How do you blog, or read, on your p.c. or iPad?

[violet barton]

I know many of you have iPads out there and iPhones, I mean who doesn't? but I was wondering how do you blog, or read for that matter? I mean all these e-readers that are out now. Are books going to be obsolete some day? I know I up load tons of books on my iPad and it's so much easier to read them, less heavy, built in reading light for all you night time readers, how nice is that? And it's just so convenient...I'm in the process of moving and packing and I just can't believe all the books I've accumulated over the years. And I will be truthful, my husband thinks I'm mad, but even in our modern world, I can't depart with all my books. There is nothing like opening a new book or old for that matter, the feeling of those pages and the smell and just seeing all your favorite books on your book shelves, there nothing like it. So tell me I'd like to know, is technology spoiling us?

[Ami E. Bowen]

Hello, Violet! 

 

Well, for me, personally I one of those who's always loved the feeling of walking into a library and just standing there feeling the potential of all those books, all those stories that have yet to have been read by me and nothing can take the place of a real, live, printed and bound book open on your lap while you curl up with a cup of hot tea on a cold night. Now, that being said, the e-reader does have it's place in the world of book lovers. If it weren't for my ereader I'd more boxes of books than I'd know what to do with; granted, I have more than enough p-books in boxes and on shelves to begin with but without my e-reader I'd be accumulating so many more and more that I'd overrun my house! I love that I don't have to trek myself to the library once a week anymore since I can just download/borrow them from their online catalog to read on my ereader and the same for buying books online not to mention all of the free ebooks that are available. While I do think maybe techology is spoiling us in the fact that we don't need to go all over town and back searching for our books anymore and we can house several hundred books without using up any physical space at all, there is just something magical about a real printed book that e-technology can't ever take away. I love my ereader and my ebooks but I will also be the first person to want to stop into that used bookstore and look around...but I love my ebooks...ack! Can't I love BOTH?! Sorry if this is very confusing! lol. 

[violet barton]

hi Ami, I'm so glad I'm not the only one who still loves going into used book stores, and yes you can love both. I think technology is so spoiling us though, don't you? I was heart broken when I heard Borders was closing up though, and it makes me worry is technology really taking over actually for us to be able to walk into that book store? And I have a question for you, Now that I have all these books that I've already read, how do I unload them all, or should I say depart with them? I don't want to be one of those ladies on that show about people that hoard, hey that's a good idea, about a reality show: people who hoard books! ha, ha...

[Shandy Sanford]

Personnel I love print books, but there is something nice about having 50-100 book at my finger tips on my ereader. I also like that I can carry my ipod and have multiple books to read while waiting instead of just one that I might finish and then have to sit and be bored. So while yeah I agree technology might be spoiling us, I don't think you have to worry about print books becoming obsolete. There's just something about the feel and smell of a print book that technology will never reproduce.

[Courtney Ussery]

Hm...good question. I blog on my PC, and read any ebook requested reviews on my PC (which I loathe, I hate reading on my PC) because I am soooo not cool enough to have an ereader (yet). But I love having a book in my hand, so I'll probably still buy books even if I get an e-reader. I think the main appeal of an e-reader for me, is for travel. I travel quite a bit, and because I read so fast, I often have to take several books to make it through a trip. But an ereader would alleviate that extra weight! I listen to a lot of audiobooks though too, so I can take my books with me in audio form. :)

Courtney

Fuzzy.Coffee.Books

[violet barton]

hi Larissa, how did you part with most of your books? I'm in the process of moving myself, and I'm having a really hard time trying to part with them. Also what kind of value do you put on books that you've paid good money for? any suggestions would be great, thank you...V.

[Iben]

I use my iPad both for kindle books, PDFs and ePubs. I still love my paper books too though and still buy and borrow them at the library :)

 

I would blog from my iPad but the blogger website (draft.blogger.com) doesn't work properly for some reason. I get errors when I try to post and I can't scroll in neither the list of blog updates on the dashboard nor in the actual posting area. Hence all posting takes place on my laptop (also way easier when it comes to inserting images and such).

I use the app Flipboard to read all blogs though, as it has been linked to my Google Reader thingy, and I must say it's prettty damn cool.

 

~Iben

Borough of Books

[Michelle Isenhoff]

I love the convenience of my Kindle (and the positive effect it has on my struggling-reader son), but the library is still one of my favorite places to visit.

[violet barton]

hi michelle, I adore libraries and my daughter does too. I think when your used to visiting the libraries as a child we wan to pass it on to our kids, am I right?

[David Gutowski]

I occasionally blog and read from my iPad, but still prefer my MacBook for blogging and paper books for reading.

 

The iPad works exceptionally well for graphic novels and comics, though, I have to admit. Still, I find it a bit unwieldy as a reader for the literary fiction and nonfiction I usually read. I may look into the next generation Kindle (or current keyboard-less Nook as a substitute that is easier and more comfortable to handle).

 

Having recently moved across the country (from Broolyn to NYC), I empathize with moving books. I actually gave away most of my books (and CDs) over a 3-year period before we moved. Finding them homes where they would be read and enjoyed far outweighed any sense of attachment to them (eventually).

[Pamela Steinke]

I do think technology is spoiling us to some degree. I have a kindle, iphone, laptop...all of which I read on. But I also buy a lot of books. I'm the librarian in a small town, so the books I do purchase get donated after I read them (sometimes before I read them).

I don't care how the written word gets to me as long as it does. I have to have something to read, with me, at all times (my Mom was the same way!) I can't tell you how many times I've read the back of a shampoo bottle while waiting the requisite number of minutes for my conditioner to be in. Know what I mean.

[Ashley Le Sage]

You know what, I am so glad you posed this question. I feel like I am a lone wolf out here because I am absolutely saddened by the idea of digital readers and eReading. To me, and to everyone of you I am sure, books are an art form and to have them reduced to digital copies is a damn shame. I am the type of person that relishes the smell of a new book and the feeling of a job-well-done when I finish the last page. I am so unhappy that bookstore like Borders are out of business, I wonder how long it will take of Barnes and Noble to meet that same bitter fate. I love my books, pages, ink, and heaviness included.