Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Why do I have such a difficult time deciding what e-books to buy?

I have to admit. I'm glad the iPad was a gift to us because it has sat around for the last several days without even being turned on. Don't get me wrong. It's a very cool device. But I'm finding I prefer the NookColor to the iPad as an e-reader. I actually find myself using the iPad to stream tv and movies while I'm working. That feature is AWESOME! But the iPad is a bit bulky to hold for any length of time for reading. The NookColor is perfect for that!

After playing around with the NookColor for a bit now. I'm thoroughly impressed by what it has to offer. I could even be updating this blog from it if I wanted to. The only thing I've discovered it cannot do is stream/play video. I tried to get Netflix Watch Instantly to work through the web. But no go.

I've also discovered I'm cheap. Now, I usually have no problem shopping. However, I'm having a hard time choosing exactly WHICH books to buy as e-books. I received a Barnes and Noble gift card in the mail and I planned to use it to purchase a new e-book. But I kept looking at the Nookbooks available and thinking do I want this as an e-book? What if I like it and wish I had a hard copy of the book for my shelf in the instance that I want to read it again or pass it along to someone? I know some e-books can be borrowed. But very few people I know have e-readers, so that is not practical. I also had a hard time paying $10 for the e-book I was looking at. I'm not sure WHY as I had a gift card. And I will pay more than that for a hardcover of a book.

In the end, I decided to buy The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard. It is my book club book for this month. I wasn't sure what I would think of it and I wouldn't be able to borrow the e-book from the library in time for book club.

The funniest thing about this, I could have just checked out the hardcover from the library and read the book that way. Not spent any money. And had the book in plenty of time for book club. Boy, these e-reader business execs sure know what they're doing, don't they? I just spent $10 (okay, it wasn't MY money, it was a gift card...but still) on a book, when had I not owned an e-reader, I would have just trotted down to the library and checked the book out.

Okay, that was my ramble for the day. :-)

2 comments:

Marce said...

I never use the Library, love brand new books but I have realised I love my Kindle even more. My boyfriend has the ipad and I hate it for reading, actually i'm not really a fan of it all.

I find my Kindle has allowed me to try books out of my norm.

And the lending of books on Kindle is not that great of a selection so far.

Tina said...

I have a regular Nook and love it as an e-reader. I got it specifically because I can download ebooks from the library and then can decide after I read them on the Nook whether I want to buy them or not.