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Here’s today’s question:
- Do you read e-Books?
- f so, how? On your computer, or a PDA?
- Or are you a paper purist? Why?
I do read e-Books, and frequently. When I’m at work and things get very slow, I’ll meander over to Project Gutenberg or Blackmask and read a book. It’s convenient, and doesn’t advertise to anyone who happens to wander by my office that I’m actually goofing off instead of working.
I read them on my computer when I’m at work. Otherwise, I have an eBook reader that I use. I love it because it is about the size of a trade paperback, and I have hundreds of books on each memory card. So it’s very convenient when I’m traveling, for example. I am a really fast reader, and would frequently take 2 or 3 long books on a plane trip. And if there were unexpected layovers, I’d have to go find something else to read. But with my reader, I have hundreds of books right there with me.
Furthermore, a lot of the e-books I read are for research purposes, and I can get them for free from Gutenberg or Blackmask. So it’s very handy when I’m working on my Chaucer book to just pull out my reader and find the reference I need. I like it.
That does not mean, though, that I have forsaken paper for e-books. There is nothing like the feel and smell of a printed book that you can hold in your hands. So I have far more print books than e-books.
I enjoy the best of both worlds.
You captured my sense of the question nicely! I’m thrilled with the increasing number of lit crit books available through my public library, and the online collections through LION: Literature OnLine through the university library is also great for research. What type of e-book reader do you have? I’m using my pda, but would prefer a screen that’s larger.
–Shelob
http://caution-blind-driver.blogspot.com
I use an e-Bookwise 1150, and absolutely love it. It’s got a decent-sized screen. The pda screens are way too small for me.
You can get more information on the reader at the eBookwise website (http://www.ebookwise.com/ebookwise/ebookwise1150.htm). I know it seems a little hefty in price, but the little memory cards are very inexpensive, and it’s just a fantastic reader.