Kindle VS Real Books - Will E-Books Replace Traditional Books?
99Reading e books on Kindle or iPad is the biggest thing since Gutenberg invented the printing press. Or is it? The relatively new phenomena of ebooks and the success of Amazon's Kindle is throwing the world of publishing and reading into a whole new age of controversy and turmoil.
Now, I will admit to being the type of person who may seem a bit backward to some, but technologically knowledgeable to my more neolithic type friends. Like (I suspect) a lot of people, especially Baby Boomers and older folks, I am not a tech head. I do not own a lot of electronic gadgetry, but I am no troglodyte. Instead of plunging into the electric revolution, I pick and choose between convenience and what looks to me like rampant consumerism, attempting to find a middle ground.
Sure, I have a cell phone. And understand something of the Internet, but I was just not ready to jump in feet first and plunk out $139.00 on what can be perceived as a new toy. Now, Amazon is offering a Kindle at a mere $114.00!
But I do love books and love to read, and am fascinated with the new wireless reading devices on the market. So far, Kindle seems to be the best ereader out there. But, I am still reading novels the old fashioned way.
I decided to share my investigations with you and look forward to your input in the comments section.
Amazon's Kindle
Kindle for $114.00
No Amazon products foundKindle - Several Versions
So, when Amazon released Kindle 1st Generation in 2007, I thought that I would wait awhile before I made up my mind about the whole ebook business. But, when Amazon recently claimed to sell 80% more digital books online than hardback books, I decided to find out more about the whole scene.
Amazon originally introduced the 1st Generation Kindle in 2007 with a 6' display screen that cost nearly $400.00 with a 250 MB internal memory capacity, enabling it to hold 200 titles of non-illustrated books. In 2009, Kindle 2 with its longer battery life, and a thinner body, was able to hold 1500 non illustrated books. You can fit an entire private library in your pocket book!
In May of 2009, Amazon released Kindle DX, which can display landscape or portrait layouts when turned sideways! It is like magic.
Not only that, but the price of Kindle has come down. In order to compete with Barnes and Noble's Nook, Amazon reduced the price of Kindle from $259.00 to $189.00, then to $139.00.
Recently, Amazon brought out yet another version of Kindle that sells for only $114.00!
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The digital text platform of Kindle reduces waste, transportation and delivery costs, and cuts down on cutting down trees. And it's the perfect union of the literary life and the electronic revolution.
For book lovers, new releases and best selling ebooks on Kindle cost about ten dollars. Book buyers will be able to afford more books, but publishers are concerned that the low price will lower their profits.
Another bonus for readers is the Gutenberg Project which offers nearly 20,000 books that have expired copyright in the United States of America - for absolutely free! That comes close to convincing any reader to join the ebook craze.
Imagine - All These Books Compressed Onto Something the Size of a Dress Purse!
Girl Reading - Would the Picture be as Pretty if She Was Reading an E Book?
Speaking of Gutenberg...
Before Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440, books were hand written. Each book was a work of art, often featuring beautiful illustrations and elaborate calligraphy. In other words, books were real expensive treasures for the wealthy.
People often read books aloud, back then. Let's not forget that the first book that Gutenberg printed was the Bible. Previously, few people actually read the Bible. It was read to them. Scholarly men, clerics, priests, and theologians would read and interpret the bible for everybody else. But the printing press created the ability for anyone who could read to actually read the Bible for themselves. Eventually, the printing press widened the availability of books and, like Kindle, and every other newly introduced technological advance, the prices of books eventually came down.
But, critics worried that people would no longer read aloud and that wonderful experience of sharing books would pass out of fashion. Religious leaders feared that regular people who read the Bible for themselves might come up with their own interpretations of the Bible, producing a whole host of heretics. And, the printing press would put scribes out of work!
Plus, the new books created on a printing press just were not as pretty as the hand made ones. An art form would be lost. And they were right about that.
But the availability of mass made books encouraged a whole new age of education, science, the arts, and religion. It has been called the greatest invention of all time.
Textbooks
As anybody with a kid in college knows, textbooks are hugely expensive. Perhaps ebooks could cut down on the cost and weight of texbooks.
It looks like Apple's iPad may provide the best format for texts. Apples' iPad has a larger color touch screen and integrated WiFi and is better for presenting textbooks with color pictures, diagrams, and charts than Kindle.
Kindle VS Real Books
So, my friends, here are my comparisons between Kindle (or any book on a digital format) and traditional books, the advantages and disadvantages of each:
- E-books are great for travel. They a light weight, compact, and easy to carry. You can take several books with you to the beach with no fuss at all. And unlike laptop or cell phone screens, the display screen on a Kindle reduces glare and can be easily read in strong sunlight. However, when the plane takes off and lands, flight attendants will ask you to turn it off.
- If you drop your book in the bath tub, down a flight of stairs, or into a vat of boiling molasses, you lose one book. If you do the same with a Kindle, don't worry - your library is backed up on Amazon! Although the Kindle itself would be kaput.
- You can't use a stack of Kindle ebooks to hold up a corner of the sofa if one of the legs has broken off.
- Regular books do not include a dictionary or keyboard.
- You can't cut a hole in an old ebook to hide your stash.
- Hitting someone in the head with a Kindle does not pack the same wallop as it does if you bop them with a good old fashioned hard back book.
- You can't slip some papers into a Kindle for ease of carrying.
- The battery on your traditional book will not crap out just as the hero is dangling off the cliff and you have to send it off somewhere for repair or buy a new battery online before you find out what happens.
- You can't use a pile of Kindles to smooth down papers. Well, you could but that would entail purchasing quite a lot of them.
- If you become lost in the wilderness with your Kindle, you can't use it as kindling for a fire on a cold night. (But, if you also have a GPS, you can find your way back to civilization)
- With a Kindle, you can't switch book jackets to make it look like you are reading something significant in order to impress strangers at the dentist's office or on the bus.
- Crack pot political groups can't burn a pile of Kindles with the same affect as burning a pile of real books.
- You can't collect old or rare Kindles.
- You can't press flowers with a Kindle.
- Kindles do not lend themselves to secretive or clandestine exchanges - which could harm espionage.
- On the plus side for Kindle - you can lay on your side when reading a Kindle. Try that with a traditional book!
And there is, of course, the ultimate question - how cozy is it to curl up with a Kindle and a cup of tea on a chilly night? In that case, I guess it depends on what you are reading.
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What do you think about Kindle, iPad, and the idea of a wireless reading devise?
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As much as I love my Kindle, there is nothing to beat cuddling down with a real book
I tried reading my daughter's kindle and stopped after five minutes--my eyes hurt. I didn't like the artificially illuminated grayish-white page at all. But I don't own a cell phone so that may be my prejudice.
I love real books... we spend a lot of time reading on the internet and while a Kindle is not much different there is something about a real book that is priceless. Although I do see the versatiliy and ease of the Kindle and I must have one. When the time comes to settle down with good book it will always be a real book. Great review you've convinced me I can have the best of all the reading worlds. :)
Very informative hub
Find it very humorous the latter part.
Well done.
E-books have not made a huge splash in the college bookstore industry, as few instructors have recommended an electronic book replace a real textbook. Textbook publishers are still mixed on the e-book--there is a lot of profit for them in traditional textbooks (but not a lot to college bookstores, despite popular opinion). However, there are no issues with overstock returns.
Off-campus, e-books seem to be quite the craze. I haven't bought a Kindle yet, but I do want one. I am a bit intimidated by technology, however, and so my wishes are a mixed bag.
This was quite informative and I am certain e-books will someday be commonplace.
Mike
I've tried liking those things, but a real book , well.. there's something tactile about it, I guess..
Great post!
You have certainly explained the benefits and drawbacks with both options. While there are many benefits with a kindle, it was your last example that agreed with my first thought: I don't want to curl up in bed to read a computer screen before I fall asleep. Gosh, my face is buried in a computer screen all day as it is. I think I would like to see Kindle continue to make progress, and book sales to rise as well as new generations of readers desired to read more and actually own more books.
I remember when I was very young, I took an old book from the basement and carved a hidey hole in it. Not for anything elicit- I was just a wee tyke. When my mother found it, she was pissed at my having destroyed a book. People were possessive of their books, even old musty ones that hadn't been seen in twenty years. Say, I wonder if I could cut such a hole in a Kindle?
Dobson - and of course the huge sales online have that obvious following of people who are into electronics. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Jerry - I know. I love a real book. Just an old fashioned gal, I guess. Thank you!
Richard - reading is such an ingrained habit. The very feel of a book is part of the pleasure. Thanks for stopping by!
katie - the screen of the Kindle is supposed to be easier on the eyes than a computer screen. And I love the Gutenberg Project. But I will probably stick to the public library. Thank you!
jacob - couldn't help but have a little fun with this, thanks!
Mike - I love the fact that people are talking so much lately about books - how we read them and what we are looking for in a book. But sometimes I feel like we are getting to dependent on electronic technology, it's everywhere. I thought we were supposed to simplify. They say the iPad is better for textbooks. Thanks for commenting.
carolina - as I said before, reading is an ingrained habit and I think the whole ebook thing will catch on more with young folks. Thanks!
Chris - I even like the sight of books laying around, something comforting about that. Love your story about cutting the hole in the book. It seems almost profane, but a great place for hidden treasures. Thanks!
My Kindle feels so much like a real book that sometimes I start to turn the page. ha
Nice comparison, though, in your hub. I enjoyed it!
Judy - thank you! I am wanting to hear from Kindle lovers as well as real book lovers. When I started this, I was pretty anti-Kindle, but have become a lot more interested in the new technology, especially what with Project Gutenberg.
