Microsoft is Joining the 7″ Tablet Bandwagon

Credit: Microsoft Inc.

In response to the success of the Google’s 7 inch Nexus, Amazon’s 7 inch Kindle Fire and Apple’s 7.9 inch iPad mini, Microsoft is joining the 7 inch fray. The Wall Street Journal reports that Redmond is developing a smaller version of its Surface tablet, and that it will launch later this year.

If tablets are booming, those in the 7-8 inch category are doubly booming, with IDC reporting that more than half of all tablets that shipped in the fourth quarter of 2012 were this size.

The lower price of the smaller devices makes them much more palatable to cost-conscious buyers. Microsoft is aware of the need for lower-priced devices, and has recently altered the Windows 8 hardware requirements to permit smaller, cheaper screens. Many buyers also find the smaller form factor more convenient due to its reduced size and weight.

The WSJ also notes that Microsoft is working on a smartphone of its own, but that component suppliers were unclear if there were any plans to actually bring this to market.

The paper quotes a person familiar with the situation saying that while 7-inch tablets were not part of Microsoft’s product plans last year  company executives have realized they need to respond to the growth and popularity of small slates. Which boils down to Redmond is having to play catch up yet again.

Microsoft finds itself increasingly threatened in its PC business. The future of PCs is being questioned as users move to alternative computing devices such as tablets and smartphones. Experts agree that first quarter PC shipments totaled 76.3 million units, down 13.9 percent compared to the same quarter last year.

The decline was worse than the 7.7 percent previously forecast by the analyst firm, and the market could be headed into further contraction. Microsoft’s Windows 8 did not help PC shipments grow, as fewer consumers are upgrading PCs to Windows 8, and businesses are largely sticking with Windows 7, IDC analysts said.

As the tablets market gets more and more crowded, soon we will see the separation of the men from the boys.  Darwin’s theory regarding the survival of the fittest will once again be tested.  May be best one win.  Good Day.

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Refurbished iMacs Available at Apple

Credit: Apple Inc.

If you are an Apple loyalist and have an unsatisfied thirst for an iMac, I have good news for you.  Apple is currently offering refurbished iMacs at tempting prices (e.g., $1,189.00 and $1,269.00).  That’s a savings of 20 and 15 percent off.  Looks to me like a terrific deal.

Apple has added refurbished models of the current-generation 21.5″ iMac to its Online Store in the past several days, offering a faster-shipping alternative to customers looking to get a desktop Mac.

New iMac models on the Apple Online Store list a lead time of several weeks to get delivered, while the refurbished models claim to ship in 1-3 days, with $200 and $230 discounts on the low- and high-end 21″ models respectively.

Apple Retail Stores list mid-March as the earliest time to pick up new 21″ iMacs ordered online, but Amazon.com claims to have both 21″ models in stock [$1,299 and $1,494] and eligible for Amazon Prime shipping.

27″ iMac models have yet to appear on the refurbished store, with the company reporting a 3-4 week lead time online and late March for in-store pickup. Amazon has the base 27″ model in stock for $1,799.

To be candid with you, I have a problem buying high-price ticket items in the United States, mainly because I can’t use the product’s guarantee.  I prefer to buy my stuff where I can see it, touch it, and rest assured I will use the product’s guarantee for when the products goes sour.

Recently I purchased a Vaio laptop and it came with a factory defect.  No problem, I took it to Sony Panama, and in less than four days, I got my computer back with a brand new motherboard.  How can I do that with a U.S. purchased product?  Even though the price may be slightly higher, I’m willing to cough my hard-earned cash on products in Panamanian computer stores.

I’m definitely interested on a low-end 21.5″ iMac, but the piggy bank is empty as this moment.  I’m a patient man and can wait until the time is ripe.  Meanwhile, my ole desktop HP will do the work.  Patience is still a virtue in this part of the world.  Take Care

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Steve Jobs’ Vision and The iPad

Credit: Apple Inc.

Some people are capable of only looking as far as their tip of their nose; while others are able to envision the vastness of the Universe.  Visionaries such as Isaac Newton, Leonardo da Vinci or Albert Einstein belong to this unique intellectual elite.

