K is for Kindle.
I am extremely happy I bought an e-reader device. I love it. And I hate. And you’ve probably heard me say things like this before. And I’m pretty sure I don’t use it to its full capacity. But I’m okay with that.
Why I love it:
- I love downloading samples before purchasing.
- I love downloading samples just to study openings.
- I love reading my work on it while taking notes.
- I use the text speech option to catch typos in my own work.
- I love reading beta manuscripts on it so I’m not sitting at my computer for hours.
- I love downloading free books or reduced books that are part of a popular series. I’ve purchased Wicked Lovely ,Wings, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, Dreaming Anastasia – all for nearly free or free.
- When I’m breaking down a book to study structure, it’s much easier to hold my Kindle in my lap with a notebook and pen, rather than a hardcopy.
Why I don’t love it – because hate is too strong a word:
- After reading it, I can’t flip through and find certain sections when I’m studying structure and writing technique. I can go to chapters but it still takes longer.
- After reading, I have nothing to show for it.
- I can’t pass books along to friends, my library, or give away on my blog.
- I miss holding the copy in my hand and looking at the real cover. For me, carrying a book is just as easy.
- I have no desire to give my children another electronic device with internet access. And I won’t until books are no longer in print. #mylibraryisawesome
- If I love a book, I end up wanting a hard copy.
- Often, the price is equal to the hard copy. If so, I buy the hardcopy to pass on or to horde.
- As you can see the love outweighs the dislikes. So I’m glad I own one. And who knows, maybe someday I’ll purchase only e-books. #don’tthinkso
Do you own a Nook or Kindle? What are your thoughts on it?
I want a kindle too. But I will always want to hold a real book in my hand. For the reasons you mention I am a page lover at heart.
I can really see the advantages. In particular, I see how reading betas and other MSS would be great on a kindle. I don’t have one yet, and don’t see it in my near future, but like you I don’t ever see myself NOT getting the hard copy if I love a book. I do love the idea of being able to download a first chapter. #ilovemylibrarytoo
We grew up with books as did my kids – I’d think they’d all love the page. Though, they have grown up with more technology!
I don’t own one. I’m still torn with the whole holding the book in my hand and staring at the pretty covers on my bookshelf.
I see the pros, I’m just not there yet.
I use my iPod touch for downloading Kobo books (long story why I support Kobo).
Mostly I use it for romantic suspenses. I still prefer to buy the hardcopy for my YA novels, partly so that my 11 yo can read the book if he’s interested in it.
I recently bought the hardcopy version of City of Fallen Angels. Inside was the letter Jace wrote to Clary in the last book. It was a separate page that literally fell out of the book (like a real letter). This letter was not available on the ebook versions. It wasn’t necessary for the story, but fans loved it. 😀
Christine – They aren’t a must have!
Stina – yes, there are certain types of books I end up buying as ebooks. But that’s why I like it.
I think you get more use out of your Kindle than I do my Nook. I would love it more (I already love it a lot) if I could use it for beta reading, like you say. #can’tleavecomments
Laura,
I use a Sony Reader for a number of reasons. It supports all the formats I use most (pdf, rtf, doc, txt, epub, etc.) so I can read almost anything on it and download books for it from almost anywhere. My favorite feature is eBook lending support from our public library! 🙂
The touch screen and included stylus make taking notes (and doodling) on the go easy. This includes doing actual markups right on the text.
I didn’t go with the wireless edition on purpose. I didn’t really trust myself not to go broke purchasing scores of ebooks on the spur of the moment. Even so, with a few clicks I also have access to my entire eBook library on my iPod Touch for when I’m on go and have WiFi access (borrowed eBooks too!)
I would LOVE to have the preview feature at my fingertips, but I’ve been able to get excerpts at Amazon for the most part when I want to see first lines.
All said, I’ve still got my eye on an iPad as an all-in-one device for nearly everything I do now, including writing.
Thanks!
So funny. i was going blog about this today too! I think for me, the cons are winning right now. But that may be because I haven’t figured out all the functionality yet.
I love my Kindle, for all the same reasons you do. But books in print will always be a my first love. The cover art, scanning over the publishing page to the feel of crisp paper on my fingertips. Priceless:)
Nope. My best friend and my brother have one though, and they really love it. So I’ve played around with theirs to see what all the fuss was about, but I have no interest in getting one. I love real books! Nothing can replace my ink & paper friends. 🙂
All those reasons are valid. I didn’t know you could use it as an editing tool though, which makes me lean even more towards buying one (I was already leaning). It’s going to win eventually. Not now, but as our children will grow, the Kindle will get into their culture and paper will go out of style (it’s already getting to be). Maybe not in our lifetime, but under a hundred years for sure.
a kindle would be a good thing for me. First of all, I have no more room for books in my book case. SEcondly, there are very few books in english available at my book stores around here which means ordering off amazon and waiting for them to come in. It’d be so much easier just to download them!
Well, in a hundred years if paper will totally be out of style, I’m glad I live when I do. I can just picture it, I’ll be the fogey ole grandma, who refuses to give up her books!
What a brilliant idea using the text to speech option for your own work!!!! I’m going to try this. I have major Kindle love….
omg! Perfect!!! I have a kindle, and the parts you listed as “not liking” (b/c you’re right “hate” is too strong) are the same things I’d say! And the book-edge flicking. I’m a book-edge flicker, so I hate not being able to do that… 😀 <3
I’m starting to think about it. I’d also like to read beta mss. on it. I’d be afraid to buy until I was sure I knew all the questions to ask about Nook vs. Kindle. I already know some of the differences, and lean to Nook, but did NOT know you can’t beta-read on it (because you can’t comment?). That’s why I’m not ready to buy. I could end up with a reader that doesn’t have features I want. I don’t believe e-readers will replace print books anytime soon. They are simply an alternate form. Most avid readers are still in love with print.
