great kindle: wifi

Showing posts with label wifi. Show all posts

Q&A: Is there a catch with Free 3G? A data-transfer charge was mentioned.

FROM THE COMMENTS AREA, A QUESTION

A question in the Comment area reminded me that many Kindle owners are unaware of an important feature that allows us to send or place 'personal documents' (any file not received from Amazon) onto our Kindles. The feature is available for personal documents that don't have digital-rights protection on them.

While this can be done with simple transfers from a computer to the Kindle via the USB cable which is part of the power cord and via other methods (see Guides in the reference section in the right-hand colum of the blog), there is also the choice to have the Amazon servers send (and sometimes convert to Kindle format first if needed) the document "over the air" to the Kindle via either 3G cellular wireless (small fee involved) or via WiFi (free) when you are connected to one.

The below question and reply is from a question yesterday to the blog. Below it, I'll include an excerpt from an earlier blog article that was written to clarify the differences between WiFi-Only and 3G/Wifi Kindle models, to reiterate how Wifi and 3G cellular wireless capabilities differ, since it remains an area of confusion for many.

QUESTION BY CHRIS D.

' Q: I am curious about the 3g feature (I have a 3g in the mail already, but have a concern). I understand that the 3g service is indeed free on this model, but I occasionally see a reference to someone paying a charge for some data transfer. I have been unable to locate exactly what might cause this cost to be incurred. In short, what catches are there to the 3g service?

A:
Chris,
The only 3G charge is if you have a personal document or book that you downloaded to your computer from somewhere else but for which you now *want to use 3G cellular wireless* to either:
- 1. 'email' that to your Kindle directly

*OR* which you now want to

- 2. 'email' to Amazon servers for CONVERSION to Kindle format first and then 3G wireless delivery to your Kindle.

(Conversions are done usually for WORD docs or for PDFs which you want Amazon to put into Kindle format with the text re-flowed rather than seen as images of pages which are often too small to read comfortably on a 6" screen).

To have Amazon convert a *PDF* to Kindle-reflowed format, you'd need to put the word "Convert" into the subject field. Otherwise, no words are ever needed for these emails other than the email address that's already in the header.

With Microsoft WORD documents, the conversion is automatic, and you don't need to use the word "Convert" in the subject field (as you do with PDFs).

REMINDER: This is if you want Amazon to send a personal doc (or non-rights-protected book from another source) for you over the 3G cellular network *rather* than via the WiFi you have at home or in the office or nearby at a place that has WiFi (like McDonald's or Starbucks etc).

YOUR KINDLE ADDRESS:
As a Kindle 3 owner, you'd be given a Kindle email-address that Amazon has made specifically for your Kindle, and you'd see that Kindle address at your Kindle management page in a box near the top left of that page.

That Kindle address is of course protected from spammers and anyone you don't give specific permission to place documents on your Kindle -- so we don't tend to give out that Kindle address to others.

The Kindle address is in the form:
[you]@kindle.com

You need to specify which of your email addresses are approved for sending documents direct to your Kindle via the Amazon servers.

You can enter, into the box labelled "Your Kindle Approved E-mail List," any or all of your email addresses that you want given permission to do that.

If you send a personal document to the [you]@kindle.com address, the document will be sent by Amazon servers to your Kindle over the 3G cellular network and, in the U.S., that is 15c per megabyte of a file. Outside the U.S., that's 99c per megabyte of a file.

USING KINDLE 3's WIFI INSTEAD:
With a Kindle3 (these models have a WiFi component), you'd normally want to get the document via WiFi (instead of 3G), which is then free to you for the sending of personal documents to Kindle via Amazon servers.

For WiFi sends instead of 3G, you email the document to Amazon serviers for your Kindle address by addressing it instead to

[you]@free.kindle.com

Then Amazon will then send an email to your correspondence email address (the one you registered with Amazon) that will include a link to your completed file where you can
EITHER
- 1. download it to a computer (if it's a file that has been converted by Amazon for your Kindle) for transfer to your Kindle's "documents" folder via the USB cord

OR

- 2. accept it on your Kindle3 when you are connected to a WiFi network somewhere. If you don't have a WiFi network at home, then #1 above is the way you'd more quickly put it on your Kindle rather than wait until you're near a WiFi network.

With 3G, we are almost always connected, no matter where we are. But the WiFi way to do this is free.

That's the only 'catch' to the 3G service. '

3G CELLULAR WIRELESS AND WIFI
The word "wireless' here pertains to both 3G and WiFi networks.
If the e-reader is not attached to a computer but it can access online sites, it's using a "wireless network." I've seen that many use the term "WiFi" when they mean "3G" mobile-wireless, as it's a confusing area to most who have had no reason to even think about these words before.

