Digital eBook Readers vs Hardcover Books

For Christmas I received an Amazon Kindle. At first I was a little hesitant to use this new technology, but since have come to embrace it. There are a few advantages to having an E-Book Reader, but I know that some prefer the feel, smell and look of their stacks of paperbacks, hardbacks and magazines in their home.

For sure, I am more aware of the number of books I have collecting dust on my shelves and end tables. I think, gosh, I could have a garage sale, and make a little bit of cash to download some more publications onto my kindle. I would have much more room in my home, less to dust and definitely less clutter. But will it affect me negatively in other ways?

When I was growing up, I remember my parents wanting us to have the best and latest information to help with our school work and for personal development. My father made sure we had current encyclopedias, and no doubt spent quite a bit on them. My father still has bookshelves filled with these valuable books. It is sad to think they may all be replaced by a little book reader, and whatever else you can find online. My father is still an avid reader, and prefers the feel of the traditional book.

There are some books that I feel cannot be replaced by e-books. I guess those that I will definitely keep are my old yearbooks, family bibles, any inscribed books that were gifts from friends and family with their sentiments and thoughts,scriptures with my personal notes written in the columns, and of course family photo books (although I am collecting less and less of them all the time since digital photos are easily accessible nowadays).

I guess I am also sort of sentimental about books that I had that have special personal meaning to me. We have made several moves in our married life, and have always dragged along several boxes of books. Some of the books remind me of special times in the places we lived, and fond memories of our children reading and sharing them.

Recently I took a trip which took six hours one way on an airplane. I took along my new Kindle, and I enjoyed the fact that I could just carry it in my purse. It does not take up much room and is very convenient. It also holds several books that I have been able to download in only a few minutes for very reasonable prices. I found that the Kindle Store prices are usually discounted from what I have seen in retail book stores.

Another thing I was happy to find out is that the battery on the Kindle lasts a long time. With my ipod touch, it seems that the battery runs out very fast, but not the Kindle. I do not have experience with other e-readers, but so far, I am quite happy with my Kindle.

I was also pleasantly surprised that the Kindle Store offers free books and games to download onto your Kindle. I was totally absorbed in one book about paramedics and their crazy experiences. I was also excited to see that many of the classics are free on the Kindle Store.

One thing I was disappointed in with my new Kindle is the text to speech feature. I turned it on to try it, and the thing sounded so robotic, it really took the emotion and excitement of the book right out of me. I turned it off and probably will not use it again. I am sure there are some people who would appreciate it, but I am not one of them.

Another thing that I have enjoyed in the past, but which I will have to reassess is looking for old books at second hand stores. Will hard cover books and magazines become obsolete in the near future because of this new technology. I hope not, but it does not seem too far away.

Certain people seem to think the eReaders are soulless faux-literary technology, but I have come to see its purpose and usefulness for traveling. It would be harder to take along a hardcover book since it would take up more room and be heavier. I like the ease of turning the pages on the Kindle - barely have to move a muscle (getting lazier and lazier aren't we?).