iPad and Kindle: The demise of the Book

[ridebikeme]

I love to read like many of you here, but do NOT see myself buying either an Ipad or kindle. I will only read books that I can have in my hands simple as that. I have 8-9 magazine subscriptions, and love to look back through them months after I read them. And, like many of you, I do go to the library every week and bring a couple of books home that way as well, in addition to buying books(hardback)from time to time. I also send cards for special occasions and letters... not always email. I like to have the interaction that they generate, emails for me are simply a connection that generally give information without any personal contact. You may know my usename, but do you truly "know" me? AS you can see, I am very much old school.

With that said, I would NOT read more if I had either a kindle or Ipad... I already shut the tv off and read to relax or recover from a hard ride.

Computers are great for many things, but they also have been great at eliminating jobs everywhere and will continue to do so. Personally I like the fact that I can walk into a shop, DRs office and people know me and know background information as well. I enjoy the one on one contact and the conversation that it generates.

[alexis_the_tiny]

I keep thinking, in our lifetimes will we see the end of books being printed at all?

Absolutely NOT! I have ebooks by the dozen on my computer and am eyeballing my first Kindle purchase. But that said, I have one entire floor to ceiling shelving unit filled with books. And I still buy books. Although they tend to be second hand because I think old books look (and smell) nicer and occasionally, you find a really awesome inscription on the inside. I live for finding gems like that.

[CycleTherapy]

FYI.... I just bought a Kindle recently. I was a dyed-in-the-wool, honest to goodness, give me the real deal book worm. But now that I have used it , I would not give it up.

My advice is to pay the extra $50 and purchase the $189 model with both wi-fi and 3G. For $50 you will have 3G for life. If say, you are traveling in a car, away from Wi-fi, not only can you purchase/download a book... but people, you can access the web, for free ! It's a full function web browser, (Google or Yahoo, you choose) you can pull up say, mapquest for directions while in the car,favorite blog sites even email... sure, it doesn't have a color screen but who cares ? To be able to add that functionality (3G, web browser etc) to something you are already purchasing, I say throw in the extra $50 and really have a full functioning device in your hands.

[ShubieGA]

My friends gave me a Kindle for b-day and Christmas (good friends! ). I love my Kindle for traveling, which my job requires. As I am a fast reader, I usually drag a couple books along. But at home I still like to hold a real book. The hard part is when I find a good e-book, it's tough to share with friends!

[CycleTherapy]

Shubie, I don't know if you are a dog lover, but I just finished a novel (via Kindle).. "A Dog's Purpose" by W. Bruce Cameron. I absolutely loved it. I can't stop thinking about the story. Download a sample and see if it's something you would like.

Regards,

[emily_in_nc]

My advice is to pay the extra $50 and purchase the $189 model with both wi-fi and 3G. For $50 you will have 3G for life. If say, you are traveling in a car, away from Wi-fi, not only can you purchase/download a book... but people, you can access the web, for free ! It's a full function web browser, (Google or Yahoo, you choose) you can pull up say, mapquest for directions while in the car,favorite blog sites even email... sure, it doesn't have a color screen but who cares ? To be able to add that functionality (3G, web browser etc) to something you are already purchasing, I say throw in the extra $50 and really have a full functioning device in your hands.

Do you mean that for that $50 you get internet access without a monthly charge?? If so, that's going onto my Christmas list!

[BikeDutchess]

I'm not sure that's the case. It talks about web browsing, but then the terms and conditions say the following:

2. Wireless Connectivity
Use of Wireless Connectivity. Your Kindle uses wireless connectivity to allow you to shop for and download Digital Content from the Kindle Store. In general, we do not charge you for this use of wireless connectivity. Your Kindle may use wireless connectivity to make other services available to you for which we may charge you a fee, such as personal file download and subscriptions when you are located in another country. The fees and terms for such services are located in the Kindle Store and may change from time to time. If your Kindle functions with third party services, such as WI-FI access points, a third party may charge you fees for the use of those services.

Your Conduct. You may use the wireless connectivity provided by us only in connection with the Service. You may not use the wireless connectivity for any other purpose.

I'm confused on whether that allows you to pull up mapquest and such on 3G without extra charges.


Edited to add:
Never mind. Elsewhere it says:

Kindle's new web browser is based on WebKit to provide a better web browsing experience. Now it's easier than ever to find the information you're looking for right from your Kindle. Experimental web browsing is free to use over 3G or Wi-Fi [in the U.S.].

[Pascale]

I don't even actually have a Kindle, I just use the free downloadable version on my android phone or my iTouch - I absolutely love it!

[katibosch]

I have an eBookwise reader (more obscure than Kindle, Nook, etc.) that I bought several years ago. Still functional, lots of books available. I am having trouble justifying the cost of the books I buy for it, though. I buy almost all my (paper) books used and also sell the ones I've read back to the used bookstore, for a net cost of around $2.00 for a paperback book. Same book purchased for my reader would be around $5.00 - 6.00 or more, with no possibility of resale, obviously. For now I think I'll mostly stick to paper books, although I am trying to downsize on them a lot -- have two big bookshelves currently, would like to get down to one much smaller one.

[Bike Writer]

I don't have a Kindle or other type of electronic reading device and would have thought that book lover me would never consider one. I have been intrigued by them because of

• size
• portability
• lower cost than a hardcover
• ability to hold a whole library
• etc.

so the key word is intrigued but not sold. I think they have their application and purpose for travel and portability and will appeal to a lot of people and to those who love them I say great!

For myself, I like the "experience" of a hand held book, the way they smell, especially leather bound books, the feel of them and particularly the weight of a book on your chest after you just read a fablous passage that makes you want to pause and reflect or ponder on it before you move on or reread that passage for the sheer joy it gave you.

Even if I ever were to buy an electronic device I could never give up that experience. Plus the fact that I love to be surrounded by books, on bookshelves, propped between bookends on desks and tables and stacked in various piles and places both at home and in my workplace. I'm hopeless in that I find comfort in just looking at books I've read or are waiting to be read.

[KnottedYet]

Even if I ever were to buy an electronic device I could never give up that experience. Plus the fact that I love to be surrounded by books, on bookshelves, propped between bookends on desks and tables and stacked in various piles and places both at home and in my workplace. I'm hopeless in that I find comfort in just looking at books I've read or are waiting to be read.

It's not an either/or proposition.

You can have both.

I love my iPod for reading. I love my books. I used to live and breathe libraries. I catalogued new books. I worked in the mendry repairing old books. I know several authors who LOVE that their books can sell in ebook form. I know a lot of readers who are thrilled to find out-of-print books in e-form.

Having a e-reader is not a form of betrayal. What matters is the story. What matters are the ideas. Doesn't matter if they come as pixels, print, script, CD, radio broadcast, American Sign Language, or Braille. Fondle the media, but honor the story.

[Bike Writer]

Knotted, agree with you 100%. I have considered one, however it's not a priority for me at this time. I like reading about the positive experiences people are having with them because it gives me more reason to consider a purchase some time down the road.

But when I get one it will be for convenience and portabilitiy, it won't replace snuggling up in a big easy chair with a warm throw, a cup of coffee and an old fashioned book

As you can see from my bike, I'm a throwback from a different era - but I do appreciate and embrace teckkie stuff too and find it difficult to be far from my blackberry.