Why you shouldn't buy an e reader

[chuck]

A book is a book....tried reading E Books.....could not get into it.....Reader anticipation,holding the books, turning pages, book marks and finally reading the last page....For me it's the journey....And I love book shelves and Old Libraries and walking through their stacks...so much printed knowledge.....Hopeless Romantic.....

[fljustice]

I must be a tech geek, because I want an e-reader in the worst way

I'm with you there. I've resisted because I figure they are a passing fancy and something like the iPod touch/iPad will have the reader plus many other functions. A dedicated reader seems so wasteful some how. My husband got a "smart phone" a few months ago which can do so many things. When we took our daughter to college, it even functioned as a GPS so we didn't have to rent one. But one these days...

[Divia]

I haven't bought one because:

1. My iPod touch has an app for the Kindle and the Nook (plus one for Apple's bookcase)
2. I rarely buy books, get 98% of my reading material from the Library
3. I'm married to a penny pincher and can't figure out how to justify it sufficiently
4. Do I really need it? Or do I just want it? I WANT it.

Sigh. In this economy, I really can't buy one, especially since our savings account isn't sufficently robust enought, if either of us got laid off.

These are my reasons too, execpt the married part. Still, I do WANT one even though I can't justify it. It would be so much easier that carting my books around when I go on trips. Of couse I only go on two trips a year, so that hardly justifies it.

[Madeleine]

And that lovely smell of new books!

[LoobyG]

That beautiful smell of new books is one of my chief pleasures in setting foot in Waterstones, I wish some inspired perfume manufacturer would bottle it hehe I like what you said too Chuck, from buying a book, to choosing it from your TBR pile, to turning the last page is a kind of journey.

[cw gortner]

I can buy 7 books a week!

Ditto! And on occasions, I have.

[Telynor]

I'm going out on a limb here, as I like both formats. I really like the e-books for reading novels, as I can adjust the font size (one of the drawbacks of getting old). But illustrations and maps and the like turn into mud on an e-reader. And I love the feel and handling of an actual book in my hands. So it depends. On the other hand, that urge for INSTANT gratification is nice with the Nook.

[Susan]

I'm going out on a limb here, as I like both formats. I really like the e-books for reading novels, as I can adjust the font size (one of the drawbacks of getting old). But illustrations and maps and the like turn into mud on an e-reader. And I love the feel and handling of an actual book in my hands. So it depends. On the other hand, that urge for INSTANT gratification is nice with the Nook.

I agree with you about the non-fiction on e-readers. There were some maps and genealogy charts in the historical fiction I've read so far on my Kindle which I could not see well. Since I have (free!) 3G connection on it, I went on to Wikipedia to look things up as I was reading.

I love books also, but the reason I bought my Kindle was the lack of bookshelf space. I hate to say this here, but I rarely re-read fiction, but I do refer to my royalty books frequently. I will still purchase royalty books because I need to see the charts, photos, pictures, maps, etc. in them. I'll also purchase hard cover Sharon Kay Penman books.

I think the Kindle is easier on my eyes and I seem to be able to read faster on it and, yes, the instant gratification with an e-reader is wonderful!

[Ludmilla]

My experience has been similar to yours, Susan. I will probably continue to buy print editions, but am increasingly choosing ebooks for newer fiction where the format is an option. I also ran out of book shelf space. If there is one thing my hubby is particular about, it is about well-made book cases. I could buy several eReaders for the cost of one well made bookcase that would pass my husband's quality standards (and the readers hold more books!). I think price of eReaders will continue to go down.

[burlgirl]

One thing I forgot to add to my post about wanting an ereader - when push comes to shove, I just want to be able to read. I'll do it in whatever way I can and is most available. Since the library is cheapest I go there, but if I had an ereader I suspect I'd use that about half the time. I still count audiobooks as a "read", since I"m still getting the book under my belt. I guess I'm a junkie. I don't care how I get my fix, as long as I get it.

Over 20 years ago I decided to try giving up reading for pleasure, to see if I could. It lasted a couple of months, and I just wasn't right. I thank God for Guetenburg! (sp?)