As much as I am considering a Kindle, I must admit there is nothing like holding a good book in my hands. And after awhile I can no longer focus on a screen, but I can read a book much longer than I can read a computer screen. I think perhaps the two will peacefully co-exist for some time to come.
betcaro - so many book lovers seem to love, not just the content of the book, but the physical book itself. Books are indeed, treasures. Thank you!
What is a troglodyte? I do love books! But I have noticed the ease with which I can read hubs, for example, on my cell-phone screen. Still, nothing can replace the comfy feel of books. Your mention of the handwritten texts of old conjured images of Shakespeare's caligraphic hand. It seems we lose something special with every new age, and can't decide whether this is progress or not. Thanks for an interesting hub!
tracy - haha, a troglodyte is a person (or what, maybe a troll) who lives in a cave, so is a bit backward, just not up on modern concepts like houses, etc). I wonder if there are people out there who make those old style books with calligraphy and gold leaf and such, as an art form. There must be - arcane crafts are out there. Progress is something to think about, what is and isn't...thanks for your interest in my hub.
Timely hub - we were just discussing this last night my hubby and me! I keep wondering if I should get one but may hold off for a while. I truly love holding a book (especially full weighted 'real' ones) and reading!
AS time progresses, so too will our "adjustments," nostalgic comparisons will fade. "Real books" will always be part of our history. Currently, I prefer "real books..."
Thanks for the hub!
Audrey - well, it's a new age and with it comes new technology. That's why I wrote the hub, sort of mulling the whole thing over myself. Thanks!
dallas - you know, I think I should switch the wording from 'real' books to 'traditional' books because, of course, ebooks are real! Thank you!
Hahaha! Wonderful and realistic review, Dolores. I simply can't have a Kindle around due to my stash-placement needs. So that, she said, was that.
Great hub!
something to think about. Congrats on the 100!
lorlie - for me, all reviews come with a bit of a giggle. I find that humor sort of clears out the brain like hitting the refresh button. Thank you, lorlie!
habee - a lot to think about! Or not. But it is a very cool technology. Thank you. I love to see those double zeros!
I truly love REAL books but would consider a Kindle. They save so much space and give easy access. I do hope though that books survive.
I like to think of the Kindel replacing our beloved paper and ink treasures, much the same as digital downloads for our favorite music has done for the old 45 rpm records.
In many ways the digital revolution is an improvement in the way the subject matter is delivered, quick fast and in a hurry. It just does not smell the same, feel the same, or make me think about it the same...
ethel - the best thing would be both. Thanks for stopping by!
Ted - this may sound stupid, but if the s*%t ever hits the fan, and a sort of new Dark Ages arrives, books will have it all over Kindle. But it is a great space saving device as you pointed out with the music. I think of all the 33 records albums and audio tapes piled up (on the other side of this room, taking up almost a whole wall) then think about those little iPods and such like, and Kindle is starting to sound better. Thanks!
My friend owns a Kindle, and at one point I have considered buying one for myself, too. I tried to borrow and used her Kindle, but only after hours of using it, I still feel that a paperback is still much better. It's more personal and nothing can replace the joy of collecting physical books and seeing them increase in number in your bookshelves.
rugs - as a book lover, I agree with you. We are habituated to our traditional books. Imagine what people 200 years ago would have thought of a paperback!Thanks for commenting!
I have over 6,000 books and I would hate to get rid of them and have them replaced by e-books. However, the future of e-books and Kindle etc. is assured (I have written two e-books!). I fear in fifty years conventional print books will be looked upon as anachronisms. A shame but an unavoidable truth...
culture - then books will become so valuable! After we buy a Kindle - don't give the old books to Good Will, but hand them down for posterity. I see a future like in one of those post-Apocalyptic movies, where fuzzy old gentlemen shuffle around in dusty libraries, and the bad guys trade in old books.
I hear a lot of talk about this lately and I really don't believe a word. Books have been around for such a huge part of mankind's history and they are so collectible that I ave a hard time thinking everyone will switch to pure electronic.
After all most people that I know don't even read the books they buy, they use them to decorate and appear smarter.
You can't show your pseudo intellectualism off with you library of e-books can you?
rlaframboise - haha! That's what the scribes said when they switched from scrolls to books and from hand written books to the printing press! Hopefully, there will be room in this world for both. After all, they said that TV would ruin the movie industry and it did not.
As an author published electronically and traditionally, I have to say I consider all of my books "real". ;-) But there are definitely pluses and minuses to both formats.
As a reader, I do love my Nook, but haven't given up on paper all together either.
I like e-books but I really hope that traditional books don't go out like the eight track recorder!I think there is room for both.
I enjoyed your hub! I'm a voracious reader and enjoy books and ebooks alike. I've used ebooks for several years--well ahead of the current craze, and have found them to be excellent when compared to a "real" book.
Currently, English titles are very expensive where I live (overseas), and ebooks have become a lifesaver. Ebooks are less expensive and offer a greater variety of titles. Most of my library is now digital--and it can travel with me everywhere!
Still, I do have times when nothing but a "real" book will do.
I'm happy to have both "real" and ebooks and love them both.
countrystar - I am so glad that folks like you who have actually used a Kindle have come to comment. I appreciate that.
Lori - of course ebooks are real - it sounds so silly of me to use that term and I sure hope that I have not offended anyone. I must go back and replace the word real with traditional. Published writer! How cool is that. You must be some hard worker and have great focus!
billyon - oh don't bring up the 8 track! Haha, it has become such a joke. Traditional books will never become a joke. Or will they? Thank you for visiting my hub!
Living - thank you! I think that would be the best thing - if both forms of reading materials continued to be available. Traditional books are pretty durn expensive everywhere (if you ask me) and I get most of my books from the library.
I have not yet succumbed to my love of e-gadgets to purchase one. But I expect I will ask for one for Christmas.. :)
Personally, I think change always brings about the same types of questions and concerns. I expect there is room for both, especially since you can hold so many books in your Kindle. I do wonder though what happens when you loose your reader, or it gets broken. Do you still own an electronic copy somehow?
For me the two biggest advantages for kindle/e-readers are the green aspect (less trees killed) and the ease of transporting loads of books. However I'm also resisting this technology because I love looking at a shelf of books I have read (or would like to read). I love holding it and not worrying about battery life or wireless connection. I love the feel of and the smell of books. Books are a specific kind of experience for me, where as reading one on an e-reader would just seem like more internet to me. There are some things that are just better without constantly being connected. Some authors, like Sherman Alexie, refuse to release their books in a digital form, and I could see it happening more. As a writer, I want the publishing companies to still make a profit so we still have a chance to be authors, as opposed to anybody posting a book with no editing or proofreading onto an e-reader.
Duchess - I was thinking about going camping and how an ereader would cut down on weight and give you more room. As long as the battery holds out. I hate that so much of what we buy and use today is battery powered, but ereaders are interesting me more and more. Thank you!
MT - maybe anybody can post a book but that does not mean anyone will actually read it. I am hoping that ereaders do not replace traditional books but that all can exist and be used. Thanks!
great hub i like it
Hey,I love this hub. I've been writing for years and I'm not published anywhere. I don't feel the Kindle is a threat to writers; if you're a writer, you'll find your niche--be it on paper or through electronic media. I think traditional books and electronic reading media should be allowed to peacefully co-exist, depending on one's desire to read and the convenience of doing so. I collect books, but if I can't read a really smelly hardback, I'd jump at a good read on a Kindle to get it in. Personally I think it's better for me to read a book in whatever manner it takes, than to watch hours of television and surrender my mind to arbitrary expression.
good hubbin'
Good article. I still prefer real books. There is something about holding a book and turning the pages that is really great.
i think ebooks will replace normal books, but not just yet, people still love to actually turn pages around
well, I'm one of those who also love books, thought I would never enjoy reading on a Kindle and absolutely love it, in fact, I'm in love with my kindle. you can take it anywhere easily. it is lightweight and I now actually prefer reading with it while in bed. I just prop up my knees or hold it in one hand and click to turn the page. it is unlike reading on a computer screen, the screen is not back lit, there is no glare at all. the page looks like a real book page.
I think they will replace books to some degree and probably already have for avid e-book readers. I still have my library, but possibly won't be adding to it with real books, at least not very many. [the battery lasts for a long time before needing a charge.] and it takes less than 60 seconds to have a book delivered to your device, ready to read!!
I have a Kindle but I don't think it will replace real books. I hope not since I work for a book wholesaler :) I have a Kindle, and now an iPad, but I still buy real books and enjoy reading them.
Excellent hub.
I prefer real books and even though Kindle is popular, it will never replace real books.
I think books are still on the hype right now since not most of the readers carry a laptop with them always or have that capacity to buy. Book are more portable though.
Kindle and Ipad sounds great and convenient for travel. But my eyes get really tired after even 30 minutes reading from those screen, so I think probably books and ebooks will coexist together. =) But nice article, I enjoyed reading it.
Great article about books thanks for sharing in hubpages community
Brilliant hub! I think the e-book will take over a large portion of printed material, for sure. Just as it already has but it will continue to take over to an even larger degree. However, the e-book will never full replace the traditional book. I believe you showed this very well in your hub.
kelly - thanks for commenting!
word - the thing is not if they are allowed to coexist, it's how the reading public accepts the two. Anyway, I think that the ereaders are less a threat to writers than to publishing companies. The writers get paid a very small percentage by publishing companies. Must check out how that works. Thank you!
Thanks, pravee!
Runway - that's what a lot of folks say, of course, the technology is pretty new. Thanks!!
biz - I think that a new technology often takes some time to really take hold. And it seems like something for the gadget oriented too - lots of the younger people. Thank you!
rebekah - sure is good to hear form a Kindle lover! Once in a while, while reading in bed, a big fat hard back book and I think that a Kindle might work just fine!
U.Writer - hopefully, there will be room for all. I don't have a Kindle yet, but then again, I am not one for new technology. I don't even have a dish washer! Thanks for dropping by!
