OT-E Book reader ??

My young BIL brought his to show me - I`m glad he did, as I`ve been wondering about getting one myself. Now I know that I DON`T want one - I much prefer a real book!

Pat

That's what I've been thinking. I know they have a Sony at Staples and I think I'll take my friend there to look at it. Her son wants to buy her one and she isn't sure if she really wants it.

"lucille" wrote

I think if I were going that route, I would get an iPhone and dowload a bookreading app. I am enough of a traditionalist that when I am at home, I want to be holding a real book and turning the pages (not to mention my propensity for reading in the bath--I would drown a Kindle). When I walk the dog, I do e-Books on an MP3 player. So I would use a reader when I am travelling, sitting in waiting rooms, in line-ups etc. Except for the travelling this would be more or less spur of the moment, and an iPhone would give the possiblity of reading anytime anywhere, whereas a dedicated reader you need to deliberately carry along.

Dawne

Lucille,

I bought Jim the Kindle2 for his birthday as a surprise. He had to wait a couple of days until it was released; yup he was REALLY surprised when the new gift arrived.

He absolutely LOVES it!! You can download so much stuff, virtually instantaneously, for little or no cost.

He subscribes to a couple of magazines, and the Orlando Sentinel; he comes downstairs for "cocktail" hour before dinner, and sits and browses his newspaper. It has lots of advantages; you can adjust the size print, it is lightweight; he has some technical manuals in it, so he doesn't have to carry the books along when he travels. It is very lightweight, and he always takes it with him for doctor's appointments etc, and sits and reads it in the waiting room.

He has downloaded the new Cooks Illustrated book that has just come out, so passes it over to me to read.

He also downloaded an embroidery book from the late 1800s, with pictures.

For, me, I like the feel of a regular paper book for novels, but I can see why the thing is so handy.

It would have been a godsend when I was young and taking exams. In many of the Chemistry exams, you were allowed to take the textbook in....you just had to know what you were looking for!

Gill

I'll share the info about the iPhone and just downloading a book at a time for reading. I recently bought a mini netbook and that would probably hold a book if I wanted to do that.

I'm with you, I love the feel of a book and the smell of a book. Plus, there's always the possibility of dropping it into something wet in the john, which is one of my favorite reading areas..

Just for fun, I weighed a paperback with around 650 pages on an old postal scale I have and it came up 10 oz., which is what the Kindle 2 weighs, so why bother.

Lucille>

I'll share the info about the iPhone and just downloading a book at a time for reading. I recently bought a mini netbook and that would probably hold a book if I wanted to do that.

I'm with you, I love the feel of a book and the smell of a book. Plus, there's always the possibility of dropping it into something wet in the john, which is one of my favorite reading areas..

Just for fun, I weighed a paperback with around 650 pages on an old postal scale I have and it came up 10 oz., which is what the Kindle 2 weighs, so why bother.

I also can't wait to tell her that I already got a couple of very useful answers on my favorite newsgroup. Where else can one go for so many brains to pick.

Lucille>

Just for fun I also had weighed Jim's Kindle 2 on my postal scale. It weighs 10 ounces, measures 8 x 5 1/2" and is 1/4" inch deep. It holds literally hundreds of books.

I mostly read in bed at night, and DO like a real book! I have accidentally "bought" a couple of books when playing with the machine!

Gill

I think I could really see wanting it if you need to have a lot of technical info at your fingertips, but for novels, not so important. I rarely read anything now that I would feel was important enough to keep forever. Most of my reading is fiction and I suppose a reading snob would call it "trash."

I have to look into whether or not my little netbook would hold a whole book. That's light enough to schlep with me for traveling or waiting rooms.

