Get the Kindle Fire....you can change the background and the print to black on white or white on black or on off white and you can change the font size. I read for 4 hours last night, no eye strain.

The Fire isn't good outside in the sun is it? I noticed when I was reading different people's experiences that some have more than one Kindle. Do I have to have one for inside and one for outside? This is getting way more complicated than I expected. I'm not sure I would even like the one I bought in bright sunlight but maybe.

Sorry to hear that you had a negative experience.

My younger DS is legally blind in one eye, and says reading on the Kindle is just like reading a book for him. No eyestrain or difficulty seeing. He does have a clip-on light that I bought him, but he rarely uses it. Says it is not needed.

I hope you find the reader that suits your needs.

Les917 - ya at first I thought I must be really odd to not like this but then I found A LOT of other people. There were some who said its defective and that they'd received replacements that were different. However others said they got several and all were bad. Some seemed to think the older Kindles were better and the problem was with the new generation. I haven't shipped it back yet and was thinking maybe I'd get used to it but I don't know. Maybe I should see if it works well out in the sun and if so get something else for inside. Crazy!! I feel like it has something to do with my age......

Which Kindle do you have? I haven't heard anyone mention this problem before, maybe it is defective. Contact Amazon customer service, they're very responsive.

I've never heard that complaint! I really like my nook. I did have it at the beach last fall, however we were under an umbrella. Also, it was mentione on another recent thread (was that yours) that B%N is not the only place to get nook books. Good luck!!

tina

I have (had) the basic low end Kindle. I called Amazon customer service on the way to work and spoke to their Kindle people. They had nothing to offer other than suggesting I buy a Fire or a lighted cover. So I just dropped it off for UPS pickup and I'm going to stop at B&N on the way home from work to take a closer look at the Nook.

I'd never heard this complaint either - everyone I know loves their Kindle. I thought I must be some kind of weirdo until I googled the issue. Reassuring to know I'm not the only one - I would have started to think I had some kind of visual impairment.....

I love my Kindle Fire, no problems in bright light (snow). As Lindac say, lots of adjustments available, such as font size, backgrounds, brightness etc. Also there is a matte shield available to reduce glare and fingerprints. I have one on my iphone and it works great.

{{gwi:1491025}}

I think you are going to have to spend more than $79 to get one with all the bells and whistles. the Fire is really a computer, with wifi you can access email, face book and even post and read on the Garden Web....as well adjust the device for all conditions.
And it works better than fine in the sun....much better than a paper page.
Linda C

I've had the Kindle (B&W) with a keyboard for about a year now and find it very easy to read on. I just got my DH the $79 Kindle, and I just compared it to my Kindle and it does seem to have less contrast. This is pretty disappointing.

I don't mind spending more if the device does what I want it for - compact device for simply reading books indoors and out. I don't care about any bells and whistles beyond that as I use my iPhone for other stuff. I'm going to try the Nooks for awhile in the store and suspect I will buy something tonight and try that over the weekend.

I can't help with the Kindle, but I am curious why you' keep saying the future of BN is questionable.

Oakley, it has been reported they are having financial difficulties. Profits have dropped the last several quarters. B&N sells the nook.

Oh dear, I hope they don't go belly up. If I'm looking for a book that Amazon doesn't carry, BN usually has it.

Also, a couple of times a year the whole family goes out to eat, then we hit BN, our treat for the kids.

I know they're closing some stores so I hope they don't close our's.

Well after an hour and a half at B & N I'm now home with my "all the bells and whistles" Nook. Their E-Ink touch was much brighter than the Kindle I had yesterday but the flashing and repainting of the screen kind of made me crazy. So I spent about a half hour reading specs and comparisons of Kindle Fire and Nook Color and Tablet. In the end I decided to just go for the Nook and I got the Tablet because of quality of the display and speed of the browser. If the device is going to have a browser I will undoubtedly use it and I don't want it to be slow. The display was great and no eye strain after reading stuff for probably close to an hour. The Fire seemed to be better for downloading music and video but I have my music on my phone and I'm not expecting to watch movies on this small screen.

So I'll try this out over the weekend and see if it's a keeper. I did love the smaller, lighter Kindle if not for the display. The Nook is a lot heavier as is the Fire. This e-reader purchase has been quite an adventure.

Ha - ran to Target to buy a couple things. Thought I'd just wander through the electronics aisle to check out e-readers. Tried the demo version of the Kindle Fire. That seems nice too and $50 cheaper and then I can stick with Amazon whose future is brighter I think. Couldn't really check out the browser since it was just a demo version. Now I feel like I need to actually try a live version of that before I decide - since I'm now investing so much in this thing. I might order one to try it as you can't return one to Target if it's opened.

The saga continues.....good thing I still have a paperback to actually read.....

Hi - posting this from the Nook. The Nook is very nice. I think I'll just keep it and forget about the Fire. Maybe my subject should now be Wow - I like my new Nook. What a difference a day makes.....

My husband has the fire and i have an older nook color and even without the dual core processor, I much prefer the screen on my nook. And now with the 1.4 software my nook color streams video and movies as well as his fire. I think the nook tablet, tho fifty dolars more, is a better machine from my own comparisions. The fire has alot more plastic and for similar weight seems much flimsier. Good luck. Also i have read many wonderful free friday picks offer thru B&N. They are a give or take but for free worth a read.

I've been thoroughly enjoying the Nook today. It is a very elegant device. However I did order a Fire so I can compare. Have fourteen days to return the Nook. I still think Amazon is more viable longer term and more established in the content business.

When I made my debut on this forum I described myself as having analysis paralysis with regard to decorating. You notice that trait is not limited to decorating....

Roarah - did you update your nook software?

No tina, it updated automatically, but it needs to be on to happen. If you go into b&n they will also do it for you in the store. Mine was only done last week but i like the upgrade so far. My books now work in landscape too. Good luck!

Ha, ha gibby too funny! Thanks for sharing your saga and good luck with the Nook.

I'm a hardcore hardback reader, so no e-reader for me, but I chose the Nook for my MIL a couple of Christmases ago. I like to keep up on them though. People always seem to ask me about them ;-)

Just a thought, even if b&n goes bust, the market will fill the void for nook users i believe. Also if you root your nook you can purchase from amazon directly. I would not root until the warranty is up though.

Here is a link that might be useful: about b&n staying in the online book business.

roarah - thanks for that link - interesting perspective. I also read another article about B&N transformation. It's a fascinating dilemma when a company has to cannibalize itself to survive - e-readers vs. print, printed checks vs. debit card, CDs vs. iTunes, etc. I'm actually part of a company that has been going through this. I work for what was a technology start-up that got acquired by a 100+ year old publisher. It's fascinating to be in the middle of the transformation.

Thanks Roarah. Mine did do something last week, but all I can tell is the library bar (for lack of better word)where it will show your books, magazines, etc. I could already do landscape. Mine is probably about 6-8 months old.

tina

Tina, if you go to settings push device info then push "about your nook" it will tell you if you have the1.4.1 firmware. The n on screen is no longer present on new firmware and before my upgrade i could only lanscape web and apps not books, now books are landscaping too. The new firm ware works better for netflix or live tv for it now streams.

Here's an interesting article from yesterday's NY Times re: the future of Barnes and Noble - for anyone else who might be wondering.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Bookstore's Last Stand

Thanks roarah! I checked - i have it. Not sure if i'll be streaming on here .

Tina