Thinking about buying a nook for yourself or someone else? Wondering which model is the best purchase – nook or nook Wifi “Lite”? Good question, and as a veteran nook user and troubleshooter I think I can help!   There are only three differences between these two models.  

1) The nook Wifi is $50 cheaper.

2) The nook Lite does not have free AT&T Cell Service for buying books anywhere (you have to connect to a computer or wif-fi network)

3) The nook Lite has a white back instead of a gray back panel.  

That's it! Obviously cheaper is better so let's look at the other two differences.  

Do you need the 3G feature? The regular nook has a built in cellular network connection that's free for life to buy books anywhere you can get an AT&T data signal. However, the 3G service for the nook, based on my recent experiences, still doesn't work great in non-3G areas (even though it has the right radio equipment). If you aren't in an area with the AT&T 3G service most of the time or don't mind using wifi or connecting your computer to buy books get a nook Wifi.  

Do you hate white? Seriously, some people will like the back of the regular nook because of the contrast of the dark back panel. For $20 you can change it out the nook white back or buy a decal for your nook and you're still $30 ahead! If you don't mind the white back panel or would just change it out anyway buy a nook Wifi.

I bought a nook for $259 when they were first available. If I had to do it again, I'd buy a nook Wifi in a heartbeat. It's a great deal and the options for the nook are much better than the similarly priced Kobo and Amazon readers. Keep the $50 and buy some books!

Comments  

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0 #16 sheila 2011-03-24 11:50

I don't know how to connect to WIFI. Can anybody help me. I just purchased the Nook

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0 #15 hedwards 2010-11-20 10:56

I got the WiFi only version. I've got a cellphone with a MicroSD slot in it and the ability to tether the Nook to it via WiFi.

Personally, with the garbage service that AT&T provides around here, I can't imagine 3G working well. And I live in a major city, not out in the sticks.

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0 #14 2010-09-29 09:18

I was one who debated a while before I bought my nook. I went for the 3g version for a few solid reasons. One was that I live in the middle of nowhere where I get no wi-fi but the 3g works great. Another is that I am not always able to get onto a computer so it's well worth being able to browse for books on the device.

It's all up to personal needs and expectations. I'm sure I would have gone for the less expensive version if I was in an area where wireless hot spots are abundant and I owned a wireless router. But as neither is the case, I spent the extra $50 and I have no regrets.

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-2 #13 2010-09-13 15:12

http://941583fbx6f-2k2kj9gjddtye2.hop.clickbank.net/

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0 #12 2010-09-02 20:37

Don't waste your money on 3G. You will not, I repeat NOT, want to use your nook to do any browsing with. It is not designed for anything but reading. You only need connectivity for downloading books. 3G would definitely be faster for this, but it's not worth $50. Like someone else said, use the fifty to pay for the service plan, that is something you will definitely want. These things aren't bullet proof

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0 #11 2010-08-11 12:01

I got the WiFi, I spent the $50 I saved on the protection plan. My reasoning was simple: I use the nook to read books, not to surf. How often would I really use the nook as a computer?
Answer: not nearly enough to justify $50.

Book Reviews: http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

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-3 #10 2010-07-30 14:02

Another thing I found.... The service contract for a Nook Wifi is cheaper than for the Nook 3G.

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0 #9 2010-07-19 16:26

I bought the kiindle and took it back as I learned more about the nook. The kindle is great except for that small keyboard. I do like the nook but I wasnt happy when i found out that the 3g is only available to download and buy books and you could not surf the web unless you are using wifi. Now with the kindle you can have 3g all the time not just to buy and download books.

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0 #8 2010-07-14 16:36

Sean - WiFi works the same as 3G. It only connects when needed. I'm not sure what the time-out on it is but so far I haven't noticed much difference in battery life with it on or off.

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0 #7 2010-07-12 20:43

I chose the Nook WiFi or the Kindle 2 for a couple reasons:

1) I have WiFi around me almost all the time, either at home, the office or several other locations. Plus I figure I can download what I need before I need to connect again.

2) The ability to add a microSD card trumpt the 3G. I have many PDFs that I wanted to read and this was more important. Between the microSD, the official BNN screen protectors and a good case (still looking for that elusive item) I figure I will still be spending the $50 I saved just on accessories.

3) Even though 3G service is available locally, it can get spotty at times, according to my friends who own iPhones.

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