The Kindle is lighter and the text possibly crisper than the Nook (haven't seen the new one to compare). It's surprising the difference a few ounces makes. I think the Kindle buttons are a tad more responsive for page turning than the Nook, but I found the Nook a little more intuitive. I like that the text can be resized to huge.

Both use e-ink, so need an outside light source in the dark.

The Kindle reads mobipocket/kindle format best, but can read PDFs (and the big Kindle can read PDFs quite well, I hear). The Nook can read its native format and epubs very well, and PDFs at about the same quality as the same-size Kindle.

The Nook can read library books, which is why I chose it over the Kindle. Now I hear there's some sort of hostile takeover going on at B&N, and if the current owner loses, it may be sold off piecemeal, so who knows how long the Nook will be a viable choice.

iPad, touch, and iPhone books are read on a backlit screen. Like a laptop, they can be used in the dark without an outside light source, but it's supposed to be bad for your eyes. They can read epub format with the various reader apps, like Stanza and the ibookstore. They can also be used to read library books. I'd like an iPad but the cost and the fact that it has no USB ports bothers me.

The kobo is supposedly a good solid epub reader. I haven't seen it in person. You'll find it the reader of choice at Borders (Borders is also pushing the new Android tablet.), though they don't limit you to that one. They have a nice little comparison matrix on their website. [link]

Books A Million ebooks are also served up through Adobe Digital Editions, as are those at Powell's. You can see a chart of ebook readers that support ADE here: [link] There are several new ones coming out in the next few months. I've read about them, but unfortunately don't have links.

Edit: figures I'd post this long after the need.

It's not a sickness to scour thrift stores for hardback 1st edition Anne Rice books, right? Especially if it means I'll give away my paperbacks?

Also, who here was the person who read Blood Canticle and hated it like burning? I'm trying to decide if I want to track down a copy.

(My brain is stuck in fluff-reading mode at the moment.)

Also, who here was the person who read Blood Canticle and hated it like burning?

Possibly me. But, really, the damage to the characters was done long before Blood Canticle. They don't even read like the same characters.

I do remember liking Merrick, though I can't for the life of me remember what it's about.

Are you a bigger fan of the Vampire books or the Mayfairs, Steph?

I'm pretty sure I read all of the Mayfair books except for Blackwood Farm -- I know I read through Taltos, although it's been so long I have no idea what it was about anymore.

Blood Canticle looks intriguing, but I'm afraid I'd be lost.

I read Merrick two or three weeks ago, and liked it. Next for overwrought fluffy reading, I get to decide between Blood And Gold (which is the book about Marius), or re-reading Lasher. (One of the HB 1st editions I found today was Lasher. The other was Queen Of The Damned.)

The Thrifting PTB really need to make 1st editions of Interview and Lestat appear for me. That would be nice.

Amy, Blackwood Farm was ridiculous. Fun, yes, but ridiculous. I would have been much happier if the book had focused more on Lestat (who was apparently back to being entertaining and a snappy dresser) and less on Tarquin, his ghost companion Goblin, and the story of the Blackwood Family.

Oh! Maybe I'm thinking of Blackwood Farm that I disliked!

One minute... t off to Amazon

Okay, no -- I mostly liked Blackwood Farm. It was Blood Canticle that gave me rage blackouts.

Are a bigger fan of the Vampire books or the Mayfairs, Steph?

I'm torn between the two. I utterly adored, violently so, Mona Mayfair in Lasher, and was therefore crushed at how Taltos went so very wrong. And therefore loathe Blood Canticle. I don't think the vampires and the Mayfairs should have ever crossed paths.

I utterly adored, violently so, Mona Mayfair in Lasher, and was therefore crushed at how Taltos went so very wrong.

I'm wondering if I actually read Taltos or just bought it and remember it on the shelves. I do know I read Lasher and also loved Mona, so.

Hmmm. I might see if I can score some paperbacks at the used bookstore on Saturday. I love supernatural reads leading up to Halloween.

I don't think the vampires and the Mayfairs should have ever crossed paths.

ARgh, so true. So, so true.

Man, I can't remember Taltos either. Was that the one where the weird incest stuff became REALLY REALLY FUCKING WEIRD INCEST STUFF?