I finally caved

[metal134]

For years, I was one of the folk who shyed away from e-readers. I was adamant about the fact that the look, the feel the smell of a book where compelling, that nothing compared to the feel of a hardcopy in your hand. But I never dismissed the possibility. Well, I finally caved and bought a Kindle and now I regret not doing so long ago. This thing is a beaut. So far, just by virtue of the free public domain books offered by Amazon and Project Gutenburg, I already have 100+ classics to dive into. I even managed to get digital copies of many of the newer (Post 1920's) books I own, though I've had to go through with book in hand and make some formatting adjustments. I never cared for reading books on a computer screen, but this is nothing like that. I can honestly say that it looks and reads like a paperback. Right now, I am reading Don DeLillo's Americana on it. Despite all the free books I've already got (in addition to digital copies of books I own but have not yet read, which is a considrable number), there are so many books I want to buy of the Kindle store. From Martin Amis, David Mitchell, even a few of the Philp Roth books that I don't already own. I thought I was buried in reading mateiral before, now I'm hopelessly buried!

[papayahed]

Welcome to the dark side.:reddevil:

[kasie]

They are great for travelling, Metal - just remember to take the charger.....

[baaaaadgoatjoke]

How does the page turn refresh rate compare to the Nook? Not that it matters to me personally since I won't buy one of these because it would be my financial undoing. Adding my impulse purchase capacity with instant gratification = broke.

[Kafka's Crow]

I am fed up of ereaders now. Stopped using my iLiad long time ago. Audiobooks on an iphone/ ipod are ok. I have gone to even darker side and bought myself an iPad for reading books yesterday.

[metal134]

How does the page turn refresh rate compare to the Nook?
I've never used a Nook, so I can't really compare, but the screen refreshes almost instantly on the Kindle 3.

[Seasider]

I got a copy of a Lee Child's book through the post a couple of days ago. It's more than 450 pages...I sighed at the weight of it as most of my reading is done in bed...why didn't I wait until it is digitalised.

[kasie]

Oh dear, Seasider, I hate to tell you this but, if it's the latest Child to which you refer, it is already available as an e-book.

[Seasider]

You were right,Kasie. Now all I need is a print purist who is also a Jack Reacher fan to give it to.

[papayahed]

This is a pretty good site for the ereader fan:

http://www.mobileread.com/

[Ailill]

Doesn't that give you a headache reading on a device like that? I have never tried e-reader or tried reading a book on my iphone, just seems like it would cause headaches.

Just curious...:smile5:

[keilj]

Doesn't that give you a headache reading on a device like that? I have never tried e-reader or tried reading a book on my iphone, just seems like it would cause headaches.

Just curious...:smile5:

I think it gives you hairy palms too


I don't quite get the "it's great for travel" compliment. When I travel I bring 2 books at most, how is an e-reader less cumbersome than that?? Unless folks are taking 6 month vacations - my vacations usually run a week or less.

[deltakid]

Reading on bright displays such as on the iPad and other tablets does strain your eyes way more than reading on an e ink display like the Kindle has.

If you want an ereader and read for hours do your eyes a favor and go for an e ink device.

[prendrelemick]

I want a reader that I can read in bed without putting the light on and waking the wife. Is there one out there?

[kasie]

How about one of those dinky little lights you clip on the top of the book, Mick? Someone gave me one but I haven't used it yet - no-one to disturb with the light and I rarely read in bed, can't get comfortable somehow. Or, how about an i-pod or similar loaded with audio books? There's nothing like a Dickens for lulling you to sleep......

[deltakid]

I want a reader that I can read in bed without putting the light on and waking the wife. Is there one out there?

Most ereading applications for Android tablets have a night mode. That means the back changes to black and the letters are white. This way you can read in complete darkness and do not bother anyone next to you. But again this strains your eyes, so a regular reading light might be better.

If some of you are on the verge of buying a tablet I can recommend the Archos 101 that will be released in about a month. It has a 10.1 inch touchscreen, runs on Android and comes with ereading software installed and costs just 299 USD. I will get this but mostly for surfing online and here and there reading a book.

I would prefer an eink display for a pure reading device though, but i can not see myself carrying an kindle and an internet tablet around with me at the same time.

[metal134]

I don't understand all this talk of eyestrain and headache. Reading on the Kindle has not given me the slightest hint of eye strain or headache. I have also used the Android app with the aformentioned black background and white text and had no eye strain or headache. And my eyes are terrible.