Lucille

lucille wrote:

I have played with a Kindle, and while I think there are some shortcomings, I want one really, really badly. I have a *bad* reading habit--typically at least 2 novels a week, plus more technical reading. I have at least a dozen tall bookshelves totally full, and teetering stacks of books all over the place. I get very attached to my books, and though I do get rid of some books (obsolete technical books, read-once-and-move-on novels), I'm still amassing books at far too rapid a pace. It would be a great help to be able to have my books taking up a lot less space, and it would be great to be able to tote them around with me so easily (particularly technical references). I'm often hauling around several books, which gets old. And frankly even though the Kindle is pricey, it's not as pricey as buying the additional bookcases I need! There are still books I would buy in book form, particularly things where illustrations or color were important or books that were just particularly nice to handle. But, for the average novel, I'd be more than happy to have it in ebook form instead of taking up space on my bookshelves. I would also like to have my newspaper delivered to my reader instead of having the paper show up at my door every day and then get taken out for recycling each week. I found it very comfortable to read on the Kindle (not at all like reading a computer screen). It may weigh about the same as a paperback, but I'm usually toting around multiple books, so it's definitely a win for me weight-wise (even the bigger one coming out this summer)! And, of course, I'm out a lot taking kids places and whatnot, so I'm thrilled with the ability to acquire another book wherever and whenever I find myself finishing the last book (and not having to go through my computer to do it). Oh, and although I don't really like being read to, I'd be thrilled to be able to have it read to me when I'm at that critical juncture in the plot and the rehearsal has just ended and I have to stop reading and run! ;-)

So, anyway, one way or another I'm going to find myself in possession of a new Kindle either by my birthday or Christmas. I'm definitely looking forward to it! Everyone I know who has one loves it, though it is by no means perfect. There are design decisions I'm less than thrilled with, but the core functionality seems to work well.

Best wishes, Ericka

I have a Kindle 2 and love it. I have a bit of arthritis in my fingers. Being able to lay the kindle on my lap and not have to hold it keeps my fingers from hurting. All I have to do is push the "next page" button. It's easy to take with me when I go to appointments. It fits in my purse.

I love the fact that you can easily change the font size. In the evening with lower light and tired eyes I bump the font size up one level and can easily read.

By the way, I work in a book store and I still buy some books. There are certain books I do want as a book. Usually ones that have color pictures.

Just last week I saw a book I wanted to read. A coworker also wanted the same book. On my lunch break I downloaded the book. She purchased it with her employee discount. The cost came out almost the same. The advantage is I don't have another book in the house that takes up space I really don't have.

Sheila B in RI

I have a Kindle 2 and love it. I have a bit of arthritis in my fingers. Being able to lay the kindle on my lap and not have to hold it keeps my fingers from hurting. All I have to do is push the "next page" button. It's easy to take with me when I go to appointments. It fits in my purse.

I love the fact that you can easily change the font size. In the evening with lower light and tired eyes I bump the font size up one level and can easily read.

By the way, I work in a book store and I still buy some books. There are certain books I do want as a book. Usually ones that have color pictures.

Just last week I saw a book I wanted to read. A coworker also wanted the same book. On my lunch break I downloaded the book. She purchased it with her employee discount. The cost came out almost the same. The advantage is I don't have another book in the house that takes up space I really don't have.

Sheila B in RI .

As usual this group knows something about everything. I have some very good information to give to my friend.

Lucille

friend was asking

My friend who has an iPhone with the book reading ap says she'd really like a Kindle, too. Apparently, you have to preload the iPhone with books but you can purchase books on the Kindle even when there's no computer around. Just a thought - certainly a little foresight makes this not an issue.

Elizabeth

This has been an interesting thread because I'm considering a Kindle for my husband. His eyesight issues continue to get worse and he reads mostly large print books at our library. There's a limited number available, especially new releases. This way he would be able to read anything he wanted and change the font size.

My daughter wants one and it might be practical for her because she's a speed reader. She's out of room at her house!! We are all overflowing with books and have no room for more shelves. I'm concerned about the weight in my attic as well!! Thanks for the topic

- Moni