My birthday is not until the end of August, but this year I am getting an early birthday present because of all the traveling I am going to be doing. Hubs agreed that I could get an e-reader for my birthday. I’ve been thinking about having one for a while now, but it always seemed like an unnecessary extravagance. I guess it still kind of is, but I am going to appreciate it so much over the next couple of months (I just keep thinking of all those hours I’m going to spend waiting in lines and on concourses). It will be so nice to have something to occupy my time.
Once we had decided to take the plunge and buy one, Hubs and I still needed to decide what kind of an e-reader we were going to get. Right off the bat, I knew I was going to want the e-reader to be able to access the internet, especially in Greece. Since I will be touring with a large group, I don’t want to have to depend on having the time to visit internet cafes. With that in mind, the decision really came down to getting either an Amazon Kindle 3G or a Barnes & Noble Nook Color.
I like that the Kindle has such a long battery life and that the screen is easy to read in direct sunlight. Also, I know that Amazon has a bazillion e-books at amazing prices. At the same time, I don't like that I would need to buy a reading light to use the Kindle at night and the fact that it is not as intuitive to navigate. I also don't like that the Kindle's global 3G is still deemed experimental. I will say though, that the price of the Kindle 3G ($189) is appealing, at least more appealing than the Nook Color ($250).
What I really like about the Nook Color is the easy to use touch screen. The screen's colors are so brilliant, making magazines and children's books come alive. I also like the fact that the Nook Color offers several games, including Sudoku, has good web access, and can handle multiple apps. In some ways, the Nook Color seems to be a lot more like a watered down ipad than an e-reader. What I don' t like about the Nook Color is a) the battery life- 8 hours using the wi-fi, and b) the higher price tag.
In the end, Hubs and I decided the best choice would be the Nook Color. We both love the touch screen and vivid colors. And it just seems that the Nook Color is more intuitive. It helps that my sister and brother-in-law also have Nooks, so we will be able to share e-books for two weeks at a time for free!
I'm really excited to travel with my Nook Color. Happy early birthday, Lacey!
Woohoo!!!
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