MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - A Fourth issue for thoughtful debate

hal2814 · 01-18-2011, 01:37 PM

I resisted eReaders for a long time. I still have some issues with them. For starters, there's this whole size issue. The 5"-7" readers are very novel-centric. It's hard to read something like a pdf on them. If you go big like the Kindle DX, you get the size you need to read larger-format books but at the expense of now having a bulky object to carry around. Paper books come in all shapes and sizes to suit the book's needs.

Then there's the cost. I bought my Kindle 2 refurbished for $140. I later bought my wife's K2 for $110 refurbished. That's a lot of cash for someone who previously bought primarily used books at $2-$5 each. What got me over the price hurdle? Two things: 1. I found an electronic copy of an out-of-print book that generally goes for around $100 on eBay or Amazon. 2. The Kindle has basic internet service so I can check my email on it without paying a monthly fee.

Then there are the lesser quirks. I can't just take the Kindle anywhere. I can't leave in the Jeep like I do with a paperback book at any given time. I have to turn it off when I'm on a plane that's taking off or landing. I have to really take care of it because all of my ebooks books are on there.

But I do love my Kindle and these are some big reasons why:
1. All of my ebooks are on there so I don't have to pick and choose before I leave the house.
2. I get a web browser on it.
3. There are some small recreational games available for when I'm in a reading lull.
4. I can easily smoke a cigar without putting down the book.
5. You can order a book and start reading it immediately from wherever I am (in the US). (You can also get a sample to read if you're not sure you'll like the book.)

I think eventually my biggest gripe with eReaders will require me to get two different sizes of reader. Cost is cost. If it ever bothers me that much there are less scrupulous ways to get what I want to read. As far as the lesser quirks, I guess they are just the price of progress. But those were my roadblocks. I'm not saying that anyone else has the same hangups or that my reasoning is typical, but the switch to eReader is currently not a win-win and until it is paper books will continue to co-exist.

01-18-2011, 01:37 PM	#12
hal2814 Connoisseur Posts: 65 Karma: 2460 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle 2	I resisted eReaders for a long time. I still have some issues with them. For starters, there's this whole size issue. The 5"-7" readers are very novel-centric. It's hard to read something like a pdf on them. If you go big like the Kindle DX, you get the size you need to read larger-format books but at the expense of now having a bulky object to carry around. Paper books come in all shapes and sizes to suit the book's needs. Then there's the cost. I bought my Kindle 2 refurbished for $140. I later bought my wife's K2 for $110 refurbished. That's a lot of cash for someone who previously bought primarily used books at $2-$5 each. What got me over the price hurdle? Two things: 1. I found an electronic copy of an out-of-print book that generally goes for around $100 on eBay or Amazon. 2. The Kindle has basic internet service so I can check my email on it without paying a monthly fee. Then there are the lesser quirks. I can't just take the Kindle anywhere. I can't leave in the Jeep like I do with a paperback book at any given time. I have to turn it off when I'm on a plane that's taking off or landing. I have to really take care of it because all of my ebooks books are on there. But I do love my Kindle and these are some big reasons why: 1. All of my ebooks are on there so I don't have to pick and choose before I leave the house. 2. I get a web browser on it. 3. There are some small recreational games available for when I'm in a reading lull. 4. I can easily smoke a cigar without putting down the book. 5. You can order a book and start reading it immediately from wherever I am (in the US). (You can also get a sample to read if you're not sure you'll like the book.) I think eventually my biggest gripe with eReaders will require me to get two different sizes of reader. Cost is cost. If it ever bothers me that much there are less scrupulous ways to get what I want to read. As far as the lesser quirks, I guess they are just the price of progress. But those were my roadblocks. I'm not saying that anyone else has the same hangups or that my reasoning is typical, but the switch to eReader is currently not a win-win and until it is paper books will continue to co-exist.