Nook versus Kindle

‘Tis the season for gift giving and I have been asked several times for my opinions on whether to buy the Kindle or the Nook.  An eReader is a great gift to give and receive and you can’t go wrong with either choice.

I own a Nook from Barnes & Noble, so naturally that is going to be my personal preference.  I absolutely love it.  I love the design and the color navigation screen.  I also love that the keyboard only appears when I need it and that means when I’m reading there is nothing else distracting me from my book.  It is truly distraction free and allows me to fully concentrate on whatever it is I’m reading.  Its also lightweight and I only need one hand to hold it and turn the page.

I know I love the Nook, but I also understand it can be overwhelming to have to make a decision.  So to help you decide which device to buy, here are some questions to think about:

• What do you want to do with the device?  Do you want to focus on just reading or do you want to access the web?  If you want to just read, go for the Nook or Kindle.  If you want to do more than just read, look into the iPad, Galaxy Tab, Nook Color, Kindle Fire, or other similar device.
• Do you think you are going to need some tech support or do you like having someone around to help you figure things out?  If you don’t have a technically savvy person at home, the Nook may be the best choice for you.  You can take your Nook into any Barnes & Noble and the staff can help you with your issues.  My local Barnes & Noble also has training sessions available on Saturday mornings if you want to learn more.  I am sure Amazon has resources available if you need support and training online and you probably also know someone who has a Kindle you can ask for help.

If you are buying an eReader for someone who loves to read, you really can’t go wrong with either one.  eBooks are cheaper and its a portable device that lets you take an entire bookshelf on the road with you.  And both the Nook and Kindle now allow you to lend books to other people.

Need to make a decision?  Go with what’s on sale and you don’t need the 3G, the wifi only version will work just fine and save you some money.  If you can, buy a gift card to go along with it or talk to other family members and have them get the gift card.  And you can find cheap cases and accessories on eBay.

If you have other questions, leave them in the comments, email, Facebook, or tweet me!!  I love my Nook and I know you will love it too!