Do you like E-Readers?

[drusillacakes]

So I'm on the fence about purchasing an E-Reader, even though I like the idea and it seems like it would be convenient to have many of my books on one device that I can read whenever I want.

On the other hand, I love having the physical book in my hand and the feeling of turning pages. And for any book I don't want to purchase, I find that I can easily find it at my library.

So just wondering, what are your thoughts on e-Readers? And if you have one, what do you think of it?

[Jezebel Jinx]

I voted for undecided/doesn't apply to me.

Don't have a e-reader and I probably will never get one. I, like you, love having the physical book in my hand. I also like the simplicity that a physical book has, I don't have to turn it on, I don't have to figure out how to work it, and plus I stare at a computer screen for a good chunk of my day for both work and home last thing I want is to look at a computer screen when I want to read a book.

There are some advantages to an e-reader. From what I've seen many books that come out in hardback are cheaper on an e-reader. Plus you can store so many books on one device and it's all right there at your fingertips instead of hauling a bunch of books on vacation or something like that.

However, another reason why I don't have one, is that I'm afraid of what happens to all my books if the e-reader gets stolen. I don't know if all the books are stolen along with it and the only way to get the books back is to buy them again or if they're like an iPod, the books are stored on a different machine/computer and you transfer them to your e-reader but you still have the master copy on a separate computer.

So I think I'll stick to physical books for now.

[wenxina]

Me like physical books. BUT... there are perks to the whole eReader thing. If you travel a lot, it can come in handy. Many of those devices are about the size and weight of a paperback book, and you can hold a LOT of books and stuff on them. I know you can also get newspapers on the Kindle.
And most new books are cheaper for eReaders. And with the nook (the B&N one), you can actually "lend" and "borrow" books amongst your friends, which is kinda neat.

Also, I'm pretty sure that copies of the books will be backed up on your computer, so there shouldn't be an issue if you lose your device. Provided you either download the books to your computer first, or remember to back up a copy, I guess.

And hey, if you're throwing down for an iPad... it's a bunch of other things all rolled into one.
But damn... that pricetag is hefty.

[Wyndam]

I really like them. I've played around with an Amazon Kindle and it's just too cool. It was easy to read and manage and well designed. I'd love to have one, but considering the price tag, I can't justify it. It's just cheaper to buy books individually. I can definitely see the benefit though if someone is traveling a lot, such as every week.

Since books are cheaper on E-Readers (about $10 on average), you would eventually make back your initial cost, it just takes time depending on how many books you read.

The new B&N Nook though, isn't that expensive, at around $150-$200. The Amazon Kindle is ~$400. I'm not sure what the Kindle offers over the Nook to make it so much more expensive, but it wouldn't take very long to make back your cost, buying a Nook.

I have a feeling that in a few years you'll be able to buy very nice E-Readers for around $50, and I would consider buying one then.

[wenxina]

The regular Kindle is $189. The $379 one is the larger model with a few more bells and whistles.

[Skytteflickan88]

As long as I can get a "real" book on amazon for 4 bucks, I won't buy e-books.

I might be wrong, but they're not often as cheap, are they?

[wenxina]

I don't think that the pricing of books is the main selling point for these doodads. Most people cite the portability and convenience as main driving factors for their purchases.

[Skytteflickan88]

If the e-reader breaks, the entire book collection is lost, isn't it? There's no back-up?

[wenxina]

Jul 22, 2010 21:17:47 GMT -5 Skytteflickan88 said:

If the e-reader breaks, the entire book collection is lost, isn't it? There's no back-up?

If I understand it correctly, generally, you can download books without the need for a computer. However, you can sync it to a computer or some other device, thus providing a back-up. So it's kinda like an iPod, but for books. Though, I'm pretty sure the Kindle does hold music too, and you can listen to it with headphones. The battery doesn't last as long that way, but hey... if you're on a noisy ride, it could come in handy.

Oh, and just looked this up: If you buy books for your Kindle from Amazon.com, it's already automatically backed up on your Amazon.com account, so that you can redownload it for free.

If you have any questions as to how these things work, you can always visit the product page. They're fairly comprehensive in describing the product.

[The Girl In Question]

I like books. Call me cheap, but I don't feel these things are worth the money. I barely buy books to begin with. :/ That, and I have a computer on my desktop at home, and on my phone. I don't really need another one.

Off topic, but the iPad always makes me think of an electronic feminine product.

[wenxina]

Jul 22, 2010 21:40:32 GMT -5 The Girl In Question said:

Off topic, but the iPad always makes me think of an electronic feminine product.

Thanks for the seriously disturbing image.

[Skytteflickan88]

Jul 22, 2010 22:00:43 GMT -5 wenxina said:

Jul 22, 2010 21:40:32 GMT -5 The Girl In Question said:

Off topic, but the iPad always makes me think of an electronic feminine product.

Thanks for the seriously disturbing image.

Ditto. Except I wanna use this emoticon

Take a look at this image with the feminine product angle in mind: missionimpossibleinfertile.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/ipad.jpg

[Randi Giles]

Sometimes the internet is just doing too much. I for one like physically flipping pages. So I vote for books.

Edit - Plus I like my book shelf too.

[Midnight Butterfly]

Personally I hate the idea of them. I like flipping pages and oddly enough, the smell of a book.

[dusk3333]

I've never actually tried one. But I still like the idea of real books better. I agree with you Midnight. I like holding a book in my hand, flipping the pages, and yes, even the smell of a book.

[drusillacakes]

Good things to consider. The smell of the book and the flipping of pages is what I would miss as well. And one thing about the e-readers I've played with is the flickering screen every time I turn the page. It's so annoying! Also can't justify the cost right now.