3G WIRELESS
As the image at the left indicates, 3G Wireless involves huge wireless networks that cover very long distances -- our cellphones access these networks. This is often referred to as 'mobile wireless' -- or wireless on the go. Coverage involves very large areas and involves cell towers.

Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers.
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or highest-rated ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

3G and WiFi-Only Kindle 3's - What does it all mean? Which should I get?

WIRELESS OPTIONS - WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
On the Amazon Kindle forums, the most frequent question I've seen in connection with the new Kindles is about the wireless options -- what "3G" means and how it differs from "WiFi" -- both types are included in the $189 model while the "WiFi-only" model is offered for those who feel they won't ever need the "3G" wireless feature.

This article is written for those new to the wireless scene. I meant to make it short, but decided to write in more detail.

The word "wireless' here pertains to both 3G and WiFi networks.
If the e-reader is not attached to a computer but it can access online sites, it's using a "wireless network." I've seen that many use the term "WiFi" when they mean "3G" mobile-wireless, as it's a confusing area to most who have had no reason to even think about these words before.

WI FI WIRELESS
This involves very "local" and ultra short-range wireless networks -- usually in effect for a home or an office or office building, set up by the individuals using them, but increasingly, cafes and shops are offering customers use of their own WiFi networks while there.

The picture on the left is of my 7-year old Netgear WiFi network router. Mine takes a signal from Comcast's high-speed cable internet service and routes that cable-modem signal via a wire to my main computer and then broadcasts the signal "locally" around my home so that it's accessible without-wires by my printer/scanner and my laptop.
My neighbors have WiFi networks in their apartments as well, and we all use the normal security of some kind of passkey so that others can't "steal" access to our wee networks and slow us down by sharing them without permission.

If you're getting a WiFi-only reader and expect to download books directly to the e-reader without having to hook it up to a computer, you'll need to have a WiFi network set up. They're very inexpensive these days -- it costs about $40 for a good router -- but someone will need to set it up and understand how to maintain it. Friends can help. It's not difficult (except for those without experience with computers), and software that comes with the small router can make it almost automatic.

BOOK-DOWNLOADS DIRECT TO KINDLE
I think the reason that the Kindle reader 'took off' when other e-readers received much less interest is the capability that Amazon built into the reader so that owners can access the cellphone or mobile networks wherever they are (except in some remote areas) to just download a new book on the spot upon hearing about it.

Amazon has said they wanted customers to be able to use the Kindle without need for a computer.
With 3G mobile wireless, it doesn't matter where you are -- you can usually download a book you want or do a look-up online. As Amazon's pages point out, there's no need to look for a "hot spot" -- a place that offers a WiFi network that is sharable by customers, whether for a fee or for free (Starbucks and McDonald's WiFi networks are free).

Nook's implementation of the 3G wireless feature
Nook owners can use the WiFi network access that is available at Barnes and Noble stores, but they can't use that type of wireless in a bus or at the beach as Kindle users can with its 3G.
The Nook's 3G is able only to access the B&N store online. (See Len Edgerly's video demo of differences in the implementation of other features that the Nook and the Kindle share.)

HIGHER COST OF 3G+WIFI vs WIFI-ONLY
It's a one-time $50 difference between these two models.
As an example of the value of 3G access:
The iPad costs an additional $130 for the lowest-cost model with 3G capability ($629 vs $499).
To USE the iPad's 3G wireless, a monthly data plan is needed, at $15 to $30/mo. For normal smartphones, any added 3G web-data access is usually between $30-$60 dollars monthly.
There are no monthly charges for the Kindle's 3G wireless access.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOUR E-READER CHOICES? - A SUMMARY
This more basic summary is modified from one of the earlier articles here.
1. 3G - cellular or mobile networks -- this type is, as with cellphones, accessible over the air almost anywhere. You can be on a bus, at the dentist's office, or at the beach and it can work there.
If Amazon enables 3G wireless use of the web-browser in another country, you'll be able to use that feature in other countries as well if Kindles sent to your country are enabled for the web-browser.

Personally, I wouldn't give up the free 3G access for a one-time $50 savings when it normally costs $30-$60/month for this type of feature on a smart phone.

2. WiFi - wireless local area networks (WLAN) -- You need to be near a 'local' area network in this case, so these are usually set up in homes or offices and you can find "hotspots" at places like Starbucks, McDonald's and other cafes though some require a per-hour charge and/or a password/passkey.

While the initial cost of the WiFi-Only model is about $50 less, you give up Free 3G cell-phone-type wireless access forever with the unit.
However, those with 3G web-data plans already on their smartphones or tablets won't miss it that much. They won't be able to download a book to the Kindle on the spur of the moment from almost anywhere, but that's just a luxury and many are just as happy to wait until they have access to a WiFi network.

