This is a 'Green' concern. I'm just looking for a bird's eye view.

Will the impact or E-readers be as strong as we wish it ? So far I'm not convinced. There are many variables such as Obsolescence, loss or destruction of device etc.

One thing is positive. If you bought an e-book you will want to read it if not have to read it.

For my part, in the five months or so that I've had the Sony in my hands, I've read 27 e-books, 4 of them not published to paper. In that same period I've read just as much on paper.

Note: This is basically my first portable reading device, what I've read so far was on a portable computer. Please leave computers out of the equation.

I think I've read 22 since January, some on the eBookwise 1150, some on the iLiad after I got it. I might have left some out in trying to remember them all, so we could round up to 25. I read three books online just before that, which I'm pretty sure I would have read on a reader if I'd had one yet.

I'm not at all sure how many I've read in paper during that time. Probably a comparable number, and if you include magazines, I'm sure it has been at least as much paper. Some books were from the library, however, and they might need to be counted somewhat differently.

I still prefer to read magazines on paper, even those I have access to in electronic format (like Make). Most of the magazines I get have a lot of "how-to" content and the resolution of the pictures is important. But I'd have read all of the books on the reader if they'd been available.

OK, some (a bunch) were pulp but I counted them anyway. Although not a speed reader I can knock 2 of them off in an afternoon/evening. So for 8 months that puts my average per month around 14 plus the now-and-then pbook.

I've not been keeping track of my reading. All I know so far is I'm not rading as much as I have been. I want to get back to reading more. I plan on doing so now that the weather is nice. I'll take my reader or paper book with me outdoors and have a good read.

I couldn't really say for sure, 'cause I haven't been specifically keeping count, but I know that if anything, I've been reading more since I got it.

I can say that I haven't read a paper book since sometime in October, but I look for Harry Potter 7 to break that streak (yes, I know it will probably be 'available' somewhere by the next morning, but I plan to read it -- at least in part -- during that time!). :shrug:

I've been reading more novels on my PDA than in print*, by about a ratio of 5-1. On the other hand, my novel reading is down overall because of time constraints, and because I also read magazines and graphic novels, of which I have only a good print option for those.

I hold out hope that color magazines, comics, graphic novels, etc, will be made for readers eventually. As long as storage can be transferred from one device to another, I don't see why readers can't be major in the future.


*I'm assuming that you are not including PDAs in your exclusion of computers above. If I misunderstood... never mind.

I've had my eBookwise 18 months, and have read 98 novels, 10 anthologies, 8 collections, and some 200 separate shorter works. (I keep a list, obviously.) I read on the eBookwise almost exclusively, and have read only a half dozen books on paper since I've had it.

I have read 6 or 7 but I have only had my reader for a couple of months. I have not bought any paper books since getting the reader but I have finish a couple that I had bought previously. I plan on making the reader the main source of reading whenever possible.

From the 1150 before it got passed to a weekly road warrior I really couldn't say. Let's be technical and estimate "lots".

I can be precise about the numbers for the ereader used currently since once something is read it goes into the "read" folders. From November to now, I've read 415 items. Wow! I must be amazing!

sigh. I wish. To be honest, only about 100 of those would really be classified as books. The rest would be the standard short stories, novellas, and various small ebooks.

One thing that has increased has been the number of technical papers and articles read. It's nice to be able to read a quick white paper or a report at leisure without having to boot up a computer or haul around printouts until you are ready to read them. It's like always having the interesting article you were reading at hand instead of being buried under a bigger pile of papers. (Great heavens! Is there anything that screams out "nerd" more than finding technical and scientific white papers as interesting as popular mainstream sellers?)

Now if you will excuse me, I have 10 minutes before I need to head out for dinner and find that will be just enough time to read about the current state of converting plant sugars into usable commercial plastics. (Yes, I AM serious about it. Like I said: nerd.)

5 months.
5 books.
Paper is forgotten.

got mine for about a year. Read about 20 books and lots and lots of other stuff i would have printed otherwise.

