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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 8:03:58 GMT 1
As there is a lot of interest in free stories for e-readers at the moment, I'm curious to know what everyone likes or dislikes about their e-readers? What do you all think of them? I'm just not interested in getting one at all! I am a bit of a techno phobe anyway and don't have any interest in gadgets. Now don't all laugh at my ignorance but do they have illustrations on them? I love my stories to have illustrations, it brings the stories alive for me. Maybe I'm just weird! or old fashioned.....
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Post by Claire on Aug 2, 2012 10:54:37 GMT 1
Thanks for starting this thread I have been meaning to discuss this but never got round to it. Well I have had a complete change of heart over e-readers. I was completely against them as I thought there may be a danger of phasing out real books if they got too popular. However now I know more about them I am going over to the 'dark side' Obviously it has something to do with all the free and cheap books on offer! But also a few other reasons. They do seem to be encouraging kids to read - the sort who wouldn't want books cos they are too uncool but dont mind using a kindle or tablet. Also I think they have opened up the world of publishing. Its fairly easy to publish your own ebook which means potentially some good books are available which would never have got published due to the herd mentality of the publishing industry. (Obviously there is also more dross out there too!) Some of the authors I talk to say their sales on e-books are higher than on print ones, so seem to be a good thing for authors too. I don't actually have an e-reader yet I use the kindle for PC application on my laptop and I found it actually quite easy to read the books on it. Its not like reading from a web page which can be quite difficult. I definitely am thinking of getting a kindle some time in the future. And to answer your question rosie yes they do have pictures! Pictures, diagrams, photos you name it. Everything that a book has really. OK I agree they will never be a substitute for real books. There's just something about them e-books don't have, and if I had the choice of reading a print or ebook I would always choose the print one. But I do think they are a good resource. BTW hope you dont mind rosie am moving this to the general section as its not really about pony books.
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Post by trixiepony on Aug 2, 2012 11:02:18 GMT 1
I'm kind off thinking a bout it or a iPad witch will work the same but can do outher things as well, Like drawing.
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Post by kunuma on Aug 2, 2012 11:34:18 GMT 1
I use the Kindle for pc's and so read them on my laptop - I do find it very hard to read but that is because I have dodgy eyes - I tend to speed read the books so it isn't really fair on them! It is very useful for being able to read something everyone is talking about without having to buy it! I only get the free ones because I can't read them well enough to want to pay for them. I adore my books, BUT the last time I moved I really couldn't cope with the lugging about of boxes of them - I had to fill the box where it stood, and if I wanted to move it, had to empty it again! So for that reason, I can see where a Kindle would be a blessing!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 12:47:48 GMT 1
Sorry Claire, don't know why I posted it in Pony Books Yep I guess space is where the kindle things are better than books. Kunuma I have dreadful eyesight too and I hate reading on the computer which is what's really putting me off one of those app jobbies Claire mentions. Do you find it easier reading on them? Good to hear they have illustrations anyway
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Post by darkhorse on Aug 2, 2012 13:36:47 GMT 1
I have the PC thingy and I got some of the free books. Like kunuma says it's a good chance to try out books and new authors without wasting money. I don't have any trouble reading the e books....it's getting on the computer that is the problem lol. Thinking of getting a kindle now! However I agree with the others that I prefer reading 'proper' books.
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Post by susanb on Aug 2, 2012 16:08:26 GMT 1
I need two votes, or another category...LOVE my ereader but also LOVE books!!
My ereader is the portable electronic "wing" of my library: I have books on it that I just don't have room for at home (lots of adult mystery, non-horse oriented, adult fiction, etc) as well as some duplicates (where available) of pony books that I also have in hardcover.
It depends on circumstance....if you read only at home and you have unlimited space, there's probably no reason to go to an ereader, but if (like me) you're away from home 12+ hours a day, five days a week, having a lot of books in your pocket is a good thing.
And I've got so many books (over 1,500 cataloged, and quite a lot that aren't yet cataloged) that having the option of having an ecopy of a book that I don't NEED to own (I didn't weep over trading in my yellowing Agatha Christie paperbacks) is fabulous.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 18:22:40 GMT 1
Wow that's a lot of books susan! I can see why you need one ;D
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Post by susanb on Aug 2, 2012 18:59:29 GMT 1
yes, I am an addict ;-)
Re whether or not easy to read....the color ereaders are currently more or less like reading on a computer, but the e-ink ereaders are more like reading a book. And you can adjust the size of the font on any book!
Like a paper book though, the e-ink versions aren't great in low light situations, as they're not back-lit, like a computer. My new Nook is the only e-ink reader that has a built in booklight, front lit, not back lit, so it's very easy on the eyes.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2012 20:31:46 GMT 1
That's interesting about the front lit and the colour thing susan. I really know nothing about these things at all so it's been interesting to read all your thoughts
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 2, 2012 21:56:36 GMT 1
Well i'm a bit like claire and the allure of free books has opened my eyes to the wonder of the kindle. My Oh has had it ages and i never gave it more than a passing glance...oh and an accidently bought book on first day when i pressed the wrong button...until i was made aware of freebies.
I love it now, would still choose paper over it if i had to pay...have bought an ebook recently as paper copies not available...but it's so easy. Search the book, click to buy and your reading it in seconds. They are also actually much easier to handle than a book and you can for example read and eat at same time as you can flip pages and hold in one hand at same time and of course you can't get stains on the pages! I dare say you can do other forms of multi tasking too, maybe Anastasia has one!! They are very easy on the eye and not at all like reading off a computer screen and as Susan has mentioned you can change the font and size to suit you best. My only criticism now would be at the moment the illustrations/front covers are only black and white. Oh and maybe it's a kindle thing but it starts the book on the first page of the first chapter...i have to navigate backwards to see the cover, publishing info etc. I guess most people read a book once and never look at it again as i've also found once you reach the end, to start again you have navigate the back button right back through the book...maybe i'm missing something simple here?