When Steve Jobs came up with the iPad tablet, nobody thought it would be an instant hit, not even the consumers themselves felt there was a need for such a gadget.  Steve Jobs created a product out of the blue, that people never thought they needed, less alone cough some money at it.  A new industry was created and instantly everybody followed suit.

I resisted the temptation and looked the other way in an effort to avoid the “herd syndrome”.  I told myself there was no need for an iPad for Yours Truly.  Instead I purchased an Amazon Kindle Fire.  It was a horrible decision.  I was in for a deep disappointment.  The gadget was restricted to a few features such as reading electronic books, browsing the web and viewing and listening to YouTube videos.  The rich content of newspapers, magazines, movies, and TV shows were only possible if you lived inside the United States and owned a U.S. credit card.  (Omar frowns!)

These are the official words from Amazon.com about the Kindle Fire tablet obtained from their official Web site:

“With a U.S. credit card, you will be able to purchase new apps and music for Kindle Fire HD while you are abroad.  To purchase, download, or stream movies and TV shows, you must be physically present in the United States and have a U.S. billing address.”

As Apple bombarded the Internet and other media outlets, I learned more and more about the iPad, and slowly the itch of owning one grew inside my head.  Finally, I succumbed to the song of the mermaid and swiped the card.  I paid a high price for my iPad—almost $550.  That is a lot of money for a retiree in this part of the world, but the mermaids were singing like angels.

For several months, I’ve read the manual and searched under the hood to discover its rich features.  Now I realize it was an excellent deal.  The iPad is a full-fledged computer with a generous amount of apps; in fact, too many for my meager needs.  The more I read, the more I realize what a great piece of equipment this popular juggernaut really is, and how vast was the vision of Steve Jobs.

Below is the Table of Contents of Apple’s iPad PDF Owners Manual for iOS 6 software (third generation) with the much touted Retina Display:

1. Chapter 1:  iPad at a Glance
2. Chapter 2:  Getting Started
3. Chapter 3:  Basics
4. Chapter 4:  Siri
5. Chapter 5:  Safari
6. Chapter 6:  Mail
7. Chapter 7:  Messages
8. Chapter 8:  Facetime
9. Chapter 9:  Camera
10. Chapter 10:  Photos
11. Chapter 11:  Photo Booth
12. Chapter 12:  Videos
13. Chapter 13:  Calendar
14. Chapter 14:  Contacts
15. Chapter 15:  Notes
16. Chapter 16:  Reminders
17. Chapter 17:  Clock
18. Chapter 18:  Maps
19. Chapter 19:  Music
20. Chapter 20:  i Tunes Store
21. Chapter 21:  App Store
22. Chapter 22:  Newstand
23. Chapter 23:  iBooks
24. Chapter 24:  Podcasts
25. Chapter 25:  Game Center
26. Chapter 26:  Accessibility
27. Chapter 27:  Settings
28. Appendix A:  iPad in Business
29. Appendix B:  International Keyboard
30. Appendix C:  Safety, Handling & Support

As you can see, the iPad has an extensive use and certainly worth its salt.  I’m focusing on the use of Siri, the voice activated feature, and photography apps.  The resolution of the Retina Display is as good as Apple says it is, or even better.  I’m still learning the ropes.  As I learn new tricks, I’ll share them with you right here at Lingua Franca.

Maybe you too will soon be listening to the sweet songs of the mermaids.  Good Day.

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Competing For the Gold in the Tablets Dash

In June 2012, Steven Sinofsky left, president of Microsoft’s Windows and Windows Live division, introduced the Surface tablet in Los Angeles. Hugo Barra, a Google product management director, discussed the Nexus 7 in San Francisco last month.  Credit: From left: David Monrew/Reuters; The New York Times Jim Wilson/The New York Times.

As the competitions continue in the Summer Olympic Games in London, another competition takes place in the consumer electronics industry.  I’m referring to the cut-throat competition between Apple, Google, Amazon, and Microsoft.  All of these Masters of the Universe are determined to win the tablets race coughing out millions of greenbacks to make them attractive to the mainstream computer user.

