I really want a new electronic gadget :) I'm an avid reader and have been wanting an eReader for a really long time. After much debate, I decided that I want the Nook Color. Well, then I got to looking at tablets. I see more and more of them coming out on the market. Now I'm thinking that I should just get something like that so I can have apps and such. But, then I think it's a waste because I have a smart phone. But then my husband said if I'm going to get a tablet, I might as well just get a laptop for the price.
I know that all I need is an eReader, but then I feel like I might as well just spend the extra money and get a tablet. I'm sure, with the introduction of the tablets, that the eReaders aren't going to be on the market forever. Technology moves SO fast! I don't want to buy something and have it be obsolete in a few years. Whatever I decide to purchase, it will be a big investment for us, so I want to get it right.
Anyway....thoughts?
All very very valid points. I want a device I can store my books on because I simply don't have room to house all my books. I LOVE to read. I often re-read my books several times. But, books are taking over my house! LOL! I do have a smart phone, so I can absolutely play all the apps and games on there. I guess that sort of eliminates the need for a tablet. They have just come out, so I'm sure the price on them will drop in a year or two. I think I'll start saving up for a Nook Color. I love the fact that it has the full color screen and some of the children's books have the "read it to me" feature. My oldest loves to have stories read to her and I think she'd love that feature. A laptop would be kind of big for me to tote around to work. I really want something I can throw in my purse and read on my breaks, at the doctor's office or on the couch.
Thanks so much for all your input!
I have a Kindle. I love it. Use it all the time. I chose not to go with a tablet because I have a laptop and a smartphone. The ereaders are different. Very small. Much more handy for reading. My Kindle also has built in 3G. It's free, so I can search the web whenever I want...no monthly contract.
Reading on a laptop isn't the same as snuggling on the couch (which I do with my Kindle all the time).
I love my Kindle. It is very different from the Nook Color and the tablets. It really is just like reading a book. And if you read outside in the sun (while watching the kids), you can read in bright sunlight. I don't enjoy reading on a computer so I much prefer my Kindle. OTH, if you don't mind the computer screen and want more apps, go with a tablet. We bought my mom an IPad and she absolutely loves it. My dad loves his kindle. Besides, the regular kindle (and I assume the b&w Nook) are way cheaper than a tablet (and substantially lighter).
I am an AVID reader and I have the Nook b&w wifi. I love it! It is probably one of the best gifts I ever received. It is the size of a hardcover book, and it holds thousands of books. I thought about the Nook color but I don't read magazines like I do books so I figured it would be a waste of money for me. I can go on the internet where wifi is available, play games on it, download photos. It even has a sound funtion for audio books. You need to research what is going to work best for you. It really depends on what you want to do with it.
I have a laptop I love it, I have an eReader and I like it, I have a smartphone (will be upgrading to a new one soon), I have an iTouch and I love it but I would like to get a tablet. With the tablets I am going to wait another year or so, that way all the bugs that they have should be worked out by then.
I received the nook color for mothers day. my husband liked that it was in color and had wifi. i do have a smart phone, that i use all the time. i am also an avid reader, so the cost to buy the books, would get very expensive. i know that there are sites that you can download free books, but I like to read newer books. after much debate, I decided to return mine. the nook can't play movies, which i would like when we fly with our 2 year old. this week alone, i have read 3 books. that wuold have cost me $40!
my husband is gadget oriented, and here I sit still completely in love with my internetless flip phone. He has the ipod touch and his custom laptop and is bugging me every day for smart phones (why when they don't do anything his ipod doesn't do?) he tried to buy me and e-reader and i declined, but i love and cherish my laptop. nothing fancy but It has enough battery for me to sit outside while the kids swim, i take it everywhere, my kids and i do school on it, i have a ton of games i mess around with and everything else. for me though I really dislike touch screen, I find them hard to use so this works well for me. It's also light and I made sure I got something big enough to have a normal keyboard and so games run in the proper size screen and i don't have to scroll to see things. but again those where things that mattered to me. (and it wasn't much more than an e-reader cause it was on sale)
Yes, here are my thoughts. If you are an avid reader as you say, then an eReader of some sort might be exactly what you need. But it might not. Let me explain.
