Live data from Hacker News

How ebooks lost their shine

theguardian.com

41–50 of 59 posts

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#41
post #5

I find ebooks useful if the book is meant to be read from start to finish. I have yet to find ebooks useful for technical books, where I need to flip through chunks of pages and go back and forth between sections of chapters as well as where I need to search by figure or equations rather than by text.

I'm the opposite. I only like ebooks for technical books because i can search for keywords.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#42

One of the reasons might be due to price, physical books are exempt from VAT in the UK, whereas ebooks are not, so ebooks tend to be either the same price as their paper counterparts, or more expensive. I read mostly on my kindle out of convenience, it doesn't take that much room in my bag and is comfortable to read on my commute.

VAT as a reason of e-books being expensive is complete bullshit. VAT is not a tax of some absolute value, it's a percent of the price. Smaller the price, smaller VAT.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#43
post #3

> "Here are some things that you can’t do with a Kindle. You can’t turn down a corner, tuck a flap in a chapter, crack a spine (brutal, but sometimes pleasurable) or flick the pages to see how far you have come and how far you have to go. You can’t remember something potent and find it again with reference to where it appeared on a right- or left-hand page. You often can’t remember much at all." I don't care about cr…

As a Kindle owner of many years (I've owned 4 or 5), I have too much reverence for books to create dog-ears or cracking their spines. Sacrilege. I can't even throw away shitty books I don't like, because it feels so wrong.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#44

I'm a book aficionado. I just love books. Our house is filled with thousands and thousands of books. And I have a Kindle. 2 Main reasons: (1) Travel. Going on a trip used to involve careful selection and (for longer trips) substantial packing weight and volume (I travel light), now I just take the Kindle, and don't even have to buy the books i want to read in advance (2) Pint quality. I read lots of paperbacks, and f…

Amen to that. My eyesight isn't the best, and Ebooks are a god send for being able to read in large, clear print.

I'm reading a paper book now (Fortress Draconis, ebook is not available) and I find myself squinting for hours at a time.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#45
post #35
post #3

> "Here are some things that you can’t do with a Kindle. You can’t turn down a corner, tuck a flap in a chapter, crack a spine (brutal, but sometimes pleasurable) or flick the pages to see how far you have come and how far you have to go. You can’t remember something potent and find it again with reference to where it appeared on a right- or left-hand page. You often can’t remember much at all." I don't care about cr…

I nearly cried laughing at myself the first time I put my finger against a page to get a word definition. Also, people who dog-ear books are war criminals.

How do you feel about people who get the bottom 5% wet in the bathtub?

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#46
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I nearly cried laughing at myself the first time I put my finger against a page to get a word definition. Also, people who dog-ear books are war criminals.

How do you feel about people who get the bottom 5% wet in the bathtub?

I have no idea what you're asking me. Is this wit? Are you implying everyone dog-ears books? Were you ruffled by my hyperbole?

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#47
I find it very hard to read traditional books now because I'm so used to being able to drink a cup of tea or eat a snack while I read. Or read outside on a warm but windy day.

I use the PRS-350 which is an old sony model that fits comfortably into one hand and can be used one handed. I recommend it.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#48

I'm a book aficionado. I just love books. Our house is filled with thousands and thousands of books. And I have a Kindle. 2 Main reasons: (1) Travel. Going on a trip used to involve careful selection and (for longer trips) substantial packing weight and volume (I travel light), now I just take the Kindle, and don't even have to buy the books i want to read in advance (2) Pint quality. I read lots of paperbacks, and f…

I recently set my dad up with an e-reader because the thing he was most excited about was being able to adjust the text size for his poor eye sight.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#49
I read around 70 space operas a year on my kindle. Before getting my kindle 3 year ago? Nothing. Kindle is amazing for reading at night when my partner is sleeping or while travelling. I use amazon prime and "borrow" the books, only buying a few series I'm hooked on. Overall costs are much lower than other forms of media.

Re: How ebooks lost their shine

#50
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How do you feel about people who get the bottom 5% wet in the bathtub?

I have no idea what you're asking me. Is this wit? Are you implying everyone dog-ears books? Were you ruffled by my hyperbole?

I think you're getting ribbed a bit.
Post reply on HN