Is it just me, or are e-readers not for everyone?

[Historiann]

I was convinced for a long time that I could live a full and happy life without an e-reader, but gradually came to want one and when I found a good deal, I bought, mainly for convenience. I like to read hefty works of history and biography, and that's much more convenient on an e-reader than with paper copies (especially when traveling). What I discovered was that reading on an e-ink screen is more pleasurable than I'd imagined--really does look a printed page (only better than some of the old and yellowed books I've owned or borrowed). And I love being able to download sample chapters before committing to an entire book. I still read paper and ink books, but I use and enjoy my e-readers (yes, now I have two) more than I ever imagined.

[JDK1962]

Originally Posted by dgm

And by the way, I'm not a cave-dwelling luddite. I'm heavily involved in information technology as a senior software developer - maybe on my off-hours I just don't want to stare at a screen...

As another software developer (since 1984) and p-book aficionado who had no interest in a Kindle until some sort of mental switch flipped a year ago...I have to say that I adore my Kindle 3, and am probably reading 100% more than I was in my pre-Kindle days. YMMV but...probably the best $189 I ever spent.

The other responses have addressed your issues, but I'd like to chime in on libraries and ebooks. I listen to the NYT Books podcast and barely a week goes by when I don't hear about a book that I'd like to read. 80-90% of the time, my library of choice (Denver Public) has the book within 1-3 weeks. Is there a wait? Sure, sometimes, but it eventually shows up.

And nothing says you can't keep visiting your local library and checking out p-books. It's not either/or.

Think of it as broadening your horizons just a bit further. :-)

[crossi]

You can eat ribs and read at the same time and not ruin your book.

[catsittingstill]

You can read in the rain, or in the shower, with the aid of a couple of ziploc bags :-)

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by dgm

I've been asked if I'd like a Kindle or Nook for Christmas, but I don't think I'd use it.

Possibly not. Ebook readers don't turn people into avid readers; they give avid readers easy access to books. People who love reading generally find them wonderfully useful, after the initial learning curve, which varies by device. People who sometimes enjoy reading but are hoping that a fantastic reading device will turn them into book lovers the way a 42" screen could turn them into movie lovers... are likely to be disappointed.

This is more composed as an in-general comment for lurkers who might select some of your points as relevant to them; it sounds like you've already decided that an ebook reader isn't how you'd prefer to read, and that's fine.

First, I've been turning pages in books for 50 years and it doesn't bother me in the least.

It didn't bother most of us until we found something so much easier that "hold book with two hands" became a nuisance. Turning pages is indeed easy. Ereaders are easier: one hand, no tilting at funny angles to read curved text in the center, no forcing the spine open, no having to keep your place when you set down the book to answer the phone. And for people with disabilities, they're even better: text size that's easily increased, no ripping pages with shaking hands, no heavy weight on the wrists.

Second, I live 3 minutes from an excellent public library.

Even an excellent public library doesn't have the entire Gutenberg collection, nor the free ebooks at Smashwords and Amazon. I don't think any physical library hosts the entire Baen free library. Ebook readers are a tremendous boon for anyone who wants to read for free--there is more excellent free reading material than a single person can read in a lifetime.

Sorting the "excellent" from the "omg run screaming crapola" is a bit of a task, but it's certainly do-able. There are ebook review sites, and Amazon's ranking system works fairly well.

Third, I have no interest in multimedia - I virtually never watch movies and would never download video or music to a tablet device.

E-ink readers don't have multimedia. (Yet; I suppose this will likely change.) There's a difference between "ebook reader" and "multimedia tablet with ebook support." My family has four different ebook readers; none of them have video support.

Fourth, I have explored the free e-books available from my library and found virtually nothing of interest.

Ebook selections at libraries tend to be limited. Free ebook selections online are a lot bigger. Deciding against an ebook reader based on one library's selection is like deciding against getting a TV because you don't care for the contents of one channel.

Fifth, I never read a book more than once and have no interest in owning many.

While ebook readers do wind up owning books, they're easy to remove... click delete and they're gone. They don't take up shelf space like physical books.

Sixth, I frequently take a book home from the library, read a few pages, and decide I don't want to finish it. If I buy the download I'd be stuck with it.

Many ebook stores, including Smashwords and Amazon, have free samples of the first chapter or so of the book. "Try before buy" is easy with ebooks.

Seventh, why would I want to pay for a book that I wouldn't want to keep and that I could get free at the library down the street?