The main competitors in the tablet’s repêchage are:  Apple’s iPad, Google’s Nexus 7, Microsoft’s Surface and Amazon’s Kindle Fire.  All of them are interested in your hard-earned money.

Google on Wednesday, June 27, 2012  unveiled the Nexus 7, which is smaller and less expensive than Apple iPad, and is meant to compete with both that device and Amazon’s Kindle Fire.  The Google-branded Nexus 7 tablet, which will cost $200, has a seven-inch screen, which puts it in direct competition with Amazon’s Kindle Fire, a similar tablet that sells at the same price. In other words, Google is aiming at the low-end of the tablet market. The higher end is dominated by Apple’s iPad, priced at $500.

The Nexus tablet will include the next version of Android, called Jelly Bean. The software will have smoother animation and the ability to transcribe speech into text, according to Google.

On the other hand, in its most strategically significant push yet into the hardware business, Microsoft on Monday, June 18, 2012, unveiled a tablet computer called Surface that is intended to challenge Apple’s iPad.  During the product presentation, the company showed off a tablet that is about the same weight and thickness as an iPad, with a 10.6-inch screen. The device has a built-in “kickstand” that allows it to be propped up for watching movies, and a thin detachable cover that will serve double duty as a keyboard.

The Surface tablet runs a variation of Windows 8, a version of Microsoft’s flagship operating system that is due out in the fall. Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft’s chief executive, said the product was part of a longstanding tradition at Microsoft to create hardware, like computer mice, that show off innovations in its software.

Microsoft’s decision to create its own tablet was an acknowledgment that the company needed to depart from its regular way of doing business to get a grip on a threat to its dominance in computing.

With the detachable keyboard for Surface, known as Touch Cover, Microsoft seemed to be positioning its tablet as a more business-friendly alternative to the iPad, one that is better suited to productivity tasks that need faster typing. The keyboard has touch-sensing keys that become inactive when the cover is closed.

The keyboard could make Surface more competitive with Apple’s thin MacBook Air and more traditional Windows laptops. It will come in a variety of bright colors, adding a whimsical touch to the dark, hard-edged appearance of Surface. The company would not say whether the keyboard will be sold with Surface or separately.

Jeff Bezos is not sleeping on its laurels.  Amazon is working on a new version of the Kindle Fire, with a larger display, that could compete more directly with the iPad, according to a developer briefed on Amazon’s plans who did not want to be identified talking about unannounced products. Analysts also believe that Amazon is updating the Kindle Fire.

But Apple is hardly about to cede ground.  The company is developing a new tablet with a 7.85-inch screen that is likely to sell for much less than the latest $499 iPad, with its 9.7-inch display, according to several people with knowledge of the project who declined to be named discussing confidential plans. The product is expected to be announced this year.

Apple’s plan for a tablet with a smaller screen is part of a textbook business strategy: to lure customers who want different sizes of tablets into the iPad product family, say analysts and technology industry executives.  The strategy would most likely include devices with different prices and functions tailored to various uses, they say. The idea is to help Apple solidify its dominance in the tablet market even as the richest companies in the tech business are trying to figure out how to outflank Apple.

Who will win the gold?  My gut feeling is that Apple will get the medal.  Apple’s share of the tablet market is only somewhat less impressive: 60 to 70 percent of the market, depending on the company doing the estimating. As many people in the tech industry have pointed out, the “tablet market” is really a misnomer. For the time being, it is an iPad market.  Good Day.

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Google Decides to Enter the Tablets Race

Credit: Google Inc.

We all know how good Google is at what they do.  They are currently the undisputed leaders in the search engine field and the Android mobile operating system.  Now they’re aiming their guns at Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet.  Yep, Google has gumption power and can prove it in the battleground.

Last week Google’s camp announced their new tablet dubbed the Nexus 7 manufactured by Taiwanese AsusTek Computer with a 7-inch screen, IPS panel and a resolution of 1280×800 pixels coated with Gorilla Glass.  Inside the hood you will find a Tegra 3 processor running at 1.3 GHz together with 1GB RAM memory and the option to select a model with 8 or 16 GB internal memory.  The price tag for the first one is $199 and the latter sells for $250, well below the cost of an Apple iPad, and at the same level of Amazon’s Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble’s Nook.

