Kindle? Why not a good old fashioned book?

[2disneyboys]

I love books. Like Really... we turned our living room into a library because we never used it, and as a library, it gets used ALOT more. I have some books that I have had since I was a child and some of my parents books that I hope to never lose. With that said, I love ereaders... anykind of them! They are awesome for traveling (books weigh a lot in your suitcase!) they are awesome for reading in any area, and like aprevious poster mentioned, no knows what you are reading, they are searchable/indexable - Can't tell you how many times I try to recall a quote/comment/character from a book well.. if you have them in an ereader, you can just pull it up... verly likly you won't have the "book" with you though. When we travel, I make sure our reader has childrens books on it and my boys take turns reading to us in cartrips etc, free books from the libary, very little space to store a reader than a shelf full of books.. no dusting...

I love to read and I know I will buy some regular old books every now & then but the vast majority of my reading is ereader style

 

[KJay]

I think it would be pretty impossible to find anyone who owns a kindle or other e-reader who was NOT a lover of books! When I see articles or opinion pieces against them, they all start out with "Oh, I love books so much"...yeah, so do the people who buy e-readers. The e-reader owners love books so much, they can now read more, and more conveniently, than ever before. I have not heard of any e-reader owners who don't love books, who are eschewing paper books, or who have gotten rid of their home libraries. I can't afford one yet (saving for my next Disney trip ), but I hope to get one soon. And I will continue to buy and use paper books as well...

 

[smkiya]

---
as for the OP another reason why eBooks are replacing physical books is that it is fairly low cost means for a Publisher to get higher risk books onto the market because they don't have to print, ship, and convince retailers to inventory the book and the print run of an eBook is always exactly equal to demand.

There is a new business model of Publishing popping up where a book is offered ebook only and then only the most successful of those make it to print.

Wow, I had no idea that this was such a popular topic. After reading many of the responses, I do see many benefits of having a Kindle (or similar device).

Good for the environment.
Limits potential for books to go out of print.
Increases opportunities for writers to become published.
Increases inventory for those who need large print.
Great for people who have arthritis.
Can read to you, like books on CD.
Easy to carry multiple books at a time.
Ability to share books with friends and family, to read simultaneously.
For students, limits having to carry heavy textbooks.

Thanks for all of the responses. Sounds like a good investment, but even if I get one, I think I'll still never get over having a real book to read.

 

[lucky1]

The ability to simultaneously share books. In explanation, I buy a book once and my Mom, my neighbor and I can all read it at the same time on our Kindles. We don't have to take turns.

How do you do this... I thought one of the problems with Kindles in the ability to share books. Do you all have to be on the same amazon account?

I (3) you can read whatever you want - even trashy novels - without everyone on the train knowing what you are reading.

Might be worth it for just that... Even some novels are not trashy or romance but for some reason they decide to put a scene on the jacket that makes it look like a trashy novel.
Brian Candy once in a while is good.

 

[luvmy3]

I totally agree with you.
1. I can't afford a kindle gizmo.
2. If we lose power, as long as we have an oil lamp or candle, I can read.
3. I'm kinda old-fashioned and I like books too, as well as
keeping my budget tight and can't help but think
this whole electronic book thing is a racket:
you have to buy the books and I haven't seen any of these available at the library for free, like real books.
Not to mention, will the books be like the gaming systems where they are constantly being updated and old games
won't play on new players so you have to buy the new version of the same thing?

We don't have a gaming system either or a Wii and we still manage to stay quite busy and happy without these things
And to top it all off, my cell phone is only a phone- it doesn't take pictures or surf the web, or play games or anything else
and I like it that way

I don't have a Kindle, I have a Sony ereader and I'm not quite sure what you think digital readers are incapable of doing in a power outage, but if you can read a book by candle light, or lamp then you can read an e-reader with one as well. (provided they are charged and my charge lasts days ad thats with me reading every night). Or you can just get a booklight and clip it on Also, there are many free books available to download, I just downloaded 3 last week, and if there is one I want that isn't free, I do have the ability to borrow from a library.
Mine is the smallest basic model, I bought it strictly for reading books, I have no intentions of getting the latest model everytime they come out with one. I love the ability to carry 100's of books in my purse wherever I go. I love that my ds (who is not an avid reader) thinks its cool, because in a few if he still feels that way I'll get him one and maybe he'll read more because of it. In the mean time I'll enjoy my books just as you enjoy yours, but I'll have more shelf space

