I went to a workshop yesterday to learn about e-publishing, and I feel like I've been living under a rock while a revolution has been going on. Yes, I've heard of the Kindle and Sony wireless reading devices, but I didn't really 'get it.' I thought they were like mini computers.
Wireless reading devices are incredible, and the screen looks much better than a small paperback (which I don't even bother with any more - they kill my eyes) you can bump up the font size and there's no glare.
benefits of wireless reading vs traditional:
- carry multiple books, newspapers and magazines with you anywhere (limited selection of magazines and newspapers - no Canadian content)
- look up any words you don't know in an online dictionary
- mark passages, make annotations, and then download them
- buy books online and download them immediately! (with the Kindle in the US you can do this wirelessly)
+ no more stumbling around the bookstore trying to find something on the shelf
+ no more trying to remember where I put one of the 5 books I'm reading
+ no more piles of newspapers that I haven't had a chance to look at yet (at least once they get Canadian papers up and running)
wireless reading devices make a lot of sense from a paper-saving, space-saving and time-saving point of view.
e-publishers have online stores that make it easy to shop - you can go to a bookstore that's designed for your taste.
I think they're doing a terrible job marketing wireless reading devices and e-books. My friends and family are avid readers and NONE of us have wireless reading devices, or do you? speak up!
I want one! I'm leaning toward the Kindle 2 because it looks sleeker, claims to have a long battery life, and I think I'd rather support Amazon than Sony. Must... resist... urge... to ...click.. buy now... Must.. do... more...research...
thoughts?
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My Kindle 2 arrived on Thursday. It is cool, but it's a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be. I just wrote about it today on my blog. Also, I need reading glasses as of today. I know that e-ink tech is supposed to be just as good as paper, but I think it isn't quite there yet.
In ads they always show a woman reading on a beach (not backlit, so can read in full sunlight), I scoffed because who brings delicate gadgets into all that sand. Then I read a comment about stuffing it into a ziplock bag for water and sand proof reading.
I was always hesitant to buy one because they are so expensive but talked myself into it when it was rumored the K2 would only be $250. So by the time they announce that it would stay at $360 I had already decided it was time to take the plunge.
The tipping point? I'm out of shelf space and have had to get picky about what I really want to keep, but I have really bad library karma. I went through my amazon wish list and downloaded the sample for anything with a kindle edition. I've already eliminated two books that I didn't like and bought another.
I have yet to send any files to my devices email address for conversion into K2 format. I'll spend some time at the gutenberg project to download public domain works for free.
I thought that the whispernet was U.S. only right now. Better check that it works in Canada.
I'm sooo jealous!! Let us know how the K2 works out.
Having my books in a K2 would save so much clutter around here - that's another big selling point for me, too!
I'm beginning to resent it when books I'd like to read are not available in Kindle editions. I like downloading the sample and reading the first chapter or so before committing cash. I take more risks and the cover art loses its mysterious power.
I've gotten used to reading on it and it is awesome. The little plate stand I bought until I found or made something better works so well in restaurants I might just stick with it.
The whispernet feature is one of its charms. It makes the Kindle its own man, so to speak, rather than an add-on to your computer. Not having it would be a bummer. I haven't tried loading anything via USB connection yet, so I can't comment on that yet. Other than that, you should totally get one!
Love the Kindle. There's a way to support education and buy a Kindle at the same time..
http://snipurl.com/kr2fm
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