Wendy - that's what the scribes said when they went from scrolls to bound books, haha. Thanks for commenting!
jeanie - traditional books are not more portable than ereaders. Ereaders like Kindle are so light and thin! I can argue forever for both sides! Thanks!
Jellster - supposedly, the screen on a Kindle is very easy on the eyes, not at all like a computer screen. I have not even tried one!
king - thank you!
Tyler - thank you very much!
Ebook publishers are more willing to give nontraditional authors a shot--for example, Synergebooks published my eBook, "New and Easy Poems To Promote Your Health and Safety," a collection of a few dozen previously published humorous poems that I could not publish in hardcopy--at least, not yet anyway. I have plans to publish at least two other eBooks that I would describe as romantic comedy novellas, or novelettes. If someone would provide free publicity, I wouldn't have to write this. Anyway, it's likely eBooks are the future. Thanks for the opportunity to write this.
John - I sure hope that your foray into ebooks works well for you. Good luck with your writing!
Great hub! Staring at the Kindle screen gives me migraines, I much prefer print. Plus you can't read outside, the GLARE!
I'd like to make a correction. If your kindle gets destroyed for some reason, you will lot lose your ebooks, they are automatically backed up to your Amazon account. Alisha2010, you get glare? are you sure you didn't take off the protective film from the screen?
Pamsie, I might be odd for saying this, but I love leaving the protective film on with everything I buy. It feels like new, and it feels like it gets less dirty. Is that really the reason? I guess it will have to come off. Thanks for the help.
Alisha - I thought about that too, but I've read that Kindle lends itself to reading outdoors in bright light. I must actually try one. And migraine? Oh, that's awful. Thank you!
pamsie - well that is so good to hear! I wonder if I should change the statement, but I hate to drop the stupid image of dropping a Kindle (or book) into a vat of boiling molasses. Thanks for the info!
Alisha - no! Pamsie is saying to leave the protective cover on!!!
Another interesting point about e-books: the danger of book pirating, much like we pirate music today. Authors will have to think about possible loss of book sales if people figure out how to pirate books rather than pay for a hard copy!
I gotta say my feelings are mixed. I just paid 9 bucks for an "airplane book" that, while fun to read, I will only read once and then never again. I could just as easily paid 10 buck for the same thing on kindle and never had to hassle with it taking up embarrassing space on my bookshelves or mess with selling it somewhere else at a later date.
Maybe they will end up being like MP3s - download them to try them out, if you really like them, buy the real thing.
nrasch - hmmm, never thought about that, but evil tech heads may do just that! Thanks for the input!
Peter - I think that I read that Barnes and Noble's Nook allows you to download a book for a half an hour or something to see if you like it. Don't know about Kindle, though. Thanks for commenting!
Haha, thanks Dolores. Read that comment a little too fast. Protective cover on.
Alisha - oh, well, it's easy to confuse the 2, just like up and down, etc. haha.
Definitely don't see myself curling up with a Kindle in place of a book altho the thought of my entire library in my pocket is alluring! Thanks for the humorous comparison between ebooks and real books! Loved reading your hub.
E-books are good and convenient but I really like the smell and feel of new books...something that e-books cannot replace
I wanted to come back agin on this because (like Lori above) I have had three print books published. As an author, there is something really special about being able to 'hold' one's own book. This is quite different from e-books which just do not 'feel' the same. I fear that, as a writer, e-books just do not 'do it' for the ego!! Is that an awful thing to state?
Rose - thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed. At someone's home today, I saw that they had a Kindle and was gong to have a good look-see. But the battery was kaput!
gorfor - seems like a lot of reader are too in love with actual books to move to Kindle. But they certainly are convenient for travel. I'm going to check around when I go to the beach to see if anyone is reading from a Kindle on the beach. Thanks!
spain - awful!? Why awful? You should be proud as punch and thrilled to hold that book. How many books have you enjoyed throughout your life. I can't imagine the thrill of holding your own actual book in your hand. Not to mention the idea of people reading your work.
I'm a book person. Nothing compares to curling up in my bed with a book.
Plus, I get most of my books from my local library so I'm not inclined to buy an e-reader when I can get my books for free and return them.
I did have the chance to borrow both the Sony Reader and the Kindle for a week. I did find that I liked reading on both of these devices better than I thought I would. I still prefer an actual book, but I liked it more than I imagined. I am also one of the few who found the Sony Reader better than the Kindle. I thought it was easier to navigate.
Great hub and I agree with all of your pros and cons! It just depends on the person and how much each pro and con weighs in their opinion.
geek - I love the library too. I've visited my local lilbrary pretty much every three weeks for the past 55 years. I remember my first visit when I was 3 years old and my mother said that I could take home any book I wanted. I still remember the feeling of "WOW!" Thanks for stopping in.
I don't think I'll buy a kindle but I do use my iPhone to read ebooks and absolutely love it. I'm not about to replace physical books with my iPhone. I think they both have their place in my life. I prefer a physical book when I'm in my comfy chair but I like ebooks on my iPhone when I'm waiting in lines or in bed next to my sleeping husband.
Marisa - it seems like many readers do have a a comfort thing about traditional books. I must say that so do I. Thanks for stopping by!
You mentioned when you drop your kindle in the bath, you lose the device and your whole library. Is that true? Or are books tied to your amazon account, so you can redownload them? That would be awful!
rnguru - I guess I should change that as someone pointed out that you do not lose all your Kindle books. I just hate to lose the image of the book, or Kindle being dropped into a vat of boiling molasses. Thank you for commenting.
very engaging hub... :) i would love to have kindle (if its free of course) but the best thing about reading a book is the feeling you get when your flipping its pages and feeling the smooth - or rough surface of it... not to mention the scnet of a book.. i would not trade it for a digital device.. well not yet.. :)
isyan - I just got back from a week at the beach and was looking around at all the people who were reading, hoping to find someone reading a Kindle. I did not. I guess folks don't want to get sand in an electronic device. With a traditional book, you can just shake out the sand! Thanks!
Really enjoyed this hub. I feel that there is room in the world for both real books and E-books. I love my ipod, but I still listen to the radio. What I object to is when financial guru's say that the "book store" is dead. I love to go to Barnes and Noble, look around, and have a coffee. When i buy a e-reader, I will still go to the book store.
susan - they said that TV would kill the movies, then that videos would kill the movies but that did not happen. A new technology does not have to ruin an older one, but it does happen. How many people are farriers these days? Thanks for commenting.
Gosh, your artical, whilst informative, and very amusing, has done little on making my mind up on whether to indulge. I've always just dismissed ebook readers as souless but someone at work has a kindle and I really, really like it. It would never replace re-reading a lovingly thumbed copy of a favourite book but I'm pretty sure it has its place. Ummmmm.....why do I still feel like if I buy a Kindle I'll be cheating on the entire contents of my bookshelves?
dukes - I am thinking of writing another Kindle hub about the latest version. I almost hate to admit to being attracted to Kindle. As you said, there is something unseemly, dehumanizing, maybe about ereaders. But is that what they said about the printing press! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Printed matter could be used anywhere regardless of longitude, latitude and temperature. It is reliable and it is not subject to short term, long term covert or overt mischievous alteration.
The electronics book-e-book is less reliable at best; its information could be wiped out with electromagnetic pulses-EMP in case of an all-out war or during an extraordinary solar flares or disturbances; it is subject to power shortage ,hardware malfunctioning and software glitch and at the mercy of hackers. The information on it is ephemeral and subject to expiration.
Manufacture probably will keep changing the format, compatibility and model in their quest for higher profit. They will continue to inflate the price of such devices in the newer models as they do for the cellular telephones .They might introduces commercial on them. It will reach a point, only the riches will be able to buy them.
Powerful nations that are in conflict with weaker nations might find ways to disabled such devices or place embargo to their sales to those nations. Smaller nations should not rely on this Trojan horse as mainstream unless they have the capability to manufacture them. The same is true for cell phones.
Pierre - you are so right about the possibility of the destruction of electronic devices. We are so dependent on them for information and communication. If some entity was to disable the vast electronic web, even for a few day, we'd be in trouble. However, Amazon has just dramatically lowered the price of Kindle. But the poor have always been left out, the wealthy always have had the advantage. Back in the day, paper and books were so expensive, only the wealthy had easy access. Thanks for the insightful comment.
I wonder when we'll see an eBook library
John - actually, you can have your own library on Amazon's Kindle, storing the books that you have. And old, out of copyright books are free! But they'll never get me away from my local library. Thanks!
As someone who collects records, I'm more of the book person. Just sitting around in my room gazing at my bookshelf is half the fun. I mean, I would like to have an ebook with me for the convenience. However, I realized that you can't really give someone your kindle unless you give them your account info. Thus advantage to books, since I share my books a lot.
Actually, stuck, there is some mechanism for book sharing with friends on the newer Kindle. The people I'd give a book to, I'd trust anyway. My friends who read would never do anything hinky with an account of mine!
I am a book person. I love how books look and feel. I live in an apartment, though, and only have enough room to keep books that I cherish. ereaders seem like the way to go for someone with limited living space and a very small town library. By the way, love your writing style!
I have just ordered a kindle and cannot wait to get it. I have no place to store books. However, I don't like that I cannot share my books with friends and family.
The abacus was replaced by the calculator.The same thing's going to happen here.Wait till other manufacturers jump and create competition.
@metalguy, I half agree with you.
And yet, the abacus is still used. Some of my friends, use the abacus for mental math. mp3s replaced CDs which replaced cassettes which replaced records which replaced phonographs, but some joints still have phonographs, and I still have records (I'm going to college atm, and I find records at small little joints near old used books stores :P). I think there is a lot of sentimentality and warmth in old books and records, and though books might be phased out, they will still be printed and used in the future.
