I think I'll buy a B&N's Nook e-Book reader over Amazon's Kindle (and here's the reason why) ...
Although I love Amazon's Kindle for its look, its great innovation, its pioneering effort in popularizing the e-book concept and in terms of its thinner size and lighter weight, I think I will buy Barnes & Noble's Nook e-book reader for my daily usage and purposes.
Here's the key reason why:- Nook can store and read PDF, EPUB, eReader files. (And I have alot of PDFs, EPUBs, eReader files to load, referenced to, and carry around everyday).
- Nook can download books via Wifi. (While Amazon's Kindle has to rely on its proprietary WhisperNet [a.k.a 3G service] only).
- Nook screen comes with matte screen-cover available -- which would make reading the e-book more convenient. (I love "matte screen and matte paper look and experience". Matte finish is more pleasing to the eyes. My first Apple Powerbook G4 comes with Matte screen, and I still love its reading experience until today -- even more than what my MacBook Air's screen experience can provide).
- The battery can last for 10 days (if its wireless radio being turned off). While the battery live is 4 days shorter than Kindle, a device that can live without charging for 10 days -- even for 5 days only -- is enough and sufficient for me (as of now). Such long lasting battery capacity would be sufficient to endure long-time travel journey, or long day conference and/or long term discussion session.
- The interface is touch-screen based -- which would make it easier for me to browse and navigate the book/pages.
- It provides expansion slot -- with capacity up to 16Gb -- which essentially would allow me to store 17,500 e-Book or PDFs!
- It allow me to upload pictures and photos, which would become my personal screen-saver. Yikes, I love this feature too! It would make my Nook more 'personal'. I love being able to see my family photos everyday. I don't mind at all to carry those everyday!
- It comes with replaceable battery (with separate battery charger add-on available) -- which I think someday in the future would come handy, as: (1) I can buy a second battery that I can fully charge everyday, so incase my Nook's battery is low after 10 days use, I can replace it immediately with the other fully charge battery which will immediately work for another 10 days!. (2) Incase one day my Nook battery is dead, I can replace it easily with a new battery, wich makes my Nook's lifetime and 'return on investment' longer.
- It allow me to use it as an MP3 player or audio book. (Nook have capacity of 26 hours of audio or music). Which could be useful in 2 ways: (1) I would be able to listen to the audio book or the 26 hours of music while driving or waiting in between meeting. (2) I would be able to listen to the [background] music, while reading and browsing my PDF and books!
- Nook's operating system is Android -- which gives big hope that future software & operating system upgrade would be easier to do. This also opening up possibility that Nook someday could -- perhaps -- even become my "first tablet" too!
Of course B&N Nook is slightly thicker and slightly heavier than Amazon Kindle (196.2 x 126 x 12.8mm vs 203.2 x 134.6 x 9.1mm; 317gram vs 289gram), however in terms of what we can do (today and in the future) with the device, I feel Nook provide better capability (for today) and extension possiblity (for tomorrow). I think once Nook is available I will go for a Nook. It's less pretty than Kindle, it's slightly thicker and heavier than Kindle. Yet it comes with more 'open capability' that would make the device more useful for my daily activity. Incase one day Amazon's International Kindle more or less able to do the same to what Nook provide today, then -- at that time, when such happen to the Kindle -- I'll buy a Kindle too. It coould become Nooks' best buddy and companion -- or its loveable replacement.
If you're interested to see the complete comparison list, pls.click here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/compare/
