Whenever I see anyone reading a Kindle....

[wellyes]

I see Kindles all the time, I take public transportation in Boston daily which is pretty much the exact target audience for Kindle. Part of me think "oh I want one!!" But mostly I can't help but think that those people are reading something they'd like to keep secret. Porn, ooops I mean erotica. Polished, expensive-looking professionals looking thoughtful and pensive while clicking through Star Trek stories or wizards-and-swordsmen-and-dragons stuff. Middle-aged adult men in business suits reading Twilight or Gossip Girl.

Probably not true, definitely not fair, but I can't help myself! And the funny thing is whenever I see a person reading a regular old book with a book cover I assume it's a Bible.

Anyone here have a Kindle? Do you like it?

[Naranjadia]

That's hilarious. It must be kind of fun, matching the people to their probable/improbable reads.

I haven't actually seen anyone with a Kindle yet, but I don't live in an urban area.

[BabyMine]

I really want one now.

[Corie]

I will never get a kindle.

I love the whole feel of a book. I like the weight in my
hands. I liked turning the pages. And I absolutely LOVE the smell
of books. Especially books from the library. :)

If you ever see a woman, reading and sniffing her book, then you
can assume it's me.

[billysmommy]

DH got me the Sony electronic book for Christmas (similar to a Kindle) ~ it was something he thought I would love. I love reading books though - there's almost nothing better than opening a brand new book.

But I absolutely love it for vacations. I can load it up with a few books so I always have something to read and it takes next to no room.

ETA: When I got mine there was a promotion for downloading up to 100 free classics ~ I read my way through Jane Austen and am going through Dracula, Frankenstein and have a bunch of others loaded to slowly read through.

[writermama]

I love books, but I have hand problems so holding hardcovers is painful and even paperbacks are problematic. I would love a Kindle or similar e reader, BUT, I'm waiting until they drop the prices for the books.

Begin Rant.
Sometimes they even price the Kindle version MORE than a print version. Unless they start giving the authors (editors and people who actually produce creative content) a bigger cut of the proceeds, I cannot justify paying the same or more for a book that has none of the manufacturing costs of paper and printing, or the distribution shipping costs or the retail space costs on their end, and that I don't really own after I buy it.

If I buy a physical book. I own it. I can loan it to a friend or donate it to a library, but I can't even read a kindle book on a different eReader that I own, I can't even consider it a household copy or a site license and let my DH read it. I'm not going to pay the $$$ for the device, until they make the price point of the books consistent with the limited use-disposible media product that they're really selling.

End Rant.

[jent]

I love the whole feel of a book. I like the weight in my
hands. I liked turning the pages. And I absolutely LOVE the smell
of books. Especially books from the library. :)


:yeahthat:

One of my favorite Buffy quotes, between Giles (the librarian) and Jenny (the computer science teacher)
Jenny: What is it you don't like about computers?
Giles: The smell.
Jenny: Computers don't smell.
Giles: I know.

[jacksmomtobe]

I'm definitely curious about the Kindle but would probably wait until the price comes down.

Wellyes I laughed at your people watching conclusions. I love to watch people and "figure" out things about them.

[infomama]

I wouldn't use a Kindle for reading books. I look forward to pulling a book off the shelf and turning the pages way to much to start reading books on a device such as a Kindle.

That being said....if it was a little less pricey and I could have all my current cookbooks (many are local/church type cookbooks), recipe cards and favorite online/magazine recipes on a Kindle I would totally go for it.

[hellokitty]

I love books, but I have hand problems so holding hardcovers is painful and even paperbacks are problematic. I would love a Kindle or similar e reader, BUT, I'm waiting until they drop the prices for the books.

Begin Rant.
Sometimes they even price the Kindle version MORE than a print version. Unless they start giving the authors (editors and people who actually produce creative content) a bigger cut of the proceeds, I cannot justify paying the same or more for a book that has none of the manufacturing costs of paper and printing, or the distribution shipping costs or the retail space costs on their end, and that I don't really own after I buy it.

If I buy a physical book. I own it. I can loan it to a friend or donate it to a library, but I can't even read a kindle book on a different eReader that I own, I can't even consider it a household copy or a site license and let my DH read it. I'm not going to pay the $$$ for the device, until they make the price point of the books consistent with the limited use-disposible media product that they're really selling.

End Rant.

I think you just read my mind. Same exact thoughts and rant!

[ellies mom]

My husband an I both have Kindles. He has the first one and I have the second one. Because we have both on the same account, we share an archive so we can share books on both Kindles.

