How I was converted

[cathy macleod]

I have discovered how to enjoy ebook reading, and at no cost. Thought I'd pass on my method to help anyone else reluctant to read on a 15-inch screen, unwilling to pay for an expensive handheld electronic device, or who, like me, is a lifelong paperback fan.
I simply downloaded to my laptop the free Mobipocket Reader from www.mobipocket.com
By opting for 2-page display and the font of my choice, I find the same pleasure that paperbacks give.

[MaggieScratch]

My Treo came with eReader. I downloaded some Jane Austen novels and other stuff more as a toy than anything else, but when my book group decided to read Fanny Burney's Cecilia (which is 900 pages in hard copy), I decided to try reading it on my Treo. And I loved everything about the experience. The portability, the ease of use, the fact that it was a free book and I didn't have to find a space for it on my overflowing bookshelves or worry about returning it to the library on time--everything was great.

But using a cellphone or smartphone you already have (and free public domain ebooks) is also a painless way to try out the technology.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by cathy macleod

I have discovered how to enjoy ebook reading, and at no cost. Thought I'd pass on my method to help anyone else reluctant to read on a 15-inch screen, unwilling to pay for an expensive handheld electronic device, or who, like me, is a lifelong paperback fan.

I'm glad you found a way that works for you. However, certainly you paid for your laptop? Also, I'm not sure how reading on your laptop is ok since you are a "lifelong paperback fan".

Welcome to the forum.

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by cathy macleod

I have discovered how to enjoy ebook reading, and at no cost. Thought I'd pass on my method to help anyone else reluctant to read on a 15-inch screen, unwilling to pay for an expensive handheld electronic device, or who, like me, is a lifelong paperback fan.
I simply downloaded to my laptop the free Mobipocket Reader from www.mobipocket.com
By opting for 2-page display and the font of my choice, I find the same pleasure that paperbacks give.

Where does one get the free laptop from?

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by cathy macleod

I have discovered how to enjoy ebook reading, and at no cost. Thought I'd pass on my method to help anyone else reluctant to read on a 15-inch screen, unwilling to pay for an expensive handheld electronic device, or who, like me, is a lifelong paperback fan.
I simply downloaded to my laptop the free Mobipocket Reader from www.mobipocket.com
By opting for 2-page display and the font of my choice, I find the same pleasure that paperbacks give.

Hi, Cathy.

Well, you will have your dissenters here on the idea of reading from a computer. My main reason for posting now is to welcome you to MobileRead.

Many of us here who love paperbacks also love ebook Readers because they mimic the best of paperbacks.

Of course, I wish you many years of computer ebook reading pleasure - tethered, naturally, to an AC outlet or perhaps 2-3 hours of reading while on a battery charge. Newer Mobi titles can be purchased if you like to read current bestsellers, etc. Also (since you are new here), you may not be aware of the thousands of free, public domain Mobi titles available here on MobileRead.

For myself, I love the simplicity of carrying (at this time) 346 books on a device that will give me about 3 weeks between charges and weighs only a few ounces.

So....welcome to MobileRead!

Don

[MaggieScratch]

Of course the laptop isn't free--she meant she already had it, so there was no additional cost. Let's face it, the price of eInk readers (and really other dedicated readers) is keeping a lot of potential ebook lovers from making the plunge.

And she was also making the point that for someone who really loves paperbacks, to learn to enjoy ebooks is a big step.

I thought the point of Cathy's post was to point out that one doesn't have to make a big investment to start enjoying ebooks. That's why I responded as I did--you can start with devices you already own and free software and free books. They're like a gateway drug.

I send people who express curiosity about my Cybook to this forum all the time. I hope all enthusiastic newbies aren't going to be met with such an off-putting response. It was uncharacteristic of this group.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Where does one get the free laptop from?

Well, I got my very first book reading device - a "bombarded out laptop" - by salvaging it from trash.
It was a lowly 386, 640x480 grey scale display, whooping 2MB of RAM, dead battery and no hard disk. It was quite unusable for anything else but reading ebooks from a [DOS boot] floppy disk with a lean reader software and a [part of the] book.
Later on I was even able to graft a harddisk onto it and even install Linux. I have learned quite a bit about Linux internals when I was trying to create an absolutely minimalistic Linux environment. An impulse to install Linux came when I wanted to have longer file names than 8.3 characters supported by DOS and my brief friendship with Minix turned sour.

I think that there are quite a few such notebooks available for [almost] free today. You can comfortably read book on a machine with 386 processor and 2MB of RAM with Windows 3.11 installed. And it might even boot faster than a modern machine with Vista installed ;-)

[bbusybookworm]

I'll say welcome to the world of eBooks Cathy.

No matter what the Dissenters say many of us got started reading eBooks on out computers (Desktops or Laptops) and went from there.

I First got started on a Laptop and quickly supplemented it with a PDA and later a PDA Phone for greater mobility.

Much Later I got into the world of eInk with the Sony PRS-500 and then the Cybook.

So Strap yourself in and hang on for the ride. One you go down the eBook Rabbit hole you cant go back

[DixieGal]

Welcome! I read quite a bit on the PC, more as time goes by, because my poor eyesight makes it harder and harder for me to read on my EB-1150. I'm reluctant to buy a PRS-505, which has nice large fonts, because it does not have the necessary backlight. However, the PRS-700 which has recently become available has the backlight and touchscreen, but there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction with it. So I'm sticking with what I have for as long as possible.

On my PC, I can make the fonts as large and clear as I like. Just today, for instance, I finished in about an hour on the PC with a book that I spent a week or so struggling with due to the tiny fonts.

Also here at MobileRead, there are some pure geniuses who can do anything with ebooks. If you happen to purchase something that you can't read on your PC, do a search here for the relevant thread. I guarantee you will find the answer!

[JSWolf]

When I started reading eBooks, I did so on my computer. Then I used the laptop to do so. It meant I could read in other rooms in the house. And the wicker stand we have it just the right hight for the laptop too., But the problem was that the laptopwas not portable enough.

[Kris777]

I think that reading on laptop is a first step on the way from paper books reading to reading eBooks on eBook readers. I just spent 5 hours reading books on my eBook reader during the flight and had no any problems for my eyes. I'm not sure that I could read from laptop screen more than 1 hour... . I think Cathy will choose the right eBook reader soon . Good Luck!

[giedre]

I too started reading ebooks on my PDA, which I still have and love. However the small screen was quite off putting to me as it seemed like you were always turning pages. Then of course, there was the backlight which bothered my eyes.

[mgrunk]

I was really never comfortable reading books on a computer screen - it's definitely not comfortable in the middle of the night. But I did read books on my pda for years - over 250 books - switched to a pda phone and read some more. But, the battery life sucked - I was tethered every night to a cord, and I paged and paged constantly. But, since I love to read, I sucked it up (paperback books were always a hassle to carry around because I would forget to bring it w/ me, or I had several books in progress and had to bring just one). When I got the Sony Reader, I truly fell in love w/ reading again. And, I read so much faster now - I can blow through books again - I am so thoroughly in love w/ reading, my budget is shot.

[Alisa]

I started reading on my WinMo smartphone (HTC 6800) but it wears the battery down fast in addition to being not very readable in daylight and not as kind on the eyes. My laptop is a bit nicer for around the house but it's still not the comfiest thing to curly in a chair with. I'd rather have my Kindle and a cat or two. Still, it was a good first step.

[ProDigit]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

... However, the PRS-700 which has recently become available has the backlight and touchscreen, but there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction with it. ..

I'd rather call it a 'front'-light.