Got a digital reader for Christmas

[MidnightSensi]

I got a Sony Reader for Christmas.

I never would have thought about getting one myself, but I do read a lot so it was a good gift. But, I got curious about what books are available... and...well...it seems like the digital books cost as much as the paper ones, so why would I buy them digitally?

Room Acoustics ~ Heinrich Kuttruff
Hardcover Amazon: $175
Sony Reader: $240
Kindle: $140

Not a cheap book, but here is an example...Sony is nuts, the Amazon Kindle is only 25 bucks cheaper?

Isn't the cost of the books in shipping and paper and so forth?

If I search for a book on acoustics, and click "Less than $15" (which is the bloody max I'd pay for a digital book), I get two exotic stories and a joke book. Yeah.


...

So, it's a gift...what do I do with this thing? I read mostly technical stuff, engineering books and so forth. I rarely read stories. The book by my bedside is 'Mechanical Linkages' ... is this Sony Reader destined to living inside my bookshelf?

Seems like it can read PDFs, maybe I'll use it for reading stuff I find on the Internet later on PDF?

Anyone have one of these things? What kind of content can you get?

 

[CaliHwyPatrol]

I have "aquired" several books in PDF format that I read on my iPod touch. There is actually a large number of PDF format books out there, just have to find them.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I have "aquired" several books in PDF format that I read on my iPod touch. There is actually a large number of PDF format books out there, just have to find them.

Ooo...yeah...never "browsed" for books before. Good call.

The Sony content is /terrible/ unless you want to read Harry Potter books for more than the hardcover costs.

 

[majorloser]

Last year I wanted a Kindle but talked myself out of it. I read at about 2 to 3 fiction novels a weeks. Mostly technothrillers, some sci-fi, war novels and spy thrillers. It's a way to clear my brain before going to sleep at night. I just thought the backlight of the Kindle would be better than a booklight I use so I don't disturb the wife.

But when I pick up most of my books on the clearance rack of Books-a-Million at around $6 for hardcovers, it just didn't make much sense.

Let me know how you like reading from the screen instead of a book. I always thought it might be a little easier on the eyes.

 

[cfrizz]

The Sony ereader Touch (PSR-600) is going to be my gift to myself. I love to read but long since ran out of bookcase room. I have already downloaded Sony's reader software onto my pc.

I have already purchased 5 books from www.fictionwise.com & downloaded & have read them.

You can increase the size of the font both on the reader & the pc so you have less eyestrain.

More & more websites are coming up to sell ebooks so that you aren't just stuck with buying books from Sony.

I originally was going to go with a Kindle, but when they turned around & deleted one of George Orwells books that they said was an illegal version, I got turned off, then add in their what seems to be 9.95 cost for all their books I said forget about it. It seems that price fixing isn't illegal for ebooks.

What I love about the Sony is although I need to hookup to the pc to download books, once done, THOSE BOOKS ARE MINE! I can backup my books onto a cd or memory discs & I don't have to worry about anyone deleting them on me like Amazon did!

I will also be able to read & listen to music at the same time when I take it with me on the road.

I'm going to enjoy getting my Sony reader & catching up on all the books I've been wanting to get for a long time!

 

[MidnightSensi]

Last year I wanted a Kindle but talked myself out of it. I read at about 2 to 3 fiction novels a weeks. Mostly technothrillers, some sci-fi, war novels and spy thrillers. It's a way to clear my brain before going to sleep at night. I just thought the backlight of the Kindle would be better than a booklight I use so I don't disturb the wife.

But when I pick up most of my books on the clearance rack of Books-a-Million at around $6 for hardcovers, it just didn't make much sense.

Let me know how you like reading from the screen instead of a book. I always thought it might be a little easier on the eyes.[/QUOTE]

That's the way I am. I sketch or read before bed. I end up going through a lot of books.

I played with it last night, and what bothered me is no backlight. I still have to run the lights on, so if my girlfriend wanted to sleep it doesn't really offer that feature. Also when I travel I'd prefer it to be backlit, I always feel so bad using even a booklight on a overseas flight, and I'd never turn on the overhead/airplane light.

The Sony ereader Touch (PSR-600) is going to be my gift to myself. I love to read but long since ran out of bookcase room. I have already downloaded Sony's reader software onto my pc.

I have already purchased 5 books from www.fictionwise.com & downloaded & have read them.

You can increase the size of the font both on the reader & the pc so you have less eyestrain.

More & more websites are coming up to sell ebooks so that you aren't just stuck with buying books from Sony.

I originally was going to go with a Kindle, but when they turned around & deleted one of George Orwells books that they said was an illegal version, I got turned off, then add in their what seems to be 9.95 cost for all their books I said forget about it. It seems that price fixing isn't illegal for ebooks.

What I love about the Sony is although I need to hookup to the pc to download books, once done, THOSE BOOKS ARE MINE! I can backup my books onto a cd or memory discs & I don't have to worry about anyone deleting them on me like Amazon did!

I will also be able to read & listen to music at the same time when I take it with me on the road.

I'm going to enjoy getting my Sony reader & catching up on all the books I've been wanting to get for a long time!

Ah, cool. My bookshelf is getting pretty full so I'm starting to pick and choose what I keep. I'm keeping my art books, but, a lot of story-books I'm giving away. My technical books no one wants, so those are going to the office since I have a huge library there. Story books/novels I generally leave in airport bookshelves for other people to pick up. A lot of airports have places you can leave-a-book-take-a-book. I just leave and generally don't take.

 

[Adam]

I played with it last night, and what bothered me is no backlight. I still have to run the lights on, so if my girlfriend wanted to sleep it doesn't really offer that feature. Also when I travel I'd prefer it to be backlit, I always feel so bad using even a booklight on a overseas flight, and I'd never turn on the overhead/airplane light.

Sony makes a cover and light kit for that.

I totally agree that a backlight would be perfect, too, but maybe something like that would help you.