[Sweet-P]

I love both my new Kindle AND good old-fashioned, printed-on-paper books. Sometimes I cannot decide whether to purchase a book for the Kindle or in paper....does anyone else experience this dilemma? I am finding that I am buying TWO copies of some books that I particularly enjoy, one in paper form and one in Kindle form. Oh my, I didn't anticipate this, and I can see this is going to be expensive (unless I can force myself to stop buying books in paper). Am I the only one who still enjoys holding a new book in hand, enjoying the tactile experience of a nice hardback cover, seeing the colors and graphics, smelling the pages, etc? Yet, I also LOVE to hold my Kindle and be able to read my books anytime, anywhere, making it so much easier than dealing with them in book form.

I thought now that I have a Kindle, it would eliminate the ever-increasing need for space to put more books, but now I find myself having to make difficult decisions....buy it for Kindle, buy it for bookshelf? LOL...

 

[Forster]

Not to worry, it will pass. 

After a lifelong addiction to reading/collecting DTBs I really questioned whether I would have the strength to give them up.  Not only have I been able to give them up, I now find myself contemplating boxing up and putting into storage those books I've replaced with kindle versions.

 

[Betsy the Quilter]

Personally, I think the Kindlers' love of good leather covers and skins results from wanting to add a tactile experience to the pleasure of reading on a Kindle, akin to reading a paper book.  I enjoy the feel of my Oberon while reading, and the skin adds a nice burst of color.

Betsy

 

[klrodrigues]

I have the same obsession with paper books.  I am actually a member of a club that allows you to trade books so that keeps my cost down on both accounts, I guess 
I switch back & forth between the 2 at home & I use my K2 when I go out or at night. 

 

[Patra]

I don't have that problem.  In fact, I have a very different problem.  I don't want to read anything that isn't on my Kindle!  My daughter bought me a book about two months ago and I have had to force myself NOT to buy it for the Kindle.  I'm hoping she won't ask me if I've read it yet, because I just can't bring myself to read it on paper.  I also haven't bought any magazines since I became a Kindle owner.  I truly am obsessed with this wonderful gizmo. 

 

[B-Kay 1325]

Petra if you are truly having that much trouble reading the dtb and are worried about your daughter asking you if you have read it why not just buy the kindle version read it and the next time she asks you can say you read the book.  She doesn't have to know you read it on your Kindle.  Sometimes what they don't know really won't hurt them.

 

[Kathy]

I have the same problem as Patra. I have paper books I haven't read yet and find that I am buying them for the Kindle. Just can't seem to go back to paper. I keep saying I'm going to read them, but so far I haven't picked one up.

 

[akpak]

Personally, I think the Kindlers' love of good leather covers and skins results from wanting to add a tactile experience to the pleasure of reading

This is right.

I do miss looking at particularly artful covers. Then again, I also enjoy the reverse... When I'm reading some... ahem... "bodice ripper," it's nice that no one knows what I'm reading

 

[luvmy4brats]

The only DTBs that I have read were manuals for my ipod touch, iphone and photoshop elements. There was also one book that I had to buy in the DTB  because my Kindle died on me shortly after starting it. It happened on a Friday and I didn't get my replacement until Monday. If it's not on Kindle, I don't read it and I'll see if I can find the audio version. I will admit there are many books that I have both the audio and Kindle version though. I can't give up my audio books.

 

[Thumper]

There are always going to be print books that I'll want. I have several author collections, and I'll want to add to those. Books heavy on tables, those I'll want in print. If I can get an autographed copy of a book, definitely. I prefer reading on the Kindle, but I doubt I'll ever shake my love for print books.

 

[birdlady]

I have had no problem giving up the printed word.  I love the Kindle, the feel of the cover like what was stated earlier.  I can read a lot faster, and I love the fact that you can take it anywhere with you.  I do not miss the weight of the books, the fancy covers and especially the price of the NYT bestsellers. 

 

[Ann in Arlington]

I have had no problem giving up the printed word.

But, see, you haven't given up the printed word. . . .just changed the delivery method.

Ann

 

[Susan in VA]

I can read a lot faster

That's what I'm noticing too! I thought I was imagining it at first. Then I realized that my reading speed had slowed considerably when I got graded lenses (trifocals without the lines) a few years ago, because you can't just move your eyes quickly from side to side, you have to also move your head ever so slightly. Since the Kindle screen is much narrower than a book, I can take in a line at a time again without moving, and I'm back to reading the way I could before graded lenses. Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[Forster]

I seem to be reading quite a bit quicker as well, but I don't know why.  Maybe it's just my perception.  I don't have any physical impairments such as poor vision that the kindle helps me overcome that would explain it.