IS 3G WEB BROWSING AVAILABLE IN MY HOME COUNTRY?
That depends on the 3G wireless arrangements Amazon has been able to make with wireless providers in that country.

Amazon has not enabled the experimental web browser in some regions of the world (probably because the 3G browsing arrangements they could make are too costly for them), although in ALL areas that offer wireless downloads of books, Amazon features 24/7 free access to Wikipedia, which is very useful when done from a book you're reading.

New web browser on the K3's
The Kindle 3's are using the new WebKit-based browser. Amazon says the updated web browser is "faster, easier to navigate, and provides a new 'article mode' feature that simplifies web pages to just the main text-based content for easier reading."
That simplification will be great for Kindle Edition blogs when following links in stories.

3G AMAZON 3G WHISPERNET COVERAGE MAPS
Here are links to to Amazon's 3G Whispernet coverage maps for the latest Kindles:
North America Worldwide

_______
See earlier articles on
. Accessing Google Maps site for Text-only Step-by-Step driving directions on the Kindle (quite fast access)
. A downloadable bookmarks-type file for accessing mobile-device optimized websites
. Sending a highlighted Kindle book passage to friends on Facebook or Twitter (doable from where you are if you have a 3G model).
. a listing of countries for which the Amazon country-specific Kindle-2 pages did not show the web browser as 'unavailable' and countries with product pages specifically stating the web browser was not available for those countries (June 2010) although some were able to use the web browser in those countries for awhile, especially after software update 2.5.x, but now are unable to, and the status of those may change with time.

The current language of the international Kindle product pages is considerably more vague, with the Wikipedia site listed as available on 3G Whispernet for all, while for the rest of the Net, WiFi access is at least encouraged and in some cases would be 'required,' as 3G web-browsing is not available in some areas.
Those in countries that were NOT identified as having the web browser 'not available' still seem to be able to use the web browser.
Other areas, such as The Netherlands and Portugal, which were identified in June as not having web browsing available, did have some Kindles enabled until recently but don't appear to have that capability now. Amazon doesn't seem to want to be clear on this and it may be because of contract negotiations, ongoing or unsuccessful.

In the meantime, Germany's ~~now says that 'social networking features' are not available which would indicate the web browser is not enabled, while the other pages are, as I mentioned, vague~~ product page, as of late Sept has been changed to use the same wording as other European pages no longer saying only that "social networking features are not available."
Updated this paragraph Oct. 15, 2010

See http://bit.ly/kwkweb2 for -some- info on countries with 3G web access for Amazon Kindles.

Amazon has voiced hopes to have web-browsing enabled worldwide and has gone further along that road faster than I'd expected. The addition of WiFi capability to the new Kindles should help a bit where 3G web browsing is not currently available.

Kindle 3's (UK: Kindle 3's), DX Graphite

Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers.
UK-Only: recently published non-classics, bestsellers, or £5 Max ones
Also, UK customers should see the UK store's Top 100 free bestsellers.

The Various Kindle Models - Names and 'Generation'

UPDATED Aug 13, 2010 to correct UK info, reorganize, and add common Kindle titles. (Original posting Aug 5)

NOTE that the webpage titles for the images on the left (click on them to show page titles) display:
"slate-shasta-main-3g" and "slate-shasta-main-3g-white" and that they're both placed (as seen in the URL) under the Amazon subfolders "kindle/shasta\"

The gadget-news rumor was accurate about the coming "Shasta" model. (on May 31).

WHAT DO ALL THE KINDLE MODEL NAMES AND DESCRIPTORS MEAN?

While showing the Amazon listing of the Kindle devices for which the two new word games work, it occurred to me that the listing is probably confusing to those new to the Kindle scene.

I tried to clarify what each model 'is' in an update to the Word Games posting.

While doing that, I felt I should put that section in a post of its own, so this is it.
Re the two Kindle-3 photos at the top. Amazon likes to call the latest Kindle just "Kindle" but that is just not going to work very well these days.

Amazon's mistake here may be in refusing to recognize former models, in a way, by almost immediately calling the later Kindle-2 just "Kindle" as if Kindle 1 no longer existed, but it certainly does, as a great many stayed with that model and still read on it the many books they currently buy from Amazon.
In the small picture of the Kindle 1 (below, right), which you can click on to see the enlarged photo, the original Kindle (released in 2007) was displaying, in 2008, some Google search results.

The Kindles are more like Cablevision receivers. They exist so we can order media for them. It's too bad there's no upgrade path to a later Kindle the way there is with cable receivers that exist to receive and help display the media content in which we're interested. It's easier when there are model numbers for receivers, rather than spelling out the "generations," Apple started this -- StarTrek must have been the inspiration for that? -- but they don't call the latest iPod just "iPod" - they identify the latest model with an alpha-character combo so people have a better fix on what they have.

