The Nook Vs Kindle 3 Vs Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-350: And the Winner Is?

If you are hunting down the best eBook reader, then it makes sense to take a look at the top 3 eBook readers on the market, the Nook, Kindle 3, and Sony Reader. The New Sony Reader PRS-350 is the most comparably priced with the Kindle 3 and Nook, and that's why we'll include it here in this comparison. Which is best? Let's take a look.

barnes and noble coupon

The Barnes and Noble Nook-

BARNES AND NOBLE

The Nook was released last fall and has undergone a major upgrade in software since in late April. There are 2 versions available for purchase, the WiFi only (9) and the WiFi +3G (9).

The Kindle 3-

The Kindle 3 is Amazon's latest release of their flag-ship product. Like the Nook, there are 2 versions available for purchase, the WiFi only (9) and the WiFi + 3G (9).

The Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-350-

This is Sony's newest model of eBook reader that is comparably priced to the Nook and Kindle (9).

Let's take a look at how features compare with the Nook Vs Kindle 3 Vs Sony Reader.

Memory

Nook- 1,500 books (expandable with SD card)

Kindle 3- 3,500 books (standard)

Reader- 1,200 books (standard)

We can see that the Kindle's standard memory is quite a bit larger than the other two brands. However, for the cost of an SD card, the Nook's memory can be expanded.

Weight

Nook- 12.1 ounces WiFi +3G and 11.1 ounces WiFi

Kindle 3- 8.7 ounces WiFi +3G and 8.5 ounces WiFi

Reader- 5.47 ounces

Dimensions

Nook- 7.7? x 4.9? x 0.5?

Kindle 3- 7.5? x 4.8? x 0.335?

Reader- 5.75? x 4.125? x.34?

The Nook seems to be the "big boy" on the block with its weight heavier and dimensions larger than the other two eBook readers.

Reading Display Screen

Nook- 6" diagonal E-Ink screen.

Kindle 3- 6" diagonal E-Ink screen.

Reader- 5" diagonal E-Ink screen.

Obviously the smallest of these three devices is the Sony Reader, and it translates into a smaller reading screen.

Navigation of Content

Nook- 1" color navigation screen. Push buttons for page turn.

Kindle 3- Push button technology- keyboard and page turn buttons.

Sony Reader- Touch screen navigation and page turn. Home, Page Turn, Zoom, Options push buttons.

Battery Life

Nook- 10 days with wireless off

Kindle 3- 30 days with wireless off

Reader- 14 days

You can see that the Kindle 3 has quite a lot more reading time for one battery charge. This is partly due to the fact that it doesn't utilize touch screen technology. It should also be noted that an AC adapter for the Sony Reader is considered an accessory and costs extra.

Wireless Options

Nook- WiFi only or WiFi +3G (no plans needed)

Kindle 3- WiFi only or WiFi + 3G (no plans needed)

Sony Reader- No Wireless

The big elephant in the room here is, why does the Sony Reader PRS-350 not have wireless?

Conclusion

It boils down to what is important to you in an eBook reader. If you want an extremely small device that is ultra-portable, then perhaps the Sony Reader PRS-350 is for you. But you'd better be fine with downloading your books and content from the computer and transferring it, since wireless is not available.

If you want a little color in your device, wireless downloading, and want a touch screen option, then the Nook is probably a good choice for you. Barnes and Noble has also just announced it allows a Nook owner up to 1 hour of reading of any eBook in the store for a perk.

The Kindle 3 is a small, compact, wireless option with robust features. This will be a good idea for the reader who wants a simple device and wants to save as much money as possible.

The Nook Vs Kindle 3 Vs Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-350: And the Winner Is?

BARNES AND NOBLE

The Nook Vs Kindle 2 - And the Winner is?

Barnes and Noble will now sell the "Nook", their addition to the eBook Reader market, dominated largely by the Kindle and the Sony Reader. What's so special about the Nook according to Barnes and Noble?

barnes and noble stores

The Nook Unique Feature #1- The Nook eBook Reader boasts a lively color navigation screen. This means full color when you are scrolling through your ebook title covers, newspapers, magazines, etc. The Kindle 2 is still a gray-scale screen. Is this a positive for the Nook?

