My thoughts about Kindle and e Books

[Elckerlyc]

What's this obsession with binary signs? Morse: on or off, Flags: up or down. Just plain tedious to communicate. Try to tell a story with just flags...

 

[tinkerdan]

Since, in professional publishing often the e-books cost as much as the paper editions I will get a paper edition.
I'll usually consider any e-book that's less than 5.99 us.
However, with new authors that I like who offer paper editions I often go for those rather than the e-book if the price is not too outrageous.
I'm easily tempted by those special offers for .99 or 1.99 US for E-books.

My reading can go 50/50 for paper and electronic.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Hmmm...

Reading print improves comprehension far more than looking at digital text, say researchers

A study from the University of Valencia found that print reading could boost skills by six to eight times more than digital reading

www.theguardian.com

 

[mtech25]

It was fun and games getting a printed copy ready for my book. You had to make sure the dimensions were just right for printing.

 

[Foxbat]

I was a reluctant convert to ebooks but was quickly won over. I simply didn’t have any more space for books and found the convenience of storage on a kindle to be a godsend. I have found, as I grow older and my eyesight deteriorates, the backlit kindle fire much easier to read at night than a book by lamplight.

I will always have an affection for paper but I’ve crossed to the dark side where- ironically- it’s a lot brighter and easier for my tired old eyes

 

[AE35Unit]

I like both. I've only got so much book shelf space and I can get a lot of classics for free from Gutenberg.com.

 

[kythe]

I like both. I've only got so much book shelf space and I can get a lot of classics for free from Gutenberg.com.

I learned only a few days ago from my brother that you can download Gutenburg books for Kindle. I have a number of classics I have acquired from amazon when they go on "sale" for free, but Gutenburg has the largest selection and they are always free.

 

[paranoid marvin]

I do think that ebooks are the thin end of the wedge. This is not a case of vhs vs dvd, or dvd vs blu ray, it's a fundamental shift in how media is distributed and recorded.

Remember that tv programme or movie you strwamed/watched on TV that wasn't quite how you remembered it? Was that a foggy memory or a cut/edit made since you first watched it 10/20/30 years ago? Nobproblem, you can dig out your VHS recording/DVD/tape and watch the original thing. Yes, Han did shoot first.

Now fastforward to a society where ebooks become the dominant media (now only a matter of time) - and eventually become the only media - and any edits/alterations/updates/improvements will be the only version available to view.

I do fear the consequences of a paperless society, with all viewing/reading/writing done by means of a monitor/phone/e-reader/speakwrite. And with all recorded media capable of being seamlessly, imperceptibly altered.

Email and smartphones paved the way for the near obliteration of written correspondence (and to a growing extent verbal communication). I just hope that ebooks don't do the same for paper books.

 

[Astro Pen]

It was fun and games getting a printed copy ready for my book. You had to make sure the dimensions were just right for printing.

Oh yes. I am there right now. I had written the chapters on three word processors then assembled the chapters into one document. It looked good until I tried to edit the result. I had to revert everything to a basic block of text and then re apply a single word 'style' to the whole thing. I'm break paging the chapters as we write.

 

[Rodders]

I recently read a physical book after reading nothing but Kindle for about five years and it felt good, really good. There is a different and more comforting feel to it, but the Kindle is so handy. There is an immediacy that i like about it and if has decluttered my shelves somewhat.

I'll still buy some hardbacks, but just to own and not to read.

 

[Le Panda du Mal]

Most of the books I read are in the public domain and can be gotten very cheap or free on Kindle, often with decent formatting. That said I too like the feel of a paper book and I don’t think those are going to vanish any time soon.

 

[AE35Unit]

I'll still buy some hardbacks, but just to own and not to read.

I can't see the point in having hardbacks if not to read. I used to be a collector, not any more

 

[vanye]

I actually caved two weeks ago and bought a kindle scribe. For years I held the line, but now that I‘ve finally yielded it‘s not so bad.

There were books that I wanted to read and they simply weren’t available as paper books. So I did some research on the current generation of readers and discovered the kindle scribe. Finally a big enough screen and I can use it as a notebook, as well.

And it‘s nifty to be able to read in the dark without having to turn on bright lights. Much better for my wife when she is already dozing off.

 

[AE35Unit]

And it‘s nifty to be able to read in the dark without having to turn on bright lights. Much better for my wife when she is already dozing off.

Most e readers use e ink and so, just like a regular book, need external light if its dark

 

[Snicklefritz]

Most e readers use e ink and so, just like a regular book, need external light if its dark

errrrrrrrrrrrr, I read my Kobo in a (very) dark room all the time.

 

[Pyan]

Most e readers use e ink and so, just like a regular book, need external light if its dark

This is why I switched from a Touch to a Paperwhite - the latter has a built in light source, and can be read in total darkness.

 

[AE35Unit]

This is why I switched from a Touch to a Paperwhite - the latter has a built in light source, and can be read in total darkness.

I didn't know that! Interesting

 

[AE35Unit]

I was thinking of upgrading my old kobo reader to a Kindle paperwhite, but a couple of things stopped me in my tracks. One is the use of ads within the books. Though according to Amazon they only show up as a screensaver when 'sleeping'.
The other thing is the monthly subscription. Like, hello, what?? I want to to download books from Gutenberg for free and away I go. Looks like I'll just stick with my old kobo...

 

[Elckerlyc]

I was thinking of upgrading my old kobo reader to a Kindle paperwhite, but a couple of things stopped me in my tracks. One is the use of ads within the books. Though according to Amazon they only show up as a screensaver when 'sleeping'.
The other thing is the monthly subscription. Like, hello, what?? I want to to download books from Gutenberg for free and away I go. Looks like I'll just stick with my old kobo...

I have a kindle (Oasis). I don't pay any subscriptions, but only pay for the e-books I buy. Perhaps it is an option, like Amazon Unlimited or something.
You won't notice any advertisements. Like you mentioned, it is only shown when your Kindle is asleep. As soon as it awakes, goodbye advertisement.

 

[Rodders]

I can't see the point in having hardbacks if not to read. I used to be a collector, not any more

I just can't help myself, AE35Unit. Its a sickness.