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Why you shouldn't buy an e reader

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SonjaMarie
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Post by SonjaMarie » Fri August 27th, 2010, 5:41 pm

I get nervous if I haven't read at least 10 books a month or more. I buy more then 7 books a year for sure. A lot of the books I want to read aren't on ebooks and never will be. I have no interest in a e-reader at all.

SM
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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
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Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Fri August 27th, 2010, 6:31 pm

Ahem, I just bought a Kindle-- waiting for it to be delivered, since it's back-ordered. My main reason was the searchability of my research texts, which right now I read on my computer as PDFs as often as I take them down from the shelves. All the platforms let you download PDFs from your computer, and I have piles of them. So for me, it is a very convenient way to carry around two shelf-fuls of books, including whatever I'm working on at the moment.

I can also download all the classics free. Being able to carry a library consisting of all the classics, as well as my work, for under half a pound of weight is worth every penny.

And you can do basic editing and highlighting on almost all of them. What's not to like?

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SonjaMarie
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Post by SonjaMarie » Fri August 27th, 2010, 6:32 pm

If a Ebook Reader works for you, go for it! Right now it wouldn't be a good buy for me.

SM
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SarahWoodbury
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Post by SarahWoodbury » Fri August 27th, 2010, 7:49 pm

Here's the deal for me--it's all good! I have a Kindle which is fabulous for reading my own stuff, if I'm traveling, or if an author I love has a hardback out right now and I want it and can't wait for the library or the paperback. I have a zillion paperbacks which I love because I can dip in and out of them, carry them around, throw them on the couch without worrying about damaging them, plus they are cheap (especially when I buy them at the used book store). And I read hardbacks from the library. I can't deny it! I'm easy!

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boswellbaxter
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Post by boswellbaxter » Fri August 27th, 2010, 8:01 pm

[quote=""SarahWoodbury""]Here's the deal for me--it's all good! I have a Kindle which is fabulous for reading my own stuff, if I'm traveling, or if an author I love has a hardback out right now and I want it and can't wait for the library or the paperback. I have a zillion paperbacks which I love because I can dip in and out of them, carry them around, throw them on the couch without worrying about damaging them, plus they are cheap (especially when I buy them at the used book store). And I read hardbacks from the library. I can't deny it! I'm easy![/quote]

That's the spirit! I like physical books as much as anybody, but I'm more than happy to have additional ways of reading.

My Kindle arrived today!
Susan Higginbotham
Coming in October: The Woodvilles


http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/
http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/blog/

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Miss Moppet
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Post by Miss Moppet » Fri August 27th, 2010, 8:08 pm

I'd like to try a Kindle - would love to be able to download all my PDF research articles onto it and carry them round. But I'm not going to. I can't afford it or the books to put on it. And many books I want to read wouldn't be available.

So I would see it as Sarah does, as an extra rather than a replacement for print books - but I still won't get one unless prices come down or my income goes up. Also I don't get the sense that this is a one-off purchase - people seem to upgrade regularly or even have more than one lying around.

MLE and BB, I'd be interested to hear how you get on with your Kindles. I have heard the customer service is extremely good compared to other e-readers.

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Divia
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Post by Divia » Fri August 27th, 2010, 8:40 pm

For some people they work great, for others not so much.

I need my non fiction books on the shelf. I need to go over and look something up.

What happens when you have an older kindle with a book on it..and you get a new kindle? Do you have to redownload the book? :confused:
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LoveHistory
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Post by LoveHistory » Fri August 27th, 2010, 8:41 pm

Ditto to Miss Moppet's sentitments.

If you have the money to buy an eReader, go for it. But those of us who don't will keep piling up the print copies.

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Tanzanite
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Post by Tanzanite » Fri August 27th, 2010, 9:54 pm

And what would Misfit and I do without those wonderful covers????!!

G. Alvin Simons
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Post by G. Alvin Simons » Fri August 27th, 2010, 10:38 pm

[quote=""Divia""]What happens when you have an older kindle with a book on it..and you get a new kindle? Do you have to redownload the book? :confused: [/quote]

I have a Kindle & love it. It's funny that some of those "negative" things written about an e-reader in the article is what I LIKE most about having one. While writing, I often need a reference book on the spur of the moment. Not living near a BN or Borders, whether a Wall Street Journal Reporter realizes it or not, many people DON'T live near any kind of bookstore, I can instantly get on my Kindle or PC & search for the book. I do check the free sites first & several times got lucky & found one that I could use. Regardless of free or an Amazon purchase, within 5 minutes I'm reading the book.

DIVIA - As to your question about the Kindle books, when you buy & register your Kindle, Amazon gives you your own page where your purchases are stored. You can go back & reload them anytime that you want.

I hope this helps,
Alvin

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