If you’re in the market for an e-reader for the holidays, here’s a great guide to get you started, courtesy of Nathan Bransford’s new gig at CNET (congrats again, Nathan!).
I own a Nook, and regularly use the e-lend feature to share books with my mom in California and my niece in Wisconsin (I’m in Illinois). It’s cool to be able to swap books without worrying about shipping, but one of the best aspects of owning an e-reader is the instant gratification of getting books whenever you want and (if you have 3G) wherever you are. I think this “instant access” explains a lot of the surge in e-book purchases, as well as more books coming available as e-book upon release.
If you think e-readers are just for adults, I can assure you that kids enjoy reading on them just fine. Add in the clip-on book-light that I got for my birthday, and I think Worm Burner (age 9) reads more on the Nook than I do (he’s currently reading Leviathan). More MG and YA titles are available as e-books now, and even Mighty Mite (age 7) was reading on the Nook over the summer (the Warriors series).
We still buy plenty of paper books. My recent purchases have included Steering the Craft (paper book), Paranormalcy (e-book), Behemoth (paper book), White Cat (e-book), and The Lost Hero (e-book). E-books have the lead 3-2, but it’s important to note that I only purchased paper books where e-books weren’t an option (and I wanted to get Behemoth signed).
As time goes on, I can easily see the bulk of my library on the e-reader, at the ready to lend to my friends and family, once they all get wired up with e-readers of their own.
On a side note, you can now subscribe to Ink Spells on your Kindle! This is a feature offered by Amazon, where you can subscribe to blogs downloaded directly to your Kindle. Do I think anyone will really pay $0.99 a month to subscribe to Ink Spells? Er, no. Especially since it’s free on the interwebs. I just set it up for the fun of it!
But I can see someone paying $1.99 to subscribe to Nathan Bransford’s blog on their Kindle! It will be interesting to see if this method of content delivery grows in the future.
In the spirit of new technology, I bring you Ink Spells first online poll …
Just ordered my own Kindle after trying out my sister's. It is really comfortable to use and with no back light it is easy on the eyes and can be read in any light.
I love my Kindle, but I still read paper books, too. Today, I just went and bought several of those at the store. I love the whole purchase where you are thing with the 3G. I love the e-ink screen. I've been thinking about getting one of the nightlights. Sometimes it would be nice in low light situations.
I got the Nook because I could go in person to Barnes & Noble. It works just fine. I still read more print than e-books at the moment, but I know I'll be buying more and more e ones because they're more affordable on my budget.
Ha! I think you know how I, and my little luddite heart, voted.
@Catherine I think the Kindles are winning!
@lotus When my husband got me the nightlight I didn't think I would use it – I never needed one before. Turns out I use it all the time.
@Ann That is a great part about e-books, as a consumer. 🙂
@Bryan I know. Keep holding down the paper fort, Bryan! I wrote an ode to paper books in my WiP, just for you.:)
Since I post above, I went into Blood Red Pencil and read Scott Nicholson's post on e-publishing. Astounding and amazing are the possibilities for writers, as I'm sure you know but I didn't, about e-book publishing/self-publishing. Absolutely incredible!!
very well timed post since I've just put e-reader on my christmas wish list. think sony is only one available to canadians.
@Ann I know -it dazzles the mind, doesn't it?
@TerryLynn I hope Santa is good to you! Also: here's another cool article on e-readers.