To keep up on electronic reading, go to mobileread and Teleread.
Discussions can get pretty heated.
I regularly download books that are beyond their copyright dates, which you can get off the web for free. I have quite a collection that I carry on my thumbdrive and my laptop hard drive.
I don’t like to do serious reading on a laptop, though, so I typically print a few pages at a time and read them that way.
I’d like to find an e-reader that was more comfortable than my laptop, that I could transfer files to (including word files, pdf files, and so on). I want to back up my files on my computer and maybe on a thumb drive.
That seems to be a problem with certain e-readers. The Apple apparently doesn’t have a drive port (true?). Amazon apparently limits you to their protocol. But if I find the right thing I’m in.
I use the Kindle and B&N e-reader on my iphone and have ordered a new Kindle. Must be popular as there is a wait for it! Never thought I’d prefer these to paper books!
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When they are waterproof and sufficiently shock resistant to use in a bathtub or sauna, I’ll be interested.
Not until.
What I see as really attractive, though, are the potential commercial and educational benefits.
From the commercial world, anyone who works in a field where important information changes relatively frequently could benefit from having "books" that are updated (possibly via subscription fee) as data changes. Doctors can always have an up-to-date version of the Physician's Desk Reference in the palm of their hand. Software developers and computer technicians can have reference books that aren't out of date practically by the time they come out of the box. And so on.
For education, specifically at the college level, one of the main cost factors for textbooks is the high price of "short run" printing. Going all-electronic can reduce the costs tremenously. Also, students can carry all of their "books" around easily (including books from previous courses, for reference). The likewise can gain the benefits of having their books be made up-to-date as changes are made.
If you are looking for an e-reader don’t look at the iPad first. You’ll be spoiled.
That’s what happened to us.
For pure reading only probably the Kindle or Nook is better...
But the versatility of the iPad sold me. Got one a few weeks ago.
I got the cheapie, wi-fi & 16 gigs. Love it .
They read many formats, B&N, Amazon, Borders, etc. so you’re not limited as to where you get the book.
And I go online and use it as a laptop.
Bought my first book, Atlas Shrugged. It’s a keeper.
My biggest problem w/ the whole concept is there are few books I want to read twice.
If the book stores would rent them at a reduced price, say $5 for 30 days.
But wait! Our library has started doing just that, free.
The selection is very limited, best sellers right now and limited copies .
Depending on the book, 1 week or 3 week checkout. At the end of that period the book goes away.
Everything done from your home computer.
We just rejoined the library, and I still have to finish Atlas.. before I try it out.
Behold ‘The Amazon Effect’: Now Murdoch’s Gunning for the $10 E-Book
I won't buy an e-reader until the price of e-books drops. Precipitously :)
She must have about 60 books on the Kindle now. I have the Kindle app for the Mac on my laptop and the iTouch app. The great thing is that they'll all sync up. If I read up to Chapter 32 on the laptop and fire up the iTouch to read in bed... the iTouch will go straight to Ch. 32!
Kindle has some free word games available for download, too.
Mine's the best, and that's that.
MY daughter works in the bookstore of a medium sized Calif university and she says printed book sales have fallen off a cliff. They are Apple retailers and were just given the OK to sell the iPad. They actually stock Macs and had the highest sales of schools their size plus she says students and faculty have been requesting the iPad...
If I wasn't such a fan of eInk, I'd probably get an iPad. And when a decent tablet with an eInk option becomes available (which it will), I might switch from my dedicated eReader.
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additional:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2562658/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2572435/posts