Do you have an ereader?

[bambu101]

Avid reader here, and former bookstore manager.

Not interested in electronic readers in the least bit. I like the feel of a book, turning the pages, looking at the cover, and lining them up on my bookshelf. After working on a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do is look at a Kindle. No thanks!

[Crankin]

Bambu, you just said exactly what I said to my DH on this topic!
I know it's weird, but to me, turning the pages of a book is a feeling, like pouring my coffee, picking up the cup, and taking a big drink. I love picking the book off a shelf at the library, browsing through the pages, reading the book jacket. I know you can do this on an e reader and get the same content, but it is not the same feeling or experience. I go to the library every week, just for the experience of it.
I think part of the reason I feel this way is that my work does not require me to be in contact all of the time. I generally do not use any electronic devices, unless there is no other way I can do the task. Learning to use a computer was very difficult for me, and other than the Internet (which to me is like a library), I really have to ask for help with most computer tasks. Then, I learn it, the next version comes out, and bam, I don't know what to do. None of this is intuitive to me and I don't remember how to do most of it. I can fake my way through a lot of it, but it really stresses me out; just one more thing to learn.
I think certain people are this way and it's not particularly age related. One son has a Kindle and the other trolls used bookstores and buys antique books. They are both voracious readers, so it really doesn't matter in the end.

[smilingcat]

I'm torn between yes get an e-reader and no.

I love opening the book to random page, read snipet here and there, to search for a book whose exact title I can't remember on my BIG book shelf. searching on my bookshelf is faster than searching electronically.

Sadly though, my bookshelf even 30 years ago was bigger than the wall in my living room floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I've ruthlessly trimmed down the volumes of books and still have half a wall. For some books, I think electronic version would be nice. Others, I would much prefer hard copy.

I use is a hypertext search often and something hard copy can never do... That's one advantage of e-book. What I would really like is to have the e-reader software on my netbook. Technologically, that is the direction we will see where netbooks, e-reader, smartphone will merge into one appliance.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, if all other things were equal, I'd choose paper books and magazines too.

But on a plane or train, if I can carry a small tablet instead of a great big book, I'm all for that; and for magazines that I know I'm going to read once and recycle, I'm much happier if I'm not using all that paper.

[uk elephant]

I am getting more and more tempted by the latest Sony readers. Not for recreational reading where I much prefer leafing through a paper book. But for science reading, I hate having to print out stacks and stacks of paper to read journal articles and I hate reading them on the computer. From what I understand, the latest Sony lets you highlight or add comments to pdf files? That is the kind of function I really would find useful. A device that is light and easier on the eyes than a computer, but lets you carry around loads of pdfs without breaking your back, and lets you annotate pdfs as you are reading. Now if it also had a replaceable battery, that would be even better. Then I just have to wait for it to come down in price a little, and for more of the inevitable "new technology bugs" to be worked out.

[Catrin]

I am getting more and more tempted by the latest Sony readers. Not for recreational reading where I much prefer leafing through a paper book. But for science reading, I hate having to print out stacks and stacks of paper to read journal articles and I hate reading them on the computer. From what I understand, the latest Sony lets you highlight or add comments to pdf files? That is the kind of function I really would find useful. A device that is light and easier on the eyes than a computer, but lets you carry around loads of pdfs without breaking your back, and lets you annotate pdfs as you are reading. Now if it also had a replaceable battery, that would be even better. Then I just have to wait for it to come down in price a little, and for more of the inevitable "new technology bugs" to be worked out.

The last couple of versions of the Sony reader has allowed note-taking, etc. You can do this with any text, not just PDF files. Please note that the quality of the PDF on the Sony Reader has much to do with how it was originally generated. Not all PDF files on the Sony Reader are comfortable/easy to read because of formatting issues. It is this way with all three of the main e-books (Sony, Kindle, Nook) due to there not being an industry standard on how PDF files are generated. I have heard this will change, time will tell.

[7rider]

Avid reader here, and former bookstore manager.

Not interested in electronic readers in the least bit. I like the feel of a book, turning the pages, looking at the cover, and lining them up on my bookshelf. After working on a computer screen all day, the last thing I want to do is look at a Kindle. No thanks!

There's no law that says if you have an e-reader, you can't read a paper book.
I have a Kindle. And since I've purchased the Kindle, I have still purchased paper books and borrowed paper books and sat for hours with my nose in a paper book and still have several paper books on my bookshelves that I intend to read....one of these days.
And I still subscribe to paper magazines. And I still read the newspaper on the subway in the morning.
The Kindle is an alternative. It's useful for what it does and I don't regret getting it or choosing the books for it that I have.
But just as my bike will not - and cannot - completely replace my truck, my Kindle will not completely replace a paper book for me.

[badger]

I used to be a voracious reader, but now I'm lucky if I finish a book at all. And it takes me a LONG time to finish. Mostly because I'm too busy with life, or this silly thing called internet has changed how I use my spare time since I was in school.

I used to read when I was procrastinating with school work and would often have more than one novel going at the same time, too. Traveling used to be a time when I read a lot but lately I find I take my sudoku with me and end up doing that more than reading.

I was asking if you found you read more with ereader because my brain's craving to read, yet I just don't seem to find the opportunity to. I guess I just need to re-prioritize my life!

[spazzdog]

kindle - love it!

[MomOnBike]

For those who fear sensory deprivation with e-readers:

http://smellofbooks.com/

That, and a nice leather cover should do nicely.

You're welcome

[Caddy]

For those who fear sensory deprivation with e-readers:

http://smellofbooks.com/

That, and a nice leather cover should do nicely.

You're welcome

I got all excited, but couldn't find the actual product. Then I found this site:

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/...n-a-spray-can/

Now I am sad. Why did you do this to me?!

[Irulan]

Let's not forget that you can put a reading app on a smart phone, or at least you can with an iPhone. I've been reading books on my phone for 6 months now. It's a little small but otherwise it's been great: the price is right and the software is free.

[soprano]

Love my Kindle. I always have something good to read in my purse!

Based on the features and specifications, I would rather have gotten a Sony Daily Edition. However, when I went to look at the readers in person, I found the Kindle screen to be easier to actually read from. You can adjust the size of the print, the space between the lines and how close the words are together. As it turns out, I really need that large print! I went to read a regular book a few weeks ago and gave up after 10 minutes because the print was so small.

I miss being able to share books with my husband, and I wish it were easier to flip back and forth within the book. However, since I got the Kindle, I've read more books in the past 4 months than I have in the past 4 years.

My advice to anyone who is undecided on what reader to get is to go look at them in person. Big box stores like Best Buy sell several different kinds, so you can compare them side by side.