Sara Reyes | Gadgets, Tech Wars, Just Give Me a Book!

This week was filled with excitement, if you're into gadgets. First we had the Digital Book conference, for most of you that was way under the radar. I don't blame you. It was a small group of people discussing the possible formats of the media for our future reads. Debating over what is now less than 2% of the way we acquire and read books. Lots of acronyms were tossed around and you had to be part of the "in crowd" to even begin to understand. And me, I followed it via Twitter (hashtags) and blogs. Hmm, sorta techie if I do say *grin* The other big announcement was the long awaited tablet device from Apple. Yeah, the unfortunately named "iPad." As a woman you will not get the "pad" jokes here and to be honest I never even made the first jump to understand the groans. My age I guess. But I digress. The iPad is either the Kindle killer, the equalizer of all things ebook (getting a single format), or who knows, something close to sliced bread.I enjoyed the marketing video on it, laughed myself silly watching Gwen watch the video and had a few questions. I did spend serious time comparing what the known specs are to how I'd be able to use it in my daily life.

Cause here's the thing. If I can't use it for more than one job it's not worthy
buying. I have never been able to purchase a Kindle or nook or Sony because they
only do one thing, let me read a book. Sure I could make a note or look up a
word, but I have other devices that are part of my life that do that and a book
is handier to tote around, easier to pick up when a I have a minute to read, no
messing with on/off buttons, no positioning it just right to eliminate a glare,
no worrying about a battery charge. To me, these are all valuable concerns, and
if I have less than five minutes to read while waiting for someone to finish or
a really long light, then a beat up book is going to work for me just fine. And
if I drop it, no damage done.

And with a book, at book club I can just find the passage I wanted to share and
pass it around without the worry that fumble fingers will drop the device. See
all really important things! Not that I mean to say anything negative about my
fellow book club members who've bought and ADORE their kindles. And thank you
for the opportunity to let me "try it out." I probably never would have the
nerve. Just being honest.

So, are you excited about the new device, or are you firmly on the Kindle / Sony
/ nook side? Or are you a Luddite and quite happy with what you have, a book as
is? Curious minds want to know!

Until next time...
Get out there and READ a book...
Sara Reyes
DFW Tea Readers Group
Join us at Readers 'n 'ritas November 12-14, 2010! with Sherrilyn Kenyon and more guests
See you on the Twitter (@FreshFiction) PS don't miss Sara Edmonds research on the ebook readers: Sony, Kindle, and nook.

Comments

12 comments posted.

Re: Sara Reyes | Gadgets, Tech Wars, Just Give Me a Book!

Along the lines of "doing more than one thing" with a techie item, I did download the free Kindle reader software for my PC, just to see what reading an ebook would be like. I still like the feel of a hard copy book though..
pennyt@hotmail.com
(Penny Tuttle 4:11pm January 30, 2010)

From what I've gleaned in tech blogs, I still like to hold and touch books. There's nothing like turning the pages of a mystery or a good book.
(Alyson Widen 4:17pm January 30, 2010)

We travel a lot and a reader of any kind takes up less space than 20 or so books!
(Karin Tillotson 4:20pm January 30, 2010)

I am a book in hand person & have no great desire to change this. Especially as some new wizardry arrives all the time.
(Mary Preston 5:34pm January 30, 2010)

I'm still a paperback/hardcover book reader,but I do have a few ebooks downloaded to my computer. An Ereader is out of my budget;if the price comes down I'll consider getting one.
(Leni Kaye 5:43pm January 30, 2010)

I'm still stuck on my "paper" books, but I'd love to find an affordable way to read books electronically. I ran out of space to store real books years ago; otherwise I'd love to continue with old-style books.
(Sigrun Schulz 6:12pm January 30, 2010)

I see I'm in the majority, for once! Give me the "old-fashioned" book any day!! Admittedly, it may be more because I can't afford any of the e-readers currently available, nor is the kindle download for the Mac available yet, but it's all a moot point, because I tend not to buy anything online.

Later,

Lynn
(Lynn Rettig 6:27pm January 30, 2010)

I really love my Sony reader. I save money and space in the house. I am a true convert.
(Katherine Ingram 7:01pm January 30, 2010)

I love the feel of a book in my hand, problem is when you have thousands of books they take up a lot of space. I do like reading the ebooks on my Kindle over reading them on my pc as the E-ink screen doesn't make my eyes hurt. With the iPad, yes, I wish I would be able to do more than one application at a time. Until then I'll stick to my Kindle and separate laptop.
(Summer Sharp 7:37pm January 30, 2010)

I can see where my children's
generation would feel that
they must have an e-reader but
not me. I like the feel and
smell of a book. I like to be
able to read in the tub, at
the pool, at the beach and
anywhere anytime that I might
have to wait a minute. If I
drop it- so what. If it gets
wet-so what. For the price of
a Kindle, I can buy about 50
paperback books. Then I can
pass them on to others to
share. Nope, just don't ever
see an e-reader in my future.
(Lisa Richards 7:56pm January 30, 2010)

I love reading and I love my books; that doesn't mean I wouldn't love to have an reader, I would. But at this time they are too expensive and I can wait till the prices drop, since I still love my books.
(Diane Sadler 8:39pm January 30, 2010)

I love my books but would love a reader!
(Brenda Rupp 9:44pm January 30, 2010)

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