USVI-On-Line

Posted: **Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:19 pm**

I guess I've been living under a rock because I never heard of this until last night. A friend called me and has one to sell. She wanted to see if I wanted it. I loved the concept, save trees, less 'stuff' to carry with me and instant gratificaiton to download a new book. I was shocked at the price ($350) and then realized that my primary reading spot is a beach (St. John or Sea Isle City, NJ). My luck would be that I couldn't see the screen in the bright light, or I'd drop it in the sand or worse, it would get hit by a wave.

Does anyone here have one? If so, what are your thoughts?

Posted: **Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:04 pm**

They just seem so clunky to me - I saw a guard at the Metropolitan Museum using one to read on her break this summer. The concept is cool - but the execution really needs to evolve IMHO. I think Amazon has done pretty well selling them though. Wow - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FI ... MA">Kindle: Amazon's Wireless Reading Device</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=cari ... B000FI73MA" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""> - the page at Amazon says they are sold out!

BTW my wife (who is next to me) just said she had never heard of it before either

Posted: **Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:06 pm**

Anthony, my friend told me that Oprah receommended it so that made me think everyone knew about it

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. I agree with you - I think this is something that I'd wait for the next generation. Apparently, I'm not an early adopter (yes, waiting for iPhone to evolve to Verizon).

Posted: **Tue Nov 25, 2008 4:21 pm**

I don't think they are any cheaper, but Sony makes an Ebook reader that is sold at book stores. I saw one at Border's.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:57 am**

I have a close friend who is a voracious reader and she LOVES it. I have a hard time letting go of the actual book.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:47 pm**

I had never heard of this until you posted it here. I don't think I could give up the actual book either. I will buy a book, then read it again, maybe sometimes years down the road, and some books are pretty! Plus, as I've said before, I'm cheap! I just don't see myself paying that kind of money for the convenience. I only take 1 book on vacation with me normally. It just wouldn't make sense for me.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:52 pm**

I usually read 3-5 books on vacation so that's why this appealed to me at first. But, I agree, I like to hold the book

Maybe, as technology develops, I'll switch. I'm cheap too.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 4:37 pm**

I'm with flip-flop and NancyB, I like the feel of a real book in my hands. Hubby asked me last year if I wanted one for Christmas but I declined. I've never seen one in person, but they look quite bulky and cumbersome. I think they need a few more years to evolve.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:01 pm**

I'm too cheap to buy all of the books I read. If you could download them from the library I'd buy one in a second.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 5:58 pm**

I have an application on my i phone that allows me to read books. I have gotten used to not holding a book and if I find myself with spare time, I always have a book with me. I can't say enough about the i phone. I have a camera, phone, music, the web and books all in one.

Posted: **Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:04 pm**

I have never liked reading on the computer, and always felt like newspapers were getting my clothes and hands dirty; something about holding the iphone in my palm is quite comfortable and conducive to reading at length... i read more of the NY Times now via my iphone app, each day, than I ever did..

I can't imagine I will ever give up real books, but just as I like to *own* hardcovers, yet read from softcovers, I may one day like a device like the Kindle. The new Sony ebook looks more pleasing...

Posted: **Sat Nov 29, 2008 5:55 am**

I too have never heard of the Amazon Kindle until this thread. Interesting concept. I'm a book collecter (although I'm running out of space to put them!), and like to read my books over again, so I'm not sure I'd be a fan of this. Plus, the price needs to come down. $350? Wow, expensive.

Posted: **Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:29 am**

Just heard about the "Stanza" e-reader app for iphone, and downloaded it. Had read an article from publishing industry--. It is free and worth checking out if you have an iphone

Posted: **Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:33 am**

Thanks for the tip, Maryanne. I don't have an iphone (yet). I'm waiting for their exclusive contract to end with AT&T so I can stick with Verizon.

Posted: **Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:56 pm**

I wanted to get one for my Grandma. She doesn't see very well and you can enlarge the pages. But at $350? That is just insane.

Gina