When your ereader goes poof!

So I learned that if funny little lines appear on your Kindle screen then it can’t be fixed by resetting the device. (Trust me, I tried at least 100 hundred times.) And that most likely I inflicted screen damage through too much pressure or extreme heat.

A very, very sad day for me.

I brought it on a weekend trip, hoping to sneak in some reading right before bed or early in the morning. I had just started a book and I was only two chapters into it! I desperately wanted another chapter of it, to get lost in the words before falling into a deep sleep despite the air leaking from my air mattress throughout the night.

Of course there was the two other books I was in the middle of reading too, and don’t forget the numerous freebies and samples that when I don’t have a lot of time, I love reading especially when I’m in the mood to discover new voices.

Recently, I’d been telling myself and others that I read half print and half ebooks. Well, I learned this weekend that I’ve been lying, because when I couldn’t access any of books on my Kindle…I felt bereft.

And now, back at home, waiting patiently for my new Kindle to arrive (which I did receive a discount for, in case you were wondering) (and which I couldn’t do without for too much longer) the sad truth hits that I’m totally addicted to reading in a way I wasn’t before. Read my Indelible post about it here.

So, lesson learned: bring print book with me on vacation too just in case my Kindle goes poof.

And yes, technically, my Kindle didn’t go poof because that would have required wisps of smoke and maybe a bit of magic. Details, details.

Do you read more print or ebooks?

 

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27 Responses to When your ereader goes poof!

  1. Alex J. Cavanaugh July 17, 2012 at 11:30 am #

    I switched to eBooks only when I purchased my first iPad. Sorry your Kindle self-destructed.

    • Laura July 17, 2012 at 1:17 pm #

      Wow. I don’t know many who switched to ebook only right off the bat. Usually, it’s a slow progression.

  2. Natalie Aguirre July 17, 2012 at 12:00 pm #

    So sorry about your Kindle. I’d be sad too if I didn’t have a book to read. I still prefer print books because I like to share them with others and give them away on my blog.

    • Laura July 17, 2012 at 1:18 pm #

      I keep saying I like print better too…

      What I really like best is a great story. I guess I don’t care how I read it. I purchase for price.

  3. Dianne Salerni July 17, 2012 at 12:24 pm #

    That would stink! Bad enough that your Kindle went poof, but to have it go poof on your vacation when you didn’t have back up, that would really upset me!

    • Laura July 17, 2012 at 1:18 pm #

      No kidding. I’ll know better for next time!

  4. Laurel Garver July 17, 2012 at 12:51 pm #

    My sincere condolences! I use my Kindle for not only purchases but also library books–an advantage of being in a large city system is that they loan Kindle books. I have like six books currently part-way read–two novels, three non-fiction how-tos and a devotional. I also have an address book on my Kindle (one of those .99 apps). I’d be in mourning if mine died. 🙁

    • Laura July 17, 2012 at 1:19 pm #

      I don’t know why but I haven’t gotten into borrowing library books yet. I have no idea why. I’m sure I will eventually.

  5. Ansha Kotyk July 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm #

    I realized at the SCBWI conference, when we were trading paperbacks and I had nothing to bring with me, that I have been reading exclusively e-books for the past year. But I’m one of those techy chicks who has been reading e-books since before it was easy or fashionable. Ah, the days of long commutes and my Palm Vx in my hand. *sniff*
    But now I have books on both a Kindle and Nook, if one goes I would be just as upset… I mean access to all those books going poof… and the wait for a new one… inability to read??? omg I’m panicking now… I need to turn on my nook and make sure she’s okay. 😉

    • Laura July 17, 2012 at 1:21 pm #

      Most of the print books I have I’ve won in contest. I haven’t actually bought one in a while. Not that I’m averse to it. I just haven’t found one that seems to meet the buzz it receives and when I have so many books I want to read that are/were less money – I read those.

  6. Donna K. Weaver July 17, 2012 at 2:45 pm #

    This same thing happened to my granddaughter when she was visiting. She about died. She said her kindle was her life (she’s 12). So, I got her a new one–it’s both birthday and Christmas presents, and she did extra chores to help pay for it.

  7. Ghenet Myrthil July 17, 2012 at 4:26 pm #

    I have a Kindle as well, but lately I’ve been reading more print books. I have a bunch of books on my Kindle that I need to start reading soon. 🙂

  8. Lisa Green July 17, 2012 at 6:21 pm #

    Oh that sucks! Sorry. 🙁 I’m missing my charger at the moment. Luckily I use both print and Kindle.

  9. Sherrie Petersen July 17, 2012 at 9:08 pm #

    Bummer about the Kindle. The same thing happened to mine!!

    I also replaced mine, but after my husband bought me an iPad for Christmas, I donated the Kindle to my son’s school. I still read a lot of print books, but I love reading on the iPad at night time because then I don’t have to keep the light on. My husband appreciates this very much! Plus, the Kindle makes a clicking sound when you turn pages. The iPad doesn’t. My husband also appreciates this very much 🙂

    So now I have iBooks, Kindle, Nook and Bluefire Reader all on my iPad. Love it!

