Jan 28, 2019

E-book reader or real book?

How to you prefer to read?  An e-reader or a book?

I have started thinking about purchasing an e-reader.  We are traveling more and it would be nice to not have to haul three or four books with me.  Traveling in the RV makes it easy for me to bring along a large amount of books.  I prefer to hold a book to read.  However I have never tried an e-book device so maybe I might like it 💡

It wasn’t until George made a comment yesterday that I realized you can’t just go out and buy one.   This is what he wrote.  I would enjoy reading it, maybe will see if we can get a downloaded version.  Kindle format does not work on an iPad or Kobo, we will have to convert it to an e-pub format.

That is all Greek to me 😯   Amazon books only seem to sell Kindle e-books.  So does that mean that I have to buy a Kindle in order to read a book I purchase on Amazon?  I clicked on a Kindle link and got this…

Does this mean that if you buy an e-book on Amazon and get their free Kindle App that you can read that Amazon book anywhere, including George’s Kobo?  Somehow I don’t think so.   I am confused.  So if you only have a Kobo device then you can’t read an Amazon book on it, just on your tablet or computer?

So what type of e-device do you have and where do you find the books you read?  Which e-reader is the best?  I also want to know about reading outside in the sunlight.

Maybe I should just stick to reading a real book 🙄

 

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24 responses so far

24 Responses to “E-book reader or real book?”

  1. They both work for me. Sometimes a book on a plane is good, but then I have my laptop with books downloaded on it (thanks Croft). I like them both. A book in the hand of a teacher looks much more appropriate. 🙂

  2. Gumo says:

    Books are great! Kindle is great and it works with ipad, too! Plus, Kindle can loan books to and from you, free loans from public library’s across the country and free Audible loans, too. The biggest advantage for me is being able to adjust the size of my reading print to my liking.

  3. Rae says:

    I read more when I have real books on hand. With an e-reader, it’s way too easy to forget that I had a book on the go. :-/

    I read Kindle books using my iPad’s free Kindle Reader app, available on the app store. So George is wrong that you cannot read Kindle books on iOS devices. I don’t know about the Kobo, though.

    If you want to read outside in the sunlight, you’re going to need a Kindle or other reader that has “e-paper” and is backlit. Tablets suck in the sunlight (guess who can’t do homework on her iPad in her new outside hammock?).

    I mostly get my e-books through friends, but I sometimes pick some up on Amazon or sites like https://www.gutenberg.org that offer ebooks in the public domain. “Epub” is the most universal ebook format and is the one you’ll probably come across if people are sending you ebooks. I believe all readers can open those. I like to read those in the iPad iBooks app, which comes pre-loaded, as the app acts like a real book, with pages you can turn and mark up if you want.

  4. Dave Davis says:

    My wife uses the Kindle app on her iPad, but she can’t buy books on it from Kindle. I have a Android tablet so I use knidoe exclusively. My wife then can access any book I get because we use the same account.

    With all that said, if you have an Android phone you can get any book on Kindle. To simplify life, just get a cheap Kindle. I read 3 book a week, and the Kindle app is wonderful! Since we full time in our RV, there is no way I want paper books, in fact when I have trouble sleeping, I just use my tablet. No lights to turn on, no books to try and hold open etc.

    I will probably never go back to paper books.

  5. Alan Brechin says:

    Hello Contessa,
    I am ‘old school’. For some people, e books work and if so that is great. I prefer a traditional book and as a matter of fact I’m arriving on the isla tomorrow with 37 books books in a box. Because of the weight etc. I may go over to the ‘other side’ in future, but as it is I prefer pulling a book of a shelf and saying hmmn, that looks interesting. I could do the same with a Kindle etc. But old habits die hard.
    Alan

  6. Sandie says:

    I have a Kindle Fire. It took me a long time to switch from books to the e reader. But now I think it’s the only way. I have 230 books on my kindle so I can always find something I want to read. I get most of my books from bookbub. Lots of free, low cost books. I also have audio books downloaded to my kindle that we listen to when we travel.

  7. Tanza Erlambang says:

    I would rather read e-book.
    have a great day

  8. George Yates says:

    We get most of our books from E-books, and are usually free, Croft has sent me quite a few good ones as well. We have over 3,500 books on file to choose from and with Suzie sometimes reads a book a day, we were constantly looking to buy or ex change for more, The space for storing these books became an issue as well. What ever reader you buy I am sure will enjoy it. I know we do and don’t enjoy picking up a real book anymore. Now we can find the authors we want and read them at our leisure.

