adaptation to e-readers - Page 2

taosaur · 07-15-2011, 09:59 PM

I actually started e-reading on a 3lb netbook, and still found it preferable to paper books, to the point that reading was my primary use for the Windows computer I carried around with me

During the several months that I did not have an e-reading device, I found myself reading much less just due to the lost convenience of obtaining books, carrying them around, keeping my place, reading in bed (w/ LCD backlight) and turning pages.

Pretty much the only advantage of p-books over e-books in terms of the actual reading experience is familiarity, which is quite quickly overcome.

cromag · 07-15-2011, 10:24 PM

I love sitting in my living room chair with a big mug of tea (day) or glass of wine (night) and a hardcover book. But it took me exactly no time at all to get used to my Jetbook Lite! Seriously, I downloaded a free ebook from Baen by one of my favorite authors and read it straight through! It was wonderful.

I read -- the medium is secondary. I do most of my reading on the JBL these days, but I still pick up some books at a local used book store, and I just checked out a book at the library.

I have discovered one advantage to the ereader vs. the conventional book. I wear reading glasses, and it's convenient to increase the font size on the screen. This also seems to help my reading speed and comprehension, since only 3 or 4 paragraphs are on screen and I don't get distracted by text on the next page, etc.

Have fun!

EDIT: (Smacks self on head!) Geez! I forgot another huge advantage! Just got back from a week's vacation. I had no trouble packing literally hundreds of books for the flight -- took no more room than an SD card -- and once I settled back in the sunshine I wasn't limited to just one or two paperbacks!

Ryvyan · 07-17-2011, 05:18 AM

I love the smell of books, but I hate to carry them around. With an e-reader, no surprises regarding the size of books! Just keep reading.

Books get dusty and moldy (humid weather all year round), and I've ran out of space in my bookshelves for ages. I have something about washing my hands every time I read a physical book but not with my phone or e-reader; water-saving!

carpetmojo · 07-17-2011, 06:35 AM

Took me around 2/3 weeks to stop trying to "turn" the reader instead of use the page-turn.

But last week I found meself try to "swipe" the corner of a reference (real) book !

Dimwit · 07-17-2011, 06:53 AM

Your best bet... make sure you get a good book! Once you get immersed in it, the medium disappears. If you have a crappy one, then the process becomes apparent and possibly annoying.

RichL · 07-17-2011, 07:18 AM

The only thing I would add to what has already been said is to consider where you will be reading it.

Some people don't mind using a book light while others find them irritating. E-ink books do not have back lighting so some sort of supplemental lighting in dark places is required.

That said, I've been reading on a PPC (has back lighting) for years and as with a few others here, I to find it mildly irritating to go back to pbooks for leisure reading.

Aladyleyna · 07-17-2011, 10:47 AM

Hihi, and welcome to the forums! You'll find that the people here are really nice! Have a cookie?

Same here, I didn't have any problems transitioning from pbooks to ebooks, even though previously, I was very against the idea. Now, I have come to appreciate just how convenient ebooks are, especially since I've ended up spending less, while reading more. Plus,it's great to be able to carry my entire book collection with me, especially on overseas trips, and I don't have to walk to libraries to borrow books anymore!

That being said, for some reason, I have just a slight preference for ebooks over books. I'm still proud of my bookshelf, and sometimes, it's just nice playing with the pages of a pbook. I still appreciate the feel of pages, and of flipping them, and of being able to actually see my progress through a book. But ebooks are overall more convenient.

Rainmaker · 07-17-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

Welcome! What they said, took me a few pages and I see virtually no difference. Some things are slightly difficult. ... can't really flip through the book and read a favorite section. Many books still are not available as ebooks and if you want your existing library as ebooks then you have to re-buy them or something more difficult....

I'm sure you're going to love it!
Oh and watch out for DRM!!