Kindle 1
"Kindle, 1st Generation [etc, etc]" is a mouthful.

We did and many of us still do have a Kindle 1, which some dubbed "Kindle Klassic."

Its storage capacity is very low and its screen speed capability is so slow that a cursor could not be placed by the programmers IN the screen and we have to go to the ROW for a given word and then choose one of the words from all the words on that row when we want the Kindle to perform an action.

These are reasons that software updates will not easily work with the Kindle 1. My Kindle 1 continues to work very well as an e-book reader. But Kindle-1 owners shouldn't expect complex updates to that, as it requires different programming and this is usually considered economically not feasible for a company. I noticed other customers putting 1-star reviews on the word games product-review page just because they weren't re-programmed to also work with the Kindle 1.

(Below: Amazon's identification of Kindles for the new wordgames,
plus customer identifiers)
I add -- after the Amazon title & description -- the more common identifer (in italics) that customers use.

Kindle 3 - 3rd Generation
1. Kindle (Free 3G + WiFi, 6") - (Kindle 3 6" with 3G/WiFi)
{UK: 3G/WiFi}

2. Kindle (Wi-Fi, 6") - (Kindle 3 6" with WiFi Only)
      {UK: Kindle-3 WiFi-Only}

   These are the Latest Generation 6" Kindles not shipping until Aug 27 or so.

Kindle 2 - 2nd Generation
Kindle (2nd Generation) International and Kindle (2nd Generation) U.S. - These are Kindle-2 6"-screen models and the latest 6" versions in-hand until Aug 27, 2010 or so. The International model uses wireless globally when accessible. The U.S. version uses U.S. wireless only (Sprint).

Kindle DX Graphite - Latest Generation
Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7", Graphite) - the Kindle DX Graphite with higher contrast screen, latest generation.
   Released after the next two devices just below, which are able to run the games as well.

Kindle DX International and also U.S.-only - 2nd Generation
Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7", White) International and Kindle DX (Free 3G, 9.7" White) U.S.

I've wondered if some may not have noticed that there is a White Kindle 3 as well ... the Graphite model is the one heavily featured. And the Latest Generation DX with higher contrast comes only in the Graphite color.

UPDATED 8/6/10 to include that the UK Amazon store offers the Kindle 3 only in the Graphite color and doesn't sell the Kindle DX currently.

WHAT'S "3G" AND WHAT'S "WiFi" ?
( See the updated blog article on how WiFi and 3G wireless access differ. There is also some information on that in the first half of E-Readers with Web Browsers, WiFi vs 3G cellular access, which should give a basic idea of the situations
in which each type of wireless is used and what's involved.)

Basically, and in the least words (for once):
1. 3G - cellular or mobile networks -- this type is, as with cellphones, accessible over the air almost anywhere. You can be on a bus or at the beach and it can work there.
And if your country has web-browser enabled through 3G, you'll be able to use that feature in other countries as well.
Personally, I wouldn't give this free access up for a one-time $50 cost when it normally costs $30-$60/month for this type of feature on a smart phone.

2. WiFi - wireless local area networks (WLAN) -- You need to be near a 'local' area network in this case, so these are usually set up in homes or offices and you can find "hotspots" at places like Starbucks, McDonald's and other cafes though some require a per hour charge and/or a password/passkey.

While the Wifi is about $50 less (U.S.), you give up Free 3G cell-phone-type wireless access for the life of the unit.

Check often: Temporarily-free late-listed non-classics or recently published ones
Guide to finding Free Kindle books and Sources. Top 100 free bestsellers.

First Nook Reviews - pros and cons - Update7

[You can jump to Latest Update, #6 done on 12/10/09.
It includes reviews by ZDNet's Matt Miller, NY Times's David Pogue, and WSJ's Walter S. Mossberg.]

[Original post]
More later, but here's the Engadget review, which has a video, which you can access directly with this link.

UPDATE 12/06/09, 10:22 PM - Original Posting 12/6 at 9:52 PM
It's not the kind of review that Barnes and Noble will have wanted, but it shows the Nook has promise, and some people may not mind the pauses and the confusion in learning how to use it.

To be fair to Engadget's thorough work and their obvious wish to be supportive on an e-reader they're very drawn to, I won't quote any of it yet but encourage reading of the full review.

UPDATE2 12/06/09, 11:05 PM - Original Posting 12/6 at 9:52 PM
Several reviews are coming in, linked to at the Barnes and Noble forums in a specific thread. Upshot is similar in the ones I've read though Gizmodo recommended that anyone needing to decide now should go with the Kindle but all are also high on the Nook with regrets over some software issues which later firmware updates may solve.

