One of Ace’s open-bloggers has a post up on the e-book wars: specifically, reconciling the .epub vs. .azw format (NOOK vs. Kindle). The way it works out for me is that I generally use my iPad* for reading both formats (as well as PDFs), and save the Kindle for when I want to read outside (because e-ink just simply works better, in a way that computer pixels can’t currently match). I think that this more or less covers all the bases. Although I think that Amazon is missing a bet by not making their Kindles more accessible to competitors’ content: but I freely admit that this could very well be a distinctly ignorant opinion on my part…
Moe Lane
*Note that the link to the above is to the first generation iPad, which is being priced down to the point where one that’s used is going to be perfectly serviceable as an e-reader. 16 GB, 3G capacity, $260 and eligible for Amazon Prime. Not top of the line, but if all you want is a ebook and pdf reader with a web browser attached, well…
PS: BTW, if it isn’t obvious or anything: I’m an Amazon Affiliate for Maryland. Just disclosing that.
Moe: The Nook is a Barnes & Noble device and they tend to be more protective of their content. It probably isn’t that Amazon is limiting their usage, but that B&N probably doesn’t allow them to utilize theirs. I worked for a B&N for approx 5 years and noticed that they tended to be very limiting to those who would use their services. It’s one of the reasons I bought a Kindle instead of a Nook because of the prospective limits that could have come up.
Prospective limits are one of the reasons I purchased a Nook Simple Touch over a Kindle. Plus, I got it bundled with a Nook Color for under $130. I’ve hacked and added the Kindle app to both, which allows me access to both B&N and Kindle books. Also, it suits my perverse nature to read Kindle books on my Nook e-ink reader.