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Wavering on the Kindle
Magic Cottage
14-01-2014
I have to admit that I'm a gadget freak and have now owned a Kindle for about 15 months. The sheer convenience of having all the books I wanted to read in a tiny device is great. No lumbering around big and small books and bookmarks and then finding the bookmark has dropped out etc etc.

But then at Christmas to buy other less fortunates their presents I walked into Waterstones for the first time in ages. I was in there for ages. I had forgotten what it was like to just browse the bookshelves and read the occasional synopsis. Since then I have genuinely been wondering if the Kindle is all it's cracked up to be.

Anyone else feel like this?
grumpyoldbat
14-01-2014
No. The only time I go into a bookshop now is if a non-Kindle friend wants something. If a book isn't available for Kindle, I read something else.
mred2000
14-01-2014
I have bookcases in every room in my house (except bathrooms...). I have a Kindle and, before that, a Sony eReader. I've even typeset ePubs for big publishers as part of one of my jobs.

The Kindle is brilliant at what it does but it won't ever completely replace books or kill off bookshops - Waterstones themselves are more guilty of killing off bookshops than anyone else. The Kindle can't replace the experience of walking into a bookshop or library and checking things out in person nor has it ever attempted to do that, I don't think.

The Kindle is just another distribution and delivery method for the book in electronic form and it does that pretty well.
Landis
14-01-2014
No, not really.
The only downside to the Kindle are concerns about what file-sharing might do the the future of publishing. But of course..you could make the same point about any e-reader that just happened to be dominating the market.
When I have mentioned this on other threads, forum regulars have expressed confidence that it will not be like the music industry because consumers will show loyalty to writers and will therefore continue to buy books. I very much hope that is the case.
Musicians have coped with the astonishing file sharing epidemic by turning to Live Performances (which are harder to pirate). But authors would have a tough time making a living from public book readings in front of 3 people and a dog.
IvanIV
14-01-2014
You do not have to choose one or the other and feel bad about it. Do whatever you like at a given moment. Kindle is convenient because of the size and capacity, no need to lug a suitcase full of books on your vacation, when you can have an ereader with you. And if you want a paper book go and get one.
coachtrip_fan99
14-01-2014
Surely its just back covers and front covers with text and images on?

Can't you just browse through an online catalogue of books and read the synopsis(es) that way?

What's the difference?

Same reason I don't miss physical video stores / music stores now that its all downloadable online.
Takae
15-01-2014
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“You do not have to choose one or the other and feel bad about it. Do whatever you like at a given moment. Kindle is convenient because of the size and capacity, no need to lug a suitcase full of books on your vacation, when you can have an ereader with you. And if you want a paper book go and get one.”

True. And swim in a pool of angst from trying to decide which books to take.

My spouse almost divorced me when he opened his suitcase and found at least six paperbacks hidden there when I already had eight paperbacks in my own suitcases.

For that alone, an ebook reader is a lifesaver.
IvanIV
15-01-2014
Originally Posted by Takae:
“True. And swim in a pool of angst from trying to decide which books to take.

My spouse almost divorced me when he opened his suitcase and found at least six paperbacks hidden there when I already had eight paperbacks in my own suitcases.

For that alone, an ebook reader is a lifesaver.”

Amazon should put it in the product description: saves marriages

I have the 3G version of the new paperwhite. I know, expensive, could use tethering instead, but it's convenient, works abroad. I am an impulse book buyer, I read a few samples and then decide. For this the 3G is a godsend
noise747
15-01-2014
Originally Posted by Takae:
“True. And swim in a pool of angst from trying to decide which books to take.

My spouse almost divorced me when he opened his suitcase and found at least six paperbacks hidden there when I already had eight paperbacks in my own suitcases.

For that alone, an ebook reader is a lifesaver.”

LOL, oh dear. how long was you going for?
noise747
15-01-2014
I like my Kobo, but I will not pay over the top prices for e-books, I pay about £5 and that is it. some books I will still buy in physical, but only normally ones that educational.

i am going to go out for walks more this year if we have a summer and sit down and read in by the duck pond as it is nice there or by the river. get outside in the fresh air more.
LostFool
15-01-2014
I don't use my Kindle much at home as I don't get much time to read but it is fantastic for holidays where I can go through a book in a day. I have the original Kindle Keyboard 3G so it also serves as a backup internet access device when there is no wi-fi (useful for checking the football scores). I also like that the battery last so long so you don't have to remember to charge it every night.

As others have said, eReaders won't kill off books just as cinema didn't kill theatre or TV kill cinema. eReaders are fine for disposable fiction but there are still some books where it is much better to have the physical version.
neo_wales
15-01-2014
Originally Posted by Magic Cottage:
“I have to admit that I'm a gadget freak and have now owned a Kindle for about 15 months. The sheer convenience of having all the books I wanted to read in a tiny device is great. No lumbering around big and small books and bookmarks and then finding the bookmark has dropped out etc etc.

But then at Christmas to buy other less fortunates their presents I walked into Waterstones for the first time in ages. I was in there for ages. I had forgotten what it was like to just browse the bookshelves and read the occasional synopsis. Since then I have genuinely been wondering if the Kindle is all it's cracked up to be.

Anyone else feel like this?”

To a degree I feel the same. I have several thousand paper books at home which I love but... the Kindle is handy to have by your bed and is perfect for when I'm abroad several months of the year. As much as I enjoy the Kindle it'll never replace my love of real books.
grumpyoldbat
15-01-2014
As someone said earlier, what you get extra is the cover really. The essence of a book for me is the words, and the escape I get from reading - the immersion in a story which takes you away from your regular life. That doesn't change for me whether I'm reading off of paper, a Kindle, a tablet, or the back of a fag packet. A good book is a good book, however it is presented.
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