E Books

[Caribeing]

Watching The One Show where they were discussing E Books an electronic gadget that stores thousands of books to be read via computer! All the classics stored etc. Would you like this or do you prefer to see and hold your book and display it on your bookshelf, being a book lover I like to see all my books, and appreciate them in their original form,or is technology taking over!!

[twaflooers]

I'm totally with you Mary T.

Although I like the idea of having all those books in one comparatively small place at one time and being able to download new ones almost instantly would be great, it still doesn't appeal to me the way books do.

My lounge contains three bookcases which take up most of a wall and I, like you, love being able to see them all, the ones I have read and the ones I look forward to attacking on my 'to be read' shelf.

Much as I admire the technology behind them I'm sure that they're not nearly as comforting as reaching for that dog eared copy of your very well read favourite book and cuddling up under the duvet.

[andy-hughes]

It's a generation thing isn't it?

The more senior among us who have the reading habbit will still want and enjoy the experience of a proper book, younger people who are growing up in the technological age will adapt to E Books and take them for granted in the way they do with mobiles, texting, e-mail and so on.

The clue will be those who - like me - send all their texts in long hand, correctly punctuated, are unlikely to want to read a book on a screen, but as with everything, the E-book will find its level.

[paddywak]

As twashoes says the idea of having all the books in one small place is in someways appealing, but there is something about the feel & look of a "proper" book. Its not just the stories in the books but the memories assosiated with them. I look at my bookcase and see not only books I've read but memories of hours in the pub discussing them with friends, some no longer here, holidays lying on the beach, the good times & bad, you can't get that from a lump of metal & some electronics

[pingping]

you can't beat the smell of opening a new (or favoured old) book and settling in to read. there is just something a little cold and clinical about reading from a screen. Also, does this signal the end of sharing books with your friends and colleagues? we have an amzing lending library at work where everyone brings in books they have finished with for others to borrow.

[daffy654]

I have asked my fiance for an ebook reader for Christmas,I am sick to death of paying for books that I only ever read once. Between us my fiance and I own thousands of books that are just taking up room in the house.We have tried donating them to charity shops but none are willing to accept such large amounts.I refuse to throw them away as that is wastefull and damaging to the environment,also our local council won't accept them for recycling.

[mandimoo]

remember when vinyl albums changed to cd's.... people felt much the same about cd's......

[tickledtrout]

Didn't see the show but not sure if I fancy the idea of reading a book on the computer. I love going into book shops and coming out with something new. (Today it was Mo Hayder)
Do see Daffy's point though. It is so difficult getting rid of books you won't read again, and I hate the thought of just throwing them away.
The last lot I gave to the cat's protection and they came for them which was great.
I will try anything once though, will look into e readers

[Ray The Grey]

I have a couple of thousand ebooks that I got on a few CDs years ago and I have read quite a few. There are loads that can be downloaded for free from various places, which are out of copyright. What I have found is that now I am office based I don't want to stare at another screen for hours on end. The idea is very good for people who do not stare at computers all day or do not read that much.

[LeMarchand]

(Copied from "Technology")
I can't understand the fuss about this or the Kindle (from Amazon). You could get a PDA or phone for less that will not only display eBooks, but a do whole lot more besides. Not to mention that eBooks are often more expensive than their print counterparts! How the heck can they justify that?

I personally use my (free on contract) HTC Touch + the (free download) Mobipocket and plunder the selection of (free because they are out of copyright) books at Project Gutenberg.

If there was no DRM (so that when I change my device I'm not stuck) and the price was better I would consider buying new books as downloads, but not until then.
(End copy)

I do like having books on display, but they do take up a lot of space.!

@ daffy654,around our way there are often "Book recycling" bins with the other recycling bins in Supermarkets etc. These are usually sponsored by the Sally Army or similar - maybe you could donate yours in small increments this way. You might also want to look at Freecycle or maybe Book Crossing.

[marwel7]

I would like it as I like technology even though I'm not very good at it.But I don't think it will ever replace books.
I like browsing in a bookshop and the feel of a new book.And some of them have such a wonderful sweet pulpy smell.
There's a paragraph I have somewhere from an article by Ian McEwen from years ago and he writes about books as an old technology which can be used anywhere.If I feel like itlater I will post it.

[issie]

I think the e-reader is excellent as something which is additional to one's library - particularly for light reading to take on holiday. Recent buys for me are Noel Coward's Letters, the Mitford Girls' letters, Jung Chang's book on Mao. I would not want those on the reader but if I am away from home I would be happy to load it up with easy to read stuff. it's small and light and it can be very frustrating when away from home, either abroad or at friends to finish your book and not be able to find anything to read.

[Tizzi247]

I would never read an E-book, I spend too much time on the computer already! I have about 500 books and if they are by my favourite authors or a good story, I don'tjust read them once I keep them and read them over and over.

[Caribeing]

Seen one of these Ebooks today and they do look impressive would be great for holidays etc save taking heavy books , was considering having one for Christmas do you think this is advisable, cost in local Sony shop �199.99