OK, I’ve owned and used a Kindle for one year now. I was a big fan for the first six month or so, but now find that I use it less and less.
What caused the change in attitude?
Well, that’s difficult to define specifically, but here goes, anyway:
- Too many of the books I might want to read on the Kindle are priced at the ubiquitous $9.99 or higher price. If they were priced at under $6, I might very well buy them. But I can usually find a paperback version of those books for just a few dollars more.
- The Kindle just does not provide an equivalent tactile experience, at least for this reader. I can’t quickly and easily scan forward (or backward) to a point in the book that I’m not sure of. With a real book, I can thumb forward or backward and scan the pages to find what I am looking for (even if, as is often the case, I don’t know exactly what it is I’m looking for).
- I regularly use one of the many biz cards I seem to collect as a bookmark. No matter who else picks it up and reads or thumbs through it, that bookmark will always be there. True, the Kindle will remember where I stopped reading…but not if somebody else opens that file and stops at a different place.
- Although the e-Ink screen is very eye-friendly, it is far from perfect. Page turns are s-l-o-w and the lack of color has begun to be an irritant. As is the need for an external light when reading in low-light conditions.
Maybe if I traveled a lot, I would appreciate the Kindle more. But, then again, I would probably be more interested in one of the netbooks and just read PDF or ePub format books on it. (I can’t imagine reading anything but very short articles on any screen I have ever seen on a phone! But then, for me, a cell phone is, well, for making and receiving phone calls when I’m away from home…and nothing else.)
So, would I buy a Kindle 2 or DX? Probably not. I am, however, seriously considering a netbook…
8 Comments
August 20, 2009 at 8:44 am
I agree on the prices of the books. I’m boycotting anything over $9.99 these days.
Tactile experience? Well, I don’t read EVERYTHING on the Kindle so when I’m feeling the need to hold a real book I pick up a book that was sent to me for review or wasn’t available on the Kindle and read it. I usually do this every other book to keep it all flowing nicely.
Bookmarks? Seriously? I’m like you. I use what ever is handy at the time. But when it comes to my Kindle NO ONE touches it w/o my hawk eye supervision and believe me I do NOT lose my page. Be more digilant. Don’t let it hang around for whoever passes to pick it up. At $399 I do not leave mine sitting around even in my own home. (5 year old daughter!)
The page turning isn’t at light speed but it’s nothing that gets on my nerves. Some times it might seem like it hick ups on a page or two but nothing that has me cursing at it to hurry the hell up. And color? Not many books I’ve read in physical form are written in anything but black or blue ink. Sure maybe sometimes there’s something in another color to make it noticeable but it really isn’t an issue when reading fiction. But maybe you’re referring to non-fiction books?
And the e-ink technology is amazing. I have the Kindle app on my iPhone and it’s not terrible but it also isn’t e-ink. I think e-ink is too cool and fits perfect with my eyes.
I have a net book and I hate reading on it. It’s tiny in comparison to my regular notebook and the screen hurts my eyes! I’ll take the Kindle over it to read on any day. Or even my iPhone.
In general, I most disagree with most of your point of view. I read a ton and I read a lot of my books on the Kindle. Maybe you just need to read something a bit more fun on it?
P.S. – I’ve had my Kindle for nearly 3 years.
August 20, 2009 at 10:47 am
That’s not exactly what I meant by tactile experience. I meant the physical experience of reading a book — being able to prep the next page for turning as I approach the bottom of the page, being able to flip back several pages (to check, for example, if I missed something or to reread a passage that I might have misinterpreted, etc.), being able quickly to scan ahead to see how far to the end of the chapter or section, etc.
I have no intention of buying multiple (expensive) readers so all three of us in the house can have our own. That’s just a waste of money…that I could spend buying physical books. So we share the Kindle. No kids in the house.
I tend to read very fast (especially fiction), so the slow page turning bugs me a great deal. At first, I liked being able to use the largest font size to read without my reading glasses, but that has lost its appeal since it results in so little text displaying on a page.
Color is mostly valuable for nonfiction where there may be diagrams, photos, or even charts.
I find I mostly use the Kindle now for later reading of material I find on the web (news and such that I can quickly convert to load onto it via the USB port) and the many email newsletters I get. Otherwise, the many books I have on it I seldom look at.
But I accept that reading e-books is a highly personal thing. I generally read nonfiction e-books and most of those primarily for specific information that I need right now. Which means I often don’t read much more than the specific portion that I need.
I assume you meant you’ve had your Kindle for almost TWO years, since the very first Kindles were offered in mid-November 2007…and sold out in less than five hours.
I would like to see and try out a Kindle DX…but not enough to fork over the money to buy one first. Amazon really needs to find a brick-and-mortar retail outlet for the devices.
August 20, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Yes, I did a poor job at the math! It’ll be 2 years this December. I ordered it the end of Nov. rec’d beginning of Dec. 2007 :)
I’ve actually read a few textbooks on my Kindle and it was a great experience but when you want to refer to something quick and easily it’s not the best option. When it comes to non-fiction books I’ll probably steer clear of Kindle Editions. Especially if there are pictures or graphs and especially if color is important too.
I await the day when all of our desires are met in one single device. I do have faith that it will happen in my life time. :) Until then I’ll be satisfied with my Kindle (and my iPhone).
Great topic. I could go on forever. :)
August 22, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I tried and tried and just cannot get with the Kindle. The whole experience sucked for me. All of the points that you bring up are true. I am sure that someone who reads a lighter, more entertaining book loves it; however, for well written literature, it just sucks. I noticed that Jessica has Amazon links direct from her review blog, I’m wondering if that blurs the lines of objectivity?
August 23, 2009 at 9:30 pm
“for well written literature, it just sucks.”
Well written literature IS objective. As Walt says below “different strokes for different folks”. Just because I enjoy reading paranormal fiction on my Kindle doesn’t disqualify it as an awesome experience. I too have read “well written literature” and both look and feel great on the Kindle.
Wow. And way to bash my use of Amazon.com. And thanks for attacking my lack of Indie support on Twitter. I would support an Indie if I had on near me! Ever think of that? I use what’s easy and economical for my needs and Amazon.com just so happens to fill both of those necessities. :)
Walt is exactly right. I don’t get any monetary reimbursement from my review blog. I put up Amazon.com links because it’s what works. It’s a concise site to visit to get pricing, product information, and to read other reviews. If I happen to make a few cents off of someone ordering after following my link, awesome, but I don’t sit around thinking “Tee, hee, hee I’m making money off of these fools!” That’s not what my blog is all about.
August 24, 2009 at 8:05 am
This thread has degenerated to the point that I am now closing comments for this post.
On to other topics.
Thanks for your thoughts on this!
Walt
August 24, 2009 at 5:30 pm
After noting the large number of page views for this post, I’ve decided to reopen the comments. However, I may still elect to delete comments that attempt to continue the thread immediately above.
August 22, 2009 at 5:14 pm
I see nothing wrong with the links on her website. As far as I can tell, she does not charge for doing book reviews. I appreciate those who take the time to do that out of love for books. So, if they want to make a few bucks from affiliate links, it’s okay by me.
I still use my Kindle daily but mostly for short form writing (articles and such).
As the old hippie saying goes, different strokes for different folks.