Friday, November 06, 2009

Paper or Electronic?

Windy has a Kindle. Several of you have mentioned Kindles to me, but I'm a "must see" type of shopper. Windy's is not international and so she was very happy to be able to download books while we were in Hawaii and she graciously explained the features of her Kindle to me.

I LOVE READING. I like the feel of a book in my hands. I like turning pages. I like marking pages. I like writing notes to myself in the pages. I like loaning books. I like books.

I travel with books. I always have a Bible, devotional, some sort of fiction and non-fiction....and am always teased by how heavy my carry on is. It occured to me that it would be easier to travel with a digital reader.....

However....when I check prices the books are really not THAT much cheaper than buying the paper books. I'm not sure I'd enjoy reading from a screen.

I'd love to hear from those of you who have taken the leap to digital readers...how do you use them. Is it your main source of reading material or supplemental? What do you love and what do you hate? I don't want to buy another techie thing (as my PDA/ MP3 reader) that I end up never fully utilizing or using. ::snort::

Would you recommend something like the Kindle - must buy books from Amazon....or Sony's reader, which I believe could read any ebook/digital book format (but not Kindle's)? The promo for Kindle sure makes it seem more appealing...$20 cheaper, able to hold way more books (but they have to be purchased from Amazon), can read my PDF and documents sent to it....

I know the Kindle allows you to bookmark, add notes, highlight passages and download newspapers etc.

Please tell me what you've discovered - either by owning one or researching.... I just don't know....it seems it would be a kick for my upcoming trips....but will it give me the same leisurely pleasure as reading a book does? Will it feel like meeting an old friend when I pick it up?

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have also been thinking about a Kindle, but like you, I like books and have the packing problem. I buy many of my books at yard sales and flea markets and I'm not sure I could get those older books for this device.

This is the first time I've commented on your blog. I do love it and I have learned so much about the place you are now and the places you have been. I've just returned from visiting my son and spouse who have six children, ages 12-4.

Thanks for your blog.

Grandmama to 14

MAmaArcher said...

I know a lot of people love their electronic versions but I need to be able to "mark up" a book when I read it! I need to feel the pages turn. I even remember what part of a page something is on (top right) so I would be lost without real pages and pencil in hand!

Anonymous said...

I read your blog but this is the first time I have commented. I am also thinking about getting a Kindle (or something similar). Like you, I LOVE books. I have my favorites that I read over and over, like visiting a close friend. However, an electronic book reader would have several advantages. Storing books would be easier, especially as DH and I think about downsizing after our children leave home. It would be easier to take something to read when traveling. Also, I have bad eyesight now and its slowing getting worse with cataracts and the typically aging, so the ability to increase the font size would be great (and perhaps necessary in the future). Right now, I'm taking a wait and see attitude, because I'm hoping the market comes to some agreement (I don't want to have a Beta player in a VHS world!).
An interesting side note. Two of my children are attending Case Western Reserve University. They are experimenting with using Kindles for textbooks. Their school magazine 'Think' just had an artical about it. You can read it at www.case.edu/magazine/fallwinter2009/digitaldivide.html if you are interested.

Denise

Julie Zesch said...

I had a Iliad reader(similar to Kindle). I loved it, I created pdfs of several bible translations. It is easy on the eyes and GREAT for traveling. There are web sites that you can created formatted pdfs that you can put on your reader(mostly classic out of print books) for free. I dropped mine and damaged the screen(the repair is not yet budgeted).

The problem is that you don't own what is on the Kindle, in effect you are renting the books from Amazon and amazon can(and has) changed the rules and removed purchased books from Kindle's. The technology is great(and getting better), but you are tied to Amazon and their rules and charges for getting books onto your reader.

RZ

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

Hmmm....more to consider...because I want current books and Kindle does give current. I'll have to read their agreement, Roy. I do know that they back up your list of what you've bought so if your computer or kindle crash you still have your books to reload. I've never heard that you dont' really own the books. I thought you could put them on your hard drive...because over here if you don't buy the International version you have to put them on your harddrive and then to your Kindle. More to explore....

I also like the new feature on Kindle that it will turn text to audio....so I could have the books as print or audio....

BUT I'd have to click buttons to find my notes and highlights instead of turning pages. LOL

Anonymous said...

Sis:

First to the lady who is having problems with Cataracts. Had both of my eyes done this summer and it is great to be able to see without a problem again. Didn't even hurt one bit. :):)

Sis: How interesting to hear about this. First time I heard of such a thing. I'm afraid it would never work for me cuz I like reading a book, marking it and etc. I think I would like the part of listening to the book being read though.

Have fun deciding...... l/p - Mom T.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

You can mark the book - but it's digital....I'm thinking it wouldn't be what I'd want to do for ALL my books...but for the mysteries and ones I think I'd read once and pass on anyway....hmmm.

Anonymous said...

Mom T,

Thanks for the suggestion for the surgery for the cataracts. It may be in the future but not now. One, the cataracts aren't bad enough yet to justify surgery. Two, I'm only 45 so they really want to delay my having cataract surgery as long as possible. I will have it done when I can, as they can put it artificial lenses and I can finally get rid of my coke bottle glasses.

God Bless.
Denise

MJ said...

You can also check out the new one coming available soon from Barnes and Noble called the Nook. It has some features on it that the Kindle doesn't. It's the one I'm considering asking for.

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

I'm betting the Barnes and Noble would be set up like the Kindle with a wide selection of books you can purchase. That is a plus with kindle being able to be new releases.

I'll check it out.

Linda said...

my sister has a book reader (the Sony, not the Kindle), and she really likes it especially for trips. She has a TON of books loaded on it, and finds that packing just the digital reader is easier than several books. She also is like me and has MANY books going at once, and finds that it's easier to use a digi-reader for that purpose.

Like you, I'm very tactile. I love the feel of a book in my hands. I love the sight of several books all over my house, opened at various pages, some spines battered from multiple reads, others standing practically upright as they are new books.

Cynthia said...

I think I would probably like it because it's small and light weight and I don't mark my books. That being said, however, I find I really don't buy hardly any books these days.. they either come from the library now or the book review things for waterbrook.... I sure wouldn't have the $$ to spend to purchase all the books I've been reading lately....

DeEtta @ Courageous Joy said...

The nook looks interesting too....

Cindy, I've not had many offers to review for books in genres I want to take the time to read. I've not even put up the blogging for books button because I've not been offered any or the book hasn't arrived etc. I'm not sure how the review thing is going to work while I'm here.

I MISS Paperback Swap...I used them a LOT and have found, living over here with a very limited base library, not understanding the books in the local library, that I'm ordering a lot more books for the kids and for I....mysteries for Arielle and I, Politics for Jared, Leadership for myself...we live and breathe books around here. LOL