Strange Reactions to Kindle

[Anarel]

Most of the time, I get asked, "So are the books free after you get that?"

And then, "Why not get an ipad?"

[simplyparticular]

Originally Posted by Teyrnon

The strangest reaction I've gotten was when an old acquaintance paid me a visit. She saw it on the table, visibly recoiled from it. After she regained her composure she asked me if I'd let her smash the "evil toy." After that I decided it was time to get her out of my house.

She's probably one of the many people who worry that p-Books are going to disappear in favor of e-Books. Or she works for a publisher or B&N

[phenomshel]

Someone that I used to talk to online threatened to smash my EZ Reader, when I had it. Chris told them they could go ahead...right after they handed over twice the cash it cost.

[carld]

I'm still boggling at the "Can I destroy that evil toy?" reaction. That's someone I'd show to the door in a hurry, what a nutter.

[phenomshel]

Well, the person online was sort of that way about it, too. Something about preserving the sanctity of books. I must not talk to them anymore...because I can't remember for the life of me who it was.

[foreverjuly]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

Or she works for a publisher or -->B&N<--

Ding Ding Ding! I think we have a winner. Maybe she's an executive who knows the kindle is single-handedly going to destroy her company.

[MsAstoria]

Originally Posted by Solicitous

I recall a conversation I had last year when I got my ereader, it went something like;

Them: What's that?
Me: Its an ereader.
Them: What does it do?
Me: It is an electronic book reader, you load ebooks and read them. Screen looks just like a normal book.
Them: Oh cool, how much did that cost?
Me: About $300.
Them: Can you do anything but read on it?
Me: Nope, purely for reading.
Them: Why would you spend $300 on something you can only read on, you could buy a book for $20.
Me: yep, and it would cost me $1000 for a bookcase to put it on!!.

Nice comeback!

[MsAstoria]

Originally Posted by Anarel

Most of the time, I get asked, "So are the books free after you get that?"

And then, "Why not get an ipad?"

Because an iPad costs a whole lot more and is more a computer for consumer consumption ie: email, web browsing, gaming, etc. whereas the Kindle is strictly a book reader for people like me!

Note, yes, I have an iPad and love it, but I had a Kindle first and loved it too! I just wanted more

[Teyrnon]

Originally Posted by mbovenka

That's odd for sure... Any idea what made her react that way? Reactions like 'but I like books too much' I can understand. I may not share the sentiment, but I get it. But this?

I don't really know. I have a few suspicions but the conversation never came back to it. She's a rather religious person with some pretty strange ideas. We went out to eat and that was the end of it.

[thinkpad]

I get lot of stares on my way in to work when sitting on the bus or on the train. Norwegians are too shy to ask so they just stare at the device

[Teyrnon]

Originally Posted by simplyparticular

She's probably one of the many people who worry that p-Books are going to disappear in favor of e-Books. Or she works for a publisher or B&N

That's possible. Though as for her work, she's a 1st grade teacher.

[foreverjuly]

Originally Posted by MsAstoria

Because an iPad costs a whole lot more and is more a computer for consumer consumption ie: email, web browsing, gaming, etc. whereas the Kindle is strictly a book reader for people like me!

Note, yes, I have an iPad and love it, but I had a Kindle first and loved it too! I just wanted more

Are there ever any situations where you find yourself reading on the iPad instead of the kindle? Do you have books on both devices? I'd be interested to hear more about how you juggle using the two.

[Pushka]

My mother who is legally blind is now able to read on the kindle. She is 82. Her friends are all buying kindles, the latest is aged 90. They get it. And thanks to niluje who got the font large enough for them to read.

[Balerion]

I got my k2i just before xmas 2009 and it has changed my life... soooo many authors I've discovered that I otherwise wouldn't have... anyway... here are the reactions I get

(in order of the number of times I've been asked these questions.... starting with the most asked)

1) What's that? Oh, that's one of those "books" isn't it?

2) Is that one of those new iPads?

3) Where can I get one of those? *** YAY! A positive reaction in the top 5 !

4) Q: How much memory does it have?
A: About 1.5GB
Q: Only 1.5GB ?! ***that's the point where they usually laugh or snigger

5) Does it play video?

6) Does it do anything else?


THEY JUST DON'T GET IT, DO THEY?!

OH WELL, I FEEL SORRY FOR THEM.

EVEN WITH THE NEGATIVE AND STUPID QUESTIONS I GET ASKED, THE MAJORITY OF REACTIONS IS STILL VERY POSITIVE.

MOST PEOPLE ARE STUNNED AT HOW GOOD IT LOOKS... HELL, I STILL GET THE WARM-AND-FUZZIES WHEN I'M USING IT IN DAYLIGHT... THE KINDLE IS JUST SOOOOOOOOOOO COOL.


ONE THING THAT REALLY REALLY REALLY GETS TO ME THOUGH IS THE PEOPLE THAT ACT ALL HIGH-AND-MIGHTY ABOUT PREFERRING TO READ PRINTED BOOKS... ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ACT LIKE THEY'RE BETTER THAN US.

YES, I HAVE TO ADMIT I KNEW I WAS GOING TO MISS THE PRIDE OF WATCHING A BOOKMARK WORK ITS WAY THROUGH A NICE THICK BOOK, OR THE SMELL OF THE PAPER, OR HOLDING A BOOK AT THE END AND THE PRIDE OF THINKING TO MYSELF "I READ THAT", BUT SOME PEOPLE TREAT US LIKE WE'RE LEPERS OR SOMETHING... LIKE WE CAN'T READ PAPER ANYMORE LOL!

[thinkpad]

Going back to paperbacks when one has the Kindle is not a pleasant surprise.

I'm currently reading a book from the library: lots of pages, heavy, awkward to hold and turn pages. I find I'm reluctant to bring it along because of the wait so the only time I get to read from it is when I'm at home.

I don't think anyone having actually used an e-reader will go back to paperbacks, it's just too many downsides.

People who's never used an e-reader and still find criticism just doesn't get it.