ebooks and me

[erastes]

I have posted a post about my thoughts on ebooks HERE

However, the commenter (bless her) from Saudi made me think twice - if I was travelling, an ereader WOULD be a boon.

But I'd still break it. I've had my phone a month - and it's dead already....

Books are far more durable.

Comments

[rwday.livejournal.com]

Though I share some of your reservations about e-books, I'll probably buy an Amazon Kindle when the price comes down. When I went to New Orleans, I planned on doing a lot of reading, plus some research, and I ended having to take an extra suitcase just for the books. An e-book reader would have been a godsend.

You've killed your phone already? You and my daughter must be related - she's death to cell phones.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I do agree that for travelling they would be a boon, but seeing as I haven't done so for 20 years, I think it would be buying something i don't need...

and yes. I think dropping it in the bath might have contributed but I'll never admit to it

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

Borders has an e-reader that I drool over and I think of the weight I would get rid of travelling...shoot I always seem to have a book or two in my purse and to get rid of those in favor of a e-reader. I could have hundred books in my purse at one time. *in awe of the idea*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I agree. I never thought of travelling. I thought only of commuting and of at home.

If you are on holiday - handy...

but..

if you are on holiday for 2 weeks or less, is it really worth paying for? I never lose the book i'm reading, so the pback i'm reading would be less weight than the reader. I always take three books on holiday but end up leaving them behind.

how much do you travel> how many do you take with you?

[schmoo999.livejournal.com]

We visit friends and my dad quite a bit during the year and they are over a hundred miles away. We like to go all over the state during the summer so drives are always more than an hour. Plus I just always take what I am reading with me. I end up reading at work when I am done, reading while waiting for the kids, reading while waiting at the doctors, reading when out at my father in law's while cooking etc. :)

[markprobst.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. To me ebooks are not really books. I don't feel like they are actually there it I can't see them (kinda like God). Also with a physical book, I can actually see the progress I am making getting though it. With an ebook, how do you know how far along you are? You have to do math to figure it out. The printing press may be quaint, but I hope it won't soon be obsolete.

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

If only I could find an ebook that wasn't *totally crappily written.* And I've tried. ::SIGH::

But the Kindle is seriously awesome, and innovative enough that I think it might actually help epublishing bridge the gap. I want one, but I'm not willing to pay $400 for it.

And ya...try dropping one of *those* in the bathtub. Not exactly the same as buying a new paperback....

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

If only I could find an ebook that wasn't *totally crappily written.*

Step along to Uniquely Pleasurable (http://unique.logophilos.net/) and you'll find some recs for a few that aren't. I've read ebooks that are as good or better than anything in print, and the advantage for me is instant delivery, discreet reading, and usually, far lower cost.

[tammylee.livejournal.com]

I've got mixed feelings on ebooks. Primarily I read in the bathtub...

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I was thinking even just for Dr's offices and waiting in line. When I drove over-the-road, I wanted one for those 10 hours we have to spend in the bunk. (I can only sleep 8 of them)

Actually, I was also thinking for my mother, who doesn't have a computer, and is my number one fan. She's disappointed i don't ahve more in paper.

[semioticwarrior.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I will look forward to some excellent e-reading!

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I went to sign up for Uniquely Pleasurable, but I can't get past their Capcha thingy, which I cannot read to save my life. Is there an email address I could use instead?

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

email me on unique at logophilos dot net, giving me your preferred user name and the email address and I'll set up your account. We're not allowing self-registration at the moment.

If you already have an account, let me know.

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I like to have both. I do do a lot of travelling, and with the covers of some of the m/m romance books I like to be able to have them on ebook because they'd be too embarrassing in print. But if there's a book I read in ebook and love, I'll buy the print version, because print books are 'real' books, and I love to have shelves of them around me. There's no doubt that print books are nicer to read, and ebooks will never replace them for curling up on the sofa with. But I also like to have six or seven ebooks on my palm pilot, which also has my diary and a notebook and address-book, so I'd be carrying it anyway. That way I'm never caught out with nothing to read :)

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I went through about 20 of those things, saying to myself each time 'I think I've got it right now', only to find I hadn't :) Eventually I had to give up. So thank you for an alternative choice! It's a great relief :) I'll do that at once. Thanks!

[ejab62.livejournal.com]

I share your thoughts. Call me old fashioned or what, but I love the *smell* of books. Also always bury my nose in a book and take a sniff when I get it out - the older, the better the scent.

It seems that everything has to be displayed on a screen these days for people to even consider buying it. Guess they think it is called progress and looks 'cool'?

*Shrugs* I just don't care about 'gadgets'. Never have and probably never will. Must be 'old fashioned' because one of my dreams for my next apartment = a room filled only with all my books and a wonderfully comfortable 'reading chair' or sofa. Oh, and of course a nice fluffy blanket. That's it.
There's no room for it where I live now. Heck, most of my books are forced to stay in the cellar but one day. oh, one day....!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I have to admit seeing a line of books with my stories in is a kick! and convince your mother to get one, my mother always said "oh i don't need one" and then never looked back! World's biggest ebay merchant!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

That's exactly how I feel too. I like to browse my books and I read and forget if they are on the pc. I'm always losing them on the pc too as I don't download them due to dial up non speed so I leave them either at fictionwise or on gmail.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I tend to stick to historicals for obvious reasons and yes, if not the writing then - GAH - the editing.

I would drop it in the bath. I would. I dropped my phone in.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's my joint first place that I read too. books are forgiving - a night on the immersion heater and they are fixed. Bigger - but fixed!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I do get the impression that a lot of it is gadget-itis. People had ebooks without these readers after all.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I suppose its because i don't commute any more - and for that i do like spoken books!! So I'm just as bad in a way.

[maxfromathens.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm a bit behind...
I agree with you totally, but just for one point I say ebooks have merit.
On ebooks I can use search function for the lines/words etc which impressed me since I'm learning English. On books I can't do this, so have to stick post-it on them. Otherwise I'll be frustrated at searching later.
If someone have pointed out the same, forgive me. I'm a bit in a hurry.