E_Reader

@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
June 24, 2012 4:11pm CST
Hi members of myLot. I could not find an interest for this so I tried adding one but couldn't figure that out either. Someone seriously needs to clean up the interest sections. Anyway, I just bought an e-reader. I go for basic and simple things so I hope it's not too complicated. It came loaded with heaps of titles so I will be busy for a while. I have also downloaded some free e-books from the Net. I have not learned how to transfer these from my laptop to the reader yet I have to tell you, I was surprised by how weighty it is and how delicate. I have ordered a case for it to protect it from damage like scratches and dropping it so really, it will be just like holding a book. I still have dozens of books in my library that I haven't read yet so I'm feeling a little silly for buying it. What's your opinion of these new fangled gadgets?
6 people like this
15 responses
• United States
25 Jun 12
I agree. I was gifted a Kindle and didn't use it for months because I love REAL BOOKS. But now that my husband and I are traveling more, I never go on a trip without my Kindle. I use it for games, dictionary and thesaurus, glossaries, and personal file access also. I have important notes and information that I use for my writing. The only thing I don't like about it is that its way too hard to to write with, but I have a laptop and a notebook for that so it's no big deal. Now I may want to get a tablet next that does more. We will see. =)
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
25 Jun 12
I was interested in your comment leafygreen, but can you tell me what the difference is between a Kindle and a tablet. Can you do more with a tablet? I don't want to buy a Kindle if a tablet will do the same - and more!
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
Yep, I know what you mean about real books.... It's the portability that I love about a reader. Can't you do all that you want on your laptop? I know the readers are more compact and as to having a tablet as well, I just diodn't want the extras. Same as I don't feel the need to connect to the Internet via my mobile phone.
3 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 12
The Kindle I have now is the very first one and it does not have Internet access so I can't browse the web or do downloads from anyone other than Amazon.com. But maybe the new models of Kindle like the Kindle Fire, do. That would be the biggest difference between an IPad, or other tablets and a Kindle. I would recommend you do your research online and ask around, Abbey, before you buy anything. :) And yes, MsTickle, my laptop can do it all but it is rather heavy to carry around. I take it with me in a case and use it often but something light and small like a Kindle or some other e-reader or tablet would be better. I have a smartphone now and I have loaded some of my writings there but it can't handle books at all.
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
24 Jun 12
In my country, we have already started to read novels with our mobile phones and it was really quite challenging considering the size of that small little display screen. Now, with the emergence of smartphones and tablets like iPad, reading is much enjoyable with the enlarged screens. The other aspect would be the portability issue. With the smartphone or tablet I can always carry a few titles with me as compared to paperback books. Also, I can always change about titles during my readings to break the boredom. The display is much more attractive and accessible than a book especially when you have an interactive title. Then, there's always the available side entertainment where I can stream music on the background while I read. I find this rather entertaining than to lug a Walkman and some books just to keep me entertained. Also, most of these digital books are either cheap as compared to the printed ones or free of charge. Lastly, I think these eBooks are much more Eco-friendly because there is less usage of paper which in turn will result in less chopping of trees and deforestation.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
24 Jun 12
Hi artemis, You raise some very valid points. I love the portability, the range of titles at my fingertips and I can change the fonts to a better size to suit me too. I had not considered the obvious value of the environmental impact and this is also to be applauded. My little reader (with a 7 inch screen) can also play music but that is something else I need to figure out.
4 people like this
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
25 Jun 12
Sounds like your e-reader is a good buy Ms Tickle! I love the portabilty of having one and have been contemplating getting myself one for a while now. Can you do more than read with it? I'm not sure whether to buy an e-reader, or a tablet which has more functions to it. Perhaps some of the comments might throw more light on this.
4 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
I can store photos, videos and music as well as books Abbey. I think that will be good when I visit family as a way of catching up...without taking my laptop. I looked at tablets but to me they are a more compact version of a laptop and I didn't feel I needed that. I really just want to get back to reading. "Kindle" is a brand name. They come from Amazons in USA. It was there I started my research. I hope you can decide soon because I think you'll be pleased with the portability of both these items.
3 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
25 Jun 12
I bought a Kindle ereader in Texas last winter for $79. and a friend downloaded 10,000 books from his computer to mine. This was one of the best deals I've ever made, and its come in very handy for me. I was reading a pocket book almost every day in Tx, and my eyes were getting tired, what with the small print and well read paper. As soon as I began to use the ereader I made the print larger, and my eyes recovered, so that now I can read as much as I want every day with no eye problems.
4 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
10,000 books should keep you out of mischief during the Winter months my friend. Just out of interest, did it take your friend long to download those books? I cannot imagine having that many books in my computer let alone on an e-reader...you obviously added extra memory. It must have been a lot of memory for 10,000 books. I hope I can spend a little more time reading and less time on the computer.