UPDATE3 12/07/09, 6:18 AM
So far, there are 5 reviews listed at the link I gave above plus another one I just saw.

Of the six, 5 are cautious and mentioned slowness and delayed features.
The 6th, Slashgear, loved it.
One mentioned that more than once, when selecting a book
to read, another book was displayed instead. B&N told
him they'd be fixing that one soon.
[ How will they display 100+ books? Some have 1000+. ]

Key statements from reviews so far:

Engadget:
"...the initial offering feels long on promises and short on delivery... performance feels stuck in mud."

Slashgear:
"Ease of use is the biggest element in the nook’s favor, with the touchscreen UI perhaps the most intuitive way of navigating the ebook experience that we’ve tried."

Gizmodo:
"In fact, if you have to pick one right now, stick with the Kindle. It's a tough call, because I see a lot of potential in Nook that might not be in Kindle, but damn if the Kindle hasn't grown to comfortably inhabit its e-ink skin. As long as you don't expect apps and extras on a Kindle, it delivers the best ebook experience there is at this moment. And it just went international."

CNet (with video):
"...the Nook's off-white border is closer to gray than to white, and the finish is shiny (we prefer the Kindle's matte finish, but that's a small nitpick).
... The color touch screen at the bottom of the device creates an interesting dynamic. For better or worse, because it's bright and vibrant when turned on, it makes the upper E-ink screen appear bland and dull.
... we did notice that every time you load a book--even if you've already opened it before--you get a message that says 'Formatting...' and have to wait a few seconds for the book to load. That's slightly irritating.
...you have a few fonts to choose from (Amasis, Helvetica Neue, and Light Classic), which is nice.
...the color LCD touch screen...negatively impacts battery life significantly.
...the Kindle--or, at least, Amazon's service--is more battle-tested, its battery life is better, and it does offer text-to-speech audio and basic Web browsing. You also don't have to deal with some of the slow load times for books.
...Nook still has some kinks to work out and will require its fair share of tweaks and firmware upgrades to really shine. But we have no problem recommending it as a worthy alternative to the current-generation Kindle."

Technologizer: "It's an interesting and capable gadget in many ways, but the interface — which is sluggish and somewhat quirky — isn't polished enough to render it a Kindle killer."

The Money Times:
"...Barnes and Noble has presented the Nook to us in a more or less raw form. This Android-powered machine is fascinating, but has a long way to go.
The touchscreen turns out to be uncomfortably bright...The automatic brightness adjustment does not work well, but the problem is taken care off by a manual control...
...the navigation through the LCD is faster. At 3.5 inches, it is as responsive as any smartphone.
The LCD, sadly, is a battery hog instead of a saver. The interface is quite good, but cannot be called an upgrade, it is just an alternative.
The unsupported formats are Microsoft Word DOC files or plain text TXT formats.. [and other vendors' proprietary ones of course].
Kindle comes with HTML, DOC, non DRM MOBI files, but the EPUB gives Nook an edge.
The control of the [music] player is easier and more straightforward than Kindle's due to the touch screen.
Barnes and Noble books have always been known to be more expensive than Amazon's. They are planning to take care of that by leveling their prices.
[Why not now?]
Over all, the Nook might not be a Kindle killer, but it sure is providing a tough competition to the latter, and with a few tweakings left and right, it might very well cross Kindle's sales in a few months time."

A few days later
UPDATE6, 12/10 at 1:53 AM (not moved by datestamp, intentionally).

ZDNet's Matt Miller had recommended the Nook over the Kindle in October and now has the Nook. His article title is B&N Nook is the king of connectivity and content.
"...you probably can’t find a happier ebook fan today. I recorded a 25 minute video walk through most all aspects of the device.
IMHO it is the best ebook reader for my needs...
I get MAJOR eReader rewards on the eReader site so I can get a lot of free ebook content.
The Nook gives you the flexibility to obtain content from multiple sources with both convenient and not so convenient methods. [So does the Kindle.]
....the color display doesn’t take away at all from the ebook reading experience.
...the Nook is definitely slower than the [Sony PRS] 505.
I also am pleased with both the AT&T and WiFi connectivity options that really unshackle wireless connectivity options you have to get content onto your Nook."
[ He plans to do an updated report after more working with it more. ]

