Laptop Magazine has a side-by-side comparison of these two ereaders. Very useful for someone who is undecided. Here’s a snippet:
Design and Ergonomics
Side by side, these two gray rectangles display some striking differences in look, shape, and feel. At 6.5 x 5 x 0.5 inches the Nook Simple Touch is closer to square than the Kindle Touch (6.8 x 4.7 x 0.4 inches). We found the charcoal color of the Barnes & Noble eReader more attractive, and the shape gave us the impression that it was smaller and lighter. We also preferred the soft-touch coating that makes the Nook feel rubberized, as opposed to the smooth plastic back of the Kindle.
The Kindle Touch and Nook Simple Touch both weigh 7.5 ounces, but the 3G version of the Kindle is 0.3 ounces heavier. Either device is easy to hold for extended periods of time, but the physical buttons (the functions of which can be customized) on the Nook make it easier to use with either hand. However, we do wish the buttons weren’t quite so stiff.
Strangely, the Amazon’s eReader power button sits on the bottom, where it can be easily grazed, while the Barnes & Noble button sits along the top back of the device.
Winner: Nook Simple Touch. Everything about the Barnes & Noble version, from the shape and color to the buttons, impressed us more.
