Comments on: The curious case of the disappearing Kindle http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:01:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jim Morey http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/comment-page-1/#comment-1040980 Jim Morey Mon, 20 Apr 2009 19:25:49 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/#comment-1040980 Thanks, Dennis, for the incisive and insightful peek into your new world of Kindling. As a hard-reading septugenarian raised on paper books, I at first assumed I might be too doddering to jump on the techno-read bandwagon, but, happily, it just ain't so. I've read all the sales material on the Kindle, watched the video, studied the availability of classic books as well as best sellers, and found a new euphoria in yearning for so wondrous a device. I even checked out the SONY models at a Borders just this week. At this point, I intend to emulate you by hinting broadly at birthday time for my very first Kindle 2. Fondly, Your Father-in-Law Jim Thanks, Dennis, for the incisive and insightful peek into your new world of Kindling. As a hard-reading septugenarian raised on paper books, I at first assumed I might be too doddering to jump on the techno-read bandwagon, but, happily, it just ain’t so. I’ve read all the sales material on the Kindle, watched the video, studied the availability of classic books as well as best sellers, and found a new euphoria in yearning for so wondrous a device. I even checked out the SONY models at a Borders just this week. At this point, I intend to emulate you by hinting broadly at birthday time for my very first Kindle 2. Fondly, Your Father-in-Law Jim

]]> By: Logan Kennelly http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/comment-page-1/#comment-1040951 Logan Kennelly Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:19:37 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/#comment-1040951 That's rather amusing, Steve; I had quite forgotten what the experience of reading paperbacks was like, but you have summed up my experience nicely. I'm just anal enough to have a dozen stupid thoughts running through my head about preserving the integrity of my silly paperback. And hardcovers are even worse because you can't hold them up while you read. I used a PDA for years (well, probably more along the lines of 12 PDAs) and now alternate between that and the Sony Reader. Oddly enough, I don't have the same concerns for my hardware because I know it will be replaced eventually. That’s rather amusing, Steve; I had quite forgotten what the experience of reading paperbacks was like, but you have summed up my experience nicely. I’m just anal enough to have a dozen stupid thoughts running through my head about preserving the integrity of my silly paperback.

And hardcovers are even worse because you can’t hold them up while you read.

I used a PDA for years (well, probably more along the lines of 12 PDAs) and now alternate between that and the Sony Reader. Oddly enough, I don’t have the same concerns for my hardware because I know it will be replaced eventually.

]]> By: Patricia Sierra http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/comment-page-1/#comment-1040871 Patricia Sierra Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:37 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/#comment-1040871 I identified with you, Dennis, all the way through -- even with the first book you tackled. My first Kindle read was by Charlie Huston, too, but not the same title. I grabbed Caught Stealing and two other titles by him when they were free. After that I bought the title you read but haven't gotten to it yet. I identified with you, Dennis, all the way through — even with the first book you tackled. My first Kindle read was by Charlie Huston, too, but not the same title. I grabbed Caught Stealing and two other titles by him when they were free. After that I bought the title you read but haven’t gotten to it yet.

]]> By: Steve Jordan http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/comment-page-1/#comment-1040789 Steve Jordan Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:38:02 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/2009/04/20/the-curious-case-of-the-disappearing-kindle/#comment-1040789 "...another means to the same end." That, right there, is an excellent way to describe e-books in general. Speaking as someone who still reads on a PDA (and NOT considering it a toy!), I can attest to the value of the device awareness factor. In fact, I am less aware of reading on my PDA than I am of reading a paperback: Constant pressure used to hold the pages apart, but with enough bend to avoid damaging the spine; concern for smudging the nice cover with unsightly fingerprints; eye-tension trying to read badly- or lightly-printed text; maintaining a good angle balanced against available light; the effort of shifting your grip on the book to allow page-turning (not strenuous, mind you, but it does require some coordination)... all of that pales in comparison to simply tapping a button with the edge of my thumb to advance the book. “…another means to the same end.”

That, right there, is an excellent way to describe e-books in general.

Speaking as someone who still reads on a PDA (and NOT considering it a toy!), I can attest to the value of the device awareness factor. In fact, I am less aware of reading on my PDA than I am of reading a paperback: Constant pressure used to hold the pages apart, but with enough bend to avoid damaging the spine; concern for smudging the nice cover with unsightly fingerprints; eye-tension trying to read badly- or lightly-printed text; maintaining a good angle balanced against available light; the effort of shifting your grip on the book to allow page-turning (not strenuous, mind you, but it does require some coordination)… all of that pales in comparison to simply tapping a button with the edge of my thumb to advance the book.

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