eReader Memories

[Timboli]

My first ereader was the Keyboard Kindle, with its great cover featuring the pull out light.

I'd been wanting an ereader device for years, primarily at that point, to read all the free ebooks I'd been downloading from sites like Project Gutenberg.

However finding such devices where I live, was few and far between and none really impressed me much, and most importantly there seemed no way to try before buying, and damn they were so expensive, and for the most part pretty b-grade looking etc.

All of that changed, when a mate of mine bought a Keyboard Kindle with the great cover, and let me have a play with it, and it won me over immediately, and I just felt I had to have one, and Xmas wasn't far off, and so my wife bought me one, with the great cover.

Now when I say, great cover, it looked and felt great and offered really good protection for the ereader's E-Ink screen.

I'd been reading online about all the broken screens, and that cover was a major selling point for me, for just that alone, but also because it made the ereader look and feel more like a physical book ... as the kind of leather Bible hardcover variety.

Anyway, the cover wasn't the only selling point. The device was light and well made and was easy to use and navigate. The pull out light wasn't so great, but at least it was builtin. The buttons for forward and backward page turning, were okay, and grew on me more and more over time.

At this point, it would be fair to say, that while useful for the free ebooks I had, I saw the device as more of a toy, than something I would use full-time for reading. I certainly wasn't about to rush out and buy new ebooks to read on it, and later when I finally checked prices, I was turned off even more about that idea. Hell I could not believe the high prices, still don't a lot of the time, because it simply doesn't add up, especially as I paid a few hundred dollars for that ereader device, and that is added to the cost of any ebook I would purchase. Though I admit, not as badly because of all the free ebooks I'd collected over years, if I ignored they would then no longer really be free.

There was also the notion I had, that reading with a device was probably unlikely to be as pleasant as reading a physical book. That eventually proved to be wrong, and now I prefer reading with a device, at least with a device with a decent cover that makes it feel and look like a book.

Around about a month later, mid January, the family and I went away interstate on a special family holiday. I took my Keyboard Kindle with me, though I don't recall using it yet at that point ... still busy reading from my huge backlog of physical books. Anyway, the last place we stayed at, a popular town on the East coast of Australia, had a Big W department store, and the first time I went there, I noticed some physical books with attractive covers on a bin stand in an aisle, by an author I didn't know. Checking them out I discovered they were wilderness crime thrillers, by an author called C.J. Box, and they were only $10 AUD each. I nearly bought one or two then and there, but instead decided I would check online first using the Motel Wifi, on the off chance they were cheap as ebooks from Amazon.

Now lets get a few facts straight. One, I was not a fan of Amazon, and was not keen to give them my credit card details, especially as it was my policy to only use PayPal for online purchases. Two, there was no way I was ever going to re-buy books I already owned as ebooks. Three, I wasn't going to buy any ebook in any series I was already reading as physical books. So if I was ever going to buy an ebook, it had to either be standalone or in a new series. I was also reluctant at that point, to buy an ebook by an author I had already collected physical books of, wanting to keep all similar formats together. Four, price was hugely important.

I am also very much a person who likes to see my books arranged in bookcases.

Anyway, I was not adverse to change and taking a chance, within reason. And while I've never been one to keep up with the Joneses, I do like to keep somewhat abreast of the times, especially with technology and new ideas etc. In fact, I'd been interested in the notion of ebooks for a very long time, as they seemed a great idea to me ... at least to a point.

Checking online at Amazon, I discovered those ebooks by C.J. Box were indeed cheap, at around $6 USD, which equated to around $10 AUD at that point in time. So suddenly I was keenly interested in the possibility of buying some. However, I needed to overcome my reluctance to deal with Amazon. Those ebooks had passed my other criteria. I'd also investigated a few authors I collect, and discovered that one of them, had some novellas, that were ebook only, and I collect everything by that author. So I wasn't not going to get them, and being in for a penny I might as well be in for a pound, and so I gave in and created an account with Amazon and gave them my credit card details, and the rest is history.

Over time I bought more and more ebooks, though price always dictated. My cutoff point with Amazon ebooks still remains at about $10 USD. It must be remembered, that back then, there was also no Australian Amazon store ... that was still a few years off.

Eventually a few things changed for me. I grew to prefer reading ebooks, so I changed some of my policies, and in the end I only buy ebooks now. That last, has proved to be difficult at times, due to publisher shenanigans with availability and price. A couple of years later, I also upgraded to a Paperwhite Kindle device, due to the better lighting method, and what I thought would be better for page turning, swiping ... plus easier browsing etc. As it turned out, I actually prefer buttons for page turning. So years later again, I bought a Kobo E-Ink reader, which gives me the best of both methods, and is now my favorite ereader device. I'd also changed to the Kobo store for the majority of my ebook purchases, due to angst that had built up with Amazon over that time. I have a good list of issues with Amazon Kindle, and would give them up totally, if I easily could.

I have a large number of ebooks, that I have acquired from Amazon, so I will likely remain tied to them, to some degree.