On the other hand, The NY Times's David Pogue, in Not Yet The Season For a Nook writes a devastating review of the Nook today. Problems include the troubling fine-print, extreme slowness, crashes. He describes it as "a mess."
' Unfortunately, we, the salivating public, might be afflicted with a little holiday disease of our own: Sucker Syndrome. Every one of the Nook’s vaunted distinctions comes fraught with buzz kill footnotes...
...At other times, the color strip feels completely, awkwardly disconnected from what it’s supposed to control on the big screen above.
...the Nook’s screen is achingly slower than the Kindle’s.
Often, you tap some button on the color strip — and nothing happens. You wait for the Nook to respond, but there’s no progress bar, no hourglass, no indication that the Nook “heard” you. So you tap again — but now you’ve just triggered a second command that you didn’t want.
It takes four seconds for the Settings panel to open, 18 seconds for the bookstore to appear (over Wi-Fi), and 8 to 15 seconds to open a book or newspaper for the first time, during which you stare at a message that says “Formatting.”
...missing features are symptoms of B&N’s bad case of Ship-at-All-Costs-itis. But the biggest one of all is the Nook’s half-baked software.
...it’s slower than an anesthetized slug in winter. And it's buggy.
...the Kindle is still a better machine. It’s faster, thinner, lighter and much easier to figure out. Its battery lasts more than three times as long (seven days versus two).
[With Kindle]...Any notes and highlighting you’ve added to your books also appear magically on your other gadgets. (Barnes & Noble says that these features will arrive — yes, you guessed it — next year.)
...the Kindle offers a few things that Nook lacks, like playback of audio books from Audible.com, a basic Web browser, a synthesized voice that reads your books out loud and the ability to rotate the device 90 degrees for a wider “page.” '

And Wall Street Journal's Walter S. Mossberg adds his awaited review as a moderate reviewer. His article is titled ...Has Potential, but Needs Work.
"Overall, after testing the Nook for about a week, I don't think it's as good as the Kindle, at least not yet. At launch, the Nook has the feel of a product with great potential that was rushed to market before it was fully ready.
...over half of the Nook catalog is made up of free out-of-copyright titles published before 1923, the vast majority of which are likely to be of little interest to average readers. Barnes & Noble refuses to say how many modern commercial titles it offers, or even whether it has more or fewer of these than Amazon.
During my tests, I found the Nook slower, more cumbersome to use and less polished than the Kindle. I ran into various crashes and bugs. And, while the Kindle's navigation system isn't exactly world class, it ran circles around the Nook's...
The Nook may be wonderful one day, but, as of today, it's no match for the Kindle, despite advantages such as lending, because it's more annoying to use.
...the Nook constantly delayed taking me to books while the main screen displayed a message that said "formatting."
...Turning pages inside books was slower than on the Kindle. Looking up a word in the built-in dictionary, a quick process on the Kindle, was far harder on the Nook. Even swiping the touch screen to turn pages would suddenly stop working for periods of time.
...its software can be updated, and Barnes & Noble is promising to fix the problems...
...it also adds Wi-Fi, which is free at Barnes & Noble stores, though mostly unusable at other commercial hotspots, because the Nook lacks a Web browser that would allow you to log in.
The Kindle has a crude Web browser, but no Wi-Fi.
...battery life, the Nook's is worse than the Kindle's.
The Nook beats the Kindle in a few areas. Lending is a key one, though only about half of the commercial titles are eligible for lending, you can lend each one only once to a given person [only once, ever, actually], and loans expire after two weeks. In my tests, lending worked OK after a couple of false starts.
[Interesting as others were told it wasn't quite ready yet and would start soon. Maybe it works sporadically.]
Unlike the Kindle, the Nook also has a slot for expandable memory cards and a replaceable battery.
...while Amazon will synchronize your last page read if you switch from reading a book on one device to using another, Barnes & Noble lacks that capability yet, though it says it will have it soon.
The latest standard-size Kindle allows wireless book purchasing in multiple countries. The Nook does so only in the U.S.
My recommendation on the Nook is to wait, even if you prefer its features to the Kindle's. It's not fully baked yet."

UPDATE 6a - OTHER 12/10 (included here from another post)
SOME GOOD NEWS from there for Nookers. See the public library thread. Some have confirmed that they can download to their computers e-books from the library and that they are readable on their Nooks if they move the book file VIA ADOBE feature (which is the rights-protection).

Missing File Format Support for TXT and WORD DOCs
What's odd to me is that the Nook doesn't support Microsoft Word doc files nor even text or .txt files. Since many of us highlight info on the web sites and copy/paste them into Word docs, we can have them converted for free by Amazon for our Kindles. Obviously, it's nice to be able to put one's own Doc or text files on our ereaders. The Kindle even supports basic HTML renamed .txt
...
For best balance, be sure to visit the Barnes and Noble Nook Help Forum discussions.

There is of course the problematical as is shown in this thread about books being blank when downloaded, or skipping pages.

UPDATE7, 12/18 at 11:52 PM (not moved by datestamp, intentionally).