You are right about the same thing happening. Asus has developed a new e-reader, as have some other companies that I can't name off the top of my head.
@Dolores
That is true, most of the people I share books with are people I trust, and I wouldn't really care if they took a book (unless I really like it).
Judy - thank you so much! I am totally a book person, but this new technology would be great for someone like you! Hopefully the wireless reading devises will just add to our options for printed material.
Wooded - I do believe that there is a method for sharing books with other people on Kindle. You need to check into that.
metal - there is plenty of competition in the market. But Kindle seems to be on the leading edge. Every time someone comes up with a new devise, Kindle does something else, like lower the price and make a better version. Thanks for commenting.
Orbit - I don't care what they say about music, you still get the best sound from vinal! I think there are a lot of people concerned with so much electronic gadgetry, there will be a hard core of traditional book readers for some time. Who knows, the whole electronic thing might be a craze. Or things might go the way of Star Trek. Though I seem to remember Captain Picard reading a traditional book, haha. Thanks!
We have a Kindle in our home and love it as it is so versatile and easy to carry where ever you go. The fact you can store all your books in one place and they are considerably cheaper than traditional books is an asset.
Great hub and one well earned as a bookmark.
Blessings
I'm heavily interested in Kindles. A lot of the books I own have suffered the effects of wear and tear. Whether it be moving furniture, moving houses, leaving them on the floor, or simply forgetting about them: they are all gonna end up useless one day. Whereas with a Kindle it's lighter and easier.
I understand the concerns with screens. I've read books on my laptop before and it wasn't quite as immersive as a real book. With that said I haven't even used a Kindle before so when I eventually do get one it may just end up completely annoying and uncomfortable to use.
Great hub by the way. I liked some of your humorous drawbacks and positives.
Quill - thank you. I am kicking myself. A few weeks ago, I was at a party where there were a lot of big readers. I should have brought up the subject just to see if they were into the ereaders.
Nick - thank you. The screen on the Kindle is such that it does not reflect the light. Also, the print is much easier to read than the print on a computer screen.
We already face the fact that e-books top harcovers (143 e-books for every 100 hardcover books sold). That's just the beginning.
E-books are taking markets and in 25-50 years they'd almost totally take it.
Books are not dead - just go digital, - as Bezos said.
Vader - I think the place where the sale of ebooks so topped the sale of traditional books was on Amazon. People who buy books from Amazon are already digital loving people so it makes sense that they would be buying ebooks. I don't think that statistic holds up for all books sold. Thanks for commenting!
I've had a second edition Kindle for about a year. I love it! Even though the screen initially does not look as inviting as a printed book, I have found that I get less eye strain from the Kindle than from printed material. You also have the option of reading any of your Kindle books on your computer or your Iphone/Ipod. Another advantage I have found to the Kindle is that I can surreptitiously order books without getting in trouble with my husband, and getting the "Where are we going to put all those books?" line. It does lead to impulse spending, as you can get your books in seconds. You also get to sample the first chapter of most of the books offered in the Kindle for free. A lot of authors who have written series of books may offer the first book in the series free on the Kindle, and I have been hooked on several series in this way. I am much more inclined to experiment with new authors on the Kindle, as it makes it so easy to sample new material.
Like Judydianne mentioned, I also sometimes want to turn the page when using my Kindle, you just forget you are not reading a regular book. The other day the opposite happened to me. I was reading a printed book and pressed on the side of the page to turn the page!
I have been saving for an Ipad since they came out. I'd like to get one of those when the second edition becomes available. I am very interested in reading textbooks on it, and the Kindle cannot do that.
The Kindle also allows you to save portions of text as notes, and then you can have a file with all your notes from a single book together. So if you like to underline things, you get to see everything you have underlined together.
For people with vision problems, with the Kindle you can change the size of the font.
The Kindle automatically remembers where you left off, and gets you right back there. This makes it easy to switch between four or five books on the Kindle.
Although you can't impress the people around you switching covers on your Kindle (like you mentioned), you COULD be reading steamy romance novels with a very serious face, and quickly switch to a learned tome on the French revolution if someone comes over to see what you are reading.
Now you can put your books in folders, so it's possible to organize your growing library. The feature can use some tweaking, but it's good to have. Amazon performed this update automatically, and one day when I turned on my Kindle, it was available. So improvements and updates can be made to your Kindle after you bought it.
One disadvantage I heard of: If someone steals your Kindle, they will have access to all your books. Can they re-register it in their own name? I read on the Amazon reviews that this happened to someone, and Amazon refused to divulge the new person's identity, or to block the re-registration when the original owner reported the theft to them. I read this around the time I received my Kindle (a gift from my father, lucky me!), there may be security measures in place to protect owners now. Also, if you have One Click activated, could someone who stole your Kindle buy a bunch of books with your credit card on the same day?
Another potential disadvantage: When I was playing around with my new Kindle last year, and sampling chapters left and right, I decided to find out what the most expensive book was, going down the list, and ended up clicking on (and buying) a $500 book. I only found out two days later. I emailed Amazon, and they were nice enough to take it back.
All in all, the Kindle is definitely worth trying, especially now, at $139. I saw someone with a new one, the screen has better contrast now, the letters look darker, the screen a little lighter.
Great hub, and you've created lots of discussion!
Nettra - thanks for all your thoughtful input. So you say you can enlarge the font? Hey, I wouldn't need my cheaters any more!
I'm a big reader but I do have a limited space for all my books. When we moved I gave up several dozen books for the sake of space and later on wished I still had them. If I had the Kindle or Ipad that wouldn't even have been an issue. I still don't have one but now that I know that I can get free books I definately will have to get a Kindle. :-)
I used to love film, but then learned to appreciate the incredible advantages of digital photography. I also loved albums, but then found the convenience and sound quality of mp3. Now it's happened to books. I love my Kindle and look forward to even better technology as it evolves. Crisp, clean text, and easy to read in bright sunlight. My library in one easy to carry item. I guess at some point, if we live long enough, we'll learn to enjoy our T-Bone steak pill, and fondly remember when we had to deal with all those pesky plates and utensils.
"Will E-Books Replace Real Books"
I surely hope not! - "The electronics book-e-book is less reliable at best; its information could be wiped out with electromagnetic pulses-EMP in case of an all-out war or during an extraordinary solar flares or disturbances" - exactly!
tms - I think that we have way too many electronic devices. Some of them come in handy, but give me a real book. (Though the Kindles are kinda cute)
Ha, Jeff! Sometimes I wonder, when I look at new technology with suspicion. I feel like an old crank. Maybe we can pick and choose, decide on using certain electronic devices, the ones that will best sit our live styles.
evvy - yes, space makes a big difference when it comes to books. I argue both sides of the issues on here because I am still trying to make up my mind. Thanks!
Great article! I have a Barnes & Noble Nook. We are a family of book lovers and shelf space, floor space, etc. has become rather limited. So, for detective novels, business-related books, and for fiction I'm not sure if I'll like or not, I seem to lean toward e-books. But if a fiction book becomes a favorite (as has happened twice), I mark it to purchase in hard cover for permanent shelf space. Sounds weird--but that's my system. Nothing beats a real, physical book. Love notes from your late father to your mother don't fall out of e-books!
Caroline - that sounds like a great system! And the part about the old love notes underscores the sentimentality a lot of us ascribe to books. Can we love our wireless reading devises as much? Thank you!
From an authors point of view, I love the e-book revolution. I love the ease of a Kindle, as well as the fact it makes it that much easier to get published. I know several folks who, while they are no J.K. Rowling, are easily able to make a tidy sum with their e-book sales without having to go through the rigmarole of traditional publishing and having to tempt a print publisher into taking the chance. Between that and the advent of all the grammar correction software on the market, the kindle and the nook make it easier for writers to make ends meet. Plus, the fact that if I want to read any book in my arsenal, I have them all with me. It makes the bibliophile in me giggle with glee.
I am currently traveling through south america with only a kindle. I have a lonely planet guide book on it and also 30 other books. I am thoroughly pleased with the kindle, especially the space that it saves me. I don't see the kindle replacing books, but it makes life as a consumer great.
Hi Dolores - Look at all of the comments appended to your fine article. That shows what a good article subject and good article writing can do.
Right today, eBooks are a big convenience to many people, but the paper-bound books are still hanging in there. Some day they will be greatly diminished in number, if not on the way to disappearance.
Gus :-)))
Dragon - thanks for your insightful comment. You make some great points here, especially for writers.
Debt - that makes a lot of sense. Kindle is a great product for someone who travels a lot.
Gus - maybe there will be room for both in the future!
I love real books so I was reluctant to buy an ereader, but once I did I knew ereaders are here to stay.
I have a Sony Pocket Reader. It's so much lighter than a most paper books that reading is now more enjoyable. I think we're on the dawn of a new revolution.
Also, as a writer I feel the great thing about publishing an ebook is that we're in touch with our audience, so that after receiving feedback we can revise and improve our work.
I'll publish my next book first as an ebook.
Randy - really? That is very cool about the feedback. Thanks for the comment and interesting info!
Still not decided about the Kindle, however, if you can get a waterproof version I may be interested. It's tricky reading a paper book in the bath.
Dolores,
I have owned a kindle 1 for three years and I love it.I'm also a baby boomer who thought I would not like gadgets but the more I learn about them the more I like them it was just the idea of getting out of my comfort zone and trying something new.There are many place to download free books that are legal.Here is one I use on regular basis http://www.mobileread.com/forums/index.php this is for all types of e-readers they have a lot to offer and it's free. I will still like to grab a book if I find one that interests me.
Kindle is not only for readers, but also for writers. Imagine, you can publish your book almost instantly with expenses close to zero!
I don't think they will ever be completely replaced. There is always something about a good book, touch and smell.
Excellent title. I do believe eventually they might replace them--although not entirely. It just needs a little time, given the fact books have been in our minds for so many years now.
