One of the on-line groups has been discussing e-books lately. It's been gratifying to see that a good percentage of the people responding are seeing e-books as an alternative, not an either-or.
There's nothing wrong with liking print books, but that doesn't mean you can't also appreciate some of the advantages of digital format. To those who say, "I will never give up print books," I say, "Why should you have to? But why does that mean you can't look at e-books as well?"
The e-book is still in its infancy. The e-book reader has a long way to go. And it's not just that e-readers are expensive. Until there's a 'one format fits all' approach, people are going to be reluctant to commit.
Meanwhile, here are a couple of lighthearted reviews of two of the big players in the e-reader market: Sony and Kindle.
Keep Reading...
The Smart Bitches blog had an arrangement with Sony to let a select number of readers test drive the reader in return for a review. This one reviews the 700 model.
For more, you can scroll the blog:
For the Kindle, hubby was reading Scientific American, and he showed me this article: (Note: beverage alert before you start reading it)
For the record: I don't own either. I have an eBookwise, a reader that I bought before the Kindle came out. It's a basic model, but I love it. As a matter of fact, I've loaded it up because for the next two weeks we're going to be gone more than we're home, and I expect to have plenty of time for reading. Rather than fill a suitcase with paperbacks, I can take my eBookwise and have the equivalent in what amounts to the space and weight of a single book.
This is a short post, I know, but we're getting ready to leave town, and there's plenty to read at the links in the post.
Tomorrow, author Lorena Streeter is my guest, and she's sharing what she learned when she decided to write in 1st person instead of 3rd person POV. Please come back and see what she has to say.
8 comments:
I read both e and print books. You can't argue with the superior portability of ebooks as well as the green component. Sometimes I do want a book to hold, though. Enjoy your travels!
Thanks, Dara
It's wonderful that there are choices. Wouldn't it be sad if the only flavor was vanilla?
I love both print and ebook and I LOVE my Sony reader for traveling. I can bring a dozen books with me w/out taking up space. At home though, I read print books b/c you said it, there doesn't have to be an either/or.
Katie -
I also love my eBookwise for reading when I wake up with a bout of insomnia -- it's backlit so I can read without getting up, and the light doesn't bother hubby (who has yet to be aware I've even done it)
When they get cheaper I'll look forward to an e-reader that's more portable, and back-friendly, than sitting at my computer. But I'll never give up on paper either. Definitely both and, not either or.
Right, Sheila -- remember when computers were just getting started and everyone said we were headed toward the paperless office? That hasn't happened yet, either.
One of these days, I'm going to buy an e-reader. I just don't know which one yet. I want one that can download in any format. I might need to wait a while longer.
Carol, I'm afraid I'll have to agree with you that you might have to wait for a 'one reader reads all' device. Which is a shame. Too much greed out there with all the proprietary formatting.
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