One thing I do like about it is that it is so small. I can just stick it in my knitting bag and it takes up almost no room. I usually can't decide what book to bring so I bring 2-3 and then have no room for my knitting. I love the instant gratification of the free wireless download. I plan on getting two books tonight while reading in bed. I also like the free included dictionary. It is nice to be able to toggle to a word and get the definition without hunting for a dictionary.

I should say that I do share some of the concerns that Writermama mentioned but overall it has been worth every penny.

[kwc]

We surprised MIL with one for Mother's Day but as she loves books, we were unsure how she'd take to it. We thought it would be ideal for her as she likes to read while knitting, travels a lot for work and pleasure, and their house is overrun with her old mystery novels and other books (she reads voraciously but is not really a library user).

So far, she has been very enthusiastic, but I am LOL at the OP, as I snuck a peek at her Kindle when she came to visit a week after Mother's Day... no porn, but 3 different Bibles and 2 books by religious philosophers! One reference book for her work. And not a single mystery novel.

[justincase]

My parents just got me one for a gift. I'm not "allowed" to open it until tomorrow, but I know it's coming. I *never* would have bought one for myself but as a gift... My dad's had one for a while and loves it, and he is the biggest "book guy" I know. I have the same concerns as PP's about the feel/smell of the pages, etc. but I also love the idea of being able to throw it into my bag so easily and of being able to take a bunch of books on vacation without lugging a whole separate tote bag for them like I normally do. I'll let you know how it's going in a few weeks!

Oh, and, about seeing people with books with bookcovers (internet super slow today and can't get quote working)... Reminds me of when Harry Potter first came out and tons of adults commuting on the train were reading it all surreptitiously with bookcovers because they were embarrassed to be reading a "children's" book! :)

[wellyes]

I love the whole feel of a book. I like the weight in my
hands. I liked turning the pages. And I absolutely LOVE the smell
of books. Especially books from the library.

Oh me too, but at the same time, I don't want to be like the people who refused to buy CDs because the preferred the familiar hiss of the turntable, kwim?

My problem with kindle is that you have to buy books! And not even for "used" prices. The library is always free. When I can use a Kindle to buy OR borrow from my local library, I'll be all over it. Until then I'm too cheap.

[Melaine]

I love the idea of the Kindle, but it seems way too expensive, and ITA with wellyes. I am way too addicted to free books from the library to pay each time I download a book. I also love books, especially very old ones from a quality and antique perspective. I love old authors and reading them without the beautiful old covers would probably take away some of the joy for me.

jent, WTG on the Buffy reference!:thumbsup:

[nellonello]

When I can use a Kindle to buy OR borrow from my local library, I'll be all over it. Until then I'm too cheap.

:yeahthat:

[Ceepa]

I love the heft of books. And I don't like bookmarks, I just kind of flip and skim until I find the place I was. Couldn't really do that with a Kindle.

It's a neat idea but if I get around to spending money on a book, then I certainly want to have that book sitting around my house.

[dwray]

I have read more books since I've had my kindle. I love that I can be anywhere and download a book. No need to hook up to a computer. Amazon also let's you download samples of books before buying. Sometimes I have read only samples for days before deciding what to buy. It's perfect for me. I don't have a lot of time so doing a quick search and quick download is better than driving to and browsing the bookstore or the library. I'm all about the instant gratification. I was nervous about the screen and the text and wasn't sure if I would feel comfortable reading. But it's so comfortable on the eyes and in my hands that during the first hour of reading it I actually reached up to the corner trying to turn the page. I would not feel comfortable reading it in the bath tub or taking it to the beach. But I've heard people putting them ziplock bags. The cost of books $9 but I've found some at $6 and even some free ones. And there are the website that have all the free classics. The cost of the kindle is a little high but I don't regret at all. :applause:

[sdjeppa]

I have a Kindle. Love Love Love it. I enjoy it more than I thought I would. It is so easy to take with me, and I really enjoy reading on it - no losing pages, so much easier to hold than a hardback or long book... the instant access to so many books, and the sample downloads to try new books is great.

I do somewhat agree with the book price rant someone posted earlier, but there are a lot of free books/promotions for Kindle books, and you can use other reader formats downloaded from other sites, and have them sent to your Kindle also. I have done that for a few books that were not available on Amazon.

[stella]

I'm a total book snob. Love books. Love old books - love reading them, holding them, smelling them.

But I'm a kindle convert now, so never say never, gals. I just adore it. And so many of my book-loving friends love theirs, too. I think you'd be surprised.

[jren]

We just got one for my dad - he's in his 70s. He lives in the country, small town, and their local paper doesn't cover national news. He downloads Washington Post and Wall St. Jnl., plus a few others, every day and then reads them in large font. He loves it. The cost of a subscription for the newspaper (Washington Post) is MORE than the Kindle, believe it or not, and then he'd get the paper a week or so late. Worth it for him.