 

[smkiya]

I just looked up the Kindle on Amazon and "read more about it". Well I put the less expensive one on my Christmas Wish List after viewing some of the free titles available. Books I otherwise wouldn't read, I definitely would if I had the Kindle (like Sherlock Holmes). Thanks for helping me to see the light...

 

[Pinmaniac]

Thanks for all of the responses. Sounds like a good investment, but even if I get one, I think I'll still never get over having a real book to read.

That can be a tough one to overcome. I've had an ereader of one type of another (latest a Kindle - love it) for over 7 years. My first was on my PDA. Love the convenience, and all of the other things that other's mention above, but until recently still bought physical books. I really enjoyed the feeling of having a real book in my hand, turning the pages, and physically having the book. I grew up reading books, for pleasure, that way and it was a hard habit to break. I have now gone to purchasing only ereader books unless it is not available on an ereader. The convenience more than outweighs any perceived drawbacks - IMHO.

 

[Sandi]

I just looked up the Kindle on Amazon and "read more about it". Well I put the less expensive one on my Christmas Wish List after viewing some of the free titles available. Books I otherwise wouldn't read, I definitely would if I had the Kindle (like Sherlock Holmes). Thanks for helping me to see the light...

A convert!

I love my local library and my Kindle.

 

[StephMK]

You can highlight text. You can bookmark a page. You can even write notes on what youve read. The kindle isnt as limited as you might imagine once you take the time to learn how to use the technology.

I do realize that it can highlight, etc. & think that would be great for textbooks, etc. I never said it was limited, I just like being able to go back to about 1/3 of the beginning to see if the character was in X place or knew x person, whatever. Not info I know I want ahead of time, just info I don't quite remember if I'm reading a mystery & trying to figure out who is the killer. That type of stuff. I know I could go back in a kindle, just not as easy since I wouldn't have the amount of pages for reference. Not a huge deal, just named a reason I like paper.

It's been interesting reading the discussion and I'm impressed at the number of avid readers! There are definitely benefits I had not considered.

This is total curiosity & not at all pitting one group against another, just curious about the environment issue. I wonder if there is any research about technology recycling vs. paper, production, etc. I have & like technology, just strictly curious because I honestly don't know what happens to all our electronics.

 

[RitaE]

Yeah, my Kindle has a progress bar but it really isn't the same as just being able to "see" the thickness of the book and how many pages you have left. I can live with it though.

To share books on a Kindle you do have to be on the same account, but only for as long as it takes to download that book. So I de-register my Mom from her own Amazon account, register her on my account, send her the book ... and then send her Kindle back to her own account. It takes about 60 seconds.

My neighbor and I have a shared Amazon account that we fund with gift cards. We'll buy the book and then temporarily register our Kindles there to download them.

I hear the "I'd miss a real book" line all the time when we run info sessions up at the library. It's kind of funny but I'd have to say some of our most enthusiastic converts are what many might consider the older population. We convert alot of people just by getting them to try it out. Usually once we get an eReader into their hands and they see how easy it is and most importantly ... how accessible those books become from their own homes without having to get to a bookstore or library, they become huge fans.

Our local Senior Center checks-out Kindles and they are getting desperate for more devices because they have clients that are waiting for over a month for their turn at the Kindles. They ask for a $20 deposit which is returned when the Kindle is returned and then they ask the client to consider making a donation to cover the cost of another eBook to add to the library, but that is totally optional. We're starting to look around for a Grant to cover buying more Kindles and expand because it is such a popular program and so far Kindle loss and breakage has been minimal.