However, I do know for a fact that I have read considerably more books than my previous norm since getting the kindle, partly because the kindle is so darn convenient that I'm actually spending more time reading.

 

[mlewis78]

I wear Varilux lenses but switch to reading only glasses when I read books or kindle, so I haven't noticed the difference. I have noticed that my eyes strain more when I read paper books.

I refuse to buy kindle books that cost a lot and there's a trend lately of them charging $14 or more for some of the new books. I tag those books 9.99 boycott (there's a thread on Amazon about this) but since that doesn't seem clear to me, I also tag them "too expensive for kindle" or "$16.50 for Kindle edition??"

I asked for and received two big hardcover books for Christmas. They were way overpriced for Kindle editions:





Marti

 

[mlewis78]

My perception is that I'm reading more quickly on the kindle, but I think the perception is fed by the fact that there is less text per kindle page, and I use the 2nd largest print on kindle.

 

[mlewis78]

Now I see that the kindle edition price for the Hemings book is lower than it was, at 11.99.  It has a lot of good pictures thougha and family tree diagrams, so it was worth it for me to read the hardcover book.  The FDR book is still very highly priced for Kindle at $19.25.  Hardcover is discounted to about $23.  Both books are $35 list for hard cover.

I've read the Hemings, which was excellent, but have yet to read the other one and intend to read it soon.

 

[Forster]

I asked for and received two big hardcover books for Christmas. They were way overpriced for Kindle editions:

Marti

Just curious as to what you think the proper price for the Kindle version ought to be?

First book DTB $23.10 vs Kindle $11.99 = kindle savings of $11.11.

Second book DTB $23.10 vs Kindle $19.25 = kindle savings of $3.85.

I know everybody's opinion is different on this issue. I'm way on the other side as I'm really looking at buying content and the difference between DTB prices and Kindle prices is less of an issue with me. That being said I wouldn't pay more for a Kindle edition.

 

[AnelaBelladonna]

I didn't buy the Kindle 1 because I love books so much....especially hardcover books.  I love the way they look, smell and feel.  I love possessing them.  

The Union in the company I work for may go on strike and I will have to go out of town for what could be weeks or months to help out in another location.  I was wondering out loud how I was going to carry all of the books I would need when my husband said "I will buy you a Kindle".  Someone at his job was showing one off and he thought I would enjoy it.  Well, he bought it for me and it was love at first sight.  

I had just bought a TON of new DTB's but I can't bring myself to read them now and have duplicated some of them on my Kindle 2.  So...now I only buy books on the Kindle except for the few collections that I will finish with the remaining DTB's.

As mentioned above by Betsy, I love the rich leather covers for the Kindle because they give me the feel of reading a good book.  However, with the Kindle, I carry a whole library with me.

 

[mlewis78]

Just curious as to what you think the proper price for the Kindle version ought to be?

First book DTB $23.10 vs Kindle $11.99 = kindle savings of $11.11.

Second book DTB $23.10 vs Kindle $19.25 = kindle savings of $3.85.

I know everybody's opinion is different on this issue. I'm way on the other side as I'm really looking at buying content and the difference between DTB prices and Kindle prices is less of an issue with me. That being said I wouldn't pay more for a Kindle edition.

In December when my brother gave me the Annette Gordon-Reed book (re Hemingses), the kindle version was not 11.99. I think it was more like $19-20. It is a very substantial book with lots of research, endnotes, bibliography, photos, etc., so I can see why it would cost more than a new 300-pg. novel. I would recommend this book for the 11.99 price, now that I have read it. But 11.99 was not an option at the time.

The FDR book, at 19.25 is just so close in price to the hardcover, which is also very substantial with photos, etc., and it costs so much less to make the kindle version than to print the hardcover, that it is not a good value. If you want to read it and won't buy hardcovers, that is one thing, but I still read paper books and have several that I haven't read yet. I'm not buying any hardcovers now while I'm unemployed (since January), but I wouldn't spend 19.25 for the book. I'd borrow it from the public library. I did just that to read this, which wasn't available on kindle. The library book was brand new:



That was one good book. I have a list of books now on the NY Public Library website. Haven't looked at it lately, since I've been reading a lot on kindle.