I'm way behind the times, I know. For years and years I've been a book addict. Not just a reading addict, but a touch-the-pages-smell-the-binding sort of book addict. Nothing smells as good to me as fresh book.
I've hit a wall, though. I've encountered several books I would love to read, but they are only in e-book format. I'm considering asking for a reader for my birthday, but I have heard bad things about Kindle, and I've been told it matters a LOT what reader I choose to get. I want one that will pretty much read anything--I don't want to find out after I've bought the stupid thing that it only reads SOME books--and I want one that is easy to manipulate and read. Can I read it in the sunshine? Do I have to be in a darkened room? How heavy is it?
I know already that a bunch of you have these tools at your disposal. What do you like? What do you hate? What are the limitations of e-book readers? Any info would be welcome!
I have a regular Kindle (not the Kindle Fire) and I love it. It fits in my purse easily, but it does add a little weight to it. It's easy to operate. So far, I have been able to get all the books that I've wanted as Amazon has a vast array of books, but some day I will find that I can't read something because it's not on Kindle. The non-glare screen makes it easy to read indoors and outdoors.
ReplyDeleteYou can highlight and make notes. However, I do like regular books in that regard... I love putting my own comments in the margins of books and flipping through the book to find a special place. I haven't gotten used to the notes system yet... Hopefully I will.
Hope this helps.
Lou
Ooh, notes! I typically write in many of the books I read--it's a carryover from college, I think--so that would be great!
DeleteI used to be devoted to paper books. When the Kindle first came out I was like, NO THANKS! Luckily this product became available, so I bought me a few cans and a Kindle and now I enjoy eBook after eBook!
ReplyDeletehttp://smellofbooks.com/
In case you didn't get it. Smellofbooks is a joke. lol. Hurry up and get yourself a Kindle already and stop prevaricating about the bush! ;)
I believe I will always love regular books, Suz, but the ease of this is something I am learning I could really use. Perhaps a Kindle comes with a spray can of "new book smell?"
DeleteI bet it would sell. But only if it smelled authentic and lasted forever.
My only complaint about the Kindle is that it has no back light (which is one of the reasons it has a 40 hour battery) It weighs a pound or less and the font size is changeable to fit your eyes. The best way to read is outside but there is very very little glare from a lamp. I have about 50 books from classics to friends first efforts.
ReplyDeleteIf I read a book review and looked for it on Kindle I have never been able to not find it but didn't always buy it.
I broke the screen on mine and without a word they just sent me another one, I don't know how it got broke I thought it was well protected in a bag in my lap top bag shrug* the replacement though was free, warranty I suppose. But at the new $79 price that is 1/2 what I paid for mine.All in al I prefer it to a book, simple because it is more portable and very good in coffee shops.
Is there a way to dim the light when you are inside? I find it hard to stare at brightness for long periods of time. One of my parents must have been a vampire. The question is, which one?
DeleteUnfortunately I don't get out much, so I just use Calibre on my computers. I really need to get an ereader to check the formatting of my books. The only one I've seen them on is my friend's iPhone and I can't see how anyone reads on those.
ReplyDeletePlease keep us up to date on your experiences with ereaders.
The hubby reads even long work e-mails on his iPhone--but it is TOO SMALL for me. I edit manuscripts on my laptop, but I also read before bed, and I would really prefer not to take my computer to bed with me. (I hope it doesn't get hurt feelings, but at least I've been honest.)
DeleteA reminder: in return for the $79 price tag, your Kindle will always have advertisements on your screen when you are not reading, like a screensaver that you can't shut off. But it goes away when you start reading again, and paying only $79 is like having them pay for the ads. I try to stay positive and think that. :)
ReplyDeleteBut, which to buy? Kindle, of course. Made/sold by Amazon, the bookstore to the world.
Yes, they are beginning to be the hub of the universe for me, Max. Although I get my belly dance skirts from Ebay. Everything else pretty much comes from Amazon. I keep a running checkout, so that once I get enough books I HAVE to have, I can place the order.
DeletePS - Consider making a few bucks in your spare time by publishing your books and short subjects on Kindle. It's free to publish them and the audience is huge.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1000234621
I definitely have that in mind soon!
DeleteI bought the Sony Kobo for my husband. He specifically chose not to have the Kindle because our library lends pretty much everything except the Kindle format.
ReplyDeleteConsidering my husband really doesn't like anything technical, it has been a huge success. It's easy to use in every way. It's neat and lightweight but at the same time feels robust and sturdy. It feels better in the hand than a cheap paperback. He uses it all the time now but I've never tried it myself.
A, thanks for that info! I need to check with my library to see what they offer. I know they have e-books, but I'm not sure what format, and I don't want to buy something only to have it incompatible with checking out books.
ReplyDeleteThat will be a huge boon for me, too. My library bags tend to be REALLY heavy.
I have bought three Sony eReaders, one for a friend, one for my daughter and one for me. I liked them, and read them frequently, but they were quirky and limited.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, I was distracted with a manga obsession. Manga and eReaders, in my experience, don't work out so well. My MIL has a Nook she loves.
With the manga, I bought a tablet PC, android version, straight forward, and put my downloaded manga on them. THE BEST way to read manga ever, and you know I buy hard copies of all the favorites available. But I like being able to take a month's worth of volumes with me everywhere.
You don't get the battery life with the tablet, but (a) it's backlit, (b) it has a great deal of capability beyond the eReaders (including manga, pictures, music, browsing, etc) and, (c) EVERY major ereader has an app that does the same thing for adnroid and iPad which means you can buy Kindle, Nook, Sony (and probably half a dozen others, too). No more being limited in your selection by the reader itself. And mine has a 10" screen.
Now, that's what I use for reading ebooks, Sony or Kindle, in addition to my manga. Bit pricier than the ereaders, but not so desperately any more given the improvements in functionality and flexibility. Also, my daughter now has a Kindle Fire she loves. Some concept, though not, I think, as flexible.