  9. Chris says:

    Hi, regarding Kobo and kindle. Kobo is Canadian, and you can download from Canadian library’s for free. These readers do not download from kindle books which is what amazon sells. We love our Kosovo’s and travel with us everywhere. They only need charging maybe once a month verses iPads or cell phones. And like it was mentioned they are back lit so you can use them outside.

  10. Gail Todd says:

    Since I have a 2 book a week habit, I bought a Kindle Fire 4 years ago. I use Bookbub, the Fussy Librarian, and two local libraries. I can search through the libraries for all kinds of books. There is often a waiting list for best sellers. If you have a library card, check for their online books. Literally thousands are available. I don’t have an Apple computer, though.

  11. Kathryn Tycho says:

    I’m old school..I like a book or a newspaper in my hand. Might have a reader on my tablet if it’s possible for emergencies. I have crossword books, sudoku books and don’t play games on my computer. Too busy blogging!

  12. Al McClughan says:

    Hi Contessa, my wife is a “hard copy” reader and I use Kobo on my tablet. When Sony was in the business a few years ago I had their reader but when they stopped the E readers and moved the book business to Kobo I went with a tablet.

    The tablet doesn’t have a “white paper” screen like the E readers but I like it because I can pause the reading and go on-line or receive Emails and then go back, I use an Android tablet. I have downloaded the Kindle app but I haven’t used it, and I haven’t compared pricing between Kindle and Kobo for books. The Kobo books are accessible on my smart phone, I read when I’m in places for appointments

  13. Deb says:

    I love to read and I read a variety of subjects. I love to hold a book in my hand from time to time but like you said, it isn’t always convenient. I bought a Kobo three or four years ago and I would never part with it. I like it for a number of reasons. First I can adjust the print size. Second it has a lighted page so there is no issue reading inside or outside or at night. I can adjust the brightness of the light to my own preference. Third I can adjust the way I flip pages, a slide, a tap, this corner, that corner, etc. Fourth, it’s light weight and fits easily in my purse, I can take it anywhere and read a few pages at any time. Fifth, it never loses my page.
    I can download from almost anywhere, even libraries, Canadian, USA and probably others as well. You can also download in various languages at some of the sites I’ve visited. The books are free to download (but it does require data usage on your internet to download ANY books) and if borrowed from the library they stay on my Kobo for 2 weeks. I can download 5 at a time. After two weeks they just disappear or I can return them within the two weeks and get more (just like returning a book to a regular library). I can buy almost any book if I want to spend the money to do so and can usually find it in Kobo style or e-pub style. You can buy books from many sources or you can get some free books for many sources as well. Some Epub styles DO NOT always work well with page sizing but you will find it works once you get the hang of it. I suggest a cover for whatever you get simply to help keep the screen scratch free and protect it.
    You should remember that it is still an electronic screen, you can dim or brighten the light but just like reading there will be a certain amount of eye strain. It is much easier on the eyes of course but still something to keep in mind.
    Good luck and happy reading.

  14. Ans van Uffelen says:

    I love my ereader I am a voracious reader! I have a Nook from Barnes and Noble. I am a member of our local library and can borrow books any time I want for free. Can keep them up till 3 weeks and then it dissapears. I seldom buy a book but Nook has a great selection if you want to.

  15. Joan Austin says:

    I have had the old Sony ereader and four Kindles. Currently my favorite is the Kindle Paperwhite. It is easier on the eyes as it is backlit from the sides. The screen is easy to see whether outside or in. With the backlighting you can read at night without disturbing anyone else. You can get books from Amazon or public libraries. Amazon has a program called Kindle Unlimited which costs 9.99 a month. You can get 10 books at a time for this price. As you finish one and return it you can choose another or read one of the 10 you have. Sometimes they are not the best books out there, I think some are self published and the spelling can be a hoot but it is very affordable. The first run books can be expensive, probably 14 dollars and up. About what one would pay in a bookstore. (If there were any left.) You can use the Kindle app on an iPad or iPhone which I have tried but still like the Paperwhite for it’s being easy on the eyes and easy to read and you can adjust the print to whatever suits you. Happy reading whatever you decide.

  16. Hi Contessa, you got already enough replies re: ebooks and by now you must realize that it is the way to go for someone that is traveling a lot. No extra room for books needed and you can choose what you want to read and not what is available in the exchange bin.
    We have been reading on e-readers for approx: 15 years. Started with a Sony, then a Kindle, a mini iPad, another Kindle and another iPad.
    I have no problems downloading books into my iPad from all kinds of sources and the bonus is that the iPad is computer and you can do all kinds of things with it and not just read books.
    The Kindle app works on it and when downloading a book from lets say Amazon it asked to which device and we do often order them to all our devices so we can read the same book at the same time on two or more devices. (we do order 95% of books that are free) Certain books are only free when registered as a Canadian device so while in the USA we have to specify our Canadian registration to get the book.
    It’s not complicated but we do search and order all our books via laptop and click download to either Kindle or iPad or both.

