It started with the Amazon Kindle, which was followed by Sony’s Reader and now Barnes and Noble has announced their Nook. What are they?
They are E-Book Readers.
Hand held electronic devices that allow you to download and read electronic books. No more need to head to the local bookstore and hope they have that new best-seller in stock. And generally e-books are less expensive than their paper based counterparts. For example, Amazon offers the new Dan Brown book “The Lost Symbol” for $9.99 compared to the traditional book which sells for $16.97.
Of course, you’ll initially have to shell out between $200 and $300 for the reader. Accessories like covers and lights for reading in low light and the dark will add to your total.
Why a light? Because e-book readers aren’t back lit like your computer screen. This allows you to read in direct sunlight, the same way you can read a traditional page. In fact, even though it’s high tech, developers have tried to recreate some of that real book reading experience. But that’s where the similarities end.
No traditional book will allow you to adjust the font size for ease of reading or carry an entire library with you.
And speaking of libraries, 5000 libraries across the country are now offering e-books with more sure to follow suit. No more overdue book charges.
Will e-book readers gain momentum with Baby Boomers? Are you adding one of them to your Christmas wish list or do you prefer your books on paper?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Somehow I don’t think I’ll be jumping on the e-reader bandwagon!
I love to curl up in my easy chair with a cup of coffee and immerse myself in a good book. I like turning the pages, placing the special bookmark given to me by my best friend to mark my page when I have to leave my book for a spell. . A rainy or snowy afternoon with the fireplace going, a little background music and a good book is one of the special treats I look forward to. Maybe you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Somehow holding a digital device doesn’t give me the same comfortable feeling I’m used to.
I’m a voracious reader and have been since I was a kid. I can still remember the excitement of having my own library card and being able to chose any book I wanted. The joy of walking through the rows and rows of books, the smell of the volumes, the quiet reverence in the library shared by the other readers I felt as though I had entered a magical place. Books transported me to faraway places and introduced me to characters that I wanted to meet personally. To me, there was nothing better during summer vacations than going to the library and returning home with a large towering stack of books. And then having to decide which one should I read first?
With the holidays approaching, I remember the thrill of opening a much awaited new Nancy Drew book on Christmas morning and the anticipation of an afternoon laying across my bed getting caught up in the mysteries Nancy and her friends were solving.
Today when I l enter my local Barnes and Nobles, used book store or library, I still get a thrill when I discover a new author or a new found book by a favorite author. I can’t wait to open the book and read the flyleaf and turn the pages Somehow downloading a book to an e-reader doesn’t have the same cachet.
Then there is the problem of how to donate my used e-books – how does one do that? When I travel I always take paperbacks so that when I’m finished I can leave the book behind, in the hotel room, or lobby, or in the airport hoping that someone will appreciate the treasure I enjoyed and want them to find.
Mary Ann,
I have very mixed feelings about the e-reader. The girly geek in me loves the idea of being able to pop a small, thin device in my purse that can hold not only my latest novel, but also newspapers, business books, etc. I always find myself at the airport wishing I’d brought that ‘other’ book I was reading or finishing the first book in a series while relaxing by the pool and desperately wanting to move on to the next.
This would solve that problem.
It is also a very ‘green’ thing, which I’m also a big proponent of, being a virtual assistant and all.
But like you, I have fond memories of getting lost in the pages of a book. Books took me away to new places and led me on amazing adventures throughout my life. Part of the experience of getting lost is a good book is curling up with a cup of tea and getting lost in the pages. And I would be sad if we forever lost that magical smell and feel of the local public library, as it holds so many wonderful memories for me. As a child, the library was such a special place to visit.
I don’t think we’re ready to replace traditional books just yet. But the e-reader does have it’s perks.
The jury’s still out for me. I haven’t tried one of the e-book readers yet, but I have my eye on them. I’ve been following them closely since the first version of the Kindle came out. Now, I think I’m ready to compare the different models and types.
Like those who have already commented, I have fond memories of curling up with a good (printed) book. I don’t know that an e-book will hold the same comfort.
On the other hand, I’m back in grad school, and it would be nice to download a textbook or a research article in pdf format. The ability to take virtual notes and bookmark is also attractive. We’ll see!