Comments on: Attempting to make the switch

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:06:33 +0000

I'm an in-my-hands book person and am very reluctant to go e-reader. BUT. It sure would be nice to be able to take 74 books on vacation with me in one tidy little package. That aspect of it tempts me; I could see if the prices go down a bit using it as my vacation reader. .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Breathe =-.

By: J

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:21:46 +0000

Thanks for your opinions and experiences with ebooks. I downloaded a couple sample copies to my Ipod Touch to see what it would be like to live with them, and read them while waiting in line or for buses, but still don’t quite like it.

I’ve found that when I look at a website, I apparently skim it for the info I want and skip right over many things. Being that the book is electronic, I found myself doing the same with that and forcing myself to read slower like I would a paper book.

As I said, I know that I’ll have get used to this some day, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.

By: jewelbythebay

jewelbythebay — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:44:31 +0000

Started with Treo in 2002 or so and ereader.com. Most useful on travels either long or short; no need to carry heavy books. Upgraded to Blackberry in 08 and erearder followed soon thereafter. Will be travelling to Munich this fall. Plan to have some books loaded before I leave home but can always add while I’m away.

Usually I read genre novels on the BBerry and leave the philosophy for printed books that I can highlight etc. Reading helps pass the time while waiting…..

By: G

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:22:47 +0000

I can understand so many of the above comments: I never thought I would want an e-reader, after using my Palm when commuting years ago. But considering that I have just packed 15 boxes of books to move and I have been here only two years, I need some help in dealing with my addiction. There are some books that I want in hard copy, but for me, it’s clear that genre novels are fine by e-book.
Everyone draws their own line and my mom got a Kindle for the holidays and hasn’t even loaded a book onto it yet. I feel like a late adopter, but this is still just the beginning as the fracas with Macmillan shows.
.-= G´s last blog ..What’s been happening recently? Or, Moving Again. =-.

By: Steffi

Steffi — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:49:11 +0000

Despite loving such gadgets in general, having the “Apple Look”, too, Kindle is no replacement for a filled bookshelf.
I think it’s about the missing tiny sensations like the sound when you’re turning a page with your actual fingers in anticipation of what’s on the next page or even the smell of a book’s paper (especially when it’s new or when it has been in a library for some decades – awesome).
I can’t claim to be an enthusiastic reader but I remember frowning when my dad told me about that new Amazon thing. It just doesn’t feel right to me, probably because it has no “soul”.

By: clickclackgorilla

clickclackgorilla — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:37:51 +0000

I held a kindle in my hand recently, and thought, “Well this is fucking stupid.” The screen didn’t hurt my eyes like I thought it would, but, paper books are too dear to me and I hate reading things I can’t write in.

By: Geoffry

Geoffry — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:28:52 +0000

Don’t have a Kindle, but have really been enjoying using the Papyrus app for my Ipod. Lots of free books (all the classics you always MEANT to read) mean I no longer fear the waiting line at the post office.

By: chewie

chewie — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:23:40 +0000

This is a beautiful scenery… when i suddenly saw this blog.. i notice the scenery first…

By: G

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:18:53 +0000

One of these days I will finish my kindle post.
Until then, let me tell you that my book buying has decreased from 15-20 a )month to three physical books since I got it in December: those books were significantly cheaper in PB than on Kindle. Otherwise, as long as Kindle books are cheaper than PB books, or in pinch, the same price I will be buying my books for the Kindle, stripping the DRM (for fair personal use , as needed) and happy to do so. This does not hold for: kid’s books, picture books, books with illustrations, Terry Pratchett books (I may need to buy the both ways), or anything with pictures or diagrams. It may also not hold true for research books: the ability to shove post-its in a book is one I can’t give up yet because there is no Kindle for Mac app yet.
Btw, reading on the iPhone is not as good as reading on the Kindle. I used to read on my Palm and I hated it (still did it, but never thought of using it to replace “real” books, as I did after 1 day with a Kindle).
To give you the most telling anecdote: when I was stuck at the airport(s) in the UK last year for 4 days, I never thought of buying a book at the airport. Instead, I bought magazines because I could throw them away when I was done, whereas I have issues with tossing books and would not have been able to bring it home (weight limitations). My Kindle was dead after three days (who knew I needed to bring a charger) and at that point I knew I was hooked (it lasts 10 days, but I was reading non-stop plus 23 hours straight and hadn’t topped up before going).
So- the Kindle has its problems, but it is truly addictive.
(Calibre is the library management software most people use.)