E-readers and whatnot …

• Posted in About Books

It seems like everyone is talking about e-books and e-readers these days. Which e-reader to buy, which formats it supports, who has the best e-book prices, and whatnot.

I have a confession to make — I don’t have an e-reader, and I don’t plan on getting one anytime soon.

Why not? Well, mainly because I like paper books so much. I like the way they look and feel. I like being able to pick them up and browse through them in the store. Heck, I even like the way they smell. That musty tang in the air in libraries and used bookstores always makes me smile because it means that I’m in a place where there are books — and lots of them.

Price is another issue. Most of the prices for the e-readers that I’ve seen are more than $100. That seems kind of steep to me. And I’ve seen a lot of blog posts were a lot of readers have had problems with their e-books. It all kind of seems like a big hassle when I can just open up a paper book and start reading it without having to worry about if I’m even going to be able to open an e-file or not.

Plus, I spend all day on the computer at work and then again at night doing book stuff. When I have time to read, I don’t want to do it on the computer or on any kind of electronic screen. I want to curl up on my couch, put a blanket over my feet, and have the book on my lap.

Don’t get me wrong. I know plenty of folks who love, love, love their e-readers. One of the ladies in my book group brought her Kindle to one of our meetings and let folks play around with it. I thought it was cool, and I can certainly see the appeal of carrying thousands of books in something that’s only a little bigger than some people’s wallets — and being able to download more instantly. That’s another reason why I don’t get an e-reader — I’d spend tons and tons of money on books. Well, more so than I do now anyway. 😉

But I just don’t think an e-reader is for me. Maybe I’ll change my mind someday — or at least when the prices drop below $100. But for now, it’s good, old-fashioned paper books for me.

What about you guys? Have you jumped on the e-reader bandwagon? Why or why not?

Tags:

18 Responses to “E-readers and whatnot …”

  1. Becky says:

    I feel the same way as you, Jennifer.
    Books are my favourite thing in the world. I love looking at my book shelves and seeing my books. Like you, I love the way the look, feel, and smell. I have been known to just stand at my book shelf and smell my books (yes, I am strange)
    I don’t have an e reader and have no plans to get one. I would miss the sound of the pages turning so much.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Me too. I just wish I had room for more books and bookcases. LOL. I hadn’t thought about the sound of the pages turning, but that’s another cool thing about books — I love that little whisper of sound.

  2. Jenn says:

    I’m all about the paper books. I like holding them in my hand, I like looking at the gajillion books on my shelves, I like lending a book or three or nine to my friends and still have way more left over for me to pick from when I want to read.

    One of my coworkers brought in his Kindle and let me play with it and one of my biggest problems with it is the page “turning” speed. I read very fast. If there’s a hiccup in my page turn speed, I lose my imagination train and then I have to start over. The Kindle’s and the iPad’s speeds are too slow for me. The transition takes too long for me to keep the imagination train going and that bothers the crap outta me. Especially for big fight/dramatic/whatever scenes where I have it going like a movie in my head. Maybe those transition speeds are settings or something, but both had too slow of a speed for me.

    I have, however, downloaded the Kindle for PC app, which is free. I can read some of the ebook only or out-of-print (and I can’t find in my local used book stores) books I’ve been wanting to read and I can get sample chapters of books I’m considering (it’s usually the first chapter or two, maybe 10-20 pages total). The app isn’t too bad and I haven’t had any problems with it so far. The page transition is much faster too, just like moving between pages on a pdf or the like.

    I seriously doubt I will get an e-reader unless forced to (like paper books will no longer be printed or something drastic like that), I get one as a gift (which I have better things to ask for from people who get me gifts…like more paper books! or the means to buy more paper books, anyway), or the price comes way down.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Yeah, I can see how that would be a turnoff. Plus, I think it would be annoying to have to wait for the e-reader to turn on every time, whereas you can just pick up the book and start reading. The technical glitches are a big reason why I’m not interested in an e-reader right now. I’ll wait a few years until all the kinks are worked out. LOL.

  3. Indigo says:

    I feel like we’re already on overload when it comes to technology, it’s actually a relief to pick up a book and read it. Call me old school, but I’ll be a hold out until paper books no longer exist.

    I kind of wonder if E-readers won’t go the way of cassette tapes. (Hugs)Indigo

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I know what you mean. I spend so much time on the computer already. I want a break when I’m reading for fun.

      Oh, I think e-readers are here to stay, but I also think that the ones in 10 years will be different from what’s on the market right now.

  4. Jennifer Rayment says:

    I got a Kobo for my 40th birthday and I like it for the fact that I can read it on the bus and not get sick to my tummy like I do when I read anything else — but I far prefer reading an actual book. I love the feel of the pages and I just feel more involved in the story

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I feel your pain. I can’t read in the car either without getting sick. It’s cool that the Kobo helps you with that.

      I prefer the feel of books too. There’s just something about snuggling up on the couch with a good book. I don’t think I’d get the same feeling from an e-reader.

  5. Dewey says:

    I do all my reading now on the computer…well almost all of them, there are some books that aren’t available in the e-version. If you’re reading ebooks on computer, they almost always cost less than their paperback counterpart.

