The Vent and Rant Thread

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by Mindy

I'm putting off buying new books, too, because it seems like a waste of money which I should be saving towards my e-reader!

I can sympathise, as I had reduced my spending on books by a third over the last few months,so that i could buy the Gen3. I couldn't go completely cold Turkey, as then I'll go insane .

I finally ended up ordering, as I'm going to do a lot of travelling over the next 2 months, and want the convenience of a reader.

In your case, If you have the patience, to wait till the July for the Astek Mentor, Your a lot more patient then I am.

However, you just have to consider, what the utility of the reader is for you. Is the additional time you would have with the reader if you ordered it right now, as opposed to waiting for a potentially cheaper reader worth something to you? if so how much?

Also keep in mind that while the Gen3 , V3 and the Sony have their problems, they have been documented and workarounds have been devised.
With the Mentor or any other new device, you're going to be on the cutting edge, and you usually risk a few cuts and bruises .

Still best of luck with whatever decision you make.

[RWood]

Some, like me, have saved a lot of money since getting a reader because the purchase of pbooks is sharply diminished.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by RWood

Some, like me, have saved a lot of money since getting a reader because the purchase of pbooks is sharply diminished.

Ah, but the burning question to be answered is; have you broken even yet v including the purchase of the reader?

[Patricia]

I definitely have more than broken even. I used to have a terrible Amazon habit. Now that I've got the Reader, I'm busy converting PD books, and rarely look at the Amazon site. And I've reclaimed a lot of space on my bookshelves by replacing PD treeware books with electronic ones.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by Patricia

I definitely have more than broken even. I used to have a terrible Amazon habit. Now that I've got the Reader, I'm busy converting PD books, and rarely look at the Amazon site. And I've reclaimed a lot of space on my bookshelves by replacing PD treeware books with electronic ones.

I will likely do that too .... all except for my first editions. Those I keep. Oh yesssss .... those I keep.

[RWood]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Ah, but the burning question to be answered is; have you broken even yet v including the purchase of the reader?

Many times over in fact. And the savings grow by the day.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by Patricia

And I've reclaimed a lot of space on my bookshelves by replacing PD treeware books with electronic ones.

I'd love to do that too, but I am actually reading too many books that aren't available as e-books...

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I will likely do that too .... all except for my first editions. Those I keep. Oh yesssss .... those I keep.

I was arguing about this with someone last year. He was zealously defending ebooks and saying that books would disappear since everything would be electronic. You just proved me what I was defending. There will always be a market of specialty books; rarities, authographed material, etc.

What will really be needed, is a definition of what should still be offered in print. But I agree that the paper back novel is doomed.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I was arguing about this with someone last year. He was zealously defending ebooks and saying that books would disappear since everything would be electronic. You just proved me what I was defending. There will always be a market of specialty books; rarities, authographed material, etc.

What will really be needed, is a definition of what should still be offered in print. But I agree that the paper back novel is doomed.

Braille on an e-book - now that will be something to feel....

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Braille on an e-book - now that will be something to feel....

That's doable. If you could find the right material for the surface, it might even be worthwhile.

But there's already an alternative to a braille ebook. When I was at Digital Book 2008 last month, I briefly spoke with a someone from Humanware. Humanware has developed several nice speaking ebook readers. The tech rep demoed one, and it was very good for a handheld device.

Edit: I just looked at the Humanware website. They do a lot more than ebook readers.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

I was arguing about this with someone last year. He was zealously defending ebooks and saying that books would disappear since everything would be electronic. You just proved me what I was defending. There will always be a market of specialty books; rarities, authographed material, etc.

What will really be needed, is a definition of what should still be offered in print. But I agree that the paper back novel is doomed.

Oh, hell yes. In fact, I do not for one minute believe that hardbacked books will be entirely elminated by ebooks. Just like there was an incredible fuss made when Ted Turner started colorzing old black and white films. There are some things that are meant to be left as close to their original form as possible. Granted, with old films, they had to be moved onto different media in order to save them (since the old film stock was disintigating) ... but as long as they can print HC books,and long as the paper holds together on old books, there will be people who will want a "book" in that format.

I love love love ebooks .... I also happen to love the look of a real live library with books on the shelf, or the smell of a used books store. Just because you embrace one technology doesn't always mean you entirely abandon another.

[tirsales]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

I love love love ebooks .... I also happen to love the look of a real live library with books on the shelf, or the smell of a used books store. Just because you embrace one technology doesn't always mean you entirely abandon another.

[RickyMaveety]

my years in hell.

I'll admit it ... I'm spoiled rotten from living in Los Angeles and San Diego for so many years. If I wanted something there, I just went to the appropriate store and purchased it.

You would think that after 3.5 years in the middle of nowhere, I would have learned that you can't go to local stores and expect anyone to understand what you are looking for, much less have it in stock. But, I'm much too much of an optomist for that ... Candide on steroids and a little crack ... that's me.

The battery for the stylus for my notepad computer finally gave up the ghost. The stylus takes a size AAAA battery. So, I went to town to get one (or two). First stop was Walmart ... lots of batteries, none AAAA, so I asked one of the floor clerks if they had any AAAA batteries.

He said "You want 2 double A batt'ries?

"No, I want 2 four-A batteries."

"Two double A?"

"No, not two double A, 2 quad-A batteries."

"They don' make those."

"Yes, they do, and I need two of them. Well, really only one, but it does need to be quad A."

"Hey, Angie!! This lady wants some batt'ries. We got anything called a quad-A??

(Now, "Angie" was/is as wrinkled as your average prune, and missing most of her teeth. I wondered how old she could possibly be, but I was afraid if I actually asked and was told she was anything less than 105, my entire world would suddently wink out of existance.)

Angie: "She wants two double-A?"

"No, she says she wants quad-A."

"They don't make those."

Me: "Never mind ....."



Thank the powers that be for the internet. But for that, I would be reduced to watching the grass grow for entertainment.

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Thank the powers that be for the internet. But for that, I would be reduced to watching the grass grow for entertainment.

You can use it to buy quad-A batteries, too.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by nekokami

You can use it to buy quad-A batteries, too.

Which is exactly what I did when I came home!!