3 people like this
@adforme (2114)
25 Jun 12
I think ereaders are amazing. I have one myself. My MP4 player came with an ereader function. I have downloaded books, and I can read them in the palm of my hand. Technology is offering us these sleek gadgets that are quite good at preventing us from having our media physically pile up. Even though I love paperback and hardback books, knowing I can take the contents of these and download them into something I can fit in the palm of my hands is amazing.
4 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
Yes, it's incredible isn't it. I wonder what will come next? It will be sad to see all the book shops disappear.
3 people like this
@adforme (2114)
25 Jun 12
Ereaders are quite incredible. Yes it would be sad to see bookshops disappear. I think they are here to stay. People appreciate bookshops, and classic books as tangible objects for collection. You can't have an author sign your ereader. He he he.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50975)
• Holiday, Florida
25 Jun 12
great im so happy you got something you really love and wanted/ ive thought of getting one but decided i'll wait till i can afford a phone like my youngest son has got instead. he has an e reader, actually its a nook and i really liked it. but i have trouble seeing these days at times so i might just stick with my audio books. he gets on the internet with his phone and also he can take videos so im thinking a phone like his.
4 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
Thanks Bon. I haven't played with it a lot yet but I'm pleased to have figured out how to turn it on...that took a while as I could not find the switch. I've also been able to work through and figure out the other buttons and it seems quite easy to use. The font can be made larger as well in case the reader cannot see so well. I chose a basic and simple phone and I'm happy with mine. I can connect to the net, play music and games and take photos and I just use it to make and receive calls when I'm away from home. I have used the camera too.. To try and read from a tiny phone would be too hard for me. My reader is about the size of a thin paperback book.
3 people like this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
24 Jun 12
Hi MsTickle! I have heard those e-readers are great gadgets. My daughter actually reads a lot of stuff on her ipod and I have considered getting her one. It would certainly give her the open door where reading is concerned. Please let me know what you think of yours.
4 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
I'm not using it for much yet Jen, just reading what's available. It was pretty easy to pick up and use and I think I understand some of the instructions. I read reviews before I purchased and the reasons I went for it were, this one was said to be easy to set up and then it came on special. I can use video files as well as photos and music. I'm keen to delve into it more but I'll wait for the protective case. I'm always dropping my phones and don't want anything to happen to this. Check out Amazon's Kindles when you go to buy.
1 person likes this
@MandaLee (3756)
• United States
26 Jun 12
Hi MsTickle, My parents bought me a Kindle for Christmas a few years ago. I just love my Kindle. I subscribe to Reader's Digest on my Kindle. I have a physical disability, so my Kindle is also a wonderful blessing because it makes reading a lot easier for me. Have a great day!
2 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
26 Jun 12
Hello MandaLee - greetings from frosty Australia. It seems people are pretty much well pleased with their e-readers. I'm so happy you are blessed with yours. I brought home 2 more craft projects yesterday so I'm no closer to playing with my new toy. Brightest blessings!
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
27 Jun 12
I have a friend who has tried to convince me to get a Amazon Kindle! I rather read real books right now! Lately I have put thoughts in my head I want to get a Kindle Fire! I know I can get books on it,Nexflix,play games and surf the web. I really want one because I want to play gmaes! I play games on my pc through Facebook. My pc is on the slow side and most times it takes me forever to play my games! That is the main reason I would buy one! I keep asking myself "Do I really need one?","How can I afford one?" and so on! So this is my gadget problem!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
27 Jun 12
Hi blue...yes, I know what you mean. I tossed the idea of getting one around in my mind for a couple of months. I can't remember what made me think it would be a good idea but I'm really glad to have it. I love the idea of all the free books I can get, the amount of books I can store on it and how environmentally it's a good thing.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
27 Jun 12
I prefer a real "old fashioned?" book myself over these e-readers. My wife and two kids have Kindles but I chose not to get one. I can see the benefits in them for travelling and that is why ours were bought, for our recent trip to the USA. But I just took one book which did me fine until I left it in a hotel room! But for reading at home I think real books are better. You get a better feel for what you are reading and I don't know, I guess there is more feeling in a real book. I cannot put my finger on exactly what it is. The Kindles just do not appeal to me. We have two large book shelves choc a block full of books, so I guess these devices do save a lot of space in the house. But books also liven up the room too I feel.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
27 Jun 12
I know what you mean about books in the home. I have one huge book case overflowing with books and also DVDs now and I have several smaller ones here and there and I love them. They give my home warmth and personality I feel. I'm not one to sit and read a book and so it takes me ages to read a book and I really want to change that. You never know, I may be able to achieve it now. I'm also trying to be open to new technology. I seem to reject quite a few things like I-phones, tablets, GPS, pay TV and so on. I don't want to be totally left behind.