 

[Molliday]

Y
I hear the "I'd miss a real book" line all the time when we run info sessions up at the library. It's kind of funny but I'd have to say some of our most enthusiastic converts are what many might consider the older population. We convert alot of people just by getting them to try it out. Usually once we get an eReader into their hands and they see how easy it is and most importantly ... how accessible those books become from their own homes without having to get to a bookstore or library, they become huge fans.

This is my mother! I think she may have even uttered the word "purist" once or twice. She talked about the smell, the feel of the pages, etc. Well, a friend gave her a Nook as a gift about three weeks ago, and she LOVES it.

She had told me that she'd consider getting one, when she'd read the umpteen paperbacks that she'd purchased on half.com. Now that she has the Nook, she is purchasing books on that, and hasn't picked up one of those paperbacks since.

I can't imagine not having one now. It's is by far, the best $150 I've spent, in ages.

 

[budbeerlady]

I wasnt so sure about it until I bought one. I LOVE my kindle!

I read ALOT, in fact I would say I am reading even more now. Dh would tell you I have books everywhere, I have tons. On vacation it is not unusual for me to take 1 or 2 books for each day of travel. I would buy books in the airport on the way home because I had read everything I took along. I love to read.

With my Kindle its all right there, I think I have about 100 books on there. I remove them from the device when I am done to just because I will not read that book again for a while. I am reading alot of free books that help my budget, its more than paid for itself by now! And the free books put me outside of my normal genres. I love the free books by Zondervan, usually they are $10-15 if I would go buy them at my local book store.

I usually skip mysteries but have tried a couple and enjoyed one of them enough to seek out others by the author. I have been reading about some money saving tips, another documentary type book on the after effects of 9-11, a couple of light romances. I flip the switch and can have a new book in a couple of minutes without leaving my couch.

When I hop on the train I pull out my thin little book and I am not searching for my lost page. I dont have to pack many books or have 100's of them laying around the house. I love the convenience. I pull it out of my purse at lunch and get back into my story.

With swagbucks you can cash in for Amazon gift cert. That helps feed my habit of books if I want something that isnt free.

And I love the trashy novel cover point a pp made. Dd is 10 now, I dont want her 20 questions about what I am reading. 99% of the books are very safe but like you said, sometimes you need mindless brain candy.

Dd really wants a kindle but I am waiting until there are more children's options available in books that she loves. I hope that starts to change soon!

 

[Ephany]

Since we bought our kindles (well I bought mine and then two weeks later bought DH one 'cause he kept stealing mine), we have given away thousands of books. I used to have 9 bookshelves in my bedroom alone, and I'm not talking about about the little ones. I thought I was happy with my K2, but had a chance to play with a friends K3 this weekend, and now I know what I'm asking for at Christmas.

My reasons for switching:
- space, the books took up a lot of room. They also got dusty and since we're moving a lot in the next few years, they're a pita to constantly move (those suckers get heavy!). DH and I've been on a huge de-cluttering kick this year amazing how much space we have now that we've passed on the books we'd been holding onto.
- my hands hurt pretty much all the time, using my kindle has really helped how much my hands hurt and made it more pleasurable to read. It's lovely to be able to read with one hand.
- no ink on my hands, dust, pages falling out etc... I've heard that there are some badly formatted e-books out there, but have luckily not come across any yet.
- DH and I can read the same book at the same time. This is really nice as he reads slow and I read fast.
- I don't really borrow books from the library, I like to own my books. Even so, we spend way less then we used to, and I still buy as many books as I used to. The difference is now I've discovered all these new authors to tide me over until the newest releases come down under $10 (my personal setpoint)
- I can carry hundreds of books with me, this is a huge plus. I used carry an extra bag just for my books when I traveled.
- One-click. I can have my magazines delivered straight to the device. I don't have to worry about storing those magazines. It's also awesome to be sitting at the beach and order a book right there or a sample if someone tells me about a book they're reading.
- DH works 72 hour work weeks, and doesn't have time to track down the nearest book store since he lives out of hotels. He loves the fact the books just show up on the day they're released and he doesn't have to worry about carting all those books with him from place to place.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I love my Nook. I freely admit that I am the target audience - I love reading, I love gadgets, and I have been reading books on my phone or PDA (back in the day) for years. I waited until the beginning of this year to get one because they were priced too high. They finally reached affordable for me. A few reasons I love my Nook:

• My eyesight varies with my blood glucose levels. I can adjust my print size on the fly.
  