You do even more with your Kindle than I do with mine!
I actually prefer the iPad for reading because it’s backlit so I can read at night and not keep my husband up, and turning pages is completely silent. The click of the Kindle, soft as it is, annoys him when he’s trying to sleep 🙂
I haven’t gotten around to purchasing a Kindle yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. I’m with you on not giving my children another gadget though, at least not until they’re much older. Mine are still young enough to really like cover art/pictures (and really, so am I!)
I’m madly in love with my Nook for the same reason. I use the Download Sample feature as a to-be-read list. If I come across a tweet or blog post extolling a certain book I search in Barnes and Noble (you can download the little BN search for your toolbar, sooo helpful!) and download the sample while I’m at my computer. In the evening, during my reading time, I can take a look at any of the samples I’ve downloaded during the day. It’s awesome. I haven’t attempted to Beta on my nook yet, but it’s definitely something I’ll do.
I have Kindle for Mac, so I get some of the benefits but certainly not the portability! I only use it if I’m desperate for a book and I can’t get to the bookstore. Or if I can’t resist a $.99 book.
I second all of the above. 😀
All the reasons you listed for loving your kindle – have me thinking I should get one.
Hello! I haven’t been by in some time.
I want an e-reader for one reason: I can freely spend dollars on books when I know I will have the book in a few minutes. Not so right now.
I always send up a prayer of thanks if a book I won arrives (I don’t buy yet) because I never know if the damned package will make it.
I love the Kindle for the things you also say. It’s great for vacation or traveling.
Text to speech option is totally awesome for proofreding WIPs and betas.
But then, I miss the actual book sometimes. And if I already love an author, I usually buy the book and pass on the Kindle version.
I also miss passing books on to my friends and/or to my public library.
Ummm…We have both! My son likes his Kindle and my daughter loves her color NOOK. I have not used either. They hide them from me.
🙁
I LOVE paper. I mean, I still write in notebooks to work through a scene; sometimes traversing around the paper sideways as I fill the page with all my wonderful thoughts. BUT then again I love my iPad as well. My husband just got the newest edition (he travels so the Skype was a must have to stay connected) 🙂 and I inherited his “old” one.
The thing I love best about reading on it is having all my books on the shelf for instant perusal. And not having to lug my 5 pound Shakespeare book to school just for the sonnets. I can even highlight portions of it during class. One time the teacher walked past…pointed at my iPad and said “Okay, that’s just cool. I didn’t know you could do that.” Yeah, and it’s not permanent like when I do it in my textbook. That can be a good thing when you’re only doing exercises and don’t want it to be there forever. 🙂
I can also retrieve email from multiple sources at once and visit blogs at a click of a button in between classes. A true time saver! 🙂
My K today is also for Kindle. I love mine, and I haven’t even used it for all the things you have. Thanks for the suggestions! 🙂 I agree with you, though, that I want real books for my kids. I think MG and chapter books are going to have a hard time breaking in to the e-book revolution.
I read on my iTouch and would like to do so exclusively, mainly because it’s backlit and easy on my eyes. It may seem too small, but it’s really not. And it fits easily into purse or pocket. (This may sound nutty, but I find myself getting annoyed holding heavy books open.) I do like to donate books to the library and share with friends, so that’s a definite downside.
I’m a Kindle girl. Love-Love-Love it. I always have a stack of books in my purse now. Just started using it to polish my WIP. You’re so right. It is much easier than resting a ten ton hard copy on your lap.
Don’t have a Kindle yet, but am looking forward to the day I buy one! One of my writer friends from critique just listed her first ebook on Kindle. It looks good! And it’s pretty exciting! Though, I think most of us will always love the feel of a book in our hands. Books and See’s chocolate are my weakness. Okay. Any kind of chocolate!
I still want a Kindle or Nook–even though I have an Ipad. I hate writing on the Ipad and reading on it is cool but because it doesn’t have the “eink” it’s not as relxing to the eye.
But if I can have two dislikes, it would be like you said, finding a page I want to refer back to, AND bringing it on vacation to the pool or beach. I don’t want it to get wet and I don’t want to leave where someone could steal it.
I adore my Kindle, and I definitely buy books I wouldn’t have otherwise, because I can download samples and I fall in love. The only things I miss are the ability to lend them to others, and the ability to flip through–I’m having a little trouble with my Lonely Planet.
I don’t own one yet but just to sort of get an idea I got Kindle for my PC. I think the thing I like best so far is being able to highlight and take notes and then FIND them again really easily. Also being able to search the text. I think I will get an e-reader because the mobility will be nice. But I feel the same way: I love real books and if I fall in love with a book I know I’ll want a hard copy. #dontthinkso for me, too
I have a Kindle too and also love it. I agree with both of your lists. I beta-read a friend’s manuscript on the Kindle a few weeks ago and it was so convenient. I haven’t read my own manuscript on it yet but think I will when it’s in the revision stage.
I still love print books more and buy more print books than e-books, but the Kindle is a great alternative for reading!
I’m reading e-books on my iphone–and yes, the screen is small, but when you’re into a book, that stops being an issue. I don’t really want an extra gadget to have to drag around. That said, I still like to read paper books too, and I think it will be a “both and” instead of and “either or” for me for a while.
I love reading all these comments. They’re so helpful. I have so much to learn about e-readers, but I would like to buy a Kindle. An iPad would be nice, but I can’t afford one yet. I had no idea you could do all those things on a Kindle. And hearing about the pros and cons is very helpful. Thanks so much!