I do too and resisted the allure of the e-book for a long time, but I just received a Kindle Touch from my husband for Christmas, and it’s wonderful. I have downloaded dozens of books for free or a dollar or two (I received $30 in a gift certificate from Amazon from the in-laws and have only spent $5 so far, LOL). I downloaded all of Shakespeare’s works for $2, Jane Austen’s entire works for 99 cents. I have a great Catholic Bible at my fingertips.
For my mother-in-law, who has had two spinal surgeries and can’t lift anything very heavy, her Kindle is a godsend, epecially since she is an avid reader. My mom likes hers since she loves long novels and doesn’t have to tote around a book everywhere she goes. We visit family a lot (4-6 hour drives depending on who we go stay with), and now I don’t have to drag a big old bookbag when we get in the car.
It has its drawbacks, to be sure. Since it’s still a relatively new thing, the number of copies of an e-book a library has is limited, and waiting lists can be long—but you don’t have to go pick it up when it’s ready. It has to be charged from time to time. However, the cost has come way down on Kindles and you can pick up something that holds 3500 books for around $100. I could have magazines and newspapers delivered on it if I choose.
So while I still love my massive bookshelves in the sitting room filled with who knows how many volumes of everything from history to religion to kids’ stories, I am already seeing the advantages to my Kindle.
That's the attraction for me, too. I still prefer to read an actual book, but the thousands of free books available online in every field of study is too much to pass up and I just don't like sitting at a computer to read them.