That said, I am tending to read Kobo bought ebooks more often, as I tend to buy much faster than I read. And then I have a huge physical book reading backlog, which I must read more of, but is taking third place right now. I generally read as the mood takes me, following a list but slotting other things in now and then. For quite a few years now, I have been in a thriller phase when it comes to what I want to read. Much of my backlog, is Fantasy and Science Fiction based and old classics.

Along with my three E-Ink devices, I have a Samsung 10" tablet, which is probably around 15 years old now. I mostly use that for reading ebooks with graphics ... biographies, novels, etc. I wait patiently for a color 10" E-Ink device, and don't know what I will do if Amazon come out with one first. I've already had some support etc issues with my 10" tablet.

It would be fair to say, that while my Kobo Libra H20 E-Ink device, is easily my favorite ereader, I'm still very fond of my Keyboard Kindle, though I rarely use it for reading now. It still looks and feels great, and while limited compared to my Paperwhite Kindle, it still has a sense of being superior. The Paperwhite is a good useful practical device, but even though I have a reasonable cover for it, it is not as pleasing as my Keyboard Kindle, which has more of a luxury feel to it.

I should use the Keyboard Kindle more, but night time reading is the issue, as I really don't like the pullout light. And certainly in bed, where I do a lot of my reading, I really don't want to disturb my wife with the bedlamp ... even though our four poster bed does have a blind in the middle ... a lot of light still get through, when turned up bright enough for reading.

So what ereader memories do you have, if any?

And do you feel like I do, that the Keyboard Kindle, with its cover, is an exceptional classic ... something special?

[Sirtel]

Eh... too many fond memories to list them here. I bought my first ereader (basic Kindle with buttons) in 2011, because I ran out of shelf space for more paper books in my small apartment. I was instantly hooked by the little gadget and never looked back. Since then I've had many ereaders, mostly Kindles and Kobos, and a Nook. All sold by now, except for my two oldest and two newest (the first two for nostalgic reasons, the latter two are my current reading devices). I used covers with my first 5 ereaders, but have used all the subsequent ones without a cover. I like them better that way.

I seldom buy paper books these days - only when there's no ebook to be had at all (sadly a regular occurrence with Estonian books, which is one of the reasons most of my reading material is in English. Another reason is the price, and the third is the selection).

[DNSB]

My first eInk ereader was the original Kobo released in mid-2010. It was a lot cheaper than the Amazon Kindle Keyboard though shortly after the Kobo was released, Amazon dropped the Kindle's price. Since then I have purchased multiple Kobos ending with my current ereader of choice, the Sage.

I've also owned up a couple of Kindles, a Nook, a Sony and a couple of ereaders whose names I no longer remember. One of the Kindles, the Nook and the Sony were used purchases, two from a local pawnshop—I used to browse pawnshops looking at cameras and darkroom equipment—and I still like browsing them.

Shortly after I picked up the Nook, B&N dropped their plans to expand to Canada and I sold the Nook. The Sony suffered the same fate when their ebook business moved to Kobo. The nameless duo were donated to a young relative who was more interested in taking them apart and studying them rather than using them.

[Timboli]

Alas I see that Amazon are about to officially retire my precious Keyboard Kindle, so it will likely eventually become a device for side loading only. Before I started using it for downloading again, that had been my eventual intent anyway.

Luckily my Paperwhite is second generation, and so I can still use wifi at need.

Just on principle alone now, I won't be buying a 10" color Kindle when it becomes available. It will be Kobo or nothing ... or perhaps I will just upgrade to a new tablet.

[dewd]

I fell out of reading at all for a while (life stuff), and when I got a Kindle 4 as a freebie/incentive/bribe when I opened a bank account, it didn't get much use. Then I spent several weeks at the hospital bedside of a son - he wasn't up to doing much other than reading, so I brought books from home for him, and I bought & read the same books on my ipad at the bedside so we could chat about them. That got me back into reading and I resurrected the Kindle 4s. I then bought a PW for another offspring, and that eventually led to us having at least three PWs and a Voyage. I loved the Voyage the best, and ended up buying a couple of extras for when the PWs died. Then a couple of years ago (I'm blaming the MR forums) I bought a Kobo. Put KOReader on it, didn't like the look, took it off, then later put it back on and fell down the rabbit-hole.

Two offspring are still using PWs and there are still several Voyages kicking around. Those won't, I think, be affected by the latest Amazon announcement, but we still have two Kindle 4s and they will. We'd a Kindle Touch at one stage too but it bit the dust a while back. There's also an older Oasis which I originally bought for me but strongly disliked - my partner uses & likes it but it's about to be replaced by a birthday present of a Kobo Libra. I'll probably ebay the Oasis, PWs and Voyages soon.

[latepaul]

My first Kindle was the Kindle 2i. The "i" meaning "international" which meant it connected to UK 3G networks etc. But you had to buy books out of amazon.com as amazon.co.uk had not Kindle store. I got this in Nov 2009.

