Bookmarks Subscribers discussion

For those of you who have had your Nook or Kindle for a while, are you finding that you are reading more or less and also are you spending more or less on reading material?

I haven't been able to convince myself to make the investment (don't have the money either so it works out fine), but I'm curious about how you are using them now the that novelty has worn off.

I am loving my Nook. The honeymoon is not over, but I am pacing myself with downloads, because I have sooo many physical books on my shelves.

Lisa? Pacing herself? I am not sure exactly what this translates to...100 per week? 75?

:) You know I love ya, girl!

I can't WAIT to own a Nook (those who are in Busy as a Bee Books know this), but I am holding out. I heard developments for the next version are underway. I don't anticipate any price drops, just like with iPods.

Once I own a Nook, I know I will use it a lot, but I will NEVER EVER tire of libraries and holding a real book in my hands. As a book lover, that will never go away. I DO like the idea of being able to keep many books with me in one device.

I've had a Kindle since the first version came out. I LOVE IT!!!! With that said, though, let me explain why I don't use it much. I have so many physical books in my bookcase I want to read, and I trade my physical books on PBS with a lot of credits available to me. I also find books (occasionally) at thrift shops and yard sales. Even with the price of books at around $10.00 or less for my Kindle, I can't see spending the money when I have so many available to me here. So why do I have a Kindle, then? When we travel, we are usually gone for at least 2 weeks at a time. At the rate I read (a book every other day), I wouldn't be able to afford the luggage surcharge! So, that's where my Kindle comes in. It's also nice to be able to purchase a book once in a while that I MUST have right away (like the Stieg Larssen series). I know this sounds silly, but I call the books I have on my Kindle, "STORIES" and my physical books "BOOKS". Would I do it again? Yes, I would, and the Kindle will never replace a book for me.

I don't have one yet but someday I would like to experience reading a book like that so I will probably get one. I can envision myself with one and downloading a book and putting it in my to read pile which kind of defeats the purpose I think.

I have an iPad. But I have been reading on a PDA or iPhone for years. I live the larger size. And amazon makes it SO easy to purchase that I am spending more than I should.

All these are really interesting comments. I think if I were to get one it would be for when I go on vacation like Quiltgranny (BTW, I'm on PBS too - we're probably competing for the same books!). I wonder if there are places where you can rent one and then rent/borrow books to put on it - this would be a good revenue generator for libraries.

Betsy wrote: "All these are really interesting comments. I think if I were to get one it would be for when I go on vacation like Quiltgranny (BTW, I'm on PBS too - we're probably competing for the same books!). ..."

I recently read something about a hotel having ipads to borrow. I imagine you'd have to use a credit card to guarantee its return. ;)

I own a Nook and I'm reading the same as before. I recently went on a trip and it was nice to not have to worry about running out of books because I read them too quickly. I have so many physical books that I mostly have been concentrating on reading those, but it's nice to grab the Nook and just go and have several options at my fingertips.

my nook was axmas gift and i LOVE it- i still read physical books as i swap them on line but i lover being able to get a new book instantly- and the nook is wireless- no plugging in to download or get upgrades - they just happen!:)-and when i take my nook i don't have to worry about running out of things to read and it now has games on it as welll- and you can download pictures and documents on it as well!!1

I have had a Kindle since it first came out (first version), and I read about 50% of my books on Kindle, but buy those (or use paperbackswap) that I want to keep or aren't available on Kindle.

I have no complaints about my Kindle, I love it for travel. It's hard to say if I am saving money though because my book buying in general has gone up dramatically in the last few years.

Christine wrote: "I have had a Kindle since it first came out (first version), and I read about 50% of my books on Kindle, but buy those (or use paperbackswap) that I want to keep or aren't available on Kindle.

..."
And now the prices of both have dropped, as of this past Monday. Wahoo! I am planning on purchasing a Nook because you can download from the library on Overdrive Media. To me that gives it a leg up on the Kindle. I use Overdrive all the time with my mp3, and find that my library has a fabulous selection of new books all the time.
sue in fl

I agree that it gives the Nook a huge advantage over the Kindle. I can't believe they haven't worked this into the Kindle yet. My library consortium has everything on ebook so I would never really need to buy anything at all.