My husband and I both love to read. We both gave each other Kindles for Xmas. (we didn't know, but our kids did, lol). Anyway... the Kindle is great for reading. The battery life is LONG. It really will last a month without having to charge it if you are using it pretty much exclusively for reading (downloading a book here and there and reading them). When you start trying to do emails and going online (which you CAN do with some limited ability on the kindle, but it is more hassle than it is worth, imo), then the battery starts getting drained faster--JUST LIKE the other types of tech that you can buy (pads, laptops, etc). Anything that goes wi-fi uses the battery faster and needs recharging more frequently. For ex: Both our kids recently received ipod touches. Daughter's was using a LOT of battery-- needing to be recharged more than once per day. Why? b/c she had the "push" feature on--so that it constantly checked for emails/updates/etc.
SO, that said, if you are going to use your device as a BOOK, and you will not NOT buy the books (sometimes they are not cheaper to buy digitally compared to just buying a paperback), then an eReader is wonderful. BUT, if you think you will end up not buying many books due to cost, then if you want a "device" I would get a device that you can do other things on. Because you can download a Kindle app or other ereader app to download and read books from THAT device. If you'll end up using the apps and such then the battery will require much more frequent recharging (daily or more? depending on the device), but if you aren't using it solely to read on, then you will know and remember to recharge it frequently anyway.
Is this making any sense or is it a little convoluted? Sorry...
But there IS a benefit to a dedicated device for eReading-- battery life/portability. So it depends on how you think you will ACTUALLY be using the device you purchase.
My husband thought I would prefer an Ipad, and told me not to open the packaging if I wanted to return the Kindle-- but I didn't want to spend another $400 for an iPad, PLUS all the accessories that I would want/need (to keep it protected). And I am NOT someone who wants to be plugging up to charge the thing all the time. The Kindle fits in my purse if I need it to. A pad or laptop won't.
So imagine your actual use and carrying the item around with you. Then go from there.
Just get an iPad!!! I love ours!!
I bought my Nook Color about two months ago and I love it. I carry it with me everywhere, it fits in my purse and I can download apps on it too. I also have internet access and some preloaded games like chess and soduko. When I bought it they told me that any upgrades will be able to be downloaded onto my device so that I won't have to worry about having to upgrade to a new one in a year or two. I also have a laptop but it's not portable like the Nook. I am not at all familiar with the tablets but I agree with the previous post that you need to decide what you want to do and then do your research. Good luck.
I love my Nook Color and carry it with me everywhere. You now can download Android applications on your phone. The large selection of childrens color and interactive books sold me on this product. It connects fairly easily at any place with Wi-Fi and basically acts as a small albeit slow tablet since you can web browse with the thing. The only down side to the Nook is the glare. If you read outside a lot, you may want to consider a Kindle.
We have 1 of (almost) everything....and they are all great.
I like the Kendall, I like the Nook, I LOVE the iPad and I LOVE the Macbook Pro and I like the regular ol' PC laptop.
The only thing I do not use anymore is the old tower PC, Ha!
If I had to choose just one I would probably go with the iPad...it is very versatile!
I guess it depends on why you're buying it. Do you want it to be light and very portable? If so, go for a tablet. All tablets can be e-readers just do your research so you get one with good lighting and text print. It is easier on the eyes. IMO, an e-reader is a waste of money. For the same price you can buy a tablet (Velocity MicrCruz T301 is what I have) which gives you internet access as well as photo storage/editing, music storage, media player, and access to apps which is fun.
If, you don't care about weight and portability, and you're willing to spend the money, a laptop is a wonderful investment. All the perks of a computer terminal and you can take it anywhere. I'm sitting on my couch right now :).
Whatever you decide, do your research and make sure you're getting your money's worth.
I might be responding late but... I have an e-reader and an iPad and i have books loaded onto both. I have found that I can read the e-reader for hours and hours without any eye fatigue but I can't read on the iPad nearly as long before my eyes get tired. Just a thought!
Both my hubby and I have iPhones, both of us have laptops, and we have a Kindle that we share. This setup is great for us. My husband used to have a Toshiba tablet, which was a laptop that had a screen that turns over and folds down so you can write with a stylis pen. I'm not sure if that's what you mean by tablet, or something closer to an iPad..We thought about getting an iPad, but it's lacking some things that would be useful, and we can't justify buying it because we don't need it. They're awesome, don't get me wrong, but we are happy with our iPhones and Kindle. Technology does move quickly! My hubby is in the industry, and knows all the latest gadgets coming out..I just try to keep up. But, ultimately, it just depends on what you're going to use it for.
