When e-readers first came on the scene in any big way a few years back, I resisted purchasing one. Why? Because I love books. I’m a self-proclaimed bibliophile to the extent that someday I know I must own a home in which the largest room shall be a library with books stacked floor to ceiling, complete with one of those ladders that rolls around the room.
When Barnes & Noble came out with the Nook though, I caved. They offered so many classics for free…and yes, I’m well aware that I could go to the library to borrow classics (and I still do use my local library on a regular basis), but there was something promising about having so many at my fingertips at one time.
I realized the e-reader’s true potential when I was traveling for work. With restrictions on baggage taken aboard airlines these days, being able to carry a veritable library in something the size of my nook was invaluable. But with time, my nook became outdated. This past month, I bought a Kindle Fire.
I won’t pretend I don’t love it. I won’t pretend I’m not hooked. Nothing is better for reading magazines online (and face it, that’s so much better for forests). I really like the convenience of having a tablet PC as well without having laid out the $$ for an iPad. In truth, I don’t read books on it much…I still prefer to read actual books. This isn’t to say I don’t use it to read books…but I must stress that it’s okay to own an e-reader and still read real, physical books.
So if you’ve felt torn lately, go ahead and get one if you can see benefits beyond just reading books…besides, if you’re planning to publish e-books, it might be nice to have an e-reader on which to read them.
