E-readers like the Kindle and iPad are sweeping the nation world … do you have one? Do you like it? Do you find it changes your reading/buying habits? If you don’t have one, do you plan to?
(And yes, e-readers and e-books do come up periodically, and yes, we’ve had similar questions in the past, but things change so quickly … it’s worth revisiting.)
The BTT questions come from Deb at Booking Through Thursday.
I take the liberty of changing “nation” to “world”, because in Sweden, they are not quite sweeping our nation yet. Which is probably also part of the answer to why I still don’t have one. I feel fairly certain that one day I shall, but I think I might wait another couple of years to decide what kind to buy.
There was an article about this in my local newspaper just a couple of weeks ago. The Market (this mysterious entity which is always spoken of as if it had an existence of its own) here in Sweden is still having difficulties settling on the best reader(s) for our language and literature. The publishers are also hesitating. While English is first language for 400 million people or so, and second language to like a billion or more, Swedish is spoken by approximately 10 million people. It cannot be denied: There is a considerable difference.
The prophet (or whatever his official title may be) interviewed in the article predicted that it will probably be another couple of years or so until e-readers really make their breakthrough here. So I think I might wait a while yet. When I do get one, it would be nice if the same one worked equally well with both languages.
13 comments:
I sometimes forget how fortunate I am -- and your post is a reminder. I have an eReader, and have access to several choices.
I hope you have the same access (and choices!) soon.
My BTT is here.
It's slow here in Norway too. But, as I mostly read in English anyway I'm happy with my Kindle.
the e readers are for sure sweeping America, i may be one of ten who doesn't have one. they are getting cheaper and cheaper but not cheap. I looked at them, but to buy the e book cost as much as buying a book, so i don't get that part. i read from the library because it is free, and that was my excuse, but now last month the library has E books. not sure if i would like one, i love my books. but i am in the minority. your post really made me think a lot, had not thought about the English and the other languages as related to the readers.
I don't have an e-reader, and like Sandra, I don't think they are really very cheap. If I did a lot of traveling, then I think they would be nice to have, but for now I will still be turning pages.
You have brought out some important issues...and I can see how you would have much more to ponder.
Here's MY BTT POST and
MY WEBSITE
I have a g-tablet, that's like an ipad, and I like it, but I'm getting the new Amazon Fire pad next week and passing the g-tab to my husband.
I like the e-reader but it has limitations. I read a lot of old, rather obscure books and many of them are not available for e-readers. I'm pleased that we can now check books out using our e-reader.
I don't think they'll replace books but I'm looking forward to not having to carry around 500 and 600 hundred page books anymore.
I love my Nook for traveling more than anything else. Love not having to lug around a ton of books everywhere we go (and my husband is too...lol). Here's my BTT.
Janet, I thought old and obscure were the ones most easily available, and for free and all... Thinking of Project Gutenberg and similar.
You are right to re-visit this, because things change and so have I!! I always thought I would never get an e-reader, because I love the smell and feel of books, and just their physical presence seems to calm me down. This all changed when I got an iPad last month. One of the most fun things ever invented!!! Anyway, it came with an e-reader, and we have been using it. It will do things that books won't, and here is a big plus for you; If you all of a sudden want a book, you don't have to wait, then go out to find it. You can get it in a minute on your reader. Now they have a program where if your local library has a book, you can get it free on your reader. Also when you get a reader, there are many, many free books on it. I'm getting my son a Kindle for his birthday next month, he wants one because of the free library books. They are down to $75.00 here and promise to get much cheaper for Christmas shopping. They are this year's number one gift item.
I never actually realised how few people speak Swedish. The Markets do, unfortunately, dictate so much. One of the problems NZ has is it's population of 4.5 million in a country the size of the UK.
I doubt anyone with English as first language can quite understand how much "power" there is in that. For us who learn it as second language it opens up the world.
I must admit |i'm getting more and more fond of my Kindle. A pity really because my son has 'borrowed' it. I may never see it again...
I haven't bought one yet and not inclined to do so. Loved books all my life and you can't beat lying in bed with a chunky paperback, eyes getting heavy, book falls off duvet onto floor and you don't have to worry about batteries or breaking some darned machine.
I'm not a Luddite about other stuff and have a very smart phone!
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