E-readers - seriously?

[A-J]

Everyone hypes the new fangled (ok, not so new) e-readers like Kindle and the like. But I absolutely don't get it. The only feature (for a bookhound like me) that is useful is that they can hold thousands of books. However, that does not outweigh the negatives I've read about them, which is everything:

1. You don't actually OWN the books, you've bought the rights to read them
2. These rights can be rescinded at the whim of the pereson providing them
3. You're paying the same price as an actual book, but don't own it
4. You can't just loan a book to someone without following the express guidleines the provider outlines
5. The cost of a reader itself

Now tell me, where in all of that is the appeal?

[Ricky-Ray]

I have the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 with the 7 inch screen and Amazon Kindle reader installed on mine. My impressions of it.

Most of the books that I have purchased have usually been lower priced in the digital format than the actual paper/hard cover edition. And some have been free too.

I like it for the fact that I can have the kindle software installed onto my android phone too and pick up reading where I left of from on the tablet.

Since all of the books reside on the tablet/phone it doesn't take up any additional storage space in the house.

Some of the libraries are now offering ebooks to be checked out and returned just like with books before so if I wanted to I can borrow ebooks too.

Depending on where you buy the books I think some have an option of lending it to someone but if you lend it to someone you access it until you get it back or something like that. (I'm not 100% sure on this one I remember reading something about this awhile back but I haven't tried myself)

As for the cost of the device... well for me since I already bought the tablet, it was just a matter of adding on the Kindle reader app, so I didn't really see it as additional expense.

I don't use the reader alot but enough. My 1.5 cents.

[ElvenSoul]

Book stores staying in biz!

[SMR510]

I agree with everything Ray said. I have a Kindle from probably 5 years ago and have been thinking of upgrading to the newest one.

The other thing is the pure convenience of it. If I finish a book in a series at 10pm I can pay for and download the next one and keep reading if that is what I want to do.

You can also access your library from anywhere. My GF has a lot of downtime at work so she often times will read on the computer or her phone, it also keeps track of where you left off so when she gets home she can pick back up where she was.

Its great for vacation because you can load up a bunch of books (or even buy them from where you are going) and it is one small thing to carry vs. a stack of books.

Also, the e readers have made it possible for more people to get published or even publish their book themselves. Some young/unknown writers have books that are available only electronically so I think that is a great thing.

Maybe its not for you...That is ok too.

[DaveInOroValley]

Everyone hypes the new fangled (ok, not so new) e-readers like Kindle and the like. But I absolutely don't get it. The only feature (for a bookhound like me) that is useful is that they can hold thousands of books. However, that does not outweigh the negatives I've read about them, which is everything:

1. You don't actually OWN the books, you've bought the rights to read them
2. These rights can be rescinded at the whim of the pereson providing them
3. You're paying the same price as an actual book, but don't own it
4. You can't just loan a book to someone without following the express guidleines the provider outlines
5. The cost of a reader itself

Now tell me, where in all of that is the appeal?

Not sure what book prices you've seen but none I have ever purchased have come even close to a regular book cost and many are even free. Loaning it is an issue, the cost of the reader isn't a big deal to me since you can use it for many other activities (At least a Kindle) you can.

We have two Kindles in our home and they both automatically have the same books so that it a benefit when you both are reading the same thing which we do often.

Also as an Amazon Prime member you can loan quite a few books for free once a month and I take complete advantage of that.

[yellowsulphur]

Searchable textbooks

[robcoe]

Everyone hypes the new fangled (ok, not so new) e-readers like Kindle and the like. But I absolutely don't get it. The only feature (for a bookhound like me) that is useful is that they can hold thousands of books. However, that does not outweigh the negatives I've read about them, which is everything:

1. You don't actually OWN the books, you've bought the rights to read them
2. These rights can be rescinded at the whim of the pereson providing them
3. You're paying the same price as an actual book, but don't own it
4. You can't just loan a book to someone without following the express guidleines the provider outlines
5. The cost of a reader itself

Now tell me, where in all of that is the appeal?

1 and 2, there is little practical difference, I have only heard of 1 case where it happened and many books are available as free downloads online with no restrictions and no ability to remotely pull the book.

3, for the books I have bought, it's usually $3 or $4 cheaper for the ebook version(example, last book I read was Skin Game, $11.99 for the ebook, $16.43 for the physical copy) and many classics are available for free online with no restrictions(so you would actually own it).

