Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Whee-Reader

I still haven’t purchased an e-reader.

It seems that every week I run into somebody else who’s just gotten one. And he or she loves it.

So what am I waiting for?

Dunno. (I’ve never been accused of being an early adopter. I like to wait until all the bugs and poor design elements have been fixed. And usually, I’m satisfied with whatever I’m currently using (did I mention that my cell phone makes phone calls? That’s it. Just phone calls. No pictures, no video, no web-surfing, no GPS. I think it has an alarm clock feature.))

Maybe I’m waiting for a clear winner. Right now, I’d have to say the Kindle is in the lead, but them iPads sure do look purty.

Maybe I’m waiting until I get through my (printed book) TBR pile. Although that might take a while.

Maybe I’m waiting until ebooks have a greater market share.

Maybe I’m waiting until I get a fancy smartphone and see how easy/hard it is to read books on it. One device that does all would be convenient.

Maybe I’m waiting for prices to go down.

Maybe I’m just putting off having to make a decision.

What about you? If you haven’t bought an e-reader yet, what are YOU waiting for?


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11 comments:

Stephen Parrish said...

I've not bought one either. It shouldn't surprise anyone; I still listen to vinyl records.

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

I'm with you. Wait for the bugs to migrate and the price to fall. Then there's the chance that Christmas is just around the corner. Ya never know?

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

I'm planning on getting one in the next couple of months. One thing that worried me at first was the whole format issue--which format was going to "win"? Sort of like the Beta-Max, VHS thing. I'm thinking the Kindle is the direction I'm going to be heading in, though.

Hart Johnson said...

I haven't got one, but I don't have a cell phone either. I do most of my reading in conditions where what I'm reading risks getting wet. If someone gave me one as a gift, I'd enjoy it for things like traveling, but chances are, I won't be buying one very soon.

Alan Orloff said...

Steve - I've got quite an extensive vinyl collection (more than 800 records, I'd say). A few years ago, I recorded a lot of them into MP3 format. It's hard to go jogging carrying a turntable.

Mary - Ya never know, is right? I wonder what kind of e-reader Santa favors?

Elizabeth - Yeah, format is important. Why can't we all just get along?

Hart - You read in the shower too?

Jenna said...

I don't have an e-reader either, and my cell phone is five years old and yes, only makes calls.

BUT, my critique partner tells me her Kindle reads to her. Reads manuscripts. Probably books too, but it reads manuscripts. I send her my manuscripts, and she LISTENS to them. I think listening to them instead of reading them out loud to myself might be nice, so I'm thinking about that. A lot.

Anonymous said...

Alan - You know, I don't have an E-reader either. I'm mostly waiting for financial reasons, but also because I'm waiting to see how many books will be available in that version. More and more all the time, so I probably won't wait a very long time. And E-readers really are cool!

Mark Terry said...

Wait for the sub $100 price tag. It's coming soon.

Ingrid King said...

I'm going to keep saying the same thing I've been saying since e-readers first came out: I need the feel of a real book in my hands.

Then again, I didn't get a smart phone until recently, and now I don't know how I ever lived without it. So I may change my mind about e-readers, too. Anything is possible....

Alan Orloff said...

Jennie - This is what I want to know: does the Kindle only read your ms, or does it offer critiques, too?

Margot - Yeah, e-readers are pretty cool. Shiny...very shiny...

Mark - I think your prognostication of $99 e-readers this holiday season is a good one.

Ingrid - I like the feel of a book in my hands. But I also like the feeling of a cool gadget in my hands. (For the record, I don't like the feeling of pudding in my hands.)

Travis Erwin said...

150 expendable dollars.