Do you have an ereader?

[Irulan]

Awe, bummer...
I don't know about all libraries, but ours has inter-library loan. I can go my closest branch and they can get a book they don't have from any library in the country sent to my local branch. I get the book there, and return the book there. Also, having an account on-line with the local library, I do my searches, holds, re-newals, etc all right from the comfort of my pc at home.

OP...
I don't own an e-reader. But, I am trying to figure out what kind of adaptive reading device my mother could use. Mom unfortunately has degenerative macular eye disease and lost most of her vision. She was such an avid reader and misses it.

I used to love Borders Bookstore. However, our local store just went out of biz. So glad I don't own their version of an ereader. We have B & N. It's just bit too big for me. Doesn't feel cozy to browse. Something I used to love to do at Borders. I kinda like touching the book lol... I'd hafta figure out how to get used to an ereader... tho many peeps love them.

Services for the blind has a free service, a player that plays a proprietary format audio tape, in a player suitable for someone with vision degeneration. My sister in law gets audio books this way. I wish I could think of the name of the organization but I am drawing a blank. It's free, also. She has used it living in several different communities.

[Grits]

I have had no interest in an e-reader because I read so many books, and I get them for free from the library. I can't afford to start paying for books, even if it is a little less than buying a hard copy or even paperback version of it. I understand, though, that that is changing and my library now is loaning e-books (for Nook).

I am in two book discussion groups, and I checked last night to see how many of the selected books for this year can be borrowed in e-book format from the library. Out of 10 books that I checked so far, 2 were available. When that ratio improves a little, I will be getting either a Nook or Kindle (if it will read E-Pub format by then) primarily for the note taking feature. I lead both discussion groups, and sometimes we discuss the book months after I have read it, so I need to take notes. Being able to highlight, copy, and annotate the book on the screen I am reading and copy that to refer to later would be so useful. I think I will seriously consider it when even half of the books are available because there are also many books that I would borrow that aren't on my discussion group list.

I anticipate that my Christmas wish list will be for either a Nook or Kindle.

[Irulan]

The company that libraries outsource their e-book management, Overdrive, does have some catalog "quality" issues. What they can get that's either public domain or available in e-format is definitely limited compared to what you can buy. But, it's getting better all the time. For example, they just added the Game of Thrones to the catalog. MY big beef is the two week loan period, with no renewal. Come on, who can read a 700 page book in two weeks, most of the time.

I do want to support the library system though...

[Catrin]

...
I anticipate that my Christmas wish list will be for either a Nook or Kindle.

Note the Sony Reader uses the epub format as its native format - this is a change from the initial offerings and therefore can also access library "loans". There is a library finder in the store for the Sony Reader that makes it easy to find your specific library.

I have hundreds of free ebooks on my Sony, or next to free. I am curious about the Nook since it does color, but I see no reason to spend money on yet another electronic reading device as long as my Sony is working.

[Irulan]

A good reader should handle different formats: epub, pdf, mobi, lit...

ecablire software will do format conversion and device transfer

Good comparison charts:


http://www.wireless-reading-device.n...mparison-chart

http://www.ereadercomparisonhq.com/

[DebSP]

I have the Sony e-reader. I buy some books and borrow books from the library as well as download the free books from Google. Some one at work told me that they just bought a no name e-reader from Walmart just for library books. He said it fairly inexpensive and he likes the quality. He is our IT guy at work so I am pretty sure he wouldn't choose something that is crap. It might be worth looking into.

[Miranda]

Services for the blind has a free service, a player that plays a proprietary format audio tape, in a player suitable for someone with vision degeneration. My sister in law gets audio books this way. I wish I could think of the name of the organization but I am drawing a blank. It's free, also. She has used it living in several different communities.

Thanks for much for that. Kinda thought there was something out there. I got a book on tape once out of default (only format available att). It turned out to be a wonderful thing. For me, I happened to listen to it in my vehicle on errands etc. Only way I was able to finish the book. I think mom would enjoy something like that. Hafta check into that further.

[Irulan]

Thanks for much for that. Kinda thought there was something out there. I got a book on tape once out of default (only format available att). It turned out to be a wonderful thing. For me, I happened to listen to it in my vehicle on errands etc. Only way I was able to finish the book. I think mom would enjoy something like that. Hafta check into that further.

I am going nuts trying to remember the name of the service...

jeez, google is my friend, first entry on "books for the blind"

http://www.loc.gov/nls/

[Chile Pepper]

Late here, too, but I have a Kindle and I love it! Since I live abroad, I don't have easy access to English-language books. Kindle puts them right at my fingertips--just a click away. Love it!

[moonfroggy]

Late here, too, but I have a Kindle and I love it! Since I live abroad, I don't have easy access to English-language books. Kindle puts them right at my fingertips--just a click away. Love it!

my father and younger brother live in south america and find getting books in English difficult as well. they do not have ereaders but they find better world books is a great resource for buying paper books http://www.betterworldbooks.com/
used books good prices free shipping worldwide
i don't work for them or anything i just like better world books a lot and thought i would mention it. sometimes books are only available in print and sometimes they are cheaper that way

i really want an ereader but feel too picky about the features i want and what is available to buy one right now. what i want is a notion ink. or something with same features. waiting patiently for something to become available that is also within my budget...

[badger]

I thought I'd revive this thread, as I'm on the cusp of buying a Kindle. But there's one small part of me that thinks it's just going to end up costing me more, but I do like how I'll just be able to download a book in seconds instead of going to the library or buying one or worse yet, waiting for them to be shipped.

I pretty much disappeared off the face of the earth last week plowing through the Twilight series. I finally caved and picked it up and it just sucked me right up. But I loved remembering what it's like to be lost in the world of books and I want to keep that momentum going.

I just hated having to lug around massive tomes of books (especially since they're library books, they were hard cover).

[Titania]

Honestly, my Kindle is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm an avid book reader, and it was getting ridiculous how many books I had in my house. I love having instant access to anything I want, and best of all I don't have 1,000 books sitting in my house.

I also have the Kindle app for my iphone, so I constantly have my books synched between my Kindle and phone for go-anywhere reading.

[DonnaS]

Another super-pleased Kindle owner here. I bought my second Kindle last spring...the less expensive WiFi version with ads. The ads are not instrusive, more like a screensaver when the Kindle is off.

[badger]

I was speaking to a co-worker who has a Kindle, and he said that it's a bit of a pain for us as we live in Canada, and some books you can't download. Didn't think of that...