Tech Wham | Ereader Tablet and Ebook Reader Reviews, Videos, and Comparisons

Many people looking for an ebook reader find themselves comparing and weighing the IPad vs Nook Color vs Nook vs Kindle. This is obviously a slight case of comparing apples to oranges…to grapes (?), but nonetheless, it’s important to at least compare the back lit screens with the E-Ink screens before choosing the right device for you.

This page will attempt to compare these 4 devices in meaningful and useful ways to help you choose what is best for your situation.

Video: IPad vs Nook Color vs Kindle vs Nook- How Well Do They Perform In Different Lighting Conditions?

You can click to visit Amazon.com for the Kindle or IPad…

You can click to visit Barnes and Noble.com for the Nook Color or Nook…

All In One Devices Or Ebook Readers?

IPad- The Ipad is obviously an all in one device that can be used as an ebook reader. It’s probably a safe bet that those who are purchasing the IPad (or IPad 2 at this point) are doing so for the all-in-one aspects of the device. The experience of reading on the device is taken into account along with watching movies, playing games, working on the device and listening to music.

Kindle and Nook- Those who are buying these ebook readers are looking to read ebooks. If one is buying an EInk ebook reader like the Nook or Kindle to surf the web, then they are in for a terrible experience!

The Nook Color- The waters are a little murkier as to what this device is. It doesn’t have the battery life of an ebook reader, or the capabilities of a tablet pc, yet still has a good many features of a color touch ereader device.

The POINT? These are obviously all different devices and have their strengths and weaknesses between them. Hopefully the video above helps you see the reading experience for all 4 side by side. Now the question is what you are willing to sacrifice in some areas in order to gain benefits in the other.

The Nook Color Vs IPad- How Do The Two Devices Differ?

The video below is a basic look at the Nook Color and IPad side by side. You’ll notice some of the limitations of the Nook Color compared to the IPad for certain things. Of course, for double the price, the IPad should be a little more robust!

You can click HERE to visit the Nook Color at Barnes and Noble.com…

You can click HERE for the IPad at Amazon.com…

The Big Question: What Do You Want In A Reading Screen? LCD vs E-Ink

It’s all going to come down to preference and your intended use choosing between the Nook, Nook Color, Ipad, or Kindle 3. If you can’t live without color and touch, then you must be willing to live with short battery life. There is going to be the challenge of seeing through glare and fingerprint smudges. You can always try a screen protector to minimize both of these. It is also well known that back lit LCD screens strain eyes more than Eink screens, so one must be aware of this.

If you are looking for battery longevity, little to no glare when reading outside, and don’t mind reading in black and white, then you may want to just compare the Kindle vs Nook and forget about LCD touch screens. E-Ink screens have also been found to be less strain on the eyes for longer reading sessions.

Other Considerations…

If you want to be reading ePub files, then you’ll have to choose between the Nook, Nook Color or iPad. The Kindle does not allow for use of the ePub. Reading a PDF file is doable on all 4 devices, but if you are in the habit of needing to read complicated, color-filled and well laid out presentations in PDF form, then the iPad will obviously be a good choice.

If you want a very large E-Ink reading screen, then the Kindle DX may be a good fit for you.

Nook vs Kindle vs IPad (and IPad 2) vs Nook Color Pricing

iPad- Can be found at Amazon for anywhere between $419.99 (16 gigabytes) and up for other models.
iPad 2- Can be found at Apple.com and Amazon.com.

Nook Color- Can be purchased at Barnes and Noble.com for $199.

Nook- Can be purchased at Barnes and Noble.com for $149 and $199 (WiFi only and WiFi+3G).

Kindle 3- Can be purchased at Amazon for $139 and $189 (WiFi only and WiFi+3G).

Hopefully this page has helped you choose between the iPad vs Nook Color vs Nook vs Kindle. They are all different devices, well suited for different needs. It will come down to preference of type of reading screen and ultimately the price you are willing to pay.

Barnes and Noble has stunned the ebook reader market by releasing the new Nook Color, so we’d better take a look and give it a thorough review. Is it time for the Amazon’s Kindle 3 to finally move over and make some room at the top? Or do the features of the Nook Color fall short?

New Nook Color

The Nook Color is a completely different product than the Nook, and the Kindle 3 for that matter, in a multitude of ways.

Color Touch Screen- The original Nook boasted an E-Ink gray-scale reading screen that was easy on eye strain when read for hours on end. Well, they’ve abandoned that idea altogether with the IPS color touch screen on the new device. This is the same exact technology found on the iPad.

So What’s the Difference Between the Nook Color and the iPad?

That’s a very good question. The Nook Color is much smaller at a 7 inch reading screen vs the iPad’s 9.7 inch. The Nook Color is much cheaper however, at under $250, vs the much more expensive iPad. The NC will act a little slower than Apples device as well, and not have any of the applications that are currently available for the iPad.

Remember…This is an Ebook Reader!

The Nook Color was released as a full color ebook reader, and that means it works well for situations in which you want full color, and a touch screen at the same time. For instance, if you are a magazine reader, then the NC would be a great choice for you. Publications are wirelessly delivered each day to the device, and you can peruse them with the touch of a finger.

Sales have been strong for the initial launch of the Nook Color, with pre-ordering starting now.

Nook Color Compared to the Kindle 3

I would argue that for a long novel, the Nook Color loses out to the cheaper Kindle 3, but if you are the type of person who wants to read a full color newspaper in the morning, a magazine on the way to work on the subway, and a novel at night all from the same device, then the Nook Color is a great option.

The Kindle 3‘s battery life is at 30 days now on a single charge, whereas the Nook Color is at only 8 hours…with the wireless turned off!  Plus the Kindle 3 is over $100 cheaper, offers 3G, is smaller, and can be used internationally. So there a few definite disadvantages to opting for the full color touch experience of the Nook Color.

An All In One Device As Well?

The Nook Color has a robust memory of 8GB that comes standard, with the ability to easily expand it with an SD card. Try THAT with an iPad. You’ll be able to store tons of music on it, watch videos, read books, surf the web, check your email, and a whole lot more on the device. The only thing that is lacking is the availability of apps for the device. Of course, developers are already taking notice of the new device and seeing the Nook Color apps as a viable market.

Children’s Books on the Nook Color

A big feature of the new Nook Color is the integration of children’s books. Barnes and Noble has put a lot of effort into making a whole section that offers children’s books that are touch integrated. Will this revolutionize the entire Children’s Book industry? We’ll have to wait and see. At the very least, this concept is very interesting.

How popular will the Nook Color become this holiday season and into the next year? We will see, but pre-ordering numbers are strong and it shows that good initial Nook Color reviews are translating into a lot of hungry customers. If you are a “purist” reader who only cares about reading novels, then perhaps you’ll want to look at the Nook vs. Kindle instead.