By Buckeye4Life

March 24, 2010 9:27 AM | Link to this

I’ve been toying with the idea of buying an eReader. My mother-in-law got a Kindle for Xmas. She loves it because it allows her to enlarge the font and its easier for her to hold. I don’t know that the weight is the lighter (probably true in comparison to hardbacks), but it seems easier for her because she can lean it on her lap with no pressure whereas with paperbacks you tend to hold them either both ends or one-hand at the spine. On a side note, I find it disturbing that this column invites feedback on a new technology and then when one person provides detailed tech feedback, the paper book lovers are overly negative (no one is saying eliminate paper) and resort to name calling (diva) and imply something is wrong with the technical person by telling them to go outside and get sunlight. No wonder they won’t be back. Sad that people can’t share opinions without others resorting to name calling and sinking to that. What will interesting is to see is if in 10 years, everyone has an eReader. Most things move forward (radio to TV; records to CDs to iPods). Sorry Miatasrule, your feedback was good to have - if no one else, I appreciate it.

By Alice

March 23, 2010 2:56 PM | Link to this

Miatasrule really needs to lighten up. As someone that values both new technology, paper AND trees, I got the humor coming from H Lee’s post. Ironically, Miatsarule’s reaction only further demonstrated that “electronic divas” maybe should get a little more fresh air and sunlight. On the initial debate - there is something refreshing about thumbing through a good book after I’ve spent ten hours on my Mac (and my eyes thank me!). There’s a pitfall - and a testament - to being such an innovative company - every time Apple releases a new product there is a debate over if and what industry it will revolutionize.

By vick

March 22, 2010 11:52 PM | Link to this

miatasrule, I value your insights. I appreciate that you are knowledgeable about new technologies. I had no intention to offend you. I was merely playing the referee if you will. HLee has a bit of a sarcastic bent and I don’t think there was any intent there to offend. Humor is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately it can sometimes feel like a poke in the eye and that isn’t funny. I’ll miss your comments. I hope you’ll consider making more observations in the future.

By Miatasrule

March 22, 2010 10:42 PM | Link to this

Vick: Its obvious from your repeated columns that you are very pro paper book and are not open to technology. That’s fine. You prefer paper. OK. To each his own. You would rather defend someone who signs off “grumpily yours” and who has some strange story about puppies getting hurt eating electronic devices left in the yard - all in the while being rude to the person who tries to enlighten differences between the iPad/Kindle. Not OK. I noticed you didn’t admonish his rather disturbing post (unusual at best), but by all means - the Kindle lover is the bad environmentalist. Rather than being open minded, you’d rather be negative. I have over 200 books on my Kindle - seriously, you think its less green than printing those books, shipping them, etc.? In fact, with your concern that technology is not a green concept, perhaps the DDN blogs should be done away with completely. You’ve lost a faithful reader with your inability to be open and FAIR to the very conversations that you start.

By H. Lee

March 22, 2010 4:27 PM | Link to this

Thank you for the defense, Vick. Actually, rather than being “so incredibly negative,” I was trying to make a point and still be humorous. I thought by talking about stuff like garage sales and chewing puppies, I was making my tone light. I guess not, but that’s OK. It’s a fun subject.

By Mark from St Paul

March 22, 2010 3:22 PM | Link to this

Just saw a new review that says Amazon’s Kindle for Mac bites because they obviously redirected their development team to build a Kindle app for the iPad, and that that app is very high quality. I’m not sure why Kindle readers are in love with that interface, but in prep for my pending (until after I read some user reviews) iPad purchase, I’ve been formatting some short stories into .pdf format to read on my monitor. Believe me, a .pdf using Adobe Type 1 fonts on a quality screen looks better than anything else out there. Since typesetting is a hobby of mine, I think I’m really going to enjoy my iPad….

