Do you use a cover?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Barty

People buy a $500-$800 phone (ooh it's so light, so thin! It's got chamfered edge! it's metal! it has glass on both sides! It nestles right into your hand!) then immediately slap a $10 case on it

True, but as I said above: a phone is a device you are more likely to have in hand when walking around or climbing stairs. I'm unlikely to be struck by the desire to dive into The House of the Seven Gables as I'm taking the stairs at work or walking to my car from Starbucks.

Phones aren't typically designed to be as comfortable to hold as an e-reader. So a case adds protection and didn't really remove much of the practical design (expert for making the phone bulkier). You aren't likely to see a phone with a design as radical add the Kindle Oasis. The closest match I can think of is the Yoga tablet.

Also, a phone is (in general) more expensive and (in my experience) more fragile than an e-reader.

I will say I don't pay to much attention to phone esthetics since you are right, they're all going to be slapped in cases on day one anyway.

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

True, but as I said above: a phone is a device you are more likely to have in hand when walking around or climbing stairs. I'm unlikely to be struck by the desire to dive into The House of the Seven Gables as I'm taking the stairs at work or walking to my car from Starbucks.


Also, a phone is (in general) more expensive and (in my experience) more fragile than an e-reader.

On the first part, you never know some people will do that.

You can get smart phones much cheaper than ereaders. Yes, the newest iPhone and Samsung are more expensive, but other phones are way cheaper than an ereader.
Depends on what you want.

[Tattncat]

Half the fun is finding covers for the books, that suit me.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by booklover6

The only one I ever broke was in a case when I dropped it on a hard floor.

Me too. I tripped and was starting to fall and held tighter to my kindle in the case. Didn't actually fall, but damaged the screen from being slightly squeezed. Explained to Amazon that their case provided zero protection. They sent me a new kindle and I ditched the case. Since then, as explained, I just have a soft cover to protect from scratches from stuff like keys in my purse.

Sometimes you are just dammed.

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by Tattncat

Half the fun is finding covers for the books, that suit me.

EXACTLY!!

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

True, but as I said above: a phone is a device you are more likely to have in hand when walking around or climbing stairs. I'm unlikely to be struck by the desire to dive into The House of the Seven Gables as I'm taking the stairs at work or walking to my car from Starbucks.

Actually... I am more likely to have my ebook in hand when walking around or climbing stairs. I'm unlikely to be struck by the desire to watch my phone as I'm taking the stairs at work or walking to my car from somewhere (we don't have Starbucks )

I'm one of those that don't do social media, and doesn't have the burning desire to be online at all times. Usually my phone is hidden somewhere deep in my bag, while my tablet (wifi only)/ereader* is taken out always so I can read

* it depends on the time of year which one is used, in winter, when it's generally dark in the morning and evening, it's the tablet, in summer it's the ereader.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Actually... I am more likely to have my ebook in hand when walking around or climbing stairs.

One day we'll meet on the stairs, you with your nose buried in Great Expectations, me checking the news on my phone. It'll be a calamity

Of course I'm only speaking of what works for me. I am far less likely to be actively using my reader while doing tasks that I should be paying attention to, though I do use my phone when I do such things and therefore the phone is more likely to be dropped and I then put it in a case (trust me, I'm on my second Nexus 6). Apparently I'm the only user on the board that does this and all other users read novels while walking.

It's easy to nitpick and try to say phones aren't more expensive than e-readers, but I'm pretty sure everyone knows whereof I speak. The Oasis is widely considered to be overpriced (to the point that there's more than one reviewer, and threads on this board asking who Amazon expects to buy it) at $300 yet the latest iPhone/Galaxy can run nearly three times that amount and the cost is usually buried in the middle of a review praising the device.

Lastly, if you are reading the great American novel while walking down the stairs and you drop your reader, will the cover do much, since it is open at the time?

[simplyparticular]

I answered no, but I could have also answered yes. The PW2 lives in an old Sony zip sleeve but I read on it sans cover.

My Sony T2 does have the lighted cover but I use that device less frequently now.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Me too. I tripped and was starting to fall and held tighter to my kindle in the case. Didn't actually fall, but damaged the screen from being slightly squeezed. Explained to Amazon that their case provided zero protection. They sent me a new kindle and I ditched the case. Since then, as explained, I just have a soft cover to protect from scratches from stuff like keys in my purse.

Sometimes you are just dammed.

Well that's a reason to buy the official case

It's just a matter of where you hit it. I was walking with a (cover free) paper white, it slipped out of my hand and tumbled down a few stair steps. My heart skipped a beat. Luckily, nobody stepped on it, including me. Can't say it was none the worse for wear, but it was unbroken

[Nothingness]

I bought a cover for my Kobo Glo almost right away and the ereader is always in the cover. I'm clumsy and I have a cat, never know when or how it might get dropped or something.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

One day we'll meet on the stairs, you with your nose buried in Great Expectations, me checking the news on my phone. It'll be a calamity

Of course I'm only speaking of what works for me. I am far less likely to be actively using my reader while doing tasks that I should be paying attention to, though I do use my phone when I do such things and therefore the phone is more likely to be dropped and I then put it in a case (trust me, I'm on my second Nexus 6). Apparently I'm the only user on the board that does this and all other users read novels while walking.

I'm one of those that has a smartphone but doesn't use it for social media or work I only have it because I'm just mad about gadgets

Lastly, if you are reading the great American novel while walking down the stairs and you drop your reader, will the cover do much, since it is open at the time?

Nope, but that's not the reason why I do use covers. I only use it to keep my device clean while it's in a bag or being held. My phone has a bumpercase and a screenprotector: back and front are protected against scratches and the phone is easy to hold (good grip). My readers have a book-like cover, as they don't have a screenprotector, but I do want to be able to read quickly, without having to put some cover away (which would be the case if you used some kind of sleeve).

And if the cover gets worn down or dirty beyond cleaning, it's generally cheaper to buy a new cover/screenprotector than a new device

[HarryT]

I always, always use a cover, and there have been a number of occasions over the years where that's saved the reader. The most recent one was only a few days ago. A beautiful spring day, so I was reading out in my back garden on my concrete patio. My phone rang, so I put my Voyage on the arm of the chair to answer it, but then accidentally knocked it off. It fell 3 feet onto the concrete floor, and made a large dent in the side of the leather cover. Had it not been in the cover, it would almost certainly have broken the screen.

[Barbara1955]

I just saw a YouTube Video this guy named Ken was unpacking the Oasis. That Cover Offers No Protection! Its thin looks like covered card board...the part you hold has Nothing at all to protect it. It may protect the front from scuffs & scratches but the most people I've seen fold the cover back. So really No Protection just an over priced battery.

[7hir7een]

I always do and always have used a cover with my ereaders, with one exception--the Kobo Mini I got for free. I use it as my always-in-my-purse ereader and just use a sleeve to take up less space. With no investment on my part, I feel more comfortable taking a few chances with it.

With expensive devices, I feel obligated to take steps to protect the investment. I've never used my iPhones, iPad or MacBook naked. My ereaders are no different to me.

[Barbara1955]

Originally Posted by 7hir7een

I always do and always have used a cover with my ereaders, with one exception--the Kobo Mini I got for free. I use it as my always-in-my-purse ereader and just use a sleeve to take up less space. With no investment on my part, I feel more comfortable taking a few chances with it.

With expensive devices, I feel obligated to take steps to protect the investment. I've never used my iPhones, iPad or MacBook naked. My ereaders are no different to me.

Heck of a way to treat a Gift!