I’ve been using the Kindle for about a week now and contrary to what this article says, I actually have been getting a lot of reading done. As much as I love the smell of books and they way they look on my shelf, I’m starting to understand the appeal of an e-reader. For one, it’s eminently portable and since I spend an hour on the tram everyday, the device is starting to seem more and more like a great purchase.
I’d briefly considered getting myself a tablet device but then decided against it because face it, it’s hard to get any real reading done on a device that offers such lively distractions as fart synthesizers and pissed finches.
The reading experience itself is quite non-intrusive; you hardly feel you’re reading on a device that uses electrically charged microcapsules but instead, feels a lot like a book (now and then, I try ‘turning the page’ before realizing a click suffices). The screen contrast makes for pleasant reading and unlike devices with OLED screens, the Kindle works great outdoors.
The firmware however could use a bit of tweaking but for most purposes, is quite intuitive. It also comes with an experimental browser which is pretty useless and by the time it loads a page, I’ve done more on my phone’s browser. One of the great things about Amazon’s Kindle is the brilliant Kindle store (with a catalog of around 670000 books) and while some of the prices do seem a bit much, works out cheaper for me considering I don’t have to shell out for shipping costs.
Frankly, I never thought I’d get an e-reader but one week and 4 books later, I’m glad I did.
[Pic posted on my Flickr account]
Dude, movie buff that you are, I would have expected you to get the iPad.
Movie buff that I am, I'd rather watch a movie in the confines of my living room.
I totally envy you…
You could get one too; it isn't that expensive.
Fair enough. I'd just like to try one first before I order it – and so far, I haven't had the possibility to see one in the wild yet, let alone touch one.
I've never been able to read a book off an LCD/LED screen for more than an hour tops; I did manage to finish a few Cory Doctrow stories using Aldiko on my phone, but still.
And yes, an e-ink screen does make a lot of difference when you're reading on public transport even; way less strain on them eyes and not to mention the the lack of screen glare. I did consider buying a tablet but honestly, I cannot think of any real utility apart from reading that I can't depend on my Nexus One for. And when Amazon came out with the wi-fi model for 139 bucks, that pretty much cliched it.
Here's my problem – For me, reading a book doesn't involve just the consumption of words on paper. The act of reading itself – the ritual of opening it, turning it's pages etc., is as important to me as the ideas and world's presented within. Also, I love to display books on a bookshelf.. ;P
Sure, there is the argument of convenience – that the e-book reader let's you carry so much in such a small form factor, that it's easier to carry and consume content on it, that it's resolution is better than that of most printed paper. But I don't think they are enough for me to switch to one.
Having said all that, I'd always considered you as having a similar aversion to e-book readers as me. But this post now makes me want to re-consider my own stance. So much so, that I am greatly tempted to order one on Amazon.
Like I said, I like books too but it was getting very difficult (and expensive); besides I was getting to a point where I preferred my mp3 player over a book when heading out.
I'd recommend an e-reader only if you spend a lot of time outdoors or commuting which I do.
What Joe said.
Except, I will resist the temptation, and continue to work on my plan for The Room Walled with Books and Books.
I thought I'd get one too after seeing yours but then realised most of my coursework related books are in epub or pdf formats. So it's either the ipad or another laptop and I really don't see myself walking around with an ipad.
I just might get a Macbook next month.