What Authors Own ebook Readers?

[Dr. Drib]

Any of the "biggies"?

Any study/stats on this this?

Any of the "smallies"?


Don

[Nate the great]

Charles Stross
Stephen Fry
Stephen King

[ThomasMcKean]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Any of the "biggies"?

Any study/stats on this this?

Any of the "smallies"?

I do, but no doubt I am a smallie.

I am working on changing that, though.

[AnemicOak]

Patricia Briggs has a Sony.

[nomesque]

*sniff* I'm definitely not a biggie, but I would have one if I could afford it. Both for personal use, and for checking how my own ebooks look on one. There's nothing like understanding the full end user experience for creating a useful design (damn, I'm sounding like a software architect, aren't I?).

[neilmarr]

I head up the editorial team at a small indie publisher. Although all our paperbacks are covered by digital versions, I know of only two of our hundred or so authors who own an ebook reader, though several read on netbooks. Only one of my fellow editors has a reader and one chap on the technical side. I'm working on it. Cheers. Neil

[doreenjoy]

I know at least a dozen who have them. No one you'd have heard of.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by nomesque

*sniff* I'm definitely not a biggie, but I would have one if I could afford it. Both for personal use, and for checking how my own ebooks look on one. There's nothing like understanding the full end user experience for creating a useful design (damn, I'm sounding like a software architect, aren't I?).

I've considered buying readers in the past, also to check the final product of my books. But I don't have any interest in using one myself, and so far I've avoided the temptation when I had the means. Besides, I consider the current crop of readers very unsophisticated, and I'd rather tailor my books to a better reading experience.

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by Steve Jordan

I've considered buying readers in the past, also to check the final product of my books. But I don't have any interest in using one myself, and so far I've avoided the temptation when I had the means. Besides, I consider the current crop of readers very unsophisticated, and I'd rather tailor my books to a better reading experience.

Mmmm... I think if you've no interest in _using_ one, then it's a little extreme to get one JUST for the checking concept. I can't comment too much on the sophistication levels of current readers, not having used one - but with the exception of slow page refresh, I haven't heard of much that would bug me. I don't want music or video or even really colour - just easily-readable text on a non-light-emitting screen.

[Moxie Mezcal]

Originally Posted by nomesque

Mmmm... I think if you've no interest in _using_ one, then it's a little extreme to get one JUST for the checking concept. I can't comment too much on the sophistication levels of current readers, not having used one - but with the exception of slow page refresh, I haven't heard of much that would bug me. I don't want music or video or even really colour - just easily-readable text on a non-light-emitting screen.

I just got my first reader, a Sony Pocket Edition (PRS-300) and I am loving it. Based on your criteria, it sounds like a good fit for you... no music/video, no color, no backlight, no touchscreen causing glare. It's a perfect entry-level reader, and the most affordable of the major widely-available models ($200US).

The best thing in my opinion is the size - just a tad shorter and wider than a mass-market paperback (and a lot slimmer), I find myself carrying it everywhere and I'm actually reading a lot more. Also the battery life is awesome, I've had it a couple weeks and still have about half a charge left still off my initial charge.

The page refresh hasn't bothered me at all - it's not instantaneous, but I'd say it's not much slower than physically turning a page.

Anyways, sorry for going on and on like an infommercial - I just was hesitant myself about getting an e-reader, but now that I have one I am totally turned around. Plus, I have to admit it is nice to be able to check out your own stuff and make sure the formatting is okay - it's certainly helped me catch a few things to fix.

[doreenjoy]

What I find more interesting is how many editors and agents own e-book readers. Many that I know transfer manuscripts to reading devices for review.

[nomesque]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

What I find more interesting is how many editors and agents own e-book readers. Many that I know transfer manuscripts to reading devices for review.

Oh, brilliant woman, you just gave me an idea! I could get an ebook reader for work...

Moxie - thanks for the suggestion! I'm in Australia, which - if I want support/servicing for an ebook reader, limits me a LOT. Sigh. Sony doesn't sell the PRSs to Australia.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by nomesque

Mmmm... I think if you've no interest in _using_ one, then it's a little extreme to get one JUST for the checking concept.

Agreed, with just the caveat that if I was making my entire income off of writing (and if the livin' was easy), it might be worth the investment (and, I suppose, would be a tax write-off besides).

If I was that concerned, of course, I'm sure I could arrange a small network of device users to use as "first-testers" before I release a book. Each first-tester would obviously get a free book out of it, and I'd get confirmation of a book's working before release.

In fact, if I'd had more issues with released books than I've had, I would probably be setting that very thing up. But generally, as the issues I hear about are few and far between (and usually they are quickly fixed), I haven't felt the need. Larger publishers might disagree.

[Darlene Marshall]

I'm an author who just bought my first dedicated ereader, the Sony 300 Pocket. It was too uncomfortable reading from my notebook.

Darlene Marshall

www.darlenemarshall.com