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Monday, September 12, 2011

Ereader-itis

A friend’s husband approached me last fall on the subject of Christmas presents for his wife.  His wife and I are both book junkies and pushers and we trade books back and forth constantly.  He wanted to get her a kindle but when approached she had been adamant about saying she didn’t want one.  Well, I got really excited and listed all the benefits of ebooks and ended by telling him “If you get one I’ll teach her to love it”.  She did get one for Christmas and does like it, though she still prefers “real” books. 

I have a kindle app on my netbook. While I, too, like the feel and heft of a book in my hands I love, love, love, my kindle app.  It is so convenient, especially with all the travel we’ve been doing this summer.  There’s only two problems I see with it.  One: whenever I sit down to read with it Truck Boy just assumes I pulled it out for him to watch Disney Channel’s Dance a lot Robot on.  Two: it’s just too easy to buy books. 

I recently read this post about the book Still Life With Murder.  It sounded interesting and since it was only $0.99  I purchased it.  It took me a little bit to get around to reading it but once I did I couldn’t put it down.  Eagerly I looked up the next book, it was only $2.99. One click of the mouse and it was mine and I could spend all night reading it.  Third book I bought late one Saturday night so I could purchase it before Sunday since I knew I would finish book two.  Books three through six are all $3.99.  So in such a small amount of time I had spent $20 on books.  I know this isn’t so very much, and hey I got six books, but I do try to stick to a budget and the kindle is all about instant gratification of the What Next Readers Syndrome.  Back in the day when I had to wait for enough time to pack the kids in the car and drive to the bookstore it was just as easy to drive to the library instead.  And since I’d had to wait a day or two my self control would have time to catch up to my coveting.  (Am I the only one like this?  Please tell me I’m not, even if you’re lying)  Despite that, or maybe because of it if I’m honest, I still love my ereader.  Yes, I still buy print books.  And honestly there are books I want to own in all formats, print, eprint and audio.  I’m an addict I tell you.  Someone help me. 

Do you have an ereader?  Love it or hate it? 

12 comments:

  1. I love my Kindle, BUT I still love my hardcovers. I would love to own all of my books in both formats, but that can be a little pricy me thinks. I have a book buying problem as well. Just ask my hubby! ;)

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  2. I have yet to purchase a kindle. I can't decide. I think I would like it and it would be so convenient sometimes, but I still love my "real" books. lol. Or whatever you want to call them. I am debating on a kindle for this Christmas.

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  3. LOL! I love my Kindle and I share with my DH...that's the only drawback. ; ) I've budgeted $20 a month for new books. So far, so good.

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  4. Chantele It would be nice to own all of them in both formats. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

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  5. Abby, it is convenient and I haven't found any competition between my kindle and my print books. They both have different purposes and work together to get me maximum reading time. You know, as much as I can with two toddlers.

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  6. Zan, Ohhh, you're a better woman than me. I don't know if I could share. If I'm in the middle of a good book, even if I can't read it at the minute, I like to carry it around so I can touch it and look at. I know, I have a problem.

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  7. I don't even have an e-reader yet and I'm just as bad - keep buying books off Smashwords and so on, printing them out... I've got four binders of books to read! Aack!

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  8. Well, everyone says to have an emergency fund. IF the world ends and there are no libraries you'll be prepared!

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  9. I love my kindle! I now buy books for the kindle even if I own the hardcover. But it is insanely easy to buy books. One way to monitor it is to buy yourself a gift card each month. When you run out of gift card, you know you've gone over your budget. Now, if a delicious sequel is waiting, it doesn't always help, but hey, at least you know. :)

    Tara Maya
    Faerie Tale (The Unfinished Song)

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  10. Wonderful idea Tara! I may have to do that seeing as how I have no self control.

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  11. I don't have one yet, but I think I'm gonna break down and get myself one for Christmas. I'm pretty sure I'm going with the Kindle. I have the fear you pointed out - "It's only 3.99." 5-6 times a week. It'll add up quick!

    I do have a tablet, but I can't download the Kindle app on it (that I know of), and can't figure out how to get any of the books from computer to my tablet. I'm so electronically challenged.

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  12. They are worth it. And there are so many free books you can distract yourself with those for awhile.

    Is your tablet an Ipad? There is a kindle app for those. If it's not and is running windows there is an app for that too. I think that's what I have. And it was free. But the Engineer did all the dirty work of setting it up so I really can't help you, sorry. The Engineer is getting a HUGE acknowledgement if I ever get published just for keeping me in computers.

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