I love it and dont want to ever part from it again :)

To be honest, only about 100 of those would really be classified as books. The rest would be the standard short stories, novellas, and various small ebooks.

One thing that has increased has been the number of technical papers and articles read. It's nice to be able to read a quick white paper or a report at leisure without having to boot up a computer or haul around printouts until you are ready to read them. It's like always having the interesting article you were reading at hand instead of being buried under a bigger pile of papers. (Great heavens! Is there anything that screams out "nerd" more than finding technical and scientific white papers as interesting as popular mainstream sellers?)

Now if you will excuse me, I have 10 minutes before I need to head out for dinner and find that will be just enough time to read about the current state of converting plant sugars into usable commercial plastics. (Yes, I AM serious about it. Like I said: nerd.)

Hey! Anything that saves paper counts! Especially if it's text that hasn't been printed.

Don't underestimate the interest of converting sugars to plastics! When at some point in the future it is asked of us to quit our addiction to oil, processes like those will be priceless; if we want this society to survive.

Does anyone else have my problem. I need about 3 more readers. Prior to getting my reader, I would have 3 or 4 books on the go. Usually a SF at my chair in the family room, some type of short reading in the WC, Technical stuff ;) in the office, and usually a mystery in the bedroom. Where ever I happen to be I just reached down for the book and picked up where I left off. Now I have to remember to bring the reader with me. I also find that I am only reading one book at a time because changing between books is a bit of a pain.

Not only has the reader changed the reading source but also how I read. This is an interesting but unexpected side effect to a great device. Change every where change!:book2::2thumbsup

Does anyone else have my problem. I need about 3 more readers. Prior to getting my reader, I would have 3 or 4 books on the go. Usually a SF at my chair in the family room, some type of short reading in the WC, Technical stuff ;) in the office, and usually a mystery in the bedroom. Where ever I happen to be I just reached down for the book and picked up where I left off. Now I have to remember to bring the reader with me. I also find that I am only reading one book at a time because changing between books is a bit of a pain.

Not only has the reader changed the reading source but also how I read. This is an interesting but unexpected side effect to a great device. Change every where change!:book2::2thumbsup
That's one of the reasons why I have books on the Nano. And I never leave the Nano because there's no Jazz on local stations.

If you had a smart phone you'd never:) be stranded!

I also find that I am only reading one book at a time because changing between books is a bit of a pain.We've got a handy Tip & Trick (http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7892) for dealing with that (item 2 in the first post). Actually, I've since realized that once I've used the trick once, simply single clicking the Menu button will take me back faster than holding down the Mark button ... until I access a different menu, anyway. :nice:


I can't help you with remembering to take your Reader along, though, I still haven't figured out how to forget to do so. :grin:

There is a connection point for a lanyard on the Reader; perhaps you should thread a string through it and hang it around your neck :grin:.

There is a connection point for a lanyard on the Reader; perhaps you should thread a string through it and hang it around your neck :grin:.

I would try the string trick but my wife already leads me around by the nose, I mean wedding ring,:grin2: and the string might turn into "reins":smartass2

Bought a Dell Axim x51v about two years ago *just* so I could read ebooks. I've since read over 1,600 on it and as soon as my personal evaluation unit from Bookeen gets here I have about 1,000 in my *to read* directory that I'm going to load on it. :D

Derek

Bought a Dell Axim x51v about two years ago *just* so I could read ebooks. I've since read over 1,600 on it and as soon as my personal evaluation unit from Bookeen gets here I have about 1,000 in my *to read* directory that I'm going to load on it. :D

Derek

I wonder if the new CyBook will display a hierarchical file system view? The old CyBook doesn't, and the Sony Reader doesn't. If it's a "flat" view, like these other machines are, you're probably not going to want to put 1000 books on it :grin:.

I cannot tell for sure, but I read anything between 26 to 100 e-books on the Reader. Thing is, my girlfriend recently borrowed it, and she hasn't returned it yet. So I am stuck. :oops2:

I still don't know how you guys do it. I love the Reader, and I feel like I use it all the time. Yet I have finished less than 15 books on it so far, as best I can tell.

