I am addicted... addicted I say, and I fully admit it... to the printed word.
If I don't have a book in my hands, car, or within reach, you'd better check my forehead, cause I'm sick.
Reading is, of course, an expensive hobby. I've often commented that it's a good thing I don't live closer to a real bookstore.
Recently, I've been considering shifting over to e-books, rather than paper books, except for my very favorites, because I've been hearing that e-books are getting cheaper all the time.
Of course, no one likes to drag a seventeen inch laptop around with them all the time.... or at least, I don't. I want something that's handy enough for me to have with me most of the time, which means an e-book reader.
I hadn't really looked into the pricing or availability until today.
I'm reading good things about the e-ink technology, and it does re-assure me somewhat that the power is only used to turn the page, but jebus crisp, three hundred dollars??
That's six bookstore trips at my usual limit of fifty dollars spending per trip. And then buying the e-books on top of that... and the e-book prices don't seem to be too much cheaper than paper!
My limited storage space would thank me for the purchase, no doubt, and I could continue collecting paper editions of my favorite titles, because in my mind nothing will ever replace the sensation of paper in your hands.
The smell of binding glue, the texture of the paper, the weight of a book, all of those are part of the reading experience. For money's sake though, I'd be willing to switch to an electronic version.
I just don't have the spare dosh lying around for such a thing.
I'm beginning to think that I need a Sugar Daddy for my habit anyway... I read most books in a day. Thankfully, I can go back and re-read books, especially the best ones, but I still crave the new stories... The downside to being one of those people who can read a book over and over again, of course, is that once I have a book, I'm reluctant to let go of it. The boxes and boxes of books in storage attest to that quite nicely.
Even Ebay doesn't seem to have any reasonably priced decent e-book readers....
Shame. Now that I've looked my technogeek side wants one. My frugal side will just have to beat it down, though. Nothing either side isn't used to by now....
I really, really want an e-reader, myself. I could do without the hundreds of books I already have, and I don't need to add more. I'm also the kind of person who gets antsy without reading material handy, so an e-reader would be perfect. I don't have some nostalgic attachment to paper, I just want the contents!
ReplyDeleteBuy a used cheap pda and use it as an e-book reader. Most reader software will run on Palm or Windoze CE/Mobile.
ReplyDeletePappy, the backlit screen on the PDA messes with my eyes after a while, which is yet another reason I was interested in the e-ink tech.
ReplyDeleteI saw one on the last trip to Japan, I wasn't impressed- at least not $300 impressed. Wait a year and they'll be down to $100 or less.
ReplyDeleteI've been using a Kindle for a year or so now, and before that I read ebooks on a PDA for years.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend the Kindle. The visual quality is about like reading a paperback book , except you can adjust the font size.
And you don't have to buy books from Amazon (although their ebooks are cheaper than the dead tree editions.) There are a lot of places on the Internet where you can get ebooks for free.
Of course the Kindle is sold out (again) but there's supposed to be a new version soon.
Alan, from what I've read into it the Kindle is proprietary to it's own little format. Granted, I've only started looking into it, but that's what I've seen so far...
ReplyDeleteBesides, the Kindle is more expensive than the Sony one I was looking at, with the only bonuses being that you didn't have to hook it to the puter to get a book from Amazon... and I don't really *need* to be able to order a book from my reader... I have a hard enough time keeping to my book budget with online ordering!
The Kindle hardware isn't proprietary. If you purchase books from Amazon they are in a psudo Mobipocket like format that IS proprietary, but you can read other formats on the Kindle as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's actually a fairly open platform.
Well, it's kind of a moot point since I can't afford one right now anyway....
ReplyDeleteYeah, you can't buy one either unless you get it at an even more inflated price on eBay.
ReplyDeleteI'd let you have mine when I upgrade, but I already promised to to someone else. :)
Well, I'm one of those people that wants to get her hands on a piece of tech and fiddle with it before I buy, anyway.
ReplyDeleteEspecially since "intuitive" controls can be entirely counter-intuitive for someone with tiny hands....
She has a fine pda , and reader software or " free books " isn't an issue ( think alt.bionarys.ebook.xxx ). I have done ebook for years on a laptop , and to a lessor degree on a pda . Hell i have 3 or 4 DVDs full of ebooks . IMHO tho no matter the format farmgirl is going to find the ebook experience less than fulfilling . She will get her reading fix , but that only imparts info and or fills time . What is and will be lacking is the reading experience ( for lack of a better term ). IMHO, even tho i read a lot of e-material it is simply not the same as a dead tree book . I often joke that we as a family should have gotten a " cheap " hobby such as meth or heroin but Ohh no , we had to become addicted to the written word lol .
ReplyDeleteYeah, books are an expensive habit. I got hooked by the local pusher, er, librarian when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteI've been following your little blog for a while now, FarmGirl... first time commenting though. I massively enjoy reading your words, and I'm just as addicted to Jane as AD is. You can thank him for turning me your way.
ReplyDeleteBut that's not why I'm posting now.
You've been smacked by a Meme Monster. I don't know if you do the meme thing like others do, but it'd be interesting to see what you say anyway. You can check it out here:
http://snarksmouth.blogspot.com/2009/02/memery-serves-me.html
Thanks for the great reads, and I'm looking forward to more from you every day. Mwah!
I have had many months in my life where I have spent as much, or more on books, magazines and other periodicals than food and clothing combined.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried the ebook yet. I spent enough time staring at the screen. . but I'm thinking about it.
Let us know who you like it.
I got an e-book for Christmas and LOVE IT!!! I wouldn't trade it for anything. It is a little expensive, but well worth it when you can take it anywhere with you. Hope you get one soon!
ReplyDeleteAmazon just announced the Kindle 2.
ReplyDelete$359 and it ships end of February.
Alan, I still don't have the three hundred bucks....
ReplyDeleteSis has a "E-reader" that runs only with RocketBook format; naturally, that slims down the selection considerably. She keeps'on, and I keep on lookin' for ways of crackin' it, but on the whole either a PDA or Kindle would be the way to go... or prevail upon one of us to feed you somethin' good now and again. ;)
ReplyDelete-Josh
Hi, have you tried www.paperbackswap.com? It uses a credit system for swapping books. You can buy a credit for about $2.50, (I think they still give 2 free credits when you sign up), or you can ship a book to get a credit. Shipping costs about $2.50-$3.
ReplyDeleteI'm a member and I like it. You can print a wrapper with postage on it from their website too. Very convenient.