The Nexus 7 will be launched running Android’s newest operating system flavor, 4.1 Jelly Bean.  Jelly Bean will also come with the ability to share photos by tapping two phones together.

As its main dimensions the Nexus 7 is 10.45 mm thick and weighs only 340 grams similar to the weight of a paperback book.  The capacity of the battery is 4.325 mAH which Google’s people say will offer about 9 hours of continued use.

This darling comes with a modest front-facing camera for taking photographs, albeit the quality is only 1.2 Megapixels, intended to be used for videoconferencing.  It is a Wi-Fi only tablet with NFC technology and GPS feature, as well as the normal sensors.

The product will hit the shelves by mid July and will be distributed exclusively in the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom, although it is highly expected to reach other countries in the near future.  That means that even as we speak, Panama is out of the picture.  No problem, I already have my Kindle Fire, even though I’m not a fully satisfied user as you probably know.

Nexus 7 will also be the first device that ships with Chrome as its native browser—Chrome, despite being Google’s browser, hasn’t been available on Android until a beta version of it was introduced for Ice Cream Sandwich devices. Google has also overhauled Google Maps with more information and review features which can predict which restaurants you’ll likely enjoy. Offline maps will also be a hotly sought-after feature, and now that Apple and Microsoft are touting similar features, it’s an important bullet point to have.

It features tighter integration with Google Play, with content being front and center, similar to how the Amazon Kindle Fire functions. Due to this, Google Play now has a new 3D magazine app with tablet-optimized articles that render well on the Nexus 7′s screen.

Google is clearly making a play for potential iPad customers with this sleek, streamlined device, and with a price tag of less than half of the base model Apple tablet, the company may have a real shot at success. $499 gets you a 16GB iPad with a 9.7-inch Retina display, but if ultra-sharp screen resolution and playing in the Apple universe aren’t a big deal, the 7-inch Nexus slate will be much easier on your pocketbook.

Of course, it’s unclear how Microsoft’s Surface gadget will shake up the consumer tablet market. With a physical keyboard and Windows 8-esque software design, it seems like Android and iOS zealots will already have their minds made up between the iPad and the Nexus 7.

The waters are too murky now.  They will be clearer after mid July.  Let’s wait and see what happens when the dust settles down and the results are known.  We the buyers will decide their success or failure.  That’s the way it works.  We the people have the last say.  Good Day and happy blogging.

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Troubleshooting the Amazon Kindle Fire Tablet

Credit: Amazon.com

Since I purchased my Kindle Fire, I had a problem viewing my blog, Lingua Franca.  The text and the images were too small.  I had to use my fingers (pinch gesture) to enlarge the content of the screen so I could read the text and enjoy the pictures.  This was cumbersome and time consuming.  I contacted Amazon’s Customer Online Chat Service and they came up with a complex solution to the problem.  I want to share this useful tip today. Maybe somebody out there is having the same problems and gritting their teeth and pulling their hair in desperation.

This is what the geeks at Amazon told me to do and fix the quirk.

Select the web site you’re having problems with.  Then tap the bottom of the screen to open up a menu with several options.  From left to right, tap the fourth icon which looks like a tiny book.  This will open up several more options.  Tap the tools icon which reads “Settings“, represented by a wrench and a screwdriver.

Next you will find a long list of options.  Scroll down until you find the option, “Desktop or mobile view”.  Tap this option.  A small window will pop up with the following options:

1. Automatic:  Optimize for each website.
2. Desktop:  Optimize for desktop view.
3. Mobile:  Optimize for mobile.

Select the Mobile view.  This option will compress the Web site to the size of your Kindle Fire’s screen, bypassing the need to resize the screen to enlarge the text and pictures.  Then go ahead and refresh your Web site.  You’re done!  Now you’ll able to view your screen exactly the way it was designed to be—dazzling pictures and readable text.  Mission Accomplished!

