The Bransford household has gone paperless.
Yes, I was recently given a new Sony Reader (more on the Reader next week), which I then gave to my wife, which, after a week of use, converted her to our new paperless overlords. Enthusiastically. We honestly can’t imagine going back to paper books, and in fact, I haven’t read a paper book since I got my Kindle. Which was a long time ago.
I asked this question a little over a year ago, and given how much has changed since then with the rise of the Kindle and Sony Reader, I thought it would be interesting to ask it again and see where things stand:
Shirley Horney says
I’ve tried it once but I’m still addicted to paper books. My main problem is sometimes I read out of print books or books only available in paperback (independent presses).
E-books for me would be limiting.
Shirley Horney “Fanatic Reader”
Awesome LaTerry says
I voted maybe, because eventually I’ll probably get a kindle or whatever those things are, but it won’t be for a while. For me, nothing beats the feeling of holding a giant book like Brisingr or Inkdeath. I like flipping pages, holding a book in my lap, and feeling how many pages are left with my fingers. You can’t do that with a kindle. I’ll probably get one eventually, just to say that I have one, but I don’t think that I’ll ever stop buying paper books.
Two Flights Down says
I voted “maybe.” Mostly because I don’t have my hands on one so I don’t know how well I can read it. People tend to read paper faster than electronics and I have to read fast. The way my husband explained it to me, though, it sounds like the Kindle actually uses some sort of paper, or is just like paper or something like that…and only uses energy while changing the page. ? If that’s the case, I could see myself wanting one so that I don’t have to carry a ton of heavy books with me everywhere.
Rich says
I’m receptive to the idea. The upside to an e-reader –
* Save trees
* New titles are cheaper
* Some free content
Versus a *real* book –
* I don’t have to recharge my book
* If I lose my book, I lose just one book, not my entire bookshelf
* People in airports don’t ask what I’m holding, and how expensive it is
* People generally will not want to steal my book and pawn it for drugs
But like I say, I’m receptive to the idea…Rich
Pawned! –
https://n8ux.wordpress.com
Stephe says
Dead. Cold. Hands.
There’s just something about the printed word on a real page, and a book cover under my fingertips that I can’t do without.
If bound books ever winked out of existence, maybe then, as I can’t live without reading. But only then.
kris_tea says
I think I would love to have one for reading newspapers & fiction novels, but I love to research all kinds of topics & like to highlight & write notes in the margin of those books (scandalous, I know). So, for fiction, I think I would like using them but for non-fiction, I think I'll stick to the old standby.
klromo says
I think eBooks are definitely the future. There are a multitude of choices, and free eBooks are included as well. http://WWW.Smashwords.com is a great site (the site my novel is on), and they have partnered with Stanza, the software that offers downloads for the iPhone. In addition, there are other sites like http://www.freeebooks.com. (Just google for eBooks). I realize only a small percentage of books are offered now, but once the world goes paperless, the Publishing Industry will be wondering what hit ’em.
Eric says
I was given a company-issued Sony e-reader when I started my current job about six months ago, and while I do use it fairly frequently, I haven’t stopped reading paper books and don’t imagine I will unless the technology changes radically (e.g. they get the e-ink to work on something resembling real book pages). I think I just prefer the feel of pages and the sense of accomplishment of finishing a paper novel.
JLR says
Even though I can get some free classics online at Project Gutenberg, I still buy my favorites. I like the portability of paperbacks (note, I said paperbacks–I don’t like hardbacks). Also, I went on a two and a half day Stephenie Meyer marathon (her last two books of the Twilight saga) when my allergies got bad enough even wearing my glasses bothered me. When my eyes can’t stare at a computer, I can usually still read print books.
Besides, I need a break from the computer every once a while. If I ever got an ebook reader, I don’t imagine it would be much different–it’s still a screen.
Jodi, who voted for option #4. Woot! Lost!
Scott says
I don’t think so. But I’m sure there were once people who swore they would never buy a book made on wunnadem newfangled printing press doohickeys (too impersonal) who eventually had to change their ways because of what was available and because the price became too hard to beat.
Napalm says
I have trouble imagining a world with less bookshelves. There’s a certain comfort in sitting in the room where your books are and seeing all those books on the shelf. It’s as if they’re guardians of the imagination. And now, those guardians are being asked to hand over their posts to a robot (best term I could come up with to keep with the analogy)? Well, some might be willing to do that, but not me. They’ll have to make actual books less available for me to switch to primarily e-books.
Sara Thacker says
I have already switched to buying only ebooks. If it doesn’t come in eformat I won’t be reading it.
ryan field says
“Man, Sony and Amazon needs to get some advertising on this.”
So true.
Adaora A. says
I am a technology baby in almost every way (my music is stored in av tiny pink 8GB ipod), I love my laptop, I enjoy every technology out there with the exclusion of e-books. I can’t do it. I love the feel of a book in my hand, I love to turn the pages, and I just can’t deal with the idea of reading on a screen. So in case you hadn’t guessed, my answer was NEVER.
Liz says
E-books and paper books each have advantages. I like the feel and experience of paper books, and when I’m reading for pleasure, I’d rather curl up in bed with a paper book. When I’m researching, however, I prefer a book electronically so that I can search for what I need without reading a couple thousand pages of stuff I don’t care about. Plus, they take up a lot less space.
peplenwa says
We’d have to buy separately, but given it’s the family business and two e-books equals one hardcover anyway, we don’t mind supporting the authors.
See, that’s such a rare attitude. “Supporting the authors,” “being the family business” and “buying hardbacks” are specific to a very tiny number of people. Twenty bucks for two e-books versus a used paperback for five? I don’t think you can build a business model on the assumption that most people would rather pay the twenty.