I think ebooks are the wave of the future. It's one less thing to carry as the books are built right into our phones and devices.
I love my Kindle and look forward to even better technology as it develops.
lyndo - trouble? I've been doing that for years and have not lost a paper book yet! Thanks! (Must not fall asleep reading in the tub)
4youreyes - thank you for adding to my article! Guess I can't use the excuse of being a backward Baby Boomer!
Forest - actually, a friend of mine and I have pretty much completed a novel. If the agents don't come banging on the door, maybe we'll try Kindle! Thanks!
Trin - oh, I love books! But I am becoming more and more attracted to the Kindle. Thanks!
Elvis - thank you for commenting. I hope there will be room for both.
logoi - ebooks on phones? Now that's gone too far. Phones are too tiny! Thank you!
dobo - I know several people who own Kindles and they read both traditional books and ereaders. Thank you!
Hi Dolores, I couldn't remember if I commented on this one or not. My husband was casting about to find out my opinion on e-books this morning (he's terrible about dropping hints on presents). I told him I would be interested in one of the Kindles or Nooks - he, on the other hand, would never give up "real books." Forwarding your hub to him for consideration. :-)
As a collector of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, the very small number of those books on the kindle( There's only ONE Hardy Boys Casefile out of 127 books in the series and no Nancy Drew Files or Nancy Drew Supermysteries available on the Kindle) prevents me from even thinking of buying a Kindle.
Opps, when I said "Nancy Drew Supermysteries" I ment "Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys supermysteries" and I forgot to say that I was tlaking about the series that lasted 36 books, not the recent supermystery series that is still ongoing. All of the recent series is available on the kindle, it's the old series that's missing from the Kindle store. Sorry if I confused anyone.
steph - it seems as if Kindle has the best platform for viewing. And what with the lowered price, I bet it well be a huge hit this Christmas! Thanks!
Dinosaurdan - well you can't have everything. For my last birthday, my niece gave me several old Bobbsey Twins books. One was published in the very early part of this century and is a real treasure. Kindle will never equal that!
Great article and one that gets me thinking! For things that matter it will always be real books, just because we have no idea what the technology will be like in a few years. Remember all those 8-tracks? I love the idea of magazines and current novels on a reader because it saves the trees/recycling costs. As for being technically savvy, I think I'm not too bad. I teach digital photography post-production and can manipulate (and code) with the best but where do we suggest people keep their priceless photos? On paper. It's the only medium that has already stood the test of time. Besides, when the power is out, you can still enjoy your favourite photos and books by lamplight :)
Grandma - me the technophobiac must differ. When the power is out, Kindle will still work. But, when the poop hits the fan, and technology is lost, we will still have books. But looking at it that way, just think of all those ancient clay tablets that are still around! I wonder if the scribes who scribbled on the tablets thought that paper was a fad. haha. Thank you for the interesting comment.
Nice hub. I tried to make an ebook but can't figure it out! Anyone with ideas?
bg - well, fellow hubber Ben Zoltak has just published one and is writing about the process. I think he has a link to someone here who has more info. Good luck! Your ebook should be wonderful - you are such a great writer, a font of information!
I read some texts online, mostly short stories - but you can't beat having the real book in your hands and it's quicker, easier to get back to where you left off on previous readings with a novel if you just have a book and a book-mark.
arthur - well, I am still hooked on traditional books. I have even used the same bookmark (Star Trek's Data) for over 10 years! Thanks for commenting!
Dolores, I'm not sure if the ebooks will ever replace the hand held, page turning kind. I love having the book in my hands, flipping pages, feeling the weight of it. I'm sure the kindle has it's advantages, but I'm not sure it will entirely replace the good old fashioned book.
Gals - yesterday I was at a small party when the subject came up. It was the usual argument between the feel of books vs ereaders. But the availability of free (but for a small fee) old books (books out of copyright) seemed to interest even the most avid traditional book lovers. Thanks for your input!
I'm a book lover and I was almost angry when someone bought me a Kindle this past Christmas. I have to say though it isn't so bad I already have enough free stuff downloaded on it to keep me busy reading for a very long time. I've also taken advantage of the free games like BlackJack and WordShuffle!
Still though, I will most likely only purchase ebooks that I really want to read, whereas Ebay and Garage Sales make it very affordable to get lots of books very cheap and I end up reading things I typically wouldn't because they either came with a bundle or were too cheap to pass up!
Stina - funny that you got mad. I remember when I was miffed when I got a cordless phone for Christmas and thought it was a dumb gift. Now, I could not stand a phone with a cord. But I would hate to see traditional books disappear. Thank you!
Great article. It's nice to have the option to do both or either. I think Kindle is great but there's nothing like reading the old fashioned way.
Very nice article. Technology is amazing. I have a passion for books and most anything in print. But replacing books with electronic readers such as Kindle would be like e.g. replacing real food with plastic.
I have the desire to hold the "real" book in my hand and being able to pick it up when needed and savor its words.
Thanks for the inspiring Hub
I read a lot of 'real' books, but also love using Kindle and Google books on my Android phone. No need to choose as I love them both. If only my phone smelled like a book.....
tysanders - I have yet to buy an ereader, but I am usually way behind the curve. The topic is interesting to me because I love to read 'regular' books. I do, however, know a few folks who use both. Thank you!
mechesier - I recently picked up a very large novel at the library and hate to admit that I put it back on the shelf due to its weight. What a lazy bones! But the weight would present no problem with a Kindle!
Stan - what will they think of next. I must say that reading a book on a phone just would not work for me. Thanks!
My sister has just bought me a kindle and I'm looking forward to a new digital collection. You can take it anywhere (your entire library that is, if you like) and read it (very clear in the sun) and you'll also be able to maintain some privacy in that the case is generic and doesn't display the book title on the outside (if you were reading some embarrassing titles!). Great work as always :)
marco - sure sounds great for someone who travels a lot. I hope you enjoy your new Kindle. It will be so much fun to build up a library! Thanks!
Great article. I got a kindle for Christmas and I love it, especially for travel. Thanks for sharing your insight on this new toy.
Faith - funny that you call it a toy. Are books toys? Aren't the books we read on Kindle the same as traditional books? I don't know, that's why I wrote this. Thank you for your input.
Nice informative hub! I'll admit I've thought about getting an e-reader, but I already have so many books! I can see how great it is as a convenience, but at the same time I'm afraid I would miss the feel (and smell!) of actual books and pages. It took me a while just to get used to the iPod. I like having the tangible object--CDs or books--so I can see the artwork and have it look pretty on my shelf! But who knows, I may cave in and buy one eventually, especially if the price goes down!
Painted Seahorse - I thought the whole scene was crazy until they lowered the price of Kindle to $139.00. Even a traditional book reader like myself had to take note. Thanks!
I have noticed that I was actually reading more ever since I received a Kindle on my birthday. I do love to read but going to book stores can be quite a burden especially if you'd rather lock yourself at home with a hot mug of coffee on a dreary winter morning. I also love the fact that I can annotate and highlight passages without having to fuss with pen and paper. One drawback that I have found, if one can call this a drawback, is that I end up finishing a book and wanting to buy or download more. Reading has once again become my new addiction.
Paul - always glad to hear that someone's reading more! Thank you for your input and story!
"And there is, of course, the ultimate question - how cozy is it to curl up with a Kindle and a cup of tea on a chilly night? In that case, I guess it depends on what you are reading."
Touche! Great hub; I ruly enjoyed this.
Genna - glad you enjoyed! Thank you!
I love my Kindle, but I don't think real books will ever go away. The Kindle is wonderful for reading fiction, but I still prefer real books for reference purposes -- cookbooks, craft books, professional texts, etc.
Dana - I love my reference books too. The popular one here is an Atlas - there is one on the coffee table and it sure comes in handy. Thank you.
Homeland security shut down several websites that referred people to copyrighted material sites(What are they doing policing copyrighted material?) so are they going to stay in privacy parameters and not intimidate Amazon to relinquish reading lists without a warrant? Kindle is great but don’t lose sight of your privacy, ownership, and rights. Always back-up to a separate source and check that it's independently viable.
Amazon automatically keeps a list of everything you order so you can do a reasonable number of repeat downloads for your convenience. If a book gets censored or no longer offered that you already bought, can Amazon erase it from your bought list and your Kindle the next time you download another book? The answer is yes they can.
“The latest Amazon move to erase all traces of George Orwell's “1984” and “Animal Farm” from its Kindle e-book store – as well as striking them off from the digital lockers of the users and from the Kindle devices – enraged the customers and buyers of the deleted books’ editions, bringing to light the fact that buyers can potentially lose over the content they purchase in the digital realm, quite unlike a physical purchase!According to Amazon, the unusual move of retracting the titles resulted from Orwell's publisher’s change of mind regarding offering the electronic version of these titles. However, the move was especially unsettling for readers who had already purchased the books, chiefly from the digital publisher MobileReference.
The deletion of the titles reflects the way sale and purchase of books work on the Kindle - it so happens that digital books purchased for the Kindle are sent to it over a wireless network, which Amazon can also use essentially to synchronize e-books between devices; and apparently to also make them disappear suddenly!
Expressing the frustration of most owners of digital books on Kindle, Bruce Schneier, Chief Security Technology Officer for British Telecom said: “As a Kindle owner, I’m frustrated. I can’t lend people books and I can’t sell books that I’ve already read, and now it turns out that I can’t even count on still having my books tomorrow!”
Poignant that it was Orwell isn’t it? Enjoy your Kindle but don’t be a fool.
topnews.in/orwell-s-books-erased-amazon-s-kindle-buyers-enraged-2190414
kerry - very interesting. Sounds like Homeland Security has a bit too much time on their hands. If you've downloaded 'wrong thinking' books, the goon squad will be knocking at your door!