This is exactly why I wanted.  I wonder why Amazon decided to hide this option deep down in an obscure corner of their software.  They forgot what intuitiveness and simplicity really mean.  Remember:  “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

Walter Isaacson in his book about Steve Jobs, hits the nail right on the head, regarding the issue of minimalism and simplicity.  This is what he wrote that resonated in my head when I encountered this pesky software inconvenience:

“When our tools don’t work, we tend to blame ourselves, for being too stupid or not reading the manual or having too-fat fingers…When our tools are broken, we feel broken.  And when somebody fixes one, we feel a tiny bit more whole.”

And now you know the rest of the story.  Good Day.

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Barnes & Noble’s Nook Gets a Shot in the Arm

It’s an indisputable fact that as far as e-book readers is concerned, Amazon’s Kindle is the King of the Hill, distantly followed by B&N’s Nook.  But this doesn’t mean the Nook is wiped out—blown out of the water.  No Sir.  B&N is not throwing in the towel or sleeping the afternoon siesta.  They’re rounding up their wagons preparing for a comeback fight.  They went out searching for a big brother and they found it—Microsoft, for crying out loud.

Microsoft announced on Monday that it would invest $300 million in Barnes & Noble’s Nook division for a 17.6 percent stake. The deal values the e-reader business at $1.7 billion.

Earlier this month, Barnes & Noble announced a new black-and-white e-reader with a glowing screen so that it can be used in the dark. The introduction of the e-reader was followed by strong reviews from critics, and Barnes & Noble executives said the device is already sold out.  Both Barnes & Noble and Amazon are spending heavily to maintain a foothold in light of Apple’s success with the iPad.

The investment from a deep-pocketed tech giant will give Barnes & Noble breathing room, allowing the company to continue to spend money developing Nook devices.

The new division, which has yet to be renamed, will also include Barnes & Noble’s college business. It is meant to help the business compete in what many expect to be a growth area for e-books: the education market, something that Apple has already set its sights on.

I’m expecting a reaction from Mr. Jeff Bezos, who’s determined to have his Kindle become the de facto e-book reader.  It will be interesting to watch how this knife-in-throat competition evolves.  Good Day.

Source:  Microsoft to Take Stake in Nook Unit of Barnes & Noble – The New York Times Online

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The War for Light Tablets is On

For a while, Apple’s iPad was the undisputed leader of the pack in the category of computer tablets.  Several tried to challenge its stranglehold, but eventually had to bite the dust.  Then came Amazon and launched the Amazon Fire, which was a new subcategory of tablets.  I use the term light tablet, since it’s not a full blown handheld device like the ubiquitous Apple iPad.  It can play music, stream movies, browse the web, display magazines in full color and read electronic books.  And the price is only $199.00 which is substantially cheaper than the entry price of $499 of an iPad.  For a cash-strapped consumer, this is a blessing come true.

On Monday, November 7th., Barnes and Noble aimed it guns at Amazon touting the Nook Tablet and upgrading its existing Nook devices.  With the expected fanfare, William Lynch, CEO of Barnes & Noble, announced the Nook Tablet in an effort to grab a larger slice of the tablets’ pie.  The Nook Tablet will rival other tablet readers on the market, including Amazon’s newly launched Kindle Fire.

The Nook Tablet, which will retail for $249 and hit the shelves at the end of next week, looks very similar to the Nook Color. It runs on Wi-Fi, has a seven-inch display, plays movies in HD, and has a “Nook Newstand.” Netflix and Hulu Plus pre-loaded on device.

Even as we speak the Nook Lineup is the following:

• Nook Simple Touch:  $99.00, down from $139.00 and is available immediately.
• Nook Color:  $199.00, down from $249.00 and is also readily available in the market.
• Nook Tablet:  $250.00.  Will be released on November 17th.

In many respects, the Nook Tablet is very similar to the Nook Color 2.0.  It has the same basic chassis, and the 7-inch screen is the same resolution as its predecessor.  However, this new tablet has a faster CPU, more memory, more storage, and a new operating system.  If you enjoy specs, here they are:

• Screen:  1,024×600-pixel “laminated, no air” 7-inch IPS LCD.
• Weight:  14.1 ounces.
• Processor:  1 GHz dual-core TI OMAP 4.
• Platform:  Customized version of Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
• Internal Memory:  16 GB.
• Micro SD Card Expansion Slot:  Up to 32 GB cards.
• Integrated microphone.
• Battery Life:  11 hours reading, 8-9 hours video (with wireless off).
• Price:  $249.00.
• Availability:  Preorder now, ships November 17th.

