I am a bit of a bibliophile, and I was highly resistant to the e-reader at first. Then I got one for Christmas. Now when I go away for the weekend I don’t have to decide in advance what I’m going to read and lug around several pounds worth of books (I read fast; the last long weekend I had I went through 7 books). Instead I just pack one little lightweight device in a cute case, and I’ve got hundreds of books at my fingertips! Plus, our library down here uses the same software to lend e-books. I can check out a new book at 2 am if I wanted to, without ever leaving my house! It’s also easier to read in bed because I don’t have to worry about holding the pages open. Just prop it on a pillow and you’re good to go. I still love the smell of books, and I still buy the occasional paperback, but I have to admit the e-readers are seriously awesome!
I don’t know, there’s just something about holding a hardbound book in your hands. And something about a library. I hope those Kindle’s and Nooks NEVER replace them, but they will. Everything that was or is good is slowly being replaced. Think about it.
I love to read and probably own close to maybe a thousand books or more (both paper and hardback) but I’m soooooooo hoping my husband remembers that a Kindle is #1 on my wish-list for Christmas this year!
I agree 100% with notinksanymore regarding the convenience. My in-laws live in backwoods Georgia and every time we go, we go for a couple of weeks at a time. With nothing to see, nothing to do and nowhere to go while we’re there, I depend on my books to help get me through those days until we come home again. An e-reader would just be so much more convenient to take with me than what feels like a ton of actual books because I’m never sure how many I’ll need while I’m gone. And did you know that books written before 1929 are free? So if you like old classics like “Tom Sawyer”, “Huck Finn”, “Dracula”, “Frankenstein”, “Jane Eyre”, “Pride And Prejudice”, etc., you no longer have to buy them; with an e-reader, you can just download them all for free. So no matter where you go — or for how long — you never have to worry about running out of books to read!
FishStix, there are a lot of pluggers who are quite aware of the latest “advances” in technology, thank you very much – some people just don’t hop onto every fad that comes along.
I never bought into 8-track tapes either, but still have my cassettes…
Dry, RCMinor: Don’t worry. Books will never be replaced. As nice as the Kindle is, its only selling point is the convenience of being able to carry a lot of books in a space the size of one.
Me? I have one, given me as a gift. It’s very nice; with all the free books on Amazon and Project Gutenberg, I have tons of research material at my fingertips no matter where I am.
But I also have a first-edition Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph. No quantity of electrons can replace the more visceral feeling of real paper.
comicgos over 13 years ago
Something about that smell of ink on real paper!
Jolly1995 over 13 years ago
Lots of other people too……they are a waste of money unless you travel a lot.
Misha1995 over 13 years ago
I guess I’m not a real Plugger, then. I think Kindles are the best thing since the printed word.
Actually, I would think Pluggers would appreciate e-readers for their ability to make the print larger. Maybe an idea for a future strip, Gary?
notinksanymore over 13 years ago
I am a bit of a bibliophile, and I was highly resistant to the e-reader at first. Then I got one for Christmas. Now when I go away for the weekend I don’t have to decide in advance what I’m going to read and lug around several pounds worth of books (I read fast; the last long weekend I had I went through 7 books). Instead I just pack one little lightweight device in a cute case, and I’ve got hundreds of books at my fingertips! Plus, our library down here uses the same software to lend e-books. I can check out a new book at 2 am if I wanted to, without ever leaving my house! It’s also easier to read in bed because I don’t have to worry about holding the pages open. Just prop it on a pillow and you’re good to go. I still love the smell of books, and I still buy the occasional paperback, but I have to admit the e-readers are seriously awesome!
chromosome Premium Member over 13 years ago
^I’m with notinksanymore. I still use both kinds of “readers”.
Dry and Dusty Premium Member over 13 years ago
I don’t know, there’s just something about holding a hardbound book in your hands. And something about a library. I hope those Kindle’s and Nooks NEVER replace them, but they will. Everything that was or is good is slowly being replaced. Think about it.
Gretchen's Mom over 13 years ago
I love to read and probably own close to maybe a thousand books or more (both paper and hardback) but I’m soooooooo hoping my husband remembers that a Kindle is #1 on my wish-list for Christmas this year!
I agree 100% with notinksanymore regarding the convenience. My in-laws live in backwoods Georgia and every time we go, we go for a couple of weeks at a time. With nothing to see, nothing to do and nowhere to go while we’re there, I depend on my books to help get me through those days until we come home again. An e-reader would just be so much more convenient to take with me than what feels like a ton of actual books because I’m never sure how many I’ll need while I’m gone. And did you know that books written before 1929 are free? So if you like old classics like “Tom Sawyer”, “Huck Finn”, “Dracula”, “Frankenstein”, “Jane Eyre”, “Pride And Prejudice”, etc., you no longer have to buy them; with an e-reader, you can just download them all for free. So no matter where you go — or for how long — you never have to worry about running out of books to read!
tedcoop over 13 years ago
FishStix, there are a lot of pluggers who are quite aware of the latest “advances” in technology, thank you very much – some people just don’t hop onto every fad that comes along.
I never bought into 8-track tapes either, but still have my cassettes…
wanderwolf over 13 years ago
Dry, RCMinor: Don’t worry. Books will never be replaced. As nice as the Kindle is, its only selling point is the convenience of being able to carry a lot of books in a space the size of one.
Me? I have one, given me as a gift. It’s very nice; with all the free books on Amazon and Project Gutenberg, I have tons of research material at my fingertips no matter where I am.
But I also have a first-edition Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph. No quantity of electrons can replace the more visceral feeling of real paper.