I think we need to keep in mind that technology is available for us every moment of our lives. It's a life-style that people are either going to embrace it or not. As for the Kindle, right now I am NOT sure about purchasing one because I am doing my research. Yeah, you could say I know enough about the Kindle but I end up with more questions about it. I even held one at a store and asked about it, but the guy didn't know enough to answer my questions. Sometimes my analytical gets into high gear when it comes to hi-tech gadgets. Your hub is informative and I love the part of Kindle vs. Real Books. (:
I've just bought a Kindle - loving it! I still keep books though as some just can't be replaced. But it's flexibility and ease of use especially on holiday - is great.
Good review of it Dolores!
loveaza - thank you for your insight. I think that I am wary of many new technologies because so many are outmoded so fast. Soon as you buy the latest gadget, they come up with a new one!
dragonbear - taking a Kindle on a holiday seems like such a great idea. Saves space! And so easy to carry. Thank you!
While I do think that eventually we will see an end to real books, I don't think it will be anytime soon. This is a good article, my husband and I were just talking about this the other night. I have a Kindle and I am now selling all of my real books on ebay for a little extra money, and because I have sooooo many of them.
chaunatye - I was thinking of selling some old books myself. But one of our local old book dealers just went out of business and I imagine there are lots of old books for sale on the local market. But they do tend to pile up. Thank you!
I hate to stereotype Americans, but I don't think e-books are going to over take real books because Americans tend to be very materialistic. A lot of my friends collect books. They like how books look when they're placed on a bookshelf in a living room. My aunt has a Kindle and she still buys hardcover books. It's not like regular DVD vs. Blu Ray. Blu Ray hands down is high definition and therefor has a better picture and is more appealing to look at. Regardless of the way you read a book, every image is seen inside one's own mind. The kindle/nook are just very convenient, especially for people who travel a lot or may love to read but they don't have a lot of space in their apartment for books. It's more convenient than going to the library, too, which I believe the nook allows you to do.
nmcquill - you are right about people loving their books. But most of mine come from the library. Thanks for your input. All these different ways to read have me so confused! I am sure that a lot of libraries will be making changes. But so far, our local library is more crowded than ever, due to the economy, no doubt.
I keep toying with the idea of buying a Kindle, but there is something comforting about turning the pages of a real book! Great hub, Dolores!
CMHypno - me too. Of course, my main reason for not buying a Kindle is that I am too cheap. And I limit my consumption of electronics. Thank you!
Hi Dolores,
Kindle is not available in India yet i see no one reading novels or books like our parents generation used to read them, But for me reading on paper is best.
i have had all kindles from 1-3. i read on it a lot. something happened to me one day in that i could not take the technology overload. all day at work in front of a computer. all night reading a kindle and/or looking at a laptop. i decided to make it point to disconnect. no emails. no kindle. no laptop when i got home from work. the old fashioned book has helped me disconnect and makes me feel so much better. just my two cents.
sweetie - really? Well I don't see many people reading them either but then again, I don't see many people reading except on the beach. Thank you.
JG - interesting point! I think we are all way to involved with electronics. But I am hoping that the very nature of the Kindle will induce people who love electronic gadgets to read. Thank you.
The Kindle, etc. are fun but there's still something great about REAL books made out of paper. I'm hoping real books will still stick around.
I do believe that e-books will replace real books eventually. E-books in the past have been an idea of an electronic version of books to be viewed on a bulky computer. However, the introduction of special gadgets for e-books, which is Kindle, has made e-books fun. Even some schools and colleges are using iPad as teaching materials. I think they just make reading and teaching more fun compared to paper books.
myi4u - thanks for your input. They sure are easier to transport. I used to think my kids would ruin their backs hauling all those huge textbooks around. I'd love to see them take the place of textbooks. It would save effort and money.
I've had my Kindle for about two years. I decided to buy one when I got a new puppy and from past experience knew that the book I was reading would eventually get chewed on when I put in on the shelf below my nightstand. Another reason for the purchase was too many books all over the house and I simply didn't have more room to shelve them. Reading in bed with a pooch at my side the Kindle is safe. It's boring even with a cover. I still occasionally buy books that have illustrations. I'm happy with my Kindle, easy to store, lets you know when to recharge the battery and you can download books wireless.
Auntie D - thanks for sharing. When I look at how much room that books take up in my small house, I see another positive aspect of the Kindle. When people downsize, a Kindle seems perfect.
I had to stop reading because I could no longer see the words on the pages. My daughter bought me a Nook and I love it. It lights up so it's easy for me to read.
moonlake - really? That's great. The inability to read would drive me insane. So glad the ereader worked out for you!
I can appreciate the attachment to 'real books,' and highly doubt they'll be going anywhere in my lifetime, but as someone who does quite a bit of traveling, the Kindle is an absolute Godsend. I also find, for whatever reason, that I read far more and far longer with my Kindle than I do with regular books - the frequency likely has to do with the ease by which I can purchase another book, but I can't really explain why I read so much faster.
Whatever the case, it is a fantastic invention, and I'm all for anything that allows us to do a little extra reading.
Thanks for the wonderfully written hub!
josh - thank you! There are so many places where I like to take a book - doctor's office, dentist, any place that I have to wait. A bulky book can get in the way, though, and a Kindle is just the thing for portability. And now at $114.00, the price is coming close to affordability for most of us!
I feel the same way as josh I read more and when I finish a book I just buy another and start reading again. I don't have to run out the door and to a store to get a book. I'm also reading faster but I think it's because I can see clearer and not struggling to see the words.
moonlake - for someone like you, this technology is a God send. But, for me, I feel like I spend so much time with electronic gadgets, I need some relief. thanks again!
I love real books and have been slightly bitter at the new technology, especially the commercials that make reading a real book seem silly, but your hub brought up good points. I especially liked the comparison of the printing press and how people thought it would be bad for business (and it wasn't) to this new technological advance. It makes me think this won't be the end of books, just something new to experience. Before reading this I wouldn't even have considered buying a Kindle, but one may be in my future after all (although I will still own real books). Thanks for the post and look forward to following you!
Enzor - thank you! Well reading traditional books is certainly not silly, but I did have to laugh at the woman with a huge bag she used for toting books. E readers may eventually make it easier for students who have to carry heavy text books all over the place and may save them money on the high cost of traditional text books.
Haha, that's also a good point! I almost wish I had one of those instead of all the books I lugged around during college, but I would have missed underlining, highlighting, and making notes in my books.
Enzor - I could never bring myself to highlight or underline in a text book. Writing in books has always seemed so wrong.
I find it helps me when I study to underline important passages my professors point out, and they always encouraged me to do so. But to each their own! I do think E-books will make things easier on students in the future.
I recently got a Kindle for my birthday and really do like it.
Wonderful hub! I have a Sony eReader and I absolutely love it. The biggest advantage for me is that I don't have to store a lot of books all over the house. My 6 year old already reads some books on my eReader. But I tend to buy a lot of used books for my kids, so their bookshelves are overflowing for now. But it will be nice when they can have their own eReaders, so they can store most of their books in a tiny space.
I don't think real books will ever "die out" I presonally do not like anything electric, and I love reading. The real book always seems like a beter read when its the real book, not the kindle.
Ensor - not really knowing enough about ebooks - it seems like a simple matter to make them so you could highlight. I would have no problem with that! Thanks!
susie - way to go! Get somebody else to pay for it. Happy Birthday!
Gobangla - the kids coming up now are going to be so tech savy, I just can't imagine! Always good to know that a child is into reading! Thanks!
4u2 - I hope not in my time. I still have a problem with so much of our time spent in front of electronic screens. But sometimes I just feel like a fuddy duddy. Thanks!
As someone who has more than 3000 books in my home, I've been very pleased to have the kindle. It was a gift from my husband before a long trip - i guess he was getting tired of carting around all my heavy books :) Anyway, i have about a 100 books on mu kindle and I really love being able to carry around a big library in a tiny device. And as I have bought a cover from Amazon for it, I can slide in papers in it, so that has ceased to be an issue. One thing I do hate about the kindle though, that when it loses its battery life, it switches off without warning. A real book would never do that :)
I'm still a fan of real books, but I'm starting to hunger for a Kindle. I know it would help with the mess of books on my nightstand!
Pia C - thanks for your input. I guess with a Kindle you have to stay ahead on the battery recharge. Maybe have a certain day when you recharge it as a habit. Thanks!
lisa42 - I know a lot of people who have and read both Kindle and traditional books. Thanks.
one of the best things about a real book is the comforting smell of the paper, you don't get that with a kindle
I love real books, but the Kindle sans-backlighting is fantastic, convenient, and arm-free. I think real books won't die out completely, but their market share will surely continue to drop.
I love books and I love the feel of a new book. I don't think it would be the same curling up with a kindle to read an old ghost story or murder mystery. Having said that, there are a lot of bonuses from having a kindle - the low cost of books as you mentioned. I also think the environment will be better off if paper books are reduced. But the thing about the kindle - although to be honest I have never used one - seems too much like reading off a computer screen, but maybe you get used to it.
This hub was really fascinating. Voted up!
Hi, Seeker - the screen and font of the Kindle are not quite the same as a regular computer screen and supposed to be more like a real book, on the eyes at least. My problem with the whole e book thing is that we are exposed to way too many electronic screens. Thank you!
Excellent hub! I get into this kind of arguments with a lot of my Luddite, Kindleless friends. Now, I am a bookworm and I bought the Kindle primarily as a reading tool, but I couldn't help falling in love with it (as obvious from my Kindle hub)! Those who say "it's just not the same as holding and smelling a paper book" obiously don't read so much, otherwise they would quickly learn to appreciate the features the Kindle has to offer. It's like saying "You can't use an iPod to listen to music, it's just not the same, listen to some records instead." The medium has changed, but for anyone who loves reading the content is what's important.