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Post by Claire on Aug 2, 2012 22:44:24 GMT 1
I guess most people read a book once and never look at it again as i've also found once you reach the end, to start again you have navigate the back button right back through the book...maybe i'm missing something simple here? Dont know if the actual kindle is the same as the PC version but on that there is a little bar on the bottom which you drag along to get to any part of the book you want. Its quite unobtrusive and you have to hover over it before you see it properly. I didnt even notice it at first. Possibly something similar on the kindle itself...? Interesting that the photos are in black and white as they are in colour on the PC version. Who says you can't read a book and eat at the same time? I always do. In fact I do just about evrything with a book in one hand (no not Anastasia type things lol) I've even been known to watch a TV show and read a book at the same time. ;D Multi-tasking is my middle name! Rosie I would download the PC version and have a look at it and see what you think. It doesn't cost anything and it does mean you can get some free books.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 7:08:46 GMT 1
I do like the free element to it so I'll give it a whirl.
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Post by Claire on Aug 3, 2012 10:37:40 GMT 1
Haha nothing like a few freebies to get us all excited Let us know how you get on rosie!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 12:21:49 GMT 1
Um...could you give me the link to the free amazon PC thingy Claire, I've forgotten which thread you posted it in now
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Post by haffyfan on Aug 3, 2012 12:27:34 GMT 1
it's in the first post of the Penned up In paradise reading circle thread Rosie.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 12:35:54 GMT 1
Thanks Haffy
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Post by rallycairn on Aug 4, 2012 2:19:12 GMT 1
I got the first generation Kindle and was instantly in love with ereaders, though I didn't think I would like them at all -- thought i'd miss that book scent and feel. But no, they are incredibly convenient. I got the second generation Kindle 2 because the first one died, then they quickly started introing so many new versions. Got Dear Hubby a Nook Tablet last Christmas and fell in love with it myself, so he returned the favor for Valentine's Day. I love the Nook even more. Magazines that are photo-heavy just look amazing on it -- and no longer take up room. I can subscribe to National Geographic (very photo-intensive mag with dense, long articles) guilt free! And I do use the Nook for apps and things, too. Love, love, love my ereaders!
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Post by Claire on Aug 4, 2012 10:35:08 GMT 1
Wow a multi-e reader household! ;D
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2012 19:01:21 GMT 1
Sadly I just can't get into reading on the computer. I've tried but I get bored sitting there staring at the screen, I like to curl up with a book to get away from it. If I was seriously to go down the e reader route, I'd have to get a kindle I think. But as I don't buy/have loads of books I don't think there would be any point in getting one. At least with the free downloads on the PC kindle I can check out what everyone is reading and see if I might like to buy a particular book so I can see the advantages in that respect.
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Post by Claire on Aug 5, 2012 0:59:54 GMT 1
Have you got a PC or a laptop rosie? I find it quite easy to read on the laptop cos I just sit up in bed with it on my little lap table like I do when I'm watching films. I dont think I would be able to get comfy reading on a PC tho.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 6:49:51 GMT 1
I have both. I use the PC mostly, and the laptop when OH kicks me of his PC Never thought of taking the laptop to bed with me!!! ;D
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Post by kunuma on Aug 5, 2012 14:42:07 GMT 1
It looks as though people are saying that the actual Kindle thingy is easier to read than on the computer screen, but the pics are black and white? They are def in colour on my pc kindle thingy as there were photos in that genetics book Haffy found. btw, some of the books are veeeeery short!! Can anyone just upload anything as a kindle book??
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2012 18:29:59 GMT 1
I actually found it easy to read on the PC after I change the white background to colour so it wasn't as glaring. Still didn't find it as enjoyable as reading a book though
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Post by Claire on Aug 5, 2012 19:23:58 GMT 1
btw, some of the books are veeeeery short!! Can anyone just upload anything as a kindle book?? Just about yes, altho I think there is prob some rule about obscene material, etc.
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Post by kunuma on Aug 5, 2012 21:00:41 GMT 1
I actually found it easy to read on the PC after I change the white background to colour so it wasn't as glaring. Still didn't find it as enjoyable as reading a book though how did you do that???
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 6:47:02 GMT 1
If you click on the book you want to read you'll see a bar at the top with symbols on it. Click on the Aa button and you'll find you can change the background colour as well as brightness etc. I changed mine to sepia.
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Post by Claire on Aug 6, 2012 9:56:59 GMT 1
Never thought of taking the laptop to bed with me!!! ;D Rosie I actually got my first laptop specifically so I could use it in bed as my health was pretty bad and I had to spend a lot of time in bed. It saved me from going mental! A few of the girls I used to go to therapy at the hospital with decided to do the same thing and we called ourselves the laptop bed club Even now I am a lot better I still find it hard to sit up in a chair for very long and much easier to lie on the bed propped up with the laptop on my little lap table. Dumped my old PC and have a netbook for backup/travel. I find it really weird and uncomfortable using a PC now! I actually find the white background easier to read than the sepia. Its also good that it automatically remembers where you were up to and opens it at the right page next time, which is especially good if you read a lot of different books at the same time like I do.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2012 18:28:34 GMT 1
Ditto, I do the PC in short bursts!
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Post by kunuma on Aug 15, 2012 19:52:13 GMT 1
Just bought loads of E Nesbit ones for free - just wish I could wave a magic wand and turn them into pages - still can't really read them on the screen - and agree with the others about trying to sit for long periods of time!
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