It is true, however, that I don't have the opportunity to read it for hours on end very often. Mostly it's 10mins at lunch, or 15-30 mins before I go to sleep.

As I've said before, you guys are amazing how you can devour a book a day or even a book a week. Blows my mind, but it's fantastic.

Yet I have finished less than 15 books on it so far, as best I can tell.
I have finished only several dozen of books on a Reader - because I only have it for a relatively short time. Yet I have read many hundreds of e-books over many years. I have started with a "bombarded out" 286 notebook with 2MB of RAM, grayscale 640x480 display, without battery and even harddisk. You simply place a book (or a part of the book) on a bootable DOS floppy togtether with a simple reader.
As I've said before, you guys are amazing how you can devour a book a day or even a book a week. Blows my mind, but it's fantastic.
well ... , if you go to sleep 1 hour later and you spend that hour reading ebooks, and if you do it every night for about 10 years, you will also have read many hundred ebooks.
When I was younger I was able to devour at least 5 paper books per week. Every week. Except for holidays, of course. During holidays I had more time for reading ;-)

I guess this thread was meant to include all your mobile devices. So I feel a little more accomplished if I consider all e-book reading... probably around 50 in all.

The really great thing is that for years, I really hadn't been reading very much except for technical or "necessary" books which I read all the time, of course. But reading for fun is something that mobile devices have brought back into my life. First with the Palm PDAs, and now also with the Sony Reader.

If I included all e-books I've ever read, I think it's probably around 200. I wish I had them all in my bookshelf now. Would make a nice library.

It doesn't look that good after 25-30 years. Many of the books I got were printed before they found out about the acid in their paper treatment. Everything is yellow!!?!!

And then there is the pre-Page Maker layouts and graphics. Yuck!

You can't even give 25 year old books away! The only worthwhile ones are those with pictures, coffee table style.

That "10 minute" and "30 minute" time constraint is one reason I can get more read with the reader. No matter what I was reading, pick up the reader and, magically, there's my place in the very same book I was reading! How? How do they do that? :grin2:

I can't even guess how many paper books were delayed or forgotten due to their being put down and eventually forgotten or misplaced over a long span of time. (Time that often ranged for almost 10 or 15 minutes before my memory failed.)

With the readers it's become easier to actually KEEP reading something since I know it will always be right where I stopped. (Often entailing an "oh yea! That's what I was reading" moment.)

Well, almost always. Recently I've noticed a need for "user profiles" on the reader so that everyone has a different set of bookmarks. If I lose my place in the Cyberaid one more time due to someone reading "Marley and Me", body parts will roll!

I've had my Sony Reader for 8 months. In that time I've read 2-3 books per week on it. Before that, I had an REB1100 for about 4 years and read many books on it. A simple way of counting is that I've read everything Baen has made available in bits (not counting eARCs and books that are only partial) -- that's 500+. And... I've read a bunch of other stuff in bits too, perhaps another 50+. The number might be larger than 550, but it certainly isn't smaller.

I've read about 50 books on my Palm Zire. (Counting the pdb files.)

I would estimate about:

> 100 new novels (no previous paper read, the novels themselves may be old) complete, some with multiple rereads
> 50 new novels partial
> 100 paper read first novels, rereads
> 300 short stories

Overall I estimate about 65-70% of my e-reading is on Nokia and 30-35% on Ebk1150; I tend to read simultaneously the same books on both.

It's not just quantity its quality. For me the major pleasure of having a good ebook reader [an Illiad] is finally getting to read all those wonderfully obscure 19th novels that you just can find/ can't afford. We get such a second hand prim little view of what literature was like back then. Now we are getting a chance to really look at what writers, different kinds of writers were up to. The good, the bad and the plain preposterous. Also I'm enjoying reading some fun sf stuff of course. Never got round to Edgar Rice Burroughs before.

Who's counting. I spend my time reading.

