ita, you might want to try books on tape (e.g. audible) as well. I think the Nook and Kindle have ways of listening to audiobooks on the devices.

Have you gone to B&N and looked at the Nook? I hated it, so you might want to look at the actual interface before buying. Also, how much longer will B&N be around?

Barnes & Noble's bankruptcy is due to a power struggle over control of the company. B&N's finances are actually in good shape.

OK. I'd still actually look at Nook before buying. Interface is a very subjective thing, and I'm not the only one who hates the look and feel. Had a chance to look at a kindle, and liked it. But my hatred for the Nook is cool and pure. I even like the Sony better, and that is a very minority opinion. Also I've heard people say good things about the ipad as an e-reader. Have not seen one. One nice thing about e-ink is the lack of strain on the eyes with long reading sessions. I wonder how ipad does on that criterion? I do understand that the ipad screen is unusually nice, so not like reading on a standard laptop. Just something to consider before running out and buying a nook.

iPad vs Nook vs Kindle [link]

And for that matter, their bankruptcy isn't -- they just fought off a takeover attempt and they're open for other sale offers, but they aren't in bankruptcy. On the other hand, a lot of individual stores are in serious trouble (commercial real estate, retail sales in a down economy, past aggressive expansion in oversaturated markets... the usual). The Nook is doing well and outperforming expectations, but one of the really strong perks it has over the Kindle is being able to use it in physical stores (which includes browsing whole books while you're there); if that's a feature you like, worry about how busy the cafe in your local store is, but not about whether the company as a whole is going to disappear.

Signed, B&N is still paying half the mortgage, at least until the spouse finds another fucking job.

And once more - that was a side issue. My main point is try before you buy. Whether you love or hate an interface depends both on objective and on highly subjective factors. You really can't tell whether you will like using it without trying. And these days you can try anything. Kindle is in target. Nook is in B&N. Borders carries most of the off brands. So you really can physically handle just about everything before you decide which to buy.

My main point is try before you buy.

Yes, agreed.

I never in a million years thought I'd love my Kindle so much. What I love is that I just read. No bells or whistles or web (the web interface is painful, and I have the iPhone for that, anyway) to distract me. It's incredibly easy on the eyes. I read it for 5 hours straight on the plane back from Philly and didn't feel the eyestrain I would get from a book. Like Gud and Gris have said elsewhere, I'll still buy the hardcopies for my home library if I love a book and want to have it on my shelves. But I love all of the free classics and not having to buy "throw-away" books. I also love being able to read the first few chapters as a sample before I buy the rest.

Yeah, I definitely can't disagree with getting your hands on one first. Keyboards and monitors are the same way for me, I like to go to a store where I can actually see/touch them.