some complex PDF files may not format correctly” on the Kindle.
Storage Capacity
In this feature, the Sony Reader gains the clear upper hand. True, the Amazon Kindle 2 has 2G of internal memory of which 1.4g is available for content and can hold up to 1,500 books, but it no longer supports external memory cards. While the Sony Reader’s 256mb internal memory may seem like peanuts compared to the Kindle, the main advantage actually lies in the Sony’s ability to support up to 16G of external memory. Now that’s a great benefit not only when it comes to holding thousands of content should one need it, but also for managing files into different memory cards.
Battery Life and Charge Time
The two ebook readers have the same capacity when it comes to battery life. On a fully charged Kindle 2 or Sony Reader, one can read straight for two weeks without needing a recharge. The only difference is that if the Kindle 2 is used with the wireless turned on, the battery capacity is reduced to just four days. Charging time for both readers is four hours via USB, or two hours using an AC wall charger.
The Bottom Line 2009 Comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs Sony eBook Reader:
Although it’s not a total knock out for the Kindle over the Sony Reader, it’s close! The Amazon Kindle 2 remains the better ebook reader hands-down. The price, breadth of content, wireless capabilities, and overall design improvements of the Amazon Kindle 2nd generation makes it a clear winner over the Sony Reader 700.
Get the full Amazon Kindle 2 review here and take the video tour to see just how cool this handheld ebook reader is!
Watch the full video comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader here.
The Amazon Kindle 2 and the Sony Reader PRS-700 are two of the hottest ebook readers to hit the market in the past 12 months, bringing reading pleasure to an entirely new level. For those who are new to ebook reading devices and are interested in getting one, here’s a comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader and how they match up against each other.
Price
The price of any gadget is a big factor for many individuals especially for first-time buyers. The Amazon Kindle 2 is currently priced at $359, while the Sony Reader is currently pegged at $399, making the Kindle 2 cheaper by $40.
Size and Weight
The size and weight of these gadgets don’t really give one distinct advantage over the other. The Sony Reader PRS-700 weighs around 10 oz., the Kindle 2 just slightly over that. The Sony Reader is a bit wider and thicker, while the Kindle is a couple inches longer. In any case, both are very convenient to carry around.
Display
The two reading devices both use e-ink technology which creates a display that is very similar to text on paper, eliminating eye strain, and providing an easy read with crisp, clear text and images. The Amazon Kindle 2009 however, is now enhanced with 16 shades of gray, while the Sony Reader has an 8-level gray scale.
Wireless Capabilities
Here is a category where the Sony Reader is clearly bested by the Kindle. The Amazon Kindle 2nd generation makes use of the Whispernet technology, providing free wireless coverage in the US via Sprint’s 3G high-speed network. Kindle users can gain access to over 240,000 book titles, magazines, newspapers, and even blogs. By just choosing the reading content of choice and paying for it, the book or magazine will be downloaded to the Kindle anytime, anywhere within minutes! The Sony Reader PRS-700 on the other hand, still lacks this wireless capability, and with only less than 100,000 books to choose from, it does not even come close to the breadth of content that the Kindle offers.
Formats Supported
Both electronic book readers support most commonly used formats such as TXT, MP3, JPEG, GIF, PNG, and BMP, plus some formats unique to each device. The Sony Reader however, supports PDF while the Kindle 2 does not – not directly, anyway. PDFs still need to be emailed to Kindle’s support desk to be converted for viewing on the Kindle and Amazon has gives an advance notice that “some complex PDF files may not format correctly” on the Kindle.
Storage Capacity
In this feature, the Sony Reader gains the clear upper hand. True, the Amazon Kindle 2 has 2G of internal memory of which 1.4g is available for content and can hold up to 1,500 books, but it no longer supports external memory cards. While the Sony Reader’s 256mb internal memory may seem like peanuts compared to the Kindle, the main advantage actually lies in the Sony’s ability to support up to 16G of external memory. Now that’s a great benefit not only when it comes to holding thousands of content should one need it, but also for managing files into different memory cards.
Battery Life and Charge Time
The two ebook readers have the same capacity when it comes to battery life. On a fully charged Kindle 2 or Sony Reader, one can read straight for two weeks without needing a recharge. The only difference is that if the Kindle 2 is used with the wireless turned on, the battery capacity is reduced to just four days. Charging time for both readers is four hours via USB, or two hours using an AC wall charger.
The Bottom Line 2009 Comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs Sony eBook Reader:
Although it’s not a total knock out for the Kindle over the Sony Reader, it’s close! The Amazon Kindle 2 remains the better ebook reader hands-down. The price, breadth of content, wireless capabilities, and overall design improvements of the Amazon Kindle 2nd generation makes it a clear winner over the Sony Reader 700.
Get the full Amazon Kindle 2 review here and take the video tour to see just how cool this handheld ebook reader is!
Watch the full video comparison of the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Sony Reader here.
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