    • Laura July 18, 2012 at 1:46 am #

      Very nice. Someday…I never noticed the clicking sound. I’ll have to pay attention to it next time around.

  10. Lynda R. Young July 18, 2012 at 12:58 am #

    I read almost exclusively ebooks now. I still buy print books, but it’s mainly because I’ve read the ebook version and loved the book so much that I wanted a hardcopy of it.

  11. Stacy July 18, 2012 at 1:09 am #

    I’m sorry, Laura. That really stinks. I have a Nook, but I still read quite a few paperbacks. Most of them are ones I’ve stolen from my mom, lol. And I always by paperback craft books so I can mark them up.

  12. Stina Lindenblatt July 18, 2012 at 11:42 am #

    That’s my big fear. I use my iPod Touch, but it’s battery life is short. I was frustrated once when it died before I finished the chapter–the climax. My scream of frustration was probably heard down the street.

    I always take print books on vacation. It has to do with the ‘you can’t read your eReader until seat-belt signs are turned off’ issue.

    Sorry about your loss, Laura.

  13. Leigh Moore July 18, 2012 at 1:31 pm #

    I gotta be honest, I miss print books. But I read ALL my books on Kindle now. Which is good since that’s where MY books will be–LOL! 😀

    But it sounds like you were having more than Kindle problems! Leaky mattress, too? ugh!

    sorry ’bout your ordeal, but hey! Discount! :o) <3

  14. Suzanne Lucero July 19, 2012 at 11:55 am #

    I wasn’t an ebook reader until I got the Kindle for PC app (for free) on the home computer. Then I went through Amazon and downloaded almost 200 of the free books they have there, mostly the classics but a few of the “free until Friday” modern books, too. The problem, unfortunately, is that I have to be at the computer to read, i.e., no reading in bed … or anywhere else. Plus, there are other people who have to use the computer as well, so my time is limited. The main computer is also where I am writing my WIP, so when I was on this computer I had to decide whether I wanted to read or write.

    Then came Christmas and I won a Kindle Fire from a contest on Twitter. I LOVE THE KINDLE FIRE! I not only have access to all my ebooks, but also my email, blogs, videos, and SO MUCH MORE. I’ve even checked out books from the library on my Kindle, which doesn’t make any sounds because I turned the volume down on the apps, although I can still hear movies, YouTube vidoes, and the like.

    On the other hand, I’ve just recently decided that I’ve been neglecting the library lately, I mean the physical library, the place you can walk in to and physically touch books, flip through the pages, read the covers … smell them. So I checked out a stack of books and am in 7th heaven. The one drawback is, I have to have a light on to read. The kindle is back-lit so I can read in the dark if I want to, but with the physical books I can’t read in bed if my DH is asleep. *sigh*

    Long story short: I love my Kindle Fire, but I also love regular books. So sue me for not being a total convert.

    PS Hope you Kindle is in your hot little hands by now. 😉

  15. Susan Kaye Quinn July 20, 2012 at 5:13 am #

    Oh noes! And yes, had the same bereft feeling when my Kindle was stolen. Just …no! Don’t take my books away!! 🙂

  16. Julie Musil July 20, 2012 at 3:27 pm #

    Oh no! How sad! I only read print books…I know, I know, I’m way behind the times. But I still love real pages. Glad your new toy is on its way!

  17. Margo Berendsen July 20, 2012 at 4:07 pm #

    I don’t have a Kindle yet, gasp! But I use kindle apps all the time to read free samples/first chapters. I LOVE THAT!!!

    I borrow heavily from the library and only purchase about 10 new releases a year, most which I intend to pass on for giveaways, so that’s why I don’t buy many e-books yet. But that is slowly changing as I discover more good indies like A Spy Like Me (which I blogged about today!) and Open Minds.

    So far I’m fifty-fifty. I’ve read 4 indies, two of which were great and two of which hooked me with great first chapters but failed to keep me hooked and I gave up 1/3 of the way in. So I’m hesitant to try more until I feel confidant about the reviews. For me, it’s not the price, it’s the time investment… anyway, I digress into a long personal comment, sorry!

  18. Laura Marcella July 20, 2012 at 4:33 pm #

    I read print books exclusively!! I’m sorry your Kindle went poof. 🙁 That’s one of the many great things about print books: no faulty technology to worry about!

  19. Karen Strong July 22, 2012 at 2:34 am #

    Ugh. I hate that. This happened to my Kindle too and it was replaced. Then I broke it in the gym and it was beyond repair.

    I still read my craft books in print and non-fiction but everything else is e-book.

    I can relate to you. I have SO many books on my Kindle right now. If something happened to it, I would feel a little lost. Ha, ha.

  20. Karen Strong July 22, 2012 at 2:36 am #

    This happened to my Kindle too and it was replaced. Then I broke it in the gym and it was beyond repair.

    I still read my craft books in print and non-fiction but everything else is e-book.

    I can relate to you. I have SO many books on my Kindle right now. If something happened to it, I would feel a little lost. Ha, ha.

  21. Leslie Rose July 30, 2012 at 6:05 am #

    I’m about half/half. My friend’s Kindle got wiped out by some mysterious magnetic field on takeoff as she was flying east to go on a cruise. Nightmare.

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