eReader Leader

Deciding between the Amazon Kindle 2 vs. the Barnes & Noble Nook is no doubt a difficult proposition. At first glance, these two devices are incredibly similar. Upon closer examination though, both the Kindle and Nook have a number of attractive features that differentiate them from their respective arch nemesis. Here at eReader Leader, we aim to help you compare both of these wildly popular eBook readers side-by-side so you can decide which device is truly right for you.

FEATURED DEALS

Amazon Kindle 6 E Ink Display 2GB Wi Fi 6in Silver Gently Used US $55.00 1 Bid

Barnes Noble Nook 1st Edition 2GB Wi Fi 6in White Used with Case US $54.99 1 Bid

Key Differences

• Content: While the Amazon Kindle supports a vast amount of content available from Amazon's Kindle store, the Barnes and Noble Nook technically can offer more than twice the content that the Kindle can because the Nook supports the ePub open format of eBooks.  Thousands of titles are available for free in the ePub format, but much of the Kindles content is not free -- although Amazon does offer quite a few free titles, including well-known older book titles.
• Display: For all intents and purposes, the display on the Amazon Kindle and B&N Nook is the same 6-inch e-ink screen.  The Nook, however, has an additional color screen that offers a virtual QWERTY keyboard instead of the Kindle's physical QWERTY, and provides the ability to slip through books and more.
• Web browser: Quite simply, the Amazon Kindle offers the ability to surf the web through a basic yet functional internet browser for free using AT&T's or Sprint's 3G network.  At this time, the Nook is not equipped with a web browser.
  
• Wireless: In the Wireless department, the Nook has a leg up on the Amazon Kindle.  The Nook is equipped with WiFi in addition to a 3G radio.  As such, the Nook can download content while in range of a WiFi network or AT&T's 3G network.  Depending on the Kindle (the Kindle 2 has two versions -- one with Sprint 3G and one with AT&T 3G), the device can connect anywhere with 3G service, but has no WiFi access.
• Expandable memory: Both devices have a similar amount of storage space available right out of the box, but the Nook has a microSD card slot, allowing it to have significantly more storage space than the Kindle.  While both devices will store plenty of reading material, storage space becomes a bigger factor if a user wants to use the device to store and play music, for example.
• Battery life: While battery life is hard to equate equally, the Kindle has marginally longer battery life than the Nook.  Both devices, however, have impressive battery life, and can keep you reading well beyond a week -- no need to pack a charger on that next vacation.

Comparison Chart: Amazon Kindle 2 vs. Barnes & Noble Nook

	Amazon Kindle 2	Barnes & Noble Nook
Resources
Review	Not yet available	Not yet available
Device
Dimensions	8" x 5.3" x .36"	7.7" x 4.9" x .5"
Weight	10.2 oz.	11.2"
Screen(s)	6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray; 600 x 800 pixels	6" e-ink display; 16 shades of gray & 3.5" color touchscreen
Battery life	Up to 4 days (wireless on); up to 2 weeks (wireless off)	Up to 10 days (wireless off)
Input	Physical keyboard, buttons, joystick	Touchscreen, virtual keyboard, physical buttons
Memory	2GB (1.4GB available)	2GB
Expandable memory	No	Yes (microSD)
Books & Content
Available sources	Amazon Kindle Store (400,000+ books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available)	Nook Shop (1 million titles available, 500,000 free titles, newspapers, magazines)
Connectivity
3G	Yes (Latest edition AT&T 3G w/ international roaming; previous edition Sprint 3G); Free	Yes (AT&T 3G); Free
WiFi	No	Yes; Free WiFi access in Barnes & Noble Stores
USB	Yes	Yes
Features
Built-in dictionary	Yes	Yes
Web browser	Yes	No
Audio player	Yes	Yes
Other highlights	Text-to-speech capabilities; built-in speaker	Books can be loaned to other Nook users & friends w/ Nook software for PC, Mac, BlackBerry, iPhone
Supported Formats
ePub open format	No	Yes
Adobe PDF	Yes (conversion to Kindle format required)	Yes
Microsoft DOC	Yes (conversion to Kindle format required)	No
Other	Proprietary Kindle format (AZW)	-

Related posts:

1. Barnes & Noble Nook
2. Nook
3. Borders Kobo vs. Nook (by B&N)
4. Used Nook

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