    I don’t care much for a tangible copy of the book unless I really *really* love it, like the Harry Potter series or yours ^_- Why? Space limit. If I own every single book I have on my computer as a paperback, I would not be able to live in my room… I apply to the minimalist lifestyle; less stuff, less hassle, more happy.

    As for the formats of ebook and how there’s too much of it and it’s just so confusing, it’s quite a misconception. Just download FBReader, a free app, and you’re done. The rest are in PDF format, and your PC should have AdobeReader app installed already. And if you own a eReader gadget, forget about formats. Use a Kindle, buy from Amazon. Use a Nook, buy from B&N. Use an iPad, buy from Apple iTunes. Just imagine owning one for airplane travels, car trips, waiting in lines, etc. All your books in single, light-weight machine at your immediate convenience.

    And…well, seeing how I really alot of Urban Fantasy and well, uh, I sometime take advices from their characters. Read too many times about characters getting attacked either by purpose or accident in their homes, havens, etc, it’s just handy having my small external hard-drive full of ebooks and other files ready to rescue and escape. For example, my house is burning down (stupid Mab), I can save everything important and sentimental in my school backpack in 5 minutes, the rest are replaceable and arbitrary. Can you IMAGINE having your paperbacks burning and saving none of them? Even if I can’t rescue my external hard-drive, I can still re-download my ebooks from the websites I bought them from for free. Free insurance, anyone? Wonderful for anyone living in the Tornado Alley, Hurricane Alley, or whatever-disaster alley. You can burn, you can wet, you can stab paperbacks, but ebooks are forever indestructible. Behold the digital immortality.

    Ebooks, good for space, quick to get, hard to kill. Starring in move theaters near you. ^_^

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      That’s nice of you to say about my books. 😉

      Okay, you just confused me with that one paragraph. LOL. But then again, I’m the person who only uses her cell phone to make calls — no texting, no Internet, nothing else. In the evenings, I just want to get away from the computer completely — not sit there and read on it.

      Heh. That’s funny and true. Although no puny e-reader could stand up to Mab’s fire power (insert bad joke groan here). And she’d go in and wipe out your digital library — just because she’s Mab.

      I can definitely see the convenience of e-readers, and I really like the idea of instand downloads — I just think that I’m always going to like paper books more. They just have a magic about them to me that computers don’t.

  6. Melissa B says:

    Heh… you are actually the reason I have an eReader. I don’t like reading on the comp for long periods of time, plus I don’t take my comp everywhere I like to read. Someone’s eArc made it my way and I really wanted to read it. So, I broke down and got one. I actually enjoy it. I still prefer paper books, but I like it when I want to take more than one book on a trip or read ARCs in that format.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      Okay, now you’ve made me cringe a little. You shouldn’t have gotten an e-reader just for me. LOL.

      But I’m glad you are enjoying your e-reader. I can definitely see the convenience of them for folks who travel a lot. But I don’t know — I just don’t know that I’ll ever be able to let go of my paper books.

  7. Lori says:

    I agree with you on so many levels. I love curling up in my big comfy chair or on my couch to read a good paperback. Personally, I wish they never invented the damn things. Unfortunately, there are many authors I enjoy or authors I want to read, who are only offering certain books in digital format. I recently read and reviewed an ebook, while I loved the book, I really really hated sitting in front of the screen for long periods of time, it was very uncomfortable. What is the point of trying to enjoy a book, if you can’t relax and get comfortable? That is the only reason I want an ereader. So, I keep watching for online contest in the hopes to win one. Or like you, wait till the prices drop. Other than the books, I won’t have access to, I am perfectly content with real books in my hands.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I know what you mean. I recently read an e-book but I sort of cheated in that I printed it out and read the pages instead of reading it on the computer. Even then, it was a little awkward since I couldn’t readjust the margins the way that I wanted them. LOL.

  8. emmad says:

    I’ve been wanting an EReader for some time but we haven’t had any that could be purchased in NZ. The Kobo came out and I felt was a little expensive but when I was just about to take the plunge (birthday money) the 3rd Gen Kindle (WiFi) was released so I have that on preorder.
    I do book reviews on BittenByBooks but due to living in NZ have to only do it on ebooks. Have been struggling doing this on my laptop as not that portable really. Looking forward to being able to read them on my Kindle.
    Will probably also buy more books due to the price. Book’s are more expensive here so if I can get the ebooks cheaper I will.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      I will say that sending out e-ARCs has made my life easier as an author. I can send out as many as I want with a few clicks of a button. No going to the post office and no paying for postage.

      Like I said, I can see the appeal of e-readers, especially for folks overseas who don’t have easy access to all the books that they want. I just don’t think that I need one right now. I’d rather take that money … and get more books. LOL.

  9. Kimberly Quick says:

    Okay so what no one mentioned and my favorite part of the kindle is the ability to download a sample of a book. You can get the usually about 2 chapters for free and then decide if you want the whole book or not. Then I love that it keeps track of were I left off. If I was reading it on a kindle and then was on my computer reading it know where I left off last. I tend to loss my place in my paperbacks. I drop my book or can’t find my bookmark.
    But I will agree with you Jennifer I spend a whole lot more on books this way, so easy to buy them.

    • Jennifer Estep says:

      That is cool that the Kindle lets you sample more of the book — and then saves your place. I didn’t know you could do those things with the Kindle.

Back to Top