Have you tried Ebooks?
By ShepherdSpy
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
Omagh, Northern Ireland
February 12, 2008 6:49am CST
Hi Readers!
Do you prefer a book in your hands,or have an ebook reader device with a library's worth of books loaded? Do you use MS Reader,or Project Gutenberg?
I like having a book in my hand,but I also like having accessible ways of finding "new" material...Gutenberg is good for Public domain reading,classics and such,with MS reader you can buy more current ebooks..I still have one of the ebookman devices-mine was flawed-battery life wasn't great,and if you changed the batteries,it wiped the books in the memory! I recently discovered booksinmyphone.com,which has an app you can download to a cellphone with Java software..I think it's the ultimate portable ebook!
4 people like this
24 responses
@coolboy9919603532 (31)
• India
13 Feb 08
ebooks are reealy way of the future i notice that its verey amaging.i loving it.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Mar 08
Thanks for the comment!I reckon newer display technology can make devices lighter or more portable than a paper book in time..would like to see that!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
I'm liking what I hear about the "E-Ink" screens cropping up on the latest ebook reader devices..they resemble paper to read,don't cause eyestrain from staring at a glowing screen,and have lower power requirements than LCD screens,estimating a week or more of use from a charge or a set of batteries..now,if they'd only do something about the "early adopter" pricing to make them competitive with real books..
@cifirretsbol (160)
• United States
12 Feb 08
i love the feeling of an actual book in my hands and i don't know if i'll ever get used to reading off a screen as opposed to the printed page. maybe once they've invented a portable device that's a bit more book-like it will work better for me. but even so, i truly enjoy my book collection and i hope they never become obsolete.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Mar 08
I'm waiting to see how good the technology gets,and checking out the steps getting there-in the meantime,I'll enjoy my real books too :)
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
12 Feb 08
To be honest I have never really tried an e book I think I much rather prefer to have the book in my hands! The idea of the ebook thing has never appealed to me, maybe I will try it though one day.
1 person likes this
@Foxfire1875 (2010)
•
12 Feb 08
I prefer to have a book in my hand as it's not just the story but the whole experience of reading I enjoy. I don't think you can ever get the same experience from reading on a screen.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Mar 08
for now,I think "real" books still have the advantage-wait and see,though :)
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
The "E-Ink" Tech now in use on some devices sounds good..a screen that's light weight and low powered that can be read like a real book in sunlight...
@ohwellie (140)
•
12 Feb 08
I've used project Gutenberg and LION to help me with my english course, but I prefer having actual books. I can't concentrate on block text on a monitor for too long so it would take me twice as long to read a chapter in an ebook as it would in an actual book.
But I suppose you've got to use what you feel more comfertable.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Mar 08
I like the internet's huge accessibility to reading material..the technology to display it in a portable way that becomes a "Killer App." is still in the pipeline..
@stewmoo (22)
• South Korea
12 Feb 08
hi there,
e-books....I have downloaded a lot of them, but to be honest, I haven't read any of them^^
As a reader, I love laying on the sofa or in bed afer a long day at work and getting lost in a book. With e-books, it just feels like I'm back at the office reading stuff on my pc.
The cellphone reader sounds interesting.....might check that out.
Keep reading!
PS, if you have never heard of Amitav Ghosh, check him out. The Glass Palace is amazing.
1 person likes this
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
13 Feb 08
I tied to get into the ebook thing. I just can't handle it as I always end up with a headache. I love books, I love reading. At least with the book in my hand it can go everywhere with me. I can read to my heats content. Reading off of a screen is ok for about 5 minutes for me and then I just have to do something else. Downloading a book to a cellphone sounds a bit crazy to me. The print would be tiny. I'll take the book in hand any day of the week.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
14 Feb 08
Like most ebook reader apps,you can switch between font sizes to one that works for you-good if you can't read smaller type.I like a regular book,but don't usually carry one around in case I get the chance to read somewhere.Everybody that has a cellphone carries it around with them,so you'd never be without some reading material!
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I use ereader pro - I love reading ebooks. When I go to hardcopy (harry potter) my arms and hands ge tired. I use Mac and palm so MS Reader is pretty much out of the question.
