Captain's Log, Stardate 05.21.2008
I admit, I have Kindle envy.
Lots of my friends have got Kindles. I haven’t even seen one yet, but everyone says the screen is amazing.
Now, my love of ebooks comes honestly. I’ve loved ebooks ever since I could download them from Fictionwise.com, and I’ve gotten PDAs specifically so that I could read books on them and never be without something to read.
In fact, I will confess that one reason I don’t want an iPhone is because I can’t read ebooks on it.
But Captain Caffeine always advises (and quite rightly, most of the time) not to buy the first version of any piece of technology because there are always first generation bugs.
So another reason not to even put the Kindle on my Amazon wishlist is because there might be a second version in another year and it will probably be even better.
(Another reason is that price tag—yowzers! Uh, no, I’d like to be able to afford groceries this month ...)
So I’ve been continuing to buy my ebooks, but from Fictionwise (which has great prices, by the way, especially if you’re a Club Member), and reading them on my computer or my Palm PDA.
In fact, I prefer reading my Steeple Hill and other Harlequin books on ebook rather than hard copy.
(1) I can make the font REALLY BIG.
(2) I can get the books instantly rather than waiting for shipping.
(3) They’re a little cheaper than buying a hard copy.
(4) In being able to read them on my computer, I can actually knit while reading an ebook, since all I have to do is hit a button to turn the page. Laugh if you dare, but I enjoy being so efficient with my time! LOL
Have any of you bought Kindles? Do any of you like ebooks?
I admit, I have Kindle envy.
Lots of my friends have got Kindles. I haven’t even seen one yet, but everyone says the screen is amazing.
Now, my love of ebooks comes honestly. I’ve loved ebooks ever since I could download them from Fictionwise.com, and I’ve gotten PDAs specifically so that I could read books on them and never be without something to read.
In fact, I will confess that one reason I don’t want an iPhone is because I can’t read ebooks on it.
But Captain Caffeine always advises (and quite rightly, most of the time) not to buy the first version of any piece of technology because there are always first generation bugs.
So another reason not to even put the Kindle on my Amazon wishlist is because there might be a second version in another year and it will probably be even better.
(Another reason is that price tag—yowzers! Uh, no, I’d like to be able to afford groceries this month ...)
So I’ve been continuing to buy my ebooks, but from Fictionwise (which has great prices, by the way, especially if you’re a Club Member), and reading them on my computer or my Palm PDA.
In fact, I prefer reading my Steeple Hill and other Harlequin books on ebook rather than hard copy.
(1) I can make the font REALLY BIG.
(2) I can get the books instantly rather than waiting for shipping.
(3) They’re a little cheaper than buying a hard copy.
(4) In being able to read them on my computer, I can actually knit while reading an ebook, since all I have to do is hit a button to turn the page. Laugh if you dare, but I enjoy being so efficient with my time! LOL
Have any of you bought Kindles? Do any of you like ebooks?
Comments
I have Kindle envy too - but I'd have to see one before I'd even consider buying it. I wasn't even considering them because I'd heard that you are limited as to how many books you can put on it - and I like to re-read books all the time. But then I read that you can use SD cards to expand the memory of the Kindle - so that took care of that objection.
My other holdback is that I like to be able to share books with my friends who can't afford to buy books - so in that instance a Kindle would be bad too.
It was a dark and stormy (knit one, purl two) night, and all around the (knit one, pur--oh, dropped a stitch.)
Nope, not happening.
and here.
I haven't found anything I don't like about it, even if it is first generation. And this is from someone who has never liked reading on my PDA or on my computer.
Robin
PS If those HTML links don't work, go to my blog and see the entries around the 2nd and 3rd of May.
1) the backlight: I love, love, love being able to read in bed without a night light. Do it ALL the time, every night, often twice a night.
2) the small size: I dislike the trade sized paperbacks because they are too big to fit in my purse, but my Palm fits perfectly, and it small enough to hold and read on a crowded train (I live in Moscow so trains are VERY crowded).
It seems to me like Kindle is the perfect device to convert those who have never liked reading on a device or computer. For me, I'm not so sure. Plus the price is way out of my price range. I'm just a poor missionary who needs to take a paycut because of low support, so I can't afford to buy one for a long time. The price really does seem outrageous when Palms are so much cheaper and do multiple things. I bought my palm years ago and it is also my mp3 player, video player, picture viewer, keeps track of my finances, schedule, phone numbers, contains multiple versions of the Bible and much more.
All in all, even if I could afford it I can't justify buying it, partly because I can't use the books I've already purchased, and I'm not sure it's features would completely satisfy me.
I suppose it would be great to have one to take on a trip, where you can load a bunch of books on it and have only the one thing to carry around rather than a huge bag of books (like I always do)
I love the fact that I can carry like 40-50 ebooks in my PDA when I am traveling. Not that I really read that many books, but I have a huge selection to choose from, so I can read whatever I'm in the mood to read at that moment!
Camy