(I originally posted this on bub.blicio.us, but I want everyone's input)
Since it's Banned Book Week, and because we should all step away from our computers and read some books, I thought I'd talk about eBook readers. Really, I want your opinion on them.
I've
gone on record several times and in several places as saying I could
never use an eBook Reader like the Kindle. Then I wandered into Borders
Books over the weekend and ran smack into a display for the Sony eBook Reader.
My husband had a heck of a time dragging me away from the display unit,
as it was my first hands-on encounter with an eBook device.
I was impressed - amazingly impressed - by the size of the unit. It was slightly larger than a paperback book, but amazingly thin and light. The screen, with the special e-ink (my husband said something about solid state graphics or something), was easy to read. It was just like looking at a page in a book. In fact, I found it slightly easier to read than a page in a book.
I found myself wanting one. I can't believe it. I love books. I love the feel of a book in my hand and the musty smell of old books. So I'm surprised at myself. It comes down to this. As a Web Worker, I'm on the go a lot. I've always got a book, newspaper, or magazine (or all of the above) in my briefcase, along with my Macbook and it's necessary accessories. An eBook device would cut down on the number of things shoved into my briefcase. With the Kindle, in particular, I could actually download and read the newspaper without getting covered in news ink or dealing with the unweildy and impractical size. With either device, I could easily bookmark my place.
I'll be traveling a lot (for me), over the next year, including two trips to California, a trip to Las Vegas, and quite possibly a trip to Seattle / Alaska. None of these places are close to Cincinnati, so I'll be spending a lot of time on a plane. In my carry-on, I usually have at least one newspaper, two magazines, and two books, with more books in my checked luggage. An eBook device would free up that carry-on space for something else - or for nothing, which is even better.
I haven't read a blogger review of the Sony eBook Reader, although I'd like to. My friend Jason, however, has written a rather glowing review of the Kindle. His review has made quite an impact on me - he's a librarian. Granted, he's a bit more digital than a lot of librarians I know, but really, his world is books and he loves his Kindle.
My biggest issue right now is price. The Kindle, in particular, seems extravagant at almost $400. I'd love to get my hands on a sample machine to use for a bit to see if it's even worth $400 to the average user. Would I really use it all the time or just for travel? $400 is a lot if I'm not going to use it on a daily basis.
So tell me, would you switch to an eBook device? Do you have thoughts on whether you'd use a Kindle or Sony or something I haven't yet stumbled across? Tell me what you think in the comments below.
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Cheers!
Find Michelle Lentz here on Write Technology, on Twitter, Pownce, and FriendFeed. You can also catch Michelle presenting on Twitter at the upcoming DevLearn '08 in San Jose.
