I have been using the Kindle for a few years. Prior to the Kindle I had a Sony PRS-500. I really liked the form factor of the PRS-500. However, I didn’t like the clunky Sony store. I finally migrated to the 3rd generation Kindle. The store integration was much better but I still missed the form factor of the Sony. Finally, with the latest Kindle (non touch, non keyboard), I was happy with the Kindle form as well.
I also have liked the form of the Nook simple. I wasn’t tempted to get it as I am firmly entrenched in the Amazon ecosystem. Also I don’t like a touchscreen on my ereader because I sometimes utilize a speed-reading technique of using my finger to follow the text; touch screens don’t play well with that technique!
I recently picked up a Nook Simple Touch with my New York Times subscription. I already subscribe on my Kindle. But by changing to the Nook for a year, I got a free Nook. So, why not? I’m now committed to reading the Times on the Nook for a year.
Initial Impressions
Kindle–Unboxing and initial use were very easy. The unit was already charged and ready to go. My account was pre-loaded. Upon initial power-up, my subscriptions and some books were pre-loaded. It took 3 seconds to begin using the unit. The Amazon packaging was also very user friendly, I was able to open everything without the use of tools.
Nook–I had to charge the unit for over an hour before I was able to get it to turn on. My account was not pre-loaded. The box was easy to open but not as easy as Amazon’s. Also, I had to use scissors to free the power cable.
Amazon wins the unboxing experience! But that is a very minor part of the overall ownership experience so it is nothing upon which to base a decision.
Experience with the New York Times
Kindle — The paper is always delivered to my Kindle before I awaken at 5:00am Eastern Time. The navigation is very easy. It is a two column presentation with the sections on the left and the articles in that section on the right. Pressing page advance in the navigation screen advances the articles. The list of sections is persistent, it is always present.
I really like the Kindle navigation.
The kindle reading page is a bit cluttered with header/footer information:
I wish there were a way to de-clutter the reading pages.
The Nook presents a different navigation scheme that I don’t like as much as the Kindle. The Nook’s version presents the sections on one page and the articles on another. It isn’t nearly as efficient as the Kindle.
Notice that only the sections are listed.
Once a section is chosen from the above screen, the articles are presented. The Nook doesn’t show as many articles per page as the Kindle navigation screen.
The reading pages on the Nook are cleaner than the Kindle though:
I like that there are no headers/footers like in the Kindle version.
Overall, I prefer the Kindle over the Nook. The navigation in the Kindle is much cleaner. Perhaps my feelings will change over the year ahead! It may be that the navigation is not worse, just different. Perhaps I will come to like the cleaner reading pages of the Nook over the Kindle in the future.
As for readability, etc. the screens are identical. The speed of page changes is identical. The form factors are similar.
One big disappointment was that the paper was delivered late to the Nook. It was almost 5:30am before it was delivered. I was ready to read it at 5!
Technically either is okay.