On that note, have you noticed that all the pros for printed books boil down to any imagainable use except actual reading?
And a question... Why do I constantly keep reading about Kindle being expensive at $139? I'm from Croatia, not exactly a rich country. I paid almost $250 for my Kindle (when you include shipping, customs and tax) and it's still an investment that saved me hundreds of dollars and endless bookshelves worth of books!
Iggy - actually the Kindle is now $114.00. It just keeps going down. Of course, this article was written with a good splash of humor. Call me a fuddy duddy, but I do love my traditional books. And, oddly enough, my son got out our old record player and was listening to actual records. He was astounded at the sound, so much more intense than what he is used to hearing.
incredible writers like Pantson Fire, who wrote "Zombie Man" and "Girlfriends Undressed" can only be found on Kindles, Nooks and iPads
Bah, my old hard copies (of appx 2,500 tomes) are now collecting dust, the pages slowly yellowing with age and the print fading.
I will never buy another non-digital book ... and have re-purchased all my favorite authors in digital format for my never aging kindle DX library.
John - I 've read about the ability to self publish on ebooks and that offers such a great resource for writers and readers alike! It's a whole new world out there!
Deirdre - well you sure are saving space! Technology often is hard to adapt to once you hit a certain age, though I am coming to see the merits of both the old way and the new. If the electric grid ever crashes, I'll still have all my stinky old traditional books. Thank you for commenting!
Kindles are a scam to the public, they will be able to edit the books as they see fit, imagine authors not being able to really get what they're saying across because there are editors who will remotely edit your book even after its bought, this is all based on control, you loose your kindle, you loose your books, you have books you can have them for a couple hundred years and the only way to edit it is to physically take it, in Germany when the Nazi's took over, they burned books for a reason, because books are powerful.
This isn't just my opinion, but i heard it directly from someone who is connected to the people who are creating these scams.
Methos - well even if they do, I'd hardly call it a scam. Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's criminal. However, if the grid goes out for any length of time, one the battery is used up, you'd be out of reading material.
Vedant - you made some good points about killing so many trees as well as the ease of self publishing. I hope you do well with your novel. You are so young to try something like this! But posting links for personal reasons is kind of frowned on here. Good luck with your novella!
I love the Kindle, but it seems like there's so much more room for improvement. The Kindle Fire is a step in the right direction, but I'd prefer it use e-ink and not be backlit. I want an eBook reader with color e-ink, compatibility with all popular document formats (pdf, mobi, epub, and even the office formats like doc and xls would be nice), lots of hard drive space, multitouch screen and a normal display resolution (even if that means the screen has to be 10"). Is that too much to ask? Apparently it is for now, but I hope somebody is working on it.
DB - I am sorry that I am such a nincompoop when it comes to the new technology, but I do believe there are other devices that would work for you, though it sounds like you really want a lot on a little bitty thing. Having the whole kit and caboodle in one devise does sound convenient though.
Oh, and by the way, I feel as if you don't seem real credible calling yourself that. If you are D B Cooper, then I am the Queen of Sheba. Ha, ha. Thank you for your input.
You'd think you'd hear me say I hope not, because I still do not have one of these fancy devices, and when I read a book I prefer to read one printed on paper. That said, my book, "Dark Whispers," a horror fiction anthology which I edited under the pseudonym Ivan S. Graves, was published in 1998 electronically and the royalties earned per book sold by far outpace what I'd get if the book were in print form. One ponders how many more copies might have sold? Does it offset?
I would suppose that like most things eventually do, the process of reading will graduate to the latest technology to do so. Just like I can't imagine returning to my old Smith Corona, I can't imagine someone in this current younger generation who DOES read electronic books considering holding onto an actual book and flipping pages.
Springboard - I am understanding that self publishing sounds great when you do it that way, if you are able to market the book. And you made a great point. I used to hate to type on the old Smith Corona, which is sitting in the basement still. But I can't help but feel that, surrounded by electronic devices as we are today, when I read, I just need a break from all that. Thank you.
I am sorry to say that I also thought that. But books will stay. Not everyone will get kids one. Kids will still smell the musty ink of an old book. I have had a Sony ereader kindle and nook color. I adore my NOok color. I bring it any and everywhere. Games web, music,apps, Love the amazing connections to my iPhone and pc. But I who love books believe I will always read a real paper book at least a few times a month. Just for the feel and smell. And my extensive library shall not go to waste.
Love my Kindle. Honestly, it's not the packaging I care about so much as the content. To the person who said they did not like the artificially illuminated page of their daughter's Kindle...Kindle pages are not illuminated...they resemble a paper page. Kindle Fire has an LCD screen but that model was not out when the comment was made.
Catberry - well I hope that there will be room for both traditional and electronic reading materials as both seem to have their place. Thank you!
anon - thank you for adding your opinion. When I started this one, I did not realize how many comments would be so informative and helpful!
Well, self publishing is a whole other thing. My book was published by an editor who accepted it. If we're talking about self-publishing, while I like the ease of it, I think it makes the process less inviting for the reader. I think in the publishing world one thing stands true, and that is that some things probably do not get published for a reason. That's not to say that good editors do not sometimes get it wrong. We've seen that many times in the history of some our great writers who's books that finally made it became best sellers were rejected by several editors before one finally got it that it was good enough for the masses to enjoy.
I think self publishing in a forum like this is fine. Self publishing blogs is too. But when it comes to books, I think the standards should be higher, and having an editor choose what's publishable and salable legtimizes the entire field. The more bad books that are self-published are read, the less the reader is willing to give a go to a book that has not been professionally published by an actual publishing house.
Springboard - it's a hard row to hoe, finding an agent, and a publisher, but you are right in that all the great and good books followed those time honored traditions. I used to think that self publishing was sort of pathetic, but who knows? When you think of how so many writers who wound up becoming extremely popular were rejected several times...when you think of how the big houses have certain preferences...and I have read (or started to read) some pretty lousy books that were published in the traditional manner.
Of course being published by an actual publishing house does give credence to a work. And if your work appeared that way, accepted in the traditional way, you do sound like more of a "real" writer.
I think the ebooks are cool, just not sure they'll replace "real" books. Although, with Amazon starting the new "sharing" feature for Prime members, it's definitely a step in the right direction.
What will be interesting to see, and I'm not sure it hasn't happened yet because I haven't researched it, but that is whether or not a self-published book gets optioned and made into a major movie. That would certainly lend credence to SOMETHING. I KNOW this is how many bands have got their start. Beck, for example, recorded "Loser" in his garage.
Of course, back to the books, I'm also going to separate any names from this list of 'potential success stories' that had any notoriety before self publishing. Those, I would suspect, would be a given.
Springboard - that would make an interesting hub. While Indie music has given us people like Beck, how many success stories are out there in the world of writing?
Love this hub: bottom line for me, though, is that i have to have both the kindle and the 'real' book: for whatever the occasion calls.
The kindle is not a book, it is a screen. It is merely the latest example of the incursion of illuminated screens powered by electric fields into every arena of human life. These parasitic devices are rapidly destroying human cognitive function, although the buying public is far from this realization. With a kindle, for example, the experiential learning process is qualitatively inferior than a paper book. As an analogue entity the book encapsulates what IT IS; by comparison the Kindle offers a simulacram only. Learning is compromised - especially in children - because the medium and not simply the message is significant in forging cognitive associations. Learning about the world must include emotional and instinctual comprehension of the "all round" nature of phenomena. And the cold, artificially powered electric glow of the kindle light machine is vastly different from the texture of a paper book engraved with symbols printed with vegetable ink. And this is precisely what people do not grasp; the difference between superficial knowledge and understanding. Understanding necessitates an interface with the real world; connection with physical experience. The screen provides an ersatz window which mimics reality and as such separates the operator (victim) from the latter. The best description of someone living their existence through the screen is onanism.
Navarth - whoah, thank you for your insightful comment. I've been hearing about people who try to teach their kids the alphabet on a keyboard at a computer. What are they thinking? A child needs to touch and feel an actual letter - that a letter does not always look exactly the same, such as A is a, is the round thing with the vertical line on the right. The tactile experience that enables a child to learn is simply not there, when it's all on a screen.
Thanks again for adding your voice to the discussion!
Dolores,
Do you know what is the response to kindle in Latin America? Thanks a lot, Sylvia
Sylvia - oh why do people ask me such hard questions, as if I knew anything! I am wondering about the whole scene my own self. Now you have me thinking. Thank you for that, and for reading and commenting. Sorry I could not help you!
I love my Kindle Fire, but I still enjoy real books. With limited space, I find that it is better to buy books on my Kindle because it doesn't take up a lot of room. However, when I truly love a book, I will go out and buy it so I have that real copy just in case something was to happen to my Kindle Fire.
Like someone stated I feel like somehow I will be betraying my books? this just proves my connection with physical books is a comfort thing and there is no way in this world that I would want the physical book to become obsolete, I also remember my Grandma taking me to the library and the wonder and excitement of been told I could take any book home with me, my second job was in a book shop and I loved it so much but I gave the job up in favour of study. I often walked down to my library to find some reading material but in the last few months I have finished many sections and am now having to wait for book to be transported to my library witch takes a surprising amount of time. My library also has practically no books and does not contain alot of the classic books that come free with the kindle I would also like to point out I only live two hours away from my state city Brisbane Queensland Australia.