If I'm honest I liked it as a gadget but I never really loved it for reading and didn't use it much.

Then in Aug 2010 I got what is now called a Kindle Keyboard and it was a game changer because the screen was so much better. I got it with the leather cover which was one of the best on any device. That kindle has a lot of sentimental value for me.

At some point my dad expressed an interest and so I donated it to him as an excuse to upgrade. He kept it and used it for a number of years. At one point I tried to upgrade him to a new PW 3, because he wanted one with a light, but we discovered a problem. My dad had macular degeneration by then and he used the Kindle on maximum font size. We found out that maximum font on the PW was smaller than max font on the Keyboard. So he kept the Keyboard and used an external light.

When he passed away I got it back, and it still works, although because he kept it in a drawer for the last year or so of his life the battery is almost shot. But it's working, it's jailbroken and with Koreader on it. Not that I use it much. I basically fire it up every so often just to keep the battery alive. But even if/when it eventually dies I'll keep it because it's "Dad's kindle"

After that I got a Kobo Touch. Another game-changer because of touch screen.

After that for several years I was alternating buying the latest Kobo and Kindle. But also a couple of other devices like a Cervantes BQ. I actually kept most of these. I called myself a collector rather than a hoarder to make it seem ok.

Last new device I bought was a Kobo Libra Color because I wanted to see what colour eink was like. My ereader buying habit faded because I've been reading less. But that may change again.

I may use the 20% discount to buy a new Kindle although none of the current devices really tempt me.

[DDHarriman]

Bookeen Gen3 - 2008
Sony PRS-505 - 2008
Kindle DXG - 2010 (still have it, still working).
Kobo Sage - 2024

[jackm8]

I used other devices to read ebooks. Regular pc monitors, PDA... I've even some fond memories about them. Tucking under the bed with PDA, while my mother was going to her work early in the morning, reading GRRM, Ursula, or Rowling. That screen was practically radioactive, though. My eyes would flicker when I woke up, lol. I bought it with my own money, just for reading ebooks. I didn't care for mobiles, I wanted to read pirated fantasy instead. My first eink reader was Kindle 4, I still own it, I barely use it now since its battery is nearly dead, but it's my favourite reader to date. It's also the main reason for me going back into Kindle ecosystem after Pocketbook. I was quite happy with Pocketbook, but Kindle 4 was nearly perfect from hardware and software side of it, so it decided it for me. If I knew that Kindles today can be a hassle, I probably wouldn't go with it. Advertisements on home page, weird software design choices, various annoyances with bugs in firmware, and lacking file supports, can be a headache. Kindle 4 only supports .mobi format, pdf support is good, but pdf's are just too small for that screen. No touch screen, no backlight, just really responsive buttons and lighting fast UI. Forwards, and backwards buttons on each side of the screen, so it can be used with either hand. There's also something about its user interface that's just ideal. It's very easy to highlight a word with d-pad. Quick dictionary definition immediately pops up, then you just press the button twice for full definition, and that opens up full dictionary. No other reader does that. I can browse other definitions, I can just type other terms in dictionary search entry. I can browse forward and backwards through the whole dictionary without any extra steps. Home screen lists ten last opened files. There's progress bar under each file, and that progress bar roughly estimates the length of the file. It's simple and informative. Like early Apple devices. Everything is designed with ease of use, and user in mind. You don't see that anymore.

[Sirtel]

Kindle 4 also supports AZW3/KF8, not only mobi.

I still have mine, although I haven't used it for reading for more than a decade. I prefer modern readers - they're faster, the screen is better, they have frontlight, and Kobo devices have features Kindles don't.

[pdurrant]

My first portable eReader was a Sony Clié SL-10, back in 2003 or so.
I had various Cliés after that, until some people on Baen's Bar organised a group order from Bookeen, so I got a Bookeen CyBook Gen 3 in early 2008.

After that it was mostly Kindles, until I got an iPhone 3 - where the convenience of the iPhone tended to outweigh the battery life and screen of the Kindles.

[meeera]

I think my first one was an Apple Newton. I had some medical reference books on it.

Then a Palm Pilot, then one of the Sonys, then a Kobo Touch. All Kobos since then.

[Deskisamess]

I got my first Kindle in 2009, the Kindle 2. It was amazing to me...I had slowly stopped reading for pleasure because of my eyesight. The ability to adjust font size and line spacing was a miracle for me. I've not looked back since.

Not long after I got it, my MIL had a lengthy stay in the hospital. We didn't have cell phones yet, and the K2 made it possible for me to connect to Facebook and keep family out-of-towners apprised of what was going on with her. I think back now on how clumsy and slow it was, but it didn't matter. It was so much easier than toting a heavy laptop, and I could read when we were just sitting around.

I eventually turned my non-reading husband on to Kindles, and he now reads for pleasure. I still have a second gen Paperwhite since I can play the Active Content games on it. It's got a bright pixel right in the center of the screen but it's no big deal.

We have 2 10th gen Paperwhites, and my main reader is an 11th gen Paperwhite.