You nailed it kenny; thats the only complaint I've got.
Sometimes by accident I loose track from where was I, but it takes me ages to skim through the book to find where I left by night (Kindle) [might be I'm just really, REALLY clumsy).
The other thing, is that (at least in Kindle)you don't have the same page number as the rest, it depends on the font type, size, spacing, etc.
So it's hard if you are trying to find a certain quote, or trying to quote someone.

benham · 07-17-2011, 02:13 PM

Like Graham said, it isn't an either/or situation. Look mostly at the eink devices, and like Pinecone said, check out the Sony.

kennyc · 07-17-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benham

Like Graham said, it isn't an either/or situation. Look mostly at the eink devices, and like Pinecone said, check out the Sony.

and buy SEVERAL!

benham · 07-17-2011, 05:23 PM

They had XOOM as part of the WOOT-OFF the other day.

DMB · 07-17-2011, 05:38 PM

Earlier this year I got rid of thousands of traditional books that I had been collecting over the past 55 years. I still have a few thousand, but most of them are due to go.

I loved my library, but it is a relief to get rid of it and not take up such huge amounts of space. I travel a lot, and so had long got fed up with books in my bags leading to excess baggage charges.

Physically, I find reading books on my Kindle much easier than reading either paperbacks or hardbacks. It is so light, for one thing, and it stays open without propping or the use of two hands. It's also easier to turn the pages. I still buy cookery books, but otherwise the only paper-based books that I am reading these days are ones that I bought before my ereader and haven't yet read.

kennyc · 07-17-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benham

They had XOOM as part of the WOOT-OFF the other day.

Yep I posted a link.

benham · 07-17-2011, 07:44 PM

If you wanted a robot vacuum, that was the place to be.

vxf · 07-17-2011, 08:41 PM

I was skeptical. I got an eink device to read PDFs for work. Then I tried reading newspapers on it and loved it... the next step was downloading some free classic books and I was hooked right away.

Don't get me wrong... there are some things I miss about books. I loved - and still love - collecting them, organizing my shelves. I even have a huge collection of bookmarks.

But the advantages of ereaders are many. I get the books I want right away. I travel light. Most books are cheaper, if not free. I can re-size text (not a small thing, if you have poor eyesight like me).

I will admit - if I really like a book, I still buy the hardcover, at times. Just to have it on my shelf. But I read everything electronic. Well, everything I can find in electronic formats.

Oh and for those who like to organize your books, like me... there is always GoodReads.com

07-15-2011, 10:24 PM	#17
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,765 Karma: 459765791 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	I love sitting in my living room chair with a big mug of tea (day) or glass of wine (night) and a hardcover book. But it took me exactly no time at all to get used to my Jetbook Lite! Seriously, I downloaded a free ebook from Baen by one of my favorite authors and read it straight through! It was wonderful. I read -- the medium is secondary. I do most of my reading on the JBL these days, but I still pick up some books at a local used book store, and I just checked out a book at the library. I have discovered one advantage to the ereader vs. the conventional book. I wear reading glasses, and it's convenient to increase the font size on the screen. This also seems to help my reading speed and comprehension, since only 3 or 4 paragraphs are on screen and I don't get distracted by text on the next page, etc. Have fun! EDIT: (Smacks self on head!) Geez! I forgot another huge advantage! Just got back from a week's vacation. I had no trouble packing literally hundreds of books for the flight -- took no more room than an SD card -- and once I settled back in the sunshine I wasn't limited to just one or two paperbacks! Last edited by cromag; 07-15-2011 at 11:26 PM. Reason: Traveling with ebooks!

07-17-2011, 06:35 AM	#19
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Beware this syndrome... Took me around 2/3 weeks to stop trying to "turn" the reader instead of use the page-turn. But last week I found meself try to "swipe" the corner of a reference (real) book !

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07-15-2011, 09:59 PM	#16
taosaur intelligent posterior Posts: 1,562 Karma: 21295618 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohiopolis Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2, Samsung S8, Lenovo Tab 3 Pro	I actually started e-reading on a 3lb netbook, and still found it preferable to paper books, to the point that reading was my primary use for the Windows computer I carried around with me During the several months that I did not have an e-reading device, I found myself reading much less just due to the lost convenience of obtaining books, carrying them around, keeping my place, reading in bed (w/ LCD backlight) and turning pages. Pretty much the only advantage of p-books over e-books in terms of the actual reading experience is familiarity, which is quite quickly overcome.