I keep promising myself to keep notes on my readings -- who I am reading -- which book -- what were my feelings about it. Years ago I read a lot of sf. I would write notes inside the front cover and then give the book to a friend. Usually I got a book in return. But it is like taking notes on what I eat. I am much too appetitive and much too eager to get to the next experience to stop and reflect. Not very mindful, huh?

I have about 2,800 ebooks on my PalmOS PDA. I've read hundreds of them, but haven't actually been counting.

In my case, I grab HTML content from Project Gutenberg, the Baen Free Library, and elsewhere, and convert to content viewable with the Plucker offline HTML viewer for PalmOS.

I have eReader, MobiReader, a PDF viewer, and several Palm "doc" viewers installed as well for content not available in HTML, but Plucker is the main viewer and ebook reading is the single biggest use of my device.

I have several thousand "dead tree" editions as well, and have bought paper editions of books I discovered electronically.

Essentially, I have a large library in my pocket, available at all times, and never lack for reading material.
______
Dennis

I have a reading plan that I keep updated with newer stuff or titles I plan to acquire. So my book count is accurate to +-5. Paper's an other thing, once read it tops a pile of giveaway to an adult literacy campain. Books to keep are about 20% of what I've read.

I have a notebook that I started at school in 1980...:) (Well I have re-written it twice over 27 years)

I few months ago I photocopied all pages in Russian (till 1999) then saved them on my pc and typed all books in English in doc file (starting from 1999 :)), so I have pretty clear picture :)
I also have a rough waiting list of the books I want to read.

Unfortunatelly, I am very slow reader, so the list is not too long.

:smash:

I can't remember how many I read it.
I make many e-book by myself and read, after finish reading I delete all.

Man, we have some power readers in here! I can't believe that many people have read over 100 books already... I think that averages out to ~10 books a month (if they picked it up when it was available back in October/November) or about 2-3 books a week! Sheesh, not sure how you can maintain that kind of steam, though I'm duly impressed.

I haven't really kept a running total, but I usually take about a week or two to kill a novel (and that's if it doesn't stink) so I've only knocked over about 25-ish. My wife, on the other hand, just received hers back after the huge TigerDirect 4th of July deal and is rapidly gaining on my count... I think she's up to at least 15 in about a month and a half (course she's cleaning up in the Romance genre).

Edit: Since this is for all mobile devices, it still doesn't really ratchet up my count too much since I couldn't really get into reading on my small PDA screen. You guys/gals are still the bomb for reading all that you have. I usually only read in the evening just before I go to sleep, so that's anywhere from 20 minutes to 4 hours (depending on how good the book is, not how early I have to get up :D ).

Yes, I read 2-3 books per week (fiction). Non-fiction typically takes me longer, but I don't have much non-fiction in ebooks at present.

Must say, I find this to be a really interesting thread...

So, lets see. I read 1-3 novels a week. I havent kept count, so lets just say 1.5 per week.

I bought my first ebook reader (a Franklin eBookman) when my son was born, so thats seven years ago. Ergo, I guess I'd be looking at between 500-600 or so books. In that time, I've upgraded twice-second hand iPaq 3630 from eBay, and a Nokia 770 Internet Tablet two weeks ago.

Over that timeframe, the only books I have read on paper have been the Harry Potters (its a long story). I'm certainly getting my moneys worth, if nothing else! And yes, before you ask-my eyes are just fine.

Yes, I read 2-3 books per week (fiction). Non-fiction typically takes me longer, but I don't have much non-fiction in ebooks at present.

You bring up an interesting point Neko.

At first glance there isn't that much non fiction available in ebook formats compared to fiction; leaving free classics out of the equation of course. Fiction has notoriously been categorized as an ephemeral type of work and only true fans would buy to collect. After reading most copies end up resold or discarded.

My remark is this. Is there an association of sorts with fiction and ebook format? Meaning that ebooks are also meant to be discarded?