I prefer ebooks...no doubt in my mind.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
That's another issue..some of these expansive,highly recommended books can be quite heavy,especially in hardback form...and not everybody is disciplined enough with books to sit at a desk with a reading light nearby with the book in front of them..I used to stretch out on my bed to read..a lightweight ebook reader with a good reading screen would be a good compromise,IMO..
@meemingNEW (2226)
• Philippines
13 Feb 08
Thanks for sharing the site by the way. I have experienced it myself having to download ebooks using my phone for my school project. Mind you, it wasn't easy at all. It's so hard reading the ebook using a portable device rather than a computer or even a real book itself. That is why from experience, if you really wanna read a full textbook , using the real book is easier for me to do.
-Happy postings-
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
22 Feb 08
You're welcome re the site. :)
When you say textbooks,are You referring to regular printed books/novels,or educational reference books for classroom use? I don't think ebooks will replace that type of classroom material for a while yet,not when you may need to make margin notes and such in class..
@charles63 (146)
• United States
13 Feb 08
It would take exceptional circumstances for me to read a book off a computer screen. It's just too hard on the eyes. But I've bought the Sony eBook Reader, and for most books I prefer its versions over the ink-on-paper variety. I can hold it in one hand while advancing the pages, and the length my eyes have to travel back and forth on each line is shorter. I can read for longer periods without my eyes feeling tired. Project Gutenberg books are available for it at www.manybooks.net.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Mar 08
Thanks for the comment on the Sony machine-I like to hear how the technology is improving for portable ebook reading!
@chrislotz (8137)
• Canada
27 Feb 08
I have never had or read an ebook, but I really don't think I would like it. I read a lot and I lay in bed to read or I lay in the bathtub. So I wouldn't be able to do this if it was an ebook. But I do hear a lot of people like to read ebooks. I really have a hard time understanding that. I would have a very sore back and neck and eyes from staring at the computer for hours at a time. And when I read a book I usually read for a couple hours. So no I don't think I will ever read an ebook and I will stay to reading real books that I can hold in my hands.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
Devices are coming along (Slowly!) that will mimic the look of the printed page but without the weight of a real book..who knows,they might even make one that could take an accidental dunk in a bath without being ruined!
@Britelite (148)
• Singapore
13 Feb 08
Prefer the traditional book in my hand...easier on the eye and makes referencing easier too.
I like e-books, but I always find it strenuous to read on screen for long periods. If I MUST read any of those ebooks...I will convert them to text files and transfer them to my iPod.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
That's what I like about ebooks on a phone..It's one gadget (if you own one,and many people do..) that you've usually got with You,so you've always got a book you might want to read ready and waiting!
@chris1314 (784)
•
12 Feb 08
I prefer to have a book in my hand than an ebook. I know with technology growing rapidly etc that ebooks are probably going to be used a lot more than they currently are, but if you want to read for a good few hours, you can't stare at a screen! Your eyes will be square!!
If its only 15 mins or so then yeah, ebooks are good, but if for much longer then no! =]
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
4 Jan 10
The technology is slowly getting there...now if the prices would only get to the level where the tipping event would occur and people start to buy them in large numbers,it would be much better! Some recent devices are tied to a particular ebook retailer for downloading of their books..I think they should be distributed for free as promotional tools in competitions,lotteries,etc,as if the customer can only buy from them,they'll be making a profit on the deal in any case!
@caraj444 (1075)
• Canada
14 Feb 08
Im going to try my first ebook simply because its a free offer from oprah.com but ive never tried it before, im thinking im the type who enjoys the actual book in my hand but i go through books so quickly that ebooks could be a more cost effective method sometimes, anyways i will try and see what i think
@MandyB1978 (36)
• South Africa
14 Feb 08
I enjoy both. I do find books easier to read because I prefer to try and limit the amount of time I spend on the computer as I have spinal problems which are made worse by spending long hours in front of the computer. I do still have dozens of ebooks that I have downloaded though and also love Project Gutenberg. I think there will always be a place for both.
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
14 Feb 08
I have ebooks and I also have books in my hand .. I think that the client I use is Microsoft Reader. LOL!! I have a couple of downloaded book from my favorite authors that I usually end up buying paperback.. Have a nice day.
@the_lioness (177)
•
14 Feb 08
I much prefer having a book in my hands, for I don't particularly enjoy reading on the screen (I find the all experience is ruined that way) but I enjoy ebooks, for out-of-print or otherwise difficult-to-find books are sometimes accessible this way.