  17. greg says:

    I recently (4 months ago) decided to dabble in E-books and started researching readers, but before I spent any money I decided to give the Kindle App for my smart phone a shot. I haven’t looked back since.

    I expected the small screen to be an issue but that hasn’t turned out to be the case. The optimized font means I can read without taking my glasses off, (Near sighted and I have to take my glasses off to read most paperbacks.) photos can be enlarged as much as necessary, I can read for hours and use up less than 10% of my battery, and having a library in my pocket on something I would be carrying anyway has been great. Now if I unexpectedly get stuck in a line at the post office or waiting on The Wife while she gets her hair cut, I have a book in my hand. At night I can also turn the screen brightness down and read without disturbing The Wife, unlike when I used to read paperbacks via headlamp.

    We also use our library’s E and audio book service and that is on another app called Libby. Again, we can listen to an audio book for about 4 hours during one of our trips to town using up only a fraction of the battery.

    Text (and a few photos) only books download without taking up much bandwidth. Because I have a small plan (2 Gig) I only let audio books download through WiFi.

    I haven’t looked into it, but imagine that many other e-book marketeers that use a format not compatible with Kindle also have reader apps of their own.

    I still read paper books (Have to since I have stacks of them stowed away in various places, you know- in case of an apocalypse, but having a shelf full of books on my phone is great!

  18. Lynne LeGrow says:

    As a retired public library cataloguer, of course I love books.
    That being said… for reading I much prefer to read on my Kindle Paperwhite EREADER. I read over one hundred books per year. The Kindle Paperwhite is easy on the eyes and can be viewed in bright sunlight as well as complete darkness without adjustments. Amazon has the best selection of ebooks and you can often find bargains. At present, I have 645 books loaded on my Kindle. I love the feeling of knowing that they are all there waiting for me. I carry it wherever I go. You never know when you’ll have a few spare minutes to read.

  19. Rod and Sylvia says:

    We have a Kobo, Kobo apps for our tablets, a subscription with BookBub to get cheap books, and a healthy pile of paper books to get through. We like the convenience and ease of use from the E-readers, but there is something special about a good paper book.
    Last fall I read John Jakes North and South trilogy on the Kobo. I believe it was over 1100 pages, so I was quite happy to read it on a 6 ounce tablet.

    As with most things, neither way is going to be ‘wrong’, just different.

  20. Gisele says:

    Good Morning Contessa and Colin,

    I registered with our local library and have their app, applies to all of BC Library
    System, and pick books from them at no cost. Loved it especially when travelling.
    Reading these books on my iPad is perfect as one can increase the font and
    brightness. When finished reading, one has three weeks, just click on it and
    within one second it goes back to the Library, otherwise after three weeks it
    goes back automatically. You do not need another device at all, works fantastic.

  21. Joyce says:

    I have a Kindle reader and love it. As far as I know you can order books from wherever you want. Your reader is just a small computer. Has email, games, calendar, etc.

    I resisted because I like the book but this is easy and very definitely space saving’

  22. Dolores T says:

    The new Kindle has filter or something that makes it easy to read outside. I have one and when in RV used it regularly, was so very easy to get the books I wanted w/o having to find a look store and get to it…. And read lots faster too ?? as did not have to turn pages or figure how to hold. I had the 1st generation, and did really well with ut. then got I think the 3rd gen/color (ads) and had trouble getting used to new format and they did not organize the books the old way, hard to find the books, store and keep my place, when leaving n coming back
    Then I got home… And I just LIKE a BOOK.. the holding of it, the smell, feel, heft and like saving them, and sharing. That was a HUGE thing, I love to share a good book!! And have 4-5 people that I supply ?… Don’t always get a return from them but that is ok… I have a very eclectic way of (my own way) chosing books and have HUGE backlog of tbr’s
    So that are my thoughts n experience for what it is worth… ?
    Good luck with a decision..,. They cost alot less than that 1st one, I remember I used part of my 1st soc sec check to get it!!!!

  23. Karen B says:

    Hi Contessa, I prefer a good old fashioned book. This allows me to highlight interesting statements that I can quickly reference if I want. I am aware that they do seem to take up space in space that is very needed but I do also enjoy lending on a time frame to people that I trust will return them. That’s just my thoughts I also will keep only my top ten.
    Glad you are having a wonderful time wishing we are there!

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