I haven't bought my Nook yet, but I am wondering -
is it worth spending the extra money for the 3G network, or is the simple wi-fi enough? How easy is it to use the internet on your Nook with no buttons like the Kindle?

Stephanie wrote: "I agree that it gives the Nook a huge advantage over the Kindle. I can't believe they haven't worked this into the Kindle yet. My library consortium has everything on ebook so I would never really ..."

As I have been overhearing the salespeople at Barnes and Noble, and keeping in mind that is what they are, I would definitely spring for the extra $50 for the 3 G. My husband and I have also discussed and felt the extra $$$ is worth it, but to each his own. I happened in to a B and N on Monday and asked them to show me the internet capabilities, since that is also important. Looked easy to me, but I have not checked that on the Kindle. I still like the Nook for the wonderful library capabilities.
Would really like to hear if someone has used library download and if it reads like a regular ebook.

sue in fl


sue in fl

It's really easy to use the internet. There is a popup keyboard on the touch screen and since I have an iPhone, it's very similar.

I've downloaded from my library and it reads exactly like an e-book purchased from B&N

What happens after the lending period is up? On my mp3, on which I also use Media Overdrive, the books remain, as they do on my computer. They become inactive on the Overdrive site after the two week lending period, altho I can read on mp3 as long
as the book is still on the device.

The Kindle's internet (comparable to a mobile phone's) is nice. I check my email, check my goodreads, and stuff like that - no problems. Also, I like it because it was a flat fee and no monthly fee for the 3G.

As for spending less - probably not, I would guess I spend about the same amount. I read maybe %60 on my Kindle (so much easier to fit in the briefcase!) and about half of that is free books. Outside of that, I mostly buy used books, which helps.

If you travel a lot, this is EXACTLY the sort of thing you need.

I'm still reading most of my books on in traditional paper format. However, new stuff I want to read I put on my ewishlist on my Nook. New book purchases are pretty much all Nook. I take it to B&N with me because of the "More in Store" feature, and I've found myself browsing the books on the tables and the B&N recommends and then adding the title to my ewishlist on my Nook for future purchase. I know I've annoyed ppl as I stand there typing in titles, but hey, that's life.

It's going with me on our roadtrip to Ohio, and it's been to the beach with me. It makes it so much easier to carry reading material. This and tickets to see Wicked were the best Christmas presents I've ever gotten (and they were both from this past Christmas).

Cherylann, I do the same thing. I put new release books on my Nook wishlist with a few exceptions. I still have to buy the Stephanie Plum series in hardback, as I will Michael Connelly. I'd hate to break up my collection in a different format. I also visit Goodwill for books. It seems most of my Nook books come from Bookmarks magazine! ;P

I use a media program to get ebooks from my local library. I have them for 3 weeks and can "renew" them for up to 6 additional weeks, just like normal library books. And yes, the nook recognizes if a book is no longer on my computer, so if I don't return a book before its time is up, it will also leave my device.

I am loving getting books this way. Our system also allows you to make a wish list of books you want to get at some point (you can only have 20 out at a time) and a waiting list - they email me when an ebook becomes available.

I have a Kindle. I was using it up until recently for reading the NYT but I had to cancel because it was just too much content and I couldn't manage to read it-I do love the NYT so it pained me to do so. I would definitely sign back up if they offered a cheaper version that was just weekends. I just subscribed to the New Yorker which is only $3.00 a month.

Otherwise, I haven't been able to get into reading books on there. I have downloaded samples and I'm just.... not interested. I still want to hold a paper book and I find it less aggravating to just open to my bookmark than to pick up the Kindle, flip the switch, wait a few seconds and then navigate to the book if I didn't previously leave the device open on it.