BARNES AND NOBLE

The Nook Unique Feature #2- The Nook is boasting the ability to lend books to other people who have the "app" on their smart device. So the lendee doesn't necessarily have to have the Nook, but only the app. This app works on iPhone, Blackberry Touch, etc... The person who lends the book can do so for up to 2 weeks, and will not have access to the book while they lend it. Advantage or not even a feature?

The Nook Feature #3- The "E Ink" screen is a key technology on this new device, and is also a feature on the Kindle 2. This screen display technology is "clearer than actual book text" according to the folks at Barnes and Noble. You can make the font as large and small as you want as well.

The Nook Unique Feature #4- The Nook has the ability to sync with almost any smart-device on the market today. The Nook is powered by the Google software, "Android", and is compatible with over 100 other electronic devices on the market. So there are four ways the Nook is a unique addition to the eBook Reader market.

All these features are unique to the Amazon Kindle 2.

The Kindle 2 doesn't have a color navigation screen, but does have the same "E-ink" screen, so this is comparable.

The Kindle doesn't yet give you the ability to lend books like the Nook does. We will see if this feature is something the consumer embraces, or if it is an overlooked feature.

The Kindle does however have a "text to speech" feature so you can switch to speech while driving in the car. The Kindle has the ability to sync with a few devices, but will not compete with the fact that Nook will sync with 100's of devices. Android software is not a proven system however, and we will have to see how the developers embrace Google's new platform.

The Nook Vs Kindle 2 - And the Winner is?

BARNES AND NOBLE

Kindle Vs Nook - Which One Is the eBook Reader Winner?

The battle between purpose-built, E Ink eBook readers, essentially boils down to the top two competitors: the Amazon.com Kindle, and the Barnes and Noble Nook. Both have very similar stats, and are supported by the nation's two largest book sellers. They both feature black and white E Ink displays for reading, which are as close to reading ink on paper as you can get. The real differences come down to the experience, one takes advantage of a widely used public format and its company's extensive retail chain; the other relies on simplicity, universal access, and an overwhelming volume of content.

barnes and noble book store

First, let's look at the Nook. Upon initial inspection users will note that instead of physical buttons, the Nook uses a 3.5 inch LCD touchscreen to navigate menus. This setup can be confusing for a beginner. Once one becomes more comfortable with it, they may find that the Nook is quick and more efficient to navigate. The LCD does come at a small price, it's battery life is about half that of the Kindle's. The Nook begins to differentiate itself by supporting the ePub format. Many libraries now offer free downloads of books files in the ePub format. The Nook further differentiates itself by incorporating Barnes and Noble's retail locations. Users who bring their Nooks with them can read any title available for up to one hour per day via in-store WiFi. Users may also lend certain titles to other Nook users for up to 14 days.

BARNES AND NOBLE

The Kindle is more simplified. It features a physical keyboard on its face along with a directional button to navigate menus.

This serves to be more straightforward for the uninitiated, but it is still more time consuming than the experienced will find the Nook's controls. While both units do offer WiFi and WiFi + free 3G models, only the Kindle allows for web browsing and Wikipedia access via 3G. While the Kindle does not support ePub, it makes up for it with a broader selection of titles.

Amazon features many independent offerings and many titles with expired copyrights are free. The Kindle also has text-to-speech abilities that means any feature-enabled title can become an audiobook. Kindle's 3G service is available for free in over 100 different countries. The Nook can only download new content in the United States, even over WiFi.

With prices being almost equal between the two, its hard to pick a winner. They are both very capable machines, have access to very large sources of content, and are relatively simple to operate. The decision comes down to which differences the user values more. A user who likes the experience of going to a bookstore and browsing books, or frequents a local library, might prefer the Nook. A user who has a voracious appetite for books, and is always on the go, will find the huge selection of Amazon.com and the ability to download almost anywhere in the world, preferable.

Kindle Vs Nook - Which One Is the eBook Reader Winner?

BARNES AND NOBLE