While the Nook Tablet is more expensive than the Amazon Fire, it offers more memory and claims a longer battery life.  Another advantage over the Amazon Fire, is that it will come preloaded with apps from Netflix, Hulu and Pandora.  In addition to being available online and at B&N’s stores, the Nook Tablet will be sold at a variety of retailers including Target, Best Buy, Staples, and Fry’s.

William Lynch minced no words in positioning the tablet against the Kindle Fire.  He called the tablet “a vending machine for Amazon’s services” and criticized Amazon for selling an ad-supported version of the Kindle Fire at a $40 discount. Brick-and-mortar stores that can provide support, more memory and a device that is slightly lighter were all included in his list of reasons that the Nook Tablet had an advantage over the Kindle Fire.  Lynch also said that Netflix CEO Reed Hasting said that HD movies look better on the Nook.  “Judge for yourself,” he said, “but we think content will look and render better on the Nook than on Kindle Fire.”

I coughed my money at Amazon and opted for the Amazon Fire.  It’s expected to arrive in Panama sometime between November 21 and November 29.  Then and only then, will I know if this puppy has the spark to start a fire in my blogging activities.  Can’t wait for the tablet to come home to Daddy.  Good Day.

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Amazon’s Kindle Tablet is No Longer a Rumor

Credit: Amazon.com

Back in July 2011, I penned a blog post about a feeble rumor of an Amazon’s Kindle tablet.  Now the rumor has transformed into reality.  All this week the Web has been abuzz with the possible launch of the tablet and its different features sometime in November at a suggested price of $250.00.

A TechCrunch blogger—Sarah Perez— alleges that the tablet exists and that she had the opportunity of playing with it for a while, but could not post any pictures of the puppy.  That was part of the deal to be handed over the tablet.

According to Ms. Perez, Amazon’s tablet has a back-lit 7 inch screen and is geared towards playing internet music and movies.  It is multi-touch, but could rely on a two-finger multi-touch instead of 10-finger, like the iPad uses.

The tablet will be the first Kindle with a full-color screen. Originally, Amazon had planned to launch a 7 and a 10 inch tablet at the same time but that plan changed this summer. TechCrunch said that Amazon is now betting everything on the 7 inch tablet and if it works, the company will release the more expensive 10 inch tablet in the first quarter of next year.

TechCrunch said Amazon is planning on offering its $79 a year internet streaming service Amazon Prime for free along with the device.  Amazon’s tablet will be WiFi only and come with a color touchscreen, but will have a limited 6GB of storage.  Experts have had a positive outlook on Amazon’s tablet device, partly because at $250, it is around half the price of most tablets on the market, including the iPad.

Amazon is the perfect company to be successful with a new tablet.  It has a rock solid brand that everybody knows, it holds millions of credit card information, and it has zillions of products which can be purchased with an Amazon tablet by just pressing a button.  Even my grandmother can buy herself knitting needles or her favorite books with her newly acquired tablet.

Amazon’s website is being tweaked to make it tablet friendly as it prepares for the launch of its own $250 Kindle tablet. The changes, which will soon be available to all users, see a redesigned home page without clutter and there is a lot of white space.  The search bar has been enlarged and there are fewer buttons, while the focus is on Amazon’s digital offerings such as e-books, digital games and applications.

Amazon will not mothball the Kindle e-reader due to its amazing success.  They are using it as a conduit to sell their e-books at an ever accelerating pace.  With the Kindle tablet Amazon is betting on selling digital products which can in the consumer’s hands in a matter of seconds.  I’m talking about e-books, music, videos and movies.  The sales volumes for these digital goodies are overwhelming.

Everybody expects that both tablets will run the Google Android operating system, and probably the Honeycomb version designed for tablets rather than mobile phones. However, it remains to be seen whether Amazon’s software will be customized to support its shopping, movie and music services.

Whatever Amazon comes out with, it’s not likely to be as pretty as an iPad–word is it actually looks like RIM’s PlayBook—but it’s almost guaranteed to be cheaper, and will probably leave many new HP TouchPad owners feeling a little buyer’s remorse.

