After humming and hawing for months, I finally bought a Kindle. I already had a Sony Reader, which I bought to read on my commute to and from work. Not long after getting it, I was laid off, and it’s collected dust since then. Why read eBooks on a tiny screen when I can read them on my computer’s LCD?
That was my attitude for a while, but my library of non-fiction Kindle books continues to grow, and sometimes I just don’t feel like reading in front of my computer. Sure, I have the Sony Reader, but many of those Kindle books have DRM, and all of them would have to be converted to a format the Reader recognizes. I’m too lazy to do that. Also, while I can inspect my own books using Kindle for PC before I upload them to Amazon, I’d like to inspect them on an actual Kindle.
So I bit the bullet and bought the basic Kindle 4, and I’ve had it for a couple of weeks. My sister has a Kindle and says she could never go back to reading print, and I’ve heard others say the same. I’d resisted reading fiction in digital form, but now that I had a Kindle, it was time to load up one of those free fiction books I occasionally (legally) download but never read. I opened a sci-fi story with bated breath, expecting to undergo some sort of transformational experience that would have me proclaiming, “Print? What’s that?”
It didn’t happen.
I didn’t mind reading the story on the Kindle, but right after finishing it, I started a print book, rather than opening another one of the freebie eBooks. I still prefer to read fiction in print. That doesn’t mean I won’t read fiction eBooks, but only if I can’t get a book in print, or the print version is way, way, WAY more expensive than the eBook. We’re talking at least twenty bucks more expensive, here. I might also consider the eBook if it’s available before the print book, but I suspect that I’ll probably wait for the print version in those cases. I can always find something else to read in the meantime.
Non-fiction is a different story. I’ve never minded reading non-fiction eBooks, and I’m thrilled that I can now read them away from the computer. I also like that I can think, “Hmm, I need to research this,” find a book on the topic, buy it, and start reading it, all within the space of ten minutes. Just last week I wanted a book that was “1 to 2 months shipping” for print, so it was a no brainer to buy the Kindle version, and I’m already halfway through reading it.
So now I know. When it comes to non-fiction, I don’t have a preference, but when it comes to fiction, I’m still a print gal.
I don’t use my Kindle for everything either. Kindle for PC is probably my favorite.
I use my Kindle for times when I have to mobile (which isn’t that often). The big advantage I’ve found with the Kindle over paperback is the ability to adjust the print size ~ my vision isn’t all that great.
It’s definitely more convenient to navigate around a book using Kindle for PC. I only have the basic Kindle, so maybe it’s different for the other models, but I find that doing anything other than turning a page (forward or back) is a PITA. At least when I’m using Kindle for PC, the Table of Contents is easily accessible (one click) and paging through a book is much faster.
I’m glad that I can now read eBooks away from my computer, but that’s the only advantage I see to having an eReader right now (for me). They’ll continue to evolve, but I expect that some tasks, like going to page X in a book, will always be more convenient and faster to perform with print books.
Love your Rymellan stories. I have them on my Kindle. I enjoy reading from the Kindle because I can do it comfortably in bed
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I will look forward to book 3.
Happy New Year
Helen
I forgot to tell you I have “The Salbine Sisters” on my Kindle too….loved to story.
Helen, I agree that being able to read eBooks in bed is a great reason to own a Kindle. Lugging my computer tower and LCD into bed with me was getting tiresome!
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed the Rymellan stories and The Salbine Sisters. You can read some of Rymellan 3 at http://www.rymellanstories.com, or wait for Rymellan 3 to be released for the Kindle (sometime in April).
Happy New Year to you, too!