07-17-2011, 05:18 AM	#18
Ryvyan I read what I want. Posts: 224 Karma: 372315 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPhone XS, iPhone 6, Kobo Clara	I love the smell of books, but I hate to carry them around. With an e-reader, no surprises regarding the size of books! Just keep reading. Books get dusty and moldy (humid weather all year round), and I've ran out of space in my bookshelves for ages. I have something about washing my hands every time I read a physical book but not with my phone or e-reader; water-saving!

07-17-2011, 06:53 AM	#20
Dimwit Connoisseur Posts: 60 Karma: 12652 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kobo	Your best bet... make sure you get a good book! Once you get immersed in it, the medium disappears. If you have a crappy one, then the process becomes apparent and possibly annoying.

07-17-2011, 07:18 AM	#21
RichL Evangelist Posts: 407 Karma: 1096520 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: back to x51v	The only thing I would add to what has already been said is to consider where you will be reading it. Some people don't mind using a book light while others find them irritating. E-ink books do not have back lighting so some sort of supplemental lighting in dark places is required. That said, I've been reading on a PPC (has back lighting) for years and as with a few others here, I to find it mildly irritating to go back to pbooks for leisure reading.

07-17-2011, 10:47 AM	#22
Aladyleyna Zealot Posts: 138 Karma: 24624 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Singapore Device: iPad 1	Hihi, and welcome to the forums! You'll find that the people here are really nice! Have a cookie? Same here, I didn't have any problems transitioning from pbooks to ebooks, even though previously, I was very against the idea. Now, I have come to appreciate just how convenient ebooks are, especially since I've ended up spending less, while reading more. Plus,it's great to be able to carry my entire book collection with me, especially on overseas trips, and I don't have to walk to libraries to borrow books anymore! That being said, for some reason, I have just a slight preference for ebooks over books. I'm still proud of my bookshelf, and sometimes, it's just nice playing with the pages of a pbook. I still appreciate the feel of pages, and of flipping them, and of being able to actually see my progress through a book. But ebooks are overall more convenient.

07-17-2011, 02:13 PM	#24
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	Like Graham said, it isn't an either/or situation. Look mostly at the eink devices, and like Pinecone said, check out the Sony.

07-17-2011, 05:23 PM	#26
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	They had XOOM as part of the WOOT-OFF the other day.

07-17-2011, 05:38 PM	#27
DMB Old Git Posts: 958 Karma: 1840790 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Switzerland (mostly) Device: Two kindle PWs wifi, kindle fire, iPad3 wifi	Earlier this year I got rid of thousands of traditional books that I had been collecting over the past 55 years. I still have a few thousand, but most of them are due to go. I loved my library, but it is a relief to get rid of it and not take up such huge amounts of space. I travel a lot, and so had long got fed up with books in my bags leading to excess baggage charges. Physically, I find reading books on my Kindle much easier than reading either paperbacks or hardbacks. It is so light, for one thing, and it stays open without propping or the use of two hands. It's also easier to turn the pages. I still buy cookery books, but otherwise the only paper-based books that I am reading these days are ones that I bought before my ereader and haven't yet read.

07-17-2011, 07:44 PM	#29
benham Guru Posts: 882 Karma: 5565888 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Townsend, WI Device: Palm TX, PRS-505 (BLUE)	If you wanted a robot vacuum, that was the place to be.

07-17-2011, 08:41 PM	#30
vxf Guru Posts: 944 Karma: 1490348 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Norman, OK Device: Sony PRS 350, 900, 950; Kindles (ALL of them!); Kobo Aura One	I was skeptical. I got an eink device to read PDFs for work. Then I tried reading newspapers on it and loved it... the next step was downloading some free classic books and I was hooked right away. Don't get me wrong... there are some things I miss about books. I loved - and still love - collecting them, organizing my shelves. I even have a huge collection of bookmarks. But the advantages of ereaders are many. I get the books I want right away. I travel light. Most books are cheaper, if not free. I can re-size text (not a small thing, if you have poor eyesight like me). I will admit - if I really like a book, I still buy the hardcover, at times. Just to have it on my shelf. But I read everything electronic. Well, everything I can find in electronic formats. Oh and for those who like to organize your books, like me... there is always GoodReads.com

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