Remember when eReaders first came out? Was I the only one who thought they would never catch on? I really thought they were just another gimmicky electronic device that we didn't need. I held out for a long time before getting my Kindle, but now I don't know how I went so long without it.
I love my Kindle. And here's why.
If I absolutely need a book (it happens), I always know without a doubt, that I can get it. Recently I finished a book and wanted to read the sequel. The library didn't have it. The PX didn't have it. What was I supposed to do? Wait a week for it? Psh. No, within seconds, I had it.
Would I have preferred a physical copy to adorn my shelf? Sure, but the point is that I have it and reading it.
I also love my Kindle because that is how I read all of my ARC's. What a Godsend eBooks have been to publishing, in the case of getting reviews. Instead of sending physical books out, which costs money, they can get each book into thousands of hands, instantly. I love it.
So, as much as I love the feel of weighty paper in my hands, I can't lie that I love my Kindle. I've even named her Jane, because I'm a dork and I name my electronics. (My computer is Prudence and my phone is Roxy. I'm a grown-up.)
I do have my qualms with eBooks on occasion. First, why are they so expensive? Perhaps you've been reading along with the Amazon, publishers, Apple battle going on. Basically, Amazon has been fighting for the right to price eBooks as $9.99 but publishers don't like that so they've been going to Apple, but Apple's iBookstore sucks and Amazon got pissed and took away certain publishers "Buy" button from their page (which I thought was funny) and the Publishers freaked out and went back to Amazon and then Amazon caved (boo). It's a long, ridiculous, drawn-out battle but I can see how the value of books is suffering because of the digital transition. I'll admit, if it's over $10, I'm not buying.
So, where do you stand on the issue? E-books v. Print books. Share your thoughts.
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13 Comments
Sorry I've been so MIA with the book chat. I miss it but I feel like I've needed a break from blogging. But I'm still reading and I love this topic. I was the same way, I needed my physical book. My mom wanted a Kindle for Christmas one year so I got her one and she knew how I felt about real books, but she bought me one anyway. And like you, I don't know how I went so long without one. I loved my Kindle, but last Christmas I got an iPad mini, and I have no issue with reading on it. I DO call my iPad Kindle though. So perhaps I "named" mine, too. =P
ReplyDeleteI don't care either way! I actually like e-books because you don't have to carry this big book everywhere. But I like the ease of being able to flip pages of a real book, you know? Like if I wanted to recheck something a few chapters back. I also wish e-books weren't so pricy sometimes! But people gotta make money right?
ReplyDeleteMy car is named Simmons, my computer is Mackenzie, and my phone is Mel (the cell) ;)
I waited a long time to buy an ereader too because was completely against them. If I can buy a real book, I do it. If the price isn't that much different, I buy the paper book. But, like with the book I'm reading now, it was 15$ cheaper to buy it on my ereader. I have also found some great free books or 2.99 books on the ereader. However, I still prefer a paper book and browsing at the book store.
ReplyDeleteLove your device names! I still don't have an e-reader and won't get one for the near future. That said, if people love their e-readers and they're reading on them, I'm happy!
ReplyDeleteI love a print book but 99% of what I read is digital. I love the feeling of holding a book in my lap and flipping the pages but I can't beat the convenience of digital.
ReplyDeleteI bought my first Kindle because of the reason you said above- I was reading a series and I couldn't find the next book in the store and the library didn't have any. Yeah, instead of looking or waiting to find the next book I bought a Kindle so I could download them immediately. I'm usually good about not needing instant gratification but not when it comes to my books. By the way the series- The Black Dagger Brotherhood :)
I was super sketchy of e-readers at the beginning but they're growing on me haha
ReplyDeleteI was like you - totally against e-readers in the beginning. But then I caved, bought one, fell completely in love. This year, I've been reading more physical books mainly because of money. I've read almost 80 books this year already and if I had paid for all those books, I would be broke! Especially since some of them get really pricey. So now I typically only buy a book for my Kindle if it's one I am SURE I will want to keep (and/or will be highlighting like crazy because I love the Kindle's highlighting option and how it saves everything in one place!), or I can't get from my library. (Which is rare!) I like the convenience of the Kindle, both in the way it's small and compact and I can get a book whenever I want, on a whim!
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit late to make my own blog post on the subject, but I'm allll about e-readers. I think they're just super convenient - portable, you can change the size of a font (great for farsighted people like my mom), you can buy a book any time and have it immediately, etc. etc. That's not to say paper books aren't also awesome, but I was always all for e-readers and I really wish I could buy one. As it is, I hoard the crappy ones my library lends out. Seriously: so convenient.
ReplyDeleteHaha I love that you name your electronics! My bike and my car have names. Coincidentally, they are both Fiona. (I named my car Fiona because she was a Ford Fusion and I liked the alliteration [and she didn't seem like a Francesca], and then I happened to buy a bike that was actually named Fiona!) Also, I think we have the same Kindle cover, but mine is green. Does yours have a little built-in nightlight?
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Loved reading all the responses this week. :) Also, it made me think of a possible topic for a future Book Chat: What do you do with books after you finish them? (Keep them? Donate them? Give them to friends? If you lend them to friends, do you expect them to be returned?) Just a thought!
I thought e-books were stupid. I mean how can anybody not like the feel of paper between their fingers, the smell of old books, the joy of flipping through... anyways, I read my first book on my ipad and i admit it was cool =p
ReplyDeleteI am making the switch from nook to kindle because of the cost of books. In my mind if I can't share them freely like I could a paperback then I shouldn't have to pay more for the exact same book in digital copy. Barnes and Nobles ebooks are overpriced. Kindles seem to be a bit more fair in this respect. Like you I love a physical copy of a book in my hands but its just not practical with the military lifestyle. Books are heavy and the way the packers move things it's not worth having so many physical copies when I can keep hundreds without taking up weight or space. It also to me is more important that my kid has access to hard copies of books to develop that love for reading. Ebooks just aren't the same in that respect to me.
ReplyDeleteoooo I meant to ask... where did you get that book light??
ReplyDeletewe have the same kindle cover!
ReplyDeleteI really need to start reading again :/
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