And the Winner is...

So I purchased a Nook Color!  I decided that it has all the features I wanted without the extra fluff and price.  I can check my email, surf the web, purchase apps, and read books, as well as, documents.  The only fall back is that in order to do anything that requires internet, I need to connect to Wi-Fi.  However, I suppose that if I had purchased an iPad that would have been the same, since I do not have ATT nor would I purchase a data plan.

Now I just need to figure out how to set up all the emails I want to have access to and I'll be happy (My son is already beyond happy because he can play Angry Birds on the "big screen!").  I also can apparently "route" (I think that is the correct term) my device and it gives me additional features.  I'm not sure how this is done or what features it will provide.  My brother-in-law or my friend Roy can do this for me if I choose. 

Anyway, I'm enjoying using my Nook for my Bible in church and I am actually reading for pleasure! (The Help to be exact.) Not that I have tons of time to read, but with the Nook I find it seems easier to carry with me and pull it out in down times.  Pretty cool! :)

In my next post I will be talking in more detail about "routing" and what that entails. That is if I can figure it out! 

The E-Reader Dilemma

Have you ever stood in the grocery store staring at the vast choices of toothbrushes and think "I just want a toothbrush for goodness sake!  It doesn't have to be self cleaning!"  I have many times.  Just like the toothbrushes, I find myself debating over the many varieties of E-Readers that have suddenly appeared.

I first contemplated whether I needed an E-Reader or wanted one for that matter.  Why purchase another gadget that will be obsolete in a week?  Will it damage my eyes or give me a headache?  Technical suaveness and ocular health aside, do I really NEED one.  Probably not.  Do I want one...YES!  So which one should I get?  The cheapest is the Kindle, which claims to "read like a book" and "has no glare," but is generally just a reader.  For $139 you can purchase the original Nook and $249 for the Nook Color, which provide similar claims.  The Nook Color also has added features such as the ability to search the web, check email, read additional documents that you can download from your computer and has hundreds of apps for games and entertainment.  Then there's the popular iPad, which will set you back a whopping $499.  According to Apple, the iPad has thousands of apps, can perform faster than other readers, and has two cameras for pictures and "face time." 

So...this leads me to question what do I want my reader to do?  I decided to do further research and found a wonderful site that compares the three popular readers: http://news.cnet.com/kindle-vs-nook-vs-ipad-which-e-book-reader-should-you-buysite .  This was a HUGE help!  The site does a wonderful job comparing the readers and telling you what features they each have.  After reading, I felt I wanted to purchase a Nook Color.  I can use it for reading, for my Bible in church, to read email, read documents, Zeke (my eight year old) could play games like Angry Birds and I could even use flash.

Then I went to my graduate class on technology on Saturday.  Our speaker was showing us all the uses for the iPad and how versatile it really is.  Now I don't know what to do.  Should I purchase the Nook Color for half the price and probably end up having to update in a few years or the iPad that will update automatically?  Do I really have the money to spend on the iPad?  I am not sure what I am going to purchase, but I do know that I am going to purchase something.  Hopefully, by my next post I will have made a decision and will share what I bought and my thoughts on my purchase.