Kindle v Books

You thoughts please? I know I was dead against this 'new technology' arguing that nothing could replace my precious books. Guess what....I've changed my mind!

Like most other aspects of technology I fully embrace digital reading. I currently have Ulysses from gutenberg.org on my iPhone, The Orchid House on my wife's Kindle (reading 'over her shoulder') and The Life of Pi on my daughter's Nook.

However, I could never give up the simple pleasure of turning pages. I have three or four books at any given time that I read: one beside the bed, one in each bathroom & a couple at work.

Haven't used the Kindle but have read some books "online". Reading online was okay but like Larry, I will never give up my books. I have been an avid reader since age 5 or 6 and now 70. There is nothing like reading a book and dozing off holding the book close to your body, hugging it like a lover, lol.

There is a place for both, the Kindle like devices and books, the important part is to have people READING no matter how the material is delivered to them. If you cannot read, you are at a great disadvantage in society and day to day life.

I have never used a kindle either but I can see the benefits in both. Because certain books are hard to find. But for me there is something special about a book. For me you feel more close with the characters. :)

I love both!

Kindle - I keep mine in my purse so I can have access to it when I'm out and have some spare time to read. I love it because I can also find books that don't come in my local stores.

Books - I will never give up my books, I have probably 300 or so. Even with my kindle, I still buy books galore (something my fiancee doesn't understand lol). Just holding the actual book and turning the pages, the smell of them... is just alluring to me.

I will never give up on books either, they are too precious. I think though that there is room for both 'technologies' to co exist.
Words stored in a digital form have no warmth or attraction, discarded easily, and at times seemingly comtemptuously, like every other piece of digital reading.

Books though are forever, and form a much more meaningful and personal, often warm attachment to the owner.
Something permanent in this now, throw away world we live in.

Peter..

I understand either sides, but anything could convey the objective better , which is the context, in this regard, has the way to future. But my personal feelings is toward books, as the cave man to his cave!!

Great topic Hellon and agree with so many others who posted before me.

I don't think it's odd to say that there's a certain "smell" a book has, whether new or old. I love feeling it too. It also makes the reading moment more personal in my opinion.... reminds me of always bringing one in my purse for grade school and high school. Plus, it's so easy to share and talk about if someone asks what you're reading or make comments. I actually got a Kindle fire last year out of luck, wasn't planning on getting one but was a prize, so I use it mostly for music at school, games, internet. Because I'm pretty cheap, I just look for free books. Some are good and some aren't that great. I do like how convenient it is if I ever am waiting around and need something to read, not too mention I'm sure the Kindle prices are better than bookstores. I can't even buy a book full price at Barnes and Noble unless it's one I know I will treasure forever because it ends up being 18 dollars or so. So for easy reading of books I'm not too familiar with, I go Kindle. But if it's part of a series (and I re-read books a lot) then I will definitely get a hard copy because I know I won't be disappointed, and want to keep it for a long time.

I think tangible books will always be around, for sentimentality if nothing else. I think e-readers will be efficient and that print won't become extinct or wasted.... I think they can work alongside, after all one is more traditional but it evolves like us, and that shows growth.

Thanks to all who have responded so far. It would appear that most still love their books and that's good to hear. I was given(under much protest) a kindle for Christmas and managed to ignore it for most of January...then, I bought myself a halogen oven and wanted a cook book for it so I ordered one online and waited three weeks for it...my daughter ordered the same book from her kindle and had it instantly for a quarter of the price I paid so...that kicked my backside enough to pick this gadget up and have a closer look a it LOL!!!

So far I have more than 80 books stored and it only weighs 250 grams...can you imagine how heavy 80 odd books would be? I'm just loving it for now and wonder why I was so stubborn!!!

I'm also wondering how much it costs to download books from country to country? I've been told Australia is quite expensive compared to other countries but...I'm really not sure?

I don't own a kindle yet I have had access to it as one of my colleague owns one. So I know well how it feels to read through that and I think technology has tried reigning over our lives through just every aspect. I like reading through a Kindle yet I like books, their smell- yes!

But then I agree with Hellon to a large extent. Its lightweight and can contain a lot of books and one can buy many books online and read on it, it has an awesome book feel, its mobile and so much! It really has an impact.

In my mid 40's I am experiencing bad eyes... with books my glasses are not helping much, with my Nook reader, I can blow the font size up to extra large and read away without my glasses... So I am currently just reading books from my nook. I do love books but for me, the nook is the only way I read :-)

If you look at this from the point of view as a writer I think you would opt for printed. Kindles (other E-readers are available) are great for the 'want it now, want it quick' society we now find ourselves in. However if I was to ever finish a book, then I would like to see it sitting in printed form on my bookshelf, rather than hid away in the depths of the kindle.

Kindles are awesomely convenient, but nothing beats the smell and feel of books.

What I miss most about using things like iPods and Kindles is the lack of visible, tangible, accessible documentation of your history.

I love looking at my old books, CDs, cassettes and DVDs on my shelves. The older collections of vinyl and VHS. The autographs, the posters, the sought-after lyrics and photos. Stained and faded and torn, cracked, chipped, melted. Some in mint condition, some given as presents, only used once. A record of all the bands I once loved, still love, never listen to anymore... but definitely THERE as a unique, integral part of me. Books, films and music are like photos to me - I like being surrounded by the memories they bring. I also like looking at other people's things and marvel at how different or alike we seem to be, according to our shelves.

It's just not as fun and precious collecting things in digital form. I definitely am not against it though. I've always been a path-of-least-resistance kinda girl. Am yet to get a kindle, but I'll probably get there.

The Last Hunger Game book & the Divergent series cost Jessica about $7 - $9

book in Less demand cost her $3 - $5

Ooooh, was it a first edition?
:)

I suppose if there is an urgent need to read a book as soon as it comes out, downloading is the most convenient, cheapest (and greenest) way to go about it. Almost all the books I read are from the library or op shop, both wonderful things filled with the smell of book brew and the chance of a find- very good for the soul.

My main reason to consider buying a kindle is because I travel a lot, and easily read two-three books just getting across the Indian Ocean. But then I do love the book swap system I see in most hostels... Moving toward e-books might mean that you are reading exactly what you want, but does it also perhaps narrow your field of vision brought about by physical randomness and exploration? Like finding an interesting book sitting next to your favourite author at the library? Being forced to read a book through a book-share system and finding you like it?

Somehow the technologically-generated "Books you may also like" or "Customers who bought this also bought" isn't quite the same thing.