My library is quite new and probably doesn’t have 2500 books, its won many awards for being a community hub it has lots of computers probably about 50, 3 group study rooms, a teens section with a playstation 3 and xbox 360 and a children’s book section the same size as the adults reading/dvd/cd section it has been labelled as "The New Age library" and personally I don’t like it i have probably read more books than my library contains and I’m 20. so I have decided to get myself a kindle and read all of the old classics and I won’t be breaking my back carrying round a book when I use public transport, I will still do my rounds of the second hand shops and buy some books there but I don’t think I will buy a new physical book from a book shop again I wanted to by my fav series in paperback and it would cost me allot more than getting a kindle and buying the series I wanted. I don’t have much space or money so this is the option for me also my opinion is “your library is only as good as its resources”
Lisa
i Have to say, i absolutely love reading real books, but the reality of it is, reading a kindle is easier for lazy people like me. Not having to roll over in bed when you have to turn the page or anything like that, and just so easy to change books, pages and such.
linsey - that sounds like a good idea. Books can pile up. I guess the best thing about new technology is that you can have the best of both worlds. Thanks1
Lisa - I too am a library person. All libraries are limited by space. We here can order books from other libraries in the system. Whatever works best for each of us! Thank you!
Mark - if you are too lazy to turn pages then you are the king of lazy! Long live the king! Thank you for commenting!
They already have, well, e-book readers, not necessarily the Kindle..
I've read a book a day since my wee years. I started using my Nook One-touch last year and haven't bought a paper novel since.
The e-paper display on this machine is great. I travel a great deal and there is also the advantage of not dealing with physical books.
I like e-paper much more than I like the color screens. Easier on the eyes. Add to this the ability to pre-order my favorites, instant access, reviews readily at hand, shelves to segregate differing categories of books, a multitude of inexpensive or even free books, environmental concerns, no shipping costs, no waiting list at the library, heck, it's a no brainer...
I do draw the line at text type books. Physical books are much easier to use when doing research where the ability to jump back and forth is an advantage. Color screens are an advantage when reading books where there are color pictures.
Family members who are librarians also use ebooks!!! Oh, and ebooks ARE available at most libraries.
Tony - a friend of mine just got a Nook and she is busy downloading free books - she's having a ball. I was thinking about camping and how it would be great to have an e reader at a camp site. You can cut down on bulk that way. But, then again, we do not use electronics when camping, so....Thanks for the input. I appreciate it!
Dolores, the Nook Simple Touch that I have has a great screen and if your are careful to shut off the wireless when not in use, the battery will last for many weeks without charging even with constant use. So really great for camping. No books on the camping trip?
Tony - Yes books! Thinking the ereader would be great but I don't like to take any electronic devices or games while trying to get back to nature!
LOL, lets see, it is better to chop down one of those trees and make paper, than it is to read an eBook using a reader that CAN be charged using a solar charger?
Tony - sheesh, I go one way then the other, everybody convinces me of their point of view. I sure hate chopping down trees. But the production of plastic and the disposal of electronic devices, which always wind up tossed out eventually, may be harmful. It's all just about what works best for us.
If all books go electronic, I will stop reading.
We don't have to use tree's for paper we can use hemp. Hemp makes great paper and it is cheap and not wasteful.
casey - that's right. We can also use bamboo or recycled paper!
Great hub--I especially liked the cute comparisons you listed between the e-readers and "real books". I love books, love reading them, love owning them, etc. I have recently just received a Kindle as a gift, and I like it. However, it will never replace physical books for me. If I read a book on Kindle and REALLY loved it, I would order a hard copy to put on my shelf. That whole battery thing--nothing can replace turning pages, don't need batteries for that. I think it's great to have both; neither completely replaces the other. Excellent article :) Voted up.
I will continue to buy "real" books. The problem with so much technoligy today is that we are putting many people and jobs at risk. Too many computors now take place of jobs that were once done by people. I hope that Kindle will not damage the book industry to the point where we will put more out of work.
susanm - well I must agree. I still haven't bought an ebook. I think we have enough electronic screens in life. New technology is great, but keeping some of the older ways keeps us (or me) sane. Thank you.
Keith Fontaine - the trouble with technology is that it can overwhelm. I think we need to mix the old and the new, for a kind of continuity. Reading Victorian literature, for example, in the old way, is reading it as it was meant to be read. And new technology can be dehumanizing.
I am a 48 year old man and before ebooks I had never read a book from start to finish. I finished my first book last week and felt totally satisfied and felt ihad achieved something. Most of my books just gather dust on the shelf. Reading electronically felt so natural to me on 7 inch hand held screen. The only downside is I can not pass the book o but only recommend. Nice thing about ebooks is very easy to look up a word and seems a lot more easier to pick up exactly where you left off compared to a book mark that can easily be lost.
Paul - really? That's interesting. If ebooks have made you a reader, for whatever the reason, well good for you. That is so very cool! I usually hear from, or talk to people who started on traditional paper books, then moved on to ebooks. Thanks for sharing the insight.
I am so anti-ebooks that I have started a Read REAL Books Revolution!
My obsession lives on facebook and on a .org webpage.
There is something less humane, less intimate about a plastic ebook.
More power to someone who "reads more" because of them, but to me, ebooks are aesthetically displeasing in every sense, to every sense.
Bre Cregor - well, for some folks, the ebooks really work - for travel and for someone like Paul H above who never really finished a traditional book for whatever reason. But I do feel that we are way too involved in electronics and, despite what they say about the screen, spend far too much time looking at electronic screens. I see the commercials where they have the kids watching movies on the little screens while they are shopping at the grocery store. Will it ever end? Thanks for stopping in!
Just like video didn't kill the radio, I don't think e-books will kill real books.
Gregorious - well maybe the video didn't kill movies, but the radio did kill the piano. Did you know that before radio and phonograph, nearly every middle class home had a piano?
I think there's a place for both; Kindles and their ilk will only get bigger and bigger (especially since you can get the Kindle app for the smash hit iPad and it's various imitators) but some people will always prefer a physical paper book.
I have a kobo e-book reader, but it's been collecting dust. I haven't touched it in a year. Honestly, I just enjoy reading paper books better. E-book readers will not replace real books any time soon. You must remember that the DRM that protects e-books has already been cracked, which means that many people will download the book illegally. It doesn't help that several publishing companies are very slow at converting their print books to ebooks, and some people just go and scan the books themselves and put them online for free. By the time a publisher has released an ebook version of a paper book, people will have already downloaded an illegal version.
Doctor - well I don't know but I have always found the word "ilk" to be a bit disparaging. haha. thank you!
dinosaurdan - well there was just some big stink where several of the big books publishers got into legal trouble for collusion, price fixing on ebooks. But free? You can download older books for free! Me, I get all the free books I want at the local library! Thanks for stopping in and adding your prospective!
I bought my first e-reader over a year a go. The very first one was a KOBO, well actually I bought 2 one for me and one for my daughter. I of course returned mine because of some tech problems. But my daughter still uses hers. I went out and bought the Kindle and let me say it was the best investment I have ever made. Finally for Christmas last year my husband and daughter bought me the Kindle Fire. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Don't get me wrong every now and then I pick up a book just to hear the pages being turned by my fingers and I love it just the same, but my house would be full of books if I would never have invested in an e-reader. My daughter and I both love to read constantly and between the three e-readers we have managed to gather more books then my husband cares for (of course he doesn't read). Now that I am working on my own room in our newly purchased home, I have started to gather our favorites in print for our collection. If anything were to happen to any of our e-readers my daughter and I would more then likely freak.
there is an ongoing ebook reader explosion--ebooks have both immortality and a transient feature--they can be edited by the author on the fly, so, an edition of the book downloaded or purchased a year ago, may be different from that which exists today--ebooks can be edited and improved--new endings can be added
Maria - well they certainly are a wonderful convenience. You don't have to go out hunting for books! Thanks for your input!
John - new endings can be added? Sorry to sound like an old foof but that sounds crazy. The end is the end. No change. Course if you didn't like the end....thanks!
"You can't cut a hole in an old ebook to hide your stash":))This is an awesome hub, voted up, interesting and shared.
Unless I missed it?--there is no mention of the fact that the Kindle also will read ALOUD to you. Just think how many doors this has opened for the blind and those of us that find that our eyes get tired before our minds do?
Yes, my friends ebooks are now the future along side of our computers. You can always keep all your paper books--although the land-fills are being filled with those from the book store's that have closed (Borders)etc.
Authors can easily publish their books with out the hassle and cost of the big publishing houses.
Remember--(you snooze--you loose)
Ginn - well then I did miss something. A book that reads aloud to you would be great for many folks, as long as there is a rewind. I find that my mind wanders if I listen to books, til I get used to that format. But for vision impaired people, or if you are busy doing something, it would be great to listen to a book. I'll have to check this out on a friend's Kindle and see how it sounds. Thanks!
Well it's great and all for those who can afford a kindle. As for me, i have no hope of buying a kindle, i've always depended on my second hand book store to read novels, so there's no possible way to convince me in my life time that ebooks are better than traditional.
Great article.
Marduk - well buying even used books can add up and many older titles are available on ebooks for free! But I'll go you one better, if cheaper is better, it's the public library for me! Thanks for your kind comment.
I think the invention of the e-reader is great. I'm into the whole green/eco-friendly thing, so anything to save trees is good by me. I do miss being able to turn a page in a real book but it's not terribly missed considering I don't have to take up space on shelves with books upon books. Great hub!
I was sceptical about getting a Kindle until my husband bought me one for my birthday.
I must admit I love it and I read with it every day. The finish on the screen is outstanding and its very cleverly done. I am a total convert now and will be ditching as many books as I can for the e version. I do make an exception, my kids have lots of books and I think its important for them to have them.
penguinsNcookies - I know that books can sure pile up and know plenty of people who are almost book hoarders, with them stacked all over the place. Having an ereader certainly could neaten things up. Thank you!
Monopause - oh yes, I think that kids are over exposed to electronics and real books are the best for them. Thanks!
Dobson Level 1 Commenter 22 months ago
Interesting article about the Kindle and real books. I am not sure what the future of real books will be, but i susspect it will take generations for real books to disappear.