And now you know the rest of the story.  Good Day.

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The e-Books Rage is On

After hundreds of years, the traditional concept of books has dramatically changed.  As the digital age evolves, physical books are being challenged by electronic books.  It’s a hard blow for Gutenberg followers who prefer to feel the paper pages as they turn them one by one while reading a book, magazine or other reading material.  Electronic books require an electronic reader and that’s when Kindle comes into the picture.

Amazon’s Kindle is one of the most popular e-book readers around.  There are several options of Kindles out there in the wild and there’s also a persistent rumor that a color Amazon tablet is in the works.   If you are cash-strapped and can’t afford to buy a Kindle, you can still read electronic books using your laptop or desktop.  Amazon and Barnes & Noble provide a Kindle and Nook applications for Windows and Mac operating systems and both work very well.

I’ve been using Windows Kindle for about six months with fabulous results.  I recently purchased by seventh electronic book and more will be purchased in the future.  The buying process is a breeze and the cost of the e-books is almost too good to be true.  The average book for a Kindle book ranges between $9.99 and $11.99.

Snapshot of my computer screen depicting several electronic books downloaded from Amazon.com using the Kindle Windows application. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Amazon recently announced that they sell more e-books than they do traditional print and paper books. While it’s certain that e-readers are a significant part of the publishing industry, many laptop owners, however, like to curl up around their computer to read a good book, instead. They consider the computer screen plenty good enough for reading already. For those folks, both Barnes & Noble and Amazon have made their e-readers available as desktop applications.

You can download the Kindle application from Amazon and the Nook application from Barnes & Noble. Since both applications are free, you could certainly load both on your machine. But most folks like to use a central service and program to get their content; no one wants to try to remember which book is on which program. It’s best to keep things simple.

Let’s start with the most critical part of reading a book on your computer: how does it actually look? After all, if you’re just reading a wall of text, then you might as well be reading a Pages document.

The Kindle displays a single “page” at a time. It basically looks like a word processing document, although you can toggle the display to present two columns instead of one. You can choose to make the reading screen black text on white background, white text on black background, or a brown on sepia color. You can also adjust the number of words that appear on each line of text, the size of the font, and the general brightness of your display. All of these controls are found in the menu bar, although you can also reach most using on-screen shortcuts.

View of the Home Page of The Kindle application showing the different books I have on my account. There are thousands of free books on Amazon.com as well; not all the books have to be paid for. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

The “book shelf” for both the Kindle and Nook is intended to let you find your e-books quickly. The Kindle’s book shelf is really just a display, though; it doesn’t do much to extend the “book shelf” metaphor. The Kindle for Mac allows you to organize your books according to the most recently viewed books, title, and author. You can also look up archived items and change the display from a picture grid view to a list view.

You cannot print at all from Kindle or Nook for PC. Only the Nook for Mac offers that ability, although some material can’t be printed due to publisher restrictions.

Both the Nook and Kindle have an array of options when you highlight text.   On the Kindle, when you highlight text with your mouse, you can choose to apply a yellow highlight to it, copy it, add a note, look up the text in Google, Wikipedia or a dictionary, and even report a content error. You can also search the rest of the book for the same text. For example, if you want to know how often a particular phrase appears, this tool will help get that done.

Amazon’s Kindle for both Mac and PC offers a more customizable feel when you’re reading. The Nook for PC isn’t much different, thought it feels unfinished and not quite as elegant as the Kindle. That aside, the Nook for Mac has many more options for you, such as different highlight colors and printing from your book. The Mac version of the Nook also feels a little more polished and leans a little more heavily on the “book” metaphor of e-reading than the other two.

A closer view of The Kindle application on my computer screen. As you can see, the cover of the e-books are neatly positioned on the screen, just like a book shelf in a library. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Having the option to buy English books at a very affordable price is what I love about this application.  With my credit card and an account at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, I can have almost have any book I want in less than sixty seconds.  It just can’t get any better than this.  Good Day.

Source:  Alternate Apps: Nook vs. Kindle for your computer - Yahoo! News (By Tecca)

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