E-reader first thoughts

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Have borrowed a Sony E-reader from a colleague as I’ve been asked to read an unpublished book by my editor. Now I’ve only had it a day, but my first thought was almost immediately ‘this is such a dull machine’. It lacks any of the elegance of an actual book, and looks boring and functional. Not complaining about how it works, though it isn’t great, but I’m not sold on the concept at all. Seems to me a great tool if you work in publishing and need to read lots of manuscripts, but I can see how lots of people I know are expecting the ipad to kill off b/w competitors because there’s a bit more beauty in the product. Conversely, of course, an ipad probably won’t be any use to me because I need glasses to look at a computer screen but don’t for the grey e-reader screen, but I realise the worldwide market can’t be built around me…

12 thoughts on “E-reader first thoughts”

  1. I looove my Kindle

    I love the Kindle I bought for Christmas. A fraction of the iPad’s price, the e-ink is amazing and the battery goes for ever.

    What sold me on the e reader here in RSA is seeing Pratchett’s new hardcover going for R 300.00. Two years ago it was R 230.00 max for a hardcover book. The prices are getting insane.

    Now I can read everything and anything, at a reasonable price.

    I’ll still buy my favourite author’s stuff in published form though. Gotta complete the collection you know…

    RSAshark

    1. Re: I looove my Kindle

      Well yes, that does make sense. I know at work we’re getting killed on the Rand exchange rate so presumably prices have had to reflect that, and still everyone loses!

      1. Re: I looove my Kindle

        I agree, books cannot be replaced by ereaders. However where I am (New Zealand) a new release is $30 NZD upwards, I forked out $40 NZD for The Ragged Man – once I managed to find a shop that stocked it. With my Kindle I can get Ebooks for anything from $2USD with most being around 12-15USD (15NZD), which makes it very worth my while. It also means that I dont have to carry a large book on the ferry with me to work :)

        1. Re: I looove my Kindle

          Yeah, and while actual costs of the physical book are only 10-20% of the list price, you’re being hurt by the obsession with discounting that’s driven up the price of books.

  2. I looove my Kindle

    I love the Kindle I bought for Christmas. A fraction of the iPad’s price, the e-ink is amazing and the battery goes for ever.

    What sold me on the e reader here in RSA is seeing Pratchett’s new hardcover going for R 300.00. Two years ago it was R 230.00 max for a hardcover book. The prices are getting insane.

    Now I can read everything and anything, at a reasonable price.

    I’ll still buy my favourite author’s stuff in published form though. Gotta complete the collection you know…

    RSAshark

    1. Re: I looove my Kindle

      Well yes, that does make sense. I know at work we’re getting killed on the Rand exchange rate so presumably prices have had to reflect that, and still everyone loses!

      1. Re: I looove my Kindle

        I agree, books cannot be replaced by ereaders. However where I am (New Zealand) a new release is $30 NZD upwards, I forked out $40 NZD for The Ragged Man – once I managed to find a shop that stocked it. With my Kindle I can get Ebooks for anything from $2USD with most being around 12-15USD (15NZD), which makes it very worth my while. It also means that I dont have to carry a large book on the ferry with me to work :)

        1. Re: I looove my Kindle

          Yeah, and while actual costs of the physical book are only 10-20% of the list price, you’re being hurt by the obsession with discounting that’s driven up the price of books.

  5. Ehehehe. Thanks for sharing this. I’m having a great time imagining the situations where Skippy was informed that “I am not in need of a more suitable host body” or “Our Humvees cannot be assembled into a giant battle-robot.” Made up or not, this is great for giggles. Much needed today, so thanks! :)

  6. Ehehehe. Thanks for sharing this. I’m having a great time imagining the situations where Skippy was informed that “I am not in need of a more suitable host body” or “Our Humvees cannot be assembled into a giant battle-robot.” Made up or not, this is great for giggles. Much needed today, so thanks! :)

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