• Books were overrunning my house. Now, they are neatly stored in one compact location.
  
• My library travels with me and fits comfortably in my purse.
  
• I can buy a new book whereever I am, whenever I want it. I was buying books frequently anyway, so this isn't a new expense for me. I rarely used the library to begin with. I get a little skeeved out thinking about how many people have held that book before me, and I can't seem to return them on time. I'm actually considering joining one of the libraries that has free eBooks because I don't have to worry about these issues.
  
• I am a re-reader. eBooks hold up better.

 

[mizzoutiger76]

I love my real books, but I gotta say as a mother of a 2 year old, sometimes the only chance I get to read is during a brief period of waiting (on prescription, for the doctor, in the drive-thru, etc). I love to have my Kindle in my purse with a ton of books ready to be read and I can choose any of them depending on my mood.

 

[RitaE]

This is my mother! I think she may have even uttered the word "purist" once or twice. She talked about the smell, the feel of the pages, etc. Well, a friend gave her a Nook as a gift about three weeks ago, and she LOVES it.

She had told me that she'd consider getting one, when she'd read the umpteen paperbacks that she'd purchased on half.com. Now that she has the Nook, she is purchasing books on that, and hasn't picked up one of those paperbacks since.

I can't imagine not having one now. It's is by far, the best $150 I've spent, in ages.

My Mom too. She swore up and down that she'd never use one of those "things" and now her Kindle never leaves her side. Morning to night, when it goes right on the nightstand next to her head.

 

[trustknoone]

One of the budget things I started 2 years ago was to stop buying books and only use the library. I was spending thousands a year on books and felt so guilty if I didn't finish a book that I didn't like, it felt like I had wasted that money so I would finish the book even if I didn't like it. Reading had become a chore. Now bad books go back unfinished guilt free.

That being said I really really want an ereader and would buy one tomorrow if my library had the selection for ebooks that they have for paper books. I have heard that there are some libraries that are opening up for national lending for ebooks with extensive collections of new releases. If I could find one i would be ecstatic.

And yes I realize there are tons of free books but that's not what I am after.

 

[ENSOCK]

I want one. I read alot, mostly the brain candy books! But I hate to read them in public. I will try to read anything and I also feel guilty when I read a book but it is soooo boring, I can't finish it, what a waste of money.

I am going to ask DH to purchase one for Christmas!

 

[bumbershoot]

OP, I used to feel the same way.

And then my hubby got a job being a tester for them, and suddenly the house is awash in Kindles...

And now I want to dump all my book-books. Why? One, I'm allergic to old dusty books, cannot stand the smell of old bookstores. Two, I'm kind of allergic to new bookstores, sort of like but sort of hate the smell of new-book bookstores. Three, we had so many books (and CDs) the last few times we moved (we're happy renters) that we've actually had to get a bigger apartment than we actually really need, just to accomodate the bookshelves. That's NOT right! And now that I'm used to the Kindle, it's much lighter and easier to hold than a book, and I fumble a lot less with it. War and Peace weighs the same as a tiny PDF document on the Kindle...can't say the same with a book-book vs a pamphlet!


I've been really enjoying the free books...re-reading Jane Austen (and finding that I never read many of her books), I just read Great Expectations and found it FABULOUS! Funny, exciting, and proof that humans haven't changed... The free books have been a great way to expand my mind with things I haven't seen since HS, and I hated them then but love them now!

I do still go to the library and get book-books. And then I get annoyed b/c if I put the book down it doesn't hold my spot, and I can't increase the font size of the letters in a book-book, and everyone knows what I'm reading...

So I used to be one of those who refused to think of an ebook reader...and now I'm of a different mindset; it just took getting my hands on one!

 

[Molliday]

One thing I will never read on an ereader: magazines.

One thing I will read as soon as it's available: my local newspaper.