I have more fiction in ebooks because most fiction I like to read is SF, which is rather well represented in available ebooks. I would say this is probably partly because SF readers have been more technically capable and inclined toward converting (or reading) ebooks to this point. I'm given to understand that romance may have overtaken SF in terms of availability by now, but I have no data on this as I don't read romance.

The non-fiction I have tends to be about linguistics or education, both of which have been somewhat slow to adapt, though I do have some physics ebooks. Math uptake seems to be slow as well. I do have a bunch of computer science books in paper that would probably be available as ebooks, but I haven't even looked to see if they are, because if I'm looking at a computer reference book, there's a good chance something is wrong with my hardware and I might not be able to access an ebook. Also, even if the hardware is working correctly, I tend to be using my screen for something else at the same time that I'm trying to look something up. I'll use online references if I have them, but I don't go out of my way to acquire CS books in ebook form.

I have more fiction in ebooks because most fiction I like to read is SF, which is rather well represented in available ebooks. I would say this is probably partly because SF readers have been more technically capable and inclined toward converting (or reading) ebooks to this point. I'm given to understand that romance may have overtaken SF in terms of availability by now, but I have no data on this as I don't read romance.
Yes, neko. From time to time romance overtakes reading. :grin2:

The non-fiction I have tends to be about linguistics or education, both of which have been somewhat slow to adapt, though I do have some physics ebooks. Math uptake seems to be slow as well. I do have a bunch of computer science books in paper that would probably be available as ebooks, but I haven't even looked to see if they are, because if I'm looking at a computer reference book, there's a good chance something is wrong with my hardware and I might not be able to access an ebook. Also, even if the hardware is working correctly, I tend to be using my screen for something else at the same time that I'm trying to look something up. I'll use online references if I have them, but I don't go out of my way to acquire CS books in ebook form.
I found when I was doing an engineering project I would have anywhere from several to many dog-eared hardware and software manuals open on my desk at the same time. If I were to attempt that with eBooks, I would have to have a very user-friendly bookmarking system. I am not sure it wouldn't slow me down.

I have more fiction in ebooks because most fiction I like to read is SF, which is rather well represented in available ebooks. I would say this is probably partly because SF readers have been more technically capable and inclined toward converting (or reading) ebooks to this point. I'm given to understand that romance may have overtaken SF in terms of availability by now, but I have no data on this as I don't read romance.

It turns out that romance novels are selling really well. They are mostly purchased by housewives.

Yes, neko. From time to time romance overtakes reading. :grin2:
:rolleyes:

Yes, even in my case, romance can overtake reading. ;) I like them both, just not at the same time!

:rolleyes:

Yes, even in my case, romance can overtake reading. ;) I like them both, just not at the same time!
I've told my wife that I could easily read a books during sex. She told me not to bother. I havn't bothered proving to her. I think I'll give into this one.

I've told my wife that I could easily read a books during sex. She told me not to bother. I havn't bothered proving to her. I think I'll give into this one.

Unless you still need directions!

I've told my wife that I could easily read a books during sex. She told me not to bother. I havn't bothered proving to her. I think I'll give into this one.
A husband and wife were engaged in the act of procreation. Suddenly the husband exclaimed, "Oh! Dear! Did I hurt you?"

She replied, "No. Why do you ask?

He said, "You moved."

Okay, folks, don't make me close the thread .... :grin:

Okay, folks, don't make me close the thread .... :grin:
NatCh, don't make me have to reopen this thread. :oops2:

This could get ugly real fast. :laugh4:

You guys are all off topic.

If I total up, I'm up to 42 books on the reader and .5 on the Nano. I guess I'll open that book on the reader to finish it. The Nano is way too small for comfort. Its only a last ditch when there's nothing else to do off my turf.

Topic? What's that?

This could get ugly real fast. :laugh4:

On car trips, when the kids were acting up in the back seat we would always shout, "Do I have to separate you?"

It was particularly terrifying when there was only one child.

Okay! I'll close the thread myself. :laugh4:

I've read so many books on my Sony that yesterday while I was reading a paperback I caught myself reaching for the page turn button.:rolleyes: