Dwight from Houston Chronicle's Techblog had a first look at the Reader. I loved this comment: "When using an e-book reader, it's just as easy to fall asleep reading as it is with a traditional book."

I never heard someone saying this before ;) Overall he seems to be quite happy with it. You can read more here (http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2006/10/reading_on_the.html#213234).

the advantage of falling asleep with a ebook is that when you wake up you haven't lost your page.

I wouldn't fall asleep (I don't think) while reading on my Treo or a Sony Reader because I'd be too concerned about breaking it or the inevitable fall off the bed.

On the other hand, the other night I did drift off for a bit while listening to an audiobook on my Treo. Fortunately, I woke back up and remembered to put it somewhere safe. I just had no idea of how much of the book I was conscious for. (Unlike e-books, as ultim8fury pointed out!)

I have to agree. I always read in bed at night, but I've trained myself (with p-books) to put the book down before I loose consciousness, so I haven't broken it yet!

I've also come to realize that I tend to slightly wet the tip of index finger when I turn the page (obviously I used to do it unconsciously), but now I have to retrain myself not to do it. I think it speaks volumes though, since it means that even at an unconscious level I forget that I'm not reading a "real" book.

Dwight from Houston Chronicle's Techblog had a first look at the Reader. I loved this comment: "When using an e-book reader, it's just as easy to fall asleep reading as it is with a traditional book."

I never heard someone saying this before ;) Overall he seems to be quite happy with it. You can read more here (http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/archives/2006/10/reading_on_the.html#213234).

I've been reading from my Palm long enough that I've (mostly) gotten the habit of knowing when I'm about to drift off, and setting it aside, usually setting a bookmark as I do so. This has transfered pretty well to the Reader (including the bookmark :) ), so I'm in pretty good shape. :beam:

LOL - Ok, you got me: I do fall asleep with my Reader, but in my recliner where so far it plops harmlessly onto my lap. (give me a break, I'm an old guy) :sleepy:

off to drool ...

[QUOTE=big_stan]... but I've trained myself (with p-books) to put the book down before I loose consciousness... QUOTE]
I did't know you could train kids this way :laugh3:

Sorry guys, specially you big_stan, but I can't get used to this "p-book" abbreviation! :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3:
Please...someone...pick me off the floor... :laugh3: :laugh3: :laugh3:

I like the "p-book" abbreviation... it makes paperbooks sound even more obsolete ;)

Back to the topic: I heard some scary stuff from iLiad folks out here whose screen cracked because of the slightest pressure. What a nightmare it would be if you woke up one day and had your head lying on your e-book device, just to find out that you cracked its screen (not to mention that drooling while you're asleep is probably also a safe way to send the Reader to Nirvana).

Yes, I fell asleeep with my iLiad. Reading lamp was on, my iLiad lay next to me as I woke up again. Uhhh, nothing bad happened. :happy2:

Yes, I fell asleeep with my iLiad. Reading lamp was on, my iLiad lay next to me as I woke up again. Uhhh, nothing bad happened. :happy2:
That's because you were lying next to it and not onto it :D

Fell asleep with mine in hand last night. The second the cover made a little "flap" sound it woke me up and I put it on my nightstand. At least I have carpet in the bedroom in case it takes a tumble :)

Yeah, I'm embarressed to say that I've found myself trying to turn the page (physically) right before I nodded off!

Falling asleep with a book in my hands happens more frequently to me today than it did in the past. Is it a sign of age?

I think it's a sign of we work too hard and try to squeeze in reading just before bed :) At least that's the case for me. Although I have been taking my Sony Reader to work and I prop it up against the left side of my flat screen so when I get tired of staring at code, I still look like I'm working, muahaha. Now if only I could turn the pages with my eyeballs alone!

the advantage of falling asleep with a ebook is that when you wake up you haven't lost your page.

I don't have this iLiad thing, but with the readers on my PDAs that have "auto-scroll" feature I've woken up to "...and that's when he knew that the butler did it. THE END" No fun whatsoever.

What I like about reading in bed is that I can just slip the PDA lanyard around my wrist and not worry about bouncing it off the tile floor (that can't be good.) Plus, if I am able to put it away before I doze off, I can simply turn the PDA off and slip it under the pillow. Life is good.