4, I never loan books.

5. at $70 it's less than the cost of all the bookshelves I would need to store my books if I bought physical copies, I don't watch tv so my primary form of idle entertainment is books, as such I have a freaking ton of them.

it's also kind of nice that the books don't degrade, I have a habit of re-reading books a lot and paperbacks tend to fall apart after a while.

[AAShooter]

Have yet to be able to stream music or a video on my book. My Kindle Fire, on the other hand, provides a wide variety of entertainment.

[jpscoot_21]

I believe an eReader would encourage schoolkids to think of reading as fun and cool.

We have a 14-yr old at home who never picks up a book. 99 percent of his time is with an iPod in hand; Youtubing, texting, etc.
I've tried lending him books, but he just ends up giving them back. He says it's "so boring."

[billofrights]

I use my iPad daily. It's replaced my laptop for travel, and most home computer use except gaming.

As for e-books, it's not just novels you need to consider. I can carry thousands of pdf manuals for reference guides and not have to lug 90 lbs of paper with me. How often do you carry two books with you? When I finish a book I can immediately start another unread one on my device.

GF doesn't care for them b/c she has tracking issues with reading on the screen. Maybe it's not for you. But aside from ownership of content, the e-book is superior in most ways.

I also love reading comics. It's great to be able to read dozens of titles quickly without having to pull something out of a box, slip it out of a mylar bag, and put it back afterwards. Nothing will replace the nostalgia I feel when I smell the old newspaper that my first issue of Captain America was printed on, but for sheer consumption of media, you can't really beat the e-reader.

[Iknownot]

The one tangible plus for me with regards to e-readers (i have a kindle 2.0) besides having lots of books in one spot (which isn't a super big deal to me but is nice for trips) is that I can read faster and with less eye strain on a kindle than I can paper books. Adjust the text size to whatever size you want and the thing is more comfortable to hold than having to hold open a book for longer periods of time.

The potential for e readers being great was there a couple of years back. I liked my kindle a lot more when Amazon didn't get broken by the book publishers and the pricing was less expensive.

As it stands now, kindle books often release new at almost the same price as the new hard covers (back in the day new hardcovers could be 9.99) or sometimes more, if amazon is trying to move the hard covers and offering them on sale. Paperbacks are priced the same or maybe just a dollar more than the kindle pricing.

So there's no $ to be saved going e-reader and that is what I had originally bought my kindle for.

So I am overall, disappointed with the real world situation surrounding e-readers. The promise of saving money on books has been killed.

That being said, if you have access to a public library system that allows it, an e-reader is a great way to get your library books with out having to go into any library branch.

That can be a huge plus depending on who is visiting your local public library the day you walk in to get some books.

I use my kindle with the LA public library system and I can't remember the last time I actually went in to get a physical copy of a library book unless it was one that happened not to be able to be loaned out as an e-book.

So in that sense, I still use my kindle a lot. I don't buy books for it very often anymore. It can get used copies of physical books for way cheaper than I can on the kindle. So it's a shame really. Every once in awhile, if I just need to have a new book right then, I'll click the button on my kindle. It just burns me on the pricing though, so I don't do it very often.

[bruss01]

They are great for entertainment. If you read a lot of fiction, it's a lower cost option, especially if you read on the go a lot (commute, trips, lunch break at work, etc).

All my reference books (non-fiction, things I may want to loan out or refer back to) are hard copy unless Kindle is the only format they're available in.

[the86d]

Lend a book to someone, their device dies, or your device dies, or one of your media-storage devices dies (SDcard) how does it all recover from lending?

[Eirerogue]

If you're a reader and have done any research, you'd know your cost comment is way off base. I've been a Kindle user since it launched. Kindle books cost less and many, including the Classics are inexpensive. I've gotten my friends to research overcome those illogical arguments and read more for less.

My Kindle library is mine. I can read, reread my books anytime. They are stored in the Cloud. No one is rescinding rights. Not a chance in hell of that happening.

[Mute]

I was resistant to e-readers as well at first. I like the feel of a real book in my hand. Over time though, I have to agree with most of the others that the pros outweigh the cons. I get most of my books in digital format nowadays. I can read it in my Kindle, tablet, phone or computer. It gives me quite a bit of flexibility.