bump
This may sound strange but one of the great joys of my life is curling up at night with my dogs, a beverage of choice and a real book. I love the feel, the smell, the weight of it in my hands. I can get lost for hours in a bookstore or a library. Maybe if I traveled I would enjoy a Kindle.
I still have quite a few hard cover books I have to finish up before I take the plunge. I’ve already purchased a couple of Kindle books to read at work on my desktop during lunch. What I’m even more grateful for is the rise in the number of audio books so now I can catch up on my reading even when I’m working out.
I got my Kindle DX for Daddoo’s day last year, and I love it. I read newspapers and magazines more than books, and it’s excellent for that. Unless you like advertisements. The Kindle editions only have the text.
I’ve had to send too much time in Dr’s waiting rooms these days, and it’s nice to have that one thin item to bring with me. Problem is, I rarely get to read it because people are always asking me about it...lol
I’m generally tech-friendly, but I gotta say my luddite tendencies come out when it comes to books. I like having a book in my hands when I read (usually a paperback, as I’m far too cheap to buy hardcovers :-) ).
I figure paper will co-exist for 4 to 12 more years, then be a niche product.
Sharp is now releasing a solar powere e-reader, expect the non illuminated serious reader market to go that way, while ever more powerful phone/tablet convergence devices fill the needs of casual readers.
Dell Streak & iphone 4
A large part of the reading market already carries a suitable device for casual reading.
I got a Kindle for Christmas, and love it.
It is a great thing to be able to carry over eighty titles in a slim package. Not to mention I can download for free many of my favorite classic titles.
The bad thing is it is a temporary technology. I have books that were owned by my grandmother, that are still readable. My daughter will not be able to use the Kindle as it will wear out.
Love my Kindle.
For important books that I think I want my kids to see and read later, I buy a hard copy, but for the run of the mill novel or memoir, I buy on Kindle.
Also, I have found some contemporary histories from the turn of the 20th century that are out of print (thus costing $100+ for hard copies when you can find them) that have been converted to Kindle format (and free)- so you can’t beat that. The savings on two of those books paid for my device.
Print books for me. My reading is non-fiction. I can write in margins, underline what I want for reference and then give it to someone else if I want to. I also like to give books and presents and write in them. Works for me.
I look at gadget stuff as something that needs to be bought again and again ‘to have the latest’ updates because the older one will not be supported at longer.