Steve Fuller says
I would encourage you guys to go to Amazon and actually read up on the Kindle.
Basically every issue you guys raise is answered there. Here are four of the most common:
1) The screen is not like reading a computer, it is like reading a piece of paper. You have to trust me on this one.
2) Whenever you buy something, Amazon backs it up on their site, so if you lose your Kindle (or it breaks), you still have all your books.
3) The battery lasts for a LONG time and only takes a couple hours to charge.
4) There are options to highlight, take notes, etc. for those who like to interactively read a book.
Anyway, just pointing out that people think of these issues ahead of time. Future versions will only get better. I wouldn’t say “never” until you give it a shot.
ciarcullen says
One of my resolutions this year was to buy only ebooks. So far, I’m good.
Just J for now says
Besides loving the way books feel and smell, I highlight and write in the margins of books I’m reading. I could never adjust to e-books. I’m a fan of the palpable word.
Ink says
Tree lovers-
I love trees, too. But trees can be replanted, and paper can be recycled. Kindle plastic, however, will be choking fishes for the next million years. We have to be careful what we wish for…
My best, as always,
Bryan Russell
Dara says
Marilyn Peake–
Thanks for the article. Actually, I used to work for that company that’s mentioned in it (OverDrive). So I knew all about ebooks and audiobooks to d/l from the library years before the Kindle came out. (I used to test all the library sites before they were launched and made live).
I just wondered if it was possible to put said books on the Kindle. I know they auto-return to the library but I didn’t know if the Kindle supported it.
Dara says
Steve–
I will give it a shot when it’s not so expensive. 🙂 And if it supports d/l from the library so that the ebooks return after said period of time, then it’s more likely. However, if it doesn’t support that, I won’t be investing in one anytime soon.
Anonymous says
Nathan –
How does the Sony (or the Kindle) perform out of doors? Are the pages at all legible, unlike laptops or cell phones?
Thanks!
Nathan Bransford says
anon-
The pages are more legible in sunlight than in the dark. I’m telling you: like paper. There’s no backlighting (see also today’s post).
Jess says
Ooh. I put never, but then went comment reading.
I could definitely see myself using an e-book reader in ADDITION to real books for things like:
– travel! (I lugged 4 novels in my backpack for 2 months… and traded/bought/sold to get more! A Kindle would have been mighty handy)
– “resource books” – such as books that I would want to carry with me all the time but can’t due to size (example: books about low fat eating at chain restaurants)
– newspapers (I could entirely do without newspaper! I hate reading the big pages. But read at least one daily anyway)
– portable Wikipedia (apparently one of the Kindle’s features!)
…. but yes, my regular fiction reading would happen with books! Especially since nearly all of that is from the library or used bookstore.
Tom Burchfield says
As freelance editor, I would definitely find reference e-books (dictionaries, style guides, etc.) to be a plus; as far as reading for pleasure and research for my creative work, I still prefer bound packets of paper. Books warm up a room for me.
https://www.redroom.com/blog/thomas-burchfield/take-one-inaugural-call-me-morning
Wesley Allison says
It’s been two and a half months now with my Sony Reader and I’ll never go back. The funny thing is, I’m reading a LOT more now than I did before. It’s so easy to grab your reader and be instantly back to where you were. What people so often seem to forget is that it’s the writing not the paper that makes a book.
sarahjane says
I guess someone’s probably said this, in 170+ comments so far, but the question only applies if you’re in a country where you can use such readers: ie. the price is reasonable, not extortionate, and the range of books and ease of download make the use of such readers easy. Where I live? No. First world country, G20, but not an ereader territory.
So what about other, poorer countries? Will this technology make books more expensive for them, as firstworlders who can, switch to Kindles etc, and the volume of print books gets smaller? And if you look at the world revealed by Kiva (https://www.kiva.org) then an e-reader seems like an impossible indulgence (and it’s clear how many of the entrepreneurs value education/literacy/opportunity for their children).
Bonnie says
I expect eventually that I will read mostly ebooks. As my eyes fail, the ability to make print bigger becomes more and more important. When they get to some sort of projection that can expand to fit larger type, so I don’t lose page width, then I’ll be really set 😀
I also like the ability to carry a whole library in a small space.
But the transition isn’t going to happen overnight, either. And I suspect there are certain kinds of markup and comment that will always be easier on paper — the kind of research that requires you to have several pages spread out side by side so you can compare fine points in graphs, for instance.
Jolie says
Oh, definitely! But I’m waiting for the ebook readers to go through a couple more generations before I buy one. I probably won’t be able to afford one until then (these first couple of years after college are not going to involve much disposable income!), and anyway I’d rather wait for all the bugs to be worked out. In the meantime, it’s mostly the public library for me, with the occasional carefully considered paper book purchase.
Lynne Connolly says
Yes, I’m already there. I ran out of space for books about a year ago, so I got an Ebookwise and an Ipaq 4700 and I love them.
I live in the UK, so getting the US authored books is easier in ebook format, I’m an insomniac, so the backlight is, for me, a must, and I have very bad eyesight, so the adjustable fonts are a boon, and I can adjust the font to suit the combination of glasses/no glasses/ varifocals/ reading glasses or whatever is the sight du jour.
Wanderer says
Absolutely! It’s been a little over a year since my last paperback purchase and there’s no turning back for me 🙂
I love that I no longer have to rearrange the bookshelves or the house for that matter looking for more book space. I love that I can carry around loads of books in one little device and have the choice of what to read at my fingertips. In the mood for a romance, there it is. Feel like some mystery, click the next book. How about the latest thriller? All I have to do is click right there in my handy little portable library!
I’m also a fan of audiobooks but that’s a whole other post 😉