THE reason to own an E-reader

[Tarana]

I don't think it really matters what ereader you use, but I do think a lot of people who get them are reading more than they did when they were just getting paperbooks. Ereaders, be they ereader or tablet, also enable a lot of older folks to read, who might otherwise have to give it up because of vision problems. When I go to the eye specialist, about 3/4th of patients waiting are using ereaders. Most of these folks have macular degeneration.

Oh, and being able to instantly look up words was absolutely wonderful!

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think tablet users who use their tablets primarily for reading are about as common as folks with big screen televisions who only watch the news.

I think people who think that tablet users who use their tablets primarily for reading are about as common as folks with big screen televisions who only watch the news are probably just a bit out of touch with the reality of the situation.

I use my tablet to read at least as much as I used to read with pbooks, or with my first eink reader (maybe more) AND then the other stuff I can do with it on top. People really need to stop thinking it's unusual or uncommon. It's just uncommon/unpopular with the Mobileread crowd. There's scads of hardcore readers who bypassed eink altogether.

[Kasper Hviid]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Also note that I honor no imaginary rule which chooses to exclude tablets from the "ereader" club simply because someone wants to blame the lack of their inability to focus on a piece of equipment's (entirely voluntary) ability to do more than one thing. If I "eread" on it ... it's my "ereader." Period.
Neener.

I think my e-reader has some comfort that I just don't get from the tablet, since it's used for reading only. I really like that it doesn't have facebook, google, email, twitter, since this real-time-always-connected thing requires a totally different mindset.

Some study showed that reading a text with hyperlink is distracting the reader, regardless whether he clicks on them - because, even if ignoring them, the brain has to use resources on recognizing the hyperlink and deciding not to click it, even if this happens subconsciously. Conclusion: having to make the choice of ignoring a possible distraction is a distraction in itself.

If I read on a tablet, I could of course just choose NOT to check my emain or what goes on on the various social media or my fave sites. All of these options are entirely voluntary. But with my e-reader, I don't have to bother with this choice.

Tablet readers shouldn't feel attacked just because I happen to like these features. The things I like about my reading habbits doesn't take anything away from yours.

You have turned your tablets Wi-Fi network off, and are reading loads of ePubs. Good for you! If it works, it works. I can't imagine reading longer books on a tablet, so I'm actually impressed!

Being member of the elite who own a true E-ink device enables me to simultaneously brag about my hardware AND show off how I am one of these deep ones that read books. E-ink devices has a higher bragging value than any other gadgets. So yeah, I can understand that tablet readers might get a bit tired of e-ink readers going on about their devices. But really, what exactly do you expect from a thread titled "THE reason to own an E-reader"?

[bshar489]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Hear about book ... find book ... buy book ... start reading book. All within minutes. The immediacy of it is the number one reason for me. My reading habits and the amount I read hasn't really changed with ereaders ... the GETTING of books changed for me. It no longer involves cars/trucks, fuel, hours, or postmen (or waiting on postmen).

Bergette

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by Kasper Hviid

Tablet readers shouldn't feel attacked just because I happen to like these features. The things I like about my reading habbits doesn't take anything away from yours.

I don't feel attacked when someone explains why a dedicated eink device works better for them. In fact I don't ever feel attacked--precisely because others' reading habits can't take anything away from mine.

What I do get is annoyed when someone abandons personal preference and starts pretending that there's some sort of quantifiable, inherent superiority of the dedicated eink device as opposed to multi-function tablets when it comes to ereading. THAT particular attitude is reminiscent of the elitist attitude that many had (and still have) with regard to print books compared to ebooks. "Oh I prefer 'real' books," sounds a heck of a lot like "I prefer 'real' ereaders."

So yeah ... tell me that the eink, single function device is the perfect thing for your reading pleasure; and I've absolutely no issue. Tell me that eink is, hands down, the better choice all around for the "serious" reader, and I call B.S. It's that simple.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I don't feel attacked when someone explains why a dedicated eink device works better for them. In fact I don't ever feel attacked--precisely because others' reading habits can't take anything away from mine.

What I do get is annoyed when someone abandons personal preference and starts pretending that there's some sort of quantifiable, inherent superiority of the dedicated eink device as opposed to multi-function tablets when it comes to ereading. THAT particular attitude is reminiscent of the elitist attitude that many had (and still have) with regard to print books compared to ebooks. "Oh I prefer 'real' books," sounds a heck of a lot like "I prefer 'real' ereaders."

