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?

[DeeYes]

I do not read e-books - even if the e-book is available for free, I'ld prefer buying physical book.

[Gary Phethean]

Interesting topic and one I've been thinking about a lot recently. I am an avid reader, always have been, and love books. I love the feel of a new/old book, the smell (I'm not a weirdo, honest), the joy of sitting down and shutting out the modern world. My excuse for being wary of the Kindle etc. is most likely due to habit; I've always read books, on paper. I tend not to rely on electronics when it comes too reading, because frankly a book is a book--not much can go wrong. Whereas the Kindle etc. depends on battery life and so forth. However, I believe that these ebook readers are going to be huge due to...practicality.

We are in the information age and people want things fast and quite rightly (what's quicker than downloading an e-book?). The Kindle could certainly improve things: introducing them into schools, businesses etc. And I'm all for that, we need to move with the times. The only thing which I feel will anger me is, if the Kindle buys exclusive rights for books I wish to read, and I am unable to read them unless...you guessed it, I buy a Kindle. Will this happen? Who knows, but Jeff Bezos has plenty of money to throw at authors for exclusive Kindle rights.

Gaz

The musing hour

[Noel]

I will never JUST read e-books. That's out of the question. Although I do own a Sony Reader -- and I like it very much -- I find that my opinion of e-books is that they're too much trouble (isn't that ironic?). First of all, you have to have a way to read them. If you don't have a reader, you have to sit at the computer, and I absolutely won't do that. My only other option would be printing it out, and that's a waste of paper and ink. E-books, so far, aren't significantly cheaper than their physical versions...and buying a reader is going to cost you between $200 and $400. PLUS...and this is a big deal to me...your reader will run on batteries. Books don't need batteries. Everytime I go somewhere with my reader, I have to lug the AC cord around with me. It's a pain. I COULD just carry the physical book and it would take up less space in my bag, plus it wouldn't get tangled in things. Oh, and did I mention? The AC cord costs and extra $30?

I like my reader, and it's convenient for a lot of things. I bought it because a lot of authors were sending me electronic manuscripts, and if I didn't by a reader, I was never going to finish and review them. So I bought it. But it was quite expensive, and since I don't review for money I have no way to comp myself for that expense. So...*shrug*

I like books in general, though...real ones, that is. So I'm going to keep buying them and reading them instead of ordering e-books on the internet. It's just not the same.

[Bella G]

I L.O.V.E. e-books! They are a very appreciated invention IMO. I don´t have a Kindle, they´re currently not available in the Swedish salesmarket. But I got a HPminiPC that is lightweighted and which I use as often as possible. I always look out for books first of all - if they are purchasable as e-books.

P.S. I would be very happy if you would visit my blog on: en bookaholics bekännelser. Please feel free to write a comment (with your blogname), and I´ll check yours out too!

[Maria Beatriz L. Correa]

The real ones are still better, but ebooks are really handy and cheaper... I read ebooks all the time,,

[Michael Evans]

I prefer physical books, but considering I moved and don't have access to a local bookstore, I invested in a Kindle. I use it mostly to sample authors I haven't read before. The thing I found interesting is that I read faster when I was reading a book on the Kindle. I was one of those that was fearful of eye strain, as I can't read on the computer for that long before needing to take a break. The Kindle was easy on the eyes, and it was almost like reading a book without the bulk of the actual book. But as for replacing the physical bound book, as long as publishing companies continue to output them, I'll continue to buy them.

[RYCJ]

I love physical books I can touch and feel, but too enjoy the idea of having several books on one apparatus I can travel with... especially now that airlines have these new weight restrictions in place. Still, I also side with authors who could pull away from creating these books if there's no incentive for them to continue writing. (given piracy concerns and advertised costs of ebooks being next to FREE to FREE).