Hello, my lovely readers, and welcome to another great week. I hope that your weekend went really well and that you feel refreshed and ready to go 🙂
I have a question for all of you out there. What do you think of e-readers, specifically the Kindle? My mother-in-law has the Kindle DX and she absolutely loves it. I’m considering purchasing one, but I’m not sure.
When I first heard about the Kindle, I’ll admit that I turned up my nose. The idea of reading off a computer screen didn’t sit well with me. I can be a bit of a purist and thought, “Hmph! I like paper books, thank you very much! None of this Kindle crap for me!” And then I saw my mother-in-law’s and I was impressed. It’s convenient, easy on the eyes, and lightweight. I’m a big reader and the thought of having one device that holds a lot of books is quite appealing to me. Also appealing is the fact that I can get a new book anytime I want.
There are a few drawbacks. For one, there’s our move to New Zealand. Now, from what I can tell the Kindle would still be usable in Auckland, but I would have to pay a $1.99 fee whenever I download a book. However, this fee can be circumvented if I download first to my computer and then transfer it to my Kindle. Not quite as convenient, but still very nice. There’s also the issue of price. The DX is $489.00. Yikes.
Chris has said that if I really want to get one, then I can, but with the understanding that from that point on I start purchasing the majority of my books in e-book format. I don’t know about that. There’s something so nice about having a book in your hands, you know? And I love books! I collect vintage books, for Pete’s sake! It seems almost sacrilegious, but I understand his point. Why invest so much money in a device if you’re going to continue buying paper books?
I’ve been thinking about all of the ways in which I would use it – long flights to and from New Zealand (that’s a 24 hour flight one-way, and I can read a lot of books in that time-frame), those times when I’m in New Zealand and have no idea where the closest bookstore is, those times when I really don’t feel like driving to the bookstore or waiting for a book to come in the mail if I order it online… the list goes on and on. I also like the fact that there are many free e-books out there.
So what do you think? I know that some of you own a Kindle. Do you like it? If you don’t own a Kindle, do you wish that you did? Do you think that they’re a good idea or a bad idea?
Hi there – I’m moving to NZ (Christchurch) in a month. My husband is a structural engineer and his US company opened an office there because of the rebuild.
I’m not shipping any books with us and am planning on buying a Kindle. I’m curious if you ever got one and how it’s working for you in NZ. I’d buy mine here (less than $80 now! so hard to believe), but I’m wondering about being able to download new books to it from Amazon. Can you tell me how that might work from NZ?
And on a second note, can you ship to NZ via Amazon. I heard that there was “no amazon” in NZ, but I’m not sure that is correct.
Thanks for your time!
Alyssa
And, i feel like I’ve been meaning to tell you thank you for something that you said recently, but my brain is completely fried and I can’t really remember what it was … but, thank you for always leaving such nice and supportive comments! 🙂
Apparently the ipad is going to be like the kindle on steroids … with a color screen. So … since its going to $499 and you’ll be able to do so much more with it than just read … I’d hold off! Just a thought. 🙂
I’m going back and forth, too. I love the smell and feel of books and I love to have full shelves, but sometimes it would be more convenient to have it in digital form. One of my friends just got the B&N version, The Nook, and she is in love with it. I have also heard whispers that some RSS feeds are available on these contraptions….that would be nice. I’m still struggling with how expensive they are, though. I
Oh my gosh, I too have been having this debate. My hubby actually bought me the sony e reader for christmas, but returned it because he heard me making comments on how I loved Loved LOVED to read paper books and turn the pages. I also thought that it would be difficult to read because of the screen. My boss showed me her Kindle, and I became instantly regretfull of my comments. Now I wish I had one. But in truth, it would not stop me from buying books. I love the smell of old books and buying used books and seeing other people’s written comments or underlined segments! I can’t wait to hear if you get on and if you like it . keep us updated!
I own a Sony Reader and I love love love it and use it all the time 🙂
I really like the idea of the Kindle, but there’s nothing like going to a bookstore picking out a book and then owning it forever and ever! I love owning my books! It’s why I hate to even borrow books from someone else. I never want to give them back! But it is really convenient…
I’ve been having the Kindle debate for a few months now. I love the feeling of a paper book in my hand…but the Kindle looks so cool, and will end up saving money and space over time.
Everyone I know who has one loves one, and although I can understand the convenience of it, for me I don’t read a book for convenience. I go to McDonald’s for convenience, or choose the grocery store closest to my house even though it’s more expensive for convenience. But I read for the experience, the escape of it. I read to feel the weight of a book in my hands, and to smell the pages (I love the smell of both new and old books), I read to know that as the number of pages I’ve turned progresses then the story is drawing to a close and the issues will be resolved. I red to be entirely enclosed in a book, because the experience of holding paper in my hands and feeling the weight and texture of it is entirely other to what I do during my workday. I spend so much time on my computer at work, that the idea of coming home and turning on a kindle to read, makes it feel less “other” and more a continuation of what I do at work all day. So for me, unless I had a job or a life that required me to travel (i.e. fly across the country once a month or more), I prefer to read my books on paper. And if the book is heavy or large to haul around then that’s perfectly fine with me!
A friend of ours has one and LOVES it. I just can’t seem to wrap my mind around reading a book on a computer screen. Cracking open a book is such a comforting feeling that I just don’t think I can make the switch.
Good luck with your decision! If you decided to make the switch I look forward to hearing how you like it.
My decision rests on the Kindle’s ability to store and categorize the equivalent of margin notes. I have an unshakable need to mark my books. If the Kindle can keep my notes in order, I’m sold.
Would you need the international version for NZ?
I am with you! I’m a romantic, and I love the feel of the book in my hands!
But I have to tell you, I’ve heard tons of people who own the Kindle…love it.
I like paper books like you but the good thing about the Kindle is that you don’t have to keep finding room for all the paper books. I would like one but can’t see spending that much for one. Let us know what you choose 🙂
I was like you – turned my nose up at it instantly… but hearing so much about it, my interest is piqued… not sure what I’m going to do, but definately looking into it now