<p>Some schools that we visited said you needed a Kindle, some recommended a Nook. Can anyone tell me which is better and why? I'm thinking about XMas! Thank you!</p>
<p>Get an iPad, it can run both the Kindle and the Nook applications…</p>
<p>I bought Nook last Christmas. I am thinking about IPad2 this year.</p>
<p>I had one child graduate college in May and one who is a sophomore…neither has ever mentioned that having a Nook or Kindle would be of help at all in their academics…</p>
<p>Some schools specifically said that their professors make you download supplementary articles, etc. on your Nook, or Kindle.</p>
<p>cellopop-
So if a professor tells you to download an article to your Kindle, will you be able to get it on your iPad <em>with minimal difficulty</em>. For example, I know Apple doesn’t like you running anything but through iTunes or they make it a pain in the butt.</p>
<p>I also run the Kindle and Nook apps on my IPad.</p>
<p>If you are thinking of getting this as a gift and you are not sure, maybe it would make a better high school graduation gift (nook or kindle) than a Christmas gift.</p>
<p>If you’re talking only about the black and white versions:
Nooks are better in that they have MicroSD cards slots.
Nooks have a removable battery, which is a good and bad thing. Bad, because there is a slight sacrifice in space, and good because you can replace it or carry a backup.
The screens are about the same.
Both can play music.
The first generation Nook has worse battery life than the Kindle because of the color screen.
The Kindle has a really cool feature where you can setup an @kindle email, then whenever you want to transfer a book from your computer, you can just send the file as an attachment to the Kindle email. After you send it, the Kindle will download it and it shows up on the homescreen. I find this very nice because you don’t have to mess with cables, and it is very easy.</p>
<p>Personally, I like the design of the Kindle better. It feels lighter and thinner. Overall they are about the same, but personally I lean towards the Kindle.</p>
<p>I was thinking XMas because the Macbook will be for graduation. 
I was thinking something in color (like a color Nook). Does a Kindle even come in color.</p>
<p>milesokeefe~thanks so much for your advice! what do you recommend in a color version?</p>
<p>OhioMom2-</p>
<p>I’ve only purchased books via Amazon, so I’m not sure how the professors would distribute their articles. If they are available in the Amazon (or Barnes & Noble) store, then you just buy them there, and download to your device.</p>
<p>Younger kids prefer Ipad because of its cool graphics and games.</p>
<p>Are they maybe emailing them to your Kindle email or something for direct download?</p>
<p>The new Kindle (touch screen/color) is being released at the end of November.</p>
<p>DH has a Nook color. He loves it.</p>
<p>I have an IPad. I love it.</p>
<p>DD wants a Kindle.</p>
<p>If you want to be sure you are getting the right thing for the right school, you will have to wait until AFTER your child makes a matriculation decision.</p>
<p>
Think of the Kindle not as the physical device, but rather, the software application. The app is running natively on the Kindle device but can also be downloaded on a PC, iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, etc. so your student probably doesn’t actually need a Kindle or Nook or iPad device since they can just use Kindle on their PC or Mac and the Kindle app is free.</p>
<p>I have a Kindle and really like it since it’s the perfect size, weight, battery life, screen for reading material normally printed in black and white. I also have the Kindle app on my iPhone and have read the same books I was reading on the Kindle on it when I found myself somewhere with time to kill but didn’t have my Kindle with me. </p>
<p>If you want to get a device but don’t want to spend the bucks for an iPad, the new Kindle Fire is looking pretty good - have you checked that out?</p>
<p>The app is running natively on the Kindle device but can also be downloaded on a PC, iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, etc. so your student probably doesn’t actually need a Kindle or Nook or iPad device since they can just use Kindle on their PC or Mac and the Kindle app is free.</p>
<p>This^</p>
<p>Ahh I get it now! Thanks so much everyone! :)</p>
<p>The new nook is smaller and lighter than the old nook/Kindle. </p>
<p>One thing to consider is backlighting. The classic models of the e-readers are just like printing on a page. For me, reading for long periods on a backlit screen would be too much for my eyes. But then, I’m so old-fashioned that the only thing I want a reader for is reading. :)</p>
<p>As others have mentioned you can get the kindle app for your pc or smartphone. We have 2 kindles in the house (a third on the way at xmas) so I prefer the kindle, but have never used a Nook so I can’t compare. Right now, because she spends so much time commuting my D has been using my kindle and I read on my laptop or droid (yes one can get used to reading on such a small device). Our two kindles (and one I ordered for xmas) have 3G and I would not buy one without it. I find it invaluable to be able to download on the fly and not have to worry about a wifi connection. </p>
<p>Bottom line, get the device your child will enjoy, they will be able to get at the articles even if they don’t have either device.</p>
<p>I have a nook 3G with wifi, which I love, but have been pretty intruiged by the upcoming Kindle Fire.</p>