It is the Worst of Times for Reading EBooks

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

They're probably just waiting for all the members of Mobileread to agree on what a fair price would be, then they'll get right on it ��

Hmmmm.... from day to day, I can't even agree with myself as to what a fair ebook price should be. Do I really want to see authors sitting on sidewalks holding signs reading "Will write for food"? Do I really want to pay more than the cost of a paperback for an ebook? For me, the "fair" point between those extremes moves around a lot.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Timboli

Yes, I know there are options for a tech savvy person like myself, however that's not really the point ... and both my mother and wife are terrible when it comes to technology.

So really, it needs to be kept simple, and there is no reason except greed, why that couldn't be the case.

If you are happy sticking with Amazon, it is simple.
Get two Kindles, add them both to the same Amazon family, and any book bought on one will be readable on the other, just as with a paper book. Except that they could both read the same book at the same time, which isn't possible with a paper book.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

If you are happy sticking with Amazon, it is simple.
Get two Kindles, add them both to the same Amazon family, and any book bought on one will be readable on the other, just as with a paper book. Except that they could both read the same book at the same time, which isn't possible with a paper book.

The problem with that is that you are offering a solution. From what I can see, a solution isn't what he is looking for.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

The problem with that is that you are offering a solution. From what I can see, a solution isn't what he is looking for.

Exactly.

Shari

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by leebase

Same for me. My mother passed away this year. I would buy her kindle books and load books to fbreader's online network. She initially had an iPad 2, then a kindle fire HD 8, then another iPad.

Ebooks extended the years she could read. It was sad when her health declined such that she couldn’t even read the ebooks

My mother died almost 2 years ago. She was pretty good until maybe six or so months before she died. She was using a laptop, a Sony Reader, and an iPad Mini. She took to it pretty good.

[pastaenthusiast]

I wouldn't say that it's the worst of times, in fact I think we're at the best time so far. However, for me at least this is by far the least exciting time for ereaders. There don't appear to be any big improvements on the horizon- the exciting days of the first front lit screens or first waterproofing are over and now we have just subtle adjustments to the readers.

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by pastaenthusiast

I wouldn't say that it's the worst of times, in fact I think we're at the best time so far. However, for me at least this is by far the least exciting time for ereaders. There don't appear to be any big improvements on the horizon- the exciting days of the first front lit screens or first waterproofing are over and now we have just subtle adjustments to the readers.

Which means they are so good that it is hard to make them so much better that it is exciting. I think that is a good thing, especially since newer Kindles are getting locked tighter in jail.

[catsknit]

I have to take issue with the OP's comment disparaging audiobooks! While I much prefer to eye-read my books (I can read faster, and it's easy to flip back a page and recheck something, etc.) audiobooks have a definite place. Many people have either learning disabilities such as dyslexia that make eye-reading harder/exhausting, or they absorb more from audio than visual. It does not make them any less intellectual. One of my sons is dyslexic and struggled to learn to read. He can read well now but definitely absorbs more information than from visual content. I am exactly the opposite - much prefer to read something than to hear it or heaven forbid, watch a video clip (looking at you news sites)

But audiobooks are also a great way to be entertained or learn something while doing something else. I like to listen to audiobooks on long drives as well as when I am doing yard work or working on hobbies.

Books are being consumed either way.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by catsknit

But audiobooks are also a great way to be entertained or learn something while doing something else.

Books are being consumed either way.

(e.a.)

As one who simply cannot get into audiobooks except as immersive learning tools, I strongly endorse the bolded sentence. It's a different sort of reading experience, but it's still exposure to and processing of (ultimately) the written word.

[leebase]

Originally Posted by catsknit

I have to take issue with the OP's comment disparaging audiobooks!

Your sarcasm meter is broken. I completely agree with you. Although, on this forum, there are those who view listening to an audio book as "other" than reading. Might even consider it "cheating" or "contributing to the decline in actual literacy".

[j.p.s]

Originally Posted by leebase

Your sarcasm meter is broken. I completely agree with you. Although, on this forum, there are those who view listening to an audio book as "other" than reading. Might even consider it "cheating" or "contributing to the decline in actual literacy".

Socrates considered it cheating (or lazy) to write things down instead of memorizing what you hear, so I guess we've come full circle.