Electronic Books

[Chris Tusa]

I'm wondering how readers feel about e-books? Have you purchased (or read) any e-books yet? If so, how did you feel about the process as a whole? Are you impressed with (or suspicious of) the current e-readers on the market (Kindle, Sony, etc)? A few years ago, I remember thinking that I would never want to listen to an album (or cd) without the cover art and liner notes, yet I haven't listened to an actual album or cd in years (I simply download music from the Internet). Do you think the same applies to reading? Or, is the experience somehow different? Do you think you'll eventually read only e-books as the technology evolves? Or, do you think you'll always want to read a physical book instead?

[Books and Things]

I am very much a physical book person. I just got an ipod, however and I'm going to try the app kindle for ipod/iphone. It's free and currently there are some free books there to try it out on, so I may change my tune, but I seriously doubt it.

[Peter Lins Conceição de Medeiros]

I like to sniff the books, the smell of them always makes me feel quite happy. And I have kind of stablished a connection with my favourite books, just in holding them I remember how I felt when I read them. So I don't think that I'll be reading any e-books.

[Emily Veinglory]

Enough people like them to make me some money as an author :)

I take ebook review copies. It makes things easier for the author or publisher.

[Niveau]

I'm not impressed with the Kindle, mainly because it still isn't available where I live, and I don't know enough about the Sony to have any definite opinions about it. I have, however, read many ebooks on my computer. Despite the convenience, I prefer "real" books. For me, reading is about more than just words on a page or a screen. It's about senses. Books are full of descriptions of sounds, sights, tastes, scents, and textures, and I like that a physical book can be an extension of that. I love the sound of turning pages, the way the beauty of a physical book extends beyond just the cover image, new book smell, and the weight of a book in my hands. Think about Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events - would it have become so famous if the books hadn't been published with an eye-catching package? I think Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer said it best when he explained why he disliked computers:

"Smell is the most powerful trigger to the memory there is. A certain flower of a whiff of smoke can bring up experiences long forgotten. Books smell musty and rich. The knowledge gained from a computer is... it has no texture, no context. It's there and then it's gone. If it's to last, then the getting of knowledge should be tangible. It should be smelly."

[Kimm from Oregon]

I've had a Sony E-book Reader for well over a year now. I really enjoy it, but I tend to go back and forth between it and real books. When I'm traveling, I'll take it for simplicity. Nothing worse than lugging a ton of books around. I also love to download random free classics and read (or try out at least) them on it--at the same time saving precious bookshelf space. If I know there is a book that I want to keep or have to loan out, then I'll purchase it as a physical book. I've had it happen a couple of times where I downloaded something wonderful and thought...oooh...I need to share this. Then I had to take myself down to the bookstore to pick it up, thus paying for it twice. Eeek!

As far as use of the e-readers. I really like Sony's screen, but (new models may have this now) I would have preferred to see a nightlight feature. I believe the new Sony is also going to have wireless download, which is beneficial. Otherwise, you have to think ahead in order to download and transfer what you might want to read. Not very spontaneous!

[Petty Witter.]

I'm sorry but I simply don't like them. I like the smell and feel of an actual book - call me old fashioned if you will but thats how I feel.

[Harvee Lau]

Chris, your ebook was the first and last that I've read.

[Alayne]

I am torn over eBooks and eReaders. I won't read on the computer because that's just not fun at all. And on the one hand, I adore my books and the way they feel. On the other hand, these new fashioned fancy technological things are shiny and lightweight and very tempting. I think I may possibly by one in the future, but I feel a little guilty admitting that... like I'm betraying my library and bookstores and bookcases. Such a dilemma. Ode To The Kindle.

[Logan Stewart]

I have never read a complete e-book. I like the paper feel in my hands. I like being able to turn the page. I get tired of looking at my computer screen all day, so why would I want to read an e-book when I could have a physical book available? I've never read on a Kindle or anything like that, so I might enjoy it more than the harsh computer screen. As a side, I'm completely okay with audio-books.

[Stephen Tomlin]

Love well designed and well printed books as artifacts. I have a good collection of books dating back to the 19th century. As a reader and from the perspective of ergonomics, I have more than 250 e-books on a couple of Kindles that we share in the family. I made the transition from printed paper to electronic ink within minutes with absolutely no problem. My collection of e-books is both fiction and non-fiction, but I don't purchase the latter if photographs, maps etc. are of any import. Tremendous potential for this technology and I look forward to seeing how the $3 bn. we currently spend on text books per annum in the U.S. can be more gainfully employed as the technology evolves. I do find it very frustrating to be unable to share or borrow e-books in the Kindle format (it is actually a social handicap), hence the multiple devices. Problem is, none of my kids could be described as book buyers -- I'm paying all the bills. As for my friends... I believe I have fallen in their estimation.

[Book Calendar]

I am rather partial to the free ones. I have read a number of them from Creative Commons, http://wiki.creativecommons.org/Books Among the rather odd titles there are a few things that are entertaining. I also like th Baen Free library. http://www.baen.com/library/ I don't buy ebooks. There is a lot of free stuff that is entertaining, Project Gutenberg has all the classics on it. I have only bought one ebook that is In The Stormy Red Sky by David Drake. It was offered as an e-arc from Baen and I really wanted to read it. I would rather read it on a large computer monitor 23 inch is best. I prefer paperbacks for the train.

[Parajunkee]

I love my iPhone Kindle - love it love it love it. My book is always with me, its less expensive, and people can't peer at what your reading.