Does anyone own a kindle or another electronic reading device?

[Sashamx]

Would you say that it's better than a book and will it mark the extinction of books? I'm wondering about the whole psychological package of turning the pages, the smell of a book and smiling to yourself when you see a a tatty well thumbed book. Will electronics ever replace this or maybe just to our generation that grew up with books and maybe it won't matter so much to the younger generation? What are your thoughts on this?

[NazNomad]

B00 does ...

[woofgang]

I have books on my ipad and am a total real book junkie. By me there is room for both.

[Sashamx]

Ok the pros must be space saving, the fact that you can have the whole library or one day the whole worlds literature in a bag sized device but do you still get the same page turning suspense as a real book?

[society]

Not exactly a kindle but similar and it'd arrive any day soon. You could download books, play games and listen to music on it, amongst its other uses. I'm excited to see what it'd be like, can't wait to actually hold it.

[PipinHull]

I agree there is definitely room for both. I went travelling about ten years ago and would've loved one because I read very quickly and hated the space books took up in my rucksack. With hindsight though, most cafes in South America had book swap shelves and I liked the idea of finishing a book and leaving it for someone else, then trying something totally different myself that I wouldn't normally choose. Kindles would've ruined that. But then again I did download the third book in that Millenium series as I finished 2nd one at 8pm one night and couldn't wait!

[woofgang]

a big pro for me is project gutenberg

[SlackAlice]

I've just got a Sony E book reader (prezzie from OH♥).

IMO they would exist side by side. The E book reader would be in use whilst I'm travelling and a real book whilst I'm at home.

Do not, as yet, ask me any questions about the reader as I'm still figuring it out, lol!

[whiskeryron]

I don't think I like PipinHull's idea of book swapping,it is a known fact that paper can carry a load of bacteria & especially in a foreign climate.

[society]

Whiskeryron, people have been swapping books for umpteen years. They eventually get acquired immunity. :-)

[jwong]

Most people prefer the touchy-feely sensation of the traditional book. The actions of reading from a book actually helps the memory process.
Personally I have tried to read a book from my laptop and from my mobile but for me it doesn't compare to the user friendliness of a 'real book'. However I have heard a small minority have made the transition.
The big plus of electronic books/readers is that it allows me to carry many reference books on my long overseas stays.

[jno]

that's right, society, it's sort of like immunisation, you're exposed to one germ at a time, usually where a previous owner has licked their thumb before turning a page. If you read enough second-hand books you will be immune to everything. I shouldn't think Kindles will ever do this, though I suppose they could impregnate the frame with paracetamol and then you could nibble a bit off whenever you get a headache from reading too much.

[society]

Jno, eventually you'll hear don't download such-an-such title, it contains a virus. :-)

[jno]

eek, don't say that. society, I've just spent the afternoon chasing a virus off my computer. Grrr. I suppose it could be possible to catch one from an ebook, though? I don't know.

[anagram]

I was given a Sony reader last Christmas and I love it! Thought I'd only use it for holidays etc, couldn't see me deserting 'real' books but I have to say a year later and I rarely read a 'real' book now. I love my reader.

[Captain Spod]

I got Mrs Spod a Kindle for Christmas and she absolutely loves it. Amazon offer a few books at zero cost and she has already found that by trying new authors through this offer she has broadened her range of interests. There is a bit of a headache problem at the moment but we don't know if it is the Kindle per se or just because she has been reading more than usual because she enjoys the experience. We'll see...