Two options: 1) You want to download it without a trip to the library (because it's raining, or you're away from home for the weekend) or 2) you want to read it on your own schedule, not necessarily within the couple of weeks of a library loan.

I grant those are fairly weak reasons. Many avid ebook readers don't buy ebooks they can easily borrow from their library--they buy ebooks their library doesn't carry.

Eighth, I don't travel much and have no particular reason to have a mobile device. It's not that hard to throw a book into a suitcase.

A book? No problem. A weekend's worth of books? For a weekend with substantial leisure reading time, that's often four to six books for me. A week's worth of books? I wouldn't have space to pack clothes. And having them in an ebook reader means I don't have to decide before I leave the house what I'll be reading today.

If you think of travel as wanting "a book, maybe," you may not have a need for an ebook reader. If you think of travel as "those events where I never have enough to read" or "those events where I'm always lugging an extra eight pounds of paper around," an ebook reader is a godsend.

Is there something about all of this that I'm not considering? Given my situation, can anybody suggest why I might want an e-reader?

• Free public-domain books.
• Free promotional books, like the Baen library .
• Backlist ebooks, rights reclaimed by the authors & released as ebooks.
• Online newspapers & blogs set up to feed to your reader as ebooks.
• Easy reading during public-transit commuter travel.
• Always something to read while waiting for an appointment.

Ebook readers work great for people who think, "in the time it took this elevator to reach the 12th floor, I could've read two more pages!" They're for those people who believe Sherri Chasin Calvo's statement: If you have never said ‘Excuse me’ to a parking meter or bashed your shins on a fireplug, you are probably wasting too much valuable reading time.

They're also great for people with disabilities that make paper books difficult: people with poor eyesight who need larger type, people whose hands have trouble lifting or turning pages on larger books, people who can't get out to buy or borrow new books.

But for people who only want to read a dozen or so books a year? Who are happy with their library's selection? An ebook reader may be nothing more than a tech-toy novelty, interesting for a week or two and then set aside for other interests.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

Ebook readers work great for people who think, "in the time it took this elevator to reach the 12th floor, I could've read two more pages!" They're for those people who believe Sherri Chasin Calvo's statement: If you have never said ‘Excuse me’ to a parking meter or bashed your shins on a fireplug, you are probably wasting too much valuable reading time.

Karma for that one.

[1611mac]

Originally Posted by crossi

You can eat ribs and read at the same time and not ruin your book.

Do you do page turns with your toe?

[crossi]

Originally Posted by 1611mac

Do you do page turns with your toe?

no. Just turn on text to speech with the volume off, or lay it on the table and poke the page button from time to time with the one finger you've licked clean.

[cfrizz]

Ditto! Terrific post Elf!

Originally Posted by caleb72

Karma for that one.

[Turena]

Of course it's not for everyone...Some people just feel uncomfortable to change their habits. For example, my father don't trust any computer experience)) And I can't live without my digital devices and I almost forgot how it is to read a paper book or to write with a pen something longer than an occasional note.

[vigna04]

Originally Posted by 1611mac

One thing you CAN do with a paper book that you can't do with a eReader..... use it for emergency TP while camping or traveling....

haha

[DustyDisks]

Originally Posted by 1611mac

One thing you CAN do with a paper book that you can't do with a eReader..... use it for emergency TP while camping or traveling....

Or emergency kindling for starting a fire!



For use only in desperate situations.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by DustyDisks

Or emergency kindling for starting a fire!



For use only in desperate situations.

I'm told the little mini Gideon bibles make tolerable rolling papers for cigarettes.

[spindlegirl]

I wish I bought my e-reader years ago! I love many classic books, and one year I was given $50 for Christmas and spent it all on Classic titles which I have since put on my e-reader for FREE (plus many others) via Project Gutenberg.

I also read printed books from the library, but I love having the ability to just pull the reader out of my purse and have access to anything.

I used to scoff at the idea of e-readers. Now I love them.

However, nothing is inherently for everyone. I have never owned a cell phone (that alone makes me quite the oddity in many circles), nor driven a car, for instance, and I am about the same age range as the OP. I can't get into texting, but I love my e-reader and my mp3 player! (I'm introverted)

[CWatkinsNash]

Originally Posted by Rob Lister

(according to me and other correct people)

Rob, I'm totally stealing that line for future debates. It's bound to be hit on Facebook.

I'm sure the OP has gotten more than enough input from the 4 pages of responses, so I'll condense my response to this:

Try it - you might like it, you might not. But you won't know until you try it.