If I travelled a lot, I think I'd get past all of that pretty quickly. But for me the answer is my physical book shopping and reading is unaffected. I'm also put out that the Kindle doesn't support the library lending model. But only a little cause I pretty much want the physical books from the library too.

It's my birthday today and I get my long-desired birthday gift....a kindle. Several days ago I checked to see that they were temporarily out of stock on Amazon. I attributed this to the recent drop in price. The Kindle currently holds two-thirds of the e-reader market. Well, my husband sent me a media link touting the release of the third-generation Kindle. A smaller(still six inch screen), lighter, ergonomically improved model with a fifty percent contrast improvement that is sharper than ever that can store up to 3500 books...Should I be a salesman for the Kindle? Well, so much for instant birthday gratification because Amazon is accepting pre-orders for a late August mail date. I am happy to say I am now on that mail list. Yes, it is a very happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Cathy! I'm happy you're getting a Kindle and hope it arrives soon!

Lisa wrote: "Happy Birthday, Cathy! I'm happy you're getting a Kindle and hope it arrives soon!"


Thanks, Lisa. Glad you had a nice vacation. It looks like you got a lot of reading done. My family is off to the Catskills for our annual extended family vacation. The cousins love to be together. Of course, being with my sisters lends to lots of talking and not as much reading, but we'll see..... Scrabble and chatting seem to take center stage on this trip along with lots of outdoor activities. Enjoy your week and thanks again for the birthday wishes.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday.

That price would have convinced me to buy a kindle but I already have an iPad.

I've had a kindle for almost a year (last year's xmas gift) and I still love it. I love it so much that I've been hinting to my husband that I want the bigger one and then he could use mine (nice of me right?); I have the small one right now. I do still read the traditional books too. I prefer to read the longer books on my kindle though; I think I read faster on it. Right now I'm reading the unabridged The Count of Monte Cristo on it and I might not be reading as fast if I have to carry around the 1300+ pages book. Another plus is that I like to read the classics and most of those are free on the kindle.

Also, I can read a kindle book on my phone too.

I have two Kindles - the original and the latest version (both were gifts from my husband, which was very sweet). I use the older one for travel but the newer one at home and at work.

Many of my friends who are e-reader owners have stopped buying non-ebooks. I, on the other hand, continue to shop for the best price. I get all of my classics that I hadn't owned previously on Kindle for free, but I will shop around and if I can get a book at the library for $1, then I will buy it instead of paying $9.99 or more on Kindle. I am both a Border and B&N member and I use the coupons, buy bargain books during clearance sales, etc. but I find myself using the library more. Owning books is becoming less important to me I am learning.

The iPad drove the price of ebooks up, making it less likely that I will buy a book on Kindle right out of the gates. The only downside that I've seen to the Kindle so far is that it doesn't have the library option, which I would definitely use if I had it.

All in all, I love having an ereader. I like reading the posts, bestseller lists and I recently bought the NYT Crossword Puzzle book, the puzzles of which are fun to solve on Kindle. However, in the end, it's really given me another option of how I want to buy and also read a particular book.

As a Kindle owner I agree with many of Sera's sentiments. It provides one more option for readers. Initially, I wasn't convinced that I was one suited to consider owning an e-reader. I never felt I was a huge gadget girl, nor ever on the cutting edge of technology in my personal life. I do love to browse books wherever they live and love the feel of a book in my hands.

My Kindle does not stop me from visiting libraries, bookstores, book sales, or any other book locations I can find, but it certainly travels light on vacations, especially if you are reading a lengthy book, and it provides instant access to any book if what you are reading doesn't suit your particular mood. It's great having an instant dictionary no matter where you are, and with ever-increasing age who wouldn't love to be able to adjust type-size to one's personal preference on a whim. It is an option that does not replace my many loved book memories, but rather supplements and enhances a much loved personal interest.

I agree with Sera that I would like to see the Kindle join with other e-readers that are able to use the library system. For now I can only use audiobooks in digital form in my life, but hope to one day use my Kindle with my library, too.

