E-reader

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I don't have one, and I don't want one. Aesthetically, I just like the look and more importantly, feel, of a paper book in my hand. I also love to see a bookshelf filled with books. And, I can apply hand lotion and still read my book.

A great advantage to an e-reader is for a voracious reader who travels frequently or lives in a tiny apartment.

Is there anyone here who initially resisted the idea of a Kindle (or whatever brands are now available) but who relented and now enjoys it? I suppose it would be frugal because eventually it will pay for itself from the savings over paper books and also the saved storage space.

[MonkeyMama]

Is there anyone here who initially resisted the idea of a Kindle (or whatever brands are now available) but who relented and now enjoys it? I suppose it would be frugal because eventually it will pay for itself from the savings over paper books and also the saved storage space.

Most definitely. The only reason we got a kindle was we got a free one. Someone had actually offered it as a gift the year before and we turned it down because it seemed the books would be expensive compared to our usual means of getting books (used, free from scholastic, and library). BUT, once my dh had the kindle I immediately fell in love with the thing and ended up buying a nook (at the time was only option for library books, and I liked the nook better for other reasons).

I really didn't like the idea of reading on a computer screen, so was probably most impressed with the e-ink. (I don't like the newer color/touch screen ones - more harsh on the eyes).

Now I am on the other side of the coin. I am amused when more frugal people poo poo the idea - I know they will come around. I no longer have to drive to the library for books, and I no longer have to store books. I think what I like best of all is the compactness. I really like having all these books in the palm of my hand. IT's kind of the epitome of frugal. OF course, we did not pay full price for any of our e-readers (we've gotten several for free - credit card rewards. We just gifted two for Christmas). But, the convenience and storage saving potential would be worth the money, to me.

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The only reason we got a kindle was we got a free one.

It's certainly hard to argue with that one!

Now I am on the other side of the coin. I am amused when more frugal people poo poo the idea - I know they will come around.

Someday, we may not have a choice. I don't believe e-readers will completely take over paper, but they may, in fact, become the norm. Who would have thought that a little mobile phone would eventually replace the house phone?

[disneysteve]

I am amused when more frugal people poo poo the idea - I know they will come around.

Don't be so sure. I've said before I'm not an avid reader but when I do read, I do it for free or very cheap - library or used book that half the time I resell when I'm done. The Kindle does allow free downloads of some books from our library and my wife has been doing that (on the iPad, not a dedicated e-reader, but the selection is very limited. If we ever reach a point where everything the library has is available for free on the iPad/Kindle/Nook, that would be great.

I can't see us ever getting a dedicated e-reader device. First off, neither of us read that much. Secondly, we don't care for the screens at all (though I haven't tried the new Kindle Fire). The previous version of the Kindle and the Nook just aren't as bright, sharp and clear as the iPad which is much easier to read. My wife no longer reads the paper TIME magazine that we get. She now reads it exclusively on the iPad. Money magazine is now on the iPad as well. I still prefer the paper version as I generally read at the table when I'm eating breakfast and I don't want the iPad there in case anything spills. I see the advantage if you're traveling and only have to take one device, though. Being able to check e-mail, surf the web, play games , take pictures and video and read books and magazines all on the same device is incredibly convenient.

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I can't see us ever getting a dedicated e-reader device.

What, curling up with a Kindle by the hearth doesn't light your fire? ;-) I've often wondered if the Kindle was so aptly named for that image, to make it seem more appealing and warm.

[disneysteve]

What, curling up with a Kindle by the hearth doesn't light your fire? ;-) I've often wondered if the Kindle was so aptly named for that image, to make it seem more appealing and warm.

Actually, curling up with a book doesn't really do anything for me regardless. As I said, I'm not much of a reader. And yes, I'm sure that's exactly why the Kindle was so named, and the new Kindle Fire even more so.

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the new Kindle Fire even more so.

I was confused for a moment until I just learned that there is a new device called Kindle Fire. How odd.

[bjl584]

I don't have one, but it may be inevitable. Years ago a lot of people said that they don't ever want or need a home computer, but I bet they have one now. A lot people said that they would never need or want a cell phone, but I bet they have one now. It may or may not happen with E-readers, but it certainly could.

[disneysteve]

I don't have one, but it may be inevitable. Years ago a lot of people said that they don't ever want or need a home computer, but I bet they have one now. A lot people said that they would never need or want a cell phone, but I bet they have one now. It may or may not happen with E-readers, but it certainly could.

I disagree to an extent. I think we are going to see more and more convergence of devices. There will be fewer single-use devices. Smart phones have already replaced many individual devices for a lot of people - mp3 players, GPS units, calculators, cameras, hand-held video games, etc. I think the same will be true of dedicated e-readers. People aren't going to want to carry a device that does nothing but display books. Tablet computing is where things are headed. The Kindle Fire is moving in that direction. The iPad is already there.

[bjl584]

I disagree to an extent. I think we are going to see more and more convergence of devices. There will be fewer single-use devices. Smart phones have already replaced many individual devices for a lot of people - mp3 players, GPS units, calculators, cameras, hand-held video games, etc. I think the same will be true of dedicated e-readers. People aren't going to want to carry a device that does nothing but display books. Tablet computing is where things are headed. The Kindle Fire is moving in that direction. The iPad is already there.

It probably won't be an E-reader exclusively, but as you said some multi-function device. It wouldn't suprise me if someday it's commomplace to carry around some device that you can surf the web, make a call or text, read a book, download music and video, etc. I-pads are almost there, but they are sort of a toy at this point. You can't do any serious computing on them. Once someone comes out with an all in one device that can be used for business applications, that will probably be the start of it.

[BuckyBadger]

For those of us who ARE avid readers, however, the eReader will never get swallowed up by any of those other devices unless they come up with a way to have both an eInk screen and a high resolution touch screen in the same device.

Reading books for a long period of time on a back lit reflective screen is difficult, and reading them outside on that screen is impossible.

I am a Nook convert -- and I even paid full price for mine. But I wouldn't take a Kindle Fire if you gave me one for free. At least not with the intention of ever trying to read something on it for more than ten minutes.

[akonobi]

Is there anyone here who initially resisted the idea of a Kindle (or whatever brands are now available) but who relented and now enjoys it? I suppose it would be frugal because eventually it will pay for itself from the savings over paper books and also the saved storage space.

At first I wasn't too thrilled but after using it a lot now I love my kindle.

[disneysteve]

Reading books for a long period of time on a back lit reflective screen is difficult

This is very much a matter of personal preference. I've used a Kindle and really can't stand reading on that screen. I find the iPad/iPhone to be much sharper, clearer and brighter. I can spend hours on those devices with no problem.

[minnie1928]

This is very much a matter of personal preference. I've used a Kindle and really can't stand reading on that screen. I find the iPad/iPhone to be much sharper, clearer and brighter. I can spend hours on those devices with no problem.

Steve,
Have you loaded the Kindle software onto your iPad? I've done that and found it to be very easy to read.

I like going to Amazon's free e-book section and rummaging around through there. Sometimes it's a lot of junk, but other times I've found some really great books. The nice thing is that I can go and get them and read them whenever I'm ready. It's not like the library ones where I have to plan on reading because of the due dates involved.

[disneysteve]

Steve,
Have you loaded the Kindle software onto your iPad? I've done that and found it to be very easy to read.

Yes, we have it on the iPad and on our iPhones. Obviously, reading on the phone is a bit of a challenge due to the screen size but I've done it when I had time to kill out somewhere. DW reads books on the iPad all the time. Our library lets you download them for free.