• United States
26 Jun 12
In this particular area I am an old-fashioned type flower, and I prefer to read actual books or papers versus an e-reader or even news on the Internet. I like having the book in my hand, getting a faint hint of the smell of paper as I turn the pages, seeing how much progress I have made in the book and how much more I have left ... these are all things you can't get via electronic medium. On the other hand, we will soon be having a major space issue, and that is certainly one positive with the electronic readers, because it does not take up any more space in the house to have one hundred books downloaded on them than it does to have just one book on them.
3 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
26 Jun 12
Oo you are a cheeky chops purple, please show more respect for the elders. Besides, you're also showing your age with your comment old girl. Yep, I love books too and have bookshelves full of them in various rooms and many are unread but I seem to have lost the urge with the dawning of the technological era, so I'm trying this. It's quite exciting actually and there are lots of books on my gadget that I have actually wanted to read for some time. I love the storage it has and the environmental impact of less paper. The plus factors far outweigh the minus ones. Get with it purp! Keep up girl.
2 people like this
• United States
26 Jun 12
If you have that much trouble reading at your advanced age, then perhaps you could learn to read Braille ... I heard that it is really easy once you get the feel of it.
1 person likes this
@topffer (42156)
• France
26 Jun 12
I like books, but now that I need glasses to read -- my great age, you know -- I prefer to use a PDA or tablet : I can choose the font and its size and my eyes are less tired.
2 people like this
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
5 Jul 12
hi dear MsTickle, this old bookworm here hates the e book readers with a passion. LOL I really need my wonderful old fashioned books around me, turning the pages for real. Its enough to have to work with the computer all the time and then in the evenings and during the weekends clearing out electronic mail. I know an E book reader would tire my eyes even more and I am not going for that..
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
7 Jul 12
Yes my friend, you make some valid points but I just cannot afford to buy books. I probably didn't need to buy it because I have many books on my shelves, and I love to read favourite books over again but I can't help but be tempted by technology.
• Lippstadt, Germany
7 Jul 12
LOL LOL LOL I get mine as used books in good conditions via online stores so it wont hurt the budget too much. If I know I wont read them again I will re sell them so its even cheaper for me in the end. Hope you have a great weekend my friend. Miss you a loooooot
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
25 Jun 12
Hello MsTickle Congratulations on your new EReader. I bought a Kindle Touch a few months ago, not really thinking that I would use it, since I'm such a fan of actual books. However, this thing has proven to be a wonderful new tool. I love the portability of it, and the fact that I can take it with me and literally have hundreds of books at my fingertips. I have signed up to several Ereader sites and I receive daily email alerts that alert me to free ebooks that are available for that day. I typically download 3 or 4 of these free books daily. I enjoy the dictionary function as well. I also have a protective cover on it. I hope you enjoy your new EReader! Peace, I love the world!!
3 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
Congrats on your new toy too PageTurner. Oo, a dictionary, I'll have to suss that out and add one if I don't already have one. I don't know how you can add so many books. I've signed up at 2 sites, one lets me have 5 titles month and the other has no limits. I'd be lucky to read one book a month. I want to return to reading more but there is so much else to do in a day.
4 people like this
• United States
25 Jun 12
Thank you, MsTickle What's so cool about the dictionary application is that as I am reading, if I encounter a word about which I would like to know more, I simply touch it and it goes into the Dictionary format about that word. Hope you enjoy yours!
2 people like this
• India
27 Jun 12
Hi friend, good to hear that you downloaded some good ebooks. Hope you will get your ebook case soon. Day by day our technology is improved and lot of new things are updated and available in this virtual online world
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
7 Jul 12
Hi vidhya, nice to see you. I have my case and I was away overnight recently and meant to take it with me and forgot it!! So I had nothing to read...I was so disappointed.
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
25 Jun 12
Hearty Congrats...Ms.T! I have NO structural input to your discussion, as I have hardly advanced beyond the computer...but an E-Reader would be the next technology I would put on my wish list! I do spend a lot of time on Ferries, and reading on them in your vehicle in the Winter months is impossible unless you have a book light..so it can be a long, boring trip! I am hoping this discussion finds you WELL and HAPPY!
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Jun 12
Oh Pergy, how lovely to see you. Yes, I am well and happy and delighting not only in my new toy but also in my own ability to use it. I struggle sometimes with new technology and believe it is getting beyond me. I haven't had a chance to play with one of those touch screens but they look pretty complicated and I can't follow someone who is using one and flicking things here and there. I hope you are also well and happy. Sending you big hugs...
2 people like this