PC World's Melissa J. Perenson posted today a very moderate, detailed review, the gist of which (bottom-controller interface problems in addition to slowness) matched my own experience during my 1/2 hr. second visit at Barnes & Noble's Nook counter this afternoon.
I still liked the look and feel of the unit and would buy it if I didn't know how direct, and how fast, basic reading & searching access can be on an e-reader. She describes well the too-often awkward, delayed response of the controller as it is now. She'll report again after a firmware update.

A few of her thoughts:
"...when browsing my book library, I was often stymied by having to put my finger just so on the touchscreen strip of up/down arrows and then having to look up above as my selection moved. When I found something to choose, I would press the nondescript radio dial button on the right of the LCD, look above to see what the E-Ink screen now had on it, and then look below to see what additional navigation choices were available. And all of these recalibrations would occur with a lag...
...in the end, having two screens in play simultaneously was a jarring experience: It meant that my eyes had to dart continually from the too-bright lower screen to the more muted, easy-on-the-eyes E-Ink screen. The auto-brightness feature lowers the brightness, but not enough; I had to dial the brightness down manually to as low as 4 to 10 percent to get to passable contrast with the E-Ink screen above.
The Nook's LCD screen makes it easy to jump into the type of content you want, including your daily content, your library, shopping options, what you last read, and settings. You get the sense that no important features are buried in a hidden menu item (in contrast, Amazon has its store link as a menu item, not as something visible on the screen)
I also appreciate the page-forward and page-backward navigation buttons...
And the Nook's fonts (you can choose from a set of two to three fonts, depending on the book) are easier on the eyes than the Kindle 2's, with more clarity and definition...
At least for now, though, I can't confidently the [sic] recommend Nook. If the promised software update dramatically improves performance, the Nook could emerge as a worthy competitor to the Kindle 2. But it's current sluggish performance, along with the caveats about the LCD's interaction with the E-Ink screen, can't be ignored. I'll revisit this review after Barnes and Noble pushes out its firmware update. "

SUMMING UP
So, for those who've been trying to decide between the Nook or a Kindle -- outside of slowness problems and some bugs, the Nook has:
No audible.com books playing capability, a mono speaker instead of stereo, no web browser, no text-to-speech capability.
The Nook does read ePub file format and allows you to loan a book once, for 14 days if the publisher approves this (50% are said not to).
The color navigator shows the books very nicely but the light may be distracting. Many will prefer the Nook's touch screen navigation though.

OTHER INFORMATION THAT IS NEW TO ME
Also, Barnes and Noble staff have confirmed that, unlike Amazon's international travel policy since the first days, a Nook owner cannot buy B&N e-books while travelling outside the U.S., not even for download to the computer.
The exception will be Canada sometime this month but Canadians won't be able to purchase the Nook itself, only B&N Nook books.

In-store WiFi access to B&N books and alerts or coffee shop offers won't begin until probably January. As mentioned Saturday, the WiFi for the Nook will access only Barnes & Noble's store ~~and can't access via a home/office WiFi network if WEP or similar security keys are protecting the network~~.

UPDATE5, 12/7 at 2:50PM
See a previous update on the WiFi and security-input changes or differences from B&N Forum administrator statements in November that security-info input wouldn't be possible. The User Guide is online today and they've made a menu option to provide it, so this will make home/office WiFi network doable although the lack of a web browser will mean no web surfing but good additional access to Barnes and Noble's store if cellular wireless doesn't work well or is unavailable. (There are additional quotes and links for the B&N forum Wifi thread there also.)

UPDATE4, 7:05 AM
IF INTERESTED BUT STILL UNSURE WHICH MIGHT BE BEST FOR YOU
The Nook has a 14-day return policy, with 10% restocking fee if it's been opened.
The Kindle has a 30-day return policy, with full refund, even if it's been used.

(The Sony Daily Edition coming soon will be too expensive at $400 now, without a web browser or text-to-speech but with a touch screen, using an extra display layer that results in less contrast and some glare for many. The other Sony models don't have wireless book-downloads.)

[Edit added] CBS's The Early Show today took a look at the e-readers. Interesting conclusions.

[Edit - added 1/20/10] There is one note on the Barnes & Noble Nook forum that illustrates better than most what the problems have been after the 2nd firmware update, version 1.11, which has proved more troublesome than 1.10. The posting stood out because it also shows the extreme patience and understanding of some customers who remain optimistic and may well be proved right that future updates may remove the problems being experienced. The entire thread, pro and con, and the forum are an interesting read.

Also see
1. Follow up to David Pogue's NYT review - Q&A
Collected feedback to the review, with David Pogue's responses
2. A very thorough, more recent review by Dave Slusher, who has concerns but remains interested. He put together an inline-Spanish-to-English dictionary for the Kindle and is interested in doing the same for the Nook.
3. Nook-Kindle comparison info
4. Nook User Guide online

Apple 'netbook' due October. And, the CrunchPad?