Quiltgranny wrote: "I've had a Kindle since the first version came out. I LOVE IT!!!! With that said, though, let me explain why I don't use it much. I have so many physical books in my bookcase I want to read, and..."

I agree. eBook devices seem to be more out of convenience when you want a book right then or if you don't want to lug books around. I personally have a Nook though. :)

Betsy wrote: "All these are really interesting comments. I think if I were to get one it would be for when I go on vacation like Quiltgranny (BTW, I'm on PBS too - we're probably competing for the same books!). ..."

If you bye a Nook you can "rent" books from your local library or any library you have a card with.

I have owned my Nook for a year now, and am finding I read more on my Nook that physical books. I never thought I would be a convert, because I love books, the feel, the smell, the covers........ But the convenience and ease of reading on my Nook, plus the added benefits of being able to read for free in B&N, and ability to download ebooks from the library has swayed me. I still love my physical books and now I love my Nook.

I echo many of Lisa's sentiments, but I tend to go in spurts with nook and then with traditional print books. Our library system has a huge selection of ebooks, which makes loading up the nook with free books a really nice option. I am getting ready to fly out of state soon, and it will be my first vacation with my nook. I have to say, I am still tempted to pack one PB b/c I am leery about taking my nook to a pool setting.

You could put it in a ziplock bag and read right through it. (I would still take a backup book just in case of an emergency :)

Ziploc...good idea. :)

Hi e-Readers,

I have an iPad now and love it. I am considering an e-reader for my mom for her birthday and I think the iPad is too heavy (and expensive). I'd like it to have internet access too. My mom is in her 70's and has the usual vision issues that come with age, so which e-reader would you recommend?

Also, she is currently a Literary Guild member. Does LG have e-books? Is there any similar company that does e-books? I've done a web search and it looks like LG does have them, but then I can't find any info on their website. Would Amazon's prices for Kindle books be just as cheap anyway?

Betsy,

Any e-reader that allows the reader to adjust font size and brightness would probably work for your mom. I'm not quite her age yet, but in the mornings (early) my eyes don't quite want to focus on the smaller type. So I move up a size or two and can read quite comfortably until my eye muscles "wake up." You probably won't need LG any more... other than to identify books that your Mom might like to read. I get most of my e-books from Amazon, and our state library has a quite active collection of e-books for check out with a participating community library card. (I am on my third Kindle and have an iPad also. Only read on the iPad when I have no other option. Love the Kindle; they are very book-like when put in a cover.)

Cindy wrote: "Betsy,

Any e-reader that allows the reader to adjust font size and brightness would probably work for your mom. I'm not quite her age yet, but in the mornings (early) my eyes don't quite want to ..."

Thank Cindy. What model of the kindle do you like best?

Betsy, I have the original Nook and the Nook Touch. I bought the Nook Touch for my father, who is turning 80, because of the simplicity of use. If you want Internet access, then you may want to look at their Tablet. I'm sure it is comparable to the Kindle. One thing I find worth considering is how tech savvy is your Mom? It is nice having the hands on help of Barnes & Noble personnel to answer any questions or troubleshoot problems, plus they offer classes on how to use the device.

Betsy, I have the first two generations of Kindle. If you get most of your e-books from Amazon, then that's probably the way to go, but first check to ensure that the Kindle is comptabile with your mom's library. Not all of them are yet so it would be good to know prior to making a purchase decision.

Kindle also has ethernet, which is its own form of wireless, making a customary wireless application superfluous.

Sera wrote: "Betsy, I have the first two generations of Kindle. If you get most of your e-books from Amazon, then that's probably the way to go, but first check to ensure that the Kindle is comptabile with you..."

Thanks everyone! I ended up ordering a Kindle Touch and I'm also going to give her an Amazon Prime membership. That way she can borrow books from Amazon, and her library also uses Overdrive, so many books should be available on there too. This is not anything she has wished for, so who knows, she may not even like it or use it. But I thought it could actually save her money rather than buying all the new hardcovers that she does, and also save her space in an already overly cluttered house. We'll see!

Well thought out choice! Keep us posted on how mom makes out.