So yeah ... tell me that the eink, single function device is the perfect thing for your reading pleasure; and I've absolutely no issue. Tell me that eink is better choice all around for the "serious" reader, and I call B.S. That simple.

Good Post
Apache

[disconnected]

I read mostly on an e-ink reader (H2O currently) but I don’t mind being distracted by a nearby phone, tablet, television, window, husband, or random thought.

I have the H2O set up with lots of non-reading space – book title at top, good-sized margins, generous spacing between lines.

I read a lot but I have no idea how many books I read in a year and have no plans to set any reading goals.

My reading is an inefficient leisurely pastime rather than a competitive sport.

[jdege]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You won't find many sites showing video that doesn't require Adobe Flash. So just install it or you won't be able to see many (if any) videos.

Actually, Flash is a dying technology. It's been superceded by capabilities within html5, and current versions of android and ios have abandoned it.

[jdege]

I've never used an e-ink reader, but I'd really miss the ability to look up words I don't know, load maps for places I'm unfamiliar with, etc.

The story I was reading the other day would have been much less fun, had I not been able to quickly decipher "horripilating."

[theducks]

Originally Posted by jdege

I've never used an e-ink reader, but I'd really miss the ability to look up words I don't know, load maps for places I'm unfamiliar with, etc.

The story I was reading the other day would have been much less fun, had I not been able to quickly decipher "horripilating."

My K4 (E-ink) has a dictionary
You should travel more, then you would know where some of these place are

(now, if the would quit changing the names, or changing them BACK to what they were a long time ago )

[ebusinesstutor]

Originally Posted by Kasper Hviid

I think what makes an e-ink reader work is the lack of features: I can't multitask, I can't quickly check my fave time wasting web site. This makes the reader perfect for the static, non-interactive experience known as "reading".

This kind of makes me a bit worried about the future of e-readers - if they evolve too much, they might end up with a lot of features that will naturally distract from actual reading.

Easy to turn those off. I read solely on my smart phone and I am never interrupted by my phone other than for phone calls, which of course would interrupt me if I was on the e-ink reader as well.

For me, the smart phone provides all the benefits of an e-ink reader plus access to multiple book sources like ScribeD, Amazon, library books and more. With most e-ink readers being linked to walled gardens and unable to run other reading apps, they just don't work for me.

[LadyKate]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I think tablet users who use their tablets primarily for reading are about as common as folks with big screen televisions who only watch the news.

I have to ask why? Tablets are comparable in price to ereaders and give you the option of multiple ereader programs and are easy to sideload content. Also they are not tied to any one company as a number of ereaders are.

The ability to read in the dark is good too. I much prefer to read with no lights on.

For over 10 years I owned multiple pdas which were primarily used for reading even though the screen was tiny.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by Tarana

... Ereaders, be they ereader or tablet, also enable a lot of older folks to read, who might otherwise have to give it up because of vision problems. When I go to the eye specialist, about 3/4th of patients waiting are using ereaders.

I can't read paper books anymore due to declining vision, and limited mobility makes it difficult for me to get to bookstores. Between customizable formatting and the ability to browse, buy, and instantly receive books without leaving home, ereaders have made it possible for me to enjoy books again.

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

... There's scads of hardcore readers who bypassed eink altogether.

I find eink easier on my eyes, but my 90-year-old father reads for hours every day on his tablet. It's the first and only ereader he's ever used.

[jdege]

Originally Posted by LadyKate

Also they are not tied to any one company as a number of ereaders are.

I'm on my 4th Nook (color, tablet, hd+, and Samsung), and on all of them I've read more e-books from non-B&N sources than from B&N.

In order, descending:

• Project Gutenberg
• Barnes&Noble
• Baen
• Google Books
• Amazon
• New York Public Library

I have no interest in being trapped into a single ecosystem. Even what I buy from B&N I download into Calibre, and load onto my Nooks through it.

Originally Posted by Kasper Hviid

Being member of the elite who own a true E-ink device enables me to simultaneously brag about my hardware AND show off how I am one of these deep ones that read books.

I see ereaders as a more practical device: easily readable in direct sunlight, great battery life, and there's less fuss and muss because they do what they do well. It seems as though ereaders should be the antithesis of bragging.