By vick

March 22, 2010 10:02 AM | Link to this

miatasrule, read hlee’s post again. I don’t think hlee is advocating the killing of more trees to print even more books. Actually, hlee is taking a very conservative and environmental approach by advocating the reading of used books. There are billions of used books around and most of the trees that were consumed to print them were harvested long ago. By the way, how green is your Kindle? Isn’t it just another electronic device that will be impossible to recycle properly? What are Kindles made out of that make them so environmentally friendly? I’m guessing that a Kindle contains some components that are anything but “earth friendly.” Does anybody know what Kindles are actually made out of?

By miatasrule

March 21, 2010 9:41 PM | Link to this

H. Lee - Obviously, you enjoy killing trees and love to embrace your paper. Good for you. No one is saying that you must give up swapped books (which might also be swapping bacteria). I am curious, did you make the switch to automobiles, or are are still horse and buggy? To each his own. No one is being negative in this blog nor is anyone talking badly about books. There’s no need to be so incredibly negative in a discussion about a new technology. These new concepts might end up being things that revive Dayton. Would you have the same attitude if Amazon started making the Kindle in the old GM Moraine plant?!

By Chryss

March 21, 2010 12:26 PM | Link to this

OK, good to know that you can bring the Kindle to the beach. How about the bath? (OK that’s true for the iPad as well!) Also, in my opinion, Kindle has had a hard time displaying charts and infographics—disaster when trying to read scientific books or even sociology. I’m intrigued by the iPad, because the thought of magazines, web comics and graphic novels on it should be awesome. The big question for me is DRM, though. I like to actually own the books I buy.

By H. Lee Luddite

March 21, 2010 9:21 AM | Link to this

“Amazon’s #1 Bestselling Product”. And I care because…? “Long battery life. Read for up to two weeks without recharging”. My latest Kellerman whodunit, which I got free at a book swap, has a life of at least 50 years without recharging. “Paper like display is easy to read, even in bright sunlight”. My latest non-fiction, “The Course of Irish History,” a fascinating hardback that I got for 10 cents at a garage sale, also has a paper-like display! On account of — it’s paper! “Kindle is lighter than…” Since I seldom read my books while jogging or hiking, why do I care? Now, Amazon Kindlers, answer me this: Is Kindle rully rully cheap, like 9/10ths of the actual used books Amazon sells? Is it fun to sit under a shady tree with a Kindle and leisurely turn the pages to your favorite spots in the story, then casually put it aside while you go off to do lawn work? And finally: When the puppy gets ahold of it, as puppies do, and rips off a third or so of it while you’re doing yard work, is the puppy OK afterward or are you in for huge vet bills? Are you annoyed but OK with it because you’re only out a dime or so, or are you in for huge electronics bills? Or do you electronic divas ever even go outside at all? Grumpily yours,

By Debra

March 20, 2010 4:32 AM | Link to this

My Kindle lasts more than two weeks and multiple books on one charge. Apparently the e-ink only draws power when turning pages. Or so I have been told. Like Miatasrule, I turn the Whispernet off except for actually downloading a book. Sun doesn’t seem to affect the screen’s readibility. Haven’t taken it to Jamaica though. I can’t see the iPad as a competitor, at least for me. It is too big. Kindle slides into my purse so can go everywhere. The iPad’s size makes it awkward for me to hold. And having to pay for a subscription after paying for a device so I can pay for books just doesn’t sit well with me. Others, of course, will have their own oinions.

By Miatasrule

March 19, 2010 8:53 PM | Link to this

I have had a Kindle for over a year now. I’m also a HUGE longtime Apple fan (iMac, Macbook Air, iPods, iPhone). I will soon be an iPad owner too. However, I seriously doubt it will replace the Kindle. Kindle is so pleasant on the eyes, I doubt the iPad will provide the same experience for long periods of reading. Kindle goes for a MONTH without a charge as long as wireless is off. I only turn on wireless when I want to download a new book. iPad will be twice as heavy and much larger than Kindle. And you forgot the BEST comparative feature - I can access Amazon ANYWHERE via whispernet for FREE, FOREVER. iPad will be $30/mo for that access unless I want to hunt for wifi spots. Although I believe iPad will give me a lot of other benefits, its not going to convince me to give up my beautiful, fingerprint free Kindle!!