I think e-readers are really neat, although I don't foresee myself getting one any time soon. Probably because I have such a backlog of books I haven't read that are sitting on my shelves. I do like the idea of portability, especially because big books take up a lot of space in my bag on the train. I had a long gap of not reading myself with college - but now that I take the train every day, I often use that time for pleasure reading
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Yeah, the library issue is an interesting one -- I would love for there to be some kind of "renting" program for books - I'd even pay a small amount for it, to, I don't know, have a copy for 2 weeks and then 'return' it - but of course I don't know at all how that would work. I agree that they're not really going to be the end for print or for libraries, mainly because they at the moment revolve around the privilege of a disposable income.
Exactly. So long as it remains something that only people with $$$ can afford, I don't see libraries going everywhere. "Digital divide" was one of our big buzzwords in school. And I think that if libraries are allowed to license and loan out the technology, it could only boost sales for people looking to give e-readers a test drive. It all comes down to library funding in the end. I know a friend of mine works for a local public library and they were looking into getting iPads for patrons to check out.
I think so long as there's new technology, there's a need for people to explain how to get the most out of it. Hence my profession isn't going anywhere :)
You know, I think an e-reader (or iPad!) rental/checkout thing would be pretty neat. Going on a week-long trip? Get one and load it up, and then return it. Want to see if you use it? Check one out. There's a lot of technology I find interesting in a vague sense but don't think is worth my money in the long run (iPads and a lot of gaming systems fall into this category for me) and libraries wouldn't be a bad answer to stuff like that.
I could have pretty much written the first part of this, word-for-word. I read A LOT growing up, then less during college and especially grad school; now I go through phases where I read like mad and others where I hardly read (printed books) at all. And I'm also a big re-reader who brings way too many books on every trip, just in case
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The 'ownership' of the books is an interesting issue, too. There's a copy on my Kindle that I can access any time I have the Kindle (just like I could access the physical book any time I was near my bookshelf), and Amazon saves a copy of books you've purchased that you can "restore" in case of errors or reformats (I had to do this once in an airport, where a purchase went screwy), which is nice. But it isn't like owning a physical book, and I'll admit I understand that feels "not worth the money" in a lot of ways.
And yeah, like I said to Jamie above, it'll be really interesting to see what they do with libraries and how libraries manage the issue. There's a lot of potential and also a lot of weird grey areas, and I certainly don't have any answers!
Interesting. I have two hold-ups that keep me from considering an e-reader. The first is my concern about proprietary formats and not being able to read my book I purchased anywhere off said e-reader. Your point is well taken about the fact that not all books are really books worth reading more than once and that alleviates some of that issue.
My other hold-up is that it would be one more electronic device I need to remember to charge. I'm notoriously bad at recharging things. What is the battery life like on these things?
WOW, I don't believe I forgot to address battery life! >.>
The battery life on my Kindle is pretty good. If you leave the wireless connection on, you're limited to maybe a day of on-and-off reading. If you remember to turn the wireless off, it will last for days without a recharge. I've used mine for over a week (although that was with a few hours of reading here and there every day, not a week constantly) without having to recharge. I remember being suitably impressed by its lifetime.
Reading books off of the e-reader doesn't bother me as much mainly because I think of the e-reader as a book itself - it's like having the book in my hand. But the proprietary issues are interesting: I do wish I could transfer the books to my computer, or something like.
I have been debating a nook, but I just LOVE books so so much. Though I think for mom it'd be great cause she can take it with her when her and her boyfriend go sailing and she can have all her books with her.
Well, I was gonna say that you were a terrible person for having a Kindle rather than a nook, but I suppose I can't convert everyone to TOUCH SCREEN MAGIC.
Kindle'll do PDF and...word? Text? Something. I can't remember. Not as good side-loaded, though, apparently; one of the girls I work with has a Kindle and she just loathes the way it does PDF.
Although, I am pissed that Sunshine seems to not be in e-book anywhere.
As far as "print is dead," I say that's not going to be the case. I prefer regular books to e-books, but then again, like you said, e-books take up a hell of a lot less space for traveling. You have no idea how many people YELL AT ME when they come into BN because nook is everywhere. I get YELLED AT. ABOUT MAKING BOOKS ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. WHAT.
Sev, basically, I still love you even though you have a Kindle, and you should download everything John Green onto it right now.
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I think so long as there's new technology, there's a need for people to explain how to get the most out of it. Hence my profession isn't going anywhere :)
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I STILL WISH YOU WORKED FOR US THOUGH
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The 'ownership' of the books is an interesting issue, too. There's a copy on my Kindle that I can access any time I have the Kindle (just like I could access the physical book any time I was near my bookshelf), and Amazon saves a copy of books you've purchased that you can "restore" in case of errors or reformats (I had to do this once in an airport, where a purchase went screwy), which is nice. But it isn't like owning a physical book, and I'll admit I understand that feels "not worth the money" in a lot of ways.
And yeah, like I said to Jamie above, it'll be really interesting to see what they do with libraries and how libraries manage the issue. There's a lot of potential and also a lot of weird grey areas, and I certainly don't have any answers!
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My other hold-up is that it would be one more electronic device I need to remember to charge. I'm notoriously bad at recharging things. What is the battery life like on these things?
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The battery life on my Kindle is pretty good. If you leave the wireless connection on, you're limited to maybe a day of on-and-off reading. If you remember to turn the wireless off, it will last for days without a recharge. I've used mine for over a week (although that was with a few hours of reading here and there every day, not a week constantly) without having to recharge. I remember being suitably impressed by its lifetime.
Reading books off of the e-reader doesn't bother me as much mainly because I think of the e-reader as a book itself - it's like having the book in my hand. But the proprietary issues are interesting: I do wish I could transfer the books to my computer, or something like.
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Hrm.
Oh E Reader
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Kindle'll do PDF and...word? Text? Something. I can't remember. Not as good side-loaded, though, apparently; one of the girls I work with has a Kindle and she just loathes the way it does PDF.
Although, I am pissed that Sunshine seems to not be in e-book anywhere.
As far as "print is dead," I say that's not going to be the case. I prefer regular books to e-books, but then again, like you said, e-books take up a hell of a lot less space for traveling. You have no idea how many people YELL AT ME when they come into BN because nook is everywhere. I get YELLED AT. ABOUT MAKING BOOKS ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE. WHAT.
Sev, basically, I still love you even though you have a Kindle, and you should download everything John Green onto it right now.
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