Computerworld reports that the coming Apple netbook (others say tablet) will sell for about $800, with a 9.7" screen (the size of the Kindle DX) according to a Taiwanese news site [I linked a Google automated, though primitive, web-translation].

The expected price is high but Technology Business Research's Ezra Gottheil says "Apple has never been above squeezing early adopters." As either a touchscreen notebook or Internet tablet, this would be the cost before adding on monthly wireless charges as Apple of course would need to do for Internet access outside the home or office, but for customers who want color and video, the $800 cost plus $720/year wireless access charges (or ~$1,520 for first year) would probably be worth it. Computerworld says that, according to Infotimes,

' Apple has placed orders with three Taiwanese electronics manufacturers -- Dynapack International Technology, Foxconn and Wintek -- for components that will be assembled into a netbook. Wintek, said InfoTimes, will produce the 9.7-in. touch screens. Foxconn is a contract netbook and notebook maker, and it will be the primary manufacturer for Apple's netbook. '

Gottheil wonders what it will do about a keyboard, though I don't see anything indicating it wouldn't have either a physical or virtual one. He is hoping for an external one. Computerworld ends its report with

' But Gottheil was sticking to his "iPod on steroids" vision of whatever Apple introduces to fill the gap between the top-end iPhone and the low-end MacBook Pro. "That's more likely, I think, than a traditional netbook," he said. "Even outside of Apple, this has to happen. PCs, even Macs, are a combination of a professional tool and a hobbyist's device." '

And then there's the announcement still expected, for July, of

TechCrunch's CrunchPad, which is a 12" tablet web-browser expected to sell for $350 which will be dedicated to browsing the web in color with no internal storage but with a card slot for external storage.

In the Chicago Sun-Times report by the always pragmatic Andy Ihnatko, he (unlike other columnists) mentions the need for either WiFi or 3G wireless access and wonders whether 3G capability will be included.

As of now, no one has said publicly whether the capability is only WiFi (useable at home or office with your WiFi network or at hotspots when out) or also 3G wireless, but there have been hints from salespeople mentioning 3G when apologizing for some halting in the video.

3G Wireless would be great but will be a capability that requires (except for the Kindles) that the customer buy the monthly wireless (usually $60/month). However, the other option of WiFi access at home, while relaxing in your chair, and webbing that way, would be great. I think they'll sell plenty of these for people with WiFi in the house, and WiFi is easy to set up for a total of $50 or less.

Neither of these are e-readers, but the Apple tablet would almost surely have Apple apps capability which means that one could read e-books even if with backlighting, which many would appreciate at night. But for $800 it would be a luxury to get it for e-book reading. And battery life would be shorter. For Net access away from home/office networks, the Apple would cost about $1,520 for the first year and then about $720 plus taxes and fees in subsequent years.

This will be interesting to watch since the Apple tablet wouldn't be as capable as a Netbook with hard drive and normal apps and would be overkill for book-reading while not as easy on the eyes for pure-reading as is the otherwise more limited e-ink screen. But Apple always makes devices that attract.
Here are speculations on the form factor and operating system.

I think the CrunchPad will be an easier sell though. Ihnatko's report includes a video of a demo of the CrunchPad in April.

"Kindle Culture" Now Available

I'm happy to announce that my new book "Kindle Culture" is now available for the Kindle at Amazon.com! Thanks to everyone in the Kindle community who helped out these past few months. Your support has been greatly appreciated. Here's the product description, which has yet to appear on the Amazon page but should soon.

"How influential and/or pervasive can the Kindle become? Does it have what it takes to join that exclusive group populated by the likes of the Hula-Hoop, the VW Bug and the iPhone and become the next bona fide cultural icon? Will the term 'Kindle' become as ubiquitous in describing e-readers in the future as Band-Aid has for adhesive bandages and Kleenex for facial tissue? And just how strong will the Kindle’s built-in marketing segment of evangelists be in counteracting the latest wave of 'Kindle killers' lurking on the horizon? I searched far and wide, from coast to coast of what currently constitutes Kindle Country to the far edges of the globe, to find out in his new book 'Kindle Culture.'

"'Kindle Culture' examines the social and cultural aspects of the Kindle through a series of stories about people whose lives have been changed by the popular e-reader, from a woman whose Kindle let her read again after almost ten years to a full-time business professional whose hobby of making Kindle covers has turned into a cottage industry he can't keep up with. Along the way you'll meet newlyweds, artists, librarians, hackers, bloggers, members of the clergy, anti-ereader groups and Kindle-defending celebrities, all with one thing in common--the Amazon Kindle."