E-readers

[Chris Tusa]

I'm curious about readers who've recently purchased an e-reader. If you've purchased one recently, are you happy with it? Do you find yourself reading it more than actual books? Also, is it a back-lit device (like the Nook Color or iPad) or an e-ink device (like Kindle)?

[David Gutowski]

I bought an iPad last year and read mostly graphic novels and comics on it, but have started reading galleys through NetGalley. So far I love it.

[Shannon Young]

I bought a Kindle when I moved from the US to Hong Kong. English books are a lot more expensive here, plus I read a lot of free classics, so it's the perfect fit for me. I also ride the subway to work for 35 minutes each way and it is nice not to worry about finishing a book because I'll always have a few more lined up. I like collecting books, but the apartments are just too small here to keep a library. The Kindle allows me to read as much as I want in spite of the limitations of my current location.

 

It even inspired my book blog:

A Kindle in Hong Kong 

[Daniel Reyes]

I got a Kindle for my B-day last year, and have to say that I love it. It has enabled me to read more books at the same time than before, since I can carry them all at the same time without needing a huge backpack to carry them all in. Since it is not backlit and the screen is non reflective it is great to read under any light, and with the leather cover with a built in lamp that my wife gave me for Christmas it's perfect, since I can read anywhere, the lamp draws power from the Kindle itself.

[Leon Robertson]

After getting a Kindle some months ago, I find that I buy more books because they are cheaper and I don't have to drive to a library, book store or pay shipping charges. I have been burned by downloading a couple of $0.99 mysteries that are not worth $.01. My overall experience is positive.

[Bri Meets Books]

I adore my Kobo! I blogged about it and e-readers in general here.    I list my reasons I love it but some are..

 

- The ease of holding a LARGE book (like Infinite Jest or Pillars of Earth) in my hand

- The price of ebooks

- The storage capacity

- E-galleys!

- Library books 

 

 

[Wynter Adelle]

I got an e-reader as a gift from my tech-obsessed husband.  Honestly, I was very skeptical at first.  As soon as I started using it, however, I absolutely fell in love!  I originally had a cheap, Aluratek e-reader, which was of only passable quality, but now I have a Nook on the way!  I would recommend e-readers to anyone and everyone.  I, a formerly antique-book-obsessed purist, am firmly confident that e-books are the way the future is heading.  Though I sincerely doubt I will be getting rid of my physical library, it is unlikely to grow much larger.

[Kate Shaw]

I've had a Sony ereader for about two years now. It's very simple, no bells and whistles. I didn't want a reader that would do anything except display books--it's too easy for me to get distracted and have to keep checking my email or twitter. :)

 

I like it and use it pretty frequently, but I can't imagine ever giving up 'real' books for a reader. For one thing, when I inevitably drop and destroy my Sony, all my ebooks will go poof. If I drop a regular book, even into the tub, the rest of my library is still okay.

 

I do like that I can grab my reader and know I have lots of books available if I want them. Not only does the reader not take up much space in a small bag or my coat pocket (it's only a little bit bigger than a paperback and much slimmer), but ereaders are still unusual enough that people don't always know I'm sitting there reading--especially with mine, which has a sort of burgundy faux-leather cover that makes it look like a nice dayplanner. In certain places (*cough*work*cough*) that's a definite plus.

 

My mom bought a color nook a few months ago and likes it, but it's got a backlit screen and as a result the battery doesn't last nearly as long as my Sony's battery does. I can read half a dozen books or more on one battery charge; she can only read for a few hours.

[Leon Robertson]

If your e reader is dropped or otherwise goes bad, you will not lose your books if you backed up the files. If you have a USB that fits your e reader and a port on your computer, you can copy your books and paste them in a file in your computer. The computer recognizes the storage device in the computer as a drive. On a Windows system, click on "my computer" and then double click on the files in the e reader storage device until you see the book files. Then copy the folder in which you find the files and paste it on your computer's C drive. When you get a replacement e reader, copy them from the C drive and paste them in the new reader's drive.

 

[Kate Shaw]

The Sony eReader (or at least the 505, which is what I've got) doesn't have a USB port, just one of those mini jacks like MP3 players often have. I do have a lot of my books backed up on my computer and the Sony 'library' where I first d/l the books to before synching them to the reader, but I don't know if I'd be able to reload them on another reader. Not to mention that if I drop my reader and break it, I can't really afford to replace it right away so whether the books are backed up or not, I have effectively lost them.

 

So far my reader has stood up to a lot of abuse, though.

[George H. Sirois]

My mother chipped in half the money I needed for the Kindle 3G and I put up the other half. I got it from Amazon just a couple days after placing the order and I LOVE it! Since I take the subway or bus to and from work (I live in NYC), it's incredibly convenient, very easy to read since it's not back-lit and it fits perfectly in my NetBook case.

My wife started borrowing it when I wasn't using it and she really likes it already. I should get her one soon...

[Bonnie Lamer]

I bought a Nook a year ago and I LOVE it!  I have always loved reading and have an extensive library to show for it which I vainly love to display.  I thought I would hate not having that feel of a real book in my hands but after a year, it actually feels odd to read a 'real' book!  There are so many advantages to an ereader: ebooks are less expensive (especially on new releases), when I finish a book and want the next in the series I can buy it from my living room (very important living in Michigan in the winter!), and there are many free ebooks that are great reads because stores like Barnes and Noble offer a new free ebook by a contemporary author every week on top of the thousands of free books already available.  It's a great way to check out new authors.  I'm getting ready to upgrade to the Nook Color primarily because I want to purchase more children's ebooks and want my kids to enjoy the color illustrations and because I want the back lit feature.  I can't wait!

[Chris Tusa]

Be careful. I upgraded to the Nook Color, and I ended up bringing it back and exchanging it for the original Nook. It's a back-lit e-reader, and it felt like I was reading on